Division of Undergraduate Studies logo with the Penn State mark

2013-14 Annual Report

From the Associate Dean for Advising and Executive Director

Associate Dean for Advising and Executive Director David Smith
David R. Smith
Having completed my first year as Associate Dean for Advising and Executive Director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies, I am very impressed with the work that our staff accomplishes on a daily basis.  It is incredibly rewarding to be part of an organization that continuously takes great care to ensure that undergraduates are supported and encouraged in their efforts to identify and develop meaningful academic plans.  From the commitment to one-on-one advising to building effective electronic tools to a range of behind-the-scenes support efforts, DUS plays a comprehensive role in helping undergraduates across Penn State succeed.  Though our enrollment numbers continue to grow, approaching the 4,000 mark at University Park campus alone, we remain dedicated to our core mission of ensuring access to high quality academic advising that engages students and challenges them to take ownership of their education.

While national debates continue to surface about the value and meaning of higher education, our work in helping exploratory students identify appropriate academic goals reveals that approximately 95 percent of our students graduate from the college they entered immediately after leaving DUS. By providing students with both the opportunity for ongoing conversations about their academic goals and access to effective electronic tools for evaluating the varied academic programs at Penn State, we are building within the Division of Undergraduate Studies a commitment to engaging students in active conversations about how to shape a meaningful education at Penn State. Beyond our direct work with individual students, we also are engaging the wider Penn State community in discussions about the value of academic advising as a defining element of the undergraduate experience.

The need to provide students with consistent and accurate information to make informed decisions serves as a key element of our work. During the fall 2013 semester, we had more than 6,000 student appointments in Grange Building alone. This volume speaks to the demand and complexity of our work. Adjacent to the ongoing conversations that we are fostering with students, our staff works tirelessly to provide access to a wealth of online information. Access to accurate information, along with helping students frame the questions they need to ask about their education, serve as core initiatives within the Division of Undergraduate Studies.

Our annual report provides a broad overview of the Division and underscores the work that our staff contributes to promoting a positive learning environment for all students.  Although we have had several wonderful individuals move onto new opportunities, we continue to recruit very talented and dedicated professionals who will grow with the Division of Undergraduate Studies as it further enhances the undergraduate experience at Penn State.  The coming year will present many opportunities for further growth and development in DUS.  We particularly look forward to the arrival of a new student data system (LionPATH), promising reforms to General Education, and broader support for student engagement.  Our challenge remains the drive to turn students into active learners who are committed to excellence, self-authorship, and who are proud of their academic choices at Penn State. 

Sincerely,

Signature of David Smith

David Smith

 

Table of Contents

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. Every year an overarching theme is chosen around which the conference operates. [more]
  • Academic Advising Noon Seminars
    • Every semester the Division of Undergraduate Studies invites the Penn State community to lunchtime presentations featuring academic advising topics. These lunch-and-learn sessions provide opportunities for professional development, networking and advising discussions. [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 includes MajorQuest, MinorQuest, Curricular Updates, ETM Requirements and Procedures, 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.
  • Academic Resource Development
  • ALEKS
    • After many years of mathematics placement using an internally developed and housed system, Penn State has recently signed a contract for mathematics placement testing with McGraw Hill/ALEKS, an online adaptive program that provides both placement testing and remediation. [more]
  • Discover House
    • Currently in its fifteenth 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 to 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. They learned about themselves and others through experiences in Straight Talks and the World in Conversation.
  • General Education Task Force
    • On March 28, 2013, the University’s General Education Planning and Oversight Task Force was charged to revisit and revise General Education at Penn State, ensuring that the transformation successfully draws from the landscape of general education in the United States and meets the needs of our students. Janet Schulenberg serves as task force co-chair, leading the work of the ninety-member committee. Several other members of the Division of Undergraduate Studies play key roles in the task force, including Marie Lindhorst *, Task Force member; Elena Galinova, Themes Subcommittee; and Robin Stokes (Brandywine), Student Subcommittee.
  • Global Education
    • To address and develop competencies in global advising, the division’s Think Global team worked with the University’s Global Advising Committee to organize professional development events for academic advisers. In May 2013, a discussion on the intersection of education and human rights followed a viewing of the first episode of the World on Trial series; and in November 2013, Penn State’s chapter of the Global Brigades student organization presented an information session on the history and accomplishments of the organization plus student involvement opportunities. During summer 2014, Think Global expanded to include adviser resources in global education and intercultural education. The Think Global program continued to inform students across the system who wished to engage with global issues during their educational experience—in the form of majors, minors, General Education courses, research, service and career opportunities, and more.
  • 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. Council members also took part in leadership development and team-building activities, attended select division events and meetings, and observed established leaders at Penn State and in the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
  • 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. During this reporting period, the journal published thirty-four articles on topics relevant to the advising community and furthered 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 contributed to the peer-review, feedback, and publication process. 
  • Pre-Law Advising

