November 2013
newsletter
Page 2
•Campus Citizen
Page 3
•Leadership USC
Aiken certification
program
•Search Updates
Page 4
•Concept Art
for Campus
Construction
Page 5
•Tobacco-Free survey
begins
•Athletic Updates
Page 6
•American Higher
Education in a
Changing Global
Economy
•RPG Committee
Continued
OOC News
RPG Committee Launched
U
SC Aiken’s Retention, Progression, and
Graduation (RPG) Committee met
for the first time on November 22nd and
picks up the work begun by the Taskforces
last spring as that work relates to increasing
student completion. The RPG Committee
is a Chancellor’s Advisory Committee whose
charge is directly related to Strategic Planning
Goal 2.
This Advisory Committee model with
representation from across the university
units was selected to create greater campuswide awareness of the issues surrounding
student retention, progression, and
graduation. Additionally, the composition
of the committee will capitalize on gaining
perspectives from across the university. A
charge as complex as that of improving
retention, progression, and graduation
impacts the entire campus and the expertise
of a broad set of offices is needed. This
committee is charged with providing
oversight to the initiative and recommending
strategies that improve student success.
The committee is co-chaired by Dr.
Deb Kladivko and Dr. Charmaine Wilson.
Members of the RPG Steering Committee
who will be working with the larger RPG
committee include: Dan Robb, Monty
Fetterolf, Ed Callen, Lloyd Dawe, and Stacie
Williams.
The terminology associated with retention
and graduation comes from the definitions
established by the federal government to
track student completion. For example,
“retention” officially refers to how many
first-time, full-time fall freshman progress
from their first year to the second year. USC
Aiken’s retention rate is 67%. While this
places USC Aiken in the middle of the pack
with peers, it is low in comparison to aspirant
peers, whose median retention rate is 74%.
Progression is a way to measure that
same cohort’s continuation through the next
several years of college, while “graduation”
refers to the numbers of students in the (first
time, full time, fall freshman) cohort who
complete a degree in six years. Currently
USC Aiken’s graduation rate is 43%.
Compared to our aspirant peers who have an
average graduation rate of 49%, we have a
little room for improvement. For a university
with a 15 to 1 student/faculty ratio and
“Focused on You” values, we must consider
how to increase both our retention and
graduation rates.
Focus on student attrition is important
for students, the institution, and the state.
Continued on Page 7
Congratulations to our Campus Citizen Brent Wustman
C A M P US
C IT IZEN
of the Month
T
he Campus Citizen of the Month
award is given in recognition of
good citizenship. All faculty, classified
and unclassified staff, and university
partners who have been with the
University for one year and are in good
standing are eligible. The nomination
remains active indefinitely in the
pool of candidates. The nomination
form must be signed by the nominee’s
supervisor and sent to the nominee’s
Vice Chancellor in that unit. The
criteria to be used in the nomination
are:
Brent Wustman
• Initiative/Creativity: Exhibits
ingenuity and resourcefulness.
Examples: Improved work
methods, efficiency within the
department.
• Loyalty/Dedication: Willing to
go the “extra mile” without being
asked.
• Positive Attitude: Maintains
effective relationships with others
both on and off campus; serves as
role model. Example: Consistently
delivers prompt, friendly service.
• Leadership: Acknowledge those
whose efforts have inspired and
supported the performance and
achievement of others.
Food Service Director
Congratulations to Brent Wustman, Food Service Director with
USC Aiken Dining Services/ Aramark, USC Aiken’s November Campus
Citizen of the Month. Thanks to his efforts, he will receive a $20 gift
card, a sign for his desk, and a parking spot.
In his nomination, a peer stated that although Brent has been down
in staff without a catering manager or chef, he has worked very hard to
maintain the high standards in all of his catering work. It was stated
he is enthusiastic and helpful with a desire to make every event the very
best from the food to the presentation. He is an incredibly hard worker
and very dedicated, with his pleasant, calm demeanor. Event attendees
always praise the quality and the appearance of the food served.
In recognition of his dedication and can-do attitude, Brent Wustman
has been named Campus Citizen of the Month. Congratulations Brent!
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Monday Group will
review the nominations
and select each
month’s winner.
Contact Maria
Chandler at
MariaC@USC Aiken.
edu
for more information.
Click here to return to Table of Contents
Leadership USC Aiken Certification begins
A group of recent student leaders at USC Aiken pose with Dr. Jordan. Future students
such as these will have the opportunity to earn a certication that gives them additional
experience.
