DIVISION OF
STUDENT AFFAIRS 2019 - 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
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2 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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FROM THE DESK OF MS. M
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STUDENT LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT
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ABOUT STUDENT AFFAIRS 5x5 CONSTANTS & ACTIONABLE GOALS RECRUITMENT & YIELD RETENTION CUSTOMER SERVICE & COMMUNITY BUILDING INNOVATION & CHANGE WELLBEING & SAFETY
PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS & RECOGNITIONS LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020-2021
Compiled, edited and designed by the Student Affairs Student Planning & Administration team. Chanda Chen, Jeremy Homolka, Madeleine Porter & Sean Schmidt
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FROM THE DESK OF
Ms. M
Dear friends, It is with great pleasure that I present the annual report for the UWT Division of Student Affairs. In a year of tremendous change, I am excited to introduce you to our departments, programs and services and the strategic goals we use to guide our work with students, parents, the campus, and the broader community. Staff and administrators across the division care deeply about the well-being and academic success of Tacoma students. Indeed, staff work tirelessly to support student learning, and there are many impressive achievements which you will discover in the pages of this report. For example, UW Tacoma, like so many other universities, began taking part in the community mitigation measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak during the winter quarter. Student Affairs stepped forward with numerous service innovations ranging from the rapid administration of emergency aid to the development of virtual orientations and peer-to-peer student engagement programs. New tools such as Live Chat, MS Teams, and Zoom, facilitated creative and equitable ways to welcome, engage, and support students. I am enormously grateful for the student affairs teams – enrollment services, student transitions and success, student life, and student planning and administration – for what they do each and every day to support the mission of the university. This is just the beginning. I look forward to the year ahead and fulfilling our commitment to move students forward. With more to come,
Mentha Hynes-Wilson VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
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ABOUT STUDENT AFFAIRS The new mission, vision, and values were launched at the Student Affairs Retreat in August 2019.
OUR VISION Student Affairs empowers students to envision their most rewarding future and supports them to engage the resources of UW Tacoma and the South Sound to make their vision a reality.
OUR MISSION Student Affairs champions holistic learning and success for UW Tacoma students. We remove barriers for students, engage them as partners to create an inclusive campus community and equip them for lives and careers that have meaning and impact.
OUR CORE VALUES Accountability: We do what we say we will do and accept responsibility for the quality of our work. Empowerment: We provide students and colleagues with the best tools and guidance we can, so they can be successful and make knowledgeable decisions. Equity: We use our voices and decisions to create processes, policies and systems that are just, impartial and fair. Grit: We acknowledge that people and communities can experience hardship, failures and setbacks. We empower our students and one another to see shortfalls as feedback and opportunities for learning and improvement. Inclusivity: We collaborate with students, colleagues and partners through processes that empower participants and create a true sense of belonging. Service: We engage others in an open, friendly and responsive way that conveys we are willing to listen and understand each individual’s situation. We respond appropriately and in a timely and professional manner. Student-Centeredness: We clear the way for students to have a voice in shaping their UW Tacoma experience and ensure that students’ experiences are considered in every conversation and decision of which our team is a part.
6 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
PILLARS OF EDUCATION The division remains steadfast in our commitment to expand access to a university education, cultivate a student’s sense of belonging, help students engage in studentcentric services and programs that enrich the student experience and facilitate student success along with career readiness for all students.
helping new students feel a sense of wellness and belonging when they arrive to UW Tacoma
resulting in the student’s personal and professional goals achieved; moving students forward toward their successes as people, employees and leaders
ACCESS BELONGING ENGAGEMENT SUCCESS
opening opportunities for education for all
helping students become engaged in activities, programs, resources, their education, etc.
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DIVISIONAL MAP Counseling & Psychological Services Disability Resources for Students Housing & Residence Life Student Advocacy & Support
STUDEN
Admissions Registrar
ENROLLMENT SERVICES
Student Financial Aid & Scholarships
VICE CHANC STUDENT
MEN HYNES-W
Veteran & Military Resource Center
STUD PLANNING & AD Administration Facilities Finances
8 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Student Conduct & Academic Integrity Student Involvement & Leadership Student Health Services University Y Student Center
NT LIFE
CELLOR FOR T AFFAIRS
NTHA WILSON
Career Development & Education
STUDENT TRANSITIONS & SUCCESS
First Generation Student Initiatives New Student & Family Programs Pathways to Promise
DENT DMINISTRATION Human Resources Marketing & Communications
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5x5 CONSTANTS & ACTIONABLE GOALS The Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs identified her priorities for the division as the "5x5 Constants" consisting of five constant goal areas interwoven with the five constant common value areas: diversity, inclusion, equity, anti-racism, and cultural responsiveness. The Student Affairs 2019-2020 Actionable Goals were developed under the rubric of the 5x5 Constants and, once again, units achieved or exceeded their actionable goals.
