fye fall 2009 newsletter

8
2009 F Y E From the Director’s BlackBerry... Welcome! In this issue, we’ll introduce you to the various aspects of our program, as well as our outstanding faculty and staff. The First Year Experience program began in 1995 with our first offering of the First Year Seminar (FYS, now GSR 101). Our mission has always been to provide Gallaudet’s first‐year (including transfer) students with learning experiences that foster a smooth transiOon to college, academic success, personal growth, and social responsibility. How do we manage such comprehensive work? We’ve developed a variety of strategies and programs over the past 14 years, and you’ll read about them in this newsleTer. Our academic year begins long before you all arrive on campus. We work with Admissions, Enrollment MarkeOng, and AthleOcs to get to know our new students. During the summer our Student Success program offers JumpStart, including New Signers and Academic Success. Throughout the year, students parOcipate in our PLUS program for academic support. We offer FYS classes, required through the General Studies program, both spring and fall semesters. We also offer seminars for transfer students and for students in the Department of Applied Literacy. Every year, we choose a Common Reading book for the community to read. This year’s book is Hands of My Father, by Myron Uhlberg. If you were lucky enough to meet Myron during his three weeks here, you know what a popular choice this book has been. Read more about his visit in this issue. In the spring, we work with faculty and staff to select our FantasOc First Year Students – learn more about this honor on page 6. We’re very proud of our new students, and of our work with all of you. Last year, our hard work together paid off, and Gallaudet had the highest first‐to‐second year retenOon rate in many years. We’ll conOnue doing whatever we can to support our students as you conOnue on your journey toward graduaOon. We wish you all the best as you finish your first semester at Gallaudet. We welcome your comments on this newsleTer, and about your experiences as a new student here. Look for us on the first floor of SAC, behind TIP and OSWD. ~Judy Termini CONTENTS Who are the PLUS Peer Mentors? 3 Jermone’s Experience in NBDA 4 Hands of My Father 7 FALL Volume 2, Issue 1 Read about your Class President! p.5 irst ear xperience SEMESTER

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First Year Experience Newsletter for Fall 2009

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Page 1: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

2009

F Y

E

From the Director’s BlackBerry...

Welcome!Inthisissue,we’llintroduceyoutothevariousaspectsofourprogram,aswellasouroutstandingfacultyandstaff.

TheFirstYearExperienceprogrambeganin1995withourfirstofferingoftheFirstYearSeminar(FYS,nowGSR101).OurmissionhasalwaysbeentoprovideGallaudet’sfirst‐year(includingtransfer)studentswithlearningexperiencesthatfosterasmoothtransiOontocollege,academicsuccess,personalgrowth,andsocialresponsibility.Howdowemanagesuchcomprehensivework?We’vedevelopedavarietyofstrategiesandprogramsoverthepast14years,andyou’llreadabouttheminthisnewsleTer.

Ouracademicyearbeginslongbeforeyouallarriveoncampus.WeworkwithAdmissions,EnrollmentMarkeOng,andAthleOcstogettoknowournewstudents.Duringthesummer

ourStudentSuccessprogramoffersJumpStart,includingNewSignersandAcademicSuccess.Throughouttheyear,studentsparOcipateinourPLUSprogramforacademicsupport.WeofferFYSclasses,requiredthroughtheGeneralStudiesprogram,bothspringandfallsemesters.WealsoofferseminarsfortransferstudentsandforstudentsintheDepartmentofAppliedLiteracy.

Everyyear,wechooseaCommonReadingbookforthecommunitytoread.Thisyear’sbookisHandsofMyFather,byMyronUhlberg.IfyouwereluckyenoughtomeetMyronduringhisthreeweekshere,youknowwhatapopularchoicethisbookhasbeen.Readmoreabouthisvisitinthisissue.

Inthespring,weworkwithfacultyandstafftoselectourFantasOcFirstYearStudents–learnmoreaboutthishonoronpage6.

