The University of Texas at Arlington

NEXT GENERATION INITIATIVES

2015 - 1st Year

PURPOSE • The goal of the Next Generation Initiatives is to push the

boundaries of student development thought and practice toward new frontiers.

• It does this by incentivizing then supporting innovation that will enhance the student experience and promote higher levels of student success.

• Seed grants are being awarded to pilot new programs or services with transformational potential.

• Based on assessment data after the pilot, those demonstrating the deepest impact will taken to scale and funded for the longer term

• In its inaugural year, twenty-two evocative proposals were received. The NGI Selection Committee selected seven (7) winners.

NGI TIMELINE - 2015• Mid-February: Call for Proposals

• Mid-February to March 16: Proposal Collection

• Mid-March to April 3: Committee Review and Finalist Selection

• 2nd Week of April: Interviews with Finalists

• Mid-May: Announcement of NGIA Winners

PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP

Collaborative Programming – Student Governance/Office of International Education

• Jointly-sponsored programs encouraging interaction and relationship-building between domestic and international students.

Communication Internship Program – Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

• A multi-faceted marketing/communication internship program for undergraduate students studying within the UT Arlington Department of Communication.

Fraternal Leadership Institute – Fraternity and Sorority Life

• An off-campus and overnight leadership retreat for UT Arlington fraternity men.

PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP

Late Night Bash – University Events/Campus Recreation/Student Activities

• An all-night event for students featuring open microphone opportunities, recreational activities and dynamic entertainment.

LGBTQA Mentoring Program – LGBTQA Program

• An LGBTQA staff/faculty-to-student mentoring program.

Maverick Film Festival – Student Activities and Organizations

• A campus-wide student filmmaking festival.

PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP

Mavericks for the Performing Arts – University Events

• Discounted tickets for UT Arlington students to four excursions per school year to a variety of performing arts venues in the DFW Metroplex.

Mavs Camp – New Maverick Orientation/Fraternity and Sorority Life

• Extended orientation program for first-year students to build connections and enhance their pride in being a Maverick.

Minority Mavericks Student Ambassador Scholarship Exchange – International Office

• Two $2,500 study abroad scholarships to assist students from underrepresented backgrounds with the costs of studying abroad, engaging in service while abroad, and sharing their experiences with peers on returning.

PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP

Movies Without Borders – Student Activities and Organizations/International Office

• Screenings of internationally-acclaimed movies to aid students in understanding different cultures through facilitated campus conversations.

Next Generation Leaders – The Leadership Center

• A day-long leadership conference for student leaders, student executive board members and student organization presidents.

Orientacion Familiar – New Maverick Orientation

• A family orientation program conducted in Spanish for Spanish-speaking parents.

PROPOSALS RECEIVED – RUNNERS UP

Out of the Blue – Student Activities and Organizations

• Pop-up/flash programming to provide an opportunity for EXCEL to connect with new students outside of normal events.

Shorthorn Volunteer Voices – Student Publications

• Volunteer student writers from across disciplines and demographics to regularly write and publish UTA-focused columns and letters to the editor in The Shorthorn.

Student Multimedia Services – Student Publications

• Multimedia (photo, audio and video) services available to on and off-campus departments and clients provided by Shorthorn student staff.

THE SEVEN AWARD WINNERS

1. Anytime iAdvising2. The Cricket Pitch3. Graduate Student Career Connections4. International Social Justice Project5. Men and Masculinities Series6. Parent Mavericks7. RVSP Peer Advocates

ANYTIME iAdvisingThe Office of International Education

ANYTIME iADVISING: MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF

• A series of engaging instructional videos on a range of topics of interest to international students

• Growing number of international students• World-wide 24/7 viewing access• Trailblazing

Why?

ANYTIME iADVISING: MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF

Convenience > 600 applications for Optional Practical Training (OPT) per year Additional Topics Leading

Impact:

ANYTIME iADVISING: MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF

October November December January February March April

Series 1 Series 2

Timeline:

ANYTIME iADVISING: MEETING MILLENIALS ON THEIR TURF

THE CRICKET PITCHCampus Recreation

THE CRICKET PITCH

About:

• Cricket: The second most popular sport in the world and rapidly growing in the United States.

• Pitch: A European term used to describe the circular field of play.

THE CRICKET PITCH

THE CRICKET PITCH

Why Cricket Pitch?

• Currently, while hundreds of students play cricket weekly in UTA parking lots there are no proper or safe places to play on campus.

• Create a collaboration with Apartment & Residence Life and International Education to serve current student needs.

• Renovation of South Complex space would have impacts for current and the future students.

THE CRICKET PITCH

Impact:

• Offer a diverse recreational activity that promotes healthy lifestyles.

• Assist international student retention and recruitment.• Build upon nationally-successful cricket sport club.

THE CRICKET PITCH

Timeline:

• Early Fall 2015: South Complex area preparation• Late Fall 2015: Pitch installation• Spring 2016: Programming begins• Late Spring 2016: Assessment conducted

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER CONNECTIONSGraduate Student Senate/Career Development Center

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER CONNECTIONS

About:

• Set of events aimed at providing tools to help UT Arlington graduate students with career preparation.

• Events include: • How to prepare graduate level resumes/CVs.• Discussions on alternative careers delivered by industry professionals.• Career workshops by experts who specialize in graduate students.• Creating and IDP (individual development plan).• Identification of specific graduate level opportunities.• Effectively communicating your research, and more.

