B Y: G L EN D A HE N S L E Y
S E PT E M B ER 1 0 , 20 1 2
Special Report
From Beloit College’s Mindset List for this year’s entering college class of 2016:
“This year’s entering college class of 2016 was born into cyberspace and they have therefore measured their
output in the fundamental particles of life: bits, bytes, and bauds. They have come to political consciousness
during a time of increasing doubts about America’s future, and are entering college bombarded by questions
about jobs and the value of a college degree. They have never needed an actual airline “ticket,” a set of bound
encyclopedias, or Romper Room. Members of this year’s freshman class, most of them born in 1994, are
probably the most tribal generation in history and they despise being separated from contact with friends….”
For the rest of the feature, please visit: http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2016/
Front Line
Education Briefcase Open to All Students at WCU!
Please see the new “eBriefcase Faculty and Staff Quick Start Guide” posted in the Transition
Pathways Blackboard Commons >Directory Index > eBriefcase .
A summary of your role in encouraging students to develop their eBriefcase, and a tutorial to
guide you through the steps of creating a portfolio, uploading content, creating artifacts, attaching them to a
portfolio, and sharing portfolios—all of the steps that students will use, and that they are taught in class-visit
workshops. The contents of this guide are also available to users inside the eBriefcase tab in Blackboard.
Please contact Nory Prochaska for any help you need in experimenting with and using the eBriefcase!
Toolbox
Course Tutoring Module
Look in the Transition Pathways Blackboard Commons > Core Elements > Academic Success for a PDF with
instructions on how to add a Tutoring module to your course blackboard. In about one minute you will add a
way for your students to easily access the information that will empower their success.
And Chesney Reich has made it SUPER SIMPLE for you – now GO!  IF you do not teach a transition course, just
contact Chesney and I am sure she will be happy to send you the file!
Designing Learning Experiences with Dee Fink
If you are looking for ideas that may prompt collaboration and integration with campus partners, take a look at
Dee Fink’s website to view a variety of exemplary syllabi from different disciplines. While there, you will see we
were accepted to have WCU’s FYE courses represented with the Creative Life LEAD LLC!
If you want to learn more about Dee Fink’s active learning strategies, you may visit here. You may also contact
the Coulter Faculty Commons or you may contact Glenda Hensley.
Family Table
First Year Opportunities for Community & Campus Service
FOCUS launched with the FYE Day of Service on August 25 – you can see some of it in pictures here!
 Featured in last week’s Reporter, you can read more about Citizenship & Civility, this year’s
interdisciplinary theme, as well as the Day of Service.
 Also featured in the Western Carolina Journalist, you can see even more pictures in a terrific slide show.
Following are a few outcomes organized and provided by Jennifer Cooper in the Center for Service Learning.
We had 141 first-year student volunteers, 13 staff members, and 3 student workers helping with 7 projects.
These groups:
 helped 43 people register to vote;
 wrote 124 letters and cards to soldiers, veterans, & senior citizens;
 picked up thousands of cigarette butts and other pieces of trash;
 helped finish a section of our new multi-use trail;
 planted flags to increase awareness of the Red Zone campaign;
 weeded overgrown sections of the campus garden; and
 documented the volunteers and their projects on video.
Student Wellness
WHEE Care Workshops are designed to enhance students’ personal lives, academic performance, and
interpersonal relationships through education and information, activities, and open discussions on a variety of
topics. Please tell your students about our new Series. Seating is limited so pre-registration is required. Please
contact CPS at 227-7469 to register.
The first 2 scheduled are:
 September 25th from 4-5 pm - --- Why WHEE Need Sleep
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 September 27 from 5-6 pm --- Defiant, Disruptive or Just Plain Draining: How to Deal with Difficult People
The CORE
Advising
It is hard to believe – but we are already at week 4 and before you know it – it will be time to think about 5th
week grades and then time for Advising day! Steve Baxley is thinking ahead and has provided some terrific tools
to help us as we help students prepare. Please look in the Transition Pathways Blackboard Commons > Core
Elements > Academic Components & Policy > Advising to find three documents that should help you launch the
conversation with your students. The Advising Center also asked to be invited to your classes before Advising
Day to talk about how to be prepared for advising and registration. Please contact Steve Baxley to coordinate.
Academic Integrity
Available on the Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) website:
 Faculty and staff information: http://www.wcu.edu/31168.asp
 The Academic Integrity Policy can be found at http://www.wcu.edu/26163.asp
 The updated Code of Student Conduct is available at http://wcucode.wcu.edu
This Week & Next
Palenque Rojo – September 11th at 7:30pm in the Bardo Arts Center
Palenque Rojo, making its U.S. premiere in Western North Carolina, is a fascinating showcase
full of colors, aromas, and sensations that will transport the audience into the heart of the
magical Mayan world. This play features 20 Mayan actors from Chiapas, Mexico, live preHispanic music, dance, rituals, magnificent costumes and the Mayan Lacandon
language. TICKETS: http://www.wcu.edu/bardoartscenter/54.htm
For more information, visit ace.wcu.edu
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6 Annual Study Abroad Fair Tuesday, September 18, 2012 from 11 am to 3 pm in the UC Grand Room.
