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It is
always such an amazing transformation – those tired, cranky
students who couldn’t wait for finals to be over to get out
of here in December are back with big smiles on their faces
and hugs all around. Of course, the faculty and staff have
experienced some of that same transformative magic. We’re
not quite as energetic, but then we have a few years on the
students. It’s good to feel our community returning to its
normal tempo.
I hope you will take special note of the information in this
newsletter regarding our new Supplemental Instruction
program. This could be a lifesaver for your student if he or
she is enrolled in an entry level course in English, math or
history.
From the President –
Dr. Tim Summerlin
Schreiner parents: One never knows when opportunity
for learning may come along. After Christmas, Mary Ellen and
I visited our younger daughter Beth and her husband Scott in
North Carolina. Scott is in his second year of residency,
and he was delighted to tell us about a gift he had received
that provided a perfect way to relax after a long day—Guitar
Hero.
I live a sheltered life and had never heard of Guitar Hero.
But I learned. In case some of you are like me, I will note
briefly that GH is a video game in which one or two persons
strum on plastic guitars while fingering keys, seeking to
match the color-coded notes that race by on the TV screen.
Coaxed to join in on the “easy” level at rhythm guitar, I
made so many mistakes the first few times that we were
tossed off the screen. But ultimately I succeeded (always at
the easy level) in playing well enough to get through
several songs whose names I had never heard and which I have
already forgotten. I told my daughter that in four days at
her home, I had heard more rock music than in the rest of my
previous life. Told you I have been sheltered.
So we return to Kerrville, and I learn from Dean Layton that
Guitar Hero is all the rage among the young! Wow! Now I have
legitimized myself. The next job is to find out once more
the names of some of those tunes. Well, not tunes exactly…
Student Resources and Support – Gordon Findlay,
Director
It’s time for the spring term and students are getting back
into the swing of things on campus. By now they realize that
this is tougher than high school and there is a lot of work
involved. Like last semester there are a number of basic
things every student should be encouraged to do in order to
have a successful semester. Stay in touch and ask a lot of
questions about their progress. Are you going to class? Are
you getting work in on time? How much time do you spend
studying? Are you getting feedback from faculty? Have you
told anyone that you are struggling in class? Have you asked
for help? Are you attending Supplemental Instruction?
This semester Schreiner is initiating a program of
Supplemental Instruction for several historically difficult
courses – English 1301/1302, History 1301/1302 and Math
1310. Each instructor has an SI Leader assigned to their
class. Leaders will be professional tutors with extensive
experience in their assigned course; they will attend the
class weekly and will hold supplemental instruction sessions
in a classroom setting twice each week in the evenings at a
time convenient to students. Sessions allow students to get
together with other students in their class to compare
notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for
study and test themselves before the professor does so that
when a test comes along, they will be ready.
In Fall 2007 Schreiner conducted a pilot program of
supplemental instruction in History 1301. Every student
participating in the SI program was successful in the
course. None got less than a grade of C and 68% received at
least a B. 62% of the participating students raised their
score by a full letter grade from 4 weeks to final while the
rest maintained their B average from start to finish.
Supplemental instruction works. Encourage your student to
attend. Better grades are almost guaranteed.
If you or your student needs information I am here to assist
in developing a plan for success. Contact me at:
Gordon Findlay, Student Resources and Support,
830-792-7322 or
gfindlay@schreiner.edu
Financial Aid Advice from
Toni Bryant, Director of
Financial Aid
This is not the year to wait to complete your financial
aid package. Please complete the FAFSA soon-and if you
anticipate borrowing for your child's education, you need to
complete a credit check early on so that you can determine
your options. Many lenders are heightening their credit
requirements and may be strapped for cash this year. We want
our parents to be educated and able to make the best choices
for both student and family.
If you have questions, the
Office of Financial Aid will be happy to advise you.
Call 1-800-343-4919 or email
tlbryant@schreiner.edu.
Health and Wellness…Just as
the name suggests
The
Health and Wellness Center in the Cailloux Campus
Activities Center is not only a place for your student to
visit when he/she is not feeling well, but as the name
suggests, a great place to visit to learn about general
health maintenance and a variety of wellness topics. As an
added benefit, the
Student Health 101 on-line magazine, which is
distributed each month to students, parents and faculty of
Schreiner University, covers health topics pertinent to your
student’s health and wellness.
Dr. Thomas Noonan is in the clinic from 9:00 am until
3:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays for assessment and
treatment of students’ health concerns. Appointments can be
made by calling 830-792-7279.
Gloria Algeo is in the clinic from 9:00am until 4:00pm
Monday through Friday for walk-in assessment and treatment
of students’ health concerns.
