Skip to content

University Academic Advising Community

Academic Advising Center

Main Navigation

May 15, 2014 - UAAC Meeting Notes

UAAC MEETING NOTES

May 15, 2014

 

Present: Rachana Patel, Brad Merrill, Pablo Martinez, Aretha Minor (Admissions); Joy Velarde (Anthropology); Erik Weierholt, Taryn Horner (Athletics); Michelle Brooks (Atmospheric Sciences); Jess Taverna, Jason Barkemeyer, Anne Johnson, Tracy Noyes (Business); Amanda May (Civil and Environmental Engineering); Vicki Jackson (Computing); Janet Goff, Candace Krukiel (Continuing Education); Katie Deak (Dean of Students’ office); Arlene Arenaz (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Elizabeth Archuleta (Ethnic Studies); Jenny Stout (Family and Consumer Studies); Amy Capps (Financial Aid); Liz Leckie (Fine Arts); Shari Lindsey (Health); Kayce Coker (Honors); Lisa Hutton (Languages and Literature / Religious Studies); Lorelei Rutledge (Library); Bonnie Ogden (Mechanical Engineering); Kellie Hubbard (Middle East Studies); Samantha Davis (Mines and Earth Sciences); Mary Ann Dresher (Music); Lynn Higgs (Physics and Astronomy); Dallin Cowles, Emily Johnson (Registrar’s Office); Carol Bergstrom, Tina Redmond (Scholarships); Lam Nguyen (Social Work); Christine Contestable, Bryce Williams, Stephanie Santarosa, Jen Molloy, Natasha Hansen (Student Success and Empowerment Initiative); Noemy Medina, Paul Humbert-Fisk, Rudy Medina (Student Equity and Diversity); Maria Baldwin (Student Support Services); Kristen Lindsay (Teacher Education); Lyndi Duff (Undergraduate Studies); Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski, David Eisen, Martina Stewart, Jency Brown, Steve Hadley, Sarah Rollo, Jen Wozab, Julia Popp, Terese Pratt, Richelle Warr (Academic Advising Center); Lena May-Fraser, Kira Jones, Rachel Osterman (Academic Advising Center / Fine Arts), Angie Gardiner (Academic Advising Center / Mathematics); Tamara Young (Academic Advising Center / Physics); Lisa Shaw (Writing and Rhetoric). Total: 63

Presentations

Jennifer Andrus, from the Writing Program, presented information about the 1010 and 2010 courses. Some highlights:

  • The goal is for students to be able to take the information learned in these courses, and use it across academic disciplines.
  • In 1010, students learn to summarize arguments (without adding bias and opinion). Students read academic prose, and learn strategies for synthesizing different “voices”.
  • In 2010, there is an emphasis on learning how to conduct research. The course includes collaborative work. Students are taught how academics value reading and writing.
  • Moving from opinion-based writing to research-based writing can be difficult for some students.

Noemy Medina and Paul Fisk-Humbert presented information on the Diversity Scholars program. Some highlights:

  • It is a first-year experience program, developed in 2008 as a sponsored program for students of color and underrepresented populations
  • It is a year-long cohort program; this year, there are around 120 in the Program
  • Transfer students as well as freshmen can participate (the former take only one course, in Fall)
  • A major goal is to help build community among the participants
  • There is a special welcome event at the beginning of the year, and one that involves family as well
  • Participants take ETHNIC 2500 in Fall Semester and 3730 in Spring Semester; there is a service-learning component (e.g., in an elementary school)
  • The program is connected to other services in the Office of Student Equity and Diversity

Admissions –Rachana Patel

  • The process for fixing duplicate courses will remain the same, but the Registrar’s Office will now be fixing those now instead of the Office of Admissions.
  • Janet Muncey’s last day will be June 13. Maren Lythgoe will be leaving as of May 29 (advisors can send e-mail to Rachana (rpatel@sa.utah.edu) or Brad Merrill (bmerrill@sa.utah.edu) after this date). Suzanne Wayment is no longer with Admissions. Transfer articulation work will take place in Rachana’s area (data entry); more information to come.
  • Deposits are still being taken for Fall Semester, for the time being. Fall applications will be taken until June 1 (with a complete file); after that, students must submit a petition. Readmitted and nonmatriculated student applications will be taken up until the Friday before the semester begins (August 22, for Fall 2014).

Registrar’s Office – Dallin Cowles and Emily Johnson

  • Summer enrollment is currently at 12,960. For Fall, currently 14,886 (up about 3% from last year).
  • Dates / deadlines:
  • May 18 – last day to add a class without a permission code
  • May 21 – last day to drop classes (semester-length and first-half)
  • May 27 – last day to add, elect Credit/No-Credit, or audit courses (semester-length and first-half)
  • May 30 – last day to withdraw from first-half classes
    • Grade reports: for Spring 2014, there were a total of 1,067 grades missing (which is down 800 from Fall 2013).
    • Graduation is at 51% of cleared – goal is to finish by June 6.
    • Related to NCAA encoding, there have been three big changes in DARS:
    • General elective section
    • General Education requirements – now looks for associate’s degrees
    • For active athletes, the NCAA piece will show at the end of the audit report

Financial Aid – Amy Capps

  • The deadline for Summer applications is May 30.
  • Walk-in assistance will be available to students (from 8:30am to 4:30pm) until May 27.

