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Vice-President for Student Services
Fiscal Year 2007 Accomplishments & Fiscal Year 2008 Plans

April 25, 2007

Our Mission

The mission of the Student Services Division is to provide activities and programs that support the academic mission of Western Illinois University. Quality support services will be offered to students as our primary focus whenever, however, and wherever they are needed. Opportunities for student development and learning will be provided through involvement, leadership, and co-curricular experiences in environments that are supportive, challenging, and inclusive.

Committed University Partnership

• From recruiting students to attend Western,
• to supporting their growth and development while they are enrolled,
• to helping them find employment both before and after they graduate,
• 24 diverse departments contribute to co-curricular programs and services,
• and are intrinsically linked to Western's core values of Academic Excellence, Opportunity, Social Responsibility, and Personal Growth.

FY07 Review of Goals

1. Attract, hire and train a qualified, diverse staff
2. Meet Admissions goals
3. Seek additional funding for Financial Aid & other student support services
4. Relocate the Counseling Center to Olson Hall and continue high quality services
5. Plan and provide support for facility enhancements
6. Review, revise and support the Division's technology plan
7. Continue the integration of Athletics into the DOSS and continue to provide a quality athletic and university experience for our university athletes
8. Expand late night programming and seek funding in support of programming.
9. Continue to evaluate Orientation & FYE
10. Continue to work with the City of Macomb in further development of Go West and other related projects

Status Of Division Goal

Attract, hire and train a qualified, diverse staff

To develop and foster a superior staff that is responsive, effective and efficient in supporting the institution's missions, values and objectives

• Assistant VP for Student Services - John Biernbaum
• Director of Admissions - Eric Campbell
• Director of Beu Health Center - Mary Margaret Harris
• Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs - Joan Maze
• Director of Student Publications - Richard Moreno

Meet Admissions goals for 2007

• Minority enrollment increase
  • Increased from 12.15% to 12.21% of total enrollment
• African American student enrollment decrease
  • 855 students, Fall 2005
  • 852 students, Fall 2006 (-3)
• Hispanic student enrollment increase
• 478 students, Fall 2005
• 509 students, Fall 2006 (+31)

To seek additional funding for Financial Aid & other student support programs

To provide support services to encourage student success and increase retention rates and graduation rates

• TANF grant was renewed for an increased amount to $450K from $250K
• Western Heritage Program
  • Working toward their 5-year goal to fully fund the program
• Financial Aid initiatives included in the Capital Campaign
• Continue to package aid and notify students as early as possible
• Student Employment office within FA office to assist students locating on-campus employment

Relocate the Counseling Center to Olson Hall and continue high quality service

To provide support services to encourage student success and increase retention and graduation rates

• Relocation to Olson Hall successful
  • Advising Center / OAS
  • Will continue to work closely with Physical Plant on renovation of Memorial Hall
• Fall 2006 statistics
  • 638 students received counseling services
  • 1,774 contact hours
• Staff Counselor teaches CN 241
  • Career & Personal Development offered in Fall 2006 & Spring 2007
• Counselor of the Day
  • Allows students in crises to be seen same day - critical service

Plan and provide support for facility enhancement

• Multicultural Center
  • Casa Latina to be demolished & relocated to Olson Hall this summer
  • Construction to begin in the early Fall 07
• Spencer Rec Center Expansion
  • Final approval for construction anticipated at June BOT meeting
  • Estimated ground-breaking for mid-June
  • 18-month completion plan
• Football Stadium Renovation
  • student-side renovations progressing as planned
  • estimated completion in June
• Fire Sprinkler Project
  • Bayliss/Henninger sprinkler retrofit completed in Aug 06
  • Olson Hall project underway
• Elevator Upgrade Project
  • Corbin/Olson completed in Fall 2006
  • Bayliss/Henninger to be completed in Summer 2007
  • Lincoln/Washington complete as of April
• Women's Basketball Offices
  • Construction to begin Summer 2007
• Boyer Baseball Stadium - DONE
• Mary McKee Softball Stadium
  • Backstop netting in planning
• Facilities Condition Assessment
  • architectural firm hired to assess condition of residence hall facilities (Spring)

Review, revise and support the Division's Technology plan

To develop and implement a strategic plan that coordinates the efficient acquisition, utilization, and application of technology

• Electronic Student Services department
  • Works closely with our 24 departments to develop & maintain internet visibility
• ESS partners with UIMS & UCSS
  • Partnership to develop and implement university-wide technology strategic plan
• ESS implemented new dining inventory software program & upgrades to our vending machines
• UHDS
  • Will implement one access control system for the entire campus
  • Implemented on-line application for Graduate Family Housing
• University Union
  • Additional security cameras installed in the University Union
  • Upgrade of cash register system with internal credit card capabilities

