From the Associate Dean for Advising and Executive Director

Our mission in the Division of Undergraduate Studies directly reflects the importance of engaging students in conversations about the reasons they are in college and the broader purposes and implications of higher education. As our students work with their advisers to understand these concepts and articulate responses, they also learn to make vital connections between their interests and strengths and the University’s academic opportunities. Ultimately they are better able to make informed decisions about what they want to study, how to manage the challenges and opportunities of a college experience, and what will be important to them in future life endeavors.

David R. Smith

I am proud of this work and the important relationships our advisers develop with students to ensure they receive the information and guidance they need to become stewards of their own college experiences and managers of their goals.

Along with facilitating critical academic advising conversations across the Penn State system, DUS staff members continued this past year to be instrumental in advancing University programs that impacted General Education, engaged scholarship, new tools, improved processes, and emerging technologies. Most recently, advising and support staff efforts in the division contributed to such milestones as ALEKS adaptive mathematics placement testing, the LionPATH ISIS replacement project, the Starfish Enterprise Success Platform, and General Education curricular enhancements. These initiatives showcase the division’s critical role in informing the University’s academic information infrastructure and leading the development of advising policies and practices.

Our staff members invest full days, every day, to ensure our students, as well as any undergraduate seeking guidance, are afforded opportunities to learn how to navigate this large institution, plan fulfilling degree programs, address and resolve academic difficulties, and engage in interesting co-curricular experiences.  

I am grateful for the division’s extraordinary commitment and expertise and thank each DUS team member for the accomplishments listed in this report. I am looking forward to the work we will share as we look to the future together, take next steps, and welcome new opportunities.

Sincerely,

David Smith

Special Programs, Initiatives, Collaborations

The Division of Undergraduate Studies continued to lead the field of academic advising at Penn State and across the nation—contributing to its scholarship and helping to shape and define its future. As indicated below, DUS developed innovative tools, introduced new resources, and sponsored special events in support of the advising mission.

• Academic Advising Fall Conferences
• Each year, the Division hosts a conference on academic advising at Penn State's University Park campus. In 2015 the theme of the conference was “Looking to the Future: The Importance of the Academic Adviser in Higher Education,” which examined the adviser's role in higher education and the importance of diverse and intentional measures that support, uplift, challenge, develop, and analyze the adviser's work, dreams, and growth. [more]
  
• Academic Advising Noon Seminars
• One way in which the Division of Undergraduate Studies serves the University community is by working to enhance the practice of academic advising. Each semester, the division hosts lunchtime seminars that focus on topics related to this mission. The presentations are open to the University community and provide opportunities for professional development, networking, and discussion. During this reporting period, the following seminars were offered: Meet the University Registrar, Faculty Senate Petitions: What Advisers Need to Know, The Path to LionPATH: Advising Updates, and ALEKS: What Have We Learned about Placement, Remediation, and Performance. [more]
  
• Academic Information Management and Communication
• DUS supports the University’s academic advising programs through coordination, development, and dissemination of up-to-date information about academic programs, policies, and procedures to the University community. Approved curricular changes inform updates to multiple resources and tools developed and maintained by the division to support students, administrators, and faculty and staff who work with students. Resources include MajorQuest, MinorQuest, Curricular Updates, Entrance-to-Major Requirements, Undergraduate Advising Handbook, Academic Advising Portal, and the College Information Chart. Maintaining these resources and overseeing Penn State’s academic advising information network involves assessing/interpreting University curricular changes to determine appropriate inclusion in DUS’s interactive tools as well as communicating changes to the University community at large.
  