RECRUITMENT & YIELD 2% increase in the number of admission applications and confirmed students
RETENTION 2% increase in the retention number of returning students Encourage professional growth and advancement of student affairs staff at all levels including opportunities to boost cultural humility
COMMUNITY BUILDING & CUSTOMER SERVICE Demonstrate initiative to provide students and their families with exceptional levels of service Strengthen programmatic aspects of the on-campus residential environment
INNOVATION & CHANGE Facilitate a “sticky campus” through assessing student needs and developing new initiatives
WELLBEING & SAFETY 10% increase in usage of services that support personal health, safety, wellness, and belonging
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DIVISIONAL CONSTANT SPOTLIGHT:
RECRUITMENT & YIELD ADMISSIONS
458
off-campus recruitment visits and events
1,167
one-on-one advising appointments
1,227 students served through 34 group visits
535
students registered for four Virtual Admitted Student Day events that had
26.5% were middle schoolers & 61.7% participated in DREAM kits
6,609 views
PLUS... » Encouraged prospective students to apply during COVID-19 pandemic, extending application deadline by one month » Made decisions on applications with received dates prior to freshman priority deadline, one week earlier » Rolled out decision letters for the 2020 application cycle starting October 1, four weeks earlier » Generated decision letters for routine application files and processed 7,470 transcripts both within 1-2 weeks on average
$
TUDENT FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS Close collaboration with high schools to deliver FA curriculum to Juniors and Seniors to increase FAFSA/WASFA completion rates and improve early knowledge of financial aid practices and processes.
12 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
STUDENT PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION Student Affairs launched a new branding campaign, MOVING STUDENTS FORWARD, to both clarify our Division’s commitment to supporting students and reinforce the Chancellor’s “Charting Our Course” strategic plan.
VETERAN & MILITARY RESOURCE CENTER Mil mak ita e
nected s con t ry p approxim u -u
nts de tely a
18%
U
o W f 2 0 1 9-2 0 20 n Ta e c o ma st u d
ts
Implemented a VA benefit extension option for military veterans and active duty members who are STEM majors to be used once the student has exhausted their Forever GI Bill. The first award recipient received the STEM extension in Spring 2020. After that, past UW Tacoma students who ran out of benefits are returning to finish their degree.
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DIVISIONAL CONSTANT SPOTLIGHT:
RETENTION
DISABILITY RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
20+
outreach efforts to educate the campus community on disability services and support
Shifted work from a transactional to student development model and engaged, supported and advised two new student organizations on leadership and organizational development. United Worlds American Sign Language hosted several meetings, where participants learned about Deaf Culture and practiced ASL. National Association on Mental Illness had several programs and meetings to raise awareness of mental health concerns.
NEW STUDENT & FAMILY PROGRAMS
1,506
+
students attended on-campus orientation programs (an increase of 3% over previous year) developed a New Student Survey to be implemented every Autumn
UNIVERSITY Y STUDENT CENTER
+15.3%
STUDENT MEMBERSHIPS
+18.6% STUDENT VISITS
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STUDENT CONDUCT & ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Reexamined the use of the student code with faculty and its application during the transition to remote learning.
STUDENT TRANSITIONS & SUCCESS Distributed $30,000 from the New Student Success Partnership Fund to support persistence programs for undergraduate students in their first year. Programs supported aligned with student retention data and included Affinity Welcomes for new students with marginalized identities, Embedded Tutors in gatekeeper courses, First Gen Peer Success Mentors, and Rising Sophomore Internships.
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT INTIATIVES Engaged 31 students in the First Gen Fellows Cohort. A partnership with Student Financial Aid & Scholarships established a sustainable $300/quarter book scholarship incentive for completing the cohort requirements. Launched the First Gen Peer Success Mentors in collaboration with the Teaching & Learning Center to provide academic coaching and hosted 45 appointments.
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DIVISIONAL CONSTANT SPOTLIGHT:
CUSTOMER SERVICE & COMMUNITY BU ENROLLMENT SERVICES Created a Customer Service committee with a shared mission to improve and make consistent the customer service experience of those who interact with all Enrollment Services offices. Additionally, front office areas were improved to enhance the student experience.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION
Created a Senior Success Workshop Series to help graduating seniors navigate the transition from college to career.
HOUSING & RESIDENCE LIFE To help better guide Resident Advisor staff, Court 17 developed and implemented new community programming grounded in learning outcomes housed in the four following themes:
Academic Professional Personal Community Development
ADMISSIONS
Created a partnership with College with the lens of creating college goi underrepresented student populati
16 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
UILDING PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS Ensured pre-college programs were compliant with new Youth Safety Administrative Policies.
STUDENT ADVOCACY & SUPPORT Two new MSW student interns were professionally trained and placed on the case management team.
