Provost Office: What's New

What's New in Academic Affairs? December 11, 2006

An Update from the Provost—

Academic Advising
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To guide our ongoing work strengthening academic advising, we set five goals for the current academic year. The end of the fall semester is a good time to reflect on the significant progress already being made toward these goals. I would like to thank the members of the University Academic Advising Committee and the advising liaisons for their commitment and contributions to advising excellence.

Goal 1

Strengthen communications from the University Academic Advising Committee to faculty advisors, department chairs, and department liaisons via e-mail, special promotions for advising workshops, handbooks, etc. Where appropriate, coordinate information dissemination with the special assistant for academic policies and the registrar.

Goal 1 Progress

In October, the University Academic Advising Committee (UAAC) facilitated a meeting of departmental academic advising liaisons. The discussion covered liaisons’ roles and responsibilities, advising concerns, strategies, and professional development for the liaisons and other faculty. The advising liaisons link the committee and the liaisons’ respective departments. Together, the UAAC and the liaisons are developing a faculty advising handbook.
The UAAC has invited William Johnson, assistant dean of students at the College of William and Mary, to conduct a January 31 advising workshop with the liaisons. Dr. Johnson is a prominent member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). The workshop will focus on empowering students and faculty in the advising process. Other workshops will follow.
The UAAC will develop a Web site of information for all advisors.
The UAAC plans to submit a New Initiatives proposal to secure funding for workshops with external speakers, development of an advising handbook, and maintenance of the advising Web site.

Goal 2

Clarify campus-wide academic advising coordination regarding responsibilities, reporting lines, structures, committees, and dean-level (Undergraduate Studies, Academic Support Services, and college) involvement.

Goal 2 Progress

A subcommittee of the UAAC will draft a working definition of advising.

Goal 3

Prioritize student communications regarding academic advising goals, policies, and expectations via the departments of major, MyWCU, the Student Government Association (SGA) meetings, residence hall postings, the student newspaper, etc.

Goal 3 Progress

On November 28, UAAC members met with the Student Government Association to discuss the purpose of UAAC, answer questions, receive suggestions, and promote ongoing communication. The committee will meet with leaders from other student organizations throughout the year.

Goal 4

Continue to refine the new Academic Recovery Plan initiative to increase the percentage of return from this year (68%). Analyze student success for those who submitted a plan and talked with an advisor.

Goal 5

Develop additional strategies (with the pre-major advisors and interim director) to assist pre-major students in selecting a major.

Goal 5 Progress

The Pre-major Advising Center staff has met with several departments to help facilitate the transfer to majors.

UAAC Members
Shirley Grice – co-chair
Bruce Norris – co-chair
Stanley Cramer
Kathleen Jackson
Timothy Lutz
Mary Ann Maggitti
Robert Malone – SGA representative
Margaret Ottley
Eleanor Shevlin
David Sprenkle
Idna Corbett – ex officio
Diane DeVestern – ex officio
***** ? Did You Know . . .

The Philosophy, Early Childhood and Special Education, and Social Work departments deserve congratulations for having completed, as a group, the Partners in Prevention training. Other departments wishing to complete the training this coming spring semester should contact Lynne Hamelton or Jim Brenner.

Ana Sanchez and Celia Esplugas received a grant from the Office of Sponsored Research and Faculty Development to organize the October 2006 International Festival at WCU. Social Equity also contributed toward the cost of the festival.

In November, Mike Ayewoh, associate vice president for sponsored research and faculty development, participated in the annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), held in Anaheim, California. As a member of the ABRCMS National Steering Committee and national chair of its Quantitative Sciences competition category, he was a moderator for the session "Designing Novel Proteins for Applications from Research to Medicine." In addition, he was an on-site judge for oral and poster presentations in the Quantitative Sciences.

In September, Oné Pagan presented an invited seminar, "The forgotten worm: Planaria in neuroscience research," to the Darlington Biological Society of West Chester University. He is also a co-author of “Toxicity and behavioral effects of dimethylsulfoxide in planaria," published in Neuroscience Letters 407(3):274-8 (2006). Finally, his students Kimberly Urban and Amanda Rowlands have each received a $1,000 grant from the WCU Foundation. The awards were based on the students’ academic records and recommendations from their professors.

Happy Holidays!