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER CONNECTIONS

Why Graduate Student Career Connections?

• UT Arlington is an emerging research institution.• It’s important for graduate students to have necessary

career training to help them stand tall in a highly competitive job market for advanced degree holders.

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER CONNECTIONS

Impact:

• Helping grad students gain skills that can help lead to getting jobs that their long years of study deserve.

• The entire graduate student body – 9,000+ students stand to benefit from this program.

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER CONNECTIONS

Timeline:

• Summer 2015: Planning• Fall 2015: First two events• Spring 2016: Second two events, review and feedback

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECTThe Leadership Center/The Office of International Education

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT

About:

• Series of programs inviting students from diverse cultural backgrounds to present a social justice issue faced in their cultures or countries.

• Students present in an educational way with skits, presentations or other active means.

• Participants engage in an interactive dialogue about solutions and ways to get involved locally.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT

Why International Social Justice Project?

• Diverse and changing world, especially on campus. • Provide learning opportunities for students to dialogue around social

justice issues that they are not familiar, don’t understand or disagree with on a personal basis.

• Social Change Model-Controversy with Civility = the ability to have conversations on difficult topics, but in a respectful manner.

• Provides students that opportunity to receive information and cultural awareness on issues related to injustice in an engaging and non-threatening atmosphere.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT

Impact:

• Leadership development through social justice lens.• Student-led program development.• Interactive dialogue.• Promotes critical thinking skills.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT

Timeline:

• Early Fall 2015 – outreach to student organizations asking for feedback on social justice issues affecting their country or culture. Choose fall topics and agenda of presenters. Follow same protocol for Spring 2016.

• Tentative dates for Fall 2015 events – 10/14/15, 11/18/15, 2/9/16, 3/2/16.

• A survey will be used for immediate feedback from participants.

MEN AND MASCILINITIES SERIESMulticultural Affairs

MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES

About:

• Education regarding spectrum of masculinities.• Men’s issues• Student success• Health/wellness• Issues regarding underrepresented and or at risk

students.

MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES

Why Men and Masculinities Series?

• National associations (ACPA (American College Personnel Association) and NASPA (National Association for Student Personnel Administrators) identified a need for education and support services.

• Need further support through research.• Increase male student persistence and retention at

UT Arlington.

MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES

Impact:

• Retention• Student-initiated programming• Intentional dialogue• Student development

MEN AND MASCULINITIES SERIES

Timeline:

Hire M&M Student Chair May 22, 2015

Program planning for fall 2015 June – August, 2015

Marketing/Advertising July - April, 2016

Intentional fall programs/events (e.g., brown bag dialogue, keynote speaker)

September – December, 2015

Program planning for spring 2016 October – December, 2015

Intentional spring 2016 programs/events (e.g., Networking social)

January – April, 2016

Review assessment for future planning May 31, 2016

PARENT MAVERICKSOff-Campus Mavericks

PARENT MAVERICKS

About:

• A program for students with children to come together and meet as a community.

• Programs: mix and mingle (one time per semester) and family events (two times per semester).

PARENT MAVERICKS

Why Parent Mavericks?

• The Washington Post (2013): Of the 20 million+ students enrolled at colleges and universities across the nation – only one-third fit traditional description.

• Institute for Women’s Policy Research (2011): About 3.9 million student parents are enrolled as undergraduates.

• Students who are also parents report lower levels of connection with peers and home university.

PARENT MAVERICKS

Impact:

• 2014 UT Arlington transfer student survey – around 20% indicated having one or two dependent children.

• 2014 Student Affairs involvement survey.

PARENT MAVERICKS

Timeline:

• Email potential partners for Parent Mavericks committee.• June: First meetings on event ideas.• July: Solidify event dates and assessment plan.

Two surveys will be distributed throughout this first year. Fall (Mid-Semester) - Satisfaction

Spring (End of Semester) - Needs

• August: Final preparations for first event.Fall Potential Dates:

Mix & Mingle - Aug. 27th or Sept. 3rd Family Events - Sept. 24th & Nov. 19th

Spring Potential Dates: Mix & Mingle - Jan. 21st or Jan 28th Family Events - Feb. 11th & Apr. 14th

PEER ADVOCATESRelationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Program

 

 

PEER ADVOCATES

About:

• Embed student peer advocates in all UT Arlington residence halls to promote awareness of sexual assault and relationship violence.

• Provide a familiar face within residence halls so a student can disclose an assault.

• Make referrals to RVSAP Office for appropriate further action.

PEER ADVOCATES

Why?

• 1 in 3 experience sexual violence within their lifetime.• 20% report their experience to an authority.• 65-75% will report to a friend/family member.• Survivors need resources and support that is

accessible and non-threatening.• Residences are central to student experience.

PEER ADVOCATES

Impact:

• Education for students in the residence halls.• Advocacy for students who feel they don’t have

anyone to turn to.• Support available to students 24/7.

PEER ADVOCATES

Timeline:

• May 2015: Collaborate with ARL to prepare infrastructure.• June/August 2015: Recruit/train peer advocates• September 2015: Launch program, peer advocates

present Bringing in the Bystander to residence halls.• January 2016: Peer advocates present Healthy

Relationships in residence halls.• May 2016: Evaluate program.

CLOSING REMARKSVice President for Student Affairs