DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS 2022 - 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
Annually, in this report, Student Affairs has chosen to showcase art or story telling on campus. Our feature for this year is a new display, The History of Timber, which includes a display of the UW Tacoma Land Acknowledgment. The art is located on the ground floor of the new Milgard Hall. We chose this story as it is a great example of working together with our community to tell a story of our past, to create a commitment in our present, and to work towards our future vision. For us in the Division of Student Affairs, we are connected by our Mission and strive towards our Vision. The History of Timber display serves as a strong visual commitment to social justice and a reminder for us in the Division of Student Affairs of the impact of working in collaboration with your community to work towards building the leaders of our future.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ART
UW Tacoma Land Acknowledgement The UW Tacoma community acknowledges that we learn, teach, work and live on the ancestral land of the Coast Salish people. In particular, our campus is situated on traditional lands of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. We recognize that this is a difficult and painful history, and we understand we must play an active role in remembering, not just what happened to Indigenous communities; post settlement, but also the rich history that existed long before colonization. This land acknowledgement is one small act in an ongoing process of honoring the past while working together with local Tribes to build a more inclusive and thoughtful community.
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Table of Contents
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FROM THE DESK OF MS. M
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ABOUT STUDENT AFFAIRS
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GIVE TO STUDENT AFFAIRS
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DIVISIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
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HUSKY 100 RECIPIENTS
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2023-2028 DIVISION STRATEGIC PLAN
From the Desk of Ms. M I am pleased to share the exciting work we are doing in the Division of Student Affairs to support the well-being and success of students attending the University of Washington Tacoma. The impact of our work within the campus and broader community continues to grow. While we remain focused on our mission to champion holistic learning and lifelong success, 2022-23 was a year full of many new initiatives and collaborations. For example, we were honored to receive gifts from The Boeing Company, KeyBank, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), the Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU), and special state appropriated funds to advance the aim of elevating our student-centered approaches to support student learning and development. I believe very student that comes to UW Tacoma deserves opportunities and support to grow and learn. Thank you for taking the time to review our Annual Report. I am inspired by the dedication and hard work I have witnessed in our classified, professional, and student staff, and welcome another year of growth and excitement.
Mentha Hynes-Wilson
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Vice Chancellor Hynes-Wilson with ASUWT President Jai’Shon Berry
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About Student Affairs
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Our Mission Student Affairs champions holistic learning and lifelong success for students. We support students through obstacles and engage them as partners to build an inclusive, community-connected campus. Our collective efforts help students live with meaning and work with impact.
Our Vision Student Affairs fosters diverse generations of leaders, collaboratively creating equitable conditions that nurture students’ academic and personal success. Our Core Values Accountability: We do what we say we will do and accept responsibility for the quality of our work. Empowerment: We provide students and colleagues with the best tools and guidance we can, so they can be successful and make knowledgeable decisions. Equity: We use our voices and decisions to create processes, policies and systems that are just, impartial and fair. Grit: We acknowledge that people and communities can experience hardship, failures and setbacks. We empower our students and one another to see shortfalls as feedback and opportunities for learning and improvement. Inclusivity: We collaborate with students, colleagues and partners through processes that empower participants and create a true sense of belonging. Service: We engage others in an open, friendly and responsive way that conveys we are willing to listen and understand each individual’s situation. We respond appropriately and in a timely and professional manner. Student-Centeredness: We clear the way for students to have a voice in shaping their UW Tacoma experience and ensure that students’ experiences are considered in every conversation and decision of which our team is a part.
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Meet the Team The Division of Student Affairs is comprised of over 75 professional staff and more than 120 student employees.
