UAAC Meeting Notes - April 16, 2015

Current Meeting Minutes

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UAAC MEETING NOTES

April 16, 2015

Present:  Rachana Patel, Teri Clawson, Brad Merrill (Admissions); Valerie Fredrickson (ASUU); Lauren Storer, Taryn Horner (Athletics); Michelle Brooks (Atmospheric Sciences); Denise Brenes (Biology); Rachel Osterman, Kera Murphy, Amanda Miller, Tracie Noyes (Business); Rick Ernst (Chemistry); Alexi Crabb (Civil and Environmental Engineering); Travis Ciaramella, Laneta Fitisemanu (Communication); Janet Goff (Continuing Education); Ashley Talamante (Economics); Dianne Leonard (Engineering); Shawn Adrian (English); Mindy Johnston (Equity and Diversity); Loren Finn (Exercise and Sport Science); Jenny Stout (Family and Consumer Studies); Liz Leckie (Fine Arts); Shari Lindsey (Health); Amarilys La Santa (History); Erica Rojas, Michelle Taliaferro (Honors); Taunya Dressler, Copeland Johnston (Humanities); Ashley Glenn (International and Area Studies); Natalie Noel (International Student and Scholar Services); Lisa Hutton (Languages and Literature); Joy Velarde (Mechanical Engineering); Nomani Satuala (New Student and Family Programs); Emily Johnson, Michael Santarosa, Zach Klc (Registrar’s Office); Bobbi Davis (Social and Behavioral Science); Lam Nguyen (Social Work); Wazir Jefferson, Stephanie Santarosa, Jen Molloy, Jon Bernal (Student Success Empowerment Initiative); Sara Hatch (Teacher Education); Lyndi Duff (Undergraduate Studies); Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski, David Eisen, Steve Hadley, Tammy Nguyen, Heather Crum, Terese Pratt, Jason Atherton, Richelle Warr, Tammy Mabey, Jeff Dalby (Academic Advising Center); Lena May-Fraser, Kira Jones, Brett Runnion (Academic Advising Center / Fine Arts); Angie Gardiner (Academic Advising Center / Mathematics).  Total:  60

Presentations:

Charles (Butch) Atwood, Professor of Chemical Education, presented a collection of data regarding students who enroll in introductory chemistry courses at the University.  This included such parameters as implementation of prerequisite enforcement, CHEM 1210 pass rates vs. MATH 1050 and CHEM 1200 grades, and pass rates of those who regularly attend discussion sections vs. those who do not (in particular, for “at-risk” students).

Brian and Danielle, from the Bennion Center, presented the Center’s mission statement as well as an overview of current program and project areas.  Last year, a total of more than 183,000 service hours was contributed to the community.

Admissions – Rachana Patel and Teri Clawson

• April 20 is the absolute final day to submit summer applications; fall applications will be taken through July.
• Currently, Admissions is working on a timeline for articulation that they will distribute to advisors.

Registrar’s Office – Michael Santarosa and Zach Klc

• Those departments that aren’t currently enforcing prerequisites, and who feel they need advocacy in this area, should contact the Registrar’s Office.
• The Registrar’s Office is starting initial evaluations for those preparing for graduation this summer.   As to spring graduates:  “early qualifiers,” i.e., those who already show as cleared, will be handled first; the remainder will be divided into groups (probably in the period from May 20 to June 2).  Any DARS exceptions should be entered as soon as possible, but definitely by May 20 (a batch DARS will be run to potentially clear these students).  Beyond this, all should be cleared by June 12.
• The Registrar’s Office’s phone lines (for graduation) will be turned off from May 8 through June 8.
• If students need a letter confirming anticipated graduation, they can get that at any time.  At the end of the semester, the Graduation Office can produce a letter confirming that the student is cleared (but the student does in fact have to be completely cleared; and these letters will not be expedited).
• Fall registration started this past week.  As of now, summer registration is down 2% from last year, with fall registration down 10%.  Open enrollment for fall registration begins on July 27.
• Janet Goff noted that students who attempt to register for the class taught during Fall Break may get a time conflict error; but there is a link in the class schedule that will enable them to obtain a permission number.  Students would be advised to add this class last, in order to best avoid conflicts.

Financial Aid – no report

Scholarships – no report

Curriculum Administration – Lyndi Duff

• Lyndi noted that she has just returned to work, and is catching up on e-mails.  One recurring question regards courses added (by departments) after the catalog was published; while these can be scheduled, they are not currently appearing there and must be imported; they will appear later.

DARS/GPS – Tammy Nguyen

• Welcome back to Richelle Warr.
• No more course/degree changes (to the Catalog) are being accepted at this time.  Some departments have yet to approve their DARS content; these should be submitted to Tammy as soon as possible.

Advisor Education and Development – Leslie Park

• The March campuswide advising conference went very well.  A survey was sent out today (via the listserv); everyone is encouraged to fill it out.  It will help with planning for next year’s event.  Thanks go also to those who attended the recent event with Dr. Terrell Strayhorn.
• The next campuswide inservice is May 14; there will be presentations by LEAP and BlockU.
• The annual advisor social (and presentation of UAAC awards) will take place in May; date to be announced soon.

