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Professional Advisers Council

Winter 2020 - ImPACt Newsletter

Welcome to the ImPACt newsletter which highlights the most notable happenings in the world of Academic Advising at Oakland University. On behalf of the Professional Advisers Council (PAC), thank you for taking a moment to read about the achievements of professional advisers and the impacts they have made this semester across campus.

PAC E-Board
Hnou Vue (Secretary), Steve Farver (Treasurer)
Melanie Chamberlain (Chair-Elect), Lauren Leve (Chair)

Advisers Working from Home

We hope you are staying well during this unprecedented time. Similar to everyone else, OU academic advisers have had to make some adjustments over the past few weeks to ensure the support we provide students can continue while working remotely. It has taken a great effort and there has been a lot of learning along the way, but we continue to serve students daily from our new makeshift offices and spaces. To get started, we would like to share a sampling of ‘work from home’ photos from advisers across campus as they strive to balance productivity and wellness. Enjoy and stay well!

Blake Bonkowski (CAS) and Guss

Meaghan Cole (SBA)

Caitlin Thayer (FYAC)

Destin Eddington (SBA)

Lauren Leve (SHS) and Lincoln

Matt Prentice (CAS)

Debbie Lengyel (SBA)

Melanie Chamberlain (SEHS) and Ninja

Carmen Etienne (SECS) and Finn

Kacie Cadotte (SECS) and Kyzer

Jackie Keith (SBA) and Haley

Kurt Kirkpatrick (SECS)

Eman Shammo (SECS)

Courtney McCarrey (FYAC) and Stella

Roberta Rea (SEHS), Danny, and Amelia

Krista Malley (OSS) and Emma

Derek Moreno (SECS)

Adrienne Spitzer (SEHS) and Addison

Kate Golder
(FYAC) and Gibson

Laura Christensen Saims (SON), Leah, and Dylan

Deb Cash (FYAC), Mac, and Big Al

Evan Dermidoff (Athletics) and Julie Dermidoff (Registrar)

Lindsay Zeig (BIS) and Lyla

BIS Staff

SECS Staff

SEHS Staff

SHS Staff

Advising Leadership & Wellness

MINDFULNESS INSTITUTE
In February a group of advisers from CAS, FYAC, SECS, and SEHS participated in a Mindfulness Training with Dr. Caryn Wells from the Department of Organizational Leadership. Dr. Wells highlighted the tools from mindfulness that advisers can use with students and how to implement mindfulness moments throughout our daily work as advisers. Great lessons to help our students and improve our skills as advisers!

Academic Advising Programming

OAKLAND ADVISER TRAINING ACADEMY
The PAC Training Committee launched the Oakland Adviser Training Academy (OATA) in Fall 2018. OATA is comprised of six hybrid training modules that align with the NACADA Core Competencies to provide in-depth professional development.

The following advisers were recognized at the December 2019 PAC meeting for completing all six modules:

Advising Unit Updates

Bachelor of Integrative Studies (BIS)

BIS is working as the other units are - remotely and holding appointments mostly via Google Meet and also some phone. BIS is reaching out to students a little more during this time to offer resources both on and off campus while considering the whole student and the needs they might be facing. BIS has put together a video for students to bring some light to this dark time.

A message from BIS

Collge of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

CAS Advising is riding the waves of change. We added two new Academic Advisers in Fall 2019 (Blake and Chris) and now we will be adding and changing some leadership also. With Ann Selva starting as Coordinator of Pre-Professional Advising on May 1st, we will be hiring a new Assistant Director and adding a second Senior Advisor position that was upgraded this winter. We are looking forward to being fully staffed by this summer and heading into the 2020 school year with excitement.

First Year Advising Center (FYAC)

New Student Orientation is going virtual in 2020! Due to the unknown duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FYAC has made the decision to move all New Student Orientation programs to a virtual format. Plans are underway to launch a dedicated e-space, small group advising sessions and ongoing presentations on student services and campus life. More information will be available to campus partners as the details are finalized. We are excited about the opportunity to engage with OU's new students in a whole new way!

School of Business Administration (SBA)

The Explore Business Pathways event on February 19 was successful once again this year. Approximately 65 students attended the event to discuss the business majors and career pathways with faculty, industry experts, and student organization leaders. Dinner and a very lively networking session took place at the conclusion of the evening. Survey results consistently indicate this event helps students to decide which major and career path to choose.

School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS)

Carmen Etienne completed the OU Leadership Academy in December.

Kurt Kirkpatrick was a participant in the Course Registration Barriers Lean Workout Group looking at registration and course prerequisite issues and processes. He also co-presented the results with our Registrar, Tricia Westergaard.

The SECS Advising Office had their first graduate intern this year, Jenny Lee. She was able to help with several important initiatives for our students including Student Veteran Appreciation Day, creating a new student organization flyer, creating a peer mentor program proposal, a new scholarship flyer for our students, and had the opportunity to advise some of our students on her own.

School of Education and Human Services (SEHS)

The SEHS Advising team developed a mentoring program to focus on the retention and success of Pre-Elementary Education majors. Nine upperclassmen volunteered to act as mentors to six mentees. This first group of mentors/mentees focused on the on-campus residents. We have plans to expand the program in Fall 2020 to reach out to all students in the Elementary Education program. The mentors are gaining valuable experience as teachers, and the mentees are receiving authentic advice from their experienced peers. Mentors receive monthly newsletters to help guide them in their role. A kick-off meeting was held on January 17, 2020 in Hillcrest Hall's MakerSpace.

School of Health Sciences (SHS)

On March 10, 2020, School of Health Sciences collaborated with Career Services and the College of Arts and Sciences to host the Discover Career Opportunities within Health Care and Natural Sciences event. This initiative allowed both undergraduate and graduate students a chance to network with a variety of employers across Southeast Michigan. There were approximately 35 students and 19 differ companies who participated. Employers who attended included the Independence Village, Howell Nature Center, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Michigan Department of Corrections, and many more. Students were able to identify potential employers and learn about available positions related to job shadowing, volunteering, internships, and job placement connected with their majors

New Advisers and Positions

Asia Beard-Watkins (BIS): Asia completed her master's degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs and most recently worked as an Academic Adviser at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Emily Hall (BIS): Emily completed her master's degree in Counseling here at Oakland University and most recently worked part-time as an Academic Adviser in the School of Nursing.

Derrick Morris (FYAC): Derrick comes to OU from the University of Kansas where he earned his master's degree in Higher Education Administration. He also worked there as the Assistant Complex Director in Housing.

Ann Selva (Coordinator of Pre-Professional Advising): Pre-Professional Advising will be under Ann's leadership. Ann will start this new role on May 1, 2020. Many of you may remember that Ann served in a similar capacity from 2013-2015. As a Senior Adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences Ann created the first Fact Sheets for our pre-health students, worked with Career Services to delivery a campus wide pre-med event and worked on the state Michigan Medical Education Day (MMED) events.

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