Scholarship Office – Carol Bergstrom

  • The scholarship process is changing; the last training (to which advisors are invited) will be held tomorrow (May 16) in the INSCC Building auditorium, from 10:00am to 12:00noon.
  • The Office website is scholarship@sa.utah.edu.
  • Tina Redmond (present today) is the “customer service person” for the Office.

Curriculum Administration – Lyndi Duff

  • The catalogue changes are done and currently being reviewed; work is underway on adding all of the four-year plans. Feedback on the catalogue will be solicited from the college representatives.
  • January 25 was the deadline for changes to Program of Study, and for Summer and Fall courses.
  • August 25 will be the deadline for changes to Spring courses (but no changes to Program of Study).

DARS/GPS – Richelle Warr

  • There will be a DARS purge on June 13.
  • An upgrade of products used to manage DARS has begun (this should be invisible to users).

Advisor Education and Development – Steve Hadley

  • Thanks to those who attended the recent advisor social, and congratulations to the winners of the UAAC advising awards.
  • On June 12 there will be a campuswide inservice, featuring the TRIO program; on July 10 another inservice will feature ASL inclusion.
  • The Advising Basics Workshop for May 27 has now been cancelled, because this training is now available online (through the UAAC website). There will however be an in-person session scheduled for August.
  • The next technology (PeopleSoft / DARS) training will be on June 9.

Orientation – no report

Transfer Student Issues – Terese Pratt

  • In summer, visits to Salt Lake Community College are cut back a bit, but will still take place every Wednesday starting next week. Planning will begin in the next few weeks for Fall Semester visits.

Committee and Task Force Reports

Mandatory Advising Program – Martina Stewart

  • The MAP Program fall kickoff will take place on September 12, and will feature a guest speaker, Jenny Bloom (from the University of South Carolina).

Advisor Awards – Angie Gardiner

  • As noted earlier, congratulations are extended to the winners of the UAAC awards.

Marketing and PR for Advising – Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski

  • Two focus groups (one for advisors and one for students) were held during Spring Semester, facilitated by University Marketing and Communications. (One clear finding: students want more time with advisors.) A faculty focus group is still to come.
  • For the proposed marketing campaign, two taglines have been selected: “Create, Navigate, Graduate” and “Planning with Purpose”. Advisors will see these used throughout the coming year.

The Advisor Position – Jessica Taverna

  • Over the last couple of months, work has proceeded on development of a presentation on the Committee’s findings, as well as proposals for moving forward on providing more resources across campus to overcome variabilities and inconsistencies that exist (as far as responsibilities, compensation structures, etc.).
  • The Committee met with Cathy Anderson (Associate VP for Budget and Planning) and Ruth Watkins (Senior VP for Academic Affairs) recently. Two main proposals concern expansion of the bridge advising model, and potential creation of central positions on campus to provide consultation and assistance in hiring, resources for training and development, and support for personnel in data and assessment. (These findings and proposals were presented this morning, by Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski and Liz Leckie, to the Council of Academic Deans).

Continuing and New Business

Major Expo: Sarah Rollo reminded the group of the September 24 date. An invitation letter has gone out; please remember to RSVP online.

BA Language Requirement: Lisa Hatton distributed and reviewed a “flowchart” handout with information on the Requirement and paths for completing it. Lisa noted that she works by appointment, and it’s best to ask a student to e-mail her first.

LEAP 2014-15: Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski noted that handouts will be sent after today’s meeting.

Sexual Assault on Campus: Katie Deak, Associate Dean of Students, reminded the group of Policy 5-210, which requires all faculty and staff to report incidents of sexual harassment, stalking, etc. Advisors should take note that they do have a responsibility and obligation to report, if a situation arises with a student with whom they are working.

BUS 2700 course: Jason Barkemeyer distributed information about this course (Smart Decisions: The Science of Decision-Making) to be offered in Fall 2014. It is designed for non-business majors.

Important Reminders for Advisors: Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski distributed a list of topics and reminders to assist advisors as they engage with students in Fall 2014; this includes a review of which departments are now enforcing prerequisites.

Plan to Finish: Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski reminded advisors that if students want to graduate in a timely manner, they need to think about taking a minimum of 15 credits in each semester *or* 30 credits in an academic year. More information on this topic to come at next month’s meeting.

 

THE Next UAAC meeting IS SCHEDULED FOR

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2:00PM, IN ALFRED EMERY BUILDING, ROOM 320

Last Updated: 8/21/23