Executive Leadership Team Mentha Hynes-Wilson Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Bernard Anderson Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life Shannon Carr Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Amanda Figueroa Senior Director for Student Transitions & Success Sean Schmidt Assistant Director of Student Planning & Administration
Leadership Team Ramon Borunda Associate Director of Residence Life Andrea Coker-Anderson Registrar Megan Cooley Associate Director of Admissions Recruitment Dominic Jay “DJ” Leon Guerrero Crisostomo Assistant Director of First Generation Student Initiatives Ryan Davidson Resident Director Victor Flores Associate Director of Disability Resources for Students Elizabeth Hansen Director of Student Involvement & Leadership Stephon Harris Associate Director of New Student & Family Programs Conor Leary Interim Director & Assistant Director of Student Involvement Tori Hill-Ouhl Director of Student Financial Aid Roseann Martinez, LCSW Assistant Director of Student Advocacy & Support Juanita Murillo Garcia Director of Veteran & Military Resource Center Dr. Cassandra Nichols Director of Counseling & Psychological Services Surtida Shelton Director of Student Conduct & Advocacy Myria Stevens Associate Director of Admissions Operations Dawn Williams Assistant Director of Career Development & Education Navia Winderling Assistant Director of Admissions Marketing
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Organization Map The offices in the Division of Student Affairs are separated into four departments: Enrollment Services, Student Life, Student Transitions & Success, and Student Planning & Administration.
Administration Facilities Finance Human Resources Marketing & Communications
Student Planning & Administration Enrollment Services
Student Transitions & Success
Admissions
Career Development & Education
Registrar Student Financial Aid & Scholarships
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
First Generation Student Initiatives New Student & Family Programs Pathways to Promise
Veteran & Military Resource Center
Pre-Collegiate Programs
Student Life Disability Resources for Students Housing & Residence Life Psychological & Wellness Services Student Advocacy & Support Student Conduct & Academic Integrity Student Involvement & Leadership Student Health University Y Student Center
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Give to Student Affairs Give today and help create access to opportunity.
Giving to Student Affairs at UW Tacoma creates a lifetime of impact for our students and generations of change in our community. With a lifelong, life-wide approach to supporting the socioeconomic mobility, academic, and personal success of students, Student Affairs complements faculty excellence through programs and services outside of the classroom. Student Affairs expands access to a university education, cultivates students’ sense of belonging, provides programs that enrich the student experience and facilitate student success, and fosters career readiness for all students. Whether you give to our Student Affairs Success Fund or one of our many other focused funds, such as the First Generation Student Initiative Fund, the fund to support our Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC), or the UW Tacoma ASUWT Support Fund to help provide resources to support the leadership activities and initiatives of the UW Tacoma student government (ASUWT), your support goes to work immediately in making a difference in the lives and future of our students.
LEARN HOW TO GIVE ON OUR WEBSITE "...I was struggling financially, mentally, and academically. I was acquainted with the Student Advocacy Office where I was met with kindness and support both financially and emotionally. Student Affairs at UW Tacoma has provided impactful opportunities I have made use of. I participated in First-Generation Fellows and Financial Wellness in Fall 2022 and Winter 2023. The cohorts not only provide me with resources and tools, but a sense of community." - Alexis, UW Tacoma student Read Alexis’ full story on our website.
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Divisional Achievements
Vice Chancellors 2022-2023 Priorities For 2022 - 2023, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs outlined the following priorities for the division to strive towards. The work we have done to achieve these priorities is highlighted in this section of our annual report.
Grow Our Enrollment Expand Student Affairs’ Reach Student Wellbeing Staff Wellbeing & Support
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Grow Our Enrollment Increase first-year and transfer student enrollment, while also retaining current students by helping them develop a sense of belonging and shared community at UW Tacoma.
Enhanced Admissions Communication
Office of Admissions
Developed population segmented communication campaigns which include email, text, talk, video, and social media. A partnership with Halda was established to develop smart forms to convert organic web traffic into actionable leads. Admit kits for new first-year students were established to evoke an emotional and unique connection to the University (kits included one of five posters featuring art from local Tacoma artists).
