News from the Vice Chancellor
November 2011
The payoff
for student workers
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The payoff.................. 1
Timber........................ 1
Welcome.................... 2
Good news................. 3
Reminders................. 3
Belonging................... 4
Super supervisors..... 5
Over the last two decades, nationwide tuition rates have skyrocketed
at more than twice the rate of inflation. As a result, three out of four
students work while attending college. But while balancing work and
studies can be tough, it can also be
rewarding—especially when the job is
on campus.
On-campus employment is one
of the top indicators of student
retention.
Housing’s Kristie Olson with student workers
At UW-Stout,
about 30% of our students are lucky enough to
work for the university, many in Administrative and
Student Life Services. Employing students provides
a win-win situation, where both the hiring units and
the students benefit. (Continued on page 4.)
Sustainability tip........ 5
News from the Vice Chancellor
is published for ASLS division
employees.
Publisher: Ed Nieskes
Vice Chancellor of Administrative
& Student Life Services
nieskese@uwstout.edu
(715) 232-1683
Editor: Tom Dye
Communication Specialist
dyet@uwstout.edu
(715) 232-1681
225 Administration Building
Menomonie, WI 54751
Fax: (715) 232-1527
Timber...
When a tree falls on campus, does everybody hear? It certainly seems that
way at times. For example, when Grounds personnel remove multiple trees,
people usually take notice; some even complain.
But few pay much attention when the
crews plant trees. Maybe that’s because, when a mature tree falls, the
change is both dramatic and sudden.
By contrast, newly planted trees have a
much subtler impact. They start small
and take years to mature. Like a proper
education, (Continued on page 6.)
ASLS VICE CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE • 225 Administration, Menomonie, WI 54751 • 715-232-1683
Welcome
Greg Bryant joins the football program as a co-defensive coordinator,
aimed at stopping the run. A native of Edmond, Okla., Greg played Division
I ball at Western Michigan and coached at Fort Hayes State University,
Kansas, while earning a master’s in Health and Human Performance.
Leigh Ann Graetz, purchasing agent, joins Physical Plant from WisDOT.
Before that, she worked for Guyer’s Building Supply and did stints in Student Business Services and Career Services. The Luxemburg native holds
an Interior Design degree from Stout and has lived in Menomonie since
her college days. Leigh Ann and husband Jim have two children--Nicole,
a freshman at UW-Platteville, and Tyler, a freshman at Menomonie High-plus a golden retriever. Leigh Ann’s interests include spending time with
the kids, gardening, shopping, beading, golfing, and rooting for the Pack.
Jacky Monroe, Operations Program Associate, processes work orders
and handles all key requests for Physical Plant. Before joining Stout, she
managed textbook services at UW-River Falls where she earned a degree
in Business Administration. The River Falls resident enjoys reading, shopping, and watching movies on the couch with her husband David and kitten.
Krista Proksch, student involvement coordinator, joins SLS from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, where she worked in corporate training. Before that, she was the marketing & development manager for the Wisconsin chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Krista holds a degree in Mass Communications from UW-EC and an MA in
Higher Ed Counseling from Lakeland College. She enjoys travel, camping,
photography, and spending time with friends and family. The Sparta native
and husband, Kale, are searching for a home in Menomonie.
Ryan Raufus, head women’s soccer coach, joins Athletics after several
years as the head coach of the girls’ high-school soccer programs at both
La Crosse Logan and LaCrescent, Minn. A native of Oconomowoc, Ryan attended high school in Ft. Myers, Fla., and earned his bachelor’s in athletic
training from Springfield College, Mass., where he was a member of the
varsity soccer program. Ryan received his teacher certification in school
health education and a master’s in physical education from UW-La Crosse.
Bodie Reeder joins the football program as quarterback coach. Reeder
played at Division I Eastern Illinois University and coached there before
joining Stout. A native of Ivesdale, Ill., Bodie is pursuing his master’s in
kinesiology and sports studies from Eastern Illinois.
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Psychiatrist Bill Platz (not pictured) now sees patients at the Student
Health Services clinic two days a month. Platz has a practice in River Falls
and also works part-time at UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls.
NEWS FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR
Good news
Athletics unleashed the new Blue Devil mascot this fall. Since then, the
crowd-pleasing little dickens has been seen at events on and off campus.
