Strategic Initiatives and Accomplishments 2008-2009
- Club Programming Committee
The Club Programming Committee (CPC)
is a new joint initiative from the Dean of Students Office and the Student
Government Association designed to provide financial support to student clubs
and organizations. Providing this kind of support increases the number of
activities occurring on campus and enhances the vitality of the student groups.
Departments that have provided funding for this initiative include: Student
Government Association, Dean of Students Office, Office of the Provost, Office
for Undergraduate Affairs, and the Housing and Residence Life Office.
During the 2008-2009 academic year 180 groups requested funding from the CPC. More
than 120 groups received funding totally over $90,000. See the programs that were funded or learn more about the
Club Programming Committee.
- Student Activities Enhancements
The Student Activities Office has made a concerted effort to increase the number of activities sponsored by their office. One approach was to sponsor a minimum of 4 programs each and every week. Movies, concerts, coffee houses and other events were scheduled on similar days each week so student could begin to anticipate when events would take place on campus. Learn more about student activities or view the student events calendar.
- Enhanced
Student Communication
Increasing events would only create a more vibrant campus environment if students know about the events. Extensive efforts were made this year to expand ways to inform students about programs and services.
An on line student events calendar was developed and representatives from around the campus were provided access so they could enter their own events. The goal was to create ONE student events calendar for the campus. The calendar was well received and represented the quantity and quality of student events taking place on the campus.
Activities from the calendar were edited onto a large paper calendar that was posted monthly at the campus shuttle bus stops and around campus.
View the student events calendar
Student activities is using Twitter and Facebook to reach students with events and announcements
We continue to post student news on the university main web pages and Blackboard.
We also are responsible for the weekly SGA email that goes out to all students and includes campus news and information about current events. The number of items included each week has doubled as members of the campus community have discovered how this email can help them share information about their programs and activities.
- Student Activities Center Meets Students Needs When the University is Closed
As the number of residential students increases it has
become increasingly important that we be able to provide basic campus services on
a regular basis. The ice storm this year gave us the opportunity to test a plan
that we had developed to provide service to students when the university was
closed for inclement weather.
The Student Activities Center, Intramural and Recreational Sports and Food Service no longer automatically close when the university closes. A minimum number of services and recreational activities will be offered to residential students and communicated with the assistance of the Housing and Residence Life staff.
View the Student Activities Center Bad Weather Schedule Operating Hours
- Increased involvement Numbers Creates a Vibrant Campus Environment
One of the best ways to engage the campus environment is to look at the number of students who are participating in campus programs. We saw a huge increase in participation across the board this year.
- Students participating in recognized student organizations increased 5% over the previous year and 22% since 2006.
- An all time high 75 organizations participated in the RSO Fair during welcome week.
- There was a 31% increase in Fitness Class participation
- Three new Sports Clubs were added this year - Men's Rugby, Dodge ball, and Ultimate Frisbee.
- There were a record number of participants in Intramural Basketball, Flag Football, and Soccer.
- The Intramural Recreational Facilities recorded more than 455,000 users this year.
- More than 40,000 students used the SAC game room - up almost 15% from the previous year.
- There was a 71% increase in NPHC _membership from Fall-2006 to Fall 2008.Delta Sigma Theta and Iota Phi Theta have returned to campus and Omega Psi Phi is in the process of returning to campus.
- A record number of 267 women participated in Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment Week. 190 women joined a sorority in the Fall of 2008 a 13% increase over the previous year and a 43% increase since 2006.
- A record number of 361 men pledged fraternities during the Fall 2008 IFC Fraternity recruitment Week. This represents a 27% increase over the previous year and a 58% increase since 2006.
- 73 students applied for the SGA Freshman LEAD
- International Service Learning Programs
The University of Louisville International Service Learning Program has provided an intense service learning and international travel experience to hundreds of students over the past eight years. The trips have provided the Division of Student Affairs with the opportunity to partner with faculty throughout the institution in support of the university's academic mission.
The Belize International Service Learning Program continued to attract the best and brightest students. Thirty students along with 8 faculty and support staff traveled to the Village of Red Bank in Belize South America during the Spring semester. Students involved with this program continue to speak about the experience as life changing.
Our International Service Learning Program was recognized as a 2009 International Education Best Practice Program by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
The International Service Learning Program continues to look towards expanding opportunities for student travel. In the 2009 spring semester faculty and staff traveled to Cebu, Philippines, Botswana, Africa and the West Indies to set up student programs scheduled to take place during the 2009-2010 school year.
