Central Washington University
Wildcat Connections' Program
Address: 400 E. 8th Ave.
City: Ellensburg
State: WA
Zip or Postal Code: 98923-7513
Country: U.S.A.
Program Director (or best person to contact): Dawn Melton
Email: MeltonDa@cwu.edu
Phone: 509.963.1335
Fax: 509.963.1892
Web Address:
Brief Program Summary
The Wildcat Connections Program is a living learning program designed to assist first-year college students with their adjustment to CWU and the transitional and academic issues they will face. Housed in ten designated freshmen halls, program elements include the following: Summer Orientation, Welcome Weekend, and The First Six Weeks (and beyond) a program series that is facilitated by the Residence Life Staff dealing with academic and transitional issues; Living-Learning Communities involve collaborative programming effors amoung faculty and hall staff; Faculty Mentors are assigned to each of the Freshmen halls; and Community Living Agreements are implemented in every residence hall. Living-Learning Communities are also integrated into one upper-class hall.
Sources of funding
Programs are funded by student housing fees.
Program Reports To:
Stacy Klippentstein, Director of Residence Life/New Student Programs
Are students charged an additional fee: No
The number of persons in each of the following categories are teaching academic credit bearing courses
Fulltime Tenured Faculty: 3
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 6
Fulltime Instructors: 4
Fulltime Retired Faculty: 0
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty: 1
Fulltime Graduate Students: 0
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff: 10
Parttime Tenured Faculty: 0
Parttime Probationary Faculty: 0
Parttime Instructors: 0
Parttime Retired Faculty: 0
Parttime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Parttime Graduate Students: 0
Parttime Residence Hall Staff: 6
Academic staff involved in the program that weren't included as faculty above
(Academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing academic services to students such as advising.)
Fulltime Academic Staff: 3
Parttime Academic Staff: 0
Non-academic staff involved in the program
(Non-academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing services that do not directly involve academics such as residence hall staff or staff who organize social activities that are not tied to academics.)
Fulltime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 69
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 0
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 117
Second Year: 39
Third Year: 10
Fourth Year and above: 0
Graduate Students: 0
Total Number of Students: 166
Year the Program Began:2000
Academic Courses Offered In The Community
N/A
Other Academic Offerings
N/A
Classrooms in hall
Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget N/A
Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
Two computer labs equipped with 15-20 computers located in Barto and Kennedy Residence Halls.
The Role of Community Partnerships
We provide opportunities for the students involved in the academic programs to interact with the surrounding community such as an elementary class pen pal project with students from our Education Living-Learning Community.
The Role of Leadership Development
Hall staff goes through an extensive selection process and are required to take a 3 credit psychology course prior to being hired. In depth two-week training is provided for both the professional and also the student staff. Residence Hall Councils are in each hall, which combine to make the Residence Hall Association.
The Role of Research
N/A
Summary of Assessment Activities
ACUHO-I EBI has been used for four years. This is used to assess satisfaction with Residence Assistant staff in freshman buildings. Focus groups meet after the first two months; resident outreach is conducted by each hall staff memeber; preassessment and postassessment's are conducted among studnets participaing in the Living-Learning Communities; and all residents participate in the ACUHO-I survey.
Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
N/A
The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
N/A
How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
Staff are trained in the spring and prior to fall quarter to create an inclusive community and provide diverse programs such as the International House Objective.
How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
N/A
Student Demographics
N/A
Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time:
Salary Supplement:
Travel Funds:
Other:
Description of Other Rewards
Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
Participating faculty represent the following disciplines: Student Affairs, English, Philosophy, Military Science, Geography, Math, Heath Education, Biology, Economics, Education, Geological Sciences, Flight Technology, Music, Foreign Languages and International Studies.
Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
yes
Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:
Developing collaborative partnerships across campus and maintaining faculty interest and involvement without a reward system built into the program.
Suggested Bibliography
Residental Nexus; Student Learning Imperative; Residence Life Programs and the FYE-ACUHO-I series #5.