Slate CRM
Office of Admissions Developed Slate CRM to harness the full capabilities of the system. Access was provided to campus partners giving them student-level access and the ability to query prospective students and their admission status. Slate forms were developed to create processing efficiencies and to make processes more transparent for students.
Launched Common Application
Office of Admissions
UW Tacoma led the three UW campuses in launching the Common Application for first-year student applicants.
AVERAGE
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60% INCREASE
IN OVERALL FIRST-YEAR STUDENT APPLICATION VOLUME
Student Navigator Position Disability Resources for Students
Through the Services and Activities Fee Committee (SAFC), a request was approved for additional funding for student employees, including a new Student Navigator position. The approval also included a modest increase in programming funds.
Strategic Enrollment Planning Enrollment Services
Conducted a Strategic Enrollment Planning Assessment in partnership with Ruffalo NoelLevitz to understand our institutional readiness to engage in Strategic Enrollment Planning and to determine the scope of the process. Additionally, a cross-campus Enrollment Data Council was established to discuss and develop data to be used in Strategic Enrollment Planning.
Policy DREAM kit on their sibling, “My sister really liked that presentation. She is going to go to school for that. She is going to change laws.”
Living Learning Communities Housing & Residence Life
Two Living Learning Communities (LLCs) were launched in Autumn 2022: Leadership LLC and STEM LLC. LLC specific goals and learning outcomes were developed and implemented. A living learning community, or LLC, is a themed community of students who live together and explore a common academic, professional, or personal interest. LLCs are a meaningful way for students to engage with others, learn, and grow.
Strategic Planning
Student Planning & Administration Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs’s Office
Pathways to Promise & Pre-Collegiate Programs
Supported the Division in the process of creating the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, including developing and maintaining the Strategic Plan website, as well as creating digital and print publications.
Hosted DREAM workshops, created & distributed 600 Pathways to Promise posters for middle school & Junior high schools in partners districts expanding college access tools for prospective first gen students. A youth participant shared the impact of the Law &
Military Connected Student Awards & Honoring Ceremony
First Generation Student Initiatives
Veteran & Military Resource Center
Planned and executed a combined Military Connected Student Awards and Honoring Ceremony in partnership with Alumni Affairs. Hosted at the Museum of Glass, this event recognized current students and alumni who have both served our country in military service and have outstanding achievements as UW Tacoma Students. This will become an annual event for the University.
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Expand Student Affairs’ Reach Increase student usage of the plethora of resources and services that Student Affairs offers.
Curriculum-to-Career Innovations Institute Career Development and Education
UW Tacoma was selected for the AAC&U and IBM 2022 Curriculum-to-Career Innovations Institute, which focuses on supporting campuses to more fully link college learning with workforce preparedness and develop productive campus/industry partnerships. Participants engaged with experts in higher education and industry to utilize design thinking to advance curriculum-based projects that promote equity and student success through meaningful career preparation.
First Gen Career Connections
Career Development and Education & First Generation Student Initiatives Secured $300K for three years from KeyBank for First Gen Career Connections, a program that aims to improve post-graduation outcomes and career-connected learning for first-gen students with 80% or less median family income. Engaged 28 new alum in pilot Career Launch event.
Pre-Collegiate Programs Website First Generation Student Initiatives
Redesigned the Pre-Collegiate Programs website, which now includes free resources for educators and community members.
Online Orientation Assessment New Student & Family Programs
Raised online orientation completion rates compared to last year, with 85% student satisfaction.
+7% FRESHMAN +5% TRANSFERS (TO 80%)
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(TO 79%)
Orientation Programs
New Student & Family Programs
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graduates being students of color • 54% were the first in their family to attend college • 6.5% were serving or have served in the military, and 17% were military-connected
STUDENTS ATTENDED FALL ORIENTATION (123% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR)
Husky Sustainability Fund
New orientation programs were started, including a Husky Passport Scavenger Hunt activity for students and families. Additionally, new programming for families was created, which engaged over 105 family members. 98% of the family participants agreed their overall experience was positive and 96% felt better prepared to support their student.
