Parent Newsletter March 2007
Dr. Dawn Remmers, Director, University Advising and Student Success, University of Texas at Arlington
As Director of Academic Advising and Student Success, I often discuss with my staff the University’s goals for student success. The first-year experience continues to be front and center in some of these discussions. In part, this is due to the recent visit to our campus by Dr. John N. Gardner, Executive Director for the Policy Center on the First Year of College. Dr. Gardner visited UT-Arlington as the keynote speaker for the 10th Annual UTAAA Conference (University of Texas at Arlington Academic Advising Association) and also met with UT-Arlington staff interested in first year students and beyond.
Dr. Gardner’s focus is on student learning and how colleges and universities can foster student success by easing a first year students’ transition into college. Gardner believes that if a university focuses on student learning and provides excellent programs and services then in turn, the students and institution both benefit.
This quality experience results in students remaining at UT-Arlington and graduating a “Maverick.” How can you help? Encourage your student to manage his or her own new learning environment and help your student achieve academic success by letting him or her become more self-sufficient in this endeavor.
New to the e-newsletter this month, a new category titled “Career Corner” – a section devoted completely to students and their career choices. I encourage you to make your student aware of this great new resource now available through University Advising and Student Success Services.
by James Jones, Academic Advisor, University of Texas at Arlington
Academic Excellence
The notion of academic “excellence” is a prominent feature of current higher education discourse. What exactly does one mean by “excellence” in this case? Even though I am an academic advisor, I do not claim to have definitively answered this question for myself. Higher GPAs, increased rates of graduation, or even the students’ personal satisfaction might qualify as markers of excellence. The answer might rather depend on the particular institution and the needs of its students. What thought then, may I offer the reader today?
I would like to suggest that a student achieves excellence through not only the educational process, but also from you, the parent. As parents, help your student by recognizing and exploiting the social resources available at an institution like
UT-Arlington and as a result help your student make those good first steps toward realizing academic excellence.
Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934), a Russian psychologist, offered a perspective on the social nature of learning. Rather than consider learning solely as the achievement of individual cognitive development, Vygotsky theorized that the individual learner can achieve more by entering into relationships with more experienced guides who provide the challenges needed for growth. This process he labeled “scaffolding”. Scaffolding is necessarily social in nature, and so the student’s achievement through scaffolding is a collaborative process involving others.
Here on our campus, your student may interact not only with faculty, but also with advisors, counselors, student development specialists, peers, resident assistants and many other experienced guides who provide opportunities for development. It takes most of these and more to complete a degree.
Thus, I invite you and your student to seek out growth opportunities from among these available resources. I urge you to consider yourself a part of this larger whole that achieves: together. Only together can we reach for something like excellence for our students.
The current UT Arlington Master Plan was approved by the Board of Regents in May 2000 and extends to 2020. Led by Vice President for Administration and Campus Operations John Hall, a committee has been working on an update. “One of the things that we are looking at is creating a more sustainable environment, which includes the greening of the campus.” Read more of Hall’s comments on increasing UT-Arlington’s “green-space” by clicking here.
Article courtesy of UT Arlington Magazine, Winter 2007
by Lynne Von Roeder, M. Ed., Academic Advisor, University of Texas at Arlington
Welcome to the Career Corner. My name is Lynne Von Roeder and I am an advisor in the office of University Advising and Student Success. In my role as a specialist in major exploration, I hope to offer information and insights that will be beneficial to you as the parent of a UT-Arlington student. In particular, I specialize in working with students using career and strength assessments that can help the student that “really does not have any idea” to see some areas that might be a good fit for them.
This indecision can be problematic as the beginning of Spring signals many things. In the world of higher education, high school seniors have received their acceptance letters for college and are beginning to think about the future. Orientation and their first semester are clearly on the horizon. As part of this process, it is not unusual for parents and students to be concerned about what the student’s major should be. After all, during the application process and at orientation, everyone asks them what their major is. That question has the potential to cause an enormous amount of pressure.
However, being an undeclared student can be a bonus, especially when that student is willing to explore! When a student is undeclared, they are advised by The Office of University Advising and Student Success. The staff in this office is knowledgeable about all types of majors, and specializes in helping an undeclared student explore different options. This office helps students choose class schedules that balance needed core academics with introductory classes in areas where they express an interest. Staff also work with them regarding being academically successful when they come to UT-Arlington. Students can also find assistance in choosing a major in the of Counseling and Career Services.
Sometimes, students believe they know what they want to major in. Perhaps it is what they have always dreamed of or what one of their parents does for a living. That is not a problem, but parents and students need to be aware that research shows that college students change their major an average of two to three times. Often, students declare a major upon entering college and begin taking the required math and science and find that it is more than they expected. They may also find that subjects they loved and excelled at in high school are very different at the college level. I have even advised juniors and seniors who did a summer internship in their major area only to find that the reality of the field was not what they expected.