• ALEKS
  • In partnership with the Office for Undergraduate Education, DUS helps to coordinate a University-wide student success initiative for calculus-sequence math courses. As the only unit in the University devoted to managing academic information and to delivering academic advising, DUS is instrumental in administering the ALEKS mathematics placement test to all undergraduate students. During the 2014–2015 academic year, more than 18,000 students completed the mathematics placement assessment. DUS manages the website that instructs students how to prepare for the assessment, interpret their results, and use the review tools provided by ALEKS to improve their scores. This placement initiative is accompanied by systematic enforcement of prerequisites. DUS plays a central role in pre-requisite enforcement by communicating individually with students. Each semester, DUS advisers across the University reach out to students who do not meet course prerequisites, aiding them in enrolling in the appropriate course for their readiness. In preparation for fall 2015, DUS advisers communicated with more than 400 students who were enrolled in courses for which they had not demonstrated readiness and, through intervention steps, reduced the number of students dropped from their courses to 37.
• Discover House
  • Currently in its sixteenth year, Discover House provides a special living option designed to help first-year exploratory students investigate academic majors and consider how to make the most of their Penn State experience. Discover House students attended class together in certain sections that foster collaborative learning and establish faculty connections.
    
    In addition to learning about Penn State’s colleges and majors, Discover House students learned about study skills, education abroad, internships, minors, and how to make use of Career Services. They attended many events on campus including the MLK Banquet and events offered by the Center for the Performing Arts, University Resident Theatre, and the Distinguished Speakers Series. Discover House students participated in volunteer service through Fresh Start and the MLK Day of Service, and they had the opportunity to travel to the Newseum in Washington, D.C. where they learned from former Discover House students about the possibilities available to students who explore.
    
    Discover House is becoming a family tradition: Four alums have younger siblings living in the house this year. Former Discover House students who are now Penn State alumni consistently report on the value of their first-year exploratory experiences. Some of their educational journeys and career paths are shared in Student Stories.
• General Education Task Force
  • The General Education Planning and Oversight Task Force, co-chaired by Janet Schulenberg, Division of Undergraduate Studies associate director for curriculum and technology; Maggie Slattery, Collge of Engineering assistant professor of bioengineering; and Mary Beth Williams, Eberly College of Science professor of chemistry and associate dean of Undergraduate Education,engaged the University community in a year-long discussion of Penn State’s General Education program, examined research on General Education nationally, and made recommendations to enhance student learning in General Education at Penn State. A legislative report proposing enhancements to General Education was presented and passed without amendment at the April 28, 2015 Faculty Senate plenary meeting. The revised curriculum explicitly includes integrative thinking through an Integrative Studies component. If implemented as passed in the legislation, students will have greater flexibility to explore disciplinary interests within their General Education selections.
    
• Leadership Council
  • Members of the division’s student Leadership Council served as DUS ambassadors, helping to promote a positive awareness of the exploratory educational experience and representing, reflecting, and contributing the voice of the exploratory undergraduate student. The council focused on service to DUS and the Penn State community and participated in events such as dean’s meetings, the division’s open house during Penn State’s Parents & Families Weekend, and information/resource sessions provided by DUS to assist students across colleges. [more]
• The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal
  • Since January 1999 The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal has served the higher education community as an open, online body of work addressing academic advising practices, research, and discourse. Published on a continual cycle, the journal features topics relevant to the advising community and that further the discussion about advising issues and theories related to student success. Numerous academic advisers across the Penn State system as well as experts in other disciplines contribute to the peer-review, feedback, and publication process. On average, The Mentor drew more than 14,000 page views per month during this reporting period. 
    
• Pre-Law Advising
  • For the 2013-2014 admissions cycle, Penn State was tenth in the country for number of applicants to law school. 404 seniors and alumni applied to law school, 317 were accepted to at least one law school and 279 matriculated. The average LSAT score was 152.5 and CGPA was 3.26.
    
    During the 2013-2014 academic year, the pre-law adviser met with 246 students and alumni in individual advising appointments to discuss exploration of law school, selection of schools, likelihood of admission, preparation of strong applications, review of personal statements and to financial aid for school. Pre-Law Advising also offered two different information sessions that ran on alternating weeks, Pre-Law Information Sessions (for first-and second year students who are starting to explore law school) and Applying to Law School Sessions (for upperclassmen who have decided to apply to law school). 148 students attended these information sessions.
    
