Division of Student Affairs Newsletter

August 29, 2017 | Edition 310

IN THIS ISSUE

Information & Updates

Student Disability Services - new website
Significant Jewish Holidays
Want to advise a student organization
SAF fun in the sun
International Student and Scholar Services ( ISSS)
Miami SOUP
Welcome Weekend and First 50 Days Events 
Student Affairs Intranet
Tech Tip
Assessement Soundbites

Upcoming Events


INFORMATION & UPDATES

Student Disability Services- new website

Student Disability Services (SDS) is excited to announce their redesigned website. The project was led by Hope Sweeney, Accommodation Coordinator and Senior Lean Leader for the Division of Student Affairs. The SDS team participated in a Kaizen event. Kaizen means “change for the better” and involves an intensive and focused approach to project completion. For a week-long duration, the SDS team collaborated daily in an open workspace to write, critique and publish new web content.
The result of this effort is an improved website that features:
  • Updated homepage look and feel to easily access content, including a Student Spotlight and “I want to” option for one-step access to common questions.
  • Faculty Tools section to provide information and resources for Academic Affairs partners.
  • Descriptions of all accommodations and services offered.
We encourage you to check out the website. The SDS team is committed to continuous improvement and innovation. If you have a suggestion about the new site, you are encouraged to submit it to sds@MiamiOH.edu.
If you interested in learning more about ways that your department can use Lean methodology for projects or process improvement, we encourage you to contact Hope Sweeney at sweenehm@MiamiOH.edu or 513-529-1541.

Significant Jewish Holidays

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year and beginning of the ten days of repentance) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) are the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. Many students choose to go home to spend these holidays with family. Students will need to leave campus early to be home in time for the start of the holiday.
Rosh Hashanah 2017 will begin at sunset on Wednesday, September 20 and ends at sundown on Friday, September 22.
Yom Kippur 2017 will begin at sunset on Friday, September 29 and ends at sundown on Saturday, September 30.  

Want to advise a student organization?
Complete the Advisor Interest Form!
Every year we have numerous student organizations who are one step away from completing the process of becoming a new organization or re-registering for the year - they need an advisor. While we attempt to help them find an advisor, this isn’t always the easiest process.  So we have created a form to allow interested individuals the chance to express interest in being an advisor. Advisors can be faculty, staff, or graduate students. We have at least three organizations currently seeking an advisor, and there will be more on the way once the school year starts. So if you have some interest in this amazing experience (I advise several student organizations and love it) please complete the Advisor Interest Form. We will attempt to match you with an organization that matches your interests if one becomes available!  
 
If you’d like to learn more about being an advisor (including the advisor job description) please go our website to view Advisor Resources. For more questions, email JS Bragg at JSBragg@MiamiOH.edu for student organizations or Colleen Blevins at blevinc3@MiamiOH.edu if you are interested in advising a fraternity or sorority.

SAF Fun in the Sun

Team TBA (Student Affairs and Friends Summer Softball Team) had another wonderful summer in the sun! One of the highlights for the summer for a lot of staff, Team TBA had a great time in our 8th season of play. While our record wasn’t stellar (we DID win two games…and beat two teams we had never beaten before) we had an amazing summer together. We highly encourage those interested to continue the tradition by participating in SAF based Rec Sports teams in different sports throughout the year. It is a great way to build stronger bonds amongst members of the division.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

International Student Orientation began on August 16th and will continue for the following week and a half.  During this time period, ISSS staff will frequently be out of the office welcoming and assisting our new students! 
Consequently, it may take our staff additional time to respond to messages.  We kindly ask that you do not send multiple messages as doing so may further delay response or redirect your question to other ISSS staff as we are all engaged in orientation.  We truly appreciate your patience and support during this time.  Your message is important and we promise we will do our best to respond as quickly as possible to your concern. 
Thank you for your understanding!

Miami SOUP​

On Saturday, October 21, Miami will host a unique mini-granting dinner, Miami SOUP, which celebrates and supports innovative community change projects in the Southwest Ohio region. 
Miami SOUP is now accepting change project proposals from teams of at least one community organization and one Miami University collaborator (student, student organization, faculty or staff member) committed to the project. CLICK HERE for more information and to submit a proposal! Proposals due by Sunday, September 24. 
Have an idea for a project, but not sure which community organization would be right to team up with? Contact Christie Zwahlen, OCES Director, zwahleca@miamioh.edu.

Welcome Weekend and First 50 Days Events - Get the App!

Orientation and Transition Programs is excited to promote over 350 events during Welcome Weekend and the First 50 Days - from August 24 - October 15.  See the full schedule on our Orientation and Transition guide, part of the Miami University Events app (same one we use for summer orientation), or on our website at MiamiOH.edu/first50.  The schedule will soon be divided into event tracks for first-year, second year, transfer, and graduate students.  
If you have an event to promote that is not yet on the schedule, input the details on our Welcome Weekend and First 50 event proposal form.  If you need to make changes to an existing event, please contact Evelyn Covington at covinged@miamioh.edu.

Student Affairs Intranet 

Student Affairs will soon have a staff member Intranet, for internal communication and resource-sharing in Student Affairs. We are looking now for early adopters to help us populate the site with missing resources (you'll see lots of gaps currently!) and expand the current offerings. 
New ideas? Missing resources? Etc? Email Jen O'Brien (obrienjc@miamioh.edu) or Tim Kresse (kressetj@miamioh.edu) to submit ideas. 

Tech Tip of the Week
From Jen O'Brien
TIP: Set Gmail as your browser's default email (instead of Outlook) in Chrome. 
WHY: If you have ever tried to click on a link to someone’s email from any webpage, chances are you’ve had the Microsoft Outlook setup box show up and make you wait for it to load. And if you don’t use Outlook (as most of us do not), you’ve probably been annoyed. Lucky for all of us - there is a way out!
HOW?  Head to the Chrome menu in the top right corner of your browser and select Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select Show Advanced Settings. Click Content Settings and then scroll down to the Manage Handlers button. Select Gmail from the dropdown, click Done, and there you go!
Assessment Soundbites

Assessment Soundbites

Does your department or program have assessment data to share? Please submit through the Assessment Soundbite Template

UPCOMING EVENTS

Farewell Reception for Janae Arno
A reception for Janae Arno will be held this Thursday, August 31 from Noon - 2:00 pm in the Office of Student Wellness, 103 Health Service Center. Janae has accepted another position and is leaving the University. Please join us in wishing her good luck and congratulations!
Reception Welcoming New Faculty & Staff Women

September 12, 4:30-6:00 pm
Armstrong 1082 (East Wing)
This annual fall reception, co-sponsored by the Women*s Center, Office of the Provost, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, invites faculty, staff, and graduate students to meet and greet women new to Miami.

2017-18 Performing Arts Series Season Just Announced!

Indulge Your Wanderlust and explore the variety of shows we have this season! 

From the wild west of Cirque Éloize in Saloon to the Rockin' Road to Dublin a wonderful world awaits...

Tickets are ON SALE NOW!
Get tickets: Bit.ly/WanderPAS
Save up to $5/ticket until September 16 with our save early pricing! No promo code necessary!
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