01 22 2009

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january 22, 2009

Thursday

Volume 98, Issue 41

Texas State officials, students hire new dean of students By Teresa Wilburn News Reporter

The current senior associate dean of students at the University of Texas will replace John Garrison beginning in April. Margarita Arellano has been hired as Texas State’s associate vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students, serving as the leader of campus organizations. Arellano was one of four finalists for the position. University officials and students interviewed the

Faculty Senate discusses college, department budgets The associate provost of academic af affairs spoke to Faculty Senate members Wednesday about the role of campus governance. Members of the Faculty Senate expressed concern about their right to view their respective colleges’ budget. Members said the faculty has no say in where the money is being allocated, due in part to the department chairs. Faculty Sen. Nathan Bond said fear was the main reason he had not asked his chair to see the budget. “It’s like an unwritten code — ‘this is my territory, don’t ask,’” said Bond, associate professor in the department of curriculum and instruction. Faculty Sen. Jana Minifie, professor in the department of management, said she was afraid to contest and challenge the chair of her department for fear of confrontation. Bourgeois, the associate provost, said some department chairs do not like committees, but the budget ought to be based on faculty input. He said he recommends the department chairs share the budget with the faculty members. The required form for faculty authored teaching materials was debated. Faculty Sen. William Stone, professor in the department of criminal justice, said faculty authored teaching materials pertaining to each semester must be written on a form to be submitted once every fiscal year. Faculty Senate Chair Deborah Feakes, associate professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, said textbooks used in a section within a department are chosen by a committee formed by house faculty members. The Piper Professor Award was discussed. Feakes said the Faculty Senate coordinates the nomination process, which takes place each November. The award is presented in May. The Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award Foundation honors ten professors in Texas colleges and universities for outstanding achievement in teaching, Feakes said. Seventeen faculty members have received this award.

finalists in December. “The dean has a role in training leaders in student government and Student Foundation,” said Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs. “The dean is the primary resource for information about student or community rights and responsibilities.” Vincent Morton, associate dean of students, was one of the finalists inter interviewed for the position. Morton called it a “great experience.” “It was an extensive process,” said Morton, who is the ASG faculty adviser.

“Beginning on a Sunday evening with dinner and concluding on Tuesday after afternoon after a lunch. I met with numerous university committees, faculty, staff and students.” A nine-person committee selected the candidates, but ultimately Smith made the final selection for the new administration member. ASG President Brett Baker said the new dean of students will act as a liaison between the administration and the students. Baker served as one of the student

members on the selection committee. He said all of the candidates were qualified for the position, but he is confident in the committee’s decision to hire Arellano for the job. The position will supervise the Dean of Students Office, Housing and Residential Life, Campus Recreation and the LBJ Student Center. The role also calls for supervision of the Student Code of Conduct and Student Judicial process, Smith said. Arellano, who has more than 20 years of experience in student affairs, received

a bachelor’s degree in English at the National University of Nicaragua with a master’s degree in education and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas. “I only got to meet her for a short time,” Morton said. “She comes across as a very personable lady, which is an excellent quality to possess for someone stepping into the dean of students role.” Smith said the process involved inter interviews with the Search Committee, UniSee DEAN, page 3

CLASS Act higher education expenses credit taxpayers By Allen Reed Assistant News Editor

President Barack Obama’s economic recovery legislation might include a new tax credit for college students. Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett proposed the College Learning Access, Simplicity, and Savings Act, which, if included in the legislation, could make it easier for taxpayers to claim larger tax credits on higher education expenses. Doggett said tax filers paying tuition for either themselves or on behalf of their children in the first four years of college would be eligible to claim the CLASS Act Tax Credit. The CLASS Act would consolidate two existing higher education relief programs, the Hope Tax Credit and the above-the-line tax deduction for qualified tuition and expenses. In their place would be a new $3,000 tax credit, which could be used for undergraduate education and the first two years of graduate school — up to a lifetime limit of $12,000. “The Hope Tax Credit is cur currently $1,800, and the Class Act Credit is $2,500,” Doggett said in an e-mail interview. “By combining these two confusing provisions into a single simple credit, we hope more students and parents will claim the credit. Additionally, we will be changing credit to include textbooks and other course materials, and we are making the credit refundable up to $1,000, which makes it available to more students.” Doggett said a tax credit was chosen rather than a deduction because it is more gener generous. A tax deduction reduces the income to be taxed whereas a credit reduces the actual amount. He said for every dollar a student spends

— Faculty Senate brief compiled by Jor Jordan Gass-Poore’

See TUITION, page 3

Scott Thomas/Star Photo Illustration

Counseling Center offers grief assistance By Brigette Botkin News Reporter A safe place is available for students seeking an outlet. The Counseling Center will provide a support group this semester focusing specifically on grief. The group, Coping with Grief and Loss, intends to give students a safe place to share experiences. “This group is really important,” said Pamela Moore, supervising psychologist in the Counseling Center. “It is a place where students can be themselves and talk about their experiences with other people.” Stan Friedman, senior lecturer in the department of psychology, said loss is a part of life. “All relationships end — it’s a question of how,” he said.

Joe Flores, bereavement coordinator for the Central Texas Medical Center, said during grief individuals can experience physical symptoms such as headaches, butterflies of the stomach, fatigue, nervousness, depression and an overall feeling of being unwell. A model of grief designed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross details five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. A different five-stage, along with a seven-stage and a threestage, are some of the other existing grief models. Each claims to plot the exact course of grief. However, Flores said grief is something unique to the individual and is not often predictable. “Everyone grieves in a different way,” Flores said. “Everyone’s relationship with the person they lost is different, so their grief for that per per-

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son will not be the same as someone else’s.” Friedman said diverse religious and moral backgrounds, and different life experiences, cause grief to differ amoung individuals. He said people must grieve in the way they see fit. “The trick is to do what each person needs to get through the process,” Friedman said. “Everyone needs to do what works for them. People do it differently. The important thing is to do what you feel is best.” The Counseling Center held 909 personal sessions last semester. James Beckham, case manager for the Counseling Center, said the sessions are free, but limited. Seven counseling sessions per student are permitted each semester. Students are directed to resources outside of the university once the

limit is met. Beckham works with students to find outside resources that will compliment the individual’s financial and personal needs. The Counseling Center offers per personal or group sessions for students and faculty. One-on-one counseling is a closed-door session between a patient and counselor. Group counseling sessions are designed to be a safe place for students to discuss experiences with others and are over-seen by a facilitator from the Center. Students must first complete a consultation to set up a counseling session, which will help the center understand the student’s needs and aid in matching the individual with the appropriate counselor. Beckham said it is important to make a good match between student and counselor. “A client-student relationship is

very important,” Beckham said. “That relationship determines and sets the tone for counseling. It’s important for people to feel comfortable.” Consultation sessions with the Counseling Center can be made by phone. Beckham said students should call early in the morning and expect to be seen the same day. The student and counselor arrange sessions accordingly after the consultation is complete. Students interested in joining Coping with Grief and Loss must first be screened to assure it suits their needs. Students can call the Counseling Center to set up a screening. Friedman said support from others can help, but is not a cure for grief. “In the end, it’s something we must decide and do ourselves,” Friedman said.

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