<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Dear Colleagues,<br><br>As discussed in the last faculty meeting, we are looking at ways to increase undergraduate enrollment and improve the academic experience for these students. We have made significant gains recently: namely, enrollment has exceeded the 7 year plateau and more than 35 of our current 58 students declaring Plant Science as their major within the past 12 months. However, as Dr. Larkin’s pointed out, the RCM funding model requires continued program growth and this rate of growth is possible with support from the school’s primary asset – the faculty. To this end, he has proposed the development of a Faculty-Mentor Program to facilitate greater interaction between undergraduates and faculty in the Plant Sciences. This note is to follow up with that discussion.<br> <br><b><u>The goals of the program are to:<br></u></b>1. Enhance existing efforts directed at increasing student enrollment through recruiting and retention.<br>2. Improve student learning, engagement in the campus community, and enhance professional preparation. <br> <br><b><u>The program requires:<br></u></b>1. Current students will be matched and assigned to faculty by request (if you currently work with PLS undergraduates) or by me, based on my knowledge of student and faculty interests. <br><br>2. Faculty will arrange with their assigned students to meet twice per semester to discuss questions relating to the students’ professional development in their chosen career track.<br><br>3. I will provide a packet of resources so that faculty mentors will be able to refer students to specialists as needed for assistance beyond the scope of the faculty-mentor program goals. Many additional resources will allow faculty to defer to tutors, academic advisors, learning specialists, disability services, counseling etc. and focus solely on mentoring activities which promote student professional development and professional engagement. <br><br>4. Faculty will record the frequency of student visits as a metric to assess the program’s impact.<br><br>5. Students’ views on the program will be assessed through the graduation exit survey.<br><br> <br><b><u>What you can do now:<br></u></b>Current students hearing of this proposed program are eager to accept assignments. If you are able to accept a student mentoring assignment please state your interest in participating in this program by replying to me. If you have a preference or limit to the number of students you are willing to mentor (2 is ideal), or if you are already working with a PLS undergraduate student please let me know about this as well. I will follow up shortly with assignments and appropriate resources you might find useful.</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><br></span><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'> <br> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Tanya M. Quist</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Assistant Professor & Academic Advisor</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>319 Forbes Bldg. School of Plant Sciences</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Plant Sciences Office: (520) 621-1582<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Director, University of Arizona Campus Arboretum</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>101 Herring Hall University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Arboretum Office: (520) 621-7074</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Website:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#4F6228'> <a href="http://arboretum.arizona.edu/"><span style='color:blue'>http//:arboretum.arizona.edu</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'>Email: </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#4F6228'><a href="mailto:infoarboretum@ag.arizona.edu"><span style='color:blue'>infoarboretum@ag.arizona.edu</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";color:#365F91'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:Webdings;color:#76923C'>P</span></b><b><span style='color:#76923C'> Please consider the environment before printing this email</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>