    In addition, Pre-Law Advising held three workshops during the academic year on Selecting a Law School, Financing Law School and Law School Personal Statement Workshop and coordinated four weekend LSAT preparation courses.
• Starfish Enterprise Success Platform Implementation
  • During remarks to University administrators on Oct. 21, Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas P. Jones introduced the Starfish® Enterprise Success Platform™, a Hobson, Inc., suite of advising tools selected by Penn State to integrate with LionPATH and replace current ISIS and eLion advising features that deliver advising notes, early progress reports, and online scheduling of advising appointments. An implementation team under the leadership of David Smith, associate dean for advising and executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies, will plan and deliver Starfish (to include its Early Alert, Connect, and Advising solutions) as it replaces eLion and college-hosted advising system tools and complements LionPATH’s Advisor Center. [more]
• Student Programming
• Throughout the year, DUS planned and presented or collaborated with other offices/colleges to provide valuable academic-information sessions on specific topics for students enrolled in the division as well as for undergraduate students across colleges. These programs included the annual International Student Ice Cream Social; College Fair; Business Majors Night; Study Smarter, Not Harder; Ask an Adviser; and Scheduling Basics sessions. DUS continues to develop new initiatives to welcome, assist, and guide students through the exploratory process and toward academic success.

• Undergraduate Advising Handbook
  • For more than forty years Penn State’s Undergraduate Advising Handbook has provided comprehensive advising information to the University community. In 2000 the hard copy was discontinued and it was fully converted to an online resource. This year in the thorough and ongoing review processes, thousands of updates have been made to reflect ever-changing policies and procedures. More than a hundred reviewers in offices throughout the University ensure the accuracy of the handbook. This year the handbook received 781,352 page views from readers around the world.

Facts and Figures

The division managed significant enrollment numbers and conducted a volume of advising sessions that reflected the unit’s critical teaching role, assisting students in DUS as well as undergraduates throughout the system who needed help in exploring academic opportunities and customizing their educations.

Enrollment Reports

• "Enrollment Reports" document the total number of students enrolled in DUS at University Park as well as across the Penn State system, including their semester standing, race/ethnicity, and numbers/percentages of Schreyer Scholars and student-athletes.

Advising Sessions

During this reporting period (fall 2014, spring 2015, and summer 2015), Division of Undergraduate Studies advisers at University Park recorded 41,775 * advising sessions with undergraduate students via scheduled appointments, walk-in/quick-question advising, emails, and telephone calls. Of these, 8,780 contacts were with students enrolled in colleges other than DUS.

The subsections below highlight key areas in which DUS provided exemplary guidance to students seeking advising assistance. (Click on graphs to see larger views.)

* may include multiple contacts with the same student

Overall Student Contacts

During the past academic year, the Division of Undergraduate Studies recorded an average of 13,925 * advising contacts per semester. As illustrated below, advising demands were consistent throughout the year with little reduction in activity across semesters.

* may include multiple contacts with the same student

2015 NSO Details

At University Park campus, 7,713 students met one-on-one with an academic adviser to discuss their academic plans and their decision to enroll in a particular college at University Park. Students were offered the choice of a brief discussion to confirm their plans or a more in-depth discussion that allowed for changes in plans or additional discussion topics.

• 1306 of these students initiated an in-depth discussion (16.9% of all attendees), with 42 of those students seeking multiple in-depth conversations during their NSO Day 2 visit.
• 716 students made a change of college (9.3% of all attendees, 54.8% of all students seeking an in-depth discussion).

Calendar at a Glance

Throughout the year, students, staff, and administrators within the Division of Undergraduate Studies accomplished notable goals, earned recognition for scholarly and academic achievements, and initiated projects and programming to benefit students as well as inform advising policies and practices at Penn State and beyond.

