B Y: G L EN D A HE N S L E Y
NO V EM B E R 20 1 4
Special Report:
Get out the VOTE!
Voter Shuttle to provide student access on the 4th of November for Election Day. The Center for Service
Learning and the Public Policy Institute will provide shuttle service for students, faculty, and staff in a completely
non-partisan environment. Catamounts will receive a sample ballot as they arrive and should take less than 30
minutes to complete the full process. The van(s) will be departing from the UC CATTRAN Stop every 15minutes starting on the hour (to and from the Jackson County Rec).
Learn more on the VOTER INITIATIVE PAGE
We hope that you will encourage your students to take advantage of this opportunity to VOTE in this year’s
election. If you have any questions, please contact the Center for Service Learning at 828-227-7184.
Perspectives
Plagiarism: Does intention matter?
As the semester races to a close, many first-year students may be in the midst of writing their first major college
papers. Many of those students may also still lack clarity as to what constitutes plagiarism and the steps they
can take to maintain stellar academic integrity.
According to Joe Cuseo, author and Professor of Psychology, “… a sizable number of students plagiarized
unintentionally due lack of knowledge about what constituted academic integrity and plagiarism; this
wasn't surprising….
Fortunately, our students have the Writing and Learning Commons (WaLC) and need not suffer the
consequences of ‘not knowing’. The WaLC has a tremendous number of resources easily available for students
to access! We should all make sure to introduce students to the WaLC page titled Research and Documentation,
a valuable resource page for students that also provides plagiarism resources. Visit this link.
Tool Box
FYE Tips for Success: Student Workshop Series for Fall 2014
The series is back and designed to reinforce successful habits as students make their transition to college.
Please encourage your students to attend these engaging sessions, facilitated by campus scholars and experts.
Servant Leadership
Wednesday, November 12th at 5:30 pm
Blue Ridge Hall Multipurpose Room
The CORE
One Book 2014: Serena
The author event on October 22nd was the final fall program designed to provide students and the campus
community an opportunity to hear directly from Serena author, Ron Rash. It was a delightful evening with
standing room only attendance! As your students work to complete any course-based assignments related to
the book, you may find the following resources on the One Book website helpful.
On the “Resource” page you will find these two particularly helpful links.
 Research Guide for Serena – created by Elizabeth Marcus, the Undergraduate Studies librarian
 Historical photograph presentation
This slide presentation was designed by George Frizzell, Curator of Hunter Library's Special
Collections, to demonstrate the visual impact of logging during the 1920's and 1930's on our
region. This rich resource, was originally created for the faculty workshop as we launched the
discussion of Serena in August, and then embellished for the author event with Ron Rash in
October. If your students were not able to attend the Author event, these slides capture a look
into the not so distant past and reveal why, as Ron has stated, he wrote this book.
Please consider sharing works you and your students have generated with the One Book experience with the
FYE office – we would love to know more about the book conversation in your class!
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...
Coulter Faculty Commons Calendar
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 Contact Laura Ansley, Department of Residential Living.
 November 10 – November 23 (Due November 4th)
 November 24 – December 14 (Due November 18th)
EVENTS
North Carolina: Our State, Our Time-- the WCU Campus theme for 2014-15
North Carolina: Our State, Our Time is a campus theme with strong links to our mission and our 2020 Vision:
Focusing on Our Future strategic plan. It allows faculty, students, and campus offices and organizations to use
our state’s past, present, and future to explore broad questions in culture, the arts, health care, business,
politics and policy, history, literature, education, the environment, science and technology, athletics, and
society, etc. Please check out the Web site for updates on events and opportunities.
Catamount Art Tour: Asheville, NC
November 8th -- Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Event is for WCU students only -- Price: $ 10
WCU Students will have the opportunity to meet local artist, admire beautiful artwork, and explore the
art scene in Downtown Asheville. Price of the trip includes bus ride to and from Asheville and guided
tours to four museums and galleries. Only 40 spots are available for this trip so reserve your spot early!
More information can be found on www.ace.wcu.edu
Consent and the Code
Presentations, sponsored by DSCE and Intercultural Affairs, are meant to educate students about Consent at
WCU. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about Consent, and how it relates to our student conduct
process on campus. Through group activities and conversation, students will learn what Consent is and is not.
If you or your constituent classes/programs want to attend a session, please have the professor/group leader
complete the DSCE Program Request Form to notify us that you will be there.
 Fri 11/14/2014 12:00 PM, UC Multipurpose Room
OPPORTUNITIES
Writing Fellows
Applications to reserve Writing Fellows for your spring classes are due on November 15.
Writing Fellows are writing tutors dedicated specifically to your class who work one-on-one with your
students. You can read more about the program on our website. To apply for Writing Fellows, complete our
Qualtrics application. If you have questions about the program, please contact Mattie Davenport.
NCUR
April 16 - 18, 2015
Online Submission of Abstracts is Now Open!
Hosted at Eastern Washington State, Cheney WA (17 miles from Spokane)
With local tuition funds provided through the Office of Undergraduate Studies, The Honors College will support
all enrolled WCU undergraduates in terms of conference registration, lodging, and partial reimbursement for
airfare (amount depends on the number of students who go but will not be enough to cover the total cost).
Abstract Submission Guidelines: http://www.cur.org/ncur_2015/abstract_submission/
 Abstract Submission Deadline: December 2, 2014 at 11:59PM PST
 Learn more at: http://www.cur.org/ncur_2015/
 Questions? Contact April Tallant or Brian Railsback (#7383)
Catamount Externships:
An Innovative Way For Students To Explore Careers, Network, Build Competencies, And Gain Experience In
The Extracurricular!
Students at any point between their first college semester and graduation may now take advantage of a
certificate-earning shadow experience designed to help them achieve a variety of career development
outcomes. Go here to see how they may proceed.
Mindfulness Matters: Thursdays @ 4pm – 224 Bird Building
Call 227-7469 to schedule a pre-group orientation session with Michelle cooper or visit
http://mindfulnessmatters.wcu.edu for more information.
Finish in Four Please visit the “Finish In Four” website -- designed to introduce
students to Fostering Undergraduate Student Success and increase four-year
graduation rates and to help you familiarize yourself with the new policies.
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 …..
The next regular publication will be December, 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