University Business - July 2010 - (Page 18)

Behind the news A First-Generation Welcome Mat EvEry collEgE orIEntatIon aIms to hElp Incoming students transition to the next phase of their lives and education. For those who are first in their family to attend college, that transition can be particularly challenging. as Kirsti paolini, who is starting at West Virginia University this fall, explains, “my parents have no idea what college is like either. It is new for my whole family.” like many institutions, WvU offers extra support for firstgeneration students. For the past few years, anyone from this group takes the required University 101 and English 101 courses from the same professor, explains courtney a. Jennings, coordinator of new student orientation. this summer, her office took first-generation support to the next level by organizing an orientation day specifically for them. held June 14, the session was attended by 200 students and their families. approximately 22 percent of the incoming freshman class falls into the first-generation group, and they’re given the option of attending the special orientation or another one. Jennings says the idea was discussed last fall, and that implementing it didn’t cost extra because the number of orientation sessions remained the same. the program is also mostly unchanged. the big difference: speakers take extra care to avoid acronyms (e.g., FaFsa) and explain everything fully. Introducing this year’s session was Barbara copenhaver-Bailey, assistant vice president for student affairs, who knows first-hand what it’s like to be a first-generation student. she reminded families of their children’s potential and suggested they reach out to each other (such as through the mountaineer parents club) and encourage their children to get involved on campus. other institutions that are putting out the welcome mat for firstgeneration students include: • The University of Iowa: the Iowa Edge, a five-day, post-orientation program held in august, caters to both this group and minority students. students must apply, and the program is capped at 120. • Lake Forest College (Ill.): the First connection pre-orientation program takes place a week before orientation and facilitates the transition for traditionally underrepresented and/or underserved students, including first-generation students. • Loyalist College (ontario, canada): the day-long First generation orientation, held in august, helps students develop a plan of action for the upcoming weeks and year. —M.E. SOUND BITE U Pets Allowed: Developing Friendly Policies This FAll, StephenS College (Mo.) will devote an entire residence hall to inhabitants of the furry, feathery, scaly, or fourlegged kind. students selected for searcy hall, aka “Pet Central,” will share a single room with their dog, cat, or other creature complying with stephens’ pet program. since 2004, the women’s college has allowed family pets to This fall, residents at stay in either selected rooms or Searcy Hall at Stephens College will include pets wings in dormitories. At the time, and their student owners. then-new president Wendy libby had her two labs with her during her stay on campus while her house was being finished. students noticed this and expressed interest in bringing their pets from home. stephens has had a history with animals (having an equestrian program since the 1920s) and the pet program has provided students with a sense of comfort. “There are students who choose us because of this program,” explains Media Relations Manager sara Fernández Cendón. “it’s allowed us to use this love and passion for animals to fulfill our educational mission as well.” Other institutions have similar policies for accommodating pet owners while maintaining order. Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.) designates a building for pets, while SUnY Canton provides a pet wing. MIt and Caltech will let felines stay in certain residencies, but both require cat registration and consent by roommates. like at stephens, a pet council at eckerd College (Fla.) administers requirements and rules of conduct. To bring Fido or Fluffy to stephens, student owners first undergo a screening process and are asked to consider what their pet’s temperament would be like. A three-week grace period at the beginning of the semester allows for a pet’s adjustment to a residence hall setting. A $200 pet deposit is required and refunded if there’s no room damage. Only twice in the program’s length have pets been removed due to perceived neglect. This fall, the dorm will have “Doggie Daycare,” employing student-workers to dog sit while owners are in class. Cats and the other allowed pets—which include birds, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, and lizards—are apparently self-sufficient. (As for snakes and spiders, they must stay home.) —M.H. ‘W e’re not going to lie. It gets the kids into the store, so they’re not buying online. —Charles Schmidt, spokesman for the National Association of College Stores, on textbook rental programs ‘ 18 | July/August 2010 universitybusiness.com http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - July 2010

Univertsity Business - July 2010
Contents
Editor’s Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Sense of Place
Community Colleges
Viewpoint
Money Matters
Annual Directory of Higher Education Consultants
Human Resources
Models of Efficiency
Lecture Capture: Policy and Strategy
Projecting New AV
Land Mines Ahead
End Note

University Business - July 2010