B Y: G L EN D A HE N S L E Y
M AR CH 2 0 14
Special Report:
Tuesday Tips for Success
Pathways to Civic Engagement: Servant Leadership & Service Learning
Please invite your students to attend this master workshop facilitated by Dr. Lane Perry, one of our best experts!
Workshops are open to all first-year students – meaning freshmen, first-generation, and transfer students.
Please join us in the Blue Ridge Multipurpose Room March 4th at 5 pm.
Family Table
FYE Advocate Awards and EYE on FYE Celebration
Please plan to join the celebration on April 8th from 5-7 pm in the University Center Multipurpose Room to
honor this year’s FYE Advocate nominees and winners – faculty and staff members nominated by WCU first-year
students! You may enjoy seeing last year’s finalists here.
We will also recognize student finalists and winners of this year’s EYE on FYE contest. The theme this
year is “Connect the Dots,” and that seems quite perfect as we honor and celebrate together with
students, faculty, and staff - CONNECTED - as the family we are!
Perspectives
EYE on FYE! “Connect the Dots.”
Connect the Dots is one of the First-year learning goals, aimed to encourage
students to integrate information and experience - and to express new
understandings. EYE on FYE provides first-year students the opportunity to
effectively and expressively communicate how they “Connect the Dots” via any creative medium (writing, art,
video, music). Perhaps students wish to communicate how they connect academics to their personal goals and
values, or how their world view impacts their decisions and actions. The contest details are on the FYE website
for your reference. Please encourage your students to submit an entry by March 7th.
Finalists will be notified and invited to a special celebration and reception with the FYE Advocates on April 8th.
The CORE
WHEE Call U: Spring 2014
Calling all new freshmen and transfer students!
WHEE Call U will continue until break – and even if you are not making calls this round, you can help us by
encouraging your students to answer their calls or return messages – please help us remind our students these
calls are but one way in which WCU intends to demonstrate our commitment to our students – to their success!
Tool Box
Spring Fever --- Looking for inspiration to finish strong…..
Whether you are teaching a traditional course or
provide other academic support to students, I suggest
that you take time each week to read “This Week…”
edited by Laura Cruz. I have copied a small portion
below from last week’s issue as reference.
This publication from the Coulter Faculty Commons is
always full of terrific ideas for teaching, scholarship, and professional development – one of my favorites!
February 24, 2014
by Laura Cruz
It’s time for a little February magic, WCU.
HIGHLIGHTS of the THIS WEEK Email:
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Food for Thought: Dissecting the Classroom
Tip of the Week: Subscribe to Tomorrow's Professor
Professional Development Opportunities on Campus: The 1960s, Gloria Steinem, FACE Programs
This Week in Active Learning: Magic in the Classroom
This Week in Digital Media: The Magic of ePublishing
This Week in Blackboard: Course Copy Feature
Workshops
Click the banner above or type “finishinfour.wcu.edu” in your browser’s address bar.
The Division Student Success, in collaboration with Student Affairs, has launched a new website dedicated to our
new campaign called “Finish In Four” designed to introduce students to Fostering Undergraduate Student
Success and increase four-year graduation rates. Please take a moment of your time and visit this website and
familiarize yourself with the new policies.
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
PEAKS Potty TimesWestern 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 Contact Laura Ansley, Department of Residential Living.
EVENTS
WCU Undergraduate Expo
Please encourage your students to submit fall term posters, presentations, performances, or creative work for
the 16th Undergraduate Expo at WCU, which will be March 24 and 25. The deadline for submissions is
Thursday, March 6. Remember, we just need the completed form--not the project! The Expo guidelines are
posted on The Honors College website at http://www.wcu.edu/5520.asp.
Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon 5K
Saturday, April 5th, 2014 on and around the campus of WCU. The 4th annual half marathon begins at 8:00am and
the 5K begins at 8:15am near WCU's Central Plaza. Registration is going on now at www.imathlete.com
For more information, visit halfmarathon.wcu.edu or e-mail valleyofthelilies@email.wcu.edu.
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35 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (I-FEST)
I-FEST DETAILS:
Date: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: University Center (UC) Lawn
The Annual International Festival (I-Fest) has long been an educational and fun
celebration at WCU. I-FEST encourages cultural awareness and appreciation, as well as a greater understanding
of the world diversity
via music, food, dance, arts and crafts. Organizers of I-FEST welcome all WCU students, faculty, and staff
together with the surrounding communities of Western North Carolina. Come and join in celebrating 35 years of
I-FEST!
Office of International Programs & Services---Office Phone: 828.227.7494 / 3458---international@wcu.edu
OPPORTUNITIES
Service!!!!
Alternative Spring Break: Jamaica 2014
Campus Collection Sites:
School of Teaching and Learning Office, 120 Killian & 342 HHS, office of Cheryl Clark
Monetary donations to this campus-wide effort can be made to: WCU Foundation, send to Gina Steinbicker,
204 HF Robinson Hall. Be sure the for space says “ Jamaica, spring break trip” Funds are used to supplement the
materials requested by our partners in Jamaica.
Women’s History Month Day of Service (Community Service Opportunity)
March 29, 2014; various times/locations
To RSVP, please contact Sarah Carter (sacarter@wcu.edu) or Jennifer Cooper (jacooper@wcu.edu)
Co-sponsored with the Center for Service Learning & Office of Intercultural Affairs.
Second annual Staff Days of Service! Sponsored by the Staff Senate, this is a great opportunity to utilize your
community service hours & to help in our community. Taking place on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday,
March 13, there are a variety of projects to choose from. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact
Jennifer Cooper at jacooper@email.wcu.edu or 227.2595. Please sign up by Monday, March 10. When signing
up, please indicate your top two project choices. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Career Services Peer Career Mentors!
Peer Career Mentors offer students on-location guidance and support from their Mobile Mentoring Station at
locations across campus. They can critique resumes, teach students how to search for jobs, showcase resources
like Perfect Interview and Focus 2, and help research careers. Please look for their yellow table, and refer
students to the PCMs for help with any of these tasks. Their schedule for the semester is
here: http://www.wcu.edu/WebFiles/Spring2014PCMTableLocations.pdf
CAPS
Seventy percent of the clients coming to Counseling & Psychological Services indicate that their primary concern
is stress/anxiety. In order to help attend to this problem on campus, we have developed a Managing Stress
outreach program for WCU. We would be more than happy to come to your classroom, faculty/staff meetings,
and/or club/organization meetings to discuss stress management on campus. The program is intended to run 50
minutes but can be tailored down to a 30 minute program as well. If you are interested, please complete the
online outreach request form
(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nnnGchgxArKBesmKpHp3B_v31APB1VS5IjS7o9cNjY/viewform) If you have
any questions, please feel free to contact Kimberly S. Gorman, Ph.D., HSP-P
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Director, Counseling and Psychological Services ---225 Bird Building, 2 Floor
Office: 828-227-7469
Fax: 828-227-7004
Website: http://counselingcenter.wcu.edu
See the CAPS website to learn more about the free and confidential weekly groups offered by Counseling &
Psychological Services (CAPS). Call CAPS (828-227-7469):
 For Consultation: You have concerns about a student and wish to talk to a counselor about your concerns.
 To request Outreach: CAPS staff can provide outreach programming on a variety of mental health
topics.
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 will be April, 2014 --- 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.ed