August 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 19, Illinois Wesleyan University’s class of 2012 will officially “turn Titan.” The University’s annual “Turning Titan: New Student Orientation” is designed to acclimate incoming first-year students to academic, residential and social aspects of college life. Titan Orientation will culminate on Sunday, Aug. 24, and classes will begin the following Monday.

The Titan Orientation schedule combines support services with entertainment, offering events such as “Traditions Night,” where students can socialize while learning about the University’s history, and “Real World 101,” an onstage send-up of common student anxieties.

Other key events will include: New Student Convocation, an address to be delivered by Chair and McFee Professor of Religion and Humanities Brian Hatcher; “One Stop Shop: a Campus and Community Resource Fair,” which introduces students to local businesses and other services; and the Summer Reading Program, which invites students, faculty and staff to critically discuss a common literary work.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Though the Class of 2012 is officially welcomed to campus on Tuesday, Aug. 19, some Illinois Wesleyan University first-years have already begun the process of immersing themselves in the IWU and Bloomington-Normal communities: 35 incoming international students from 12 countries met in the “global lounge” Friday, Aug. 15. The following day, 36 ALANA (African-American, Latino American, Asian American, and Native American) students arrived on campus. The International Student Orientation and the ALANA Student Orientation are voluntary programs designed to enhance the six-day “Turning Titan: New Student Orientation” program for all incoming students.

The International Student Orientation is meant to help incoming first-years adjust to the practicalities of living in the United States. Participants were offered language tutors, information technology sessions and faculty panels explaining Illinois Wesleyan academic expectations. Students also spent time socializing through activities such as shopping and bowling. “The most important part of what this orientation does is to give these students a chance to create their own community before joining 500 or more students,” said Stacey Shimizu, director of the international office.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Derrick Tillman-Kelly, vice president and secretary-treasurer for the Illinois Wesleyan University chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, attended two fraternity and sorority leadership conferences in June. Both conferences addressed current problems in Greek life and challenged members to come up with workable solutions.

Tillman-Kelly, a class of ’09 biology major, traveled to Atlanta for the weeklong Undergraduate Leadership Institute (ULI) conference in early June. Since 1996, ULI has been dedicated to teaching its members to apply their leadership skills in service to their home universities, communities and to the Kappa Alpha Psi service fraternity, recently named St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s 2009 Volunteer Organization of the Year. Of 150 applicants, only 50 Kappa Alpha Psi members were invited to attend the 2008 ULI conference.

The ULI offered large group lectures but focused mainly on small group discussions, according to Tillman-Kelly. Members were split into five “chapters” where they could talk about their roles within the fraternity and what changes they would like to see made. “The facilitators were just that. They understand that current undergraduate leaders have to be able to network and problem solve among ourselves,” said Tillman-Kelly. “We have the advantage of similar experiences and perspectives, which make us more likely agree on long-term goals.”

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Effective September 2, 2008 Daniel Turner will be the Director of Academic Advising at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Turner, currently the associate director of the Academic Advising Center at Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, will report to Illinois Wesleyan’s Associate Provost for Academic Services Roger Schnaitter. While serving as a member of the Academic Affairs Division, Turner’s responsibilities will be to further the quality and coordination of the University’s existing academic advising programs and implement new advising services, in addition to creating an Academic Advising Center. In fulfilling his duties, Turner will work collaboratively with a University advisory group. He will manage the Center’s day-to-day operations, coordinate the University’s existing faculty advising programs and be available to students for drop in academic advising.

As director, Turner will also assist with Illinois Wesleyan’s student retention efforts, participate in the assessment of academic advising, and coordinate academic advising with the Office of Student Affairs, the Study Abroad Office and the Hart Career Center.

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