    • Penn State is currently eleventh in the country for number of applicants to law school.  For the 2012–2013 admissions cycle, 428 seniors and alumni applied to law school, 322 were accepted to at least one law school, and 273 matriculated.  The average LSAT score was 152.7 and CGPA was 3.26.

      In addition to individual advising appointments with students and alumni, Pre-Law Advising initiated two small-group information sessions during the 2013–2014 reporting period that alternated on a weekly basis.  These sessions will continue and are limited to ten students per session to create an atmosphere conducive to conversation and questions.  The Pre-Law Orientation Sessions are designed for first- and second-year students who are exploring the possibility of law school, and the focus is on learning about law school and the practice of law to help students decide if law school is the right fit for them.  Applying to Law School Sessions, introduced in fall 2015, are designed for juniors and seniors who have decided to apply to law school.  These sessions focus on preparing for the LSAT and completing the law school application process.  More than 150 students attended small-group sessions during this period.  

  • Research on Gendered Differences: Male Students at Risk
    • As part of a research initiative on gendered differences in higher education, Penn State’s Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), with grant support from the National Academic Advising Association, is surveying male students about their beliefs and behaviors as they may relate to academic success. [more]
  • Recommended Academic Plan conversion project
    • Beginning in January, the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), with approval from the Office of Undergraduate Education, will provide a single Recommended Academic Plan (RAP) template to assist units across Penn State in meeting the University’s AD-69 Web accessibility mandate. [more]
  • Student Programming
    • Throughout the semester, DUS plans and presented several academic-information sessions on specific topics for students enrolled in the division as well as for undergraduate students across colleges: International Student Ice Cream Social, College Fair, Business Majors Night, “Spring into Success!,” and “Study Smarter, Not Harder.”

* retired or accepted another position

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.

Where Are They Now? 2008 Cohort

  • “Where Are They Now?” examines students’ paths following their enrollment in the Division of Undergraduate Studies. Data reflect the academic strength and persistence of DUS students and show that following their DUS experience, more than 95 percent of former division students remained in their chosen colleges/majors. 

Advising Sessions

During this reporting period, Division of Undergraduate Studies advisers at University Park recorded 77,414 * advising sessions with undergraduate students via scheduled appointments, walk-in/quick-question advising, emails, and telephone calls. DUS advisers recorded 38,889 advising contacts in the 2012–2013 academic year and 38,525 contacts in the 2013–2014 academic year. Of these, 18,791 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.

Overall Student Contacts

During the last two academic years, the Division of Undergraduate Studies recorded an average of 12,902 * advising contacts per semester. As illustrated below, advising demands were consistent throughout the year with little reduction in activity across semesters.

