UWMFACULTY/STAFF NEWSLETTER VolumeREPOR 29, Number 4, May 2008 T UWM’s First Year Center is ‘one-stop shop’ for new students By Beth Stafford INSIDE 4 UWM, UCC team up for research and learning 9 New nursing center will study Newly named Director Ericca Pollack stands outside the First Year Center in Bolton Hall. self-management L aunched last fall and now located in Bolton The First Year Center and mentors play a role in Hall 192, the UWM First Year Center is working in partnership with students in identifying designed as a “one-stop shop” where first-year and potential obstacles to their success and guidance to transfer students can find all the information they the many resources available for UWM students.” need about comprehensive campus resources. The center is part of Access to Success, the campuswide FRESHMAN YEAR – A LONG-TERM 10 initiative designed to help students achieve greater MENTORING MOMENT success, especially during their first year. UWM provides each new freshman with a Sullivan-Spaights Awards benefit The center also is designed as a non-threaten- Campus Ambassador/Mentor as an initial contact high-achieving UWM students ing, comfortable place for first-year students to when students first arrive on campus. The connect with each other and with peer mentors Campus Ambassador/Mentor guides a student as they learn to negotiate both the social and the through new freshman orientation, assists with academic aspects of college life. registration and provides an introduction to Ericca Pollack says she was drawn to the First campus resources. Year Center because its values and mission parallel That support continues throughout the first her own. Hired this spring, she is the center’s first year. The Campus Ambassador/Mentor provides 10 full-time director (Nicole Stroobants, director of the additional guidance and assistance, including LINKS program, served as interim director after making connections between new students and the center’s launch). faculty/staff who work in areas of interest to UWM physicist helps shed light on them. In turn, first year students are encour- cosmic rays ‘HolistiC learning’ aged to maintain contact with their Campus Pollack describes her philosophy as “holistic Ambassador/Mentor. ‘Walk to Work’ aims to turn learning.” That is, she thinks it distorts student life The center’s special programming covers both employees into neighbors to separate what happens in the classroom from the social aspects and the more serious side of the Moroccan magic and Judeo-Islamic what happens outside the classroom. new student experience at UWM. Last fall, for exchange “It’s important to look at the two spheres as a example, the center hosted an ice cream social whole,” she says. and a pumpkin carving contest, as well as sessions Students help students with legal woes “With the Access to Success mission, UWM on time management and undergraduate research. commits to students’ success leading to gradua- Pollack welcomes the unique joys and chal- NCAA recertification update tion,” Pollack continues. “The initial four to six lenges that come with leading a fledgling initiative. weeks is the most crucial time period in assuring “She has hit the ground running with creativity, students continue past their first year. good judgment and collegiality,” says Ruth Williams, “If students see both academic and personal associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. “The success during their first year, they are more likely student mentors working with her are delighted to continue the pursuit of their desired degree. Continued on page 3… May 2008 • UWMREPORT • 1 FROM THE CHANCELLOR Summer 2008 promises to be BLOCK PARTY ROCKS HARTFORD AVENUE busy at UWM Lured by bands, ballgames, free ice cream and chili, several hundred UWM A s the spring semester reaches its final weeks, and examine current and future student housing students attended the block party hosted it strikes me how the summer months of requirements. by the Student Association and C.O.A.S.T. 2008 here at UW–Milwaukee will likely be full The consultants plan to present a draft report of (Community Outreach and Assistance for of activity rather than relaxation. Here are just a their findings in late August. Student Tenants) on April 21. It was a few of the concerns Certainly, much master planning work will be chance to scale some rocks, play ball in that are sure to make ongoing after this summer (as will work on the front of the Chancellor’s Office and meet- UWM a bustling academic planning process). You can always check and-greet Oscar Perez (below), UWM place in the next on master planning process updates, scheduled neighborhood relations specialist. week months: meetings and more at http://www.masterplan. • The 2007-09 uwm.edu. state budget. By • New freshman orientation programs. I now, I believe we all am told by our Department of Recruitment and thought we would Outreach that