December 18, 2014 - UAAC Meeting Notes

UAAC MEETING NOTES

December 18, 2014

Present:  Colby Vranes, Lauren Storer, Taryn Horner (Athletics); Michelle Brooks (Atmospheric Sciences); Dave Gard (Biology); Jess Taverna, Amanda Miller, Rachel Osterman, Jason Barkemeyer, Tracie Noyes, Latu Kinikini (Business); Tracey Farnsworth (Chemical Engineering); Rick Ernst (Chemistry); Alexi Crabb (Civil Engineering); Travis Ciaramella, Laneta Fitisemanu (Communication); Vicki Jackson (Computing); Cynthia Ruiz, Megan Hruby (Economics); Arlene Arenaz (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Shawn Adrian (English); Sara Bachynski, Loren Finn (Exercise and Sport Science); Jenny Stout (Family and Consumer Studies); Liz Leckie (Fine Arts); Shari Lindsey (Health); Holly Pokorny (Honors); Christopher Anderson (Housing and Residential Education); Taunya Dressler (Humanities); Ashley Glenn, Kellie Hubbard (International and Area Studies); Annabel Ono, Alisa Tank (International Student and Scholar Services); Lisa Hutton (Languages and Literature); Peter Kraus (Marriott Library); Mark Mun, Joy Velarde (Mechanical Engineering); Mary Ann Dresher (Music); Kelly Brown (Occupational Therapy); Garrett Kachellek (Orientation and Leadership); Ana Nelson (Political Science); Elizabeth Henke (Public Policy); Emily Johnson, Mike Santarosa, Zach Klc (Registrar’s Office); Lam Nguyen (Social Work); Stephanie Santarosa, Bryce Williams (Student Success and Empowerment); Kristen Lindsay, Sara Hatch (Teacher Education); Maria Baldwin (TRIO); Janet Opel, Cindy Greaves, Lyndi Duff (Undergraduate Studies); Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski, Leslie Park, David Eisen, Shelley Nicholson, John Nilsson, Sean Crouch, Martina Stewart, Steve Hadley, Tammy Mabey, Sarah Rollo, Tammy Nguyen, Heather Crum, Julia Popp, Amy Urbanek, Jency Brown (Academic Advising Center); Lena May-Fraser, Kira Jones, Brett Runnion (Academic Advising Center / Fine Arts); Angie Gardiner (Academic Advising Center / Mathematics), Tamara Young (Academic Advising Center / Physics and Astronomy), Lisa Shaw (Writing and Rhetoric).    Total:  75

Stephen Goldsmith (from Undergraduate Studies) presented information on the options available to students for completing a capstone project during their undergraduate career.  From the website (http://capstone.ugs.utah.edu/undergraduate-capstone-experience/):  “Capstone courses integrate coursework, knowledge, skills, and experiential learning for the purpose of enabling students to demonstrate their synthesis of knowledge in real-world applications.  This is accomplished through providing students with opportunities to apply their accumulated learning to a meaningful project, assess outcomes, and position themselves for emerging opportunities in their fields.”  The ways to do a capstone experience include:  individual capstone experience; collaborative capstone experience; capstones offered (or required) by individual colleges or departments on campus; and experiences that are posted on the Community Opportunity Board.

Admissions – Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski for Brad Merrill, et al

• Admissions is currently processing last-minute admits for Spring 2015.  Applications are still being accepted for readmitted and nonmatriculated students, up until December 31.
• Holds for transcripts are being processed as quickly as possible.