- Food Service Enhancements Promise to Change the Campus
Student Affairs staff worked with staff from within the VP of Administration Office as well as the Student Government Association to develop a long term plan that would enhance food service on campus. The results of this collaboration included a contract with a new food service provider, expanded hours, more food options for students, and new or renovated food service facilities in MITC, SAC, UTA, and Humanities. Plans were also put in place for a campus wide meal plan to begin in Fall 2009.
- SAC Enhancements Continue an Fast Track
A campaign was developed to market the Student Center as the Living Room of the Campus. The campaign included both physical and programmatic components. New soft furniture was added throughout the building and the multipurpose room received new chairs and carpeting. The hours of the multipurpose room were expanded to ensure it was open and available to students anytime the SAC was open.
Two new meeting rooms were added to the building by redesigning the Dean of Students Office suite. These new spaces increase spaces that students and staff have available for meetings and activities within the SAC. Data projectors have been added to meeting a number of rooms in the SAC so that users can utilize this technology for meetings and activities .
New wide screen digital TV's were added to various locations throughout the building in preparation for a new digital signage package that will be in place for Fall 2009. The digital signage package will allow information about programs and services to be broadcast throughout the building as well as introduces interactive “way finding” to help visitors identify meeting rooms and offices in the building. This is an expandable system that we hope will make its way in to the residence halls and other campus buildings.
The opening of Jazzman's Cyber Cafe provided an opportunity to enhance programming in this centrally located space and events like election watch or ballgames parties became the norm. The services of an architect have been secured to design the potential SAC expansion. A campus committee is reviewing the different design options.
- New Services Building Planning
Developed plans to create a student services building designed to house the Counseling Center, Campus Health, Disability Resource Center, and the Housing and Residence Life Offices. Stevenson Hall was selected to accommodate these offices because of it central campus location and is scheduled to open sometime in 2010.
- Number of Freshman on Campus Continues to Grow
We continue to add freshman beds to campus and in the Fall of 2008 a record 64% of all new freshman chose to live on campus. We believe that the vibrant campus environment as well as efforts to offer more exciting housing options for students played a role in the increase demand for housing. Review the UofL 2008-2009 Just the Facts document.
- Additional On Campus Housing Planned
The Housing and Residence Life staff are working with the VP for Administration and VP for Student Affairs to expand on campus housing. Currently 20% of all undergraduates live on campus. The goal is to increase that to 28% by 2014 and 32% by 2020. Plans were put in place this year to enter in to affiliation agreements with a number of developers who were eager to add additional housing around Belknap and the Health Science Campus. The first of these new affiliated housing areas - The Provence - is scheduled to open in Fall 2009. The Province includes 400 apartments, community swimming pool, sand volleyball court and a central clubhouse with a theater. The Provence is also the first university' "college town neighborhood" project. The idea is based on using abandoned industrial sites around the campus and transforming them into vibrant campus communities featuring housing and retail businesses
- Student
Government Association Programs Have Record Year
A record number of students participated in the
Spring 2009 SGA Elections, a 26% increase in over the previous year. The Student Government Association spent a busy year revamping their
web page and looking for new ways to communicate with students. The SGA officers spent a good deal of time
advocating for an improved campus food services. Their participation in area of
food services resulted in a new contract, better hours, more options for
students, and new facilities.
- Student Care Team Established to Assist Students
In an effort to proactively deal with students in Crisis and share information about campus incidents, the Dean of Student's office established the Student Care Team. Members of the Student Care Team include representatives from the Dean of Students office, Housing and residence Life, Counseling Center, Department of Public Safety, and Academic Affairs. The group meets regularly to review campus incidents and look for ways to support students who may be on the verge of a crisis. To assist other members of the community the Student Care Team worked with Undergraduate Affairs to produce an resource guide for faculty and staff titled "Helping Students in Distress" This resource guide was distributed to all university faculty and staff and is included in new staff orientation packets.
- Enhanced Counseling Staff and Services
The Counseling Center added two new Psychologist positions and doubled the number of student interns working in the center. This staff enhancement allowed the Center to expand their hours as well as improve the quality and variety of services of service they provide to students. The center is now open four days week until 8:00pm.
The new staff provided the Counseling Center with the opportunity to begin doing LD and ADHD assessments for students this year. These assessments not only provide students with a lower cost campus based assessment program, it also provide the Counseling Center with additional revenue to expand services in the future.
The Center expanded on line services to students through the use of E-Chug, E-Toke, and an online assessment application called ULifeline.
The Center also underwent a minor renovation of its facilities and began using an electronic scheduling program to improve office efficiency and accountable.