Continue to integrate Athletics into the DOSS & provide quality athletic and university experiences

• 50% of student athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or better
• 2.9 overall student-athlete GPA
• 72% graduation success rate
• 93% exhausted eligibility graduation rate is among highest in state and in both conferences
• our NCAA Academic Performance Rate (APR) is 948 out of 1,000 (925 is national benchmark)
• added NDSU, SDSU and IPFW to Mid-Con Conference
• added NDSU and SDSU to Gateway Conference
• Thus far, student-athletes have raised $9,823 and have volunteered more than 2,000 community service hours
• Several Alumni & Friends events have centered around Athletic events to cultivate partnerships
• Men's Golf and Soccer in NCAA championships
• Swimming & Diving coach Nathan Mundt, named Coach of the Year for the Mid-Con Conference

Expand late-night programming options and seek funding in support of programming

• Bowling Center
  • Now open until midnight Friday & Saturdays
  • Cosmic Bowling on Tuesdays from 8:30 -10:00 pm
• Graffiti Party in Tanner Hall
• Late night comedians, late night movies, bingo, eating contests and play station video tournament hosted in Union
• Midnight basketball in the Rec. Center
• VPSS provided 24,000 additional dollars to fund various events
• First Night Fun
• Additional intramural events scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings as an alternative to alcohol
• Purchased outdoor, inflatable movie screen and projector for late night films

Continue to evaluate Orientation & FYE

• Summer Orientation & Registration (SOAR)
  • Offered 11- 1½ day Summer Orientation & Registrations (SOAR) for nearly 1,950 first-year students and their families
  • 96% of students surveyed evaluated their experience as excellent or good
  • 93% of families surveyed evaluated their experience as excellent or good
  • 335 new students and 455 family members attended Transfer Registration program
  • 1st time for SDO's Minority Student Orientation 32 students and 53 family members attended
  • Online Orientation website = 4,325 viewers
• First-Year Experience (FYE)
  • FYE had over 1,200 first-year students participate
  • SDO conducted 6 separate focus groups to gather student opinion on orientation & FYE programs
  • UHDS continues in-hall curriculum to teach students study skills and life skills
  • 3 residence halls labeled as FYE halls
  • RA's implemented FYE service projects into floor programming plans
  • Foundations of Excellence survey had an 80% return rate

Continue to work with the City of Macomb in further development of Go West and other related projects

• Go West has brought over $4 million in capital and has secured over $1 million in perpetual operating funds
• Go West began using 5% biodiesel blend in all of their vehicles
• Go West carried 1.55 million riders per year and is up 21% from FY06
• CUPP - Monica Allen
  • Promote better understanding & improved relations between the university & constituencies
  • Focus on such issues as the relationship between constituents and law enforcement organizations, student and community interactions and inclusiveness

Other Highlights

Alcohol & Other Drugs Resource Center

• Continued availability of alcohol and other drug assessments
• Allows students to continue academic pursuits while meeting legal obligations
• 497 individual contacts
• 100% compliance with IL Dept. of Human Services licensing renewal audit
• 10 DUI evaluations

Beu Health Center

• No increase in student insurance premium for 3rd straight year in a row
• University Flu pandemic response plan developed (in progress)
• Worked with ESS to create student immunization database:
  • to monitor immunization rates
  • for outbreak notifications
  • to track student compliance
  • to generate reports in compliance w/ state rqmts
• Continuation of Psychiatric Contract through McDonough District Hospital for on-campus services to students (serves over 100 students annually)
• Live Free, Tobacco Free Grant - brought in President of Applebee's restaurants, Mike Scanlon, to discuss 'smoke-free' issues

Disability Support Services (DSS)

• 82 new students registered for services, 35% increase from last year
• 309 undergraduate students, 21 graduate students currently receive services
• Campus Orientation Training - allows handicapped students to learn campus routes and classroom and building locations
• Works with students in seeking accessible housing; 53 students
• Sponsors Disability Awareness Week
• Alternative Exam Services
• 439 exams administered in Fall
• Over $40,000 spent for interpreters this year

University Housing & Dining Services

• Completed 1st ADA modernization project on a FYE floor (room, lounge, bathroom, as well as several outside entrances in Thompson)
• Completed Lamoine Village 1 HVAC upgrade
• Res Hall students' grades surpassed the all-campus average
  • Annual Academic Banquet
    • 350 students recognized for 4.0 GPAs
    • 500 students recognized for 3.6 GPAs & above
• Res halls hosted annual Safe-Trick-O-Treat for small children
• RA Council cooked dinner for 60 at the Salvation Army for Thanksgiving
• Pilot program offering organic food selections being conducted in S. Quad Dining Center
• Environmental Sustainability
  • increased education of students regarding recycling and energy conservation by participating in national recycling competition - RECYCLEMANIA
  • sponsored recycling poster contest with the winner receiving an i-pod
  • has 3 permanent members on university's Environmental Sustainability Committee
• Spent over $300,000 in lounge, hallway, and room carpet and furniture upgrades for the residence halls
• Completed renovation of Lincoln/Washington Computer Lab

