Council of Academic Advisors
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
8:30 AM, Union Board Room
Present: Michele Aurand (Centennial Honors’ College), Jane Coplan (UAASC), Sue Dagit (Registrar’s Office), Jeanne Gage (COEHS), Jennifer Grimm (Communication), Molly Homer (Honors’ College), Ehren Kuzekov (Study Abroad), Lisa Melz‐Jennings (Athletics), Kathy Meyers (SAPSC and VRC), Caryn Morgan (CAS), Charles Noble (Military Science), Andi Potter (CBT‐Eng Tech), Estelle Plewa (UAASC), Chris Ramsey (CBT), Jennifer Sandrik‐Rubio (Physical Sciences), Theo Schultz (Nursing), Renee Simpson (UAASC), Michelle Terry (CBT), Phoebe Wilson (COEHS), Michelle Yager (UAASC) Guests: 1. Aimee Shouse (Women’s Studies) & Dr. Gordon Pettit ~ Conducting Student Conversations About Programs on the “Watch” List 2. Dr. Boris Petracovici ~ Student Selection for SOAR Math Placement Criteria & Placement
Improvement Program (PIP) Selection Criteria Women’s Studies The Women’s Studies program offers a major and minor and until recently a post‐doc certificate … since its elimination from the program the department can now devote more attention to the undergraduate program. The minor is very healthy right now; however, the major is the problem. Because Women's Studies is a discovery major and no student comes to WIU as a Women’s Studies major, it is important that students take WS 190 (intro) to learn about the major. The decline of numbers in the intro class helped explained the decline in the major. Since numbers for major have increased, they have not heard that it is going to be cancelled at this point, as long as there is an increase The department provides books for every class women’s study class … the extra copies are in the office and students are doing better because of that. What they are doing: 
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Moving to Simpkins Hall this summer, providing greater visibility Communicating more with community colleges Introducing a 2 new 200‐level course dealing with Hispanic women, lesbianism, and gender identity, that they will hopefully be approved for Ged Ed credit. Women’s Studies graduates obtain jobs in childcare, Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs, non‐profit organization, victim services areas, and advocacy organizations. Philosophy/Religious Studies After graduation, majors typically do almost exactly the things same as Women’s Studies major. Typical job might include non‐profit agencies, jobs that require reading, writing, or communication skills, ministry with the religious studies major. Major numbers are about the same as Women’s Studies. The department is optimistic about the future of the major. Many have members have received teaching awards. They have a review plan in place since they are under review. They are developing brochures talking about advantages of a major in religious studies. The major offers valuable content in terms of understanding religion. Students in a major on the “watch list” will be grandfathered in and will be able to complete the major. Math Placement at SOAR and PIP Distributed were the blue sheets given to students at check‐in, the math placement grid, and the orange math copies in the folder Since the Math Department has been asked to reduce the number of students who take math placement (a maximum of 30 students), math placement will be held in Stipes Hall 331. PIP will still be offered to selected students, with placement testing the weekend of fall move‐in. Students must have completed a percentage of the PIP program in order to take the test. Of the five hundred students who took COMPASS last summer, without counting the last day when COMPASS was unavailable, only 18 (4%) improved from 099. Even with minimal improvement, this was a good PR instrument that diffused student’s concern about paying for a non‐credit class and acted as an objective rather than subjective way to assess math placement. College‐bound students need to do more than other and minimum requirements are not enough to be successful in college. Boris will be at check‐in on Day 1. He will be more stringent this summer about who takes COMPASS on Day 2 and in the fall after coming back to campus. The approach is based on data. The posture is that the data and history of Math 099 placement is that the people allowed to test will have the greatest chance of improving. The brown math placement grid and the blue placement sheet given to students at check‐in have been revised. Students who had math in their senior year will be recommend to take the placement test in the morning, as well as those in the sciences who need more advanced math. The Provost’s Office will pay for PIP over the summer. The ratio of those who take PIP and who complete it over the summer will be low. Angela will have a list of students recommended to take placement in the fall, with a maximum of 50‐60 students. There will be a list of those students selected to be in PIP at SOAR. These students will be sent an e‐mail to their WIU e‐mail account about how to log‐