Bar graph comparing the total number of contacts for Fall, Spring and Summer semesters of Academic Years 2012-13 and 2013-14. In Fall 2012, DUS provided academic advising assistance to 14,114 students, while in Fall 2013, they saw 12,613 students. In Spring 2013, DUS had contact with 12,152 students, while in Spring 2014, they had contact with 11,996 students. In Summer 2013, DUS had contact with 12,623 students, while in Summer 2014, they had contact with 13,916 students.
Pie chart showing the break-down of total student contacts by type for Academic Years 2012-13 and 2013-14. Nearly half the chart is filled in dark-blue to indicate the 38,319 face-to-face contacts (50% of total contacts). Next on the chart is walk-in and telephone contacts, colored red, which totaled 9,650, or 12% of all contacts. Then we show the total number of email contacts, colored green, to be 13,143 or 17% of all contacts. Next is the category showing other types of contact not explicitly noted in the chart. These contacts accounted for 1,851 or 2% of all contacts and is colored purple on the graph. Finally we have the academic reviews, colored teal on the chart, which totaled 14,451 or 19% of all contacts for the semester.
* may include multiple contacts with the same student

Walk-In Advising

During the 2012–2013 academic year, DUS advisers assisted 4,686 students during walk-in advising sessions. This number represents students enrolled in the division as well as students in colleges across the system and parents with questions about current or prospective student enrollments at Penn State. In Academic Year 2013-14, DUS had contact with a total of 4,964 students during walk-in/quick-question advising.

Walk-in advising needs increase significantly during drop/add period every semester. The charts below illustrate the volume of advising sessions recorded during the drop/add period compared to the total number of walk-in students seen each semester.

Bar graph comparing the total number of walk-in advising contacts for Fall, Spring and Summer semesters of Academic Years 2012-13 versus the number of contacts made during the Drop/Add Period only. In Fall 2012, DUS had contact with 2,224 walk-in students during the entire semester. Of those 2,224 students, 1,128 were seen during the Drop/Add period. In Spring 2013, DUS had contact with 1,780 students during the entire semester. Of those 1,780 students, 956 were seen during the Drop/Add period. In Summer 2013, DUS had contact with 682 students during the entire semester. Of those 682 students, 192 were seend during the Drop/Add period.

Bar graph comparing the total number of walk-in advising contacts for Fall, Spring and Summer semesters of Academic Years 2013-14 versus the number of contacts made during the Drop/Add Period only. In Fall 2013, DUS had contact with 2,375 walk-in students during the entire semester. Of those 2,375 students, 1,061 were seen during the Drop/Add period. In Spring 2014, DUS had contact with 1,837 students during the entire semester. Of those 1,837 students, 891 were seen during the Drop/Add period. In Summer 2014, DUS had contact with 752 students during the entire semester. Of those 752 students, 169 were seend during the Drop/Add period.

Proactive Outreach via Academic Reviews

Division of Undergraduate Studies advisers additionally provide written, detailed academic reviews every semester for each student enrolled in DUS. Academic reviews include assessments of the student’s goals, academic progress, and future schedules as well as recommendations and referrals. DUS advisers conducted 6,860 academic reviews for the 2012–2013 academic year and 7,591 in 2013–2014. These reviews represent advising assistance above and beyond traditional appointments, email communications, and walk-in advising sessions.

 

Academic Consultations at New Student Orientation

Summary

During summer 2013, DUS advisers provided educational and advising assistance to 8,151 incoming first-year students attending New Student Orientation (NSO). Of these contacts, 1,882 represent students enrolled in DUS and 6,269 reflect those enrolled in other colleges across University Park. 

During summer 2014, DUS advisers assisted 8,488 incoming first-year students attending NSO; of these, 2,119 students were enrolled in DUS and 6,369 students were enrolled in other colleges.

Pie chart showing the breakdown of New Student Orientation contacts for 2013. More than three-fourths of the chart is colored dark blue to indicate the larger number of contacts with the 6,289 non-DUS students, while the remaining section of the chart - about one-fourth - is colored a lighter blue to indicate the remaining 1,882 contacts with DUS students.
Pie chart showing the breakdown of New Student Orientation contacts for 2014. Approximately three-fourths of the chart is colored dark blue to indicate the larger number of contacts with the 6,369 non-DUS students, while the remaining section of the chart - about one-fourth - is colored a lighter blue to indicate the remaining 2,119 contacts with DUS students.

2014 NSO Details

At University Park campus, 8,488 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.

