NOTEPAD
First Year Educator
September 26, 2011
by: Glenda Hensley
CEO Reminders
CALENDARS
September is National Preparedness Month.
Tip #1: Sign up for CatTracker Today!!!
*CatTracker is WCU’s Emergency Texting, Calling, and Email Emergency Notification System*
http://www.wcu-campus.info/go/mailinglist/1400/
CatTracker is a system that allows students, faculty, staff and parents to receive a message in case of an
emergency. Messages can be sent to email, cell phone, work phone, or home phone.
-----------------------------------Student Life Calendar: For a complete listing of what's going on for students from intramurals, to
concerts and lectures, to organizations, arts and culture, and so much more....
-----------------------------------Events Calendar: For detailed information on the arts and culture scene at WCU - plays, concerts, art
exhibits, films, and more...
________________________________________________________________________
EVENTS
The Chinese Opera Orchestra of Shanghai - Sept 27th at 7:30 in the Bardo
Arts Center. Tickets are $5 for students! This is a once in a lifetime
opportunity – the group rarely leaves China… and they’re some of the best
musicians in China. This is their first American tour. You can learn more at ace.wcu.edu
Red Zone Campaign:
Please visit the Red Zone website for all the latest opportunities –
This week we encourage you and your students to Take Back the Night – Wednesday, September 28
….A place free from sexual assault and domestic abuse. Become part of the solution!
UC Grandroom – Doors open at 6:00 pm and a march across campus will follow.
___________________________________________________
OPPORTUNITIES
The WCU Poverty Project ----- So many wonderful opportunities to engage…. Press on.
Many ideas are sparking - many of which are posted on the WCU Poverty Project website.
Here is one recently shared by the North Carolina Center for Teaching:
Heifer in Western North Carolina: October 1st, 10am-noon, at the NCCAT Arboretum.
Heifer International will ‘Gather the Crop’ of Heifer supporters to learn how our efforts are
working to end poverty around the world and here at home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------The NC Court of Appeals ------------ Hosted by LAW 195 – a first-year seminar
Monday, October 3 – in the UC Theatre. Case 1 at 1:25 and Case 2 at 2:30
Once you enter, you must remain until the end of the case. If you want your class to attend for credit,
they will be scanning cards. Information about the cases being argued as well as information about the
court can be made available by course instructors with our first-year seminar in LAW.
“It’s an honor to host a panel of judges on the NC Court of Appeals. Jayne Zanglein & I are
teaching a First Year Seminar on Conflict Resolution: litigation, negotiation & mediation. …Our
students have looked at the two cases on appeal, and have examined the role of appellate courts in
our system. Students in other classes, such as Law 201 Individual Rights, have also looked at the
substantive law in the criminal case that is on appeal. Typically, students are more familiar with how
trial courts function (from TV) than the role of appeals courts in our legal system. So it will be very
valuable for them to witness how appeals courts consider questions of law as they arise based upon
the fact patterns of specific cases, and how legal arguments are presented to the panel of judges.
Witnessing this process will help them to appreciate the role of judges in ruling on questions arising
under state law.” Debra Burke, Professor and Associate Dean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------NC State’s Institute for Emerging Issues http://www.ncsu.edu/iei/
The “Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation” grew out of recommendations from the Governor’s
Innovation Council’s “Talent Committee” (which several UNC representatives and UNCGA sit on) as part
of a larger strategy to remind students as early and often as possible that they can and must think
innovatively if we are to succeed as a society.
This year’s topic for Emerging Issues is focused on young people (sometimes known as Generation Z or
M, or the “internet generation,” but basically current high school age and down, see
http://www.ncsu.edu/iei/?page_id=1642), for what’s different about this generation, and how to
strengthen their education and connectedness to their communities at a time when opportunities seem
to be decreasing. The specific focus of this year’s innovation prize is to develop an “innovative idea to
increase North Carolina’s high school graduation rate.” Students are asked to work in teams (on
campus or between campuses) to develop and refine ideas, then to submit them to IEI for a chance at
the $5000 prize. Due date for apps 11/11; finalists 12/1; video submissions will be judged and
announced at the forum in February. Details at the URL. http://www.ncsu.edu/iei/?page_id=207
If you chose to consider participation in this opportunity, notify FYE so that we can track all of WCU’s
great work!
PERSPECTIVES
Student Mental Wellness
You may find this Globe and Mail article interesting: "New frosh week focus: mental wellness"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/universitynews/new-frosh-week-focusmentalwellness/article2160506/?service=email&utm_source=Shared+Article+Sent+to+User&utm_medium=Email%3A+Newsletters+%2F+EBlasts+%2F+etc.&utm_content=2160506&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links.
TOOLBOX
STUDENT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
Shared from the Coulter Faculty Commons “This Week” by Laura Cruz
Have you heard of CLASS TIPS? Located in the Technology Commons, ClassTIPS is a student support
service that provides software assistance and training to help students enhance their software
education. Throughout the semester they offer one-on-one assistance in the Technology Commons, inclass training, workshops and online virtual podcasts and tutorials. If your students are looking for help
with Adobe, Apple, OpenSource or Microsoft Office, CLASS TIPS are there to provide them the software
confidence you need to produce professional work for the classroom, assignments, eBriefcase and
future professions.
Don't forget that they can do in-class training, too. To contact them to schedule a session, the email
address is classtips@wcu.edu.
------------------------------------------Personality Exercise “CSI/Locos of Control Scenarios.”