This event is a great opportunity for WCU faculty to drop by and learn about various study abroad programs,
international internships, and scholarships for international studies, and provides a way for you to meet
program providers who can assist with developing ideas for Faculty-led trips abroad and developing potential
international partnerships for research, faculty exchanges, etc.
2012 Diversity Week Speaker: An evening with Tim Wise - Wednesday, September 19 in the
UC Grand Room
Racism in America: How far we have come and how far we are going?
Fall Etiquette Dinner, Thursday, September 20, 2012, 6-8pm UC Grand Room.
This is a great event as a refresher on etiquette at the dinner table whether one is interviewing over a meal or
entertaining clients or prospective employees, or even just making a positive impression. Please encourage
your students to make their reservations early!!! All students are invited to attend. Students may make
reservations NOW in Career Services, 205 Killian Annex, through Sept 17th.
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: Information on arts and culture at WCU - plays, concerts, art exhibits, films, and more...
Service Learning: Current Events
ACE: Arts and Cultural Events Calendar
IT Training & Workshops: Calendar - For upcoming training and events, including Black Board, eBriefcase, and
more and make sure to note Blackboard day on September 6th
Potty Times: PEAKS communication with FY students.
If you would like to submit information to be shared in this residential publication, contact Laura Ansley.
Submission deadline for September:
 September 21- October 12, need information by September 15
EVENTS
For more information, please visit www.redzone.wcu.edu
The Red Zone refers to the period of time early in the first and second year at college during which students are
more at-risk for unwanted sexual experiences on college campuses. To combat this, departments across WCU
sponsor programs to promote healthy relationships, and convey the message that WCU does not tolerate abuse
in our campus community. The campaign encourages and empowers students, faculty and staff to develop an
open dialogue on the dangers of sexual violence and to speak up when they see violent behavior happening.
The Red Zone Events
 It’s Bully Free and So Are Whee! September 24, 2012 -- 6:00pm UC Multipurpose Room
Sponsored by First Year Experience, a student led initiative to raise awareness about bullying in
collegiate life and begin the conversation to make sure Whee are Bully Free!
 Take Back the Night – September 26th at 7pm in the UC Grand Room
Shatter the Silence Speaker, Angela Rose, Executive Director of PAVE -- followed by a march on campus!
For more information, contact Sarah
Carter in the Office of Intercultural
Affairs.
OPPORTUNITIES
-Saturday, September 15, 2012.
Intergroup Dialogue will engage participants in a face-to-face learning experience and allow for an opportunity
for members of the WCU community from different social identity groups to come together for an afternoon to
understand their commonalities and difference and how we work together as engaged citizens to make positive
social change happen. Our keynote speaker will be Steve Birdine, who is currently the President and Chief
Executive Officer of “Affirmation in Action.”
Please forward this registration link https://orgsync.com/24496/forms/55468 to your students if you
would like for them to attend as part of your class. Space is limited to the first 200 registered
participants and registration will be open until September 11 at NOON.
A Day of Dialogue
Citizenship and Civility - QEP interdisciplinary theme for 2012-13
To get involved in activities already planned or to share your own ideas, please check out the WCU Citizenship
and Civility web page and feel free to contact the steering committee directors with any ideas, suggestions, or
questions that you may have about this year’s theme. “
Todd Collins --Director, Public Policy Institute Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science
Lane Perry -- Director of the Center for Service Learning
Resource File
Blackboard --- reference and participate in the Transition Pathways Course site....
Education Briefcase – resources and information for students and for faculty and
staff looking to use eB in your course.
First-Year Seminar: Liberal Studies – resource guide for faculty teaching the
first-year seminar …
Transition Pathways: An instructor resource - resource guide for FYE
transition course instructors …
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.....
OrgSync -- https://orgsync.com/login/western-carolina-university --- the place for
student clubs and organizations and other co-curricular opportunities ..
FYE Message Board – A weekly e-journal for students that will be edited by Rebecca Wolfe,
FYE Graduate Assistant and to include content provided by WRCS students. The intent is to
engage students in the conversation of learning and experience – with each other!
You will be impressed with their creativity!
TRANSITION PATHWAYS: The Blackboard Commons: If you teach an FYE Transition course, you will see it
on your Blackboard menu under organizations. Questions: contact Glenda Hensley at ghensley@wcu.edu
The Education Briefcase (eB) is now open to ALL undergraduate students!
For information please contact Nory Prochaska, Chair of the eBriefcase Implementation Team, or Freya Kinner
in the Coulter Faculty Commons. For general information about eB, visit the website. See the feature by Nory
Prochaska in the FYE Journal on page 4.
The next regular publication date is September 24, 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