Council of Academic Advisors
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
10:30 AM, Union Board Room
Present: Althea Alton (LAS), Sue Dagit (Registrar’s Office), Stacy Dorsett (COEHS), Jennifer
Grimm (Communications), Molly Homer (Honor’s College), Ehren Kuzekov (Study Abroad),
Candace McLaughlin (UAASC), Lisa Melz-Jennings (Athletics), Kathy Meyers (SAPSC nad
VRC), Caryn Morgan (CAS), Kelly Morris (UAASC), Julie O’Brien (UAASC), Chris Ramsey
(CBT), Shannon Reed (LAS), Colin Rogness (BA/BGS). Jennifer Sandrik-Rubio (Physical
Sciences), Theo Schultz (Pre-Nursing), Patrick Stout (Broadcasting), Michelle Terry (CBT Rep),
Dana Vizdal (Study Abroad/CBT Advising – Administrative Intern), Tammy Wilson (COEHS)
Guests: Keri Allison and Michael McGowan, RPTA – New Outdoor Leadership Minor
A brochure was distributed describing the Outdoor Leadership Minor with Environmental
Conservation & Outdoor Education Expedition (ECOEE)
Starting fall, 2011, this unique minor (through application only) is completed in 2 semesters (24
hour minor). Specific information about ECOEE can be found on the RPTA website.
The EEOC Program has been extended into the Outdoor Leadership Minor consisting of 2
classes in the spring with travel study courses in the fall. All majors can apply and a student can
have an RPTA major with this minor as well.
A question was asked about veterans who would like to apply but veteran funding can only be
paid to the university, not the department. Although he thought that all the ECOEE expenses
were billed through the university, M. McGowen will check with the department chair and get
back to Kathy Meyers, Director of the Veteran’s Resource Center. Veterans would like to
participate if all expenses are payable to the university.
The certificate program is built into the minor. If graduates want to come back for the
certification portion of the program after graduation, they can do so. Majors include students
from virtually every college.
Participating in the ECOEE portion is less expensive than living in a residence hall. Students in
this program are released from having to live in a residence hall while in the program.
Canada and Mexico are both areas where students in this program have visited, as well as sea
kayaking in Baja, CA. Students travel to their destination in 15-passenger vans. This is a
competitive program since only 18 students are accepted at a time. Consideration for acceptance
into the program includes good academic standing and the ability of the students to perform in a
more-stressful academic situation where they do not have not access to the library or dorm
rooms.
The ECOEE coordinator (Jeff Tinsdale) received the 2011-2012 Wilderness Association Award
for Instructor of the Year.
An electronic form of the brochure will be sent to Candy and she will attach it the minutes, along
with the web link for application. Refer any students interested in the program to the RPTA
home page. All information needed is there.
I.
Early Warning Discussion – McLaughlin
The newly-reformed Retention Committee meets later this week. Since faculty cannot be
required to submit early warning grades (University Policy), advisors brainstormed ways to
promote the submission of midterm grades particularly for freshmen. There was a 65.3%
return rate on mid-term grades this semester which is about normal. The College of Business
return rate was almost 74%. Advisers would like to see the return rate increase across all
colleges.
Two instructors responded to the “I” designation on the midterm reports. Their interpretation
of “I” was insufficient information to give a grade since that is how the screen they see
defines an “I.” The MVS screen advisers see defines “I” as “incomplete” In each case, the
faculty member awarded the “I” because they were unable to submit a letter grade prior to
the deadline. They did use Western Online to provide feedback to students.
Possible initiatives:
1) Meet with Chairs or Chair’s Council to explain importance of midterm grades in our
efforts to improve retention of students.
2) Encourage students to be proactive and ask faculty where they stand in class and how the
mid-term grade (if given) relates to Western Online grades.
3) Give money for scholarships to whichever department returns the most EW forms.
4) Re-name the form something like mid-term progress reports and report all grades, not just
Ds and Fs. It makes a difference if an * means a C or an A when paired with Ds or Fs.
5) Somehow connect the form to Western Online, using this in addition to the hard copy
mid-term warning.
6) Use this as an opportunity to educate students, maybe in FYE classes, that college is
different from high school in the amount of tests and grades, what the first 10-day period
of a semester means, drop dates, etc. The purpose of FYE classes is help students adjust
to college and this is critical information they need.