We’reveryproudofournewstudents,andofourworkwithallofyou.Lastyear,ourhardworktogetherpaidoff,andGallaudethadthehighestfirst‐to‐secondyearretenOonrateinmanyyears.We’llconOnuedoingwhateverwecantosupportourstudentsasyouconOnueonyourjourneytowardgraduaOon.

WewishyouallthebestasyoufinishyourfirstsemesteratGallaudet.WewelcomeyourcommentsonthisnewsleTer,andaboutyourexperiencesasanewstudenthere.LookforusonthefirstfloorofSAC,behindTIPandOSWD.

~JudyTermini

CONTENTSWho are the PLUS Peer Mentors? 3Jermone’s Experience in NBDA 4Hands of My Father 7

FALL

Volume 2, Issue 1

Read about your Class President! p.5

irst

ear

xper

ienc

e

SEMESTER

!

Page 2: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

Who’s Who...

Judith (Judy) TerminiDirector of FYE

Maria WatersGSR 101/102 Coordinator

Jerri Lynn Dorminy Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator

Darian BurwellStudent Success Director

Jessica CraneTechnical Support Specialist

Erin LandAdjunct Faculty/PLUS

Gladys MacInitoshExecutive Secretary

Alim ChandaniGraduate Assistant - PLUS

Taye AkinolaGraduate Assistant - Transfer Students

Krista BrownStudy Table Leader

Rachel BendictStudy Table Leader

James GardnerStudy Table Leader

Colin WhitedStudy Table Leader

Angela VasquezPLUS Student Assistant

Stephanie JohnsonPLUS Student Assistant

What’s NEW with PLUS?

It’s December! What an exciting fall semester we had this year. We started with over 60 students in Jumpstart in the summer and now we have over 140 students involved with PLUS. We also expanded our program to include some of our 2nd year students.  The staff in the PLUS program has shown a level of commitment with our students and student-athletes that amazes me! I am blessed to have a terrific team! If you are a student looking for someone to meet from similar backgrounds, be sure to contact [email protected] to make the connection happen. PLUS is all about checking on you and being sure you are making the best out of your Gallaudet experience. ~Darian Burwell

Transfer Student’s Perspective by Fernando Contrearas

My name is Fernando Contrearas, and I am from California. Since I came to Gallaudet University for 2009 fall semester, Gallaudet has helped me become a better person. First, when I came to Gallaudet, I observed that we are a diverse community! I learned different cultures, foods, values, religions, or politics from their countries and these helped me to understand better to accept their diversity. Secondly, when my friends encouraged me to join organizations, I decided to join the Latino Student Union and International Student Club because it will give me an opportunity to explore my possible careers. This has helped me to focus on my goals, and I am not motivated about my education. Last, I have a great mentor who encouraged me to focus on my education and he helped me to understand my identity as a deaf Latino. That is why I am fortunate to be here because I believe Gallaudet will help me to be a successful person in my future.

Quote(s) of the Semester...

“If you would create something, you must be something.”

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and out.”

~Robert Collier

JumpStart Team ’09

Page 3: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

PLUS study table’s EXTENDED hours are:

Mondays and Thursdays: 7:30p-10pTuesdays and Wednesdays 7p-10p

PLUS Peer Mentors

Janaee Cobbs

Leanha Lawson

Kaitlin HewlettGil Estrada

Tony TatumClyde Short

Shannon Buto

Our new PLUS Peer Mentors

My name is Janaee Cobbs. I am a second year student at Gallaudet. I want to tell you about my experiences as a peer mentor. Since the semester is almost over, I really am enjoying working with different people. It is very interesting for me to experience working as a peer mentor. I learned a lot through my job to teach myself not to put the job and the friendships in a conflict of interest. I also learned some new things from a lot of different people from different backgrounds. It takes a lot of time, but it will be worth it in the end because I know I will have some intrinsic rewards for myself. This experience will help me a lot to pursue my dreams to become a math teacher someday.

PLUS

Students

Readmits

Second Year

First Year

New Signers

Transfers

Peek Through!

First Year Experience (FYE) has launched a program called PLUS Peer Mentors, to provide the support in transiting the first year students to college life.

