The Division of Student Affairs
Engagement and Involvement Volume I, Issue 6
Summer 2008
Special points of interest: •Residence Hall Groundbreaking •Ask Me Directions •Commencement Office Revamped •Dr. Bingham Honored •Staff News
Student Affairs Students First
Summer has come and gone. It is time to welcome our students back for Fall, 2008. But before you do that please take a moment to reflect on what a great job you did over the past twelve months. You began a new health focused program—”Tigers Feel Great in ‘08.” We have begun to actively think about and work on those things that will help us to feel great and live long. We have seen the University Center begin to take shape. And I can’t say thank you enough to all of the people who have helped to make our temporary quarters outside the UC a success. Adult and Commuter Student Services even opened a new commuter lounge on the 2nd floor of Brister. ACSS’s cooperation made it possible to have a smoother establishment of the new commencement team, lead by the newest member of the Student Affairs Executive Management Team, Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell. Our staff welcomed Stephanie and Lauri Lea at about the same time that we coped with the death of Taylor Bradford and Holly Simms. You stepped up to provide so much assurance and nurturance to our students and each other. Thank you for being there. You are running the Rose Theatre so well that we have been able to buy new lights without asking the University for anything from the General Fund. I now only hear great things about the Rose team. Thank you for that. The new Prometrics testing center opened. What a huge job and how challenging it is with the new accountability system. Yet you do it magnificently. We have our largest group ever of Emerging Leaders coming in. The FRESH program had more students than it could handle. The staff in Student Support Services and Career Services are so good that people keep trying to lure them away. We have state leaders in Student Disability Services, Career Services, Campus Recreation Intramural Services, Judicial & Ethical Programs and others. Our childcare center is recognized as the best and MIMSAC was a rip roaring success. Thank you for all of this. Well, take a moment to enjoy who you are and how well you do what you do. And let’s do it again!
Rosie Phillips Bingham Vice President for Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs
New Residence Hall Groundbreaking
On Thursday, June 19th, the University of Memphis broke ground for a new residence complex to replace West Hall. Pictured above are: Dr. Patricia Hoy, Director School of Music; Dr. Rosie Phillips Bingham, Vice President for Student Affairs; Abby Hagan, Student Government Association President; Dr. Shirley Raines, President; Dr. Melinda Jones, Director University Honors Program and Justin Lawhead, Associate Dean of Students, Leadership and Involvement. The $26 million project consisting of two new buildings, with office and classroom space as well as living areas will be completed in Spring 2010. The main emphasis will be Honors and Living Learning Communities for the 496 bed complex. Each room will be equipped with high-speed internet and cable television connections. Entry to each building will be controlled by “smart cards� and security cameras will monitor all entrances. Volume I, Issue 6
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MIMSAC 2008 The 20th annual Memphis in May Student Affairs Conference was held on Friday, May 11th at the FedEx Institute of Technology. Mr. Gary Pavela (pictured at left), Director of Judicial Programs, University of Maryland-College Park, was the keynote speaker for the 2008 conference, Teaching and Learning in a Safe and Healthy Environment. There were approximately 20 sessions with topics ranging from health, racial profiling, online teaching and learning to stress management, pandemic influenza & creating a welcoming environment for all students.
Following our tradition of honoring the Memphis in May International country, Turkey, this year our conference had an abundance of Turkish decorations. Each table at the luncheon had a vase of tulips (pictured at right) as the centerpiece. Believe it or not, tulips originated from Anatolia and have become the symbol of Turkey today. A slideshow from the 2008 conference is available at: http://saweb.memphis.edu/mimsac/slide show.htm.
The University of Memphis Staff Senate, along with Student Affairs and Dining Services, sponsored a new effort this year to welcome students to campus the first two weekdays of classes, Monday and Tuesday August 25 and 26th. This welcome effort was accomplished by having faculty and staff stand in different locations around campus to say hello and help students find their way to their classes. Often this meant being proactive (very friendly) in offering assistance by seeing that “lost look” on a student’s face. Volunteers had “ASK ME” stickers on and offered students a map where the volunteer marked specific directions. Students were also offered a free drink coupon. Please be on the lookout for students who seem lost or confused and take the initiative to assist them with directions and make them feel welcome. Volume
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Commencement Office Revamped Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell was named Director of Student Learning and Assessment after the retirement of Dr. Marion Emslie in Summer 2007. Stephanie earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Arizona, a master’s in counseling and her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Arizona State. In addition to overseeing commencement, honors assembly and related ceremonies Stephanie will consult with departments in the Division of Student Affairs to develop learning outcomes and represent the division in student assessment and retention efforts. Joining Stephanie in the Commencement office are Ms. Vanessa Muldrow, Coordinator of Commencement and Ms. Pamela DeShields, Administrative Assistant (pictured at left with Dr. Bingham).