7) Maybe more training on the grade book portion of Western Online.
Candy will relay these recommendations to Nancy Parsons, who is interested in
suggestions for the FYE curriculum. Suggestions can only be encouraged, not mandated.
This can also be discussed in FYE meetings.
Sue will check with Suzanne about the percentage of faculty who use Western Online.
Sue will also check with the Registrar’s Office about why the last day to drop is on a Sunday.
Several advisers commented on the confusion this causes and recommended it be moved to
Monday. It was suggested that Financial Aid may be affected if the drop date moved to Monday
because this takes classes into the 11th week and may affect the amount of money students
receive in aid.
II. Final 2012 SOAR Dates - McLaughlin
Candy will send the 2012 SOAR dates as an attachment to the minutes
The June 25-26 dates replaced the unadvertised July 24-25 dates, so will not be advertised in
the Admissions packet or Student Handbook – but will be available on the MVS screen for
students to select.
July 17-18 will be marked as closed and opened as needed.
Maximum enrollment might be increased after the first program to see if that improves the
“show” rate as long as OAS is not overbooked.
Maximum enrollment on June 8-9 will be kept lower to accommodate summer school
students who are in summer classes.
This discussion will be continued at the next meeting.
III. Standing Committee Reports - McLaughlin
Professional Development Committee (Molly)
The committee has met 2 times. They are hopeful to have 2 programs a semester.
Andi Potter is coordinating ‘My Last Lecture’, given by Candy at 3:00 PM on December 8 at
in the Union Capitol Rooms. There will be a social afterward in the Union, possibly in the
Lincoln Room. Caryn and Patti Mason are doing a U-Select Training session on February 21.
Phoebe Wilson is coordinating a program with someone from Educational Leadership to
conduct a workshop called “Sandbox Wisdom”, which deals with how to get along with
people without rubbing each other the wrong way, on April 5, at 1-3:30.
Assessment Committee (Julie)
No report. The committee will meet again in a couple weeks.
Social (Jennifer)
This committee is coordinating the social event after the ‘Last Lecture’ presentation. She
will send an e-mail about arrangements after they have been finalized. After the February 1
COAA meeting there will be a luncheon to welcome the new director. A possible taco or
potato bar was suggested.
IV.
CAGAS News – O’Brien
CAGAS did not meet last week but will meet tomorrow. Julie will be unable to attend.
Julie read the list of members serving on CAGAS. A complete listing is also available on
their website.
Julie will let everyone know if there is anything important coming up tomorrow once she
gets a copy of the agenda.
V. News from the Office of the Registar – Dagit
CAGAS appeals and decision access
•
The deadline for dropping a Fall 2011 class was Sunday, Oct 30. A grace period was
extended to Monday for those students having trouble dropping a course.
At this point, if a student wants to drop a course it is a CAGAS appeal.
If a student wants a total withdrawal, s/he must go through SDO
•
The deadline for Commencement participants to have their names in the program is
now past.
•
Please attend the open sessions (1-2 pm in the Capitol Rooms) for the University
Advising and Academic Services Center Director candidates.
Thursday, 11/10 – Patrick Cate, Plymouth State (NH) University
Friday, 11/18 – Terri Massie-Burrell, Towson (MD) University
Monday, 11/28 – Michelle Yager, Bethel College (IN
•
There are two new members of the Registrar’s Office staff
Heather Ussery, front desk, first point of contact
Christina Werling, assisting with enrollment verifications, NCAA academic
eligibility, and Commencement
VII.
College/Area News
The volume of e-mail announcements through Telestars that students receive was discussed,
as well as different method where all calendar dates are combined into one Telestar
announcement. There was concern that students were ignoring advisor e-mails due to the
large number of e-mail announcements they receive. Suggestions included grouping
Telestar announcements, creating a focus group of students to do a survey, and discussing
this with SGA. Candace will contact Brenda Parks to possibly investigate a way to group
these e-mail together into 1 mailing.
VIII.
Miscellaneous
Ember, Debbie, Julie and Jane all have access to Candace’s advising mailing list. If anyone
has anything to be forwarded to the group, please send to any of these people and they will
forward it on.
COAA dates for spring semester will be forwarded with these minutes.
Having no other business, the meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Carithers