Inside Updates: A newly established Office of Pre-College Programming is up and running, the Medallion Scholarship competition is set for early December, Faculty Development offers instructional development grants and the Center for Fostering Success organizes first-of-its-kind conference at WMU.
Newly created office coordinates pre-college programs at WMU
WMU has established an office to coordinate long-standing and any new pre-college programs offered on campus. The Office of Pre-College Programs was created to provide leadership and direction for individuals, programs, and WMU units involved in outreach with pre-college students, including policies related to serving students who are minors on campus.
In August, Dr. Erika Carr was named director of this new office, which reports to Enrollment Management. The pre-college programs being served by the office include the Academically Talented Youth Program, MI GEAR UP and Upward Bound.
The office also coordinates on-campus dual enrollment for K-12 students, and it provides comprehensive and inclusive youth outreach services in greater southwest Michigan, the Metro Detroit area, and the state.
A key objective for the office is to maximize the engagement and enrollment of pre-college students while modeling best practices in the field of college access. The office is charged with coordinating resources in support of this growing student population.
Contact Carr at erika.carr@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3327 for assistance with campuswide resources and supports for pre-college students.
Medallion Scholarship competition slated for earlier in the year
The Medallion Scholarship competition will be held in December this academic year. This shift to an earlier date than in past years allows WMU to recruit and offer merit-based awards to prospective students with high academic achievement in a similar timeframe as many of the University’s peer institutions.
Prospective students must be admitted to WMU by Tuesday, Nov. 1, to be eligible for this invitational competition. Students may choose to attend the competition on either Friday, Dec. 2, or Saturday, Dec. 3.
One of the highlights of the day for prospective students and their families is the opportunity to meet with faculty, students, and advisors during an Academic Showcase. This portion of the competition is scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.
Those interested in participating in the Academic Showcase should contact Amanda Lozier at amanda.lozier@wmich.edu or at (269) 387-2009.
Please share this information with colleagues and prospective students and their families. Academic Affairs appreciates the continuing support of the Medallion Scholarship competition and recruiting events.
Instructional development grants available for travel, projects
Board-appointed bargaining unit faculty members at WMU are eligible to apply for instructional development grants focused on improving student learning through instructional and curricular design and innovation.
Grants are available in the amounts of $1,200 for travel and $5,000 for projects; they are awarded through the Office of Faculty Development up to three times per year.
The travel grants are for attending conferences or workshops on topics that focus on instructional development, pedagogy, enhancing diversity, and curricular redesign and innovation.
Project grants can be used for:
• experts to visit campus and work with a department or team of instructors on specific instructional improvement approaches and/or address specific student learning outcomes;
• site visits to other schools or locations to examine specific instructional improvement approaches or address specific student learning outcomes;
• group attendance at workshops or training programs directly related to the funded project or webinar registration;
• student wages or support for instructional improvement projects; and
• materials to study or support specific instructional improvement approaches, including software, books and other media.
Complete details and guidelines for the Instructional Development Grant program are available from the Office of Faculty Development website:
wmich.edu/facultydevelopment/faculty/grants
For assistance with questions, contact the Office of Faculty Development at faculty-development@wmich.edu or at (269) 387-0732.
First-of-its-kind Center for Fostering Success Conference set for 2017
The Center for Fostering Success will launch its inaugural Center for Fostering Success Conference next year. Slated for May 15-20, 2017, the conference corresponds with National Foster Care month.
Based on lessons learned through the development of the Seita Scholars Program, Fostering Success Coach Training Program and the Fostering Success Michigan statewide initiative, the conference is designed to offer knowledge, skills and best practices for those serving students who have a background in foster care.
The conference also will provide networking opportunities for professionals engaged in supporting current and prospective students with experience in foster care.
The conference offerings include:
• Fostering Success Coach Level 1 training, a certified training for professionals working with students with experience in foster care and other students who identify as independent;
• the CFS Symposium, a skill-based conference focused on best practices in campus support programming and statewide network development;
• workshops, speakers, and panel discussions with experts in the field;
• 100 Seita Scholar Graduates Celebration, a night of celebration honoring the success of the first 100 WMU Seita Scholar graduates; and
• a Foster Care Month Walk, an opportunity to gather as a community and raise awareness about the experience of foster care.
Additional details about Center for Fostering Success Conference are available online at wmich.edu/conferencemanagement/events/cfs/. Those interested in learning more also may contact Chris Harris-Wimsatt, director of the Seita Scholars Program, at chris.harris-wimsatt@wmich.edu or at (269) 387-8362.