A WISR faculty member who is chosen by a new student to be one of their initial faculty advisors, and who agrees to this role, should cover the following matters in an hour (or if needed a bit longer) orientation session with the new student.
Answer questions that the student has about WISR’s curriculum and learning process, and about any other matters regarding their studies at WISR.
Emphasize to the student the importance of their meeting regularly (once every two weeks at a minimum is recommended) either with them and/or another faculty member. Also, emphasize to students the importance of their asking faculty questions—in meetings and by email between meetings.
Emphasize the importance of contacting a faculty member, or alternatively, Steven Pomerantz, the Student Services Coordinator, when they encounter any challenges or difficulties with which they want help. [Students should be informed that more information about the Student Services Coordinator can be found in the Guide to WISR’s Online Courses, under “Working Closely with Faculty” [ https://sites.google.com/wisr.edu/guide-to-wisrs-online-courses/introduction/working-closely-with-faculty ]
If any readings, videos, or links that are required or recommended are no longer available online, inform a faculty member or the President. This is especially important with articles that are supposed to be available online through CAMFT—since quite commonly a few of these articles do become unavailable, and we need to keep track of this. Faculty can discuss with the student possible alternative readings, or suggest that they choose a different reading among the options listed.
Remind the students about the first two courses that they are to pursue: a) for all degree programs, the Research Course; b) also for the MFT program, Theories and Methods of MFT Part I, and c) for the MS in Ed & Community Leadership program and EdD program, also “Learning the WISR Way”. Mention to MFT students that they may wish to read the content of the MS “Learning the WISR Way” course (MS 501) but not do the written assignments—just to get better oriented to WISR.
Make sure the student has their wisr.edu email account and knows how to use it, and make sure they have the link to the “Guide to WISR’s Online Courses”: https://sites.google.com/wisr.edu/guide-to-wisrs-online-courses/home
And take a few minutes to go over the content of what is found in that Guide and urge that they read through the Guide in the first week, and then contact you, or any faculty member, including the President, if they have questions.
Spend 20 minutes or so discussing with them the following two documents on WISR’s Honor Code and policies and practices on Authentic Learning and Academic Integrity, and then the two of you will download, sign and date the first document listed below:
● Procedures for Maintaining “Authentic Learning and Academic Integrity” at WISR
Have the student fill out the New Student Questionnaire About Your Decision To Enroll At WISR
If they haven’t already done so, have the student download the following forms, to use as part of their required coursework:
Action-Research Project Proposal to Faculty and to IRB Chair