Created an application, marketing, website, and implementation system for the Husky Sustainability Fund. Hosted five grant writing workshops, presented in 11 classes and two faculty meetings, communicated five emails per quarter, and partnered with seven different UW departments and six community organizations.
Centralized Service Model Office of the Registrar
Developed and implemented a one-stop shop, centralized service model for the Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, and the Office of Admissions to better serve students and allow for greater attention of critical operational processes within each office.
Student Involvement & Leadership
Service & Leadership
Student Involvement & Leadership Focused on the campus visibility of the Center for Service & Leadership (CSL) through increased promotion of CSL offerings, which resulted in increased participation.
HUSKY VOLUNTEERS SERVICE HOURS 20
Commencement Planning
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2,515
4,712 23 20
Office of the Registrar
Played a lead role in the coordination and execution of Commencement 2023 through management of registration, student communications, regalia sales, program production, and volunteers. Commencement 2023 celebrated the following: • Largest single ceremony in UW Tacoma history • Our return to the Tacoma Dome after three years • 1,400 graduates and 14,000 guests attended • Support from over 250 staff and faculty • 96% of graduates were Washington residents from three primary counties (Pierce, King, and Thurston) • Graduates were ethnically reflective of the those three counties, with 58% of Spring/Summer
Welcome Days
Student Involvement & Leadership Exceeded goal of increasing events promoted as part of Welcome Days.
GOAL: 20%
2022
2023
% INCREASE
AUTUMN
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83
+159%
WINTER
68
254
+273%
SPRING
40
111
+131%
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Student Wellbeing Support student basic needs and wellbeing through the promotion and expansion of resources and services.
SEED Internships
Career Development and Education Focused on increasing access to career-connected learning and opportunities to develop a sense of purpose. Experienced increased participation in all steps of SEED internship process, including a 53% increase in interest forms, a 63% increase in applications, and a 25% increase in internships.
First Gen Cohort Programs
First Generation Student Initiatives Increased activity year in both cohort programs.
FIRST GEN FELLOWS
+92% APPLICATIONS +32% PARTICIPATION 58 STUDENTS = $22,480 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
FIRST GEN FINANCIAL WELLNESS FELLOWS
+55% APPLICATIONS +169% PARTICIPATION 70 STUDENTS = $15,010 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
Partnership with Milgard Center for Financial Wellness resulted in $5,000 + $35,000 from Sound Credit Union to expand First Gen Financial Wellness cohort, building on the existing investment from Washington State Employees’ Credit Union.
Counseling Services
Psychological & Wellness Services Became fully staffed with no waitlist and expanded the group therapy opportunities. Also, unlike many university counseling centers (including UWS and UWB) PAWS at UW Tacoma had no session limits for counseling, better serving the varying in depth needs of our students.
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Doctoral Internship/Residency Program Student Conduct Resources Psychological & Wellness Services
Office of Student Advocacy & Support
Completed the APA Accreditation for the PAWS Doctoral Internship/Residency Program SelfStudy and submitted it May 2023.
Created three short videos on academic integrity and the student conduct process to share on CANVAS. These help students understand the consequences when there is misconduct, how to avoid such behavior, and how to seek help before making a choice that can lead to a disciplinary record.
HEERF II Funding
Psychological & Wellness Services Utilized the HEERF II funding to join the American College Health Association and to implement the National College Health Association survey. This helps to inform health promotion and health education efforts, and to inform the campus commnity about the health practices of UW Tacoma students.
CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT A.I. & ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Financial Aid & Scholarships Outreach Student Financial Aid & Scholarships
Developed UW Tacoma specific financial aid communications for prospective students within Slate. Communications included messaging Basic Needs Resources about how to apply for aid, important deadlines, Office of Student Advocacy & Support how to read financial aid awards, and how to accept financial aid awards. Additionally, Increased student access to housing resources developed messaging to students about SNAP, and addressed the individual needs of students Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. impacted by housing insecurity by: SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so Establishing a virtual basic needs/ 1 resource HUB embedded in HuskiesCare. they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being. Partnered with WSAC (who have renewed the WSAC Housing Insecurity funding for another year with $108,000), this was achieved by the first day of Promotion of Giving Opportunities Autumn Quarter. Student Planning & Administration
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Designing and implementing a plan to use two apartments at Court 17 for emergency housing when students are in need. Six students were served by the emergency housing. Hiring an Intern to work specifically on basic needs hub and services. 43 students were served for housing insecurity issues, and 49 student were helped for food insecurity issues.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affair’s Office
Led the charge to create a Giving Opportunities website as a landing page to share opportunities of which our community can share in making a difference in the lives of UW Tacoma students. UW Tacoma’s Division of Student Affairs is expanding its efforts to seek funding from external partners to directly impact students’ basic needs, mental health, enrollment support, sense of belonging, career success, and more!
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Staff Wellbeing & Support Target the growth and expansion of professional development opportunities, support for the employee experience, and the availability of skill-based training resources.
Enrollment Services Reorganization Enrollment Services
Reorganized the Department of Enrollment Services to create an organizational structure that provides promotional pathways, establishes parity in pay whenever possible, and addresses service gaps in data/information and marketing/recruitment. Three positions still need to be filled; Four new staff have been hired. Six staff positions have been revamped, most with promotions.
Emergency Prepardness & Safety
Student Planning & Administration Vice Chancellor for Student Affair’s Office Published the Student Affairs Emergency Response Protocols. Created and implemented Emergency Preparedness Resources and Kits for the Division. Supported and documented resources for Campus Safety Plan.
The Employee Experience
Student Planning & Administration Vice Chancellor for Student Affair’s Office The employee experience is critically important to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and the division’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT). This year we created a multi-stage Employee Experience Cycle framework, which defines what an employee can expect when they work in UW Tacoma Student Affairs. The framework includes
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a variety of newly developed resources, as well as links to resources already in place for each of the stages. These include a new Staff Testimonial page, a collection of onboarding materials, professional development resources, and more.
Lunch & Learn Discussions
Student Planning & Administration Vice Chancellor for Student Affair’s Office Created space for a Lunch & Learn bi-weekly discussion platform (allowing for anonymous questions) to support staff in transitioning back to campus and through the budget discussions.
Professional Development Resources Student Planning & Administration Vice Chancellor for Student Affair’s Office
Initiated a database resource of professional development options around theme-based trainings that support the staff in Student Affairs. Led trainings, developed training plans, modified charts and worksheets to Student Affairs specific material, documented professional developement day options for the staff, and created/supported the developement of various SAGEs (Student Affairs Groups of Engagement) complete with agendas, teams, and resources for round table discussions.
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The Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW students who are making the most of their time at the UW.
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UW Tacoma Husky 100
Tim Brennan
M.Ed. Secondary Education
Chastity Bryant M.S. Accounting
Evan Campbell
B.A. Business Administration, M.S. Accounting
Alton Hodges
B.A. Criminal Justice
Congratulations to UW Tacoma’s 2023 recipients!
Christian “CJ” James B.S. Biomedical Sciences
Nyah Laureta
B.S. Biomedical Sciences
Angel Reddy
B.S. Biomedical Sciences Global Engagement
Julie Venezio B.A. Psychology
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2023
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Division Strategic Plan
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In 2022, the Division of Student Affairs embarked on a strategic thinking and planning process. The resulting 2023 - 2028 Division of Student Affairs Strategic Plan, developed with input from students, staff, and faculty, aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan 2022-2027, and will serve as the road map that ensures we focus on the most critical needs of current and future students. The following goal areas ascended to the top:
Students Enrollment Professional Development Assessment Campus Partnerships Key performance indicators and divisional objectives have been identified for each goal area. A Student Affairs Strategic Planning Committee was identified and consists of Co-Chairs for each goal area. The committee first met in June 2023 to build the initial infrastructure that will guide the implementation of the strategic plan and to lay the groundwork for every member of the Division of Student Affairs to see themselves as important contributors to making progress on the plan. This began with the committee leading sessions on this topic at the Divisional Planning Retreat at the end of June. Throughout the next 5 years, please refer to the Division of Student Affairs Strategic Plan website after each quarter to see progress made from around the Division on our 2023 - 2028 Strategic Plan.