Financial Aid

• WIU is THE earliest Illinois public institution to send award notifications to new students
• In FY07, WIU awarded $97.1 million in financial aid, $8.9 million more than in FY06
• In FY07, over 70% of WIU students received some type of financial aid, with an average award of $7,997
• In FY07, an additional $250,000 Human Services Grant was renewed to provide additional institutional aid
• With more federal financial aid moving away from grants to loans, WIU students now graduate with an average debt of $14,750

New Financial Aid Proposal

In recognition of the greater need for non-loan-based financial aid, the Financial Aid office has developed a new program for additional funding, both through reallocated sources and through new capital campaign contributions…WESTERN HERITAGE PROGRAM

Student Assistance & Parent Service Center

• Opening Weekend - 4,000 students and family members served by assistance center
• Parent & Family Association memberships = 280
• Completed 1st fundraising drive for Parent & Family Association
• Mom's Weekend - 695 participants (compared to 533 last year)
• 2nd Annual Dad's Weekend - 260 participants (compared to 203 last year)

Career Services

• 1,019 graduates registered
• 1,722 student office visits
• 439 students & 72 organizations participated in the Fall Career Fair
• Career Services provides students with a wealth of resources to help them obtain internships/ employment

Casa Latina

• Hispanic Heritage Month involved over 800 students, faculty, staff and community members
• Tradición Hispaña Dance Troup performs Latino-oriented dance at various events, schools and senior centers, and offers lessons to 20-25 members of the WIU and local community each week
• Conversational Spanish, Tertulias, is offered weekly at Casa, providing students, faculty, staff, and the community an opportunity to practice their Spanish in a comfortable and informal setting
• Casa initiated a "Mentoring Program" for new Latino students during Orientation

Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center

• GBCC provides ongoing cultural experiences, academic enhancement opportunities, and social programs designed to aid in the adjustment of African American students at WIU.
• The center also serves as an important resource in providing cultural enrichment opportunities for WIU and the region.
• MLK Jr. Day of Service project attracted over 160 students and Macomb area youth - 45% increase from last year!!
• Welcome Roundup - a new program to help new and transfer African American students get acquainted with WIU - 150 students participated
• GBCC hosted monthly Spit It Out forums where groups of 30-75 students met to address topics such as racism, gender equity, racial profiling, etc., with invited faculty and staff serving as facilitators

Office of Student Activities (OSA)

The Office of Student Activities sponsors and coordinates a variety of student programming, including efforts that benefit racial and sexual orientation differences.

• Learning to Lead
• • 17 participants in Fall 2006, up from 15 in 2005
  • internship opportunities broadened to include: D.C. Police Dept., U.S. Parks Service, Congresswoman Melissa Bean's Office, and Office of the Senate Minority Leader
  • mean GPA of participants = 3.45
  • Alumni used for recruitment and training efforts
• WAVE - (Western's All Volunteer Effort)
• • Over 1,500 volunteer hours
  • Special Olympics, Alzheimer's Memory Walk, Alternative Spring Break (Washington DC), Relay For Life, local Humane Society, Red Cross, Salvation Army
  • Planned 1st-ever International Service Trip to Crete, Greece (June 12 - July 1, 2007) = 9 students attending and doing own fundraising!
• WESTEC
• • Continues to provide high-quality sound and lighting to technically complex events on the campus and within the region
• GREEK LIFE
• • Implemented a Fraternity/Sorority Advisory Council to develop a strategic plan that will focus on improving the Greek community through FY12
  • Supported the ongoing expansion and development of 5 fraternal organizations
  • VPSS sponsored IMPACT program (an intensive campus-based leadership development institute)
  • Provided programming for National Hazing Prevention Week in September 06
• UUB - (University Union Board)
• • Coordinates various highly-attended events
  • • Homecoming
    • Family Weekend
  • Coordinates various programs used for FYE and general public purposes centered around University Theme - 'Global Challenges and Personal Responsibility: Cultural Diversity'
• TEAMLEAD
  A student-led leadership programming board that provides workshops and day-long conferences on diversity, leadership, and world issues

University Union

The Union hosts conferences, as well as athletic, music, art, cheer, and dance camps, showcasing Western to thousands of visitors each year

• Union Events:
• • 3,425 student organization events
  • 2,824 administrative/academic dept. events
  • 104 conferences
  • 499 off-campus events
• Union Bookstore saw an increase in income from textbook sales, and a decrease in school supplies and computer supplies sales
• Total Food Court sales thru Feb '07 = over $680K

The Women's Center

The Women's Center offers educational and social programs and resource materials dealing with a variety of women's/feminist issues including women's health; women's history; women in leadership, politics, business, and traditionally male-dominated fields; women of color and international women; and violence against women.

