Member Spotlight: Jessica Hust

Hometown: Pettus, TX

College(s) attended: Texas State University, although when I started there it was Southwest Texas!

Degree(s) earned: Bachelors in Applied Sociology and Masters in Education

Job Title: Assistant Academic Advisor

What are your hobbies? I love to crochet and have a wish list of new crafts to learn. I read ALL the time and if possible, I’d love to travel more.

What is your current job at UT? I’m currently the only academic advisor in the Jackson School of Geosciences. It’s awesome but can sometimes be lonely.


How many years have you worked at UT? One year, two months, and counting!

What is the most challenging aspect of your current job? Staying organized! As an advisor for the Jackson School, I perform many duties in addition to advising including administrative tasks, taking the lead on our Academic Intervention Program, Jackson 5ish (our service organization), newsletters, graduation applications, FIG facilitator, field trips, Q-drops, withdrawals, honors,  etc. I have to keep a detailed to-do list as well as a calendar handy at all times! It all pays off in the end though.

What is your favorite thing about your current job? My students are real go-getters! All are high-achieving and motivated. It’s always exciting to learn about their next project or the research they are involved in.

Tell us about one of your success stories in your current position (regarding a student, co-worker, project, etc.). We admitted a student last year who was very awkward and uncomfortable in social situations. As a result, he had a hard time connecting with others and found himself alone a good deal of his first semester. Mentors approached him as well as his FIG facilitator to determine what was going on and he even went to see a counselor but later said he wasn’t comfortable with them. The rapport that I built with him during that first semester lead him to contact me when he was thinking of hurting himself over the holiday break. Throughout the fall in our appointments and random encounters in the student center, this student felt he could trust me and wanted to confide in me. He got the help he needed and returned to UT the following Spring. He’s made leaps and bounds. He is most definitely a success story.

July 2013 ACA General Meeting

Your ACA Executive Committee enjoying breakfast sponsored by the College of Communication.  Social time!

Nathan Vickers announced this month's Appreciating Campus Administrators honoree, Dr. James Vick.

Carolyn Connerat, Associate Vice Provost, continued the effort to inform ACA about the new student success initiatives for four-year graduation rates.  The initiatives include 360 Connections, college readiness, data driven success, course and degree modernization, and more.  Ms. Connerat also spoke about new programs such as Summer Bridge, the University Leadership Network, PACE, and expansion of the success programs (TIP, Gateway, etc.), and various scholarships aimed at enrichment and retention. 

Brittany Linton, UT Ombudsperson, addressed ACA on the services her office provides our students. She emphasized that she is neutral and independent and reports to the Office of the President.  Her function is not to advocate for students but to guide them through the various processes and policies they might encounter at UT.  She pointed to such examples as grade disputes and honor code violations; she clarifies for students what they face and helps them "cut through the red tape," if it is possible.  Of particular interest is the fact that she will even work with students who have already graduated.

Sarah McKay and Mandy Davidson announced this year's ACA awards recipients.  Jill Lawler (l) of the Department of Economics, received the 2013 Dedication to Students Award. 

Anneke Chy (l) and Megan Rovang (not pictured) received the Taking Initiative and Creating Positive Change Award for their work with at-risk students in the College of Natural Sciences.

Last, but not least, Nathan Vickers received the Service to the Advising Profession Award.  Congratulations to a wonderful group of advisors!

Noe Gonzales from Communication discussed the "UT in LA" program and explained the GPA and program requirements for both undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in the entertainment industry.  Hollywood!

Also from the College of Communication, Lauren Brown (l) and Xavier Oaks reviewed the new, tighter rules for internal transfers to the college.  A major goal is to ensure that students can still graduate in four years if they transfer into Communication.

Finally, Nathan Vickers swore in the new ACA officers for 2013-2014.  Congratulations and good luck!

June 2013 ACA General Meeting

A scrumptious breakfast for the June 2013 ACA meeting was courtesy of UT Athletics.  Thanks!

The lovely advising crew from Athletics!

ACA members were treated to a tour of the student Academic Center in the stadium.

