Hello, fellow Texans!
It's me, Cynthia from Texas State here to post a few quick lines about student affairs and academic affairs collaboration ideas.
Ideas pertaining to collaborative efforts between student affairs and academic affairs are broad and diverse. Campus-wide programming or events, hall programming, service learning opportunities, etc. can all be opportunities for student affairs professionals and faculty to collaborate to impact student learning. Inviting academic affairs personnel to impart their knowledge in any way is collaboration. However, I think that as we encourage collaboration between academic affairs, we can also contribute to student learning by asking questions that force students to explore topics deeper and look at relationships among other ideas. Thus, incorporating Depth and Complexity into programming efforts gives us a way to impact student learning and foster critical thinking skills, empathy and overall knowledge about a subject.
Depth and Complexity is a concept from Sandra Kaplan and is used in curriculum and instruction, especially in GT courses. However, the questions and the categories are helpful in giving student affairs professionals ideas in questions to ask when facilitating discussions after programming. Many times I've been to programs where that were really creative and well put together, but did not facilitate group discussion to get students really thinking abou the topic and how it will impact their lives. If we are going to be intentional in what we want our students to take from our services and programs, we must start by asking the some thought-provoking questions.

http://corp.lvusd.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=148&Itemid

http://sped.lausd.net/sepg2s/pd/schwideintegration/diffinstruction/toolboxes/toolboxmod3.pdf

Strong and Steady Wins the Retention Race

Readers,

March's Topic in the Graduate Student Blogs is Student Affairs and Development. In this article the new Director of Retention at Cal Lutheran University works to build “holistic” strategy to continue to increase their freshmen retention.

Enjoy!
Ashley Bruner
Graduate Student Social Media/Current Issues Co-Chair

Readers,


Recently, Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa, the Chancellor of the University of Texas System, wrote a letter to Governor Rick Perry about the issue of concealed handguns on the campuses of institutions of higher education.


Read the letter here - LINK


Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D. - Vice President of Education and Professional Development

UNT Law Conference - GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE (DEADLINE - This FRIDAY - March 11th)

TACUSPA Members,

TACUSPA is sponsoring four graduate student scholarships to attend the Texas Higher Education Law Conference on March 28 & 29, 2011. Please consider submitting an application by completing the form below. The EXTENDED scholarship deadline is FRIDAY - March 11th.

TACUSPA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION - http://tinyurl.com/higheredlawconference

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE: http://www.unt.edu/administration/conference2011.htm

The Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators (TACUSPA) will be awarding four (4) scholarships to graduate students attending the Conference. Each scholarship will cover conference registration fees. Transportation and lodging are the responsibility of the recipient.

Eligibility and Criteria for Selection: 

- Must be a student member of TACUSPA ($20 annual dues) 

- Must be a full-time graduate student pursuing a career in student affairs, counseling, higher education or related field 

- Expected career benefits to the recipient 

- Quality of plans to apply conference experience to professional preparation -All applicants must be endorsed by a graduate faculty member at the institution where the student is enrolled or by a professional member of TACUSPA (signature required on application) 

Note: Scholarship recipients will be asked to volunteer up to one hour of their time at the conference (if needed).

Recipients will be contacted prior to the conference as to when that time will be utilized. Recipients also are expected to notify Matthew Park four days in advance if they are unable to attend. Recipients are required to prepay the conference registration fee. If selected, the recipients will receive a reimbursement at the end of the conference. 

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Matthew Park

TACUSPA Scholarships and Fellowships 

Chair (940) 397-4500 matthew.park@mwsu.edu

Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D. - Vice President of Education and Professional Development

Texas Council of Student Services Vice-Presidents - Letter to Legislators about Guns on Campus

Readers,


Recently, the Texas Council of Student Services Vice-Presidents sent a letter to Texas legislators explaining the different scenarios raising concerns about guns on campus.


To read the letter, click here - "Council Explains Different Scenarios Raising Concerns about Guns on Campus".


Sincerely,


Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D. - Vice President of Education and Professional Development

82(R) HB 750 - Introduced version - Bill Text

Readers,

Here is the introduced version of the senate bill focused on higher education institutions in Texas and handguns.

82(R) HB 750 - Introduced version - Bill Text

Author: Driver

Caption: Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on certain premises of or locations associated with schools or institutions of higher education.

Excerpt: CARRYING OF HANDGUNS BY CERTAIN LICENSE HOLDERS ON CAMPUSES. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) "Institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. (c) In this section: (1) "Institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D. - Vice President of Education and Professional Development