ACN Meeting Minutes
April 15, 2008
Members Present:
R. Alioto, K. Baith, K. Barnes, S. Blair, T. Buss, S. Chetney, K.
Coffaro, T. Current, R. Daniel, T. Deutsch, L. Fitzenberger, K.
Folstein, G. Gilbert, S. Gruzis, D. Gygi, J. Harper, J. Hawkins,
B. Hinshaw, D. Holloway, C. Kaye, M. Knasinski, K. Koncki, G. Kopke,
H. Matera, S. Mitchell, L. Molina, P. Mullikin, A. Northrup, K.
Omachinski, D. Patnode, H. Pfersch, V. Provost, J. Rahmer, A. Randall,
C. Rasavong, K. Raymond, K. Roosevelt, A. San Diego, J. Schiedt,
L. Siekert, K. Silvestre, B. Simon, M. Solis, H. Spearman, B. Thomas,
B. Warner, A. Wrench, S. Zlotocha
Kim Folstein and Amy Randall, Department of Enrollment Services
Comprehensive admissions policies were validated by a June 2003
decision of the Michigan Supreme Court, which ruled that it was
appropriate for institutions of higher education to consider a variety
of factors, such as race, in admission decisions but not to give
special reference to those factors. The UW system decided to consider
all relevant factors in favor of admitting students besides just
the ones “on paper” such as test scores. UWM had already
been informally following a comprehensive admissions policy before
this time, but has now adopted it formally. UWM considers the following
factors when making an admissions decision: high school units (coursework,)
high school performance (GPA and class rank,) standardized test
scores, and nonacademic factors such as leadership, extracurricular
involvement, socioeconomic status, and racial/ethnic background.
A multi-tiered approach is used in which different units review
the applicant’s files. The time from application filing to
completion takes 13 days now, down from 26 days in 2006. From completion
of a file to an admission decision, the elapsed time is now 5 days
as opposed to 10 days in 2006.
Implications of the policy change: a new application deadline (July
1 for Fall 2008, not August 1,) and more effective summer support
programs. Advisors need to contact the office for late approvals,
and need to make sure their letters of information to students reflect
the new changes. Their late summer workloads may now be eased a
little. New initiatives of DES include an incomplete applicant campaign,
a diversity campaign, a postcard campaign with assistance from current
students, involvement by the First Year Center and the Multicultural
Student Center, and the You@UWM overnight event with the Department
of Recruitment and Outreach.
More information is available at www.desforms.uwm.edu for students
who need to cancel an application, change majors or terms or request
fee waivers. (The forms do need to be printed out, signed, and submitted.)
Contact Kim Folstein at folstein@uwm.edu
(x3491, MEL 212) or Amy Randall at ampr@uwm.edu
(x4481, MEL 212.)
Seth Zlotocha and Kristin Roosevelt, Enhancing Advising subcommittee
of ACN
The January 2008 survey results were presented to the committee.
Responses were received from 18 offices, with a mix of academic
and student services offices. All offer advising in person and by
phone, 17 also via e-mail, 4 also in group sessions. Appeals procedures
vary by office, with the majority handling them by committee or
by the individual advisor. Weekend advising is offered by five units,
evening advising offered by eight consistently, three by request.
PAWS is used most often for student services center information
and student information, including advisement reports. These reports
are used during advising appointments most often for periodic requirement
checks and graduation clearances.
An in-house check sheet is used 56% of the time to advise students
on graduation requirements. Advisors are also involved in exceptions
to graduation requirements, and request updates and enhancements
to PAWS to improve efficiency.
Erricca Pollack, First Year Center
Ruth Williams introduced Erricca Pollack, director of the First
Year Center in Bolton 192 (pollacke@uwm.edu,
x6760.) Erricca presented the goals of the Center: to continue to
serve students peer-to-peer through the Campus Ambassador program
beginning at new freshmen orientation, continuing through the activities
of the 40 first year mentors, new First Year student staff, Living
Learning Communities and LINKS mentoring. New programming is planned,
as well as increased connections with all faculty and advisors who
work with first year students.
Announcements
Nominations were requested for ACN co-chairs and awards committee
members. The deadline is Friday April 18th, nominations e-mailed
to Lori Fitzenberger at lorifitz@uwm.edu.
Short biographies are due by April 23rd and ballots will be e-mailed
afterward; voting takes place April 25 – May 9, with the winners
announced at the next ACN meeting on May 20.
The School of Information Studies is offering a new summer weekend
course that carries U/G credit: The European Information Society
in a Global Context (L&I SCI 691.)
Registration for fall classes starts on Monday April 21. The number
of students that can register per hour has decreased from 500 to
300. Billing for students will change in fall to an online system
only, and statements of account will be instantly updated and will
also include housing and meal plan charges.
There is a new Q&A area on the financial aid web page now.
The financial aid system is going to become self-service: students
won’t be sent an award letter but can view their awards in
PAWS. Students will now need to formally accept loans and work study
awards.
The Tutoring and Academic Resource Center is sponsoring a workshop
for students on Exam Preparation and Test Taking Strategies, to
be presented in Bolton 196 at noon on Tuesday April 29 and Bolton
192 (FYC) at noon on Tuesday May 6th.
Students for whom English is not their first language should be
reminded to sign up for ESL courses this fall since UWM does not
survey them first about this issue.
