News/Notes for Undergraduate Advisors: Health Advising@UNI | ADVISOR KNOW HOW: Directory of Referral Resources/Tips for Effective Referrals | Military/Veteran Benefits | Open Melt Night

Please review these items to assist with your work with advisees as well for professional/personal information - or if appropriate to pass along to your students.  Health Advising@UNI | ADVISOR KNOW HOW: Directory of Referral Resources/Tips for Effective Referrals | Military/Veteran Benefits | Open Melt Night | Academic Advisor Portal | Institutional Academic Advising Vision/Mission Statement 

• Health Advising@UNI
  • The Office of Academic Advising (OAA) is excited for the formation of a Health Advising Team! Beginning August 2023, this team led by Kim Bock, will provide coordinated support to students interested in health-related majors, including UNI’s new Nursing program.  The Health Advising Team includes: 
    • Michelle Holland - Michelle is transitioning to OAA from the College of Education Advising and Teacher Education Success Office. She will serve as the academic advisor for Kinesiology and Exercise Science majors and Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Studies majors. To continue serving students effectively, Michelle will have an office in the ITTC, as well as offer regular drop-in hours in the WRC. Michelle brings 29 years of experience to OAA.
    • Linda Reardon-Lowry - Linda is transitioning to OAA from the Biology Department. She will continue to serve as the academic advisor for Biology majors. To continue serving students effectively, Linda will have an office in the ITTC, as well as offer drop-in hours in McCollum Science Hall 143. Linda brings 13 years of experience to OAA, as well as extensive knowledge on supporting pre-professional health majors.
    • Colleen Sullivan - Colleen will serve as the primary academic advisor for the Department of Nursing and Public Health, as well as provide a coordinated advising experience for all students interested in nursing programs. Colleen has advised traditional track Pre-Nursing majors intending to transfer to Allen College for the past five years and brings 8 years of experience to this team.
  • The Office of Academic Advising is located in ITTC 007/008.  We welcome our new colleagues and look forward to continuing our commitment to serving UNI students.
     
• ADVISOR KNOW HOW: Directory of Referral Resources/Tips for Effective Referrals
  • The Directory of Referral Resources - a guide for campus-wide faculty and staff in referring students to the appropriate individual for questions and discussion - is now available on the Academic Advisor portal. 
    • The Academic Programs section provides references to individuals within academic colleges/departments with connection to majors, minors, or certificates and/or their focus emphasis or research areas.  This section is still under construction!
    • The Student Success & Persistence section provides referrals to resources within the areas of:
      • Academic Planning  |  Academic Performance  |  Basic Student Needs  | Identity & Student Populations  |  Experiential Learning & Postgraduate Life  |  Paying for College  |  Additional Personal and Success Support
  • Tips for Making Effective Referrals [Adapted from Tips on Making Effective Referrals on the NACADA Clearinghouse]
    • Inform yourself of campus resources thoroughly, paying particular attention to the names of contact people and the chain of command in various offices
    • When talking with students, pay particular attention to their expressed and implied needs. Often students won't ask to be referred for help, but they very much need referral
    • Do your best to find the right referral. Student may sometimes focus their concerns in an area that is less crucial to their needs than another
    • Students are often uneasy about following through with a referral. Try to make them comfortable with the idea, pointing out the friendliness, accessibility, and helpfulness of the people you are sending them to
    • Try to keep the chain of referrals as simple as possible
    • Help student draw up agendas for referrals. Have them jot down (or jot down for them) crucial questions and procedures for getting the most of their visits with the people to whom you send them
       
• Military/Veteran Services (Part 1/3)
  • From Henry Korf - I am the Military and Veteran Student Services Coordinator for UNI and my role is to support our military affiliated students to ensure their success here on campus and on-line.  One function I have is working with our student population and ensuring they have received the benefits that they have earned and deserve.  You may contact me via email or phone: henry.korf@uni.edu  P 319-273-3040 C 319-290-2102.  Additional information is available at military.uni.edu.
  • Over the next few weeks you will be seeing a short synopsis of the major educational benefits available for the military affiliated student population. My hope is to provide a little understanding for you into the world of VA educational benefits so that you can recognize a VA benefit recipient and then be able to funnel the student to me for review. I want to partner with you for the success of the student and UNI
  • Information for Student Advisors regarding Veteran Educational benefits - VA Educational Chapters    * A student may receive benefits from multiple Chapters or Other Benefits simultaneously
    • Chapter 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment Program *
      • If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help. This program—also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E—helps you explore employment options and address education or training needs. In some cases, your family members may also qualify for certain benefits.
    • Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 GI Bill
      • The Post-9/11 GI Bill helps you pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. These benefits cover tuition and fees, monthly stipend for housing, books and supplies and in some cases tutoring and one-time moving costs.  These benefits can be transferred to spouse or dependents.
         
• Open Melt Night
  • Students from the Manufacturing Engineering Technology program are hosting this Open Melt Night in collaboration with Grede Foundry (owners of foundries in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, & Nebraska)
  • Tuesday, August 29, 2023 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.  |  Industrial Technology Center (ITC)  |  Enter the building via the 'B' lot to the west of the building to get to the foundry.
  • All students are welcome - including any non-Manufacturing Technology students with or without interest in manufacturing.  Will learn more about the foundry industry and hear about the extremely lucrative opportunities that Grede has for graduates.
     
• Academic Advisor Portal
  • The Academic Advisor Portal is a centralized point for campus-wide UNI faculty and staff academic advisors, as well as student success partners, for information and resources to enhance work with students and further expand professional development.
  • Highlights of the portal include:  Advisor Toolbox - including scheduling and registration resources  |  Academic Advisor FAQs  |  UNI Advising Network  |  News, Information & Announcements
     
• Institutional Academic Advising Vision & Mission Statement (revised Spring 2016) [See Academic Advising Mission, Vision, Goals & Outcomes webpage]
  • Vision Statement: UNI aspires to create the best possible advising experience for each student.
  • Mission Statement: Academic Advising is a critical component of the teaching and learning environment at UNI. Advising is a personalized educational experience, empowering students to explore, articulate and achieve their academic, career and life goals.