2014

October

• Galinova, Giannetti publish 'Advising International Chinese Students'
  • Division of Undergraduate Studies academic advisers Elena Galinova and Irma Giannetti authored a book titled “Advising International Chinese Students: Issues, Strategies and Practices” to educate the advising community about this special population and to contribute to discussions about related advising strategies and institutional reforms. [more]

December

• Heather Atkinson joins the Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

2015

January

• Joan Miller joins the Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

March

• Hilleary Himes earns NACADA Region 2 Outstanding Contribution to Scholarship award

April

• Karla di Pietro and Amy Gulbin earn the 2015 Division of Undergraduate Studies Award for Exploratory Students
  
• Rachel Wagner receives the 2015 Joyce Buck Division of Undergraduate Studies Award
• Sebastianelli, Seymour receive Excellence in Advising Award
  • Margaret A. Sebastianelli, senior undergraduate studies programs coordinator and director of student services in the College of Health and Human Development, and Beth Seymour, pre-major adviser and education abroad coordinator at Penn State Altoona, were selected as the recipients for the 2015 Penn State Excellence in Advising Award. [more]

May

• DUS announces 2015–2016 Leadership Council members
  • The following 2015–2016 Division of Undergraduate Studies Leadership Council members were selected from a competitive pool of rising-sophomore candidates: Bae Byungil, Anna Briarton, Alexa Fiorilla, Adair Fleming, Matthew Marano, Amanda Means, Brett Miller, Heather Peduzzi, Dan Snyder, Taylor St. Clair, Jackie Stasolla, Elli Tatsumi, and Lauren Thompson. Leadership Council members serve as DUS ambassadors, help to increase awareness of the exploratory educational experience, and develop their understanding of effective leadership skills.

June

• DUS launches website for exploratory students
  • The Division of Undergraduate Studies redesigned its website recently to help students explore majors and minors, relate their goals and interests to areas of study, and better understand the value and purpose of a college education. [more]

• Marion Schwartz, Ph.D., senior undergraduate studies adviser and programs coordinator for the College of Education, retires

August

• Jennifer Wu and Terrance Hudson join the Division of Undergraduate Studies staff
• International Student Ice Cream Social
  • As a welcome to the University, new first-year international students were invited to the Penn State Advising Ice Cream Social on Saturday, August 15, in front of Grange Building at University Park. Hosted by the Division of Undergraduate Studies, academic advisers from different colleges greeted students, answered questions, and helped to scoop Creamery ice cream for all.

September

• College Fair
  • All undergraduate students were invited to attend the annual college fair on Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Findlay Commons, East Halls. Display tables organized by college offered information about different majors, along with free materials and giveaways. Staff provided answers to questions and offered details about how and when to meet with an academic adviser. [more]
• Rebekka Kuhn joins the Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

• Fourteenth Annual Professional Development Conference on Academic Advising
  • “Looking to the Future: The Importance of the Academic Adviser in Higher Education” was the theme of the fourteenth annual professional development conference on academic advising that took place Friday, Sept. 11, at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus. [more]
• Study Smarter, Not Harder
  • In collaboration with the College of Science, DUS co-sponsored “Study Smarter, Not Harder” help sessions on Sept. 29 and Oct. 21 for students seeking improvement or clarity in processing information at the college level, preparing for exams, and meeting academic expectations.

• Sophomore Success Seminar

  • On Sept. 1 and Oct. 7, DUS advisers partnered with the Career Services Center to provide sophomores with guidance and information about 1) What to Do with Your Major, 2) Determining Your Major, and 3) Finding Internships and Relevant Experience. [more]

