Student AffairsUpdate

Department in Student Affairs

V.P. for Student Affairs • 6020

Counseling & Career Center • 6262

Disability Support Services • 6250

Health Center • 6275

Housing and Residence Life • 6235

McNair Scholars Program • 6570

SGA/Student Life • 6565

Student Activity Center • 6630

Student Support Services • 6250

Upward Bound •6268

Published by the University of Montevallo, Division of Student Affairs, Spring 2010

Picture of tree hung with purple and gold ribbons (Spring Semester brings Homecoming traditions.  Part of that is “Ribbon Hanging.”) 

Fall DSA Satisfaction Survey

UM students recently completed the Fall 2009 Satisfaction Survey for the Division of Student Affairs. The

response rate (553) more than doubled over what we received in the Spring. As a result, the Fall

administration of the survey will become an annual event. Sodexho helped to sponsor the survey by

contributing coupons for students who took the survey. Below are some findings from the survey.

When asked about important characteristics of student affairs such as staff being friendly, caring,

knowledgeable, fair and open to diversity, the responses for agree or strongly agree ranged from ninetysix(

96) to ninety-two (92) percent.

75% of students use their own computer (not a lab) for their computer needs.

Transfer students were most likely to come from Jefferson State Community College.

Thirty-Seven percent (37%) of students who responded lived on campus; the next highest reported

place to live was eleven to thirty miles away with twenty-two percent (22%).

Respondents most often reported using campus entertainment services, weight and cardio machines

and programs to support student organizations.

The percent of students reporting that they were satisfied or extremely satisfied with Student Affairs

services ranged from ninety-seven (97) to eighty-three (83) percent for those with an opinion.

The percent of students reporting that they were satisfied or extremely satisfied with Housing and

Residence Life was eighty-six percent (86%).

A NOTE FROM DR. BARRETT, VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

This year has been one of transitions and uncertainty in our nation with a new president, in

the world with the economic crisis and recent natural disaster in Haiti, and even on campus

as we began a search for new leadership. During times like these ambiguity can seem

overwhelming. So we in the Student Affairs Office thought it might be good to share some food

for thought regarding “Making Peace With Chaos”. Hope it helps you gain a greater feeling of

contentedness during the semester. As usual we have facts and figures about what’s been

happening in our area along with some appreciations for people who have gone above and

beyond to promote student development . If you would like additional information about any of

the items please send me an email (barrettka@montevallo.edu) or call (x6020).

Sincerely,

Dr. Kimberly Barrett

students, the DSS department with assistance from the UM foundation purchased

software that converts textbook PDF files from the publishers to Word documents which

can be read by screenreader software. This allows those with vision impairments to listen

to and search their textbook for specific information. The process also requires Valerie

Dubose, DSS Coordinator, to insert descriptive text in place of important pictures and

graphs within the text. If a PDF file is unavailable for the text, Dubose scans the textbook

with OCR (Optical Character Reader) software and converts the textbook to a text file that

can then be converted to a Word Document. Requests for alternate format books for

Spring are up slightly from the Fall semester. During the Fall 2009 term, DSS spent 261

hours working on the textbook conversions, while also providing 237 hours of test proctoring services for students with disabilities.

McChesney Student Activity Center (SAC) . The SAC recently hosted the

Shelby County Men’s and Women’s High School Basketball Tournament. The

schools participating played twenty games in a four day period. This year’s 150 mile challenge

has begun. Signup for the event is at the SAC front desk. Those walking 150 miles

by the week of April 26th will receive a tee shirt. The total number of scans for the year

2009 was 12% higher than the number of scans in 2008. On a personal note, in October

Billy Cannon (SAC director) and his partner took 2nd place in the Men’s Doubles 50+ Division

at the 2009 14th Annual U.S. Open Racquetball Championship.

Upward Bound (UB). UB raised a record amount, $3,166 from their 14th annual

Holiday Tree fund raiser. Money from the event is used for scholarships for the

current year’s graduating seniors. Parents, staff and friends of the program, donated

over 25 hours to set up and decorate the tree. The theme of this year’s tree was

Peppi’s Peppermint Express. Donations from area merchants help to offset the cost of

the tree. In January, Upward Bound welcomed April Bethea as senior departmental

secretary. April comes to the division after many years working for Johnson Control.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs is currently seeking nominations

for the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Please give careful consideration

and thought in identifying students whose attributes include the humanitarian

and spiritual qualities the Sullivan award embraces. Students who graduate in December

2009, May 2010 or August 2010 are eligible. This is an opportunity to recognize

students who give of themselves to others. A male and a female winner will be

chosen. There is no minimum gpa requirement. The award is based on humanitarian

and spiritual qualities. Nominations should be turned in to the office of the Vice

President for Student Affairs by 5:00 p.m., February 5th. Do you have student who

strives through leadership or volunteerism to help others? Visit the DSA website to

print information and nomination forms.

https://www.montevallo.edu/dsa/

JUSTICE COUNCIL SUMMARY 2009

Student misconduct on college campuses provides an opportunity to intervene to help students make more adaptive decisions and enhance their ethical reasoning. It also provides an opportunity through the

operation of the Justice Council to provide and m o d e l d u e p r o cess. These charts summarize

this activity on our campus. Last year as is the case at most universities the most prevalent category of misconduct for which students were found in violation of the conduct code related to alcohol or other drugs. Because this can be a major obstacle to student success, students new to UM over the past two years completed an online alcohol education and assessment program. A number of sanctions are used to address violations. The most prevalent being the accumulation of judicial points followed by the reflection or research paper. 

