Student Affairs Impact Newsletter

ISSUE 2, WINTER 2009

Features: Peer Counselors & Mentors | New Tools from Student Affairs

Resources that Build our Expertise | Professional Opportunities
Comings and Goings | Staff Kudos | FYI... | Photos

Letter From
Vice Chancellor Penny Rue

Happy New Year! As 2009 begins, we cannot help but reflect upon what 2008 brought us. Last year was a time of upheaval but also of hope, and I begin the new year knowing that we face challenging times ahead, but that we will do so within a caring community and with faith in our ability to prevail.

Peer Student Counselors and Mentors:
Student Affairs’ Invaluable Ambassadors

Left: A³ Student Mentors,
Berenice and Megan.

From educating fellow UCSD students about health, wellness, and career success to mentoring low-income area high school students on what it takes to succeed in college—UCSD’s numerous undergraduates who serve as peer counselors and mentors are making a vital contribution to the mission and services provided by Student Affairs, as well as other areas at the university.

“These students play a crucial role in assisting other students with questions and concerns related to academic progress at UCSD, social adjustment, and to other areas related to student well-being,” say Patricia L. Scott, Dean of Student Affairs at Eleanor Roosevelt College, and key UCSD administrators whose units benefit from undergraduate peer counselors and mentors.

Student Affairs Provides Departments New Tools to Better Serve Students

Student Affairs has become a member of Student Voice, a firm that provides departments the tools to easily survey students, staff, and other clients. Through Student Voice, you can ask students about the types of services they want, how satisfied they are with your services, and what they like about your programs and events.

Resources That Build Our Expertise

Books that inspire Creativity

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
by Richard Pirsig

First published in 1974, this autobiography details a motorcycle trip taken by a father and his eleven-year-old son, a summer junket that confronts mortal truths on the journey of life. In the words of the author, “the real cycle you’re working on is the cycle called ‘yourself.’”

Recommended by Kevin DelMastro, International Scholar Advisor

The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork
by John C. Maxwell

We know that teamwork is essential for success, both in our personal and professional lives. This workbook breaks teamwork into informative, entertaining passages and helpful Q & A sections.

Recommended by Women’s Basketball Coach Charity Elliott

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto
by Michael Pollan

This easily read guide to sustainable and healthy eating shows us how we can start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives, enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy, and bring pleasure back to eating.

Recommended by Jerry Phelps, Acting Director, Wellness Center

The college that reads together…

Sixth College Student Affairs engages in a monthly staff development activity that involves staff members selecting on a rotating basis an article or chapter that the entire staff will read and then discuss. Some examples of articles and chapters they have read:

Patterns of Situational Identity Among Biracial and Multiracial College Students by Kristen A. Renn
The Influence of Course Effort and Outside Activities on Grades in a College Course by Soren Svanum and Silvia M. Bigatti
Beyond Seat Time and Student Satisfaction: A Curricular Approach to Residential Education by Kathleen G. Kerr and James Tweedy
A+ Does Not Mean All Asians: The Model Minority Myth and Implications for Higher Education by Nathaniel A. Victoria
The Second-Year Experience: Turning Attention to the Academy’s Middle Children by Jimmie Gahagan and Mary Stuart Hunter
Why We Hate by Margo Monteith and Jeffrey Winters
Freedom and Responsibility: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills to Facebook Users by M. Leslie Sadler

Recommended by Sixth College Dean of Student Affairs, James Stascavage

Bookmark These

Gradschools.com: This comprehensive student resource features a helpful “Why Grad School” tab that answers many of the initial questions a student may have about pursuing an advanced degree.

Publicservicecareers.org: Covering career disciplines in the “new” public sector—government, nonprofits/NGOs, international, consulting and education, this handy and easy-to-navigate portal bundles attractive employment opportunities for our undergraduate and graduate students.

Recommended by Bill Wingard, Professional & Graduate School Advisor in the Career Services Center

What have you read lately that the rest of us would find helpful? Send your must-reads for the next issue of Impact to Andy Ceperley.

Low Cost Student Affairs
Professional Development Opportunities

To get more out of your department's dollar, consider partnering with another unit for a Webinar.

Jan. 23, 10:30 a.m.–noon. Price Center East Level 4, Forum Room

UCSD: Student Voice Workshop

Demonstration on using Student Voice for your assessment needs, taught by Gary Ratcliff and Ann Klein.

Student Affairs Supervisor Training Series

Student Affairs’ own training series gives you Student Affairs-related information, brought to you by our own staff at UCSD. These free, one-hour workshops are open to everyone. Check out these winter quarter opportunities:

Jan. 30, 2009, 8:30 a.m. Price Center East Level 4, Forum Room

Supervising and Managing Difficult Employees – Dr. Billy Johnson

Feb. 20, 2009, 8:30 a.m. Price Center East Level 4, Forum Room

Transitioning from Employee to Supervisor – Janice Armellino, Emily Marx, John Payne

Jan. 26–Feb. 13, 2009

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) E-Course: Improving Supervisory Effectiveness through Human and Fiscal Management Strategies that Work

This class will address both human and fiscal management concepts in student affairs staff management. Specific attention will be given to (a) budget development and management, (b) supervisory styles and practices, (c) development of effective and productive meeting structures, (d) staff performance appraisals and disciplinary procedures, (e) conflict management practices in student affairs and higher education, and (f) the development of productive interdepartmental relationships. Current scholarship and best practices will be used to communicate important concepts and strategies related to class content.

