B Y: G L EN D A HE N S L E Y
FE B RU A R Y 6 , 2 0 12
CEO Reminders
CALENDARS
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...
Calendar Highlights and Quick-takes:
More details can be found on the events calendars above – but I thought this may prompt some ideas for you….
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February 6-8th: African American Heritage Festival (more below)
February 24th: WHEE Lead -- A 1-day leadership conference for students
March 10th: Dance Marathon: Dance With Me Under The Sea
March 15th: Gender Conference -- “Women and Poverty in the Global Economy”
March 18-22: Literary Festival
March 25th: Valley of the Lilies/Run for Congo Women
March 26th-29th: Chancellor’s Installation Week
March 26-27: Undergraduate Research Expo
March 28th: QEP Pathways – Making it visible -- a Poster Presentation and Celebration
March 31st: EYE on FYE contest submissions deadline
April 27th: EYE on FYE Showcase & PEAKS Block Party – a First-year student Celebration – Plan to visit
Blue Ridge conference room between 1-5 pm to see the wonders of first-year creativity!
Waste Land 7 PM --February 8, 2012 - UC Theater
A WCU Poverty Project Film/Discussion Series presentation, with discussion led
by Erin Tapley, Associate Professor of Art Education, this social documentary is
based around the life of top-selling contemporary artist Vik Muniz, a garbage
picker in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. For more information: Waste Land
Flamenco Vivo – February 13th – 7:30 Pm in the Bardo Arts Center
Driven by the fiery cante jondo, Flamenco Vivo/Carlota Santana provides passion and
drama in their inspiring program La Pasión Flamenca. This fierce and eclectic evening of
Spanish dance and music will be a stunning charge to the senses.
See more about this program here -
Advising Day ---- February 21, 2012
Courtesy of David Goss, Director of the Advising Center
Tuesday, February 21st kicks off the advising/registration period for Summer and Fall semesters. Some
departments hold group advising sessions for students while other departments offer individual advising
appointments. Some departments choose to hold information sessions to showcase their major(s.) Advising
Day is a special opportunity to connect with your students, however you choose to do it – but it’s not the only
day.
 We in the Advising Center encourage students to take advantage of Advising Day opportunities and to
meet with their faculty advisors before their assigned registration date. The following link provides
information about priority registration dates:
http://www.wcu.edu/registrar/schedule/earlyreg_summer_fall.pdf
 Advising Center advisors will staff tables in the Courtyard Dining lobby on Advising Day from 9 – 12:00
noon and on the UC lawn from 11:00 – 2:00 to provide information about department activities.
Additionally, a workshop will be offered in Coulter 105 from 2:00-3:00 to help students prepare for their
advising session with you.
 If you have finalized the plans for your department activities for Advising Day, please let David Goss,
dgoss@email.wcu.edu, know so that they can be included in the calendar.
EVENTS
The first African American Heritage Festival - February 6-8, 2012
This is a 3-day festival in celebration of Black History Month, proudly presented by
the Department of Intercultural Affairs. For a full list of events, please visit our site.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information please contact ICA
by email ica@wcu.edu or phone 828-227-2276.
---Please scroll to the bottom of this issue to see the flyer in full size.
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QEP Pathways ------ Save the Date! March 28 – from 2 – 4 p.m., UC Grand Room
QEP Pathways is a half-day event demonstrating synthesis – the spirit of WCU’s Quality Enhancement Plan – by
showcasing the creative, unique, and innovative ways our QEP has fostered intentional learning. Come be a part
of the 5th Year festivities – as we celebrate the work we have done. See illustrative examples of QEP integration
embodied in creative assignments, experiential activities and innovative projects & performances.
OPPORTUNITIES
The WCU Poverty Project: To see more about the work, visit us on the WCU Poverty Project website.
Spotlight:
 February 16th Power Out for Poverty – A campus wide event -- this voluntary blackout is a day to
promote poverty awareness and how it is impacted by energy availability. Access to energy is a key
component of alleviating poverty and 1.6 billion people on planet earth still live without
energy. Residence halls will be participating; faculty are invited to participate as an engaged teaching
and learning exercise in their classes on a volunteer basis, as well.
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February 21st 7:00: “Global Intersections- People, Agriculture and Community: A Discussion of Farm
Labor in North Carolina”
Alternative Spring Break Trip to Jamaica:
We invite you to help in this vital outreach. Each month we will feature a different community need.
For more information: Cheryl Clark, School of Nursing cclark@email.wcu.edu
Collecting for St. Elizabeth area until Feb 10 in these locations:
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Dr. Faircloth’s office - Killian 123
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Office for Nursing Department on second floor of Moore
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Dean's office for College of Health and Human Sciences in Belk.