  • 1381 of these students initiated an in-depth discussion (16.3% of all attendees), with 23 of those students seeking multiple in-depth conversations during their NSO Day 2 visit.
  • 740 students made a change of college (8.7% of all attendees, 53.6% of all students seeking an in-depth discussion).

Net College Changes During NSO

Many more students than last year left Liberal Arts. The biggest reason for these students’ departure was an interest in majors in the Smeal College of Business. Thus, the vast majority of students leaving Liberal Arts transferred into DUS.
More students left DUS for the College of Engineering than any other college, with Health and Human Development being a close second. These changes were due primarily to identification of majors within those colleges as primary interest.

Net College Changes During NSO
College 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Arts & Architecture -6 -4 1 -3 -4
Agricultural Sciences 5 -4 15 1 7
Business -7 -1 -7 -13 -8
Communications 24 9 27 27 12
Division of Undergraduate Studies -4 109 -12 -28 37
Education -8 -29 -3 -14 -15
Earth and Mineral Sciences 14 14 21 27 31
Engineering 21 13 31 27 46
Health and Human Development 50 53 50 93 60
Information Sciences and Technology 10 8 7 7 8
Liberal Arts -10 -92 -70 -52 -117
Nursing 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
Science -89 -75 -57 -71 -56

 

Reasons for Changes into/out of DUS

Reasons for College Change
Reason 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Undecided (exploring multiple colleges); entered DUS 144 178 148 119 151
Decided on Smeal; entered DUS 64 88 97 103 113
Decided but did not qualify for change; entered DUS 15 23 6 3 13
Decided (exploring within one college); left DUS 205 155 253 238 205
Total changes 267 266 217 259 249

 

College Change Details

 

Other In-Depth Conversations

641 of 1,381 students who sought an in-depth conversation made no change in their college of enrollment. This number was lower than last year but still above the long-term average of students who remained in their college following a discussion (740 students in 2013, 595 in 2012, and 421 in 2011). This average increase, particularly during the last two years, is due in part to larger class sizes. Additional assessment is needed to determine what impact a slightly different style of introducing the change discussions had on the numbers of students seeking in-depth conversations.

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.

2013

February

  • Global Engagement seminar available online
    • The Division of Undergraduate Studies recently hosted a scholarly professional development seminar on "Fostering Student Global Engagement through Academic Advising" and video recordings of the Nov. 30 sessions, along with presenter materials and program details, are now available at http://dus.psu.edu/advisers/global_engagement.html. [more]

March

  • Molly O'Malley, Orian Navat, and Katherine Rosko earn the 2013 Division of Undergraduate Studies Award for Exploratory Students
  • Shivam Hemnani receives the 2013 Joyce Buck Division of Undergraduate Studies Award

April

  • Jeff Sechler joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

May

  • Victoria Garwood, Penn State Greater Allegheny Registrar receives University-wide award
    • Victoria Garwood, Penn State Greater Allegheny campus registrar was honored by Penn State University President Rodney Erickson on May 10 as a recipient of the University Staff Advisory Council Award for 2013. (more)
  • Gail Kamon, DUS programs coordinator, College of Engineering, retires

August

  • Smith appointed Penn State's associate dean for advising and the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies
    • Penn State has appointed David R. Smith as executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and associate dean for advising, effective Sept. 1. (more)

September

  • Twelfth annual professional development conference on academic advising (Sept. 18)
    • "Updating the Advising Toolbox: Understanding the Complex Needs of Today’s Students” is the theme of the 12th annual professional development conference on academic advising, scheduled to take place Wednesday, Sept. 18, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. [more]
  • Business Majors Night (Sept. 25)
    • The division hosted Penn State's fourth annual Business Majors Night for students interested in learning about University Park majors that focus on business. Students heard from representatives in the Smeal College of Business as well as the colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Communications, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Engineering, Health and Human Development, Information Sciences and Technology, the Liberal Arts, and Eberly College of Science.
  • Tanja St. Pierre joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

