You should know, the Michigan College Personnel Association invites you to join an increasing number of your colleagues who are taking advantage of the many services we have to offer! Conferences, workshops, scholarships, support for research, a journal, networking, and job opportunities are just some of the many benefits of membership. Membership in the MCPA is open to individuals employed at institutions of higher education in Michigan and those employed in agencies, businesses, and industries related to higher education.

For more information, visit the MCPA website here.

Would you like to contribute to the MCPA Digest? Simply e-mail your document to twesley@mcpaweb.org. We are looking for:

• News Articles
• Current Happenings
• Best Practices
• Papers
• Presentations
• Pictures
• Student and Employee Recognition

If you’re interesting in joining the conversation, either e-mail Tom Wesley (wesleyth@msu.edu), tweet @mcpaweb, or check us out on Facebook.

The event will begin in 252 Erickson Hall on the MSU campus. A continental breakfast and light lunch will be available. If interested in attending, please RSVP by Friday, October 7th. The RSVP form and other information about the event are provided at http://www.education.msu.edu/ead/HALE/HALEProgramInformationDay.asp. For questions about Program Information Day or to request special accommodation at the event please email haleadm@msu.edu. Attached you will find a flyer about the event to share with others.

PID 2011 Flyer

Dr. Weimer discuss the results of discussions in a workshop she recently conducted about things participants would like to change in their classroom.

The three in her post:

• The really bright, articulate, self-confident students who participate a lot and intimidate others in the class.
• The number of students who just agree with what someone else posted in an online discussion.
• The way students often fail to listen and respond to each other.

She shares resulting feedback and most of it can be brought back to the instructor creatively encouraging active student participation and then facilitating the discussion that result.  She then asks for contributions and discussion.  Make sure you check out her Blog.  Maybe even join it.  https://www.facultyfocus.com/account/register/

Mike

Hello!

It’s time for MCPA’s annual conference and we would love for you to join us! This year’s theme, Plugged or Unplugged: Making Connections and Meaningful Collaborations, derives from our need as professionals in higher education to connect and collaborate with others. Within student affairs, our collaborations and connections could be with other people, offices, entities, community members, institutions, or any number of other options. Additionally, how we connect with our constituencies is ever-changing in our technology driven world. Consideration for the value of connectedness within our field is an absolute necessity, and as such, the 2011 conference will be dedicated to this ideal.

This year, MCPA is excited to welcome Ed Cabellon as our keynote speaker and guest session presenter. Mr. Cabellon has worked in higher education for the past 14 years and is a technology guru. He has great insight on merging social media with higher education and will be sharing his wealth of knowledge during this year’s conference. Some other highlights are the undergraduate student Career’s in Student Affairs workshop, graduate student case study and multiple networking opportunities with other Michigan student affairs professionals. This year’s service project will involve collecting donations for MSU Safe Place, a shelter for those who are physically or sexually abused. For more information about Annual Conference please visit our website at www.mcpaweb.org.

We hope that you will join us for this exciting conference in downtown Lansing!

Sincerely,

Shetina Jones                                                           Ashlee Pipoly
Annual Conference Co-Chair                             MCPA Annual Conference Co-Chair

REGISTER HERE!

Choosing to attend which college is hard enough. Between location, money, friends, degree programs and campus life, things can start to get a little complicated when it comes down to making a decision. When the option of a private university versus a public college is thrown into the mix, it can create an even greater whirlwind of dilemmas.

Both public and private universities offer students different incentives, which can make the decision making process very difficult.

At most private universities the class sizes are smaller, creating a more personal learning environment between the student and the professor.

Ashley Oliver, a Fresno State psychology graduate and a current Fresno Pacific student earning her master’s degree said that, “at private universities the professors want to really know you, even the administration. You’re not just another face in the crowd.”

The Fresno State campus website states the student-to-faculty ratio is 25-to-1. The Fresno Pacific University website affirms thst its student to faculty ratio is nearly half at 14-to-1.

Oliver also added that one great thing about private universities is that parking is always available.

Even though private universities may be able to offer students more attention, it doesn’t come cheap.

The collegeboard.org website states for in-state students the average cost for one year at a public, four-year college is $7,605, while a private four-year college is approximately $27,293.

Undercover testing in 2010 by the United States Government Accountability Office, known as GAO, specified that a certificate for a computer-aided drafting in California will cost students $520. The same certificate will cost students $13,945 at a private institution.

There is a large gap between prices for certificates, associate’s and bachelor’s degrees among private and public universities.

The popular Public Broadcasting Services documentary Frontline uncovered that private institutions “enroll 10 percent of all post-secondary students. For-profit schools receive almost a quarter of federal financial aid.” The documentary also stated that in 2009, “44 percent of the students who defaulted within three years of graduation were from for-profit schools.”

Thinkprogress.org posted that “CEOs of for-profit colleges receive up to 26 times the amount of pay that the heads of traditional universities do.”

The Frontline documentary, College, Inc. also stated “private colleges’ add costs rival those of multi-national brands.” In most cases, the documentary also added that most private schools spend more money on advertising to bring students in than on the actual education.

“Once the money goes into private schools, it’s not just going to the education or to the books,” Fresno State computer science major Nick Acosta said.

The movie continued on to say that in 2008, The University of Phoenix actually spent $130 million on advertising.

Even with such a high tuition price, many private colleges have succeeded in bringing students in by offering benefits such as a fast degree process.

GAO found that of 15 private institutions, “four colleges encouraged fraudulent practices and all 15 made deceptive or otherwise questionable statements to GAO’s undercover applicants.”