October

• Business Majors Night
  • The Division of Undergraduate Studies, in partnership with many academic colleges across University Park, hosted Penn State’s sixth annual Business Majors Night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, in 110 Business Building. [more]
• Jeffrey Gugino receives 2015 NACADA Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit
  • During ceremonies at the 2015 National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) annual conference in Las Vegas, NV, Division of Undergraduate Studies senior undergraduate studies adviser and programs coordinator for the Smeal College of Business Jeff Gugino received an Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit for his exemplary work with students. [more] 
• DUS Open House: Parents & Families Weekend
  • Parents, families, and students attended an open house in Grange Building from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17 during Parents & Families Weekend to meet academic advisers and students from the DUS Leadership Council. Advisers answered questions about the Penn State experience and discussed how students work with advisers to choose and qualify for majors.
• DUS to Lead Starfish Enterprise Success Platform Implementation
  • During remarks to University administrators on Oct. 21, Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas P. Jones introduced the Starfish® Enterprise Success Platform™, a Hobson, Inc., suite of advising tools selected by Penn State to integrate with LionPATH and replace current ISIS and eLion advising features that deliver advising notes, early progress reports, and online scheduling of advising appointments. An implementation team under the leadership of David Smith, associate dean for advising and executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies, will plan and deliver Starfish (to include its Early Alert, Connect, and Advising solutions) as it replaces eLion and college-hosted advising system tools and complements LionPATH’s Advisor Center. 
• Scheduling Basics for First-Year Students
  • On Oct. 30 and Nov. 2 and 3, DUS advisers offered step-by-step guidance and refresher tips to students with questions about scheduling their courses for spring semester. This support was provided on a drop-in basis in the commons areas of Pollock and Findlay residence areas.  

Service to the University, the Profession, and the Community

Division staff members contributed significant time and expertise to various professional efforts across the Penn State system, assumed leadership roles within professional organizations such as the National Academic Advising Association to advance the field of advising, and engaged in civic activities to support their towns, neighbors, and communities.

Liz Agler

• LionPATH Academic Advising Advisory Team, United Way Campaign Committee

Pamela Baron

• Liaison, collaborative student programming initiative

Laura Brown

• Author, Undergraduate Advising Handbook; coordinator, Discover House program; facilitator, Academic Advising Noon Seminar Series; Undergraduate Education Web Bulletin Working Group

Alyssa Bumbaugh

• New Student Orientation Educational Preparation and Planning Committee; College of Agricultural Sciences LionPATH Change Champion;  Eberly College of Science pre-med candidate interview team; College eligibility contact for Morgan Academic Support Center for Student Athletes; judge, Undergraduate Research Exhibition; instructor, AG 150S, Be a Master Student!

Elena Galinova *

• Coordinator, Think Global Program; chair, Penn State Global Advising Committee; Penn State General Education Task Force (Themes and Explorations Subcommittee); Center for Global Studies Outreach Advisory Board; Faculty Selection Committee, Schreyer Honors College; University Fellowships Office Fulbright Student Fellowships Interviewing Committee; faculty adviser, Global Brigades Campus Council; faculty adviser, Tom's Shoes at Penn State

Katherine Garren

• Penn State Welcome Week Committee; chair, Undergraduate Education Professional Development Committee; Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisers; Centre County Bar Association

Irma Giannetti

• Co-chair, Working with International Students Team; mentor, FastStart; Penn State Global Advising Committee

Jeffrey Gugino

• New Student Orientation Educational Preparation and Planning Team; liaison, Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes; instructor, Smeal College of Business first-year seminar

Hilleary Himes

• University Advising Council, LionPATH Academic Advising Advisory Committee, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMSC) Undergraduate Programs Advisory Committee, EMSC Scholarship and Awards Committee, Commission for Women Mentoring Committee

Carolyn Jensen

• Course Substitution and Review System development team; DUS/Eberly Collaborative Student Programming; LionPATH Academic Advising Advisory Team; LionPath Change Champion; Link UP planning committee; Bunton Waller Scholarship Review Committee; College of Science (Eberly) Undergraduate Advisory Council; Science Advising and Student Services Committee, Eberly Dean’s Scholarship Review Committee; coordinator, Eberly Welcome Day; chair, Eberly Adviser Search Committee; Eberly Dean Search Committee; Eberly Advising Award Committee; instructor, PSU 016 (premed/science first-year seminar); adviser, Network for Excellence in Undergraduate Science student organization
  