• The WC hosts a variety of national events:
• • Women's Equality Day
  • Take Back the Night march and rally
  • Women's History Month
  • National Girls and Women in Sports Day
  • National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
• The WC also sponsors numerous programs and activities related to women's issues:
• • Feminist Action Alliance student organization
  • OASIS, the Organization of Adult Students for Interaction and Support
  • Women's Issues and Leadership Conference
  • Women of Color Seminar
  • Campus Girl Scouts
  • programs raising awareness about women's health issues such as breast cancer, depression, eating disorders, smoking, and HIV/AIDS

Student Development & Orientation (SDO)

• Orientation activities provide students and family members opportunities to learn about the challenges of the college experience and how families can support their student
• SDO also provides the highest quality crisis management and follow-up to our students offering support and referral services for students experiencing academic difficulties, personal or family emergencies or concerns of any kind
• 1,836 students = offered support and acted as crisis intervention contact and liaison
• 400 students withdrew (compared to 353 last year)
• Top 5 reasons for W/D
• • academic performance
  • financial problems
  • medical
  • emotional/psychological
  • homesick/adjustment problems

Campus Recreation

• Avg 1,300 students/staff visit the Rec Center daily
• Began 1st 'Fear Factor' Competition
• had 33 teams
• Late-night 'Disco Skating'
• Josh Fugitt, student employee, was named WIU Student Employee of the Year for 2006, and has also been recently named a recipient of a national honor - NIRSA's William Wasson Award - for outstanding recreational student leadership
• 10th ANNIVERSARY!!
• lots of unique, fun, and healthy events throughout the year

Hanson Field -Renovations

Stadium Features:

• Increased seating capacity from 3,800 to 5,000
• Original wooden bleachers replaced with aluminum seating
• ADA compliant restrooms & seating areas
• Concessions stands
• Entrance at the south end of the stadium

Electronic Student Services

• When it comes to technology, ESS makes it happen in Student Services
• ESS is responsible for managing the document management system that enables not only faster and more accurate input of student application data, but also sharing among Admissions, the Registrar, and UHDS
• ESS efficiently supports > 600 users, achieving < 24 hr response time
• Implemented new ID & dining access system
• Completely integrated and upgraded Athletics technology
• Completely moved servers to Morgan Hall, in cooperation with UIMS
• Continued review and maintenance of technology plans for Division

Student Judicial Programs

• Maintained effective working relationship with the Council on Admissions, Graduation and Academic Standards (CAGAS) with respect to disciplinary cases involving academic dishonesty
• Continued to develop and improve coordination of disciplinary process referrals to the Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Resource Center
• Monitored and evaluated student progress in completion of mandated substance abuse, anger management and counseling interventions
• FALL 06
• • 599 total cases
  • 489 Alcohol violations
  • Judicial Board Hearings = 96
• SPRING 07
• • 202 total cases, thus far
  • 126 Alcohol violations
  • Judicial Board Hearings, thus far = 120
• COMPARE TO LAST YEAR
• • 1,354 total cases
  • 788 Alcohol violations
  • Judicial Board Hearings = 113
• Initiated contact with or entertained concerns of hundreds of parents whose sons or daughters had been subject to disciplinary action
• Investigated new software program to handle judicial cases & follow-up

Requests for Additional Funds

• Institutional-based financial aid: $300,000
• Implementation of wireless technology in residence halls: $25,000
• Late-night, non-alcoholic programming: $75,000
• Disability Support Services: $20,000
• University Child Care support: $15,000
• University Union: $50,000

THE FUTURE…Goals for 2008

• Meet or exceed Admissions goals for FY2007-2008
• Continue residence hall, dining center, elevator and sprinkler renovations
• Continue to support NCAA Self-Study recommendations
• Support and complete planning and construction of the Spencer Recreation Center expansion
• Support and complete planning and construction of the Multicultural Center
• Complete the Hanson Field student-side renovations prior to 2007 football season
• Develop new programming venue in UHDS with possible campus-wide opportunities
• Provide additional support for student financial aid
• Compile and utilize alcohol-related data on campus and develop a plan to work with our students
• Expand the development program for student services
• Continue to support the division's technology goals and plans
• Explore additional athletic department personnel support in development, athletic training and academic advising
• Complete construction of women's basketball offices and women's staff locker room
• Plan and design University Union renovations
• Plan and continue Go West garage project

Office of the President
1 University Circle • Sherman Hall 209
Macomb, Illinois 61455
Telephone: 309/298-1824
E-mail: A-Goldfarb@wiu.edu