in. Boris will check with Angela about the number of hours needed to complete PIP. Last year, those who followed through with PIP increased their placement. PIP is an online e‐book with no cost to the students. A minimum score of 51 is needed to go into 100. Advisors will know what the Math Department has recommended by the PIP or SOAR indication on the orange sheet. Students who take algebra in their senior year or those who will take COMPASS and are close could be could potentially be recommended for PIP. PIP will be available to those students who placed in 099 who have the potential to rise to 100. Shift in approach … a lot of questions and uncertainty about why things have changed. Shift in philosophy in upper administration. Because there will be no special session to talk to parents about this, there may be questions about it in the major meeting. The blue placement sheet has been updated. There has also been a change in the math grid and the information has been updated on the math department website. The Math Department was prompted to remove many of the stars and look at those people who have the best chance of improvement. Boris will be at check‐in. As an institution, we hope counselors will encourage students to take more math classes in high school in preparation for college. PARC may impact parents on how they educate students in regard to college preparedness. PARC relays what college preparedness means and will help retention. FL has been talking to counselor about the effect of FL in high school in relationship to students entering WIU and either coming in with FL credit and/or having enough credits for a minor Will look at data at the end of summer and see how it worked, and also document the number of parental calls. I.
SOAR – Michelle Yager The 2015‐2016 SOAR Schedule was taken from the administrative calendar was distributed. The number of SOAR dates has gone from 10 to 11, holding 1 in reserve. The first date SOAR is a Friday/Saturday before summer school starts, which might good for athletes. The athletic practice schedule was distributed. Michelle will re‐send the SOAR schedule for 2015. The final lunch schedule has not changed. COEHS has ST 301 reserved for overflow students from 307. It is now known if FYE is on the agenda. As far as Michelle knows, the O‐Team will discuss this and college readiness with students. Advisors may want to discuss that during major meetings just to make sure it is covered. The final SOAR agenda has not been distributed yet. Michelle will discuss this with Sarah at their meeting on Friday Training for GAs, advisors new to SOAR, and anyone else who wants to come will be held on the Tuesday or Wednesday before SOAR. Jane will post dates to the listserve. II.
Summer Matrics and the SOAR Program Review Students need to contact Admissions to have their matric date changed to summer prior to registering for summer classes. Once registered, advisors should contact Sarah or Dana to have hold put on so that students can’t register for fall classes before SOAR. Advisors should make sure they are looking at the most current matric information. III. 2015‐2016 COAA Meeting Schedule – Michelle Yager The COAA meeting schedule was distributed, with a new location and day of the week. In order to unify campuses, advisors, and staff, meetings need to be held in a COEC equipped room so that those advisors can join in. IV. NACADA Region 5 Conference Report – Julie Brines, Jennifer Grimm, and Caryn Morgan The WIU session dealt with assessment and progress thus far Some sessions advisors attended were: Readmitted students and programs dealing with these students Public relations … what advisors are doing on campus How to combine academic and career advising components Utilizing the services during budget cut times How departments can use U100 as group advising sessions for declared and undeclared students U100 teachers are hired by the area and students earn elective credit. Com is looking at Comm 130 as a class that Jennifer might use in group advising. Summer registration program with block advising The ILACADA in Champaign next year should be very interesting and everyone interested was encouraged to attend. V.