These practices ranged from encouraging students to lie on their financial aid application to “exaggerating potential wages after graduation.”

Tiffany Collins decided to attend Fresno Pacific University because she “wanted to have a speedy education and be able to enjoy fast-paced classes.”

At most private colleges, students are often guaranteed the classes they want and need, and as long as they stay on track and get decent grades, all four years of college are mapped out for them and their graduation date given early on.

At public colleges it can be harder to find required classes, possibly because they are either full or have been cancelled due to the lack of funding.

“At Fresno Pacific I was given my graduation date in the beginning,” Collins said. “All I had to do was finish my classes with good grades.”

Classes are sometimes quicker at private colleges because they offer courses that are only six weeks long.

“I liked the shorter classes because there was no messing around,” Collins said. “You just go on your first day, write a few papers, read for a few weeks and you’re done.”

Sara Jansma, a fourth-year student at Vanguard University of Southern California majoring in religion, with an emphasis in Christian formation and discipleship, decided to attend a private school because of the unique degree options offered.

“For me, a pro is faith integrated learning,” Jansma said. “Most of my professors have a Christian worldview, and this is refreshing to me, and is especially helpful with what I’m studying.”

For Jansma, there aren’t very many cons to a private college.

“Some students feel like Vanguard babies us, and that we are unable to experience the real world because of the rules we have to follow,” Jansma said. “In my opinion, these rules are not cons.”

For Jansma, Vanguard University has always been the right place.

“I was first interested in Vanguard because it was a private Christian university, and this fit my criteria for the college I wanted to go to,” Jansma said. “I liked that it is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, which is the denomination that I grew up in.”

Only the student can put a price tag on their education. Just as product consumers, students are pulled one way and then the other back and forth until the right college has intrigued them, either from their advertising or from what the college actually has to offer.

Read the whole story here.

Apply online at:  http://umjobs.org/job_detail/59769/director_office_of_student_services.

Salary to commensurate with education and experience

Duties include but are not limited to:
* Work closely with the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and School leadership to strategically identify, develop, implement, and manage School priorities regarding student services programs, projects and activities.
* Provide leadership and direction for the advising, administrative and operational activities for the Office of Student Services within the School of Kinesiology. Evaluate effectiveness of the unit operations and recommend appropriate policy, procedure or staffing changes. Provide cross-training for the OSS staff and appraise their productivity and efficiency.
* Strategically direct the academic advising services for over 850 undergraduate Kinesiology students. Coordinate and participate in academic advising and counseling of undergraduate students. Oversee the scheduling of advising appointments and assigning the students to faculty mentors. Counsel students regarding the interpretation of Kinesiology and University policies and procedures involving degree requirements. Monitor student academic progress.
* Plan and implement new initiatives, services, or programs. Oversee existing programs and events. Ensure the promotion of learning for diverse student populations and development of student organization and activities.
* Oversee awarding of some financial aid funds to undergraduate students and the bestowing of various other student honors and awards.
* Develop and implement policies and procedures, and enhance support of instructional activities working with the Assistant Dean to improve instructional efforts and student relations.
* Respond to inquiries from the Dean regarding graduate rates, student placement rates, degrees conferred student characteristics, and other student service related questions.
* Oversee the administration of records for the undergraduate academic program. Review, revise, and update student-related publications.
* Oversee the collection of relevant data and standards to track student characteristics. Manage the data collection for the completion and submission of surveys related to students and academic programs.
* Effectively utilize information technology for activities related to student services. Use M-Pathways and Business Objects to access and retrieve information for ad-hoc reports. Develop and generate student services reporting requirements and surveys including student satisfaction. Work closely with staff to develop surveys, reports, refine data requests, and utilize Symplicity software to its fullest potential.
* Manage the student services budget and approve expense transactions.
* Represent the School internally and externally via written materials and oral presentations; serve as a representative on School and University committees, contribute as a member of the Deans Advisory Council, and participate in various professional organizations.

Desired Qualifications*
Masters degree in college student personnel, higher education, education leadership, guidance and counseling, or other relevant field. Significant leadership, administrative and supervisory experience in a student services related organization. Considerable experience advising at a college level. Knowledge of University policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Success in creating an inclusive, service-oriented environment. Solid understanding of student academic issues/concerns. Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and other units and offices on campus. Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, as well as organizational skills and work effectively with diverse groups. Demonstrated excellent problem solving, analytical and critical thinking skills. Ability to work independently as well as effectively in teams and committees with various groups of people. Must have the ability to work comfortably with all levels in the organization. Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment and the ability to maintain and respect confidentiality. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience in using M-Pathways and Business Objects.

How to Apply
A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should be included in the same document as your resume and should specifically address your interest in this position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Apply online at . http://umjobs.org/job_detail/59769/director_office_of_student_services.
Salary to commensurate with education and experience

If you’ve been reading the MCPA News Blog over the past year, you have likely seen an increase in posting and contributions from MCPA members.  Readership on this blog comes from both MCPA members and non-members alike. Over the last year I’ve asked MCPA members to keep contributing stories that they come across.  Today, I’m asking to continue this.

If you have an interesting news article that is appropriate to share on the MCPA Blog, please e-mail it to me at twesley[at]mcpaweb.org – and I will post it.

Also, many job postings have been spread through the MCPA Blog over the past year.  Just the same as news articles, simply e-mail them to me and I will post them in a timely manner.

So as the end of summer draws near, contribute to the MCPA Blog and stay connected to the higher education community here in Michigan!

Tom Wesley – MCPA Social Media Coordinator