Student Affairs Communications Group Minutes
October 30, 2013
Attendance: Kami Hammerschmith, Kent Sumner, Wendy Little, Jennifer Edwards,
Brianna McNall, Natalie Moser, Kate Sanders, Gail Cole, Susie Brubaker-Cole
Next meeting of the Student Affairs Communications Group will be Wednesday,
November 20, 2013, 9 a.m. -10:30 a.m., MU Council Room. Topic: Alumni Association
programs and their connection with Student Affairs with Kate Sanders, Kim Hutto
and Suzanne Flores.
Today
Susie Brubaker-Cole and Gail Cole discussed the First Year Experience (FYE). They
asked for our questions, how our charge/project intersects with FYE and our level of
understanding of FYE.
Susie said that Tom Scheuermann and Ann Marie Klotz in University Housing &
Dining Services developed talking points about the live-on requirement and co-op
closure. She suggested we get a copy.
Susie and Gail shared a draft copy of the FYE key concepts for marketing and
communication efforts. Please do not distribute it beyond this group. They are
working with University Relations and Marketing on the draft messaging and
implementation strategy.
Overview – FYE originated as a charge from Larry Roper and Sabah Randhawa. A
task force was formed to study success of students in their first year. They looked at
the excellence and thriving of students. They were not to think in the current
organizational structure and values. The live-on requirement was decided
separately.
The task force spent about eight months studying data on retention here, other
university FYE programs and holding on-campus listening sessions with faculty,
staff and students.
The overarching, unifying theme of the recommendations was we work too much in
separate realms across campus. We could have a greater outcome if we seek to
integrate our work. There is a need to reorganize into a
Baccalaureate/undergraduate college. Currently this is in a holding pattern and
there is no formal plan for a university college. It is still a concept being considered.
There is a new assessment plan for the Bacc Core and new skills requirements in the
first year. This is separate from the Baccalaureate College.
The task force identified seven areas for action:
1. Academic advising – A new first year advising syllabus was developed for
students and a users guide for advisers. They hope to have more consistent advising
across campus. It goes to the Faculty Senate in November for approval. Brianna
Tanaka in ASOSU is helping to gather students to review the draft. One component
encourages students to get involved in co-curricular activity.
2. Curriculum – New Student Programs and Family Outreach UEngage Program.
They are looking to incorporate more experiential learning (ie. community service,
field trips, etc.) Four new sections of UEngage allow time for reflection of
values/goals, wellness component.
3. Residential Education – The big curriculum delivered through departments –
move from curriculum into residential education. Ninety percent of the first-year
class live in university housing. Greek houses have one year and then need to buy in
by Fall 2014 to a program. It will bring a financial cost.
Residential education redesigned curriculum where the individual checks in with
their RA every quarter. Consistent programs have been implemented across all
halls. There is directed curriculum for the last six weeks of the year to assist with
transition out of UHDS into community living.
They would like to expand the structure of living, learning communities. Two likely
communities are an Arts & Social Justice living, learning community to start in
F2014 and another in health and wellness. These create a micro community in a
large community.
4. Orientation – START and CONNECT. More orientation throughout the year is
being developed. They have piloted a peer mentorship program where 25 UHDS
students are paired with an upper-class mentor (CONNECT Crew).
5. Diversity Student Success – A council begins meeting this week. Charged with
cross-pollinating things that are happening across campus.
6. Campus Traditions – We don’t have as many as we’d like to have. Tracy BentleyTownlin is working with students and alumni.
7. Success Monitoring – Add check points across the year. Early Alert for Math 111
and 100/200 level chemistry. There are points throughout the quarter where
students are contacted if not meeting necessary points.
Eric Alexander and Susie are convening a group to look at deliberate pathways to
direct students toward involvement in co-curricular activities.
A FYE website is coming in the next few days. An e-mail will be sent out campus
wide. It will include information on the seven areas to keep people informed.
Think about how you are going to fit and engage.
Wendy suggested looking at student employees as potential mentors.