GOLDEN, Colo., June 3, 2015 – The Center for Academic Services and Advising (CASA) program, Faculty at CASA, received the 2015 National Academic Advising Association Outstanding Institutional Advising Program Certificate of Merit. The award is presented in recognition of innovative and/or exemplary practices that have resulted in the improvement of academic advising services.
“This is a wonderful way to celebrate the collaboration between CASA and faculty in support of Mines students,” said Amy Argyris, CASA Academic Advising Coordinator. “The focus of the program is to bring faculty from across campus together to assist students in a unique way, outside the traditional academic setting.”
Last year, two professors exemplified the collaborative spirit of the program when they discussed the writing challenges they observed with chemistry lab reports being presented to the Mines Writing Center and the Chemistry and Geochemistry Department. To combat this, Chemistry Teaching Associate Professor Renee Falconer and Liberal Arts and International Studies Adjunct Professor Justin Latici worked together to construct a chemistry lab-report writing class.
“Faculty at CASA is critical for fostering trans-departmental relationships, and growing our understanding of not just the work being done in these various departments, but how the needs of the students can be met more collaboratively,” said Latici.
When students visit CASA, they will notice walls adorned with student art, a study library with a gas fireplace, and de-stressing games such as Rubik’s Cubes, Legos and puzzles. In this space, four faculty members host weekly office hours, exam preparation sessions and participate in CASA’s Pre-Finals Workshop.
These elements aim to provide a neutral area that fosters student engagement and help-seeking behavior, and the Faculty at CASA program hopes to bring a faculty presence to this space.
Faculty at CASA will receive the award at the NACADA Annual Conference in Las Vegas this fall.
Contact:
Kathleen Morton, Communications Coordinator / 303-273-3088 / KMorton@mines.edu
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations / 303-273-3541 / KGilbert@mines.edu