October

  • DUS Open House: Parents & Families Weekend (Oct. 5)
    • Division advisers and Leadership Council members visited with parents and families of DUS students interested in learning about how advisers work with students, teach them to navigate University policies and procedures, and recommend co-curricular experiences.  
  • Redesigned Undergraduate Advising Handbook
    • The Division of Undergraduate Studies launched a new look this week for Penn State’s 35-year-old Undergraduate Advising Handbook, which now offers an accessible and responsive structure, new features and a contemporary, user-friendly interface. Located at http://handbook.psu.edu, the redesigned handbook … [more]
  • Katherine Garren joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

November

  • Sarah Ware joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

2014

January

  • Linda Higginson, assistant dean for advising, retires (Jan. 1)
  • Spring into Success! (Jan. 20 and 21)
    • Partnering with Penn State Learning, Career Services, the Libraries, and Counseling and Psychological Services offices, DUS sponsored “Spring into Success!” to provide students at academic risk with resources and contacts that can provide guidance and support as needed. Students experiencing or approaching academic difficulty (typically students with CGPAs below 2.5) received individual invitations/encouragement to attend.

February

  • MajorQuest: New look and features introduced
    • The Division of Undergraduate Studies released a newly designed version of MajorQuest last week to help Penn State students find majors that relate to their areas of interest. The new site at http://dus.psu.edu/students/majorquest introduces an improved interactive tool … [more]
  • Wendell Schwab joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

March

  • Lei Chen and Megan Roth earn the 2014 Division of Undergraduate Studies Award for Exploratory Students
  • Monica Hunter receives the 2014 Joyce Buck Division of Undergraduate Studies Award
  • Tim Radio earns Excellence in Advising Award
    • Timothy Radio, Division of Undergraduate Studies programs coordinator at Penn State Mont Alto, and Robert Rioux, Friedrich G. Helfferich Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering, have been selected to receive the 2014 Penn State Excellence in Advising Award. [more]

April

  • Diane Leos earns 2014 Staff Diversity Recognition Award
    • During annual ceremonies on April 15, Penn State's Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) awarded the 2014 Staff Diversity Recognition Award to academic adviser Diane Leos in recognition of her longstanding advocacy of student success and selfless contributions to Penn State's programming for diverse student populations. [more]

May

  • Academic Advising Portal launches
    • The Division of Undergraduate Studies recently introduced the Academic Advising Portal as Penn State’s new online gateway to academic advising information, tools and resources. The portal, at http://advising.psu.edu, replaces Advising @ PSU as the University’s one-stop, searchable source of academic policies and procedures and will help students locate what they need to plan and manage successful educational experiences. [more]

June

  • MinorQuest introduced
    • Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies launched a new online tool this summer to help students find academic minors that match their interests. MinorQuest at http://dus.psu.edu/students/minorquest guides students toward minors that focus on specific areas of study. [more]
  • Alyssa Bumbaugh joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

July

  • Kellie Scofield joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

August

  • International Student Ice Cream Social (Aug. 16)
    • As a welcome to the University, new first-year international students were invited to the Penn State Advising Ice Cream Social  on Saturday, August 16, 2:00–4:00 p.m., 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.
  • LIz Agler, Courtney Karmelita, and Brian Petrosky join Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

September

  • Division of Undergraduate Studies hosts College Fair (Sept. 3)
    • Penn State’s first annual college fair takes place on the University Park campus from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, in East Halls (Johnston Commons). The fair will offer prizes, giveaways and information about majors as well as opportunities for new students to begin thinking about ways to relate their interests to what they can study at Penn State. [more]
  • Division of Undergraduate Studies staff retreat (Sept. 5)
    • Staff members convened at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center for team building, cross-cultural communications, and a service project.
  • Business Majors Night (Sept. 25)
    • The Division of Undergraduate Studies will host Penn State’s fifth annual Business Majors Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in 110 Business Building, for students interested in learning about University Park majors that focus on business. [more]
  • Study Smarter, Not Harder (Sept. 23 and Oct. 15)

    • In collaboration with the College of Science, DUS co-sponsored “Study Smarter, Not Harder” help sessions for students seeking improvement or clarity in processing information at the college level, preparing for exams, and meeting academic expectations.