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Students 1.1
Foster a vibrant student-centered campus. 1.1a Prioritize defined student populations (e.g., commuter, residential, evening/weekend) and offer co-curricular options that center student identities, interests and promote well-being. 1.1b Engage all students in at least two co-curricular opportunities that enhance their sense of purpose and belonging in their first year at UW Tacoma.
1.2
Enhance infrastructure and resources that promote holistic well-being of all students.
1.3
Create and sustai a high-impact Student Affairs student employment program.
Co-Chairs Bernard Anderson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life Amanda Figueroa, Senior Director for Student Transitions & Success Victor Flores, Associate Director of Disability Resources for Students
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Enrollment 2.1
Develop a five-year Strategic Enrollment Plan through a unified and collaborative Universitywide process.
2.2
Achieve right-sized enrollment through the implementation of the Strategic Enrollment Plan. 2.2a Diversify the mix of students enrolled, e.g., increasing the proportion of non-resident students. 2.2b Implement a student information system to communicate critical student needs to support student persistence and retention. 2.2c Increase enrollment through the development and implementation of a program to re-engage stop-out and returning students.
2.3
Implement continuous improvement practices in communications that impact student enrollment and persistence.
2.4
Audit the business systems and processes in each unit of Student Affairs to identify and correct barriers to enrollment, particularly practices that prevent achieving campus equity and inclusion goals.
Co-Chairs Shannon Carr, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Stephon Harris, Associate Director of New Student & Family Programs
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Professional Development 3.1
Create annual professional development plans in partnership with all staff (classified, professional, and student staff), including elements of supervisor support in terms of finance and time; development of specific goals and methods; and documentation.
3.2
Integrate growth in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism competencies into all staff professional development plans.
3.3
Contribute to a transparent and collaborative culture that supports a positive staff experience in every stage of their employment.
3.4
Create an annual series of in-house professional development opportunities.
3.5
Integrate growth of supervisory skills into all supervisors’ professional development plans.
Co-Chairs Bernard Anderson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life Dawn Williams, Assistant Director of Career Development & Education
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Assessment 4.1
Define and create a culture of assessment across the division that informs program and process improvements.
4.2
Designate an assessment champion from each department and create a set of metrics for each unit, including key performance indicators.
4.3
Coordinate ongoing training and support for developing, tracking, and acting upon metrics in a way that makes data tracking accessible to all constituents.
4.4
Establish an Assessment Council to advise ongoing metrics tracking and analysis.
Co-Chairs Cassandra Nichols, Director of Psychological & Wellness Services Sean Schmidt, Assistant Director of Student Planning & Administration
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Campus Partnerships 5.1
Document each department’s community-engaged work in Collaboratory annually.
5.2
Incorporate student voices into each department’s annual plans for continuous improvement practices.
5.3
Develop and implement an annual faculty-focused communication plan to improve awareness about Student Affairs resources.
5.4
Encourage and facilitate opportunities for bidirectional learning with faculty every quarter.
5.5
Provide biannual professional development opportunities to enhance staff skill sets for partnership development and community engagement in higher education.
Co-Chairs Shannon Carr, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Amanda Figueroa, Senior Director for Student Transitions & Success Surtida Shelton, Associate Director of Student Conduct & Advocacy
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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS 1900 Commerce Street, Box 358403 Tacoma, Washington 98402 253.692.4501 uwtstudentaffairs@uw.edu tacoma.uw.edu/student-affairs
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