On a personal level, I majored in Prelaw/Political Science with the intention of going to law school. I even worked at law firms during my summers to prepare. However, much to my parent’s chagrin, as a result of those experiences I decided my senior year that being an attorney was no longer of interest to me. Luckily, my minor was business and I spent the next 17 years happily working in the business world. If a student does not want to be undeclared but has more than one area of interest, choosing a minor is another way to help them explore more than one major.
In closing, I have a sign on my office door that reads “Life is a journey, you’ll need a guide”; the college experience is both a wonderful and daunting adventure.
by Liz Hannabas, Coordinator of Advisor Outreach, University of Texas at Arlington
Dr. Jimmy Rogers
When academic excellence is discussed on campus, a list of names of faculty and staff that make a significant impact on our student body will follow. And, more often than not, one name consistently appears at the top of this list: Jimmy Rogers.
Jimmy has been at UT-Arlington for 20 years. His years of service include work done as a Teaching Assistant and Adjunct Instructor. Currently, he is “Senior Lecturer.” His day-to-day activities include teaching, (General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry) and being an academic advisor. He says he enjoys the teaching: “I enjoy the challenge of teaching difficult scientific concepts, and my main objectives are to encourage each student’s natural curiosity and to show them how rewarding life-long learning can be.”
Fostering the student’s natural curiosity finds him well received by the student’s who take his classes and so naturally, when you’re liked by the student body, they respond with awards. Rogers was chosen Favorite Faculty member by UT-Arlington’s FLOC, Freshman Leaders on Campus, April 12, 2006; Favorite Professor Award, Presented by the Pre-Dental Student Association, May 6, 2005 and named one of three “Best Professors/Classes to Take at UT-Arlington” by Texas Monthly College Guide, 2004-2005. Other awards include “Most Helpful Faculty Award,” Awarded by the Chemistry and Biochemistry Society, an organization of undergraduate science majors, April 27, 1998 and ARCO’s Outstanding Technical Achievement Award for 1997 – recognition of “outstanding teaching, personal integrity and commitment to the subject, students and the University,” September 8, 1997.
Jimmy’s constant interaction with the student body constitutes the ideal Maverick; “An ideal UTA Maverick is a person who is committed to learning and who is willing to support and encourage others in our UTA community.” Rogers is also faculty sponsor for two student organizations, the Chemistry and Biochemistry Society, and the Maverick Chess Club.
Jimmy’s advising role also keeps him busy – “I am also the academic advisor for about 190 undergraduate Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biological Chemistry majors.” Several years ago he also started a Chemistry Clinic. The clinic provides free tutoring to students who are enrolled in General Chemistry or Organic Chemistry. Jimmy serves as Director of the clinic.
For consistent vision, service, and an eye on the future, University Advising and Student Success is proud to call Jimmy Rogers its’ Maverick of the Month!
The UT-Arlington Police Department offers seminars in Crime Prevention. Seminars include, but are not limited to: new student orientation; new employee orientation; campus safety; personal safety; Operation Identification; bicycle registration; property and home protection; Texas Help End Auto Theft Registration (H.E.A.T.); security surveys for residences and departments on campus, theft prevention; robbery prevention techniques; and basic assault/date rape prevention.
And, speaking of safety, here are a few safety tips to pass on to your student as he or she plans Spring Break (March 12-16):
If you plan on drinking as part of your spring break experience, consider the following: Know the alcohol laws at your destination.
Plan ahead on how much you plan to drink. Talk with a friend about when the friend should intervene and make a plan for how you will return to your hotel.
Don’t assume that someone you’ve just met will look out for your best interests. Keep in mind that more people are sexually assaulted by acquaintances than by strangers.
If a friend feels sick, don’t leave them alone. If you feel sick, ask someone to look out for you.
Don’t horseplay or climb on balconies. Never sit on railings and always keep both feet on the floor at all times. Falls from balconies, even those on lower floors, can be fatal.
Don’t carry all of your credit or bank cards in your wallet or purse. Carry the minimum amount of cash that you will need, including a little backup.
Make sure your friends and relatives know where you will be vacationing, when you will depart, and when you expect to return.
If you are robbed, don’t resist—give up any money! Call 911 as soon as you can.
IMPORTANT
Remind your student that March 30th is the last day to drop with an automatic “W”. Be sure your student knows all the implications of what dropping a class means. Read more…
Scheduled for March 30th – the Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES). This event is a university-wide, day-long event that showcases the best of student research and creative activity. Read more…
Make plans to see Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who will visit UT-Arlington March 27th. The twice-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan and first female Prime Minster in the Muslim world, will be visiting as part of the University’s OneBook & Conversations ‘06 Power Programs.
View the academic calendar often. The calendar will provide class schedules for all upcoming terms and will also include registration, add/drop dates, census and a final exam schedule. The featured events calendar can inform you and your student about upcoming sporting and musical events as well.
Want to find it all in one spot? Click on the full calendar link and you’ll find both the academic and featured events combined.