Registrar’s Office – Emily Johnson, Mike Santarosa, and Zach Klc

• As previously announced, there are several enhancements to DARS that are planned to go into production on December 22.  These include:
• the ability to see which emphasis (if any) the student has declared, when generating an audit by declared major
• the ability to generate an audit for student’s declared major and emphasis
• the ability to select the pseudo-name from a dropdown list, when entering and copying exceptions
  • The new graduation supervisor, Robert Barber, will begin around January 20.
  • The clearing process for graduation will begin tomorrow; questions should be sent to graduation@utah.edu. 
  • Fall 2014 grades are due by December 29; please encourage those who enter grades to finish this as quickly as possible.  (It was noted that among Pac-12 institutions, we’re the one that allows the longest grading period.)  When grades aren’t reported on time, then the grade is published as an “EU” (failing grade); corrected grades must then be submitted via a lengthy paper-based process.  Reminder e-mails are going out to faculty.  As of now, there are nearly 400 individuals who have not completed the required FERPA compliance training (and therefore do not have access to grade entry). 
  • Please have all DARS exceptions completed by January 5.
  • An updated calendar has been published (found under Advisor Resources section of the website).
  • The bulletin distributed at the recent Registrar’s Summit bulletin is available online; thanks to all who attended. 
  • Honors at Graduation ranges (summa, magna etc.) are posted; they are posted to the degree when the Registrar’s Office posts the student degree.
  • As of this morning, there are 25,230 students registered for Spring 2015 (down 3% from last year).

Financial Aid – no report

Scholarships – Leslie Park (for Tina Redmond, Carol Bergstrom, and Cary Lopez)

• The Stephanie Papanikolas scholarship is available for Spring 2015.  Preference is given to students who have made a contribution to the Greek Orthodox Church and community.  The application deadline is very soon (January 1).  

Curriculum Administration – Lyndi Duff

• The deadline for catalogue editors to submit course changes for Summer and Fall 2015 – as well as changes to the Catalogue for 2015-16 -- is January 20.  The submitted changes will need to be reviewed by the college editors by February 1. 
• Lindy’s leave will commence in late February.  In her absence, another individual from Undergraduate Studies will assist with curriculum, and can be contacted at curriculum@utah.edu.

DARS/GPS – Tammy Nguyen

• Richelle Warr will start her maternity leave soon, so Tammy will be handling DARS matters alone; therefore, it will be helpful for course and catalogue changes (as referred to by Lyndi) to be submitted as early as possible.
• Reminder:  please send information regarding DARS problems to dars@sa.utah.edu, rather than to Richelle’s or Tammy’s e-mail addresses.  Responses may take a bit longer than usual, in light of the ongoing curriculum changes that need attention (but student graduation problems will get priority attention).

Advisor Education and Development – Leslie Park

• There will be no campuswide inservice in January.
• Proposals for the March 2015 UAAC conference are due to Jency Brown by January 28.

Orientation –Garrett Kachellek

• Thanks to all of those who participated in the December 6 orientation program (with its technical challenges).  So far, 624 transfer and 80 first-year students have been seen.  There is one final orientation program available (with an online component; the in-person program will take place on January 9).  Those students who need this should contact the Orientation office by phone (801-581-7069). 

Transfer Student Issues – Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski for Terese Pratt

• LDS Business College (LDSBC) is changing its curricular focus to concentrate nearly exclusively on vocational and applied science areas.  They will continue to offer one transferable AS degree in Integrated Studies.  The University is currently re-evaluating the articulation agreement with LDSBC. 

Committee Reports

Mandatory Advising Program – Martina Stewart

• Thanks to all advisors for their efforts this fall; we saw more first-year students by the beginning of the priority registration period than ever before (83%).  As of December 15, 93% of students have been advised; there remain about 230 holds left on first-year students.
• Second-year students were e-mailed in November.  Advisors are reminded that these students don’t always indicate, in an advising appointment, that they’re there for their 2^nd-year appointment; so be sure to look for that service indicator and mark that type in PeopleSoft.  These students will be e-mailed again in January.
• Undeclared students with 60 or more hours will be e-mailed on February 2.  There are usually around 200 students in this population; many are in fact working on a major but haven’t declared it.

Advisor Awards – Angie Gardiner

• Please think about nominating individuals for the Perlman Award; a district staff award; UAAC and/or UAA awards; and/or a NACADA award.

Marketing and PR for Advising – Taunya Dressler

• The first meeting was held on December 15, and the group decided to focus on two areas:  students and faculty (Committee members were “assigned” to one area or the other).  It was also deemed advantageous for this committee to have a liaison to other committees (which will include attending their meetings).  The Committee meets again on January 23.