there will be 19 daylong sessions for only be working on new freshmen during the summer months. Of the our specific budget new freshmen planning to attend UWM in the fall proposal, or DIN, for – Enrollment Services estimates between 4,300 and the 2009-11 biennial 4,600 students – more than 95 percent are expected budget. While that to participate in orientation. If last summer’s totals Carlos E. Santiago will continue during hold true again this summer, we can also expect an the summer, indi- equivalent number of parents to be on campus to viduals throughout the UW System are watching participate in orientation programs. for what the proposed budget repair bill for the These incoming students receive quality 2007-09 state budget will mean for our students, academic advising and insights from campus faculty and staff. ambassadors and select fall courses, while parents We are hopeful that the budget repair bill will learn how they can best support their future be in place in the next few weeks and that the State Panthers. Alan Magayne-Roshak of Wisconsin will affirm its commitment to support • Summer session 2008. And, of course, the UWM. continuing academic popularity of UWM can be • Master planning. During the Master Plan seen throughout the summer with a session filled Campus Launch Day on April 4, we all learned just with 1,600 classes from 90 departments. The aver- how much work is ahead of us in this process. age UWM enrollment over the past three summers This summer, the consultants from HGA and has been nearly 9,000 students—a total larger than Sasaki Associates, along with our master plan the fall enrollment of six UW System universities. consulting team, will be involved in a detailed Despite the hustle and bustle of campus life observation, information-gathering and assessment during the traditional academic summer of mid- phase of the master planning process. May to late-August, I hope everyone has the The team will analyze planning and technical opportunity to catch their breath and prepare for documentation from the campus and conduct site the continuing challenges and opportunities our GET THE LATEST visits to collect data about existing sustainability university will face in the 2008-09 academic year. systems; land acquisition issues; and transportation, ON THE WEB utility, infrastructure and building conditions. For a complete schedule of events They will also conduct a detailed quantita- and the latest campus news, start tive and qualitative assessment of space needs, your day at www.uwm.edu. Carlos E. Santiago, Chancellor Borger named vice chancellor UWMREPORT for development May 2008 Vol. 29, No. 4 Patricia A. Borger has been named vice chan- Santiago also praised the contributions of David UWM Report is published nine times cellor for development by Chancellor Carlos E. Gilbert, UWM Foundation president and interim a year for the faculty and staff of the Santiago. Borger, who is the assistant vice president vice chancellor for development, and Stephanie University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee by at the University of Cincinnati Foundation, will start Ackerman, chief advancement officer for the the staff of University Communications at UWM in August. Office of Development. They led the Office of and Media Relations. “Patricia Borger’s experience in Cincinnati and Development following the retirement of Vice Editor: Nancy A. Mack her related professional accomplishments make her Chancellor Lucia Petrie in June 2007. Associate Editor: Angela McManaman particularly well suited to our needs here at UWM,” “Dave’s overall coordination, oversight and Assistant Editor: Laura L. Hunt said Santiago. “We will be looking for her to further management of the office, plus Stephanie’s keen Designer: Mario R. Lopez integrate alumni into the development process and operational skills, kept significant projects moving Photos: UWM Photographic elevate the role of the Office of Development as a forward as we concluded our incredibly successful Services resource for UWM schools and colleges.” Campaign for UWM,” Santiago said. “They have University Communications and She holds a Doctor of Law and a Master of both made major contributions to UWM.” Media Relations Music in Music Education from the University of Borger’s résumé is online at http://www.uwm. Mitchell B-95, 414-229-4271 Cincinnati, and a bachelor’s degree, summa cum edu/Dept/SecU/DevVC/Borger.pdf. laude, from the University of Saint Francis. Back issues of UWM Report are avail- able on the Web at: www.uwm.edu/ News. This publication may be requested in accessible format. 2 • UWM REPORT • May 2008 Hobgood is new arts dean W ade Hobgood has been named the new dean and impressed with his FIRST YEAR CENTER of UWM’s Peck School of the Arts. He will leadership skills. He has From Page 1 assume his duties July 1. a thorough knowledge of Hobgood currently is professor of mass commu- the arts.