Chart 1.

Breakdown of Case Type for the Calendar Year 2009.  N-27 cases with sanctions imposed

Sexual Misconduct (2) – 7%

Alcohol& Drug (12) – 45%

Theft (2) – 7%

Bullying and Threats(2) – 7%

Parking (1) – 4%

Unauthorized Entry(8) – 30%

Chart 2

Breakdown of Judicial Sanctions by type

Warning – 10%

Community Service – 11%

Counseling – 7%

Drunk busters modules 1%

Holds because of no response 4%

Judicial Models Modules – 6%

Online Education 1%

Paper 17%

Points 28%

Probation in Housing 1%

Probation Social 1%

Revoked Housing 2%

Suspension 5%

Appreciations

The Division of Student Affairs would like to extend a note of thanks to the following :

Dr. John Burling for presenting HASRC research information to McNair Scholars

Sodexo – for providing coffee and pastries to students visiting the CCC the day after Amie Elliott’s death

Dr. Terry Roberson, Dr. Kimberly Barrett, Ms. Robyn Boyd, Dr. Gary Packwood, Rev. Bill Brown, Mr. Robert Robinson,

Mr. Billy Cannon, Dr. Tammi Dahle, John Denson, Central Calendar/Special Events staff, and the Physical Plant

staff – for assisting with the remembrance service for Amie Elliott

Brooke Deason Kelso and Camille Linsdey – for assisting with residents the night of the accident and for assisting

Amie Elliott’s parents on Sunday

John Denson and Tammi Dahle for organizing the remembrance and for all their crisis work

Kassie Doggett for leading a presentation on stress management at the Housing all-staff meeting on the next Supervisor’s

Team meeting agenda

Tracy Payne, Tonya Giddens, and Lynn Adkins for the use of McNair’s office for childcare during commuter/nontraditional

student fireside chat

Maria Wagner for help with childcare during the commuter/non-traditional student fireside chat.

To Christy Bratton for her help in arranging for the Appreciative Inquiry Seminar

To Dr. Tracy Payne for sharing her photos so freely

Alana Hataway for coordinating the DSA Halloween Grams and for her years of service

Dr. Terry Roberson, Dr. Kimberly Barrett, Dr. Michelle Johnston, and Mr. John Brady for spending time with and

encouraging the McNair Scholars

Leris Hambleton and Linda Byous for always assisting with website questions and frustrations

The Special thanks from Aspire/SSS to Dr. Kimberly Barrett, MaijaBraaten, Jenny Jones, Deborah McCune, Sharon Gilbert, Jean Patterson, Mary Jo buff, Tracy Payne, DeAnna Smith, Jennifer Wycoff,

Rickey Creel, Michelle Johnston, John McKinnon, Kristine Mascetti,Maria Parker, Lynn Gurganus and

Kathy Hoefker for assisting in writing, reviewing and submitting the programs grant proposal.

To Jennifer Wycoff and Robert Robinson for your cheerful work ethic and willingness to adapt making it a joy to work with you.

Miscellaneous items from newsletter:

“Change your thoughts and you change your world”  Norman Vincent Peale

Applications currently being taken for Montevallo Masters

Deadline February 17^th.  For more information visit the DSA website at https//www.montevallo.edu/dsa/

Picture of some elite night winners:  Amanda Beck, Kouri Allen, Mikia carter, Amanda Knight, Sarah Anna ford and Randall Porter

Picture of books collected by McNair students for the Family Connection book drive.

Picture of Student Life Coordinator, Alana Hataway on her last day with students Terry Hughston, Candyce Osburn and Amanda Night.  She will be finishing her masters. 

Picture of Upward Bound holiday tree – Peppi’s Peppermint Express. 

You are invited to a Student engagement Webinar.  5 Opportunitiies to Engage Your students

Thursday, February 18^th at 12:55 a.m. begins at 1:00 Master classroom  Wills Hall, 2nd floor The 90 minute program will discuss the benefits of having engaged students and ways to get faculty and staff to engage students on campus. For more information visit:

http://www.paper-clip.com/ME2/Default.asp Call the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs to enroll at 6020 or email:  willinghamkl@montevallo.edu