Have You Worked with a SAP Specialist?

For the last year, WGU providing the assistance and expertise of Learning Specialists called SAP Specialists to help students get the most out of their academic experience and to help students get the most value for their tuition dollar.

Check out the SAP Tip of the Week blog to learn more about SAP Specialists and to see some recent study tips.

SAP Specialists focusing on teaching:

•  Improving Time Management
•  Creating Support
•  Establishing Purpose
•  Managing Unexpected Events (life circumstances such as divorce, health, family obligations)
•  Using Quality Study Strategies 

SAP Specialist have an 8 week mini-series of calls that they present (one per week) which focus on these topics.

To start taking advantage of this valuable resource, contact your Mentor.

WGU Closed 4 Days in December

WGU Closing for the Holidays
Have a wonderful holiday season and be sure to take time for family and friends.

Be sure to make arrangements with your mentor to update them my email or phone as is appropriate for your academic standing. Most mentors will be taking the university holidays of Dec 24th and 25th as well as Dec 31st and Jan 1st off.  If you will not me available for your scheduled call, be sure to make arrangements with your mentor.

Contact with your mentor = Attendance

For tips on being productive over the break, check out the new WGU SAP Tips blog.

Best Wishes!

Shared Google Calendar for WGU Natural Science COS Mentor Chats

If you are enrolled in INC1/ INC1 there is now a shared Google calendar that you can use to copy Live Topic Chats to your own WGU Google Calendar.

For those of you who can't attend, these are recorded for you access and review through the Natural Science Learning Community.  If you want to see this list and are not in his community, just ask your mentor to add you in.

If you are having any trouble with the course, don't hesitate to contact a COS Mentor - Send Email

WGU Now Provides Unofficial Transcripts & Report Cards

Unofficial Transcripts and Grade Reports
 
We are pleased to announce that unofficial transcripts and grade reports are now available to students. The student portal has been updated to include links on the 'resources' tab that will allow students to view and print an unofficial copy of their transcript, as well as a 'report card' of their prior term¿s academic history. We believe this self-service to students will increase awareness of academic progress as represented on a transcript and further facilitate discussions regarding pacing, RCD's and SAP. Additionally, we believe unofficial transcripts and prior term grade reports will enable students to satisfy the requirements of Employer Tuition Reimbursement Programs, insurance rate reductions, loan deferments, etc. We encourage students to review their unofficial transcripts and report any errors to the Records department.

Please note that, in addition to "Pass" and "Not Passed," students may also see grades of "Withdrawn" and "Incomplete" on both their unofficial transcript and prior term grade report. A grade of "Incomplete" is temporary and not a permanent grade and is resolved upon completion of the Manual Recheck period.

Official transcripts can be purchased from the National Student Clearinghouse

WGU Partners with WellConnect Counceling Services

WELLCONNECT is a free, voluntary and confidential service provided through Western Governors University, that offers counseling and additional support services to WGU students or WGU faculty, and their immediate family members.
WGU Students are eligible for up to four (4) sessions of short term counseling per year/per issue with a licensed professional.

Examples of reasons a student might call are:

• Academic Stress
• Family and Relationship Issues
• Anxiety/ Depression
• Difficulty Focusing or Concentrating
• Stress/Anger Management
• Substance Abuse
• Drinking or Drug Use
• Domestic Violence
• Money Matters

and more…
To ensure that students can easily access these services, we connect students with professionals located in close proximity to the school or students’ home.

If you are curious about these services you can ask your mentor, visit www.wgu.edu/wellconnect , or call 1-877--685--3269 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) for confidential counseling services.

Winter Commencement / Graduation Ceremony Update

Winter Ceremony Deadlines

Please remember that term "graduation" and the graduation application processes are different from the commencement ceremony. Avoid using the term "graduation" in speaking about the commencement ceremony, which will confuse the graduates (ex: graduates will apply for graduation, thinking this process is securing their attendance for the commencement ceremony). Instead, the appropriate term is the "WGU Winter Commencement Ceremony" -- a formal ceremony program that celebrates the academic achievement of graduates, which includes a processional, speakers, conferral of degrees and processional.

Monday, December 13, 2010 - Student Speaker Application Deadline
WGU is accepting student speaker applications for the 2011 WGU Winter Commencement Ceremony. WGU graduates who wish to be considered for a student commencement speaker role need to fill out an application, prepare a draft speech/outline, and obtain a letter of recommendation from a WGU mentor. The application is available for download at http://www.wgu.edu/commencement. Please note graduates, who are selected for student speaker roles, will receive travel and hotel accommodations (airfare and 2 hotel nights).

Friday, January 7, 2011 - Winter Commencement Program Deadline
Students who have completed all their program requirements must apply for graduation by January 7, 2011 to be included in the winter commencement program. Due to printing timetables, students who do not apply or receive a graduation confirmation by January 7, 2011 will not be included in the winter commencement program, but in the next program.

WGU Indiana Just Graduated Their First Class

WGU Indiana came on line just this year and just graduated their first class.  Check out this video of Governor Mitch Daniels at WGU Indiana Graduation Ceremony.

Employment Opportunities for WGU Students

I was contacted this morning by a IT recruiter who was trying to place one of my IT students in a IT position.  The student used me as a reference and like most of my students I was more than happy to vouch for his professionalism and ability.

The particular position was for and entry level job and that is just what so many WGU IT students need right now, a foot in the door.  They have the certs, they are soon to have the degree and just need that first opportunity in the IT field.

The recruiter said they had tons of entry level positions that they are trying to fill, so if you are a WGU student and in the market for your first IT job, try Robert Half  Technology.  If you're looking specifically in Utah, send your IT resume to Kerstin Moore or contact her on LinkedIn. They have jobs at all experience levels that they are trying to fill.  Why not fill them with WGU students?

Extended Hours for Student Services at WGU

Having trouble getting help at WGU on your schedule?

Student Services Has Now Extended Hours

Great news! The Student Services office goes live with extended office hours on Monday. As of October 4th, 2010 Student Services Associates will be available from 6 am to midnight MT on weekdays and 10 am - 7 pm MT on Saturday and Sunday. We've teamed up with several other service departments to provide students with extended hours to get help with many different administrative issues. Expired TaskStream account? Can't locate your authorization code for an objective assessment? No problem, we can help! Call (866) 903-0110 or email studentservices@wgu.edu.

All the services you mentor normally provides for you, other than the all important accountability coaching and personal attention and cheerleeding, but during the hours your mentor is away from their phone.

VMWare for WGU IT Students

I just learned of a new resource that we have for students IT students.  It is a software portal much like the one we have for Microsoft through their MSDN-AA program. The only difference is that this software portal is all VMWare. It has visualization software for Mac users as well as for windows and will be of great interest to those students in MSISA for practicing their ethical hacking skill and for BSIT students trying to learn Windows7 and and Server operating systems.  IT students who have not received their access email should contact their mentors, tell them to ask Annah to give them access.