Update on Automated Advising Appointment – Michelle Yager Karolynn Heuer, Ron, and Michelle met to discuss how advisor can reconnect with students when return to campus in the fall after SOAR. They decided automated advising appointments would probably not work. Instead, each college could come up with a plan of how they are going to reconnect and what ways they would do that. COEHS will hold open houses where they invite freshmen to come to the center to see where they are located. Advisors should go back to their college and come up with a plan on how you are going to reconnect with your students. VI. Standing Committee Reports Professional Development and Networking This year’s retreat will be held on May 18, on the Quad Cities campus from 10:00‐2:00 This year’s theme focuses on connecting or bridging with the Quad Cities campus. Louis Moreno will be the keynote speaker. Even though the RSP deadline has already elapsed, if anyone wants to attend can talk to Monica, Donna, or Renee. The van will leave at 8:15; the retreat will be held in Building 2, Room 2012. Panera Bread will be catering. If you want to follow the van, meet in the Credit Union parking lot Campus Affairs and Public Relations The lemonade distribution was successful. Donations for Spring for Books is still active. Assessment This summer, the committee will be working on defining an assessment plan. They are also looking helping departments work on assessment and looking at focus groups for the assessment plan. Awards and Recognition Caryn Morgan was the April Advisor of the Month. Theo Schultz was named Advisor of the Year and his information will be forwarded to NACADA. Keri Allison was the runner‐up and she will apply to ILACADA. The next advisor of the month will be selected in September. The committee is attempting to pick a time to celebrate all advisors of the month (they are looking at possibly the week between SOAR or the August Workshop, with desserts and photos to post those for publicity. They will work with Jane on dates. Technology Committee A thank you was extended to everyone who completed the survey on prioritizing tasks. At the last meeting, Angela reviewed list; there are things that are already being worked on and some things are not possible, what to do to move ahead with some items. None of the items required approval from the IT Governance Committee. VII. CAGAS Report CAGAS is done for this semester; however, there will be summer meetings, with the first meeting on June 2. The committee will meet on Tuesday mornings in the summer. Lisa will attend if she is in town since Jane can’t go because of SOAR commitments. VIII. News from the Registrar’s Office Recently added to Student Lists and Downloads: 
2015/05/04 Not Returning status (from ADEN) added to ADVISEE list 
2015/05/12 Undergraduate CERTIFICATES added to student lists and downloads Important Dates: a. Monday, 5/18/2015 o Pre‐session begins. b. Tuesday, 5/19/2015 o Final grades are due at noon and will be processed overnight. c. Wednesday, 5/20/2015 o Academic Status Letters are scheduled to be sent via regular mail. o Degrees for SP15 graduates with all requirements met will be posted. d. Tuesday, 5/26/2015 o Pre‐session classes resume. o Last day to delete pre‐session courses e. Thursday, 5/28/2015 o Last day to drop pre‐session classes or to withdraw from pre‐session f. Friday, 5/29/2015 o Deadline for clearing deficiencies for the May 16 graduation date g. Tuesday, 6/2/2015 o Remaining degrees will be posted overnight. h. Diplomas will go out the last week in June. IX. College/Area News X.
Michelle needs to know names of COAA reps for next year. Sharon Keeling will be retiring on August 1st. LAS advising will shift to Ralph Heisseinger during SOAR and to Ellen Poulter following SOAR. In the fall, Ralph will be advising the remainder of Sharon’s students. Colin Rogness will be leaving WIU. His last day will be May 26. There will be open house for him on May 21 from 11:00‐2:00 in the reserved back room of the Old Dairy. Students are concerned that their leases end July 1 and summer school ends July 4. They may be able to stay at Olson Hall. There will be a pilot FYE living/learning program next fall. The Theatre 101Y class will be linked with a section of Univ 100 honors class. This would require special permission from Molly and the corresponding U100. Since these co‐reqs, students have to register for both simultaneously. Students would be required to live on the honors floor. Information will be on the honors sheet sent out and given to advisors. Molly will talk to students about this at the honors breakfast during SOAR. Not all students living on the floor will be in the class. Monday was the launch debut of Veteran Voices. There were 14 contributors and 3 students were editors. All copies of the 1st printing are gone and there have been requests for copies of the 2nd printing. Copies are free. Send Kathy an e‐mail if you would like a copy New Business None There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 am. Respectfully submitted, Debbie Carithers