M.E. MCWILLIAMS

AARC held its second annual What's New Breakfast. We drank coffee and ate cinnamon rolls with some of our good friends all across campus who are in the business of advising and counseling students. They need to know what new things we have cooking over here, and we need to know what services we can develop to help their students. Two initiatives prompted by the event were:

• Trina Mennefee, Science and Math Academic Advisor, invited us out to do a workshop on study skills for math and science students
• Jennifer Ewing of Counseling and I met to talk about how we could coordinate workshops offered by both units without overlapping So now we're focusing on study skills and time management, and they are focusing on stress.

You can see more pics in the column. on the right. If you think you should have been there, but missed an invite, let us know!

JAZZI BLANCA HIRIART

Winner of the SI Leader Bravo Award 2009

SI Professor: Dr. Dana Cooper, History

View Previous Winners: SI Leader Bravo Awards

DR. DENNIS GRAVATT

Winner of the SI Prof Bravo Award 2009

SI Leader: Erin Stempinski

View Past Winners: SI Prof Hall Of Fame

JACKSON BROWN

Dragons today: Lumberjacks tomorrow. When senior-level English teachers at Nacogdoches High School (NHS) stated that they could use assistance so that their students could write better college admissions essays, AARC’s Writing and English program jumped at the opportunity! A lot of people worked together to create this workshop:

• six AARC writing tutors (Clarissa Ensenberger, Brittany O’Sullivan, Esther McClure, Katelyn Willis, Nicole Newby, and Amanda Gaddis)


• myself (AARC’s Writing and English Program Director)


• Anne Duncan (an instructor in SFA’s Department of English)

The workshop featured a fun essay called My Favorite Lunch Lady written by yours-truly. This was a day-long series of revision workshops conducted for approximately 250 NHS seniors. As both a supplement to writing instruction and an indirect recruitment effort, these workshops granted prospective applicants valuable skills they would use as freshman composition students at SFA.

ANNETTE JAMES

When Dr. Herzog asked me to consider enrolling in the Texas Certified Public Manager Program (CPM) at SFA about two years ago, my immediate response was, I don't have time! He quickly pointed out that CPM would teach me better time management! CPM is a certified program endorsed by the American Society of Public Administration and covers a variety of subjects to enhance the skills and abilities of public managers:

• leadership
• personnel administration
• public finance
• productivity information systems
• program evaluation

The final phase of the program included a research project related to current employment. I was able to research practical uses for Supplemental Instruction (SI) assessment data which led to my first professional presentation at the Regional SI conference held on the A&M Campus in Spring 2009! CPM Certificates were awarded at the graduation ceremony held in the Capitol Building with a reception following at the Capitol Grill.

RENAE WARDEN WHITSITT

I was a writing tutor at the AARC during the 2007-2008 school year. I just wanted to say thank you again for allowing me to have the opportunity to experience being a writing tutor. I am at Texas Wesleyan School of Law right now, and I received an awesome clerkship for the spring semester. A big reason I was given the opportunity was due to my writing. The employer was impressed that I was a writing tutor, and I think having that on my resume was a big plus. So I just wanted to send you a thank you. I never realized that being a writing tutor could open such doors.

MELISSA BOILES

PATHWAYS PEOPLE PREVAIL!
AARC colloborated with the SFA Summer Provisional Program for 09 and here are the results:

• 109 out of 171 Pathways students attended the AARC at least once during the Summer II semester. 48 of these attended five or more study group sessions.



• Students who did not visit the AARC at all earned an average grade of 2.06, while AARC attendees earned an average grade of 2.48.



• 77% of AARC attendees enrolled for the Fall 2009 semester, as compared with just 55% of non-AARC students.



• Pathways students who attended AARC tutoring 5 or more times were characterized by lower SAT scores and high school ranks than all other groups, yet they earned higher grades and matriculated for fall at higher rates.

Photo is of Melissa Boiles, who fomented a campaign for AARC to provide services for Pathways and who ran the numbers. She is awesome!

ZACH WILKE

I am a proud Pathways student. Like so many other kids, I started out at SFA through the summer provisional program. Pathways is a program that allows those students who may have had troubles in high school to prove that they have what it takes to continue with their higher education at a university. This program also comes with many unintended advantages including a crash course in college life, as summer sessions are at such a quick pace. When I showed up at Maze Hall to move in, literally two days after I had walked the stage, I was intimidated.

But through the help of a Supplemental Instructor (SI) and the walk in tables, I was given the tools needed to excel in my summer semesters. Not only did the AARC help me with the material discussed in my classes, but they also conveyed helpful hints for studying for these classes. I actually wound up better prepared than most incoming freshmen that would start their college career in the fall.

Thanks to those who helped me, I am currently a junior Math and Physics major at Stephen F. Austin. And now, I not only still use the AARC resources but also, I work here--as both a tutor and as an SI Student Assistant to the SI Director, Annette James.

DR. RUSSELL FRANKS

The direct benefits of serving as an SI leader are perhaps obvious. It does help students develop a better mastery of material in courses which they’ve already taken. There are other indirect benefits besides this, however.

Jason Perrin had his Master’s thesis defense last semester. I served on his thesis committee. He did a fine job and passed without any problems. During the defense, he did an outstanding job in making the presentation. He seemed very comfortable speaking in front of a group of twenty plus people including faculty & students. I think the poise and skill that he showed are an indirect result of all the times he served as an SI leader for several of my classes and for other faculty.

I do appreciate the many benefits, both direct and indirect, that having SI groups brings to all of our students, the SI leaders and the students in the classes. Thanks for having this program!

In the photo: Chemistry Dr's Frantzen, Franks, Jason, and Moore

ROBERT PAYNE

I want to compliment your program in the AARC on the quality of training provided to your SI Leaders. Three of our new GTAs come to us having worked through your program. Recently, Dr. Judson led all of our new GTAs through microteaching exercises. The organization, board work, poise, and communication skills exhibited by the three AARC "graduates" was considerably greater than I would expect from a neophyte teacher! At least two of them specifically attributed their success to AARC training. I believe, with our additional help, they will find the transition to classroom teaching an easy one. Way to go!

Robert Payne, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

OUR TUTORS--BY THEIR CIENTS

Jeff Briggs is awesome. He is extremely helpful, patient, and intelligent. I have never seen him stumped by a question, and I have never seen him in anything but a cheerful mood.

Reagan Campbell is one of the best and most professional advisors I have had for a subject. He asks lots of questions to help us understand the correct answer and gives us advice that we can use outside of the class too. I have never missed an SI with him because his information and knowledge is that valuable.

Connetra Green is a great tutor. I have made an A on quizzes and tests so far with her help.

Brenda Jaime es el mayor SI en el mundo!