ASLS units held three EDGE sessions recently, including presentations
on surplus by Bob Dodge, on reservations and catering by Elizabeth
Wilhelm and Rod McRae, and on travel by Jenn Nichols.
Parking Services, in collaboration with the Environmental Sustainability
Office, unveiled a new incentive program that should entice more employees to carpool, bike, and walk to work. For more details, check out
http://www.uwstout.edu/parking/stout-carpool-program.cfm.
On October 6, the Customer Service Ambassadors, including Cally Henderson, Shelly Hendrickson, Michelle Klass, Karen Lund, and Grady
Richartz, hosted the Customer Service recognition event, where this
year’s speakers discussed social media.
With the help of 23 volunteers from
ASLS and other divisions, Dining Services satisfied the campus appetite,
serving nearly 1,500 meals at the
27th-annual Great American Cookout.
Amy McGovern and others developed
the “Here I Stand!” program in opposition to hate, bias, and bullying. To learn
more, go to www2.uwstout.edu/content/housing/HereIStand.
To help popularize American football in Europe, coach Clayt Birmingham
and the Blue Devil football program hosted coaches from Germany during
the preseason training camp.
Over 1,500 students and representatives from a record 103 student organizations attended the SLS Backyard Bash during freshman orientation.
Tim Mertz was selected interim chair of the Senate of Academic Staff.
ASLS staff, coaches, and athletes recently lent
a hand with several events to promote fitness,
including the Blue Devil Run/Walk and the
Oaklawn Elementary Acorn Dash. At left, Coach
Eddie Andrist serves drinks at the Wakanda
Elementary Walkathon.
Lisa Walter spoke about the Dunn County Alcohol
Task Force at the Alcohol Summit in Madison.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND STUDENT LIFE SERVICES
Reminders
Campus Sustainability
Day is Wednesday, Oct.
26. For details, go to
http://www.uwstout.edu/
sustainability.
Enjoy a free evening of
jazz and conversation
exploring LGBTQ issues
Thursday, Oct. 27, at
7pm. in Harvey Theatre.
The Grants & Contracts
101 EDGE session takes
place Tuesday, Nov. 8,
from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
in 144 Price Commons.
The fall sports season
is wrapping up, go to
athletics.uwstout.edu
for schedules.
Travel Authorization
forms are no longer
required by BFS.
3
Belonging
on campus
While studies indicate that
off-campus jobs negatively
impact persistence in college, the opposite is true
for on-campus employment.
Students who work on
campus have high retention rates and are likely to
graduate because their jobs
help integrate them more
fully into the institution,
providing a sense of belonging that contributes to
classroom success.
A recent Stout study found
that 80% of freshmen who
worked on campus enrolled
the following year. This puts
on-campus employment
among the “Tier 1” gauges
of retention—above other
strong indicators like receiving grants and participating
in student organizations.
The enhanced integration
fostered by a campus job is
also supported by anecdotal evidence like this quote
from a transfer student: “I
did not know anyone when I
came to Stout. Now... I have
many friends that come
from the tight knit family
the Housing office creates.”
Supervisors also play important roles in fostering
a sense of belonging that
keeps students in school.
See “Super supervisors” on
page 5.
4
The payoff (continued from page 1)
Benefits to the units
One benefit to the units is financial. Students work for modest wages
and don’t require benefits. Plus, the part-time and seasonal nature of
student employment enables units to adjust staffing to meet needs.
The ready pool of strong candidates and the streamlined hiring process
also make employing students attractive. In a matter of days, units can
hire workers who are eager to learn and willing to take on most tasks.
Plus, units can maximize their investment in individuals by employing
them year after year. The unit then benefits from the students’ growing
knowledge of the job and growing academic knowledge.
In addition, supervising student workers is rewarding on personal and
professional levels. As Housing’s Kristie Olson said, “My student staff
are truly like my own kids. I worry about them and also celebrate with
them in their accomplishments.”
Benefits to the students
Notably, working on campus provides students with paychecks, helping
many stay in school and avoid being saddled with crushing loans. That’s
especially important when the average senior graduates with $24,000
of debt.
Working on campus is also convenient. The workplace is just steps from
the classroom, so travel time is minimal. Plus, coworkers and supervisors are attuned to student needs and can offer flexible schedules and,
in some cases, tasks that reinforce classroom learning.
Campus jobs also help students land jobs after college. The experience
looks good on a resume and, as Dean Mary Hopkins-Best put it, a strong
reference is “golden for a student.”