October

  • Thirteenth annual Professional Development Conference on Academic Advising Academic
    • “Advising Smarter: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Applications for Student Success” will take place 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. [more]
  • DUS Open House: Parents & Families Weekend (Oct. 11)
    • Parents, families, and students attended an open house in Grange Building 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.

November

  • Debby Pyatt joins Division of Undergraduate Studies staff

 

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, representative, United Way Campaign Committee (2014)

Pamela Baron

  • Collaborative Student Programming liaison

Tammy Bowersox

  • representative, United Way Campaign Committee (2014)

Laura Brown

  • Author, Undergraduate Advising Handbook; coordinator, Discover House program; facilitator, Academic Advising Noon Seminar Series; Academic Advising Portal Committee

Elena Galinova

  • Coordinator, Think Global Program; chair, Penn State Global Advising Committee; Penn State General Education Task Force (Themes and Explorations Subcommittee and Communications Liaison); Center for Global Studies Outreach Advisory Board; Faculty Selection Committee, Schreyer Honors College; ad-hoc task force on summer programs for visiting international students (spring 2013); University Fellowships Office Fulbright Student Fellowships Interviewing Committee; faculty adviser, Global Brigades Campus Council; faculty adviser, Tom's Shoes at Penn State;Instructor, INTST 493H, Foundations of Global Citizenship: Global Learning Through Service; instructor, INTST 496H, Global Service Learning

Katherine Garren

  • Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisers; Centre County Bar Association; American Mock Trial Association, State College Regionals (judge);

Irma Giannetti

  • Academic Advising Portal Committee, FastStart mentor 2012–13; Penn State Global Advising Committee; judge, Undergraduate Research Exhibition; Academic Advising Portal Committee

Jeffrey Gugino

  • Liaison to Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes; instructor, Smeal College of Business first-year seminar (PSU 006)

Linda Higginson *

  • University Advising Council; University Faculty Senate Curricular Affairs Committee; co-instructor, CSA 597A, Foundations of Academic Advising; auditor, American Association of University Women; vice president, Cobble Creek Condominium Association; co-chair, Centre County United Way Funds Distribution Committee

Hilleary Himes

  • Chair, NACADA Region 2 Awards Committee; NACADA Region 2 Steering Committee; New Student Orientation Implementation Team; Pilot Transfer Orientation Committee

Carolyn Jensen

  • Course Substitution and Review System development team, LionPATH Academic Advising Advisory Team, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity (secretary), Centralized Course Scheduling Committee, Link UP planning committee, College of Science Undergraduate Advisory Council (UEAC), Science Advising and Student Services Committee (SASS), College of Science Dean’s Scholarship Review Committee, Bunton Waller Scholarship Review Committee;  Forensic Science Adviser Search Committee (chair), instructor PSU 016 (premed/science first-year seminar); adviser, Network for Excellence in Undergraduate Science student organization.

Maren Larson

  • Penn State Global Advising Committee

 Diane Leos

  • Consultant, Upward Bound Migrant Program; guest lecturer, EDUC 100S, Using Online Tools and Activities to Explore Majors; guest lecturer, Comprehensive Studies Program workshop: Exploration and Considerations When Choosing a Major; guest lecturer, College Assistance Migrant Program: “Finding the Right Major for You”

 Rhea Leydig

  • LionPATH (Records, Enrollment, Advising Project Team)

 Marie Lindhorst *

  • Adult Points of Entry Team (Outreach); Student Transitions Steering Committee; Penn State Admissions School Counselor Advisory Group; Penn State Global Advising Committee; Admissions College Representative for Division of Undergraduate Studies; Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Equity (2013 co-chair; 2014 chair)

Terry Musser

  • Administrative Division Chair, NACADA; instructor, AG 150S, Be a Master Student!; principal investigator: Analysis of Factors Related to Undergraduate Male Student Success at Penn State University Park; University Advising Council