In July a new Interim Director was appointed to focus on administration of the center, expansion or services and outreach to the campus community.
- Career Development Center
The Career Development Center continued their efforts to create a physical and program presence in academic areas through on site career coaching and targeted career fairs.
In addition to University wide career fairs there were part time job fairs, majors job fairs, graduate career fairs and job fairs tailored toward academic units include Speed Engineering and Public Health. These career fairs resulted in over 400 employers coming to campus to recruit our students.
Career center Staff provided 192 presentations and 1,404 individual career coaching sessions. More than 1,500 MBTI and/or Strong Interest Assessments were administered to UofL students and alumni.
2,989 students created accounts in Symplicity, the Career Centers on line database.
1,267 employers were registered in Symplicity and they posted more that 2,800 job openings.
Brought 330 employers to campus for in interviews up from 160 the previous year.- Staff Development Initiatives
A new performance appraisal tool was developed and implemented for Student Affairs staff to that focused on both job factors and professional qualities and expectations. A numeral rating scale was replaced with
a system that provided written descriptions for each job factor or professional quality.
A database of staff research, presentations and activities was posted on line to recognize and catalog staff contributions to the Student Affairs profession.
The Professional Development Committee continues to sponsor staff development opportunities including division staff meetings, fall and summer academies, lunch and learn sessions, and book clubs.
The Professional Development Committee spearheaded a local campaign to promote Careers within Student Affairsin conjunction national Careers in Student Affairs month last October.
Each semester the Vice President for Student Affairs hosts a formal reception to honor student workers as well as graduate and professional staff who complete their degree requirements. Staff are encouraged to invite their parents or other family and friends join in the celebration. Each staff is recognized by their supervisor with a short story or words of appreciation. This graduation reception has become a new traditions and is quickly beckoning one of Student Affairs signature events.
- Veterans Services
The Vice President for Student Affairs Office sponsored the first annual Veteran Symposium for Higher Education in February 2009. UofL hosted 85 participants from across the county to discuss issues facing Veterans returning to campus as part of the expanded GI Bill.
The Vice President for Student Affairs co-chaired a task with the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs charged with developing recommendations to enhance services and programs for veterans at UofL.
- Family Weekend a Tremendous Success
The first Family Weekend Program took place in the Fall and welcomed 270 families to campus for events including a home football game, tailgate parties, presidents reception, academic open houses, and movies. The event was a collaborative effort involving a number of campus departments and was spearheaded by Student Activities. The first program was a great success.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the first Parent of the Year Award. Forty Five students took the time to nominate their parents for the award. Peter and Dalia Anik, parents of junior Nicole Anik-Wells, were honored at a luncheon as the first UofL parents of the year winners.
The Fall 2009 Family Weekend
Program promises to be even more exciting
- Summerfest Rocks the Red Barn
A series of summer concerts were developed that focused on the history of the Red Barn as an important music venue in the Louisville community. The goal was create a place where students, staff, alumni and members of the community could come together in a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy good music. It was also an opportunity for us to reintroduce wine and beer at events in the Red Barn. Over 470 people attended the four summer concerts. The 2009 Summerfest program has already been scheduled.
- Parents Program
- Housing and Residence Life Program Moves Application Process Online
- New Off campus Housing Service
This new service offers students the ability to find rental units and potential roommates in the Louisville area as well as many college towns throughout the county
- New Emphasis on Division Development Strategies
For the first time Student Affairs giving opportunities were included in the annual UofL Cares campaign. Staff were able to request regular payroll deduction during the UofL campaign for giving opportunities within Student Affairs as well as University giving opportunities. 33 U of L staff and faculty members pledged a total of $4,281.14 through this campaign.
Student Affairs added two funds to our giving opportunities - The Denise Gifford International Service Learning Program Gift Fund and the Tom Jackson Jr. Veteran Services Gift Fund. These focus on two important initiatives within Student Affairs - Veterans and International Service Learning
Two new endowments were created this year - the Red Barn Alumni Association and the George J Howe. These two endowments will help ensure that funds will be avail;able in the future to support our programs and students.
Our development efforts raised $16,403.58 during this academic year.
Three students were selected to serve as Torchbearer Student Ambassadors this year and funded from the Torchbearer Scholarship Fund. These students serve as hosts during divisional programs and activities.
- Reorganized Office of Civic Engagement, Leadership and Service
- UofL Hosts Prestigious National Institute
. This institute brings more than 60 young professionals from across the country to Louisville for a week long program focusing on mid level managers within Student Affairs.
- Think Tanks
Supporting Materials
Student Affairs Strategic Planning Document
Previous Accomplishments and Updates
