December 2007 – UAA Assembly Report - Student Affairs
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Linda Lazzell, Vice Chancellor
Pre-College Academic Enrichment in Rural Alaska
Matt Calhoun, Director of Pre-College Academic Enrichment in Rural Alaska, partnered with the Distance
Delivery Coordinator of the North Slope Borough School District stationed in Barrow. The partnership will allow
the tablet tutoring project to be in the seven high schools across the North Slope.
Pre-College Computer Building Labs were hosted in collaboration with the Alaska Native Science and
Engineering Program in Dillingham (12 students), Barrow (17 students) and Anchorage (15 students). Many of
the students from the Anchorage lab are students that have moved from rural Alaska for the purpose of attending
high school.
A short curriculum has been developed to catalyze an interest in the biological sciences that can be used in future
Pre-College labs across Alaska. The focus will be to motivate rural Alaskan high school students to consider
studying Biological Sciences at UAA after graduating high school.
Tablet tutoring stations has been completed with the assistance of UAA ITS in all recitation rooms located in the
ANSEP building.
Academic & Multicultural Student Services Division
Students Who Are Parents (SWAP) met at the Tanaina Child Development Center. Seven guest speakers
representing the Anchorage School District’s optional schools spoke to the group about the wide variety of
educational options available to parents.
Disability Support Services provided a number of workshops, trainings, and presentations for groups including
Kodiak, Matsu, UAA Learning Resource Center, UAA College of Education, and the Anchorage School District.
Native Student Services hosted a video-teleconference outreach effort with the Bering Straits School District
(BSSD). The juniors and seniors in 15 village high schools in this district participated.
New Student Orientation partnered with Guidance 150 instructors and lead class discussions on book of the year
“The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood.
Student Support Services partnered with the Casey Foundation to acquire methods for building a supportive
environment to foster youth entering the university system.
Odila Rueda of Educational Opportunity Center and President-Elect of Northwest Association of Special
Programs (NASP), will be attending the Council for Opportunity in Education Board Meeting in San Juan. Kato
Haunga of Educational Talent Search/Upward Bound was elected as the NASP Alaska Representative. Odila and
Kato will be attending the NASP Conference in Portland.
Enrollment Management Division
New UAA brochures for international students and information packets will be sent to 60+ overseas advising
centers who have demonstrated a willingness to make UAA information available to prospective students.
Student Financial Aid is reviewing forms and policies for beginning of a new financial aid application year.
“College Goal Sunday” and “I’m Going to College” preparation is continuing.
Registration and Records is completing the degree audit process for spring 2008. Over 1,200 applications have
been submitted.
Evaluations have completed the backlog of over 500 transcripts and are now assisting Degree Services with audits
along with maintaining a five day turn around on incoming records.
UAA will teach one course and enroll one course in Social Work Masters program through the new WICHE ICE
consortium.
Kathleen Murphy and Nancy Hall, Facility Schedulers, have been providing training to departments and colleges
on Resource 25 with its increased classroom utilization tracking capabilities.
Doni Williams, International Student Advisor, has been appointed to Community and Technical College Aviation
English Implementation Team.
Cecile Mitchell, Director of Enrollment Services, and Doni Williams delivered a presentation about study abroad
opportunities to a group of 40+ students and faculty at an event hosted by the Language Department for
International Education Week.
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Student Development Division
Career Services Center hosted Haliburton and ConocoPhillips to conduct interviews. The department coordinated
the Engineering and Geomatics Employer Expo and the Business Employer Expo.
The Seawolf Student Service Award and the USUAA Seawolf Student Leader Award will be announced in midDecember. The Seawolf Student Service Award recipients receive a tuition waiver for spring 2008 semester.
USUAA Seawolf Student Leader Award recipients receive a $1000 cash award scholarship.
Club Council elected a new board of executive officers and recognized two new clubs, increasing the total number
of recognized clubs to 65.
Ninety-seven UAA students will celebrate their 21st birthday in December. Each student will receive a card
wishing them a happy birthday and encourage them to make safe and responsible decisions as they celebrate.
During November, the “Monday Fry Bread” program was held in the Cama-i Room in support of Alaska
Native/Native American Heritage Month. Participants included both students and community members.
The 2007 UAA Crafts Fair was a huge success with over 3,700 attendees making it the largest crowd ever!
Alaskan vendors were both local and distant, from as far as Homer and Talkeetna.
The “No Big Heads” gallery exhibit featured University of Washington ceramics faculty member, Akio Takamori,
presenting a public lecture to UAA art students, faculty, and art patrons. The exhibit had 964 visitors during its
two week run.
The following events were conducted by Betty Bang, ANP at the Student Health and Counseling Center: Safe
Sex discussion at North Hall with 7 students participating, Smoke Out exhibit, and World Aids Day exhibit.
The Residence Life Sustainability committee sponsored an energy conservation program, held in the Gorsuch
Commons. This program featured information from the Alaska Youth for Environment Action Group and simple
3-2-1 pledge to reduce energy usage. A highlight of the program included the use of an exercise bike to
demonstrate the energy needed to power a blender.
The Northern Light was a 2007 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Finalist, recognized as one of the top
college newspapers in the country. Awards are based on coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting,
leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, design, photography, art and graphics.
MAC staff members conducted a survey of their residents to determine perceptions of alcohol usage vs. their
actual alcohol consumption. Also assessing how often disruptions occur in the MAC community as a result of
alcohol usage. This data will be used in an upcoming campaign to deter alcohol usage in the MAC community.
The Student Union had a 4.5% increase in building occupancy this fall in comparison to fall 2006.
Annual patient visit comparison for the Student Health and Counseling Center:
# of Student/Patient Visits
Month
2006
2007
Sep.
642
899
Oct.
1130
1179
Nov.
1004
808
Upcoming Events
Retention Coordinator, Alice Hisamoto, will be co-presenting “Inclusive Excellence in Education” at the
Bilingual Multicultural Education and Equity Conference, January 30, 2008 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Sewn Ornaments: Create a unique fabric ornament will be held December 13 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the
Cama-i Room
Student Appreciation recommendations deadline is December 19. Please submit completed forms to Student
Activities.
An open house for Student Clubs and Greek Life will be held January 22, located in the Student Union. Details
TBA.
Student Appreciation Luncheon will be held January 25 beginning at noon in the Student Union cafeteria.