Inside Updates: New award aims to attract students from Illinois, DSS says it’s time to make testing-accommodation arrangements and upcoming skill-building workshop teaches students salary negotiation.
New award aimed at attracting Illinois students
Over the last few years, WMU has seen growth in undergraduate enrollment from Illinois residents. In 2014, two admissions recruiters were designated to focus on enrollment growth from the Chicago area. They learned that some Illinois residents were concerned about WMU’s high non-resident tuition, causing them to reconsider attending the University.
To address this issue, we are pleased to announce a one-time award to enhance undergraduate recruitment of students from Illinois for the 2016-17 academic year. The WMU Advantage Award will be offered exclusively to students who are “first time in any college” or are transfer students, and only in their first year at WMU. These awards are available, in part, through a special funding allocation.
Students who are eligible to be considered for the WMU Advantage Award will be encouraged to apply for Michigan residency after their first year at WMU. It should be noted that students selected as Medallion Scholars, Foundation Scholars, Legacy Gold Scholars and Transfer Gold Scholars will not be eligible for the WMU Advantage Award, as they already receive substantial awards.
Student inquiries regarding the award should be directed to Bronco Express at (269) 387-6000. Other inquiries may be directed to Dr. Terrell Hodge in the Office of Financial Aid at terrell.hodge@wmich.edu or (269) 387-6037.
Time to take steps for testing needs through disability services
With the approach of final exam week, Office of Disability Services for Students officials say it is time to begin planning for testing-accommodation needs.
Students registered with the Office of Disability Services for Students, or DSS, for extended testing time accommodations should use their department as the primary test location with a test proctor or monitor. If this is not possible, DSS is offering Bernhard Center Room 113 as an overflow testing site during final exam week, which begins on Monday, April 25.
The overflow testing site provides space for up to 20 students who require extended testing time accommodation. The site will be available Monday through Thursday during exam week at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The DSS office also provides testing-accommodation services with a reader/scribe and adaptive technology by appointment during the following office hours:
• Mondays through Thursdays at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
• Fridays at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The DSS office and overflow testing locations are not able to accommodate walk-in testing services. Instructors should work with students to schedule a testing time in advance of exam week. Exam materials may be delivered to the DSS office on the main floor of Woodlawn Place 24 hours in advance of the scheduled exam date. Exams may also be faxed to the DSS office at (269) 387-0633 or emailed to DSS-Exams@wmich.edu.
Instructors should specify the materials students are allowed to use in the testing room. Students are not permitted to take materials into the testing room that have not been documented by their instructor. Exams will be returned directly to the department unless instructors make prior arrangements with the DSS office.
Instructors interested in volunteering as exam proctors at the overflow testing location in the Bernhard Center should contact Jayne Fraley-Burgett at jayne.fraley@wmich.edu or (269) 387-2120.
Salary-negotiation workshop teaches students how to ‘start smart’
A Start Smart salary-negotiation training workshop for students is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the Career Zone located in 1344 Ellsworth Hall.
The two-hour workshop prepares students to approach the job market with the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to negotiate salaries and benefits.
Attendees learn:
• how the gender wage gap affects their lives
• how to negotiate a starting salary to narrow the wage gap early in their careers
• how to articulate their value and improve lifelong earning potential
• how to benchmark salary and benefits
• how to develop a personal budget to determine salary needs
According to the American Association of University Women, women earn only 82 percent of what their male counterparts earn in the first year following graduation, and the wage gap continues to widen in ensuing years.
More than 225 campuses throughout the United States have hosted the Start Smart salary-negotiation training. Prior to attending the workshop, only 25 percent of attendees said they were confident they could negotiate a salary and benefits package. That figure skyrocketed to 91 percent upon completion of the workshop.
Registration for the April 5 workshop is limited to 25 students. Register through the BroncoJOBS portal at https://app.joinhandshake.com/login or by emailing Lynn Kelly-Albertson at lynn.kelly-albertson@wmich.edu.