October 2012 ACA General Meeting

Thank you to the Texas Parents for sponsoring breakfast!

Social time.

Appreciating Campus Administrators: ACA honored Vice Provost Gretchen Ritter for her service to students and to advising on campus.

ACA President Nathan Vickers presented Dr. Ritter with her certificate of appreciation.

Susie Smith (left) and Holly Gardovsky represented Texas Parents.  Texas Parents, in one form or another, has quietly been helping parents help their students cope with campus life since 1948.  Housed in the Division of Student Affairs, Texas Parents provides parents with information to pass on to their students, publishes a monthly newsletter, and participates in such activities as Family Weekend and Family Orientation.  

Samuel Moore and Vicki Keller spoke about the Certificate in Scientific Computation.  It is an 18-hour certificate that prepares students to use "high-end computing resources in applications research and development."  The program has drawn interest from prospective employers.

Ben Armstrong and Dr. Jay Morrison joined us in order to discuss Student Veteran Services.  Dr. Morrison is a psychologist who works on campus specifically with military veterans.  Given the growing number of veterans at UT, Mr. Armstrong wanted to emphasize the care that should be taken with this high-achieving group of students, and he elaborated on the services available to them on campus, and the complications they must navigate in order to make sure they comply with federal requirements so that they receive their financial support.  Always feel free to refer them to SVS (475-9771 for Mr. Armstrong, and 232-2677 for UTVA Outreach).  Dr. Morrison suggested that advisors may be able to help identify student veterans with problems or issues and made useful suggestions on how to work with veterans.

Our final speaker of the day was Bianca Cusimano (bianca.cusimano@austin.utexas.edu) from Longhorn Internship Connection.  The "Connection" is a tool to help students find internships appropriate to their interests.  The majority are summer internships, but the database does include some long-semester possibilities as well.  The site provides information not only on internships available, but it also includes feedback from students who have held these positions.  Eventually, the program will be student-run and move from Dean of Students to Student Government.

After brief announcements from Lisa Valdez on FIG updates and Sarah McKay of the Awards and Recognition Committee on this year's NACADA award nominations, the meeting adjourned.  

September 2012 General ACA Meeting

The first ACA meeting of academic year 2012-2013 began with social time, and breakfast was sponsored by the Undergraduate Real Estate Certificate Program.  Thanks!

The meeting opened with remarks from ACA President Nathan Vickers.  Our theme for the year is "Appreciate (our history), Engage (our present), and Shape (our future)."  As Nathan pointed out, ACA is 28 years old this year, 200 members strong, with seats on many university-wide committees.  "We have a voice."

Our program for September began with a presentation by Rachel Allen and Will Way of the Undergraduate Real Estate Certificate Program (Texas URE).  Rachel and Will discussed the history of the program, the fact that it was once a major, and its reestablishment as a certificate program in 2012.  For more information, please visit Texas URE.    

Patty Micks presented on MAP-Works, a tool that aids faculty and staff in the effort to improve student retention.  MAP-Works has developed a survey that identifies at-risk students, diagnoses their problems, and alerts staff and faculty in a more timely fashion so they can offer resources and solutions.  It also provides feedback to students on their own behaviors and attitudes that may get in the way of success.  Undergraduate Studies has already begun to use the system, and, eventually, other colleges can expect to follow suit.

Jason Bentley, Director of the First-Year Experience Office and Assistant Director of Residence Life at Central Michigan University, elaborated on the uses and virtues of MAP-Works.


The September meeting concluded with announcements, including committee sign ups, and the introduction of a number of new advisors.  Welcome!

July 2012 ACA General Meeting

The June 19, 2012 ACA General Meeting, sponsored by UT Athletcis Academic and Student Services featured presentations from their staff, as well as a presentation of awards and recognition for our membership.

A huge THANKS to UT Athletics Academic and Student Services for sponsoring our meeting and providing a feast of breakfast treats.

The team from UT Athletics Academic and Student Services describe their various program.

Former Student/Athlete discusses his experience at UT and thanks the Academic Advising community for their support Student/Athletes.

2012-2014 ACA Executive Officers take their Oath of Office.

June 2012 ACA General Meeting

The June 12, 2012 ACA General Meeting, sponsored by The School of Undergraduate Studies Center for Strategic Advising and featured presentations from the Hindi-Urdu Flagship Program, the AlcoholEdu Program, Student Financial Services Summer Withdrawal Process, and the Campus Climate Response Team.