Edna Nelson Distinguished Employee Edna Nelson, Administrative Secretary, Residence Life and Dining Services, received the Outstanding Employee for Period 2 and Distinguished Employee of the Year 2008 Awards from Human Resources. Several co-workers mentioned Edna’s positive force in their office. Her biggest asset is how much she cares for the students especially students who are far from home. Edna has over 10 years of service to the University of Memphis and is extremely dedicated to the Residence Life staff and our students.
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UNIVERSITY CENTER TAKING SHAPE Many of you have probably noticed the changes taking place as the University Center begins to take shape and by Fall of 2009 it should be completed. Students, faculty and staff will be amazed by the amenities that will be offered in this facility.
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Dr. Bingham Honored with Award Dr. Rosie Phillips Bingham was presented with the 18th annual Janet E. Helms Award at the Teachers College Winter Roundtable in New York on Saturday, February 17. The award commemorates and celebrates the recipient’s outstanding work in directly and indirectly mentoring the careers of hundreds of students and young and established professionals in the fields of psychology and education. The award was inaugurated by Columbia University Teachers College in honor of Dr. Janet E. Helms an Augustus Long Professor of counseling psychology and Director of The Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture at Boston College.. In addition, Dr. Bingham was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association (APA).
The annual Pyramid Awards ceremony, held on June 27th in the Rose Theatre, was slightly unusual. Attendees were encouraged to come in their favorite beachwear (no bathing suits allowed) and one staff member even brought a beach bag filled with a towel, flippers and a Coke radio. Everyone had a lot of laughs and the lucky winners of most creative costumes received a prize. On a more serious note, Ms. Gina Moore, Administrative Secretary, Student Support Services and Ms. Aretha Milligan, Area Coordinator, Residence Life were the recipients of the 2008 Pyramid Awards. Volume I, Issue 6
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Computer Guru by Day Nun by Night Who knew that Ann Marie Hall, Local Technical Support Provider, Residence Life & Dining Services was leading a double life?
CRIS Plays Host to TIRSA 2008 State Workshop Campus Recreation Intramural Services was selected to host the 2008 Tennessee Intramural Recreational Sports Association (TIRSA). This two day event, held in January 2008, featured 16 educational sessions, each one hour in length. CRIS was very excited to have this opportunity to highlight the quality of their programs and facilities.
Memphis Reads
Ann Marie appeared as Sister Aloysius in Doubt last Fall at Playhouse on the Square.
Want a good book to read? Memphis Reads, an exciting program, now in its third year at the University of Memphis has selected Fast Food Nation as this year’s book. This thought provoking book examines the local and global influence of the U. S. fast food industry. We invite you to read this book and think of it as a point of connection with others at the U of M .
Meah King named Educator of the Year Many of you will remember Meah King from when she was a student worker in Student Life while earning an undergraduate degree in English Literature and master’s in instruction and curriculum leadership. Flash forward six years and you have a dedicated woman working at a job she loves and believes was her calling—she is a tenth grade English teacher at East High School. Recently Meah was named Educator of the Year by the Memphis Alliance of Black School Educators. Meah sets high expectations for her students and apparently the students are meeting them. This past school year, 99 percent of her students passed the state mandated language exam. The current East High principal describes Meah as a phenomenal teacher, one of the best he’s ever seen. In addition to being an exceptional teacher, Meah is the faculty sponsor for Peer Power, a student to student tutoring program, teaches adult General Equivalency Diploma classes and ACT prep classes for high school students. Volume I, Issue 6
The current East High principal described Meah as a
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The Division of Student Affairs 235 Administration Building Phone: 678-2114 Fax: 678-5206
DIVISION GOALS ⇒
Deliver high quality cutting-edge programs and services that promote and enhance student learning.
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Develop partnerships and collaborations with various constituencies that augment student learning.
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Develop communities that increase students’ sense of belonging and enjoyment of the university experience.
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Recruit and retain high quality staff.
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Provide physical facilities conducive to learning and discovery.
The University of Memphis
Prepared by Becky Terry
Staff on the Move A few colleagues have left: Millicent Coins, Judicial & Ethical Programs Dawnyell Fletcher, Minority Affairs Alicia Golston, Residence Life
New Staff Additions Miranda Bryd, Residence Life Seyram Butame, Residence Life Shayla Collins, Career and Employment Services Janice Cowley, Judicial & Ethical Programs LaToya Johnson, Minority Affairs Malikah Nelson, Greek Affairs Crystal Theobald, Student Disability Services Margaret Zettergren, Residence Life
It is amazing how much people get done if they do not worry about who gets the credit. -- Swahili proverb