You can find Dr. Fralick’s handout with various scenarios at:
http://www.collegesuccess1.com/MotivationM.htm Here is the description:
Students enroll in classes with the expectation that they will pass, but sometimes life intervenes. This
exercise is designed to help students think in advance about their resources, the consequences of their
choices, their backup plans, and the back up plans to their back up plans. Students are familiar with the
TV show, CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). Today, you are going to work in teams to look at typical
situations that happen to college students. Although each of these could be devastating to academic
success, in each case, there are proactive things the student can do in order to survive and thrive. The
first thing your group will do is to sort these scenarios into three categories. The "suicides" are
scenarios where the student's choices might kill his chances for success. The "homicides" are scenarios
where someone else's choices might kill the student's chances for success. The "accidents" are no-fault
scenarios that might kill the student's chances for success. Then, ask each group to pull out at least
one scenario from each category and think of as many potential solutions as possible. Encourage
students to use their syllabus, knowledge of faculty and campus resources, and ingenuity.
From the FYE Listserv- posted August 31, 2011: Dr. Marsha Fralick, Professor Emeritus, Cuyamaca
College - Author: College and Career Success, College Scope
The CORE
Academic Success –
from Chesney Reich, Director of the Writing and Learning Commons
As you post your 5th-week grades this week, please remember that the Writing and Learning Commons
(formerly the Catamount Academic Tutoring and Writing Centers) provides the following free services to
WCU students:
 One-on-one writing tutoring
 Small-group, course tutoring by appointment (Please see the attached Excel spreadsheet for our
current course tutor assignments)
 Individual Academic Skills Consultations
 Online resources for time management, note taking, test preparation, and study strategies
 In-class writing, research, and academic skill workshops
 Resources for Teaching Writing, including information about plagiarism and a “Plagiarism Self
Test” for students
 Online Writing Resources for students, including Assignment Strategies, how-to guides for
documenting sources, advice on writing in specific disciplines, and grammar help
The Mathematics Tutoring Center in 455 Stillwell also provides drop-in tutoring for math and computer
science.
To schedule course tutoring appointments or academic skill consultations, students can log in to
TutorTrac or call 828-227-2274. To schedule writing appointments, students should call 828-227-7197.
-------------------------------------------------------------Health & Wellness
This magazine is customized for our WCU students, but is a national
publication that is a valuable resource to find meaningful and timely
information on a wide variety of topics that cover all of the dimensions of
wellness.
Student Health 101 is an interactive digital media experience that allows readers to connect with other
students via content contribution, sharing stories, blogging and/or video.
Please take a look at the September edition and continue enjoying throughout the year. If this is
information that is relevant for your classroom, please feel free to use as needed.
You may access the magazine monthly either from the university health services website by clicking the
magazine cover, or by clicking the Student Health 101 logo on many student affairs departmental
websites.
-----------------------------------------
Collegiate Learning Assessment
WCU will be participating in the Collegiate Learning Assessment this fall. Shortly, the Office of
Institutional Planning and Effectiveness will begin the process of identifying a random sample of 300 first
year students to participate. This is a somewhat extensive assessment, including a writing sample. The
sessions will be conducted in the evenings or on Saturdays—this will not interfere with your class in any
way!
In the past, it has been quite difficult to persuade students to participate, even though there is
no penalty in terms of performance associated with participating. It is, admittedly, a bit of effort for
them. OIPE is gathering a bunch of potential rewards for students (early registration, a drawing for
priority parking privileges, other goodies), within the limits of budgetary constraints.
Please consider offering activity credit for any of your students who are selected to participate,
to encourage them to do so. I can see this easily being considered as an out-of-class activity similar to
attending a lecture or presentation by a visiting speaker or something similar to that (though, granted, it
does require more effort on the students’ part!). There are ample opportunities for those in your class
who are not selected to earn similar activity credit. You could ask students to write a short reflection on
the experience.
Please do what you can, without singling out students who are offered this opportunity, to
encourage participation. Remember that this will be a random sample—there may be more than one
student in your class that is asked to participate, and there may be none, but this sample of 300 will all
be first year students.
Thanks for your help with this!
Nory Prochaska, Director, Mathematics Tutoring Center
----------------------------------------------------The Transitions Commons: Are you interested to connect a learning project with another course or
perhaps to share a guest lecture, being mindful that our experts are in high demand with over 50
freshman transition classes. Click this link to see which classes with whom you share time.
RESOURCE FILE
Blackboard --- reference and participate in the Transition Pathways Course site....
CFC on the Web --- help with teaching, technology, and more--- helping you do what you do better!
FYE on the Web --- many resources and network links to help you along the way …..
QEP on the Web --- discover the possibilities - find the resources you need - find your path.....
Page 1 of 1
file://C:\Users\klindsay\Desktop\Personal\Heifer\Heifer Harvest.gif
9/6/2011
Take Back the Night
A place free from sexual assault and domestic abuse.
We invite you to become part of the solution, part of the
end to violence in our communities. Here is a place to
take a stand, a place to break the silence.
Here we can Take Back the Night!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
UC Grand room
Doors open at 6:00pm
A march across campus to follow
Sponsored by the Department of Intercultural Affairs
Special thanks to REACH of Jackson County, Counseling and Psychological Services,
Health Services, Student Community Ethics and Our VOICE
For more information, please contact Sarah Carter at sacarter@wcu.edu