B Y: G L EN D A HE N S L E Y
AU G U ST 1 9 , 20 1 3
Special Report
FOCUS: a FYE Day of Service! Saturday, August 24th
First-year Opportunities for Community & University Service
Please encourage your students to attend and better yet – attend with them. There is no better way to build
community with your new first-year students than to spend a couple of hours doing something together that
makes a difference. The Center for Service Learning has done all the heavy lifting to allow you to engage your
students in meaningful experience during their first week in college!
Contact Jennifer Cooper in the Center for Service Learning for more information.
Front Line:
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Announcing the 5 Annual Student Employment Fair
The Student Employment Information Fair will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 20, in the UC
Grand Room. Open to all university students, the fair provides a central location for students to learn about
work-study and non-work study employment opportunities, as well as local off-campus employment. Light
refreshments will be provided. If your department would like to participate, please complete and submit the
online form. You do not have to have open positions to participate. All forms must be entered no later than 5
p.m. Wednesday, August 5.
Per university policy, ALL available jobs must be posted with Career Services (non-work study) and/or Financial
Aid (work-study). Contact Carrie Hachadurian (non-work study, 227-3888) or Joanne Foster (work-study, 2273183) for details.
FYE and Student Success
FYE welcomes Dr. Lowell Davis to the WCU Family as the new Assistant Vice-Chancellor for the Office of Student
Success! This new administrative unit was created amidst a re-organization in the Division of Academic Affairs
during the spring. In his new role, Dr. Davis will oversee the Registrar’s Office, One-Stop Student Service Center,
Academic Advising, and student success programs including First Year Experience, Writing and Learning
Commons, Math Tutoring Center, Student Support Services and Disability Services, and Summer Session.
Please join us as we welcome Dr. Davis to WCU and let’s show him the “Western Way!”
Perspectives
Questions from a First-Year
As you prepare to welcome our class of 2017, here are a few questions we had early on from last year’s
incoming first-year class. So have those answers ready!
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How late is technology commons open until?
Where do I get my computer configured?
How late does the mail staff work?
Where is the medical related building?
Where do I figure out the Cat-Tran routes?
Where can I buy books?
Where can I go to print things from a laptop?
Are there eBooks in the library?
What is the best food in Sylva?
Is everything on computer?
Is there a change machine in Scott Hall?
What should we do if we see someone drinking under 21 years old in Scott? Who should we talk to and
can we do this anonymously?
How can I maintain a balance between home, work, school and hanging out with friends?
What are some good ways to make friends, besides the typical join clubs?
How do we find out about future service projects and how to sign up for them?
Is it normal not to have questions?
Tool Box
FYE Bookmark Journey – 2013
Bookmark--- (Definition):
To mark your place; enable you to remember important parts; enable you
to return with ease
Transition Course Instructors:
Please use the Bookmark Journey lesson guide to help your students discover college
this fall. ‘Discover College’ is one of the six FYE student learning goals that have been
identified for all first-year students. This lesson guide has many variations you may
adapt to suit your style and preference and will invite you to add your own spark of
creativity! Please read the full plan in Transition Pathways: An Instructors Resource,
on the FYE website.
Lesson Objective:
To help students discover and use WCU campus resources and networks; connect those
resources with the FYE goals; and connect resources to their own educational goals.
Goal:
Students Discover College as they connect the journey to the learning goals and to their
overall college experience.
The CORE: Interdisciplinary Learning
WCU Interdisciplinary Theme for 2013-2014 – “1960s: Take it All In”
As you continue to plan your classes for both fall and spring semesters, we ask faculty to consider including
subject-specific activities in their syllabi that involve “Taking it All In.” We also invite faculty and student
organizations to consider engaged-learning activities, research projects, and service learning activities which
reflect on the issues at the forefront of society both then and now. Please share your events/activities with the
broader campus community by calling 227-7028.
There will be a number of events at WCU dedicated to a retrospection of the 1960s and how that affects our
current decade. Events for the year will celebrate a decade of political upheaval, scientific accomplishments,
extensions of pop culture, artistic expression, new synergy in feminism, civil rights, and much more.
Events being planned include:
 two film series showcasing both feature films and documentaries pertaining to the 1960s
 a series of panel discussions addressing social and cultural issues relevant to the 1960s and today
 a variety of musical events focused on the sounds of the 1960s, and a performance at the Bardo Arts
Center of the band 1964, called “the best Beatles tribute on Earth” by Rolling Stone magazine. This
event will take place 50 years to the day the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show.
 participation by the Mountain Heritage Center, the Fine Arts Museum, and many schools, departments,
and organizations across campus
 an end-of-the-school-year outdoor festival celebration
To view a list of activities already planned and be inspired to develop your own ideas, please check out the
following resources (we will add to them as the year progresses, so check back often):
 http://www.wcu.edu/event-calendar/1960s.asp
 http://pinterest.com/thehopecampaign/60s/
 https://www.facebook.com/The60sTakeItAllIn
 http://www.wcu.edu/about-wcu/leadership/office-of-the-provost/ugstudies/qep/The1960s.asp
Freedom of expression and free speech are the underpinnings of this introspection. Join us in asking why.
