Don't forget to check out the ‪#‎NASPA16‬ hashtag this weekend on Facebook and especially Twitter. Lots of great professional development resources.

Also ‪#‎ACPA16‬ just wrapped up so be sure to check that out as well on Twitter.

I have been working at streamlining the WNY Advising site this week, in preparation for the start of the planning processes for the 2015 Uniting Across Campuses conference. So far, my goals have been to:

• Reduce redundant areas of the site.

• Clean up the posts and the pages.
• Consolidating the submission forms
• Eliminating the unused parts of the site (discussions, polls)

In addition, I have also added some information and pages where relevant.

• Other Blogs - Connections to higher ed related blogs.
• Greatly expanded the Twitter page to include more professional chat information.

I could use some more help in identifying and expanding the social media & technology resources.  So please comment below or contact me if you have suggestions for any of the following.

• Blogs that are useful for advising & higher education
• Listserves that are useful for advising & higher education
• Other ideas for making WNY Advising useful for advising professionals.

I still have some more work to do, but if you have any suggestions, please feel free to send them my way or comment below.

by Dr. John Sauter, Jr.
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Niagara University
Coordinator of WNY Advising
jps@niagara.edu
@JohnPSauter

Connect with other WNY Advising professionals who may be attending the same conference as you. Check out our new page where you can post a conference you are attending, strike up a conversation with other attendees by commenting on specific conferences, or even set up a carpool.

To start the conversation, we have posted several NACADA conferences, ACPA, and NASPA.

by Dr. John Sauter, Jr.
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Niagara University
Chair of the 2014 Uniting Across Campuses Conference

The Uniting Across Campuses Advising Conference is a week away.  The conference committee has been working hard and we are excited about all that the conference has to offer this year.  I have a few last minute details to share with you, so please read the email below. 

Specific Dietary Needs (Requests needed by Feb. 19th)

If you have any specific food needs (vegan, gluten free), please fill out the form below so that we can let the Ramada know. This is a time sensitive survey as we need to let them know by the end of the day on February 19th.  The breakfast, lunch & snacks at the conference are similar to those available last year. Vegetarian options such as salad and ziti will be available in the buffet.  You can access the survey (Click here)

Registration / Transferring Registration / Conference Sessions

If you haven’t registered or know of anyone who hasn’t registered, yet, please register soon.  If for some reason you can no longer make it to the conference, you can transfer your registration to someone else by contacting Kate Doran at kmdoran@buffalo.edu (include the new person’s name, title, and institution.  A list of the conference sessions is also located on the main conference page (Click Here).

Optional Networking Sessions (2nd survey)

We are hosting two optional networking discussions during lunch this year.  Based on your feedback we have selected two topics: First Year Retention & Student Advocacy / Promoting Self Reliance. To prepare for the networking sessions we have created a brief survey to solicit questions and comments about the topics to help guide the discussions.  To access the survey (Click Here).

Drawing / Giveaways

We will be holding a drawing for any items donated to the conference after the last session concludes.  If your office or institution has any items you wish to donate for giveaways, please feel free to bring them to the conference or give them to a committee member.

Best wishes and we look forward to seeing you at the conference.

by Dr. John Sauter, Jr.
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Niagara University
Chair of the 2014 Uniting Across Campuses Conference

The optional networking sessions at our conference have been determined.  Thank you for all who participated in our initial survey.

• First Year Retention
• Student Advocacy, Promoting Self-Reliance

If you are interested in joining in the conversation, we will be offering early access to the lunch buffet for anyone who wishes to attend.  You can drop into the sessions anytime from 11:50-12:30 on the day of the conference.

We would like your help in determining what questions might help guide the discussion.  If you have a chance, please visit our Polls & Surveys page to fill out our quick survey on these topics.

by Dr. John Sauter, Jr.
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Niagara University
Chair of the 2014 Uniting Across Campuses Conference

Visit our Conference Page to get a sneak peek at the conference presentations.  I posted all the titles of the selected conference proposals this afternoon

Click Here to View the Conference Schedule

Stay tuned for the networking sessions titles, which will be decided soon.

by Dr. John Sauter, Jr.
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Niagara University
Chair of the 2014 Uniting Across Campuses Conference