A huge THANKS to The School of Undergraduate Studies Center for Strategic Advising for sponsoring our meeting.  They featured fruit, Taco Deli tacos, Round Rock Donuts, Jason's Deli Coffee, and a variety of juices. 

Hindi Urdu Flagship Program

Dr. Rupert Snell and Selina Keilani presented on the Hindi Urdu Flagship undergraduate program at the University of Texas at Austin designed for students who wish to achieve advanced professional proficiency in Hindi and Urdu while majoring in a wide variety of programs, including Business, Communications, Engineering, and Liberal Arts. It is the first and only Hindi Urdu program of its kind, combining an intensive four-year curriculum with individual attention and mentoring by Flagship instructors and native-speaker teaching assistants. 

Dr. Rupert Snell - Professor

Selina Keilani - Asst. Director

AlcoholEdu

Dr. KP Prince, Coordinator of the AlcoholEdu Program, gave ACA an update on how the program is structured and feedback on working with students who have not completed the on-line education module.

Dr. KP Prince - Coordinator of the AlcoholEdu Program

Office of Student Financial Services

Reanna Addison, Financial Aid Officer, presented on how the new federal guidelines that govern financial aid has impacted teh summer withdrawal process. 

Reanna Addison - Office of Student Financial Services

Campus Climate Response Team

The Campus Climate Response Team, which was formed by President Powers in 2011, is a coordinated efforty by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and the Division of Student Affairs, to serve as a university-wide strategy resource team that will develop and facilitate the implementation of appropriate responses to campus climate incidents impacting the UT Austin community. Three members of the team - Ryan Miller, Katherine Antwi Green, and Brooke Bulow, informed ACA of the CCRTs purpose.

CCRT Members:  Katherine Antwi Green (Asst. Vice President), Brook Bulow (Director of Communications), & Ryan Miller (Senior Program Coordinator)

Farewell

Angela Mirabito & Evelyn Meisell - Advisors in the McCombs School of Business. This meeting marks Evelyn's last meeting before her departure to Montenegro (we'll miss you Evelyn)

At the end of the meeting, several new ACA members were introduced.  See you in July for the final meeting of the academic year and the induction of our new ACA Executive Officers.

May 2012 ACA General Meeting

The May 8, 2012 ACA General Meeting, sponsored by New Student Services, featured updates from New Student Services, updates from The School of Undergraduate Studies, the presentation of our ACA Studnet and Professional Development Scholarships, and speeches from the nominees for ACA Executive Officers for the 2012-2013 academic year.

 

A huge THANKS to New Student Services for sponsoring and presenting at our meeting.  They featured treats at the meeting was Amy's Ice Cream!

As usual, members began the meeting by eating and mingling.

Our ACA Bobcat Crew

New Student Services

The staff from New Student Services discussed the changes happening to orientation for summer 2012.

Marc Musick - Associate Dean in Liberal Arts who has a special appointment by President Faulkner to oversee New Student Services.

Cristi Biggs, Assistant Dean of Students

Cristi Biggs, K.J. Harris, Esmer Bedia, & Kyle Clark - members of the New Student Services Team.

Undergraduate Studies

David Spight discussed the reorganization of the Sanger Career Counseling Services (which happened in March) and the office transitions occuring within the School of Undergraduate Studies during the month of May. 

ACA Professional Development & Student Scholarships

Sarah McKay and Janice Williams, members of hte ACA Awards & Recognition Committee, announced the winners of each of the $250 Professional Development and Student Scholarships.

Student Scholarships

Kayla Freeman - Radio/Television/Film senior.

Nancy Cardenas - Government & International Relations/Global Studies senior

Staff Professional Develoment Scholarships

Patty Micks - Senior Program Coodinator in The School of Undergraduate Studies First Year Experience

Kristen Kessel - Academic Advisor in the School of Social Work

ACA Executive Officer Nominee Speeches for 2012-2013

The nomination process was coordinated by Jennifer Jordan, ACA Secretary and Academic Advisor in the Biological Sciences Advising Center.  Jennifer announced nominations in the April meeting and collected nominees throughout the month of May.  Candidates for ACA Excecutive Officer positions were asked to give their nomination speeches.

