|
Sandra
Meyer |
Pennsylvania
State University
University
Park, PA |
Platform
Statement:
Highlight
your previous involvement within this unit that will help
you in leading this unit. What roles have you played within
this particular unit as a member thus far? |
My
role to date has been to offer expertise to Commission members on
advising student athletes and encouraging resource sharing to mutually
benefit both full-time athletic/academic advisors and campus academic
advisors (not in athletics). I have been a member of the Commission
for three years.
As a facilitator for NACADA's online course, "Academic Success and
the Student-Athlete," I learned from colleagues at nationwide (and
Canadian) campuses about their concerns in working with this population.
What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives
for this unit in meeting the strategic plan for both the unit and
the Association?
The
Commission needs a strategic plan to ensure that student-athlete
welfare isn't ignored during this time of APR and GSR. Developing
an online file of best practices and an interactive forum for Commission
members are two goals. Educating Commission members about areas
in which they might not have a lot of expertise given that their
primary advisees on their respective campuses are not student athletes
is also a priority. I represented Region II on the steering committee
from 2006 to the present.
As advisors, we need to be aware of the "management" movement that
has replaced the leadership in college athletics. I strongly believe
that we can't become "academic managers" whose task is improving
the APR or GSR for the assigned student-athlete population.
Why are you interested in serving in this leadership position or
what influenced you to run for this leadership position?
Having worked
with student athletes for over 20 years as well as having served
in N4A leadership positions, I am definitely qualified to serve
as chair of this Commission. As Past President of the N4A and a
member of its Board of Directors from 1993-2008, I have gleaned
a wealth of information to assist in advising/counseling student
athletes. At Penn State, I have successfully interacted with college
advising units, especially the Division of Undergraduate Studies,
in providing resources for this special population to formulate
its educational plans. Serving as chair of this Commission will
allow me to share my expertise and guide the group toward its goals.
Provide
any additional comments or information (either
personal or leadership-related)
that you want potential voters to know about you that is not covered
elsewhere in your platform information.
A
former English instructor and Basic Writing Coordinator at Penn
State, I have been a developmental educator, both in the English
Department and in athletics, since 1980. In today's changing environment
of intercollegiate athletics, we need to make sure that student
athletes have an opportunity to fully explore majors/careers before
their third year.
Past
Involvement in NACADA:
Years
in NACADA: 4 years
National
Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While
in Office:
Regional
Activities/Offices Held, including accomplishments achieved while
in office:
Committee/Task
Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:
Commission/Interest
Group Activities and Accomplishments:
- Current
member, Advising Student Athletes Commission
- Member
of commission steering committee
Other:
- Over
20 years experience advising student athletes
- President,
National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A),
2005-2006
- Presenter,
NCAA Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, 2006
- Presenter,
D1A CHAMPS Life Skills Conference, 2006
- Presenter
N4A National Convention, 2006 & 2008
- Presenter,
National Consortium for Academics and Sport (NCAS), 2006
- Recipient,
Houghton Mifflin "Promoting First-Year Student-Athlete Success
Excellence in Instruction Award," 2005
- Over 20 years
as First-Year Enrichment Coordinator for Penn State student athletes
- Facilitator
for the NACADA "Academic Success and the Student-Athlete" online
course
- NACADA Proposal
Reviewer for 2008 National Convention
|
