» Skip site navigation

University College

The University College faculty, staff, advisors, and collaborative partners continue to develop innovative programs and initiatives geared toward student success and persistence. During the Honors Day ceremony in April, former first lady Judy O’Bannon gave the keynote address, and the first Barbara D. Jackson Outstanding Advocate Award was presented to Jackson in recognition of her accomplishments, service to University College, and advocation for students. Jackson retired in May and the award will be a means of recognizing future meritorious faculty and staff members who make extraordinary efforts to help students. The Council on Retention and Graduation (CRG) authorized a study conducted by Derek Price to learn about the impact of financial aid, or lack of it, on the persistence of IUPUI students. Price made several presentations to discuss his study with CRG members and University College faculty. Additional highlights from University College include the following:

Teaching and Learning*

  • In summer 2007, the Summer Academy Bridge Program was expanded to 18 sections to serve an estimated 450 students. University College is offering 18 sections in conjunction with the Schools of Business, Education, Nursing, Science, Liberal Arts, SPEA, and Engineering and Technology. The Office of International Affairs will also jointly sponsor one section.
  • The Summer Academy Bridge Program has collaborated with the Office of Student Scholarships to offer scholarships to all First Generation Scholars and to any Twenty-first Century Scholar who participates in the 2007 Bridge program.
  • A module was developed on student employment for the learning communities.
  • A new program piloted the use of professional development plans in learning communities.
  • The Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program expanded the use of peer mentors.
  • Two Passport Scholars were brought in as part of the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program.
  • New structured learning assistance courses for fall 2007 include CSCI N241 (Web Design) and NURS H353 (Alterations in Health I).
  • An office was established to support Twenty-first Century Scholars.
  • Cathy Buyarski led a program review team that examined and acted upon recommendations in the external review of the Academic Advising Center.
  • A comprehensive benchmarking program was developed for the Academic Advising Center.
  • A strengths-based advising and career counseling program was introduced. The Academic Advising Center piloted a short course using a strengths approach for students on probation.
  • The Career Center codeveloped and piloted Mocktail Hour, an alumni mentoring event.
  • The Career Center piloted UCOL U210 (Career Connections), a one credit hour career course. The course targets second-year students.
  • The Outstanding Advisor Award was presented for the first time at Honors Day in April. This award will continue to recognize advisors who do exceptional work with students. Students vote on outstanding advisors, then a committee selects a candidate from the students’ choices.
  • New Student Orientation has moved to an online registration system, which is a much more efficient way to register students for the orientation program.
  • Two mentoring courses (UCOL U203, Mentoring: Leadership in Transition; and U204, Mentoring: Independent Study) were introduced.
  • Biology mentor roundtables were held during the spring semester. The biology faculty involved in mentoring and Learning Center administration met monthly to discuss activities that would enhance student learning.
  • The number of honors courses was increased.
  • Extracurricular programming for the Honors Program and Honors House was increased.
  • The first dental hygiene learning community was created this year in conjunction with the School of Dentistry.
  • The mentoring programs were expanded this year, including the implementation of study abroad and National Student Exchange programming for mentors.
  • Technology was improved, including a redesigned Web site, pilot of instant advising, and video screens across campus to give students information.

Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

  • University College hosted the Student Access and Success Conference in March 2007 with leaders from many Indiana campuses and communities attending.
  • The Annual Student Mentor Symposium expanded this year. More Indiana universities participated and the number of sessions increased.
  • Students in the Student Support Services program were selected for the following awards: Whitney Price as one of the IUPUI Top 100 Students and Winnie Rodriguez as a MEAP Scholar by the School of Engineering and Technology.
  • Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars were selected for the following awards and honors: Outstanding English Major Award, Literature Award (Department of English), Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society Member, Kelley School of Business Honors Program, President of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Leadership Award, McNair Scholars, and Supplemental Instruction Mentor.
  • The sixth cohort of the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars achieved a GPA of 3.03 for fall 2006. Continuing scholars from cohorts one through five achieved a GPA of 3.35 for fall 2006.
  • Three Nina Scholar mentors were recognized as IUPUI Top 100 Students.
  • Approximately 93 percent of the seniors in Upward Bound graduated from high school this year; a majority of the students will be attending college.
  • The Special Programs for Academic Nurturing (SPAN) Parent Association was formally recognized in 2006 and has established a scholarship account with the IU Foundation. The mission of the association is to connect parents of SPAN students and raise monetary support for students with high academic ability but limited financial resources.
  • The Bepko Learning Center has been approved to certify student mentors for the training they receive and the number of hours they mentor students. The College Reading and Learning Association’s International Tutor Program Certification has been endorsed by the National Association for Developmental Education, Commission XVI of the American College Personnel Association, the American Council of Developmental Education Associations, Association for the Tutoring Professional, and the National Tutoring Association.
  • Eight faculty fellowships were awarded for 2007–2008 to research areas such as Nina scholars, mentors, critical inquiry, career exploration, first-generation parents, and technology.
  • University College faculty and staff published a total of 38 scholarly articles and one book.
  • A nationally transmitted Web conference, “Lessons in Building a Successful Summer Bridge Program,” for Academic Impressions was presented in April 2007.