ACA Co-Vice Presidents/Program Co-ChairNominees - Kayla Ford & Kristin Tommey

ACA Co-Secretary Nominees - Julia Chinnock & Cynthia Sullivan

ACA Co-Historian Nominees - Cynthia Gladstone (look between the fingers) & Angela Mirabito (as played by Lovelys Powell)

ACA Public Relations/Communication Coordinator Nominee - Mathew Haynes

The Candidates for President Elect were not able to make the ACA Meeting, but each asked an ACA Member to deliver a speech on their behalf.  JoAnne Huber read Kelly Strait's speech and Lovelys Powell read Rob Poyner's speech. 

Past Presidnet JoAnne Huber reads Kelly Strait's President-Elect speech

At the conclusion of the meeting, all uncontested nominees were voted in by the membership, leaving ACA President-Elect as the sole office to be elected by ballot.  Jennifer Jordan, ACA Secretary, announced the process for the election and the deadline for casting votes. 


The current ACA Executive Officers take a picture as they anticipate the election of their replacements.

2012-2013 ACA Officer Elections - Vote for President-Elect

For our 2012-2013 Officer Elections the ACA membership agreed to elect those candidates that ran unopposed for their respective positions. The position of President-Elect was the only contested position and now requires a vote by our dues paid members. The position has two candidates running for election and their speeches can be read below.  Please look for an e-mail message from Jennifer Jordan with instructions on casting your vote.

Speeches (in alphabetical order):

 Rob Poyner - Senior Academic Advisor for the Department of Computer Sciences

I am very excited about the possibility of being a part of the leadership for ACA at UT Austin. I am not sure if we are all fully aware of the far reaching aspects of our involvement in ACA. The first campus wide advising organization I belonged to was created after a visit from a member of UT Austin ACA. There are 22,000 students being better served at that institution because someone at UT cared and took the time to help organize the voice of advisors on that campus.

As the climate toward higher education continues to change in our state the impact on our campus is great. The next five years are very important for us and our students. As graduation rates become the center of focus we will  undoubtedly face many challenges. I hope that we can face those challenges as if we were a new organization with the new ideas, vim and vigor. Yet with the seasoned experience of veterans understanding the obstacles and challenges unique to our campus.

I am not sure what the future holds but, I know there is not another group of people I would rather face that future with than my world class colleagues on this world class campus. Not only can we rise to the challenge we can master it and continue to provide a student oriented educational environment second to none.

My ACA Involvement includes:
ACA Co-Public Relations/Communications
ACA Advisory Council
ACA Professional Development Day
ACA Advising Day Committee (Is this what it is called still?)
ACA Scholarship Committee
ACC/UT Transfer Event Committee
ACA Mentor



 Kelly Strait- Senior Academic Advisor - College of Liberal Arts
Good morning, ACA! I am sorry I’m unable to be there with you today. (And many thanks to Jo Anne for speaking on my behalf!)

I am truly honored to be a candidate for the 2012-13 ACA President-Elect. We all know how overwhelming the UT campus can be, but being a member of ACA has provided me with something that’s crucial for everyone on campus to find: COMMUNITY. In my experience, ACA has been a place for advisors and other staff to share information, work together, and support one another in accomplishing common goals.

ACA has been a tremendous source of knowledge and encouragement during my (almost) 6 years at UT as an academic advisor. Though I am both an Aggie (WHOOP!) and a Sooner (BOOMER!), the ACA community has been incredibly welcoming and really made me feel a part of the Longhorn family. I’ve had the honor and privilege of serving ACA in a variety of capacities including, Holiday Party Committee, Advising Expo Co-Chair, Scholarship Committee Chair, and Public Relations Coordinator.

As we all know, the role of an advisor isn’t just advising anymore—we’re course schedulers, we advise student organizations, we plan events, we oversee programs and committees…the list goes on and on. And with budget cuts and constraints affecting us at every turn, it is more important than ever for ACA to provide opportunities for professional development and fellowship. As President-Elect, I hope to work with my fellow officers…
– To continue strengthening ACA’s voice and presence on campus.
– To provide educational opportunities to better advising procedures and resources and increase student success.
– To offer support in departmental and campus-wide programs.
– To push for our members to serve on campus-wide committees dealing with vital changes, like four-year graduation rates and orientation.
– And to make sure we take time to recognize our hard work and celebrate our successes.

I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to serve ACA in this capacity. And I truly hope to follow in the footsteps of the great Theresa Thomas as the second president-elect/National Karaoke League Champion!