Weekly Digest

Wow, September went by quickly! As you all have seen, we've received information about spring semester, and it sounds as if things will be going forward much as this semester has.

I'm still hoping for Halloween pet pictures, so send them on if you have them! For each picture I receive, I'll donate to the Humane Society's pet disaster relief fund, which helps provide rescue, food, and shelter for animals displaced by natural disasters.

Please contact me at mjenn@uga.edu if you have suggestions or if there is anything you'd like me to include in the Digest.

FYOS and First Year Students with ADA Accommodations

• Naomi has confirmed that FY students with ADA accommodations can complete their FYO online.

Flu Shots in Brooks (thanks to Anne Marie Vencill)

• The UGA Mobile Flu Clinic is coming to Brooks on Tuesday, September 29 from 8-10amm Room 327. Plan to stop by to get your flu shot!

Winter Orientation

Transfers:

• Transfers will be all virtual. Transfer modules will become available beginning on November 20th.
• They are anticipating between 1100 and 1200 incoming transfer students for all of UGA.
• Once the student completes module, they should hear back from advising offices within 2 to 4 days about scheduling an appointment

Freshmen

• @240 freshmen expected
• Freshman orientation will be the week of Jan 4th through 8th
• Small groups will be on the 4th.
• One of the following models will be used for freshmen, but they don’t yet know which one:
• Hybrid model: Some orientation events in person but advising online
• Virtual model: Everything online

Beware of Misleading Retirement Planning Emails

• There have been multiple reports of misleading emails being distributed to UGA employees from an outside group requesting meetings to discuss retirement.
• While these emails appear to be legitimate, University HR has no knowledge of this group nor have they been authorized by UGA or the University System of Georgia.
• Please disregard and do not respond to these-type messages.

NEW - SAGE Texting

• SAGE can now text students standardized reminders containing relevant and convenient live links.
• Students need to opt in.
• For instructions on how to enable texting, students can go here to item #8 here: https://sage.uga.edu/faqs/

Clear Face Mask Distribution

• Erin Benson, Director of the DRC, has coordinated for some face masks to be sent toour office. These masks have a clear panel to allow for lip reading for students who are deaf/hard of hearing. The EOO office was able to provide just a couple of masks for each office but hopefully if you do have an in-person meeting with someone who utilizes lip reading, you will be able to accommodate that.
• These are coming via campus mail and I gave her each of your campus addresses for easy delivery.

Commencement Updates

• As you know, the Spring 2020 Undergraduate Commencement was rescheduled with the goal of holding a ceremony on Friday, October 16, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. in Sanford Stadium. Plans have not yet been finalized, but if a ceremony is held, the platform party on the field will be kept small and socially-distanced. The graduates will be seated in the stands with a limited number of their guests, masks will be required, and social distancing will be enforced throughout the stadium. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to invite faculty to participate, if the ceremony is held as planned. The ceremony will be livestreamed, with details to be announced.
• Also, individual college, school and department convocations in October have been canceled.
• Additional information will become available on the Commencement website, https://commencement.uga.edu/ .

September 29th - Mentoring Advising Professionals training, 9 am -12pm via Zoom

• If you have applied to be a part of the mentor program, you should have received (or will soon receive) a Zoom link to attend this training.

September 30th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am All Advisor Meeting

• Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/97334407323?from=msft
• Discussion topics will be forthcoming.

Upcoming - Reading Groups are back! (from Mike)

• Beth Kozinskey will be leading a group focusing on “…how online education is changing things for K-12 and for colleges. Lots of articles out there that we could choose from but also just talk about how it's affecting our own students.” She has a couple articles picked out, so if you’re interested, email her!
• Media Blitz! Been watching a good TV show? Listening to an amazing podcast? Are movies still a thing? Join others to share and discuss what you’ve been consuming! No lead for this one, just casual convo.
• Craft Time? Beth was actually the only person who contacted me about leading a group or even having ideas, so I’m kind of just throwing some groups out there and hoping they stick. I know we have a pretty strong arts/crafts aesthetic across the office, so I figured it would be a good group to have. Anne Marie Vencill may even teach you to knit if you ask nicely! No promises, I haven’t even asked her about it…
• Start a Group! There’s still time! If you have any ideas/suggestions/etc… let Mike know or talk about it on Wednesday at the All Advisor meeting.

Office of Experiential Learning is hosting three EL training opportunities specifically for academic advisors.

• These sessions will occur once a month in September, October, and November in a webinar format. The dates and times are below:
  
• Session 1: Tuesday, September 29th: 12-1 pm (Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/98452664018)
  
• Session 2: Thursday, October 22nd: 3-4 pm (Zoom info will be sent out prior to event)
  
• Session 3: Friday, November 20th, 9-10 am (Zoom info will be sent out prior to event)
  
• These trainings are suitable for both new advisors and as a refresher for any advisor who is interested. Advisors only need attend one session (it is not a series). No RSVP required!
  

• Spring 2021 Writing Intensive courses
• BBA Advising Group Information Session Power Point
• Sustainable UGA Happenings information
• IMPACT UGA Racism and Diversity Roundtable information
  
• Graduate School Virtual Office Hours
  

Criminal Justice/Psychology Bulletin Issues (with thanks to Lindsay)

• A few issues in the CJ Bulletin are affecting double majors, most notably Psychology and Sociology dual degree students.
• It appears that a Fall 2020 Bulletin update change caused programming errors, and the CJ Degree Works Audit now shows courses not counting in the CJ Major Elective/Major Required section when they should be counting; this requires an exception to correct the matter.
• If advisors get questions from students about why courses they thought would count aren't actually counting, please let them know that CJ is working on a fix.
• If any students have questions and are worried, feel free to forward them on to Lindsay Dickerson at lworsham@uga.edu.