Civic Engagement

  • The Career Center hired a coordinator of experiential learning who will focus on the development of an externship program.
  • The Career Center hosted the Consulting Psychologists Press MBTI Assessment Workshop at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown with over 90 people from across the state in attendance.
  • The Educational Success Program launched a summer institute in 2006. The summer institute provides academic remediation, career exploration, college exploration, and social and soft skills to middle and high school youth. Approximately 20–30 youth will participate in summer 2007.
  • In January, 15 Student African American Sisterhood members participated in the Martin Luther King Day of Service at Lutheran Child and Family Services.
  • The Urban League asked the African American Sisterhood to collaborate and develop a mentoring program for area high school females.
  • The School of Law is sponsoring a mock trial for Upward Bound students this summer.
  • The Student Mentor Alumni Web site was launched.
  • The Broad Ripple High School Magnet Program SPAN (Special Programs for Academic Nurturing) Project is in development. This project will fund $15,000 in IUPUI tuition for SPAN participants.
  • The Career Center will have the following workshops available for viewing via the Internet: Basic GRE Test Preparation, Making the Most of a Job Fair, Resumes and Cover Letters That Work, Interviewing for Success, The Art of Networking, Job Search Techniques, and Choosing a Major and Career.
  • The Career Center and the Office of Student Employment implemented a new jobs database (EASE).
  • The Office of Student Employment has implemented a new series of workshops that have been created for student “Basic Training.” These workshops will assist students in areas such as customer service, phone etiquette, job readiness, etc.
  • For the first year, the Office of Student Employment accepted nominations for Student Supervisor of the Year. The office hosted a recognition reception, complete with a guest speaker.
  • Over half of the themed learning communities (TLC) included service learning experiences or service activities in the curriculum:
  • Students in the education TLCs tutored students in homeless shelters through School on Wheels, worked with IPS students, and collaborated with community agencies such as La Plaza and the Hawthorne Community Center.
  • Students in the social work TLC participated in service learning with diverse organizations, including the Peace Learning Center, the Islamic Center, the India Community Center, African American agencies, and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.
  • Students in the criminal justice TLC completed service learning projects with adolescents in the criminal justice system.
  • Students in the business TLCs participated in a service project at the Hawthorne Community Center.
  • Nursing TLC students engaged in community service with over 40 organizations in the regional area.

Diversity

  • Student African American Sisterhood became an official student organization with the IUPUI Undergraduate Student Government in December 2006. The program provides African American female students support with academic, social, and personal issues.
  • Barbara Browning, director of Student Support Services, was awarded the Dr. Joseph T. Taylor Award for Excellence in Diversity.
  • Students in the “Can’t We All Just Get Along” themed learning community organized a Unity Day event to educate the campus about diversity. They also participated in a Ramadan celebration at a local mosque and arranged for a panel of religious leaders from various traditions to speak to the campus about divisive issues.
  • Upward Bound students will attend an African festival in Toledo this summer.
  • The Summer Bridge Academy Program has partnered with the Office of International Affairs to develop a Bridge section for international students.
  • The Summer Bridge Academy Program is collaborating with the Student African American Brotherhood to offer 25 scholarships to African American males who participate in the Bridge program.
  • Two Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars studied abroad in the Dominican Republic as part of the Student African American Brotherhood’s Hermano a Hermano program.
  • In May 2007, University College planned and hosted the Annual Learning Communities Colloquium, “Effective Tools in Teaching Diversity: How to Energize the Curriculum and Engage Students.” Sessions focused on best practices for incorporating diversity throughout the learning communities’ curriculum. Follow-up workshops will be held during the summer.

External Awards and Appointments

  • Units of and organizations administered by University College were the recipients of six federal grants, one state grant, and three foundation grants totaling nearly $3 million.
  • Advisor Kyle McCool was honored with a Certificate of Merit Award from the National Academic Advising Association.
  • Themed learning community faculty member Erik Lindseth won several awards this year, including recognition in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Lindseth was also selected to join the Board of Visitors for the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University.
  • The University Continuing Education Association awarded University College the following: a Bronze Award for Excellence in Marketing and Publications for work done for the Summer Academy Bridge Program; a Bronze Award for Excellence in Marketing and Publications for the Navigator; a Bronze Award for Excellence in Marketing and Publications for Indiana Insight; a Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing and Publications for FamilyEd; a Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing and Publications for the Metropolitan Universities journal’s design and standards.
  • IUPUI continues to be recognized in U.S. News and World Report for our first-year programs and learning communities.

* Many items that represent best practices are included in “Teaching and Learning.”