Online learning has many advantages: 1) students can access online courses 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 2) students, especially those who are strongly motivated and self-directing, can move at their own pace, and 3) at WISR at least, many required readings are available for free through WISR's subscriptions with LIRN (https://proxy.lirn.net/WesternInstForSocRsch User name: 58879 PW: kindscale93 ) and the use of Open Access resources as well as the use of Kanopy films accessed by membership in a public library of a major city in California, or in the case of MFT students, journals accessed by a student membership in CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists).
Many online programs, however, are not set up to provide students with intensive, regular, and personalized interactions with faculty. At WISR, faculty members want, and expect, to meet often and regularly with students. In these meetings they aim to help students navigate the online courses, discuss and understand the readings and the assignments, and also pursue their own particular interests through their studies.
Students should plan to consult with at least one WISR faculty member when you are beginning each course, and regularly (at least once every two weeks or more often, as needed) throughout the course!!!! Students may find a faculty advisor who is qualified to supervise all, or almost all, of their courses, or from time to time, a student may wish to work with a faculty member other than their primary advisor, on a particular course. So for example, an MFT student may choose one of three faculty qualified to supervisor all or most of their studies in each MFT course, but still, choose to consult with another faculty member in a course in which that faculty member is especially expert (be it psychopharmacology, cross-cultural counseling, action research, or psychopathology, for example).
Rarely, but occasionally, students may encounter a broken link for a required reading, or encounter an unexpected question, or problem about a course assignment or direction. Faculty want WISR students to contact them by email immediately whenever a student has a difficulty or question they need help with!
If a student wants assistance in identifying an additional or different faculty member from whom to seek help, they should contact WISR's CEO/President or WISR's Chief Academic Officer. In addition, the Coordinator of Student Services is another valuable member of the WISR team whose job is to help students to be successful in their studies at WISR. Contact information for all these faculty and staff can be found at: https://www.wisr.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty-profiles/
WISR’s Student Services Coordinator specializes in helping students to address potentially unmet needs, especially in relation to their WISR degree studies. The definition of this role and position may evolve over time, but for now, here are the following roles for the Student Services Coordinator:
An additional person whom students may seek out for added academic support, especially when they are having difficulties in progressing with their studies, and/or when they want to either change faculty advisors or gain the support from an additional faculty person. This will help us in our current, more intense efforts, to make sure that all enrolled students make progress during every six-month period.
A person whom students may seek out to get counseling referrals, including when they may be uncomfortable asking their faculty advisor for a referral.
An additional person, beyond the Board Chair and the CEO whom students may contact in the event of a sexual harassment issue, as well as in cases where there may be bullying or misunderstandings involving other students or faculty.
Currently, the Student Services Coordinator is WISR Faculty Member, Dr. Steven Pomerantz [ steven.pomerantz@wisr.edu 916 774-6112 ].
If for any reason, a student has difficulty contacting the Student Services Coordinator, or they would prefer to contact someone else, they may contact WISR’s President, Dr. John Bilorusky [ johnb@wisr.edu ]