Courtney Karmelita

• Commission for Women Education Planning Committee

Maren Larson

• Penn State Global Advising Committee

 Diane Leos

• Liaison, Upward Bound Migrant Program, Comprehensive Studies Program, and other Multicultural Resource Center programs; coordinator, DUS/Career Services Collaboration Initiative

 Rhea Leydig

• LionPATH (Records, Enrollment, Advising Project Team)

Terry Musser

• Admissions College Representative for Division of Undergraduate Studies; adviser, Penn State Western Equestrian Team

Deborah Oakes

• University Editor Representative; University Staff Advisory Council; Penn State Global Advising Committee; Undergraduate Education Media and Communications Group; Undergraduate Education Web Bulletin Working Group; managing editor, The Mentor; adviser, Penn State Synchronized Swimming Team

Brian Petrosky

• Undergraduate Education Staff Advisory Committee, DUS/Career Services Collaboration Initiative

Janet Schulenberg

• co-chair, General Education Planning and Oversight Task Force; resource member, Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs; Undergraduate Education Information Technology Steering Committee; chair, United Way funds distribution panel; chair, NACADA Theory, Philosophy, and History of Advising Commission; NACADA Journal Editorial Board; NACADA Research Committee

Wendell Schwab

• Fulbright IIE interview committee; NACADA Research Committee; liaison, Schreyer Honors College

Kellie Scofield

• New Student Orientation Educational Planning and Preparation Committee; co-facilitator, College of Engineering (ENGR) Academic Integrity Committee; adviser, Engineering Orientation Network; ENGR representative, LionPATH Train the Trainer

Margaret Sebastianelli

• Link UP; NSO College Advising Meeting; Fall Career Fair Planning and Implementation Committee; coordinator, Recommended Academic Plan Project (University Advising Council); Schreyer Honors College Faculty Selection Committee; Career Services RAPS Consortium; Chair, College of Health and Human Development (HHD) Academic Advising Team, Curricular Affairs Committee (non-voting member), HHD Undergraduate Programs Council, HHD representative to the Undergraduate Admissions Office, Project LionPATH, Global Programs, and the registrar’s Student-Athlete Verification initiative; HHD associate dean executive committee member; Eberly College of Science pre-med candidate interview team; adviser, Pi Kappa Alpha pledge class; past chair, State College International Kiwanis Membership and Pancake Breakfast  committee; Neighbor-to-Neighbor fraternity/resident partner

Jeff Sechler

• Undergraduate Education Media and Communications Group; committee chair, Cub Scout Pack 44

David Smith

• Project LionPATH Steering Committee; co-chair, Project LionPATH Academic Advising Advisory Committee; Council on Engaged Scholarship; Administrative Council on Undergraduate Education; Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Education; facilitator, University Advising Council

Tanja St. Pierre

• Penn State Global Advising Committee; Penn State Veteran Advisory Group; NACADA Region 2 Proposal reader; mentor, FastStart; liaison, Accepted Student and Spend a Summer Day programs

 Jeffrey Warner

• University Advising Council; LionPATH iTwo Security Working Subgroup; co-chair, Penn State Weather Camp

* retired or accepted another position

Working Teams and Committees

Beyond the administrative, academic advising, and supporting roles filled by members of the Division of Undergraduate Studies, critical collateral work was accomplished through standing and ad hoc committees that plan, develop, and implement improvements within the division.

Standing Committees

Assessment Committee

Janet Schulenberg (co-chair), Del Schwab (co-chair), Heather Atkinson, Alyssa Bumbaugh, Andrew Caldwell (York), Carrie Egnosak (Erie), Jim Ellis, Caressa Gearhart (Lehigh Valley), Jeff Gugino, Hilleary Himes, Courtney Karmelita, Paula Plageman (Berks), Tanja St. Pierre, Margaret Sebastianelli

International and Intercultural Initiatives Committee

Irma Giannetti (co-chair), Tanja St. Pierre (co-chair), Elena Galinova *, Terrance Hudson, Carolyn Jensen, Maren Larsen, Joan Miller, Brian Petrosky, Jennifer Wu