For more information, contact: Dr. Amy K. Cherry, Assistant Professor, School of Music
CEO Reminders---Calendars – Events – Opportunities
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
Coulter Faculty Commons Calendar
EVENTS
Red Zone Fair Thursday, August 22, 2013 from 11am-2pm – UC Lawn
This is an informational and activity fair comprised of campus departments, student organizations, and
community resources that support the mission of the Red Zone campaign. Faculty, staff, students, and
community members will be encouraged to attend this resource and information fair to learn information about
local services, resources, and concepts surrounding issues of sexual assault, dating violence, and unhealthy
relationships. Having quick and readily available information in our student’s hands is the priority of this fair.
Additionally, participants will be able to make connections with key departments and staff on campus as well as
community organizations that can assist them in times of need or in crisis.
For more information, please contact Sarah A. Carter, Associate Director of Resource Services
Department of Intercultural Affairs - 331 Hinds University Center - Phone: 828.227.2617 - E-mail: sacarter@wcu.edu
Days of Service
Please consider including one of our Days of Service on your syllabus, attending a brown bag session, or taking
advantage of your Community Service Leave this fall! If you would like to schedule a consultation or a class
presentation, learn more about other service opportunities, just contact us at servicelearning@wcu.edu or
828.227.7184.
August 24:
FOCUS: A FYE Day of Service!
September 1:
Service-Learning Course Designation due date (for spring 2014)
September 14:
9/11 Day of Service
September 28:
Mountain Heritage Day
October 1 & 17:
FACE Brown Bag Session 1 – Introduction to Community Engaged Learning
October 5-11:
Alternative Fall Break trip
October 24:
Last Lecture – Professor Burton Ogle, School of Health Sciences
October 26:
Make a Difference Day
November 2:
NC Campus Compact Student Conference
November 17-23:
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
Arts and Cultural Events
Presents the annual Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmaker screening dates for 2013-2014. This year’s
series is full of challenging topics, interesting points of view, and a variety of subjects. At each film, the
filmmaker will be present also to do Q&A’s and to answer any questions you may have about filmmaking or the
topics of the films.
ACE 2013-2014!
 September 11th at 7:30pm in BAC: The Mystical Arts of Tibet’s performance “Sacred Music Sacred Dance”
 September 9th – 13th in the UC Grandroom: The Mystical Arts of Tibet’s Sand Mandala
 September 24th and 25th at 7:30pm in the UC Theatre: Sublime Frequencies film screening /Q&A:
Vodoun Gods on the Slave Coast: A Film By Hisham Mayet & The Divine River: Ceremonial Pageantry In The
Sahel A Film By Hisham Mayet
 October 2nd at 730pm in BAC: Nai Ni Chen Dance Company
 October 16th at 730pm in the BAC: Alash Tuvan Throat Singing Ensemble
 December 4th – TBD in the UC Grandroom: The Tarradiddle Players present A Commedia Christmas Carol
OPPORTUNITIES
Rooted in the Mountains: Valuing our Common Ground
4th Annual Symposium Integrating Indigenous Knowledge,
Language, Health, and Environment
September 20-21, 2013
WCU Health and Human Sciences Building
4121 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Study Abroad Presentations
The Study Abroad Section of International Programs & Services is available to you for study abroad
presentations to any of your classes, student groups, residence halls, etc. Study Abroad presentations can be
general overviews of the “what” “how” and “where” of study abroad programs at Western Carolina University,
or can be tailored to opportunities of specific interest to your individual class, department, or group.
Presentations can be of varying length, from 10 minutes or cover the entire class period. If you have other
appointments/ commitments, we can administer your class(es) for that day.
John Schweikart and Josie Bewsey are available for study abroad presentations along with WCU students who
have recently returned from a study abroad program.
PEAKS Potty Times
Western Carolina PEAKS disseminates a newsletter called the Potty Times every two-three weeks which includes
toilet teasers, words of wisdom, campus events, etc. If you would like for us to advertise a specific event in the
calendar section, please send me an e-mail with what you would like included. I will need the information the
Tuesday before each week that one goes to print. Contact Laura Ansley, Department of Residential Living.
• September 1 - September 22 – Need information by August 27
• September 22 - October 4 – Need information by September 17
• October 13 - November 3 – Need information by October 8
• November 3 - November 17 – Need information by October 28
• November 17 - December 1 – Need information by November 12
• December 1 - December 13 – Need information by November 26
Remember to look us up!
FYE Moves to a New Location!
The Office of First Year Experience (FYE) has moved to Killian Annex 137 (the former offices of the Associate Vice
Chancellor for Enrollment Management). This relocation will facilitate a more seamless environment for FYE
administrative and program functions, as well as for the Academic Success Program (ASP)-- a full-year program
that launches with a summer bridge for incoming first year students, which reports to FYE. FYE supports WCU
students during their transition to college. Please learn more about FYE and the services we provide to students,
as well as to faculty and staff working with WCU first-year students, on the FYE website.
Please contact FYE with any questions, suggestions, or ideas for collaborative projects!
Office of First Year Experience: 137 Killian Annex
Website: http://FYE.wcu.edu phone: 227-3017
Resource File
Blackboard --- reference and participate in the Transition Pathways Course site....
Education Briefcase – resources and information for students and for faculty……….
CFC on the Web --- help with teaching, technology, and more--- helping you do what you do better!
OrgSync --- the place for student clubs and organizations and other co-curricular opportunities .
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 …
FYE on the Web --- many resources and network links to help you along the way …..
FYE Message Board – A weekly e-journal for and by FY students.
Engage students in the conversation of learning and experience – with each other!
The next regular publication date is September 1, 2013 --- 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 ghensley@wcu.edu