Feb. 6, 2009, 2:00–3:15 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. PST)

NASPA Webcast: Navigating the Shift: Transitioning to New Roles and New Institutions

Young student affairs professionals are faced with making transitions.Whether personal, educational, or spiritual, a transition in one area of life impacts other parts of one’s life.In our rapidly changing society, we all need to cope with professional and personal transitions throughout our career. This Webcast uses the Bridges Model to provide a theoretical framework for the conversation, and the presenters explore the processes involved in successfully managing personal and professional change.

Various dates and times, UCSD Biomedical Library

Unleash the Power of PowerPoint and Presentations

The classes do build on each other, but you can come to any or all depending on your needs and skill level. Take advantage of the following workshops held from 10:30 a.m.–noon at the Biomedical Library: PowerPoint Beginnings (January 16), Power Enhancements (January 23), and Breakthrough Presentations (January 30).

Various dates and training options

UCSD: Element K

Element K is a vendor-hosted, Web-based training service. It is free to current UCSD faculty, staff, and students, available around the clock, and compatible with PCs and Macs. Take advantage of classes from Information Technology, Business Fundamentals, or Harvard Manage Mentor Plus from the Harvard Business School.

Various dates and training options

UCSD: Staff Education and Development

Did you know that the campus Staff Education and Development Office offers five certificate programs? Staff Education and Development has the best deals in town on workshops, ranging from free to a small fee. Certificate programs are available for Supervision, Work Leader, Training and Development, Web Design, and Department Safety Coordinator.

Send additional suggestions to Sara Henry.

Student Affairs Comings and Goings

Please welcome to the Student Affairs family
the following new employees:

Cristina Aparicio, Cal-SOAP

Cara Appel-Silbaugh, Vice Chancellor Student Affairs

Silvia Castro, Student Health Services

Catherine Condliffe, Student Educational Advancement

Shakerra Ravita Davis, Cal-SOAP

Melissa Ewart, Student Life

Laurie Galligan, TRIO Outreach Programs

Krauz Ganadjian, Counseling and Psychological Services

Ashley Gatson, Student Health Services

Marilyn Graham, Admissions and Enrollment Services

Houghston Hagues, University Centers

Ashley Hatchell, Campus Recreation

Jann Hoff, Student Life

Irma Jimenez, Campus Recreation

Karen Kwak, Student Health Services

Christopher Ladwig, University Centers

AJ Lee, Career Services Center

Filipe Martinez, Cal-SOAP

Richard Martinez, University Centers

Michael McClure, Cal-SOAP

Christine McNamara, Student Health Services

Rita Mejia, TRIO Outreach Programs

Nancy Moreno, Cal-SOAP

Catharine Nance, Vice Chancellor Student Affairs

Amanda Norskog, Vice Chancellor Student Affairs

Vanessa Nunez, Cal-SOAP

Eddie Paje, OASIS

Frida Pineda, Student Life

Benjamin Shaver, Financial Aid Office

Martha Singh, Cal-SOAP

Sandra Titus, Admissions and Enrollment Services

Erica Xavier, Financial Aid Office

Due to print deadlines, if we missed you here, we’ll get you on the spring edition!

Special Congratulations and Appreciation:

April Bjornsen promoted to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Graduate Studies.

Brian Murray from Student Health Services retired after 28 years of UC service.

Gloria Sullivan from Student Health Services retired after 15 years of UC service.

Debbie Wenck is recognized for 26 years of service to Student Affairs Human Resources.

Staff Kudos

Congratulations to Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, who was recently elected to the National City Council and appointed Vice Mayor of National City. (PHOTO)

Congratulations to the staff from The Loft who were recently featured in two publications, San Diego City Beat’s “Best of 2008” for the film series under the direction of Rebecca Webb, and Riviera Magazine’s December edition for the ultracool programming going on at The Loft under curator Elizabeth Bradshaw and program manager Brian Schaefer.

Dr. Jerry Phelps recently appeared on KPBS’s These Days with Tom Fudge to discuss sleep disorders and the Student Affairs Wellness Center.

The Outback Adventures leadership team hosted the national conference of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) in October 2008. The conference brought together more than 450 student affairs professionals and student leaders from university and nonprofit outdoor recreation programs. Four UCSD student leaders from Outback Adventures were selected to present educational sessions at the conference, while more than thirty Outback student staff volunteered.

Alexia Cervantes, Assistant Recreation Class Director, coordinated the fifth annual Fit for Food Day on Saturday, November 22. The beneficiary was Hand Up Youth Food Pantry, a project of the Jewish Family Service in San Diego. Five fitness classes were scheduled and led by eight UCSD Recreation instructors who volunteered to teach classes and coordinate the event.

Congratulations to all who presented to the Chinese Visiting Scholars participating in a quarter-long intensive program on Student Affairs. This first-time collaboration is likely to lead to future collaborations with the Chinese Ministry of Education, UCSD Extension and Student Affairs.

Lauren Payne, Assistant Director in the Career Services Center Career & Internship Advising Unit, for being awarded the MPACE scholarship to attend the NACE Management Leadership Institute in July in Austin, Texas

FYI…

Outback Adventures will be opening a satellite store in winter quarter in Price Center West at the northwest corner facing Geisel Library. The store will be a retail shop for equipment rental and sales related to outdoor adventures and a registration site for any and all UCSD Recreation offerings. Come check it out!

Yogurt World and Tapioca Express are now open in the Student Services Center and Price Center East Food Court.

Meyers Loop located between the Student Services Center and Price Center is now closed. The new Town Square will offer additional programming space and a place for students to gather.

For the 2008 Presidential Election, UC San Diego operated six polling locations across campus and had an 82% turnout rate. The Revelle College “Why Not Here?” Lounge had the highest turnout rate in the entire San Diego County at 91%. Congratulations to all who encouraged UC San Diego students to get out and vote!