2008 Woodie Awards
Sounding Off... From the Dean's Office
Kimmo Rosenthal: Dean of Students
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Opinions
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I would like to welcome all students, especially the first-year students. I hope everybody's term is off to a good start. I am the Dean of Studies, which essentially means that I oversee the academic life and progress of students at Union. While a student's primary academic contact should be their academic advisor, I am always available if questions arise that can not be answered, or if there are academic problems that need to be resolved. Today I would like to point out some things that students should be aware of as they start the year.
First and foremost, I want to encourage students to take advantage of being at a small liberal arts college like Union. You have the opportunity for close personal interaction with faculty, staff, and Deans. Avail yourself of office hours and the opportunity to get assistance from your faculty. Realize that the Deans are willing to discuss any concerns you may have. There are also other programs and services available to students.
The Writing Across the Curriculum program requires Union students to write a lot - it is a central part of a Union education. On the second floor of the Library we have a fantastic Writing Center with a great group of tutors. It receives over 1000 visits per year, so you would not be alone in seeking assistance. Of course, getting the proper help means not leaving your paper for the night before!
The PALs program - the Minerva Mentors/ Peer Assistants for Learning program is a peer mentoring service staffed by seven outstanding upperclass students, who can help students who are having difficulty negotiating the complexities of college life. They can assist with study skills, time management and much more, providing the guidance and encouragement towards gaining independence and self-reliance, and regularly hold informative workshops on a variety of topics. Check them out at http://mentors.union.edu.
This year we are trying to have some programming especially geared for sophomores, for example holding a Majors Fair in October for those students who have not yet declared a major, or who are thinking of changing majors. Sophomores should have received a newsletter in their mailbox regarding some of the term's events.
I do have to end on a cautionary note regarding Plagiarism. The Faculty takes plagiarism and all forms of academic dishonesty very seriously. It is expected that you will be handing in work that is your own and that you will properly cite any materials that are taken from other sources, including the Internet. If you have any questions or need guidance, then you should speak with your faculty member to make sure you understand his or her expectations with regard to sources and format. You need to realize that the penalty for plagiarism is "normally failure in the course". Make smart decisions ! It is better to hand in a paper late with a grade penalty than to fail and go on record for academic dishonesty. Confidential files are kept in my office and a second offense normally results in a suspension.
Have a great year ! Do not hesitate to contact me at rosenthk@union.edu with any questions or concerns.
First and foremost, I want to encourage students to take advantage of being at a small liberal arts college like Union. You have the opportunity for close personal interaction with faculty, staff, and Deans. Avail yourself of office hours and the opportunity to get assistance from your faculty. Realize that the Deans are willing to discuss any concerns you may have. There are also other programs and services available to students.
The Writing Across the Curriculum program requires Union students to write a lot - it is a central part of a Union education. On the second floor of the Library we have a fantastic Writing Center with a great group of tutors. It receives over 1000 visits per year, so you would not be alone in seeking assistance. Of course, getting the proper help means not leaving your paper for the night before!
The PALs program - the Minerva Mentors/ Peer Assistants for Learning program is a peer mentoring service staffed by seven outstanding upperclass students, who can help students who are having difficulty negotiating the complexities of college life. They can assist with study skills, time management and much more, providing the guidance and encouragement towards gaining independence and self-reliance, and regularly hold informative workshops on a variety of topics. Check them out at http://mentors.union.edu.
This year we are trying to have some programming especially geared for sophomores, for example holding a Majors Fair in October for those students who have not yet declared a major, or who are thinking of changing majors. Sophomores should have received a newsletter in their mailbox regarding some of the term's events.
I do have to end on a cautionary note regarding Plagiarism. The Faculty takes plagiarism and all forms of academic dishonesty very seriously. It is expected that you will be handing in work that is your own and that you will properly cite any materials that are taken from other sources, including the Internet. If you have any questions or need guidance, then you should speak with your faculty member to make sure you understand his or her expectations with regard to sources and format. You need to realize that the penalty for plagiarism is "normally failure in the course". Make smart decisions ! It is better to hand in a paper late with a grade penalty than to fail and go on record for academic dishonesty. Confidential files are kept in my office and a second offense normally results in a suspension.
Have a great year ! Do not hesitate to contact me at rosenthk@union.edu with any questions or concerns.
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