L
iberal Arts colleges around the nation
have responded to the changing
needs of students for earlier and more
developmental career counseling. Faculty
at several liberal arts universities, including
Wake Forest, Davidson, and Franklin &
Marshall College have taken the lead to
expand career counseling by integrating
career services into both departmental
advising and, on occasion, into the
curriculum. This approach adds significantly
to the offerings in the career center and
sends a clear message that faculty and staff
are equally concerned about educating
students for successful and full lives. Since
2009, Wake Forest has been overhauling
their career counseling through a focus on
departmental faculty working closely with
students to ensure that they have thought
about how the courses in the major prepare
them for careers and how the knowledge
and abilities they are acquiring throughout
the curriculum prepare them for a successful
future.
The recession, competitive job markets,
and questions about the value of a college
degree in light of rising tuitions have raised
questions about the value of the curriculum
offered at Liberal Arts universities.
Humanities, social and behavioral sciences,
and laboratory sciences have shouldered the
most impact of these criticisms. According
to the Association of American Colleges
and Universities, liberal arts focused colleges
are realizing that the old message, that an
education is about more than getting a
job, is neither resonating with nor assisting
students and their parents in the postrecession market.
So, departments are taking more
ownership by talking with students over a
longer time span about the practical benefits
of a liberal arts education. Several liberal
arts schools begin the discussion in the
freshman year and integrate it throughout
the program curriculum, instead of waiting
until late in the student’s education. Some
institutions, such as St. Johns University,
have gone as far as placing career staff in the
deans’ offices in each college, and crosstraining freshman orientation and career
center staff.
Meanwhile, Career Center Offices are
doing more as well, especially to address
the needs of minority and first generation
students who may not have grown up
around professional role models. The
Career Centers are actively partnering
with the academic departments to come
up with major-specific plans that faculty
can use as discussion points with their
advisees, working with student leaders
to increase discussions of career skills in
non-academic settings, offering more
intentional workshops and courses that are
sprinkled throughout the students’ time at
the university and connecting workshops
together to create certificates or badges.
At USC Aiken, the Career Center
and Student Affairs are partnering with
academic programs to create a new
certificate in Leadership and Professional
Readiness. The certificate aims to address
some of the criticisms leveled at universities
around the need to infuse lessons in
professional, behavioral and leadership skills
into the college education. Additionally, the
University is working closely with industry
and the leadership at SRS to develop an
executive shadowing program for students.
Stay tuned for more information about
these developments at USC Aiken that
will prepare students for fulfilling postgraduation professions and lives. Click here
to be taken to the application at http://web.
usca.edu/student-involvement/leadershipprograms/leadership-program-form.dot
Search Updates
Campus Catering Director
(Aramark)
Controller (Due to incumbent’s
announced retirement)
Continuing to Accept Applications;
Search Firm now being utilized
Interviews Completed
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Construction UnderWay on Campus Projects
Starbucks in the SAC (A)
Construction underway.
Anticipated completion is early/
mid-January
Penland Fountain (B)
Construction underway.
Anticipated completion is early/
mid-January
Pedestrian Bridge (C)
Budget is being reviewed for
additional efficiences. Anticipating
an early January bid date and
hopeful for an award the first
quarter of 2014. Completion date
will be determined once awarded.
Funded by campus partner, Aramark
A
Funded by donor
B
C
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Opinion Survey on “Tobacco-Free Campus” begins
T
o encourage a campus
environment that promotes
the development of overall
wellness, including a sound mind
in a healthy body, USC Aiken
is discussing the adoption of a
tobacco-free campus policy.
Several universities in the state,
including USC Upstate and
USC Columbia have become
“tobacco-free campuses.” Before
making any decision, we want to
hear your thoughts on this topic. You are invited to participate
in a study regarding behaviors,
attitudes, and perceptions of the
USC Aiken community regarding
tobacco use policy on campus.
Please watch your email
beginning Monday, November
18th for the Attitudes and
Perceptions toward a TobaccoFree Campus Policy Survey. This
email will be coming from the
Office of the Chancellor. Your
feedback is very important and
should only take about 5-8 minutes
of your time. If you wish, you can
be entered into a drawing to win a
$50 gift certificate toward services
at the Wellness Center. Two
prizes will be given. The survey is
anonymous and neither the survey
or the compiled results will have
your name attached to it. Only
summarized information will be
made public.
Note: “Tobacco” refers to all
tobacco products, including:
cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes,
hookah, chewing tobacco,
snuff, and snus. If you have any
questions about this survey and/
or the tobacco use policy at USC
Aiken, please feel free to contact
Ms. Mila L. Padgett at 803.641.3230
or milap@USC Aiken.edu.
Athletics Update
Golf- the program wrapped up
an outstanding fall campaign by
registering three top-five finishes
to go along with a 13th-place
effort. Highlighting the fall season
was a team victory at the Firestone
Invitational Oct. 7-8 in Akron, Ohio.