Deborah Oakes

  • University Editor Representative; University Staff Advisory Council; Penn State Global Advising Committee; Undergraduate Education Media and Communications Group; editor, The Mentor; Office of Undergraduate Education Web Accessibility Group; adviser, Penn State Synchronized Swimming Team; Academic Advising Portal Committee

Janet Schulenberg

  • Co-chair, General Education Oversight and Planning Task Force; faculty, Higher Education (Student Affairs) graduate program; LionPATH Academic Advising Advisory Committee; chair, NACADA Theory, Philosophy, and History of Advising Commission; NACADA Journal Editorial Board; past-chair, NACADA Research Committee

Margaret Sebastianelli

  • Instructional Space Task Force; Link UP; Fall Career Fair Planning and Implementation Committee; ISIS Replacement Working Team; University Academic Policy Exception (Records & Registration); 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 Academic Advising Team, Curricular Affairs Committee, Undergraduate Programs Council, representative to the Undergraduate Admissions Office; Eberly College of Science pre-med candidate interview team; Outreach academic adviser candidate interview team; adviser, Pi Kappa Alpha

Jeff Sechler

  • Undergraduate Education Media and Communications Group; Academic Advising Portal Committee; 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; instructor, Introductory Sociology (SOC 001) and Sociology of Gender (SOC 110)

Joane Stoneberg *

  • University Advising Council; College of Arts and Architecture Leadership council; Excellence in Advising Award Selection Committee; College of Arts and Architecture representative to Undergraduate Admissions Office; Bunton-Waller search committee; University Advising Council Sub-committee on Drop Policies

Sarah Ware *

  • Academic Advising Portal Committee

 Jeffrey Warner

  • University Advising Council; Earth and Mineral Sciences Undergraduate Program Advisory Committee, Earth and Mineral Sciences Scholarship and Awards Committee; 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

DCAM Planning Committee

Meredith Chaney, Diane Leos, Jeff Warner, Rachael Wiley

 

Fall Conference Planning Committee

2013

Terry Musser (chair), Carrie Egnosak (Erie), Brenda Fornwalt, Hilleary Himes, Carolyn Jensen, Deborah Oakes, Marion Schwartz, Tammy Spevak (Hazleton), Joane Stoneberg *

2014

Carolyn Jensen (chair), Emily Artello (Erie), Brenda Fornwalt, Hilleary Himes, Scott Kelly (Altoona), Judy Lenick (Schuykill), Terry Musser, Steven Navarro (World Campus), Deborah Oakes, Marion Schwartz, Tammy Spevak (Hazleton), Tanya St. Pierre, Shannon Telenko (Liberal Arts)

 

Instructional Technology Committee

Irma Giannetti (co-chair), Rhea Leydig (co-chair)(LionPATH), Jeff Gugino, Deborah Oakes, Del Schwab, Jeff Sechler, Tanya St. Pierre 

 

Leadership Council

Pam Baron (coordinator), Liz Agler, Rachael Wiley *

 

Programs Coordinators Committee

Jeff Warner (chair), Alyssa Bumbaugh, Irma Giannetti, Jeff Gugino, Carolyn Jensen, Rhea Leydig (LionPATH), Terry Musser, Marion Schwartz, Kellie Scofield, and Margaret Sebastianelli

 

Think Global Program Committee

Elena Galinova (chair), Irma Giannetti, Maren Larson, Marie Lindhorst *, Deborah Oakes, Marion Schwartz, Tanja St. Pierre

Ad Hoc Teams

Collaborative Advising Planning Team

Laura Brown, Meredith Chaney *, Terry Musser, Marion Schwartz

Day-to-Day Operations Team

Pamela Baron, Brenda Fornwalt, Scott Fotorny, Elena Galinova, Hilleary Himes, Natalie James, Terry Musser

Employee Handbook Team

Tammy Bowersox, Katherine Garren, Jeffrey Gugino, Terry Musser, Deborah Oakes

 

Intervention Strategies and Holds Team

Pam Baron, Rachael Wiley *

 

The Mentor Reader Board

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

 