The Advisor Position – Jess Taverna

• The Committee has met twice; members reviewed last year’s accomplishments and discussed where best to focus their efforts for this year.  One specific area identified for focus is a career ladder.  The Committee would like input from campus advisors about how they see their career, and what “development” or “progression” (as an advisor) means to them.  A survey is planned, and then creation of some proposals. Jason Barkemeyer, Josh Larson, and Anna Adams will be talking with the Committee about the work they have done in a related area.

Assessment of Advising – Steve Hadley

• Qualitative data from the advising survey was presented and reviewed.  (This presentation was also forwarded to the listserv after today’s meeting.)

Appreciative Advising – Liz Leckie

• Starting January 2015, the Committee will facilitate a six-month challenge for academic advisors across campus.  Each month, it will focus on one of the six phases of the Appreciative Advising model.  Advisors who accept this challenge will spend the month implementing the particular phase and/or sharing their experiences, challenges, and/or interesting insights, concerning the phase.  Each month’s challenge will be announced at the UAAC meeting as well as through the listserv.  January’s challenge will focus on the “Disarm” phase; advisors can share their experience (including creative ideas, best practices, and challenges) with this phase by e-mailing lpark@uc.utah.edu.This feedback will be shared at the February UAAC meeting.   (More information will be sent out via the listserv.)

Continuing and New Business

Mathematics Registration Office Hours / Prerequisite Change:  Angie Gardiner reported that starting with registration for Fall 2015, MATH 1060 (trigonometry) will have a prerequisite of MATH 1050 (college algebra).

Regarding Spring Semester 2015, the registration office hours will be as follows:  January 9, 10am – 2pm; January 12 – 16, 9am to 4pm (the office is located in LCB 218).

Advisors are asked to remind students that they should complete their General Education Mathematics requirement at the beginning of their undergraduate career, rather than at the end.

TRIO:  Maria Baldwin announced that one of the sections of MATH 990 dedicated to TRIO students – as well as two such sections of MATH 1010 – still have openings for Spring 2015.  As a reminder, TRIO is a federally-funded program intended for students who are first-generation college attendees, low-income, or have a disability.  To enroll in these courses, students must fill out an application to enter the program.  (Handouts distributed)

Major Exploration:  Sarah Rollo announced that she will be going on maternity leave in mid-February.  Those departments and programs who will be participating in the UExplore open houses will receive communications from Sean Crouch (he and Julia Popp will be at the events).

International Requirement:  Jency Brown reminded the group that students can fulfill the International Requirement (IR) with a study-abroad experience.  If the program is attached to the University, that will happen automatically; otherwise, the student can talk with a Academic Advising Center advisor in regard to this.  The requirement can also be cleared with a global internship, via the HNKLY 4903 course (a student who completed such an internship prior to the course’s offering should consult Academic Advising Center).

Tip of the Month:  What Tips Would You Offer Your Peers?  Some that were mentioned:

• Look at the Advisor Panel notes before a student appointment
• Look at the student’s overall record; start up the conversation with something that congratulates them
• Get involved with a UAAC or other committee

 

THE Next UAAC meeting IS SCHEDULED FOR

THURSDAY, January 15 at 2:00pm IN AEB, ROOM 320

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Information Items

• Dec. 30 – Grades available to students via CIS
• Jan. 2 – Utah Athletics Invites UAAC Members to the 2^nd Annual Night with the Learnin’ Utes.
• Jan. 12 – Spring 2015 begins for full term
• Jan. 17 - 23:  MLK Activities and Celebration  http://diversity.utah.edu/events/martin-luther-king
• Jan. 28 – MUSE Lecture by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at Huntsman Center (Need Ticket)
• March 6-12:  Women’s Week http://diversity.utah.edu/events/womens-week
• March 27 - U of U Advising Conference
• May 7 & 8 - University Commencement & Convocation Exercises

Spring 2015 Academic Calendar Available at:  http://registrar.utah.edu/academic-calendars/spring2015.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