Minutes of the First Year Experience Governance Committee
for September 9, 2009

Present: Dean Yohnk, Michael Gurtman, Michael Seredycz, Terri Chi, Andrienne Viramontes, Ed Waller, Christine Tutlewski, Kara Recker, DeAnn Possehl, Suzanne Swiderski, Mary Louise Edwards, Matt Smanski

Excused: Damian Evans, Susan Hawkins-Wilding

1. Introductions
   
   
2. Election of chair
   
• Dean Yohnk was unanimously elected chair.
  
  
3. FYE Membership
   
• Reviewed faculty appointments as received from Gary Woods.
  

• The committee unanimously approved the following changes to the committee membership

“Six faculty, appointed by the university committee, appointed members should represent the divisional structure, but must have significant contact with first year students. The Director of OMSA, Learning Assistance and Advising or their designee will be ex-officio, voting academic staff representatives. Two students, selected by PSGA, with the recommendation that they come from tutoring or be an active RA.   Two Co-Directors (faculty and staff), ex-officio, voting.   First Year Coordinator, Ex-officio, voting.  Members of the committee shall serve three y ear terms.”

4. Ranger Welcome

• 730 participants (day1); 360 participants (day 2)

• 19 Faculty, 5 instructors and 10 Student affairs staff facilitated the Ranger Read

• Considerable discussion particularly related to the Ranger Read

• The committee decided the goals needed to be reviewed for the entire day before moving forward.

5. Title 3 Grant

• University was awarded a 5 year grant focused on student success

• Grant will fund 2 additional positions

• Suzanne will be committing 50% of her time to the grant

• A copy of the grant will be forwarded to the group

6. Early Alert

• FY committee needs to move forward with the implementation of  new early alert system as agreed upon last spring

• Tim, Suzanne, Chrisitine, Susan and Mary Louise volunteered to work on the project

7. Goal Discussion

• Re-review goals for the “entire” Ranger Welcome Program as the university begins accreditation work

• Title 2 Grant

• Early Alert System

• Map the experience from recruitment to sophomore year for FT students

• Academic Action Proposal

• 60 credit rule implementation- need to check status

• Student engagement with UWP