Student Awards Committee

2013

Liz Agler, Laura Brown, Brenda Fornwalt, Victoria Garwood (Greater Allegheny), Hilleary Himes, Terry Hinton (DuBois), Scott Kelly (Altoona), Judy Lenick (Schuylkill), Rhea Leydig, Karen Paddock * (Lehigh Valley )

2014

Carrie Egnosak (Erie), Brenda Fornwalt, Elena Galinova, Caressa Gearhart (Worthington Scranton), Mike Verhagen (Schuylkill), Rachael Wiley *

 

Training and Development Team

Laura Brown, Irma Giannetti, Maren Larson, Terry Musser, Del Schwab, Marion Schwartz, Tanja St. Pierre

 

* 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
Twelfth Annual Professional Development Conference on Academic Advising
University Park, PA
September 18, 2013

Egnosak, C.: “Finding Purpose: The Link between Spirituality and Academic Advising” (with Mueller, J.)

Galinova, E., & Giannetti, I.: “Bridging the Cultural Gap: Providing Adequate Support to Chinese Students In and Out of the Classroom (with Henderson, R.)

Musser, T.: “Are Men the New At-Risk Student Population?” (with Wilson, D.)

Spevak, T., & Sofranko, K.: “Reinforcing the Foundation: A Summer ‘Boot Camp’ for Underprepared Students”

 

NACADA National Conference
Salt Lake City, UT
October 6–9, 2013

Schulenberg, J., & Himes, H.: “Emerging Issues in Advising Theory (with Lowenstein, M., Hagen, P., & Champlin-Scharff, C.)

Warner, J., & Schulenberg, J.: Examining Persistence of Academic Interests from Orientation to Graduation”

 

Comparative and International Education Society Annual Conference
Toronto, CA
March 10–15, 2014

Galinova, E.: “Promoting Holistic Global Citizenship in College: What Globally Engaged Students Have to Say to Their Schools.” (paper presentation)

 

NACADA Mid-Atlantic Region 2 Conference
Lancaster, PA
March 21–22, 2014

Schulenberg, J.: “Conducting Academic Advising Research” (preconference workshop with Hagen, P.)

Warner, J., & Agler, L.: “Turning Advising Challenges into Opportunties: The Experience of a Small Multi-Disciplinary College within a Large University” (poster presentation)

 

Senior Sunday Conference
State College, PA
March 23, 2014

Garren, K.: “Graduate School Success.” (panel presentation with Ishler, M., & Rice, S.)

 

Digital Islam: How the Internet and Social Media Are Reshaping the Islamic Marketplace in Central Asia
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
March 31, 2014             

Schwab, Wendell. “The Digital Islamic Mediascape in Kazakhstan.” (paper presentation)

 

Kazakhstan Conference 2014
Uppsala, Sweden
June 13–14, 2014

Schwab, Wendell. “Shrines and Neopatrimonialism in Kazakhstan.” (paper presentation)

 

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

 

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.

Himes, H. (2014). Strengthening academic advising by developing a normative theory. NACADA Journal, 43(1).

Himes, H., & Schulenberg, J. (2013, September). Theoretical reflections: Theory and philosophy should always inform practice. Academic Advising Today, 36(3). 

Musser, T., & Yoder, F. (2013). The application of constructivism and systems theory to academic advising. In J. K. Drake, P. Jordan, & M. A. Miller (Eds.), Academic advising approaches: Strategies that teach students to make the most of college (pp. 179-196). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Schwab, W. (2014). How to pray in Kazakhstan: The fortress of the Muslim and its readers. Anthropology of East Europe Review, 32(1), 22-42.

Yaari, M., & Shipe, T. (Eds.) (2014). Dada, surrealism, and Romania, 20(1) [I. Giannetti et al., Trans.].

Staff

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

Division of Undergraduate Studies staff photo before the staff retreat, September 5, 2014.

Division of Undergraduate Studies staff members, staff retreat, September 5, 2014

Division administrators, advisers, college and campus coordinators, staff assistants, and technical staff