BBA Advising Group Information Session Power Point

• For those who missed the BBA advising group presentation, or who would like to review the material, please see the attached Power Point.

• At this time, the Office of Instruction has reopened the application for professional development funding, and it will remain open until FY 21 funds are fully allocated.
• Those who apply for funding will receive decisions on a rolling basis. More detailed information on the application process is included in the application itself, linked below:
• Central Advising Support Funding Application
• If after reviewing the application you have any additional questions, please send those to advising@uga.edu.

Spring 2021 Writing Intensive Courses

• The Spring 2021 Writing Intensive courses have been announced. Please see the attached list.

Brown Bag Advising Student Athletes Video

• The Brown Bag Committee is excited to share with you a video created by the Advising Student Athlete Committee. The video contains tips for your advising appointments with your student athletes.
• You can watch this video at your leisure here: https://advising.uga.edu/For-Advisors/learning_and_development/

Terry College of Business Minor

The application period for Fall 2020 is October 12-23, 2020. The Business Minor is open to all UGA undergraduates EXCEPT intended and current Terry majors.

For details about eligibility requirements and the application process, please see the following webpages:

• Minor in Business for non-business students (APPLY HERE): https://www.terry.uga.edu/undergraduate/business-minor.php
• Business Minor checklist: https://www.terry.uga.edu/_resources/documents/TCB%20Minor%20Checklist_4.7.20.pdf

Questions? Contact t busminor@uga.edu.

TRIO SSS-STEM-H program (TRIO STEM-H)

The primary goal of TRIO STEM-H is to help transition, retain, and graduate first-generation, low-income (FGLI), and minoritized students at UGA. Through its services, the program provides opportunities for academic development, assists with college requirements, and serves to motivate students toward the successful completion of their undergraduate degree program.

UGA's TRIO STEM-H Program offers:

• Individualized academic advising and Academic Coaching. TRIO STEM-H participants are assigned a TRIO STEM-H advisor to assist them with academic, career, and personal growth.
• Priority tutoring. TRIO STEM-H participants have access to a wide variety of priority tutoring. In addition, tutoring arrangements are made for students who need individualized or group help in various subjects taught on campus.
• Financial literacy counseling and financial aid assistance. Through workshops, TRIO STEM-H participants learn how to understand debt, budget their fiscal resources, and make informed financial decisions
• Career exploration opportunities. Working with the partnering programs on campus, TRIO STEM-H participants are provided with opportunities to better position themselves for a career after graduation.
• Graduate school and professional school admissions assistance and preparation. TRIO STEM-H participants are provided the resources to prepare them for graduate school admission examinations, campus visits, interviews, etc.
• Cultural enrichment experiences. TRIO STEM-H sponsors one cultural event each semester. These events are designed to give students the opportunity to be exposed to, engage in, and/or embrace other cultures or culturally enriching experiences.
• Grant Aid for qualifying students.
• Free printing and a dedicated study area are provided exclusively for TRIO STEM-H participants.
• Priority Registration for classes.

Visit https://dae.uga.edu/trio/student_support_services_stemh/ for more information as well as the application link for students.

Additional questions? Please email DAE's Assistant Director for Access programs, Ms. Sherontae Maxwell (sbolden@uga.edu) or TRIO STEM-H Program Coordinator, Ms. Lastasia Ramsey (lastasia.ramsey@uga.edu).

The UGA Office of Sustainability has so much going on this semester that instead of putting it all in the Digest, I decided to include it as an attachment. A few highlights:

Free Water bottles:

• “Reconditioned, Not Wasted” water bottles come from lost and found sites across campus and are thoroughly sanitized. Anytime between 8 am-5 pm, students can pick up a FREE bottle at the Office of Sustainability. Questions? Contact the Zero Waste Intern Avery Lumsden at avery.lumsden25@uga.edu.

Campus Sustainability Grants

• Funded by the Student Green Fee, grants up to $5,000 are available to current UGA students who wish to implement projects to advance sustainability on campus and in our local community. Special consideration will be given to interdisciplinary projects that advance equity and incorporate the arts.
• Proposals are due November 16. Awarded projects are implemented during Spring Semester.
• Visit sustainability.uga.edu/grants for more information.

Sustainable Career Pathways

• This is a great resource for people wanting a career in sustainability. They have compiled sustainability-related job boards, fellowships, conferences, graduate schools, networks, certifications, and more!

BIOL 1108 Tutoring, and other Peer Tutoring Offered through PLaTO

• PLaTO works within the Division of Academic Enhancement to encourage peer learning across the UGA campus.
• Students can book an appointment with a Peer Tutors through the Penji app. They also offer Study Groups in a variety of courses.
• A full list of courses for which tutoring is offered can be found on the Division of Academic Enhancement website: (https://dae.uga.edu/services/tutoring/

IMPACT UGA Roundtables, Wednesday, September 30th

IMPACT UGA is an alternative service break organization that sends students all around the East Coast during Fall, Winter, and Spring break. Each trip has a different social justice focus. This semester they are focusing on Roundtables and Virtual Trips to encourage students to discuss and explore different social justice foci.

• COVID-19 and Systemic Racism Roundtable: 6:30 pm
• Disability Awareness Roundtable: 7:00 pm
• See the attached information for Zoom links

Graduate School Virtual Office Hours

• There is a new resource for undergrads interested in graduate school. Assistant Director, Narke, will be holding virtual office hours every Friday to answer general questions about graduate education at UGA.
• Please see the attached information for details.