The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

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Faculty aid students with living and learning at SIUC

When an incoming student and his mother ventured into an Open House meeting late, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Larry Dietz encouraged the pair not to take a position on the sidelines.

"There's always someone who comes in a little late, and instead of taking a seat, they just lean against the wall in the back of the room.

" I went up to [the mother and the incoming student] and I told them, 'There's a couple of seats in the front, and I'm sure Dr, Dunn won't mind if you move up and take a seat," Dietz said.

After convincing the two to abandon their backseat position and leading them to a couple of seats in the front, Dietz said it was not only easier for them to take notes on the speaker, but also to be more attentive.

Dietz views the latter as an example not only of taking initiative, but also of a joint effort from student, parent and the University taking a part in assuring the student's success. The cooperative effort to help students succeed and assist in retention is a year's worth of planning, which resulted in the First Year Student Living and Learning Outcomes packet.

A July 14 celebration marked the completion of planning from a task force comprised of Dietz, Provost John M. Dunn, Director of Resident Life Beth Scally and various representatives from several aspects of student life, various colleges and housing. The planning resulted in a number of academic and social goals to aid in the success of incoming freshmen.

Work on the program was inspired by a visit from two professors, William Zeller and Vincent Tinto, instructors at the University of Michigan and Syracuse University, respectively. Although the lecture focused primarily on developing proactive communities in housing, members of the task force decided it would be beneficial to form such a community throughout campus.

"If you want to change student behavior, there has to be some sort of interventional process; if you take a passive attitude, it won't work," Dietz said.

The Living and Learning document lays out several goals beginning with "the purpose and understanding of why they [students] are at the University." Currently, task force members view the packet as somewhat of an informal commitment to take part in the behavior imperative for their success.

It goes on to encourage students to set personal intentions such as regular attendance and obtaining at least a 2.5 GPA during their first semester. According to task force members such as Assistant Professor of Architecture Norm Lach, possessing the values in the document are essential to the institutional experience. He highlights the relationship between a student and their peers as essential to the academic experience.

Lach first witnessed the positive effects of a social bond between students when he started an emphasis floor for architecture majors in 1996. Lach was given an entire floor of Mae Smith Hall, which he referred to as "Archidorm." There, he said he was able to place students in an atmosphere around others with the same major and interests. These similarities assisted in boosting the floor, once in last place academically, to a first-place position.

Although the relationship formed with peers is important, the Living and Learning document also emphasizes the importance of a strong relationship between students and their instructors.

"I think for many, particularly those truly making the transfer from high school to college, it's that transfer that's the most difficult," said Provost John M. Dunn. "We care deeply about the students, but we can't be parents.

"Going to class, getting to know other students and your instructors, asking questions, making sure [students] know we are there and know we are interested, that develops the stratification that allows us to be accessible and make sure we stay connected."

Dietz emphasized the importance of staying connected with not only those on campus, but also parents and others who can provide encouragement. He said he does not anticipate any problems in tweaking the Living and Learning Outcomes and hopes to target next year's SOAR as a trial for the packet. He said he hopes to receive the endorsement of all constituency groups in the near future, but realizes the student is the primary factor in whether Living and Learning Outcomes succeed or not.

"It will work better if people believe in this being the right thing," Dietz said.