Who are the PLUS Peer Mentors?

We have selected SEVEN PLUS Peer Mentors who are now in their 2nd year in college. They participated in the PLUS program during their first year and now provide their support to the PLUS first year students by sharing their experiences.

PLUS++++++

WHO?

+

Page 4: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

Q & A with Jerome Wilcox who attended the National Black Deaf Avocates (NBDA)

Why were you chosen to attend the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA)?     First, I was made eligible to be chosen by being a Fantastic First Year Student.  From there, I and several other students submitted an essay to the First Year Experience (FYE) program answering the question, “Why will the Collegiate Black Deaf Student Leadership conference benefit me?” Based on my entry I was selected to attend the conference.  What did you learn from the NBDA conference?     I learned about the proud heritage within the black deaf community.  The role models across the country who overcame their struggles with being deaf and black in America to become people of prestige and influence to both hearing and deaf people today.  One of them was Dr. Glenn Anderson, a NAD at-large representative; faculty member at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and past chair of the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees How did the conference impact your leadership abilities?     To be honest, it challenged me to the core.  I’ve been a leader most of my life and now I find myself in a place of the unknown.  Being new to deafness and the Deaf community, I know there is much for me to learn before I can truly be effective within the Deaf community.  I welcome the challenge and I’m open to the possibilities that are before me. Why were you a fantastic first-year student?     I was nominated by a couple of my professors who felt that I was an exemplary student.  I completed my first semester with a 3.83 GPA, while working as an Assistant to a Pastor, volunteering with the American Red Cross and giving a hand up to my fellow students. 

GSR 150: Introduction to Integrated Learning Many of you are signing up for GSR 150 courses being offered next Spring.

What exactly is GSR 150? It is a 4-credit course designed to help students transition from the foundations courses of the first semester to the more challenging 200-level Integrated Learning Courses. GSR 150 is team-taught by two faculty members from different disciplines.

Each section examines a central topic/question from the different disciplinary lenses; and each topic/question is grounded in the theme of “City as Text” using DC as a background from which to explore the issues raised in the class. Students will focus primarily on developing critical thinking skills by synthesizing information from various sources using both written English and ASL products.

Examples of courses being offered are:

GSR 150 01: Franklin/Malzkuhn, B. City as Text: Community and Deaf Life

GSR 150 02 Duren/Wood City as Text: Our Identities Online and in DC

GSR 150 03 Dzougoutov/Henderson City as Text: Psychology and Film

GSR 150 S 10: Duren and Heuer City as Text: Oppression in Language and Identity

GSR 150 05 Malzkuhn/Pajka-West City as Text: A Place of Our Own

GSR 150 S 11: Anderson/Torres City as Text: International Influences on DC

WHAT EXACTLY is GSR 150?

GSR 150

Jerome Wilcox and Current NBDA President- Ernest E. Garrett III

Dr. Glenn Anderson

Particiapnts

Page 5: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

Haveyoubeenseeingalotofnewfaces?Youshould!Therearethreehundredfreshmenthisyear!Timetrulyflies;itisalreadynearingtheendofourfirstsemesteratGallaudetUniversity.NSOfeelslikeyearsago,weallgotchancetoreunitewithfamiliarfacesandmeetnewfriendsduringNSO.TheorientaFonwaswonderful,filledwithmanyworkshops,acFviFes,andstaffwhowerereadytohelpusmakeourtransiFontocollegelifesmooth.ThehighlightswereBisonville,BisonIdol,andtheDCtour/Kayaktrip.KudostotheGallaudetstaffteamwhoworkedincrediblyhardonmakingthisawesomeorientaFonhappenforallofus!Themajorgoalforourclassistonotloseanystudents;threehundredisanicenumberforaclassatGallaudetUniversity!LastlyistohavetheClassof2013representGallaudetwellinsideandoutsideoftheuniversitycampus.

