Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 60

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Joan (Joanie) M. schMidT
What’s the biggest issue you see facing the profession right now?
I actually think our profession is in pretty good shape right now. We are being much more intentional in helping our student staff and leaders understand there is a possible career for them, rather than it being something they fall back on like many of us seasoned professionals did. I do think a challenge is keeping people in the profession because this generation is on the move so much – looking for a new challenge or campus or salary. Moving up is great, but moving away from the profession is not something we want to encourage.

What makes your campus unique?
I think a lot of campuses talk about being friendly, but honestly I believe we have the corner on that. When I arrived in 18 B.C., the orientation director spoke about how friendly everyone was, and I thought he was blowing smoke. But he was exactly right, and it still feels like that today. People say hi to each other and genuinely take care of each other. It’s a great community, and often new students say that is what convinced them to come to CMU.

What’s your biggest challenge on campus?
Although there are a number of challenges on all campuses, I think one of our biggest challenges is continuing to increase the retention of our students. Although our numbers are good, it is difficult to lose even one when something might have been done to allow them to stay, whether it be to find additional financial aid, or assistance in a class, or helping them feel a true part of the community. I spoke with a parent recently who was worried her son might be dematriculated because of grades after his first semester here. According to her, he was working very hard in his classes but having a difficult time in two of them. They were doing everything they could to make sure he took advantage of all available services so he could remain here. I asked if he was happy at CMU, and she said he had called her recently after a football game to tell her he had “never been happier” and he was “living the good life” because he had caught a t-shirt that was tossed up during the game, and he then won a pizza. And I thought, such simple things and yet how meaningful to a student. Of course, I then cried like a little girl.

JOAN (JOANIE) M. SCHMIDT is the director of residence life at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant.
Have you gotten any unusual housing or amenity requests? What were they?
So many over the years! One of my favorites occurred several years ago when a hall director called because he had been contacted by a parent who wanted to know where he could land his helicopter when he came to visit his son. I think that might be where the term “helicopter parent” first began! You can’t make this stuff up!

Favorite campus traditions?
I love our marching band and the cannon when our football team scores. I also love the carillon bells in our administrative building which toll every 15 minutes. I can actually hear them from my home on a clear day. And because mornings are not my forte I always pretend I am Cinderella as I arrive because my arrival often coincides with the ringing of the 8 a.m. bells. I feel as if my prince will be arriving shortly thereafter. In the past year, the bells have been programmed to play our fight song and other fun tunes depending on the time of the year, which makes me even later as I have to hear the entire song.

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Talking STick



Talking Stick - January/February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - January/February 2013

Talking Stick - January/February 2013
Contents
New Member Highlight
Vision
Just In
Your ACUHO-I
Transitions
Res Life
Business Operations
Special Focus
Calendar
From Shovel to Ribbon
All the World’s a Page
Conversations
First Takes
Reporting Out
New Members
Snapshot
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Talking Stick - January/February 2013
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Cover2
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 1
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 2
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Contents
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - New Member Highlight
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 5
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Vision
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 7
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Just In
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 9
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 10
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 11
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 12
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Your ACUHO-I
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Transitions
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 15
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 16
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 17
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Res Life
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 19
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 20
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 21
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Business Operations
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 23
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 24
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 25
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Special Focus
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 27
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 28
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Calendar
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - From Shovel to Ribbon
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 31
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 32
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 33
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 34
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 35
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 36
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 37
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - All the World’s a Page
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 39
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 40
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 41
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 42
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 43
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 44
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 45
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Conversations
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 47
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 48
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - First Takes
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Reporting Out
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 51
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 52
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 53
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 54
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 55
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 56
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 57
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - New Members
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - 59
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Snapshot
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Cover3
Talking Stick - January/February 2013 - Cover4
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