Orientation Committee

Jeff Warner (co-chair), Courtney Karmelita (co-chair), Pam Baron, Alyssa Bumbaugh, Scott Fotorny, Kathy Garren, Jeff Gugino, Natalie James *, Diane Leos, Kellie Scofield, Tanja St. Pierre


Professional Development Committee

Terry Musser (co-chair), Jeff Sechler (co-chair), Liz Alger, Elena Galinova *, Irma Giannetti, Rebekka Kuhn, Maren Larson, Terri Mando, Deb Oakes, Marion Schwartz *

Student Development and Success Committee

Pam Baron (co-chair), Kathy Garren (co-chair), Liz Agler, Emily Artello (Erie), Laura Brown, Karen Del Vecchio (Berks), Anna Eichner (Lehigh Valley), Jane Emery (York), Penny Gates, Brynn Ion (World Campus), Carolyn Jensen, Rebekka Kuhn, Joan Miller, Brian Petrosky, Deb Oakes, Del Schwab, Jeff Sechler, Marion Schwartz *,

Teams and Councils

Collaborative Advising Planning Team

Liz Agler, Laura Brown, Joan Miller, Terry Musser

Fall Conference Planning Team

Carolyn Jensen (chair), Emily Artello (Erie), Brenda Fornwalt, Hilleary Himes, Scott Kelly (Altoona),  (Dawn Maguire (Smeal), Terry Musser, Steven Navarro (World Campus), Deborah Oakes, Marion Schwartz *, Tanja St. Pierre, Shannon Telenko (Liberal Arts)

Green Team

Heather Atkinson, Irma Giannetti, Courtney Karmelita, Debby Pyatt, Marion Schwartz *

Leadership Council

Pam Baron (coordinator), Liz Agler (2014–2015), Rebekka Kuhn (2015–2016)
   

The Mentor Reader Board

Deb Oakes (coordinator), Sean Bridgen (New Kensington), Jane Emery (York), Elena Galinova*, Kathy Garren, Victoria Garwood (Greater Allegheny), Irma Giannetti, Hilleary Himes, Natalie James *, Maren Larson, Lynne Lazor (Abington), Diane Leos, Katine Moten (Harrisburg), Terry Musser, Paula Plageman (Berks), Marion Schwartz *, Tammy Spevak (Hazleton), Tanja St. Pierre, Robin Stokes (Brandywine), Walteen Truely (Wilkes-Barre), Jeff Warner

Social Team

Heather Atkinson, Laura Brown, Irma Giannetti, Terry Musser 

Student Awards Committee

Carrie Egnosak (Erie), Brenda Fornwalt, Elena Galinova *, Jeff Gugino, Paula Plageman (Berks), Michael Verhagen (Schuylkill) 

* retired or accepted another position

Presentations

Division members contributed to the scholarship of advising and to the advancement of diverse disciplines through conference presentations at local, regional, national, and international levels. 
  
Division of Undergraduate Studies 
Thirteenth Annual Professional Development Conference on Academic Advising
University Park, PA 
October 1, 2014

Garren, K. (facilitator and presenter): “PB&J: Postbaccalaureate Degree Programs and the Student Journey” (panel with Hutchens, K., Peters, J., & Sharp, S.)

Galinova, E. *, & Giannetti, I.: “Foundations of Intercultural Advising”

Karmelita, C.: “The Impact of Schlossberg’s Transition Theory and Cross’s Discussion of Student Barriers on Practical Advising Matters”

NACADA National Conference
Minneapolis, MN
October 8–11, 2014
Himes, H.: “Hot Topic: Advising Theory and Philosophy in the Quest of Professionalization” (panel with McGill, C. [facilitator], Burton, S., & Duslak, M.)