2013 Class President Janna DiBiase

During Spring break, March 13-20, 2010, Gallaudet first-year students will have an opportunity to participate in the First Year Study Tour (FYST) to Costa Rica. The FYST is a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop global and cultural awareness, international travel experience, and cross cultural communication skills. The FYST is based on the trend we are seeing in higher education where colleges all over the U.S. are increasing their study tour offerings to foster global citizenship and social responsibility in their graduates. Traveling globally gives you an edge in the job market as well. To qualify for the FYST, students must have a GPA of 2.5 by the end of the Fall semester and be in good standing with the Office of Student Conduct and Student Affairs. This year the FYST is being offered as a one credit course, so students will register in the Spring semester for SWK 495 03 “First Year Study Tour.” The itinerary will include two service learning activities. There will be a day of volunteer service at the school for the deaf in San José-- the Centro Nacional de Educacion Especial in Guadalupe. The school principal has asked Gallaudet students to help paint the inside classrooms and outside walls of the playground. Another volunteer project is the planting of 50 trees near Arenal Volcano to help with a reforestation project and learning about reducing one’s carbon footprint. The itinerary will include a visit to a still-active volcano (Arenal), a national park (Carara), and tour a working coffee farm (coffee is Costa Rican’s major export). We will also have educational presentations from national park representatives and deaf Costa Rican leaders. Recreational activities include beach and water activities, hiking, horseback riding, rappelling, canopy (zip line) activity, and a soccer match with the deaf Costa Rican team.

We are looking for the following items to bring with us as donations: children’s games and books (preferably in Spanish), usable TTYs, laptops and pagers. Students who joined the trip last year said that they appreciated the opportunity for international travel and learning about other cultures, including other deaf cultures. An added benefit to them was the positive peer interaction and bonding with their classmates and the staff and faculty on the trip.

Visit the website at: http://admissions.gallaudet.edu/studytour

First Year Study Tour to Costa Rica: Your Passport to Global Learning by Dr. Barbara White

Page 6: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

STUDY TABLE TUTORS

Fantastic First Year Student Awards

First-year students will be nominated by their current Foundations and GSR 150 instructors  for this annual award, which recognizes students for their hard work, commitment to academics, and respect for others.  In April, we will have the 8th annual awards celebration to honor these students who were nominated by their instructors first, then input given by other units on campus including Academic Advisors, Office of Student Conduct, and Residence Life.  We hope to have a high number of first-year students receiving this honor in April.

Herearemystudents…firstyearstudents,freshoutfromhighschool.HereIam…firstyearAdjunctFaculty,freshoutfrom

teachingschool.Thereisonethingwehavesameincommon…weallarefirstyearatGallaudet.

Formystudentsandanyotherfirstyears,theyareexperiencingthetransiOonfromascruOnizingschoolwhereteacherswouldgive

themdetenOonfornotcompleOnghomework(andhavingaleTersenttotheirparents/guardians)tototalfreedom.Yes,youread

thisright.Total...freedom.It’strue.Eventhoughthereareconsequencesforbreakingrules,butnooneisgivingthemdetenOonfor

notcompleOnghomework.Noparentsordormsupervisorsrequirethemtoeatbreakfastbeforegoingtoschool.Whowakesthem

up?Normally,it’stheywhoareresponsibleforgegngupinthemorning.

Itdoesn’tmaTerwhoweare,aprofessorora

student,weall,atsomepoint,experiencethesame

encounters.Asformeandmystudents,it’sGSR101,

asnewpeopleonthecampusbeginningourhorizon

toourfutureandallthesuccessesthathaveyetto

come.

~ErinLand

Gallaudet University + GSR 101 = A New Horizon… for anyone!

Rachel Benedict Colin WhitedKrista Brown James Gardner

Study Tables are for students who want a

study environment equipped with tutors,

university resources, and a quiet place to

study. Each tutor brings unique skills for their

respective groups, and all of them bring

their enthusiasm and dedication to their

work!