Orientation – Nomani Satuala

• Attendance at first-year orientations has been about 1,200.
• The final schedule for upcoming programs is posted online.

Transfer Student Issues – no report

Committee Reports

Mandatory Advising Program – no report

Advisor Awards – Angie Gardiner

• Winners of the awards have been chosen, and will be announced at the upcoming advisor social event.

Marketing and PR for Advising – Taunya Dressler

• Mindy Johnston, of the Office for Equity and Diversity, has created an academic advising art image (presented today).
• The Committee is currently working on synthesizing feedback from the various focus groups.  The Committee will also be meeting with University Marketing and Communications, in order to discuss the rollout of a campaign.  (The new art image is seen as an important component that can consistently identify advising on campus.)  At next month’s UAAC meeting, there will be a discussion of templates and other components that can be made available to all advisors.

The Advisor Position – no report

Assessment of Advising – Steve Hadley

• The Committee has identified items to focus on in the near future, including what the mission and purpose is as a committee (for UAAC).  There is also an interest in discussing the best ways to use data from the campuswide advising survey, and how it can drive what will be done in the future. Another idea:  creation of an exit survey for advisors (when leaving campus or taking other campus positions); this is also under consideration by the Advisor Position committee.

Appreciative Advising – Liz Leckie

• We are now in the “Dream” phase of the Appreciative Advising Challenge (information cards distributed), and will be for the next month.  Reminder:  ideas pertaining to the earlier phases (Disarm and Discover) are still welcomed.

Continuing and New Business

UAAC Co-chair:  Shari Lindsey announced the two names that have been placed in nomination:  Bobbi Davis and Shawn Adrian.  A vote will take place at the next UAAC meeting.

Appointment Manager:  Jeff Dalby and Tammy Mabey updated the group on the current status of the Appointment Manager software.  Currently, ten colleges and programs (including TRIO and CESA) are using the software to schedule student advising appointments; there are a total of 184 users.  Last month, a total of 2,985 appointments were made.  The program can provide advising entities with some important and helpful information, e.g., how many appointments per month are currently being made.  Contacts:  jdalby@uc.utah.edu; tmabey@uc.utah.edu; rbroadbent@uc.utah.edu (Becki Broadbent).

Community Engagement Day:  Bobbi Davis spoke about the upcoming annual observance (April 29; engagementday.utah.edu).  The College of Social and Behavioral Science is partnering with Hartland Community Center; on April 29, 20% of purchases at Ugurt will go toward building a sports court for kids at the Center (http://partners.utah.edu/partnerships/community-capacity-building/unphartland-partnership-center-2/).  A walkathon will also take place on that day.

A flyer was distributed about the POLS 3960 (Summer Laboratory for Social Change) class to be taught during the week before Summer Semester begins (May 11 – 15).

Academic Advising Center update:  Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski announced that she will be leaving her current positions (associate dean in Academic Advising Center, and Assistant Vice President in Academic Affairs) to accept a faculty position in the University’s Department of Educational Leadership & Policy program, effective July 1.  (Another Academic Advising Center staff member will transition into Sharon’s role with UAAC.)  The associate dean position will be posted within the next month, and will entail a national search; selection committee chairs will be Martina Stewart and Tim Ebner, and it’s hoped to be able to fill the position by September 1.

May and June UAAC meetings:  Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski noted that the currently scheduled date for the June meeting – June 18 – conflicts with an orientation date.  (It was also noted that next month’s meeting – May 21 – conflicts with the Utah Advising Association conference in St. George.)  The group voted to combine these two meetings into one, to be held on June 4.

Other:  Lisa Hutton announced that CL CV 1550 (Classical Mythology) will be taught in the first half of Summer Semester (which doesn’t usually happen); and reminded the group that accelerated language courses will also be taught (these can be a good option for students in completing their BA requirement).

Jenny Stout noted that FCS 5370 (Family Violence) will be taught during June, over a ten-day period.

Angie Gardiner reminded that prerequisite mathematics courses do not “expire” after two years, as test scores do.

Emily Johnson announced that the University’s Staff Council is sponsoring a Shred Day on April 22.

THE Next UAAC meeting IS SCHEDULED FOR

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, at 2:00pm IN AEB 320

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Information Items

Fall 2015 Academic Calendar Available at:  http://registrar.utah.edu/academic-calendars/fall2015.php

U of U Academic Advising Mantra/Creed/Philosophy

As educators and problem solvers, we advocate for students as they navigate their personal journey of higher education and attain their academic goals. Through inclusion and connection, we open doors to new opportunities for self-awareness and growth, empowering students to define their roles as citizens within local and global communities.

Academic Advising Tagline

*Academic Advising: Planning with Purpose

Information that Supports Students

• Summer FLXU intensive class GEO 3030-060 Living with Quakes. 

• New CHEM boot camp pre-fall class:  CHEM 10 Refresh your Chemistry