March 2009
Contents
- Welcome
- Undergraduate Research Conference
- UNL Student Wins National Scholarship
- OASIS
- PEARL
- E.N. Thompson Forum
Special Announcement
Welcome
This is a busy time for the Division of General Studies. We have teamed up with Career Services for an event on March 4 (9:00 am to 6:00 pm in Room 225, Nebraska Union) to help undeclared students choose a major. Any UNL undeclared students (not just General Studies students) will have an opportunity to meet personally, first with a Career Services counselor to discuss their interests and skills, and then with a General Studies academic adviser to identify and explore the various majors appropriate to their newly discovered career choices.
In a much less public but no less important endeavor, we are currently assembling all the courses and course sections for the University's sixteen learning communities which will be available for incoming first-year students in the fall. A total of eighty-eight sections of forty courses will complete the co-enrolled component of the learning communities.
Beginning last fall, we expanded the circulation of the Black Board newsletters we send to all General Studies students every two weeks. During our Parent sessions at New Student Enrollment last summer, we offered the newsletters via email to General Studies parents as well. The response was very positive, and they subsequently asked to be included for the second semester as well.
These days, our major task is, of course, the full implementation of the new ACE program for New Student Enrollment in June. Thoroughly familiar with ACE requirements, we are now conferring with advisers from all eight undergraduate colleges to determine the interaction between their majors and minors and the ACE program.
Having welcomed Jennifer Nelson back from the NACADA national conference in Chicago last fall, where she and Chris Timm (Career Services) received the NACADA 2008 Outstanding Advising Technology Award for their "Power of Possibilities" website, we just welcomed Carrie Petr back from the national First Year Experience Conference earlier this month in Orlando, where she presented a study of the Academic Experience of UNL's NU Start summer residential learning community.
We have also begun working with an excellent committee of academic advisers from various UNL undergraduate colleges and representatives from the Extended Education and Transfer programs, as well as Southeast Community College and UNO, to host a NACADA regional conference in Lincoln in May of 2010.
Don Gregory
Please view the Career Services Event Flyer
Announcements and Events
Undergraduate Research Conference
Support Student Research: Plan to Attend the Undergraduate Research Conference, April 16, 2009.
Students can register now for the upcoming Undergraduate Research Conference:
http://research.unl.edu/gradstudies/researchfair/undergrad_form.php (The Registration deadline is March 27, 2009.)
A poster session highlighting undergraduate student research and creative activity will be held at the Nebraska Union as part of the 2009 Research Fair. We encourage all students involved in a research project or creative activity - with faculty, for an Honors thesis, or through the UCARE program - to register for the conference.
UNL Student Wins National Scholarship
University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Amy Uehling was awarded a National Tau Sigma Scholarship in January 2009. Tau Sigma, chartered just ten years ago, is a national honor society for transfer students. Those who transfer a year of credit, are full-time, degree seeking students, and who earn a GPA of 3.5 in their first semester at UNL are invited to join Tau Sigma. The Nebraska chapter was established in 2003. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the only university to have a scholarship winner in each of the 5 years of the national competition. Ms. Uehling earned one of 21 Tau Sigma scholarships in 2009 which ranged from $250 to $2000. Scholarships are awarded based on a student's application detailing academic achievement and student involvement in and service to the local chapter, the university, and the community.
Treasurer of the Tau Sigma of Nebraska, Amy organized a reception for December graduates and assisted with several volunteer opportunities on campus which reach out to new transfer students. She has also been involved at Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach in Lincoln and is an active member of her church. Uehlilng, who transferred from Southeast Community College, is a senior business administration major.
OASIS
OASIS received three grants from the UNL Parents Association totaling $1,730. Monies from these grants will go towards programming for Black History Month, a Graduation Reception, and equipment for our monthly Game Nights.
PEARL
PEARL and Program Assessment Brown Bag Luncheons
The Office of Undergraduate Studies will host program assessment brown bag luncheons on Tuesday, March 3rd from 12:00 - 1:00 in the East Campus Union and on Wednesday, March 4th from 11:30 - 12:30 in the City Campus Union. Dr. Nancy Mitchell will present on PEARL and ACE at both events. Dr. David Jackson and Dr. Dennis McCallister will present on Tuesday; Dr. Christine Timm, Dr. Kelli Smith, Emily Wilber and Dr. Julie Johnson will present on Wednesday. All faculty and staff members are welcome to join in the discussion. Contact Dr. Jeremy Penn (jpenn3@unl.edu) for more information.
2007-2008 PEARL Best Practices
PEARL "best practices," recognizing excellence in program assessment for participating PEARL units for the 2007-2008 cycle, have been awarded to the following programs:
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources |
|
Program |
Program Leader |
Agricultural Economics |
Rosalee Swartz |
Agronomy and Horticulture |
Dennis McCallister |
Biological Chemistry |
Cheryl Bailey |
Forensic Science |
David Carter |
Insect Science |
Tiffany Heng-Moss |
Mechanized Systems Management |
Curtis Weller |
Veterinary Science |
Rodney Moxley |
College of Education and Human Sciences |
|
Program |
Program Leader |
CulinologyTM |
Fayrene Hamouz |
Dietetics |
Linda Young |
Family and Consumer Science Education |
Julie Johnson |
Special Education and Communication Disorders |
Marilyn Scheffler |
College of Journalism and Mass Communications |
|
Program |
Program Leader |
Advertising |
Frauke Hachtmann and Amy Struthers |
Journalism |
Kathy Christensen and Mary Kay Quinlan |
Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts |
|
Program |
Program Leader |
Music Education |
Rhonda Fuelberth |
Thompson Forum Presents Two Events in March
On Wednesday, March 4, the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues presents "Notes from Afghanistan," a lecture by Sarah Chayes, former NPR reporter who covered the fall of the Taliban and has lived in Kandahar, Afghanistan since 2001. Chayes left NPR to help rebuild Afghanistan and currently helps run Arghand, a cooperative producing skin-care products from local fruits, nuts and botanicals. Arghand's long-term goal is to lessen southern Afghanistan's economic dependence on the opium poppy.
On Wednesday, March 25, the Forum presents the second annual Wilson Dialogue on Domestic Issues, "Illegal Immigration: Path to Citizenship?" Dr. Vernon Briggs, professor emeritus of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and Dr. Michael Olivas, William B. Bates Distinguished Chair of Law and Director or the Institute of Higher Education Law & Governance at the University of Houston Law Center will discuss their differing opinions on creating a path to citizenship for undocumented workers.
Both events will take place at 7 p.m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are free, guarantee you a reserved seat and are usually available on the night of the lecture. For tickets, visit the Lied Center Box Office or call 472-4747.
Office of Undergraduate Studies |
(402) 472-1185 |
Dr. Rita Kean, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Textiles, Clothing and Design
Dr. Tim Alvarez, Interim Director of OASIS
Dr. Patrice Berger, Director of NU Honors Program and Professor of History
Dr. Laura Damuth, Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship Adviser
Kelly Dick, Undergraduate Curriculum Associate
Dr. Donald Gregory, Director of General Studies and Associate Professor of English
Gail Hackwith, Administrative Assistant
Dr. Jessica Jonson, Director of Institutional Assessment
Sara Mattson, Administrative Technician
Dr. Nancy Mitchell, Interim Director for General Education
JoAnn Moseman, Academic Transfer Coordinator
Dr. Jeremy Penn, Assessment Associate for PEARL
Marcia White, E.N. Thompson Coordinator and Political Science Adviser
AnnMarie Williams, Academic Learning Communities Coordinator
