DIVISION OF STUDENT SUCCESS

Division receives national honors for its programs and outcomes

St. Jude Up 'til Dawn members

Following an all-night fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, students celebrate having collected more than $21,000 for the charity. This is just one of several recent achievements within the Division of Student Success.

At the Feb. 11 Board of Trustees meeting, members learned that the Division of Student Success has been notified of nearly 20 national honors that recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our students and our programs.

"The awards and citations below are so exciting because external objective national organizations have recognized UA's excellence and commitment to student success," she adds. "I am very proud of the students, staff and faculty whom have made these honors possible."

Among the honors:

  • On Jan. 9, UA received notice that the Counseling and Testing Center had earned full reaccreditation by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. Approval by IACS is dependent upon evidence of continuing professional development as well as demonstrated excellence in counseling performance.
  • The Counseling and Testing Center has also earned distinction as a Top 10 Screening Site for National Depression Screening Day by Screening for Mental Health, Inc. and was recognized among the institutions with the highest number of event participants for National Depression Screening Day 2014.
  • In early February, UA’s National Residence Hall Honorary received the 2015 NRHH Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award at the annual Central Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls Regional No-Frills Conference at Towson University. UA is now one of eight finalists for the National NRHH Chapter of the Year Award, which will be presented in May. UA’s NRHH chapter has received the national award six times since 1990.
  • The University of Akron has been nominated for the national 2015 Best Campus Program Award from Campus Activities Magazine. UA, already a five-time winner of the award, will learn this semester if it has again won the honor. The nomination reflects the efforts of the Zips Programming Network and Residence Hall Program Board/Residence Hall Council, with the support of E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
  • Jenna Payne, a business and organizational communication-public relations major and a sport management minor, will receive one of 24 William N. Wasson Student Leadership and Academic Awards in April from the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association. The award recognizes students for outstanding leadership, involvement, and contributions to collegiate recreation and academic achievement. Payne, an Intramural Sports supervisor and official, and OASIS office assistant, is the first Student Recreation and Wellness Services student employee to receive the award.
  • On Jan. 29, UA learned that NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, is honoring the Student Recreation and Wellness Services’ Adaptive Paddling program with a national Excellence Award. The program is one of the longest continually running in the country — teaching the skills and knowledge needed to outfit/adapt equipment and modify teaching styles to allow people of all abilities to participate in paddlesport activities as safely, comfortably and with the same performance potential as all others.
  • St. Jude Up 'til Dawn, a registered student organization, helps raise funds and awareness for  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis to fight childhood cancers. On Jan. 30, more than 150 students attended the group’s all night fundraiser and raised $21,379.55. Over the past years, the group has donated more than $294,511 to the hospital.
  • The Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values bestowed numerous awards on UA’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Councils on Jan. 31.
    1. Panhellenic Council (PHC) and Interfraternity Council each earned six awards, including in the categories of Academic Achievement, Philanthropy & Community Service, and Self Governance & Judicial Affairs. PHC also was a finalist for the Division II Overall Award.
    2. UA’s National Panhellenic Council received the 2015 Craig Little Breakthrough Award, which is given to a council that participates in the award process for the first time and is recognized for its efforts.