The clinic has numerous resources available to all students
and provides guidance for informed responsible self-care
through direct contact with
Gloria Algeo, R.N., Director of Health and Wellness as
well as
Dr. Noonan. Referrals to laboratories and specialists in
the area are made as necessary.
The
Health and Wellness Center also administers the Student
Accident and Sickness Insurance plan for Schreiner
University. This plan is open to ALL students. Residential
and international students must prove health care coverage
and waive out of the Schreiner program when initially
entering Schreiner University, and then at the beginning of
each academic year or they will be enrolled
automatically.
All services of the
Health and Wellness Center, including visits with Dr.
Noonan, are free to all students registered at Schreiner and
strict confidentiality is assured.
So when your Schreiner student is not feeling well,
encourage a visit to the Health and Wellness Center. If
there are questions regarding nutrition, stress management,
fitness and other “wellness” related issues, Ms. Algeo and
Dr. Noonan will be happy to offer information and advice.
The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until
4:00 pm.
MLK Observance and Black
History Month Programs
In the next month and a half we will have several programs
celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month.
Here are just a few of those programs.
Student Activities Board will be hosting
“The Human Race Machine” at Schreiner
January 21-25, 2008. Over
100 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada have
now used
The Human Race Machine for diversity and awareness
programming. This program has been televised on Oprah,
written about in The Chronicle of Higher Education,
Scientific American and The Washington Post. This machine
will give students the opportunity to envision themselves as
a different race. Modern science tells us that the DNA of
any two humans is 99.97 percent identical and that there is
no gene for race. A powerful, yet subtle diversity tool, the
The Human Race Machine allows us to move beyond our
appearance, and contemplate a deeper human connection. After
all we are one race…
Several faculty on campus have made this special program a
part of their curriculum and will be using it in classroom
lectures, as well as have students write about their
experience. We will also be showing the PBS documentary,
Race: The Power of an Illusion.
In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday,
several events are taking place. On Sunday,
January 20th at 7:00 pm
students are invited to attend the Community MLK
Worship Service at First Presbyterian Church. On Monday,
January 21st, Campus
Ministry and the Student Activities Board will be taking
students into San Antonio to view the movie “The
Great Debaters.” A drama based on the true story of
Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas who, in
1935, inspired students to form the school's first all black
debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the
national championship. Two time Oscar winner Denzel
Washington stars and directs the film.
On Wednesday, January 23rd,
Campus Ministry's regular Chapel Service at 9 pm will
focus on the connection between Faith and Justice, using
various Scriptures passages and readings.
On January 24th,
comedian
Vargus Mason will be on campus performing. In 1996,
Vargus Mason performed for former President Bill Clinton as
part of a tribute to Martin Luther King.
On February 4th,
Student Activities Board will be sponsoring a game show
called Think Fast with Black History facts. A student could
win up to $200 in cash!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact
Jennifer Hudson Velazquez, Director of Student
Activities & Greek Life at
jmhudson@schreiner.edu.
Spring Break Work Trip to New Orleans
March 14th-19th,
Campus Ministry will be sponsoring a Work Trip to New
Orleans to help with rebuilding efforts there. There will be
a meeting for all interested students at Noon on Friday,
January 25th. The cost for
the trip is $30, and scholarships are available. For more
information please contact
Rev. Gini Norris-Lane, Campus Minister, at 830-792-7284
or
vanorrislane@schreiner.edu.
Interested in saving some money in 2008???
Pay in full by July 1, 2008
for the fall term and November 1,
2008 for the spring and receive a 2% reduction in
the cost of tuition, room and board, less any gift aid.
Contact
Terri Danz in the
Business Office for more information, 830-792-7363 or
tdanz@schreiner.edu.
Schreiner Saturday –
February 23, 2008
Be sure to tell family and friends that may be exploring
college choices about our campus visit program. For all the
details send them to our website at:
http://www.schreiner.edu/admission/openhouse.html
Important 2008 Dates
January 16 - Spring Term classes begin
January 21 - Martin Luther King Holiday, no classes
January 25 - Last day to drop a course without a grade
March 13 - Mid-term grades due
March 17 – 24 - Spring Break and Easter Holiday
April 3 - Last day to drop a course
April 11 – 13 - Recall (Homecoming)
May 2 - Last day of classes
May 5 – 8 - Final exams
May 10 - Commencement
As always, please contact me if I may be of assistance.
Peg Layton, Dean of Students
CMB #6217
2100 Memorial Blvd.
Kerrville, Texas 78028-5697
830-792-7277 or 7278
palayton@schreiner.edu |
