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7, 2014
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
Senators briefed on Academic Advising at Tuesday’s meeting; No meeting on the 11th Ryan Caulfield
SGA Correspondent With seniors done registering for spring semester classes and juniors beginning today, questions on how registration works, what classes to take, and when it is prudent to see your advisor are dilemmas in the minds of students here at Westfield State University. Laurie Simpson, director of academic achievement, and Nicole West, academic achievement staff assistant, spoke to the Student Government Association to answer any and all questions pertaining to registration procedures and advising tips. Joshua Frank, student trustee, first stated that he has had a good registration experience at the university but requested that Academic Advising consider having an online signup sheet to schedule appointments for peer advising. This would elevate the clutter of student traffic during registration week in the office. “Having students set up an appointment online could become far too cumbersome because peer advisor’s schedules change all the time,” said West. She went on to say peer advisors’ schedules change week to week, unlike the Reading and Writing Center peer tutors, who have a limited staff. Richard Darrach, president of the class of 2015, asked if there are any future infrastructure plans to improve the number of students allowed to register at the same time. Andrew Dalesandro, SGA advisor and Academic Technology Services staff assistant, answered Darrach and said that when he was a student at the university, the portal to register would shut down when too many students logged on, and registration has come a long way since. Dalesandro also said that students should be aware of any holds on their accounts before registering. Darrach also asked how many upperclassmen come to the office and ask about registration. Simpson gave the SGA some great advice on how to get the most out of advising for a student’s future. “Registration is not advising,” Simpson said. You have to be advised, she said, to get your pin number to reg-
ister. Simpson detailed advising as something more than just an obstacle for students before acquiring their pin numbers. She said, “Advising is creating or developing a relationship with that person who is your advisor. If you’re not happy with that person, you have an option to select another professor.” Simpson said, from an article she found, advising is the number one characteristic of a successful college experience. “Advising has now become more important to students nationwide than the actual the courses that they are taking. Students want to have a really good advising experience and not a registration experience,” she said. Simpson also shared the words of Richard Light, professor of teaching and learning at Harvard Graduate School of Education, who tells all of his first-year students to get to know a faculty member really well every semester. She said this helps students graduate with a strong connection with their professors, so that they help them by writing a solid letter of recommendation for a job or for entering a master’s program for their career. She encouraged all students to get close to faculty members so they can be figure out what they want to do before graduation comes around, which is the key difference from the advising and registration experience. Shannon Cullinane, vice president of programming, stated that while she is close to her advisor, she feels that she does not have enough time to sit with them to have a strong conversation about her future. Simpson said, “we have to change the culture as far as how people think about advising.” She said students need to know that advising can happen anytime and not just during registration week because faculty members have contractual office hours during the school week. “Many of your teachers will be blown away by the fact that you want to talk about something other than classes. Right now is registration advising and that’s just picking classes. Advising is saying help me figure out where or what the process is to make me stand out for a job or a graduate program.”
PHOTO TAKEN FROM S’2015 BOOKLET
Above is the advising and registration form that is required of all students for their advising appointments. After Simpson and West finished talking to the SGA, Rebecca DiVico, president of the SGA, motioned to appoint Alex King as a representative-at-large for the 2014/2015 academic year, which passed unanimously. DiVico also announced that the Emilee Gagnon art exhibit is on the second floor in the Ely Campus Center. Gagnon was a 2013 Westfield alumna who sadly passed away in a tragic accident during an MLS charity event. DiVico said the students’ art is honoring her for her major, which was art. Lastly, DiVico added, “watch out for yourself and your friends; there have been issues with student behavior in down town Westfield.” She said students should have a fun time but also watch out for themselves and friends because even on the weekends, students are still representing the university. After the madam president was finished, Joshua Clark, vice president of student life, said Sodexo’s produce has been 37% locally sourced in last six weeks. He defined locally sourced as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The total percentage of locally sourced food for the entire year, Clark said, is four percent. He added that locally sourced food is something that is important because when food is coming from far away places, it has been processed more,
which can lessen nutritional value. Discussions are underway to increase that four percent number, he said. Ariana Roche, representative-at-large, asked Clark whether or not Pancakes with the President is going to happen this semester, which produced a lot of laughs from the senators. Clark said, “This has been a topic of conversation between the president and myself all semester
see CAULFIELD on page nine
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arts & entertainment Book review ‘Knowing to Cook’
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