Updates in Academic Affairs: November 24, 2014

Initiative developed to help meet students' 'invisible' needs

There are many established campus programs and services that provide financial and academic support to students who meet specific criteria.

However, we also recognize that a significant number of students do not formally qualify for these programs and are not able to make ends meet. Some students have difficulty affording food, rent and heating bills.

This recognition of need led to the development of the Invisible Need Project, established so that members of the WMU community may serve students with unmet financial need. The initiative also contributes to the University's culture of giving.

Community members may get involved with supporting this project and our students through time, food and financial donations.

Financial donations are accepted for the Student Emergency Relief Fund by purchasing a Dunn Zone T-shirt. Purchase a shirt—and contribute any additional gift you may wish to give to the relief fund.

Nonperishable food items are being collected for the Invisible Need Food Pantry. Most campus buildings have collection sites, with the centralized pantry located in the Office of Student Affairs in the Faunce Student Services Building. Students who need to use the pantry will be able to select donated food items every two weeks. Dining Services helped create a list of suggested food donation that would contribute to meals high in nutritional value. Find that list at the following link: wmich.edu/news/2014/09/18486

Individuals who are interested in volunteering to host building collection sites at on-campus locations, and assist with donation pickup, may contact Karen Lamons in Residence Life at (269) 387-4742 or Karen.lamons@wmich.edu.

Disability Services for Students offers overflow-testing site for final exams

Due to the increasing number of students that require test accommodations, the Office of Disability Services for Students will offer an overflow-testing site for exam week, Dec. 8-12.

The DSS office overflow-testing site will be in Room 113 Bernhard Center for up to 18 students requiring extended testing time accommodations during the following times the week of Dec. 8:

• Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The primary testing location for students should be within the department with a test proctor or monitor. The DSS office 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. Please work with students to schedule a testing time in advance of the exam week.

Please plan to deliver all exam materials 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 be sent by email 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 are not documented by the 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 during exam week should contact Jayne Fraley-Burgett at (269) 387-2120 or at jayne.fraley@wmich.edu.

Series brings to campus luminaries working to end hostility against women

The Lee Honors College invites the campus community to attend and participate in the spring 2015 Raise Your Voice guest lecture series.

Co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Fine Arts and University Center for the Humanities, this series introduces WMU and the Kalamazoo community to nationally known artists, activists, writers and scholars actively working to end hostility and violence against women.

Join us for the following events:

Documentary film screening of "Anita Hill: Speaking Truth to Power"

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, 5:30 and 8 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse, 180 Portage St., Kalamazoo

Anita Hill public lecture

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2015, 7 p.m.
Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo

Soraya Chemaly public lecture

Tuesday, March 3, 2015, 7 p.m.
2000 Schneider Hall

Tatyana Fazializadeh public lecture

Thursday, April 2, 2015, 5:30 p.m.
2008 Richmond Center for the Visual Arts

Fazializadeh will be on WMU's main campus as a visiting artist from March 29 through April 4. She will be creating new pieces for the "Stop Telling Women to Smile" street art project. It addresses gender-based street harassment. This visit includes the public lecture on April 2, class visits, group discussion and interviews with students about harassment on campus.

For more information on the series, call the Lee Honors College at (269) 387-3230, or visit wmich.edu/honors/events/raise-your-voice.