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List of all Retention Council Agendas & Minutes
Agenda & Minutes for December 3, 2003
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Agenda of the Retention Council
Bartlett Room- Newhouse II, 10:00-12:00 p.m.
| I. |
Announcements |
Horace Smith |
| II. |
Approval of revised October 8th and November 5th meeting minutes |
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| III. |
WellsLink: A faculty-supported retention initiative for non-sponsored first-year students of color |
James Duah-Agyeman, Director, Student Support & Diversity Education/ Multicultural Affairs
Paul M. Buckley, Diversity Education Specialist & Coordinator of MLLC - Haven Hall
Laura Harrington, Project Manager, CSTL
Joy Smith, WellsLink, Retention Counselor |
| IV. |
A Collaborative First-Year Experience Program |
Mariana J. Lebron, Director, Office of Orientation and Transitions Services
Anastasia Urtz, Dean of Students
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| V. |
Other Business |
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| Next Meeting: January 14, 2004 Link Hall 369 |
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Minutes of the Retention Council
December 3, 2003 Meeting
In Attendance: Paul Buckley, Maureen Breed, Ronald Cavanagh, Andrew Clark, James Duah-Agyeman, Judy Hamilton, Mariana Lebron, JoAnn May, Helen Murray, Ken Miles, Jane Neuburger, Michael Olivette, David Potter, Felicia Proud, Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, Hanna Richardson, Anne Shelly, Horace Smith, Martha Sutter, Seth Tucker, Anastasia Utrz, Tim Wasserman, Michael Wasylenko, Barbara Yonai
I. Announcements
Revised minutes from October 8, 2003 were approved.
Minutes from November 5, 2003 were approved without revisions.
II. Update on Wellslink Program
James K. Duah-Agyeman, Paul Buckley, and Joy L. Smith presented an update on the Wellslink program. The program is designed to provide support for students of color that are not receiving services from sponsored programs like HEOP, SSS, and CSTEP. Wellslink is a multifaceted intervention program that:
focuses on the first six weeks of college.
utilizes the Noel-Levitz Retention Management System. This is an inventory completed by the students that identifies risk factors for attrition. Wellslink uses the instrument as a point of departure for counseling sessions with students.
encourages social bonding and support among participants.
Asks students to produce a Wellslink journal that includes assigned reflective essays and notes developed over the course of their participation in the program.
Buckley - the program encourages participants not to over-commit in the first year.
Shelly - Do they listen?
Buckley - No, particularly in the areas of work. Many are reporting that they want to or have to work. Sometimes two jobs.
Potter - How many hours?
Buckley - Upwards of 10 hrs. per week per job.
May - An issue that presents for talented sponsored students is their active recruitment by many campus groups and organizations. This has resulted in their committing too much time to extra-curricular activities at the expense of academics and general wellness.
Cavanagh - How many students participate and how are they selected?
Buckley - 37 participants from 383 potential participants as identified by the Office of Admissions. The only criteria are that they be freshmen students of color and non-sponsored.
Smith - How are you going to recruit and then develop faculty mentors?
Duah-Agyeman - The director of the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs will work with the schools and colleges to identify and recruit faculty. OMA will also consult with the schools and colleges to determine appropriate training/staff development for participating faculty. A FIPSE grant has also been written to help fund some remuneration for faculty participants.
Proud - What happens after one-year?
Buckley - They "graduate" from the program but many are reporting wanting to stay involved in subsequent years.
Richardson - Requests a review of the Noel-Levitz Retention Management System.
Cavanagh - What's the logic behind the Wellslink Journal? Who reads it?
Buckley - It's for the student's consumption. There are specific assignments that ask them to reflect on their experiences.
Potter - Is the journal interactive?
Buckley - Yes, but the feedback given is mostly focused on motivating the student to complete assignments.
III. Update on Orientation and Transitions Services
Anastasia Urtz and Mariana Lebron presented a review of fall orientation 2003 and discussed the focus of the Office of Orientation and Transition Services (OTS) for 2004. They stated that the goal of OTS is to develop a comprehensive, collaborative, program that facilitates academic and social engagement, celebrates diversity, and enhances student's retention and success.
The components of a successful first-year program include:
Assisting students to develop reasonable academic expectations of themselves and the institution.
Providing tailored support to unique sub-populations.
Organizing campus administration, organizations, policies, and climate to support students in transition.
Developing processes, procedures, and activities focused on orienting nw students.
Engaging students in the positive aspects of student life.
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