Each summer the Central Association of College and University Business Officers sponsor the Leadership Development Institute at Wichita State University.  In June 2011, three staff from the University Bursar's office participated in a four day workshop, "How Effective Leaders Get Things Done."  R. P. Clinton Distinguished Professor of Management at Wichita State, Dr. Gerald Graham, uses the concepts of Strength Based Leadership to teach senior and middle managers in business, finance and administrative roles a new approach to hiring, placing, and supervising staff.  Dr. Graham states, the program is "designed to promote your continued professional development" by enhance your knowledge of the impact of leadership styles.

Participants identify their personal strengths through a online assessment.  Dr. Graham uses Strength Based Leadership by Rath and Conchie, First Break All the Rules by Buckingham and Coffman, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Lencioni as the text.  Participants work through the concepts presented and apply them to their particular work situation.

Pat Woods, SMU University Bursar, is translating her experience to her managers.  She has provided managers with access to the Strengths assessment and

copies of the books used at the Institute.  The managers in small groups are working through the Strength Based Leadership book in preparation for a two day retreat prior to the end of the fall term.

Woods is implementing several of the Strength initiatives in hiring and placing of staff. 

Undergraduate Admission
has busy fall

The Undergraduate Admission staff as well as the recruiters from the undergraduate schools are wrapping up a busy fall that clocked many miles across the United States and around the world.  The reports on Early Action applications show an increase of not only the number of applications but a significant increase of  completed applications.  Wes Waggoner, Dean of Admission, feels the Mustang App has enhanced the completion of the admission applications.  The quality of the applicants also shows an increase in SAT scores.

An addition to the undergraduate admission calendar is the school Spotlights.  Dedman College and the 4 schools offering undergraduate programs invited prospective students and their families to SMU for a more in depth look at each of their degree programs.  Held on different days throughout the fall term, prospective students could tour the facilities of each school, talk with faculty, and discuss their educational goals with recruiters. 

Dedman College welcomed over 300 prospective students and their families.  Students sat in on two classes in their area of academic interest while parents got tips about the partnership they have with SMU when their student matriculates.  Deanie Kepler, Director of Parent and Family Programs shared the ways that parents of successful students can support the growth of their student as they become Emerging Adults.  Parents also were treated to a lecture by Professors David Meltzer and Mark Chancey.

The spotlights were a pilot.  The responses from the schools as well as the families will determine the future of this type of programming.

Tuition Calculator
Allows Families to Understand the Cost of Attendance

In August of 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 was signed into federal law.  The legislation requires postsecondary institutions receiving federal student aid and enrolling first time, full-time undergraduates to provide a net price calculator (NPC) on the schools website.  The Act states the NPC is "to help current and prospective students, families, and other consumers to estimate the individual net price of an institution of higher education for a student."  Net price is the difference between a college's average cost of attendance and the need/merit based grant aid awards available to the student.  Elise Miller, program director of the U. S. Department of Education Postsecondary  Education Data Systems states, "We just want to break down the myth of 'sticker price' and get beyond it.  This is to give students some indication that they will not be paying that full price."

Prior to the signing of the Act, Bradley University and several other colleges posted calculators to assist students in estimating the cost of attendance.  David Pardieck, Director of Financial Assistance at Bradley, explains "In order to best serve our student population, we are dedicated to providing a fully transparent financial process."

The SMU Net Price Calculator was posted prior to the October 29, 2011 deadline and can be located on the Financial Aid website.