Latest data on ACT test scores in Wisconsin shows continued inequalities among students | WLUK

The data over the last five years of ACT test scores shows that there are disparities when it comes to both race and socioeconomic status. UW-Green Bay does require test scores to help admissions place students.

“The way I often explain not just test scores but GPA, both of those are a reflection of the educational context that a school goes through. A student’s ACT scores will often reflect how strong their school is the kinds of resources their school provided to prepare them the experience,” said Vince Lowery, UW-Green Bay director of student success and engagement.

While GPA and test scores are not factors that exclude students, they do help determine if they’ll need staff and peer support, through the Gateway to Phoenix Success Program. “We can connect them with the resources they need and often cases didn’t previously have access to. those students can and have and will continue to thrive at UWGB,” said Lowery.

Source: Latest data on ACT test scores in Wisconsin shows continued inequalities among students | WLUK

From GPS to graduate school, Shayla Warren has growing aspirations

Shayla Warren studies the long-term neural impact of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) with the Neuroscience Lab and its faculty members at UW-Green Bay. It’s a massive undertaking for an undergraduate student that could have significant implications on everything from youth sports to accidents on the playground.

Shayla Warren-1
Shayla Warren

What made it even more interesting, though, is the journey Shayla’s taken from a relatively shy, first-generation college student from a small town in northern (Ashland, Wis.) Wisconsin to a confident soon-to-be psychology graduate with doctoral aspirations. Warren plans to continue her research and then apply to graduate school for programs related to psychology or neuroscience.

“This is an opportunity that most undergraduates don’t have, at least not quite as hands-on as my experience was working with EEG, to the best of my knowledge,” she said. “I am very thankful to have been apart of the Neuroscience Lab.”

Earlier this year, she was one of six speakers at the PSI Talks, a venue for outstanding psychology students and psychology alumni to present their research, their internships or jobs, or just discuss about how a psychological concept relates to something from their life. See her talk on Traumatic Brain Injury.

‘CAHSS and Effect’ interview features Assistant Prof. Jason Cowell and Psychology student

The latest from “CAHSS and Effect” includes a conversation with Assistant Prof. Jason Cowell (Psychology) and Psychology student Shayla Warren. Warren arrived at UW-Green Bay enrolled in the Gateways to Phoenix Success (GPS) program, and now is studying the long-term neural impact of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and has doctoral aspirations. Warren has been working in Cowell’s Neuroscience Lab. Check out this insightful interview, conducted by Prof. and Associate Dean Ryan Martin (Psychology, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences).

GPS students deliver toys to St. Vincent’s

The students of American Government and Politics, a Gateways to Phoenix Success (GPS) class taught by Associate Professor Aaron Weinschenk (Public and Environmental Affairs), recently raised money and purchased toys for HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital as part of a service learning project. The students raised the funds through a bake sale.

Photo: @aaronweinschenk via Twitter 

Reminder: GPS service learning project/pageant for House of Hope is Monday, May 6

Every year since the program was started, students participating in the Gateways to Phoenix Success (GPS) program at UW-Green Bay have participated in a service learning project during their second semester. These projects are a chance for students to give back to their community using what they learned in class during the first semester. This year, the Green Justice GPS class is running a beauty pageant fundraiser called “Cycle of Beauty” for House of Hope, a local shelter. House of Hope provides emergency shelter and housing stability programs for young parents experiencing homelessness, and their children. The largest population of House of Hope residents each year are infants and children under the age of five. Cycle of Beauty will be held on Monday May 6, 2019 at the University Theatre from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $3 for students, $5 for faculty and community members.

GPS students are collecting donations for the Campus Cupboard

Students in Associate Lecturer Alexander Bozzo’s section of the Gateways to Phoenix Success (GPS) program, are collecting donations for the campus cupboard during the weeks of April 28 and May 5. Any donations will be appreciated, but the cupboard is particularly in need of tuna, toilet paper, peanut butter and any canned goods. If you wish to donate, please drop these items off at the listed locations below, or contact Emily Gerlikovski at gerler07@uwgb.edu if you would rather have them picked up somewhere else on campus. If you have any questions, please contact Bozzo or Emily Gerlikovski. Look for the GPS students on these dates and locations:

-East B Table, April 30 and May 1, near UW Credit Union
-Rustic Range Table, April 29, May 2 and 3
-Cloud Commons Table, May 6 through May 9

Prof. Vince Lowery named director of Student Success and Engagement

UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Vince Lowery (Humanities, History) will be joining the academic affairs administrative team at UW-Green Bay as the director of Student Success and Engagement. Lowery’s appointment is effective April 1, 2019.  He will report to Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Clifton Ganyard.

Vince Lowery
Prof. Vince Lowery

Lowery’s duties include the oversight and development of the Gateways to Phoenix Success (GPS) program, the development of academic access opportunities for underrepresented students, the coordination of GPS and related programs with Student Affairs offices such as the MESA and the Pride Center, the coordination of GPS and related programs with Enrollment Services offices such as Admissions and Advising, collaborating with CATL to expand student success and professional development opportunities, developing greater opportunities for student engagement in high impact experiences, and oversight of First-Year Seminars.

Lowery has been engaged in this work for several years, first as an instructor in the GPS and for the past year as interim director of Gateways to Phoenix Success (GPS) program. In this role he has provided crucial leadership in student recruitment, program development, staff training and organizational management. Lowery will continue to teach First-Year Seminars and in the GPS and Peer Mentors programs.

Lowery teaches courses in African American History, U.S. Immigration History and Ethnic Studies, as well as courses on science fiction, including his popular First Year Seminar on Doctor Who. His research focuses on immigration programs in the turn-of-the-century U.S. South, and he is currently working on an article on the relationship between these programs and U.S. immigration law, research particularly relevant to current events. Lowery joined UW-Green Bay in 2009 after earning his Ph.D. in History at the University of Mississippi.

Next installment of ‘Tough Talks’ set for Wednesday (Mar. 6)

“Tough Talks: Teaching to the Transition from High School to College” with Associate Prof. Vince Lowery (History, Humanities), interim director of the GPS Program, will be taking place on Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Mary Ann Cofrin Hall Room 201 or virtually via Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. Sign up.

More about the talk:

“We often assume that when students enter our classrooms they’re prepared to engage in conversations and work on our terms, but have you ever stopped to think about what they understand education to be based on in relation to their high school experiences? Or, perhaps more importantly, what they’re going through outside the classroom as they adapt to a new environment? If you have, to what extent does your course reflect and effort to support students through that transition? We’ll tackle this tough talk and the ways we might best support a successful transition for first-year students.”

GPS co-director search on hold

Due to the absence of a director of Student Success and Engagement, the associate provost has decided to postpone the search for a GPS co-director.  An interim GPS director has been identified, and the GPS program will continue to operate as normal for the coming academic year. Once a new director of Student Success and Engagement has been hired, the GPS co-director position will be re-evaluated and posted as appropriate. Those who already have applied for the co-director position have been notified of the position’s postponement. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding.