Council of Academic Advisors
Wednesday, June 11, 2015
8:30 AM, UAASC Conference Room
Present: Laurie Black (Registrar’s Office), Julie Brines (UAASC), Sue Dagit (Registrar’s Office), Jeanne Gage (COEHS), Jennifer Grimm (Communication), Molly Homer (Honors’ College), Caryn Morgan (CAS), Charles Noble (Military Science), Estelle Plewa (UAASC), Andi Potter (CBT‐Eng Tech), Chris Ramsey (CBT), Jennifer Sandrik‐Rubio (Physical Sciences), Theo Schultz (Pre‐
Nursing), Michelle Terry (CBT), Phoebe Wilson (COEHS), Michelle Yager (UAASC) Guest: Dr. Pedro Bidegaray ~ the new director of the Office of Study Abroad and Outreach Dr. Bidegaray is an anthropologist born in Peru, who spent most of his life as an international researcher/anthropologist/teacher/Director of Int’l Programs in Costa Rica and Michigan State. He feels it is essential to provide an International experience for students, and this can only be accomplished with the support of advisors. He would like for International Education to be an integral part of what students experience here at WIU before graduating. It is an institutional effort and everyone plays a role. In response to his request for input, the following suggestions were made: 
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Some universities are now requiring advisors and faculty to go abroad with students, and with that the institution sees the value of international education, but money is a problem. You don’t have to be a current teacher to submit a proposal to send students to study abroad … anyone interested may contact Michelle Terry for help in writing and submitting a proposal. Short‐term study abroad programs are not as intimidating for students because they feel safer, and once they experience that they are more likely to go again. An international experience permits a better understanding of how students can fit into the global world. There needs to be good science courses students can take while abroad … it is not that they don’t want to go abroad, it is that they can’t find the right classes, especially for students who want to go abroad for an entire semester. It is less expensive to go for a semester than for a couple weeks. Student finances are a problem … a lot of our students are coming from low socio‐economic backgrounds. Maybe effort could be directed toward working with Foundations to develop scholarships. The Study Abroad Program, due to its physical location, is not visible to students. Informational flyers and brochures could be placed in academic buildings and residence halls so that students get that information. Some things need to happen on campus in order for students to start asking questions … are we using the diversity we have on campus to its greatest extent? Students don’t have to go abroad to have international exposure. Academic savvy is also another concern. Alternative opportunities on campus might be a way to start that experience on campus and be a motivator for students to do better in classes A break‐out session, an opportunity to speak at SOAR, or speaking at fall orientation could reach parents and students. 
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Fliers could be distributed in U100 classes since all freshman take the course. Something to do with international education might fit into the requirement that each student needs to do two community‐based assignments. Contact Staci Macchi for ideas for campus exploration activities. Another possibility could be through housing because they have to do programming for floor meetings. Contact Mishelle Oakes for an activity through housing. Student reps who have gone abroad could talk about their experiences. Create a 1 credit hour study abroad class where the fee attached could go toward getting a passport. There are some universities that require all freshmen to study abroad their first year. There have been grants through Caterpillar and other business where students could study abroad. Make it part of students already‐required hours. Dr. Bidegaray will be sending notes to advisors within the next 2‐3 weeks, asking for appointments after the start of fall semester to develop ideas that can be done within the reality of each unit. He would like to explore something that makes sense to advisors and students. He would like advisors to set 2‐year goals that are specific to each unit. Students in education, business, and foreign languages are doing well abroad. There is a lot of money in the Foreign Languages Department to help students with study abroad; however, this can create a misperception that being in foreign languages is the only way to be able to go abroad. Since many are unaware of the differences between Study Abroad and International Programs, it was suggested that Dr. Bidegaray could give an explanation and an update at the Advisor’s Workshop on August 19th I.
SOAR UPDATES: Three SOARs programs have occurred at the time of this COAA meeting. Check‐in Academic check‐in is better since being moved from Corbin‐Olson to the Capital Room in the Union. It’s a quieter space, creates a better atmosphere, and is more conducive to private conversations. There have been some students who have by‐passed check‐in. Maybe the O‐Team could make sure students wear their name tags, because if they aren’t wearing a name tag that would indicate they didn’t check‐in. The Honors Program and Military Science have tables in the Grand Ballroom. In the beginning O‐
Team members brought the students into the Ballroom as the Welcome address was starting. This didn’t give the students the opportunity to stop by the Honor’s and ROTC tables. The O‐Team members are now bringing the students into the ballroom earlier and walking them past the tables, improving the situation. There has been a problem with students and families not eating before arriving on campus. All the SOAR printed information clearly encourages students and families to eat prior to the program. The Orientation budget pays for Day 2’s breakfast and lunch but it can’t afford to provide supper on Day 1. A suggestion was made to increase the SOAR price to include supper on Day 1. This was especially a problem during the first 2 programs as they were held prior to summer school starting so Burger King was not open. Now that summer school has started and Burger King is open, this may not be as big of a problem. Placement Testing/PIP The Math department has reduced the number of students who can test and are placing students in the Placement Improvement Program (PIP). There has been a problem with students coming to test who aren’t supposed to test. It is hoped this will be corrected by changing the wording on the PIP blue sheet Students offered PIP have not received the e‐mail inviting them to start. Angela Kline is working to rectify the situation. A PIP list will be sent out to advisors after Day 2. Technically, a student takes a math placement test when they take the ACT and/or SAT. In the Appalachian State University’s Pre‐Registration program, every student takes an online math placement exam as part of the pre‐reg program. Students in math rich majors take a calculus readiness exam. If they don’t place into calculus, they are required to also take the general placement test. There are not as many students taking the foreign language test this year Major Meetings/Dismissal The first program’s dismissal was rocky, but it should be getting better. Advisors would like to have more time at major meetings. It seems less personal than in previous years because of rooms and set‐up. Lunch Schedule Students are getting back from lunch on time. Advisors need to instruct students to stay in the cafeteria and look for their specific college signs. The signs are being carried by their O‐Team members. Some college’s are putting a picture of the sign in their power point presentations as a visual reminder. There was a suggestion that the staggered lunch component needs to be addressed next year. It’s probably not possible for everyone to have lunch at the same time, but it could be suggested we have 2 staggered lunches next year. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR: More time for major meetings 2 lunch shifts II.
Pre‐Registration/Registration Discussed in other areas above Student Survey The survey will be turned on at 11:00 rather than 1:00 Linkages Programs Admissions has identified students that have a $7,000 EFC or greater (amount not being covered by Financial Aid). Admissions and Financial Aid reps are supposed to be talking to the identified students and parents about Linkages because it would be less expensive. For students indicated as “linkages”, advisors should ask them if anyone has talked to them about Linkages, and if they say ‘no’, register them for a whole course load. If a student indicates they are in the Linkages program, only put them in UNIV 100 in the fall and an FYE class in the spring. Nancy Parsons has given permission for these students to have FYE waived for the fall semester. Sarah Lawson is the only one who can load this permission in MVS. There are a very small number of students in Linkages right now. Andy Borst believes it will grow as the summer progresses. There will be a new person in UAASC who will take over the Linkages responsibility. The Quad Cities campus has a program and a process in place. The UAASC person will coordinate with Curtis Williams. It was not believed that anyone was following up about Linkages. Flyers about Linkages are needed to hand out to students. III.
Summer Tutoring Updates UAASC is sponsoring the second summer of limited online tutoring. Tutoring will be held from 2‐7 PM, M‐Th, in Memorial Hall 008. One‐on‐one, telephone, e‐mail, and skype tutoring are available. In‐person hours are from 2‐4:30. There are two tutors available in the areas of Math 099, 100, 101, 123, 128, 311 and Stats 171; Anthropology 110; Art History 180 Family Consumer Sciences 109; History 105; Health 120, 121, and 123; Philosophy 120 and 140; Political Science 101; Religion 111; Women’s Studies 190 and 360; Geology 113; Psychology 100, 250, 251, 425, 442, and 445; Sociology 300, 313, 355, and 360. Financial Aid is trying to verify that students are attending tutoring. For Skype, students must make a ½ hour appointment. Information about summer tutoring is on the app and online. It is hoped to have limited Skype access available for online tutoring fall semester. Please let Julie know of any other tutoring opportunities this summer IV.
Standing Committee Reports Professional Development and Networking There will be a Brown Bag luncheon held today in MH 124. Jim DiTulio will speak on personality disorders and working with those students. Campus Affairs No Report Assessment The committee is in the middle of working on a new initiative. They have developed a mission statement and are shifting focus on what the committee is doing and expectations. This will be discussed at the retreat and at the August workshop. Awards and Recognition No Report Technology Committee No Report V. CAGAS No Report VI. News from the Registrar’s Office Monday, June 15 - Last day to delete (drop for 100% credit) any SU15 8-wk, 6-wk, and 1st 4-wk
classes. Monday, June 22 - Last day to drop 1st 4-wk courses or withdraw from 1st 4-wk session.
News from the Graduation Department/WARD Report area:
Gen ed changes have been programmed Hist 115, 116, 211 in humanities and also FL/GI Arts 181 in fine arts, will first be offered spring 2016 Foreign Language 350 in multi‐cultural HIST 342 / WS 342 in multi‐cultural GEOG 251 in social science Programming is done for New option in Biology (environmental biology) New option in Construction management (facilities management) New emphasis in Network Technologies (cyber security) New minor in Psychology (substance abuse) Not done yet Liberal Arts & Sciences new emphasis in Peace Corps New minor in Criminalistics for LEJA majors New minor in Queer Studies Journalism is moving from English to Broadcasting. This will mean changing from Arts & Sciences gen ed to university gen ed. Change will take place on July 1 and will impact potential summer graduates. Some changes to majors have also not been done. Donna let the advisors know when their area has had changes in programming so they can check them out for accuracy. New minors are only available for viewing in the 2015 catalog until after summer degrees have been posted, then they will be put back into earlier years. VII. College/Area News Amelia and Niall Hartnett are the proud parents of a baby boy, Finn Hartnett. OAS advisors are dividing up his SOAR students since he is on parental leave through mid‐July. Ehren Kozekov had a baby girl. VIII. New Business Michelle needs the names of COAA reps for next year. She has heard from COEHS (Angie and Stacey), CAS (Jennifer and Vicki), and COFAC, Jan (fall) and Jennifer. Kim Moreno will be the Quad Cities representative. Athletic advising is Lisa. New reps take over during the August advising workshop, with the first official meeting on September 8, 2015. Dr. Kathy Neumann was named Dean and interim provost. The meeting adjourned at 10:25. Respectfully submitted, Debbie Carithers