After we returned from the Academic Center, Laura Weingarten, Outreach Program Coordinator for the Sanger Learning Center, spoke to ACA about the services provided by the Center.  Those services include tutoring, help with course content, study effectiveness, and help with test anxiety. 

Dr. David Laude returned to speak further on the many new initiatives aimed at improving four-year graduation rates.  In particular, he discussed the new University Leadership Network, a program that will identify at-risk students, provide them funding, and help them develop both leadership and academic skills. 

Last, but not least, committees!  Join one!  They're fun, provide a forum for getting to know advisors outside your own college, and they allow you to get more involved in ACA. 

Member Spotlight: Thomas Fawcett

Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas.

College(s) attended: University of Kansas, UT-Austin.

Degree(s) earned:  BA in Anthropology and Latin American Studies from KU, MA in Journalism and Latin American Studies from UT.

Job Title: Associate Academic Advisor in the Department of History.

What are your hobbies? I love music, collect records, and write about hip hop, soul, funk and world music for the Austin Chronicle. I like to cook, preferably over an open flame in the company of friends. I have a vegetable garden that I try to keep fruitful all year round with varying degrees of success. I enjoy exploring the parks and swimming holes of Central Texas with my wife, daughter and shaggy dog.  Some might say my love of college basketball borders on obsession.

What is your current job at UT?  As my supervisor puts it, my job as an advisor is to be there and know everything. I'm giving that my best shot.

How many years have you worked at UT? I've worked at UT just over a month as an advisor and full-time staff member. As a grad student, I worked as a TA in the Journalism School, an academic mentor in the Athletics Department and volunteered as a DJ for KVRX. 

What is the most challenging aspect of your current job? There is a lot to learn as a new advisor and my current challenge is to cram as much information into my brain as quickly as possible. Also, the mainframe is my nemesis. I'm grateful to have two experienced advisors in my office that I can reach out to for help when questions arise.

What is your favorite thing about your current job? I love being on a college campus every day and surrounded by the energy that exists at UT. I also work closely with honors students in the History Department and  have already been incredibly impressed by their work and intellectual curiosity.

May 2013 ACA General Meeting

  The May meeting featured ice cream!  Thanks to New Student Services for sponsoring our ice cream social!

Appreciating Campus Administrators honoree for May was Marc Musick, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, College of Liberal Arts.  Nathan Vickers accepted on Dean Musick's behalf.

Jessica Bradford of the Awards and Recognition Committee announced the 2012-2013 ACA student scholarship winners.

The student scholarship winners are, from left to right, Elizabeth Barnes, Ayomide Fasalojo, David McDonald, and Jacob Spangler.  Not pictured is Samantha Robles, who could not be at the meeting.

McKinlaye Harkavy, also of the Awards and Recognition Committee, announced the advisor scholarships:

Kristen Anton

Anneke Chy

Gina Higby

Letita Monsey

Our NACADA honorees!  Congratulations!

Alexia Apollo, Certificate of Merit, Outstanding Advising Award--Primary Advising Role

Jinane Sounny-Slitine, Certificate of Merit, Outstanding New Advisor--Primary Advising Role

UTeach-Liberal Arts (represented by Eric Bowles), Certificate of Merit--Outstanding Institutional Program

Cristi Biggs, Assistant Dean of Students for the Office of the Dean of Students spoke on behalf of New Student Services, reviewing for ACA some of the changes in Orientation for this summer.  Also filling ACA in on 2013 Summer Orientation were:

KJ Harris

Kyle Clark

Alex Kappus (and Esmer Bedia seated to the right).

Dr. Madeleine Hsu, Director of Asian American Studies spoke on the key themes of the Asian American Studies major, its interdisciplinary nature, and the importance of the major in the study of a significant segment of US society.

 

 

Candidates for the 2013-2014 officer positions made their campaign speeches.  Jay Guevara (Communication/PR), Sara Schultz (Historian), Alanna Bitzel (Secretary), Jessica Bradford (Treasurer), Matthew Haynes and Kelly Strait (Co-Vice Presidents), and Julia Chinnock (President-Elect) all ran unopposed and were duly elected.  Congrats!