Mondays - Thursdays, 7 pm - 9 pm

For locations, contact: [email protected]

W Basketball PLUS Football M Basketball

Page 7: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

Author in Residence came to Gallaudet University

By:SharonPajka‐West,PhDEditedBy:AlimChandaniandTayeAkinola

Writer-in-residence Myron Uhlberg presented today, or rather told three dynamic stories, about his childhood and his Deaf parents to the Gallaudet University community this afternoon in Elstad Auditorium. Uhlberg, although I think I can call my friend Myron, began with a story about how his parents always considered him such a strange kid. He explained that to be like his father whom he so admired (although I shouldn't use the past tense here because it is clear that everything he does is still to earn the respect of his father and mother whom have both passed) he put bubble gum in his ears as a young boy to make himself deaf.

While his first story was humorous, the second story about his boxing performance had the audience rolling. Lastly, Myron recounted how his father, a printer by trade, would make printer's hats for him. Young Myron, and I would argue the adult Myron too, so loved these hats that he would often beg him mother to allow him to sleep in them.

My favorite part of his personality is how he connects with our Gallaudet students. When I first had the idea to bring him to campus, I knew how fascinating I found Myron once he started storytelling, but I wasn't sure if a gentleman in his 70's would be able to capture the attentions of 18-year-old freshmen. During his February visit, he captured the hearts of so many. Today's presentation was no exception. He made us laugh and cry! His final message to our students was for them to go write their own stories, "It isn't hard. You write a story from your heart... a true story for you!"

MyronUhlberg,theauthorofHandsofMyFather:AHearingBoy,HisDeafParents,andtheLanguageofLove,spentthemonthofOctoberoncampusasawriter‐in‐residence.UhlbergvisitednearlyalltheFirstYearExperienceclasses,metinformallywithstudentsandfacultyabouttheartandcrahofwriOng,tookpartinanoralhistoryproject,andmadeapublicpresentaOon.HealsovisitedwithstudentsattheModelSecondarySchoolfortheDeaf.Uhlberg’sbook,aboutgrowingupasachildofdeafadultsinaverydifferentera,isthisyear’sCommonReadingselecOon.The76‐year‐oldUhlbergactedoutseveralchaptersofthebookduringhisvisit,exhibiOngthephysicaldexterity,energy,andstaminaofapersonhalfhisage.“He’sarockstar,”saidonestudentaherseeinghispresentaOon.UhlberghasreturnedtohishomeinsouthernCalifornia,andiswriOnganotherbookinwhichhisvisittoGallaudetplaysaprominentrole.Uhlberg’sresidencywassponsoredbytheOfficeoftheProvost,inconjuncOonwiththeFirstYearExperienceProgram.

A Professor’s Perspective

By:BobWeinstockSpecialAssistanttotheProvost

October 2009

Page 8: FYE FALL 2009 Newsletter

DON’T FORGET to wear your

on Wednesdays!

BUFF&BLUENAVIGATEyour way to SUCCESS!!

Special Thanks to everyone who helped to make this issue of FYE newsletter.

Since I have arrived here in July I have been involved in many different things. First I was involved in the New Signers Program (NSP) to help me learn how to sign, since I had no experience with ASL until I arrived here. During the 4 week program I met friends Leeza, Richard, Tom, Ryan, Kevin, Jessica, and many more. We became close because we all were somewhat alike, mainstream schools to Gallaudet with little to no ASL. We all became closer over time just like anyone else would with friends. In the middle of NSP I also started football camp. This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life; it was a wakeup call to college football. I met more friends on the football team as well. Soon after football started the school year started. I had some friends in my classes that I already knew from football or NSP, but met more people in my classes. It was a struggle trying to balance school and football. I learned quickly and developed a schedule. Football has a required study table to go to; it helps you keep your grades up as well as get help from a senior if you need it. The PLUS program is another organization I am involved with. It helps you deal with college life, from sports, schools, clubs, to off-campus activities. So far I have grown to love Gallaudet because everyone here wants to see you succeed in life. There is always someone here to help you out with anything you need. Gallaudet is a great place for me to be; the resources here make it hard for anyone to fail.

Gallaudet So Far...by Shelby Bean

FYE

“Gallaudet is a

great place for

me to be; the

resources here

make it hard for

anyone to FAIL!”

~Shelby Bean