Success Foundation (CSF), which led to college visitation and mentoring opportunities. While approached ing culture, advisors learned about K-12 processes and youth engagement. CSF serves first generation and ions.
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DIVISIONAL CONSTANT SPOTLIGHT:
INNOVATION & CHANGE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR A new virtual format for Husky Cards was implemented through work with UW Tacoma IT, eliminating the need for in-person contact and enabling new students and staff to receive their Husky Cards securely via mail.
PLUS ... POLICY CHANGES:
» Updated the S/NS grading option to allow students to count credits towards degrees in this grade mode. » Changed Annual Drop to Current Quarter Drop, and Hardship Withdrawal to Former Quarter Drop.
AND... Developed online self-service option to allow students to reserve study spaces across campus.
STUDEN
Moved key pr Registration D
18 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
VETERAN & MILITARY RESOURCE CENTER Prepared for a VA audit and became UW Tacoma’s first remote compliance survey, completed Autumn 2019. Compliance surveys, conducted by the state and federal agencies (SAA), is a VA program to ensure the GI Bill’s integrity and help schools serve their Veteran students.
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS Developed a Financial Literacy/Loan Exit Counseling online workshop that was delivered live via marketing and communications on YouTube for graduating seniors.
OVER 100 VIEWS STUDENT ADVOCACY & SUPPORT Developed an information tracking system for services on and off campus as a resource on the website that can be used and populated by the entire UWT and local community.
NT TRANSITIONS & SUCCESS
rograms and services to virtual options including Spring orientation, Advising and Days, Career Fairs, and First-Generation Graduation Celebration.
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DIVISIONAL CONSTANT SPOTLIGHT:
WELLBEING & SAFETY STUDENT FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS Timely distribution of CARES Act funds to 2,194 low- and middle-income students and their families to help with COVID-19 relief. UW Tacoma students received more than
$2,752,700.00 in CARES Act funding between spring and summer quarters.
HOUSING & RESIDENCE LIFE Successfully moved 150 residents on an appointment-based process safely, efficiently, and with excellent customer service when COVID-19 mitigation efforts were presented. Partnering with Accounting & Budgeting ensured accurately depicted resident financial accounts as they departed. Staggered moveout appointments over two weeks allowed for social distancing and safety, and lastly, frequent communication and provision of resources allowed for advanced support to all residents.
STUDENT TRANSITIONS & SUCCESS Secured $25,000 from the Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU) to work with faculty, students, staff, and community partners to design financial wellness programming for students.
20 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
STUDENT LIFE Compiled what is referred to as the “Purple Sheet” which serves as a quick reference to assist faculty and staff in assessing behaviors that may necessitate a referral to the CARE team.
STUDENT ADVOCACY & SUPPORT Off-campus housing support helped assist nearly 100 students, with 40 new students served through the College Housing Assistance Program (CHAP), and numerous other students directed to other services such as the Husky2Husky home share program. Multiple students were referred to CARE for financial/housing/food insecurities and other campus partners such as The Pantry and Emergency Aid to help stabilize their situation.
COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
10%
Clinical services increased this year with 10%* of UW Tacoma students utilizing therapy services at CAPS. All CAPS staff attended relevant CEU programming, including Suicide Assessment & Treatment as well as how to conduct remote/online therapy in light of the Stay-At-Home order. * The average for students seeking mental health services at universities of similar size is 8.8%.
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STUDENT LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF UW TACOMA Held a series of Student Town Halls, covering topics such as quarterly updates from the Executive Board, Senate, and Legislative Teams. The Chancellor and various campus leadership were also present at each Town Hall to discuss topics including the growth of the campus, budgeting process, campus safety and security, course cancelations, and parking and transportation. ASUWT also provided opportunities for feedback around several campus topics through both in-person and online surveys. Autumn Quarter’s Project Husky event was a collaborative event to encourage voter registration and provide information on current ASUWT initiatives. Online surveys were conducted throughout the year about transportation needs, food trucks, course cancellations, and more.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD Tasked with event programming related to cultural competency and education, the Student Activities Board’s (SAB) Identity & Culture Coordinator planned a Latinx Heritage Night, the Drag Show, Pride Week, a Black History event with the Black Student Union, and others.
22 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
TAHOMA WEST Focused on hosting more programming intended to introduce students to different art forms as a path to self-care and self-actualization. Implemented a Halloween horror story jam, an ekphrastic poetry workshop at the Tacoma Art Museum, a scary movie paint night, and a socially conscious writing workshop, in addition to the usual Open Mic Night.
THE LEDGER Instituted an email newsletter to deliver the news to students directly to their inboxes when the campus went remote in response to COVID-19.