Schulenberg, J., & Himes, H.: “Looking Back to Move Forward: How History Can Shed Light on the Professionalization of Academic Advising”

Musser, T.:  “Program Reviews: Positive Change for You and Your Students” (with Darling, R., & Harris, V.)

Musser, T., Himes, H., Schulenberg, J., Schwartz, M., & St. Pierre, T.: “Men at Risk: Contributing Factors to Academic Failures” (with Wilson, D.)

Islam in Eurasia Conference
The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
November 3–4, 2014

Schwab, W. (panelist): “Digital Islam: A New Marketplace for Religion”

Penn State Multicultural Undergraduate Law Association Symposium
University Park, PA
November 14, 2014

Garren, K.: “Why Law?”

Comparative and International Education Society Annual Conference 
Washington, D.C.
March 8, 2015

Galinova, E. *: “Strategies and pedagogies in global citizenship education” (paper presentation)

NACADA Mid-Atlantic Region 2 Conference
Richmond, VA
March 18, 2015

Karmelita, C.: “A Practical Application of Schlossberg's Transition Theory to Academic Advising”

Career Services' System-wide Conference
University Park
May 12, 2015

Leos, D.: "When Life Can't Be a Beach ... What's the Next Best Thing?"

Division of Undergraduate Studies 
Fourteenth Annual Professional Development Conference on Academic Advising
University Park, PA 
September 11, 2015

Bridgen, T. (Penn State New Kensington), & Musser, T.: “Understanding Advising through Systemic Inquiry”

Egnosak, C. (Penn State Erie), & Artello, E. (Penn State Erie): Developing Short- and Long-Term Goals for Your Advising Program Utilizing a Comprehensive Self-Assessment

Eichner, A. (Penn State Lehigh Valley): “Building an Excellent Student Staff for Your Advising Department”

Gearhart, C. (Penn State Worthington Scranton): “From the Ground Up: Developing and Implementing an Effective Faculty-Advising Development Series” (with Frisch, P.)

Hinton, T. (Penn State DuBois): “Negotiating Ethical Dilemmas in the Role of Academic Adviser”

Miller, J.: “College Student Mental Health: Equipping Advisers to Refer and Care for Students” (with Marshall, M., Jones, S., & Knapp, M.)

Miller, J.: “Through Your Looking Glass: Growth from Self-Reflection”

NACADA National Conference
Las Vegas, NV
October 4–7, 2015

Bridgen, S. (Penn State New Kensington): "Using Systems Theory to Understand the Identity of Academic Advising: A Case Study"

Musser, T.: "Designing a Competency-Based Faculty Advisor Development Program" (with Peters, J.)

Schulenberg, J.: “Common Reading: Advising is Advising” (common reading/author insights with Lindhorst, M.)

Schulenberg, J., & Himes, H.: “History of Higher Education and Academic Advising: An Illustrated Journey” (poster presentation)

Schwab, W.: “NACADA Research Symposium: An Action Plan for Scholarly Inquiry in Advising” (with Troxel, W.)

St. Pierre, T., & Giannetti, I.: “Empowering Advisers to Bridge the Cultural Disconnect with International Students”

* retired or accepted another position

Publications

The Division of Undergraduate Studies was well represented in scholarly journals, books, and other published works that contributed to the field of academic advising and other areas within higher education and global interest. 

Galinova, E. *, & Giannetti, I. (2014). Advising international Chinese students: Issues, strategies, and practices. (NACADA Digest). Manhattan, KS: National Academic Advising Association.

Galinova, E. * (2015). Promoting holistic global citizenship in college: Implications for education practitioners. In R. D. Williams & A. Lee (Eds.), Internationalizing Higher Education: Critical collaborations across the curriculum (pp. 17–34). Sense Publishers. 

Schwab, W. (2015). Islam, fun, and social capital in Kazakhstan. Central Asian Affairs, 2(1), 51–70.

* retired or accepted another position

Staff

Professional DUS staff members from diverse disciplines provided and/or supported quality, accessible advising to all students.

Division of Undergraduate Studies staff members, November 24, 2015