Head coach Mike Carlisle’s team
posted a two-shot victory in the
17-team field. USC Aiken was the
lone Division II squad at the event.
The Pacers also earned secondplace finishes at Kiawah Island and
the Rock Barn Collegiate while
placing 13th at the AutoTrader.
com Collegiate.
During the fall
campaign, Brandon RobinsonThompson and Hayden Letien
picked up PBC Golfer of the Week
honors.
Men’s Soccer- Brandon Jarosz
picked up Peach Belt Conference
Goalkeeper of the Week honors for
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November 4.
Women’s Soccer- the Pacers
recorded an 8-8-2 mark and
had two of the top scorers in the
conference in Megan Smits and
second-team all-conference
honoree Hannah Allison. Smits
had a phenomenal year as six of
her 10 goals were game-winning
scores, which was the best in the
conference. The season featured
the third-most wins for the program
in its history and had the thirdlongest winning streak in the
program’s history as well. Hannah
Allison was also the PBC Women’s
Soccer Player of the Week for
October 28.
Cross Country- Senior Keely
Gillespie ended her collegiate
career by owning the top five 6k
times in school history along with
the top three 5k times. She won
three individual titles in her four
years with the Pacers. She earned
second-team all-conference
honors by finishing 11th in the
PBC Tournament. Her time in the
6k event was a school record.
Gillespie also earned all-region
honors as well.
Volleyball- Finished regular season
PBC play in sixth place with a 9-9
PBC record. Danielle Mercer was
named Specialist of the Week for
Sept. 16.
Basketball- USC Aiken’s men’s
basketball team was preseason
picked sixth nationally in the NABC/
Division II Coaches’ Poll while USC
Aiken’s women’s basketball team
was 20th in the USA Today Sports
Division II Top 25 Coaches’ poll. Click here to return to Table of Contents
Dr. Jordan to speak at
Atlanta Executive Seminar
D
r. Jordan will be one of the
speakers at an executive seminar
and scholarly forum, American
Higher Education in a Changing
Global Economy, on December 5th
from 1:00pm to 6:00pm at the Metro
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
The ever changing nature of
higher education in a globalized and
increasingly interdependent world is
posing tremendous challenges. To
meet these challenges, institutions
of higher education are seeking ways
to further innovate and connect
with outside communities in a
strategic infrastructure where new
initiatives blossom, flexibility abounds
and global reputations expand.
Knowledge development and the
commercialization of that knowledge
in the international context are seen as
the primary work of the 21st century
universities.
This executive seminar will address
many topics including emerging
global trends and local developments,
training of teachers, joint degrees,
and cross country collaborations. For
information and online registration
for this event please visit http://
usaindiabusinesssummit.com/
registration.php.
“RPG Committee” continued from Page 1
The students who are in good standing but
who fail to remain in college put completion
of a degree in jeopardy, for once those
students leave college, it becomes difficult to
return. For the state, failure to earn a college
degree poses difficulties regarding the state’s
economic success, limits the region’s ability
to attract high-paying companies and
industries, and thus, the tax capacity which
supports state funded programs, amenities,
and services.
Stakes are high for institutions as well.
A failure to retain and graduate academically
qualified students creates reputational issues,
represents a direct loss of tuition income
(which is used to attract and retain talented
faculty and staff and support programs), and
raises public questions about the institution’s
ability to accomplish the academic mission.
Furthermore, both internal (parents,
students, faculty, and staff) and external
constituencies (community, business leaders,
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accrediting agencies, and state & federal
legislatures) are paying more attention to
graduation rates and applying more pressure
on universities to address completion. So, in
addition to the university losing thousands
of dollars in unrealized tuition revenues,
the university that is unable to demonstrate
strong retention, progression, and
graduation trends is seen in an unfavorable
light, which impacts reputation, funding,
and fund-raising.
The RPG committee will be focusing
their efforts on understanding the retention,
progression, and completion of our students
while asking a set of important questions:
1.
Why do our students leave?
2.
What is our institution already doing to improve the issues?
3.
How effective are our existing programs or strategies?
4.
What programs and strategies may be worth considering?
5.
Do we believe that there exists significant support on campus to do something to address and solve the issue?
Educating students is exacting and
challenging work; but for all of us who
care about providing the best educational
experiences possible for our students,
nothing is more significant to completion
than finding the answers to those five
questions. We enter this work knowing
that no university can provide students
with a guarantee that they will graduate.
But as a committed university community
we can apply our collective abilities toward
understanding the issues and shaping
practices and programs that maximize the
opportunities for student success.
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