Working for the university--in any capacity--also helps students grow.
Through experience, constructive mentoring, and interaction with coworkers and customers, students develop the confidence, professional
habits, and interpersonal skills they need to succeed in their careers.
Last but not least, campus jobs increase the odds that students remain
enrolled in college and graduate. Many studies, including one at Stout
(see ”Belonging on campus” at left), bear this out, demonstrating that
on-campus employment is one of the top indicators of student retention.
A win-win
Employing students on campus provides a win for the hiring units and
for the students. The units win by supplementing the workforce with
competent, affordable employees, and the students win by gaining a
sense of belonging and the skills, experience, and confidence to succeed on campus and beyond.
NEWS FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR
Super supervisors
Sustainability tip:
Can a caring supervisor make a difference in a student worker’s life?
Without a doubt. Just ask Housing’s Kristie Olson, whose warm manner has enabled her to connect with students on a personal, as well as professional, level.
She’s had such a strong impact in students’ lives that many stay in touch after
graduating. Just this summer, she attended the weddings of four or five former
student workers.
“I was even asked to read at one of the weddings,” Kristie said. “And they invited
me to the rehearsal dinner.”
Though the former students obviously value their friendship with Kristie after
graduation, the big benefits must have come earlier. When the students were
on campus, the nurturing relationship Kristie established with them no doubt
contributed to their success in school.
In fact, evidence suggests that supervisors who care about their student workers
on both personal and professional levels positively influence the students’ sense
of job satisfaction and fulfillment. As a result, the students’ integration into the
campus community deepens and their chances of success increase.
Dean Mary Hopkins-Best agrees, observing that students who know
their supervisors care about them as people, not just as workers, are
“more likely to stay in college—even when their jobs don’t directly align
with their fields of study.”
To flip or not to flip?
Ever wonder whether you
should turn
off the
lights when
you leave a
room?
Although the answer depends
on several variables,
like the type of lamp and the
cost of electricity, here’s a
general rule that might help
you decide next time you
leave a room.
If the room uses fluorescent
lamps and will remain
unoccupied for 15 minutes
or more, switch off the
lights.
Frequent cycling can lead to
fluorescent lamps burning out
faster, so the small savings
from switching the lights off
for short intervals are offset
by expenses associated with
bulb replacement.
That must have been the case for the student-worker who came back to
see Kristie one last time before she graduated. “She said, ‘You probably
didn’t know it, but I always loved stopping in the office to visit with you
when I was a freshman,’” Kristi recalled. “She said it made her feel less
homesick.”
A current student-worker notes that this sense of family “comes from the support and love of Kristie, Dawn [Uetz] and Bev [Biggart].... Each of these ladies,
and the others in the office,
work hard to make this a loving
and fun place to work.”
Spend any time in the Housing office and you’ll pick up on
the family atmosphere, too. As
Kristie said, “I know I’m their
supervisor and I treat them as
such, but I also feel like their
mom away from home.”
Kristie Olson works with two members of her
“extended family” in the Housing mail room.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND STUDENT LIFE SERVICES
5
ADMINISTRATIVE AND STUDENT LIFE SERVICES
People working together for service excellence and innovation.
Timber... (continued from page 1)
Snapshots
great landscaping takes time; but in
the end, the planning, care, and patience pay off.
One place where the Grounds crew’s
planning and care should pay off is
north of Williams Stadium in the strip
of green space between Lot 4 and
Broadway.
At the vice chancellor reception
In June, Grounds crews removed 18
trees from the strip so they could
correct the grade to meet stormwatermanagement requirements. When the
trees dropped, so did several jaws.
But there was no need to worry;
Grounds had a plan to make the space
more attractive than ever. In October,
they replaced the 18 trees with 55 flowering crabapple trees.
At the August emergency-response
safety drill
The new crabapples are just a fraction of the 110 trees that Grounds
crews planted this season. They also lined the pedestrian corridor from
Millennium Hall to Harvey Hall with lindens, added maples near Price
Commons, and planted several more trees on the North Campus and in
other locations.
As Grounds Supervisor Mike Smith said, “We put in a lot more trees than
we take down.” In the years ahead, we’ll see the fruit of the Grounds
crews’ labor.
Outside MSC
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ASLS VICE CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE •
225 Administration Building
• (715) 232-1681