4,623
SUBSCRIBERS
45%
OF USERS REGULARLY OPEN EMAIL ISSUES TACOMA.UW.EDU/STUDENT-AFFAIRS // 23
DIVISIONAL PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, & R ENROLLMENT SERVICES » Victoria Hill-Ouhl co-presented with SBCTC, Green River CC and PLU as “Financial Aid Panel with Community Partners” at WaACRO Conference, topics included collaboration with Enrollment Services departments, HB253, and NSLDS/NSC. » Navia Winderling and Jorge Martinez served on the WAACRAO board. » Navia Winderling and Megan Cooley served in roles with the Washington Council for College and High School relations: one co-planned the high school counselor workshops and one co-planned the community college advisor workshop.
STUDENT TRANSITIONS & SUCCESS » Accepted through a competitive application process as a 20202021 NASPA First-Gen Forward campus, in recognition of UW Tacoma’s success for serving first-generation students. » Selected as a NASPA First Scholars institution, which will connect UWT from 2020-2023 with a national network of colleges and universities to establish best practices in supporting persistence to graduation and post-graduation success for first-generation college students. » Associate Director of New Student and Family Programs, Stephon Harris, earned a Master’s in Education. » Blog posts and articles - https://firstgen.naspa.org/events/university-of-washington-tacomas-first-generation-college-celebration
- https://firstgen.naspa.org/blog/third-annual-national-firstgeneration-celebration-week-at-uw-tacoma - https://firstgen.naspa.org/blog/recapping-the-2019-firstgeneration-college-celebration - https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/news/article/summer-campus
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RECOGNITIONS STUDENT LIFE ASSOCIATE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT LIFE » Keynote speaker for the First-Gen College Celebration – November 2019 » Selected as a faculty member for the 2020 NASPA Dungy Leadership Institute » Completed three CARE Team trainings for faculty and staff - Faculty Assembly Executive Committee – January 2020 - Teaching & Learning Center pro staff – February 2020 - Teaching & Learning Center student staff – February 2020 » First-Gen Lunch & Learn presentation: “Leadership Lessons Learned from my Mentors” – May 2020 » Video interview for Huskies at Home on the topic of student fees and COVID-19 – April 2020 » Earned a COVID-19 contact tracing certificate from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health – June 2020
CENTER FOR STUDENT INVOLVEMENT » Zvon Casanova presented at the 2019 NASPA Western Regional Conference titled “Inferiority with Introverts: Shutting out the Misconceptions and Embracing Ourselves.” » Steve Ayden was chosen as one of 7 cohort members for the 2020 NACA Leadership Fellows program. » Elizabeth Hansen received the Student’s Choice: Outstanding Staff Award at the 2020 OSCARs.
OFFICE OF STUDENT ADVOCACY & SUPPORT » Presentations: - “Introduction to NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness)” to UW Tacoma Community - “Housing Strategies: A Case Managers Perspective” to a national audience sponsored by School House Connection - Co-presented with TCC, “Promising Practices for College Student Housing,” to Washington Schools Advisory Council - Copresented with Shared Housing Services, “Housing Forum: Husky 2 Husky,” to the community » Overviews of OSAS with themes on training and skill building and Title IX: - SIAS Faculty Retreat - Resident Advisors - Pack Advisors
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LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020 - 2021 UW Tacoma Student Affairs is dedicated to MOVING STUDENTS FORWARD . Our offices facilitate varied student learning experiences that begin when students apply to the University and culminate in earning a degree. In a typical year, we enjoy in-person interactions when students and their families visit us. This was not, however, a typical year. The consequences of a deadly pandemic and heightened consciousness of racialized injustice compelled the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to reassess student life actions and adopt the following priorities.
STUDENT ENROLLMENT: YIELD & RETENTION STUDENT WELLBEING STAFF WELLBEING INNOVATION & CHANGE EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, & ANTI-RACIST ACTION Student Affairs has made a commitment to lead change within our individual communities and spheres of influence to actively disrupt racism at the individual, societal, and systematic level. Under the above priority listed as Equitable, Inclusive, and Anti-Racist Action, the 20202021 Anti-racist Action Plan was also established. Key elements of the plan are listed below: » Engage Student Affairs Leadership Team (SALT) in antiracist work » Add reflection on growth in cultural humility and/or racial equity to annual performance review » Build antiracist work into Student Affairs strategic plan » Develop divisional equity statement and post online
26 // UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Yantra, 2003, is an 8’4” tall bronze sculpture by artist Gerard Tsutakawa. Working primarily in bronze with the technique of welded fabrication, Gerard Tsutakawa produces artworks of stunning inventiveness. Mr. Tsutakawa’s sculpture designs reflect a confluence of the cultures and traditions of the Pacific Rim. Mr. Tsutakawa created “Yantra” as a representation of yin and yang — the complementary nature of opposites. Mr. Tsutakawa’s full artist statement can be found at https://www.gerardtsutakawa. com/artist-statement/.
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