The Core
Story-telling as Teaching: The value of a Liberal Studies curriculum
Finding an effective way to explain the value of a Liberal Studies Education to our first-year students can be a
challenge. But let’s face it, we all love stories – stories allow us to engage our students’ imaginations, help them
find personal relevance as they make meaning, and also reinforce their ability to empathize with others. If you
want to explore this approach, you may enjoy reading some of Kieran Eagan’s books on education reform and
creative approaches. Although his work is focused on elementary education, I believe higher education can
always benefit from a good dose of creativity. 
Shared Courtesy of Brian Boyer
I was reminded in a recent conversation with Brian of how effective story-telling is as a teaching methodology.
Brian uses this story to launch a discussion about the value of a Liberal Studies education for his first-year
transition class students.
The Oil and the Spoon
A young boy, Santiago, has gone to the wisest of all men to ask him the secret to happiness…
“The wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t
have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the palace and
return in two hours.
“Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something,” said the wise man, holding the boy a teaspoon that held
two drops of oil. “As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.”
“The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the place, keeping his eyes fixed on the
spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.
“Well,” asked the wise man, “did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you
see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in
my library?”
The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to
spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.
“Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,” said the wise man. “You cannot trust a man if you
don’t know his house.”
“Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all
of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty
of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he
related in detail everything he had seen.
“But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?” asked the wise man.
“Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.
“Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you,” said the wisest of wise men. “The secret of
happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.”
from The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
The Education Briefcase: Are you introducing the eBriefcase to your course? There is a ton
of support ready to help you and your students. For faculty and instructors – see more on
their website.
TRANSITION PATHWAYS: The Blackboard Commons: If you are planning to teach a transition course, next
fall I invite you to review this site and offer your suggestions, best practice tips and or requests for resources we
can post that will be of help to you. You will see it on your Blackboard menu under organizations. Questions:
contact Glenda Hensley at ghensley@wcu.edu
Family Table
Keeping our family safe
Following is reprinted courtesy of Dr. Sam Miller, Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs
Dear Colleagues,
I believe that it takes everyone in our campus community working together to keep our campus
safe. Accordingly, I’m writing to share with you an email Student Affairs sent to the student body this afternoon
on the subject of preventing and reporting sexual assaults.
Our communication to students is intended to educate, raise awareness and remind students of behaviors that
will enhance their safety. In your work with our students, please encourage them to be safe, to look out for
each other, and to report sexual assaults or other campus safety issues to authorities.
If you know of a student who may need assistance or is in crisis, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at
828-227-7147.
Thank you for all that you do for our students! - Sam
----- WCU CAUTIONS STUDENTS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULTS ---Dear Students:
Western Carolina University has received reports of alleged sexual assaults in recent weeks. The alleged assaults
occurred in social venues or where students live, and the victims knew the alleged perpetrators.
The phenomenon of acquaintance rape/assaults is widely reported across the country. We would like to remind
students to take the following steps to be safe:
• Do not give out personal information (such as your location) or your daily schedule online, including
social media sites.
• Embrace the fact that “No” does not ever mean “Yes.”
• Acknowledge and understand that consent to sexual activity can be withdrawn at any time.
• Communicate your sexual and relationship boundaries clearly.
• Avoid going into secluded areas with anyone until you have known him or her for some time.
• Always let someone know where you are going, whom you are going with, and what your itinerary is.
• When going out with friends, watch out for each other – use the buddy system!
• Do not personally engage in or allow anyone in your presence to engage in sexual behavior with an
intoxicated, high or unconscious individual.
• Avoid becoming intoxicated in public, at parties, or with acquaintances in your room.
• Never leave your drink unattended and if you do lose track of your drink, do not drink it when you find it.
The university urges anyone who believes they or a friend have been the victim of a sexual assault to
immediately contact the university police or local law enforcement agency. On-campus, the WCU Police
Department can be reached at 828-227-8911. Victims of any form of sexual assault are encouraged to seek
confidential support at the University Counseling and Psychological Services located in the Bird Building, 828227-7469.
Please check the partysmart.wcu.edu and redzone.wcu.edu websites for more information or contact
Intercultural Affairs and/or the WCU Police about their personal safety programs. Working together we can
keep our campus community safe!
H. Sam Miller
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
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.....
The next regular publication date is February 20, 2012 --- please let me know if you want to share updates
about programs, events, or other opportunities for teaching and learning in FYE!
Glenda Hensley, FYE Director
EYE on FYE: Celebrate the Creed
Submissions are welcome through March 31, 2012
See the Contest trailer here! And -- See the website for more details!