February  2013          Volume  2,  Issue  1  

Health  and  Wellness  as  Keys  to  Success  

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  One   needs   keys   to  

unlock   doors   to   successful  

pathways.   Health   and   wellness  

is   a   key   to   maintaining   and  

achieving   success   as   well   as  

staying  on  track  in  your  courses.  

You   always   want   to   make   sure  

that   you   are   healthy   and   are  

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you   are   physically   not   healthy  

enough.   Things   such   as   being  

sick   cause   fatigue   to   your   body  

and  mind  set.  Sleep  is  also  a  key  

component   to   staying   focused  

and   keeping   your   head   in   the  

books.   Nutrition   is   another   key  

component   that   an   individual  

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keeping   up   with   yourself.    

“Keeping   up   with   yourself”  

refers   to   making   sure   you   are  

able   to   handle   your  

responsibilities   to   the   fullest   of  

your   ability.   Sometimes   you  

may  find  it  difficult   to  take  care  

of  these  responsibilities  because  

Inside  This  Issue:  2   Coaching  Corner  3   Health  and  Wellness  as  Keys  to  Success  (Continued)    4   An  Interview  with  Aaron  Brown:  What  You  Need  to  Know  About  Advising  5   An  Interview  with  Aaron  Brown  (Continued);  Quick  Tips  for  College  

Success    

University  of  Nevada,  Las  Vegas  w  Academic  Success  Center  Hixson-­‐Lied  Success  Scholar  Newsletter  

“Ordinary  people  can  achieve  extraordinary  things”    –  Ms.  Christina  Hixson  

By:  Brendon  Herzig,  Hixson-­‐Lied  Scholar  

Ms.   Christina   M.   Hixson   graduated  from  high  school  in  Clarinda,  Iowa,  and  moved   to  Omaha,  Nebraska   to   attend  business   school.     She   later   went   to  work   for   Mr.   Ernst   F.   Lied,   a   car  dealership   owner   in   Omaha,   and   in  1960,  she  joined  Mr.  Lied  in  Las  Vegas,  

Nevada  as  his  assistant.    After  Mr.  Lied’s  death  in  1980,  Ms.   Hixson   became   the   sole   trustee   of   the   Lied  Foundation  Trust,  and  turned  the  Lied  Foundation  Trust  into   one   of   the   largest   foundations   in   the   state   of  Nevada   at   that   time.     Ms.   Hixson   has   a   special  understanding   of   young   people,   who,   like   her,   came  from  a  challenging  family  background  and  are  willing  to  work  hard.      

Mr.  Ernst  F.  Lied  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,   and   attended   the   University   of  Kansas   for   two   years,   where   he   played  on   the   golf   team.     He   ultimately  graduated   from   the   University   of  Nebraska   in   1927.     Mr.   Lied   became   a  Buick   dealer   in   Omaha,   Nebraska,   and  

later  his  dealership  was   ranked   third   in   the  country   for  the   number   of   cars   sold.   Mr.   Lied   established   his  charitable   foundation   in   1972,   and   upon   his   death   in  1980  at  age  74  nearly  his  entire  estate  funded  the  Lied  Foundation   Trust.   Lied   Foundation   Trust   has   enhanced  the   capabilities   of   many   schools   and   enriched   the  quality  of  many  lives!    

 

 

Coaching  Corner  By:  Garrett  Wilson,  Hixson-­‐Lied  Scholar  

 Angel  Lash  has  been  an  Academic  Success  Coach  for  a  little  over  a  year.  

She  has  always  had  a  passion  for  helping  others  succeed.  In  high  school,  she  served  as  captain  of  her  school’s  women’s  basketball  team.  Angel  demonstrated  leadership  as  a  player,  a  teammate,  and  through  academics.  Angel  would  help  her  teammates  succeed  on  and  off  of  the  court,  whether  they  needed  help  because  of  personal  issues,  athletic  abilities,  or  in  class.  Angel  brings  this  experience  to  the  Academic  Success  Coaching  Program  and  continues  to  inspire  students  to  succeed.    Why  did  you  decide  to  become  an  ASC  Coach?  I  decided  to  become  a  coach  because  I  wanted  to  be  able  to  be  a  positive  influence  in  the  lives  of  students.  I  wanted  to  be  a  helping  agent  in  changing  some  of  the  unproductive  habits  that  I  battled  as  an  undergraduate.  It  also  gave  me  an  opportunity  to  motivate  and  encourage  students  to  live  up  to  their  potential.      What  does  it  mean  to  be  an  ASC  Coach?  Being  an  ASC  Coach  means  leadership  and  believing  in  the  aspirations  of  oneself  and  others.      How  do  you  go  about  coaching  students?  When  coaching  my  students  I  begin  by  introducing  myself.  I  try  to  build  a  rapport  with  my  students  through  open  communication.  I  tell  them  a  little  about  myself  and  ask  for  them  to  share  some  things  about  themselves.  I  then  explain  my  responsibility  and  expectations  as  coach.  Depending  on  what  the  student  has  shared  with  me,  we  usually  move  forward  onto  how  the  student's  current  classes  are  going  and  address  any  concerns  they  are  having  at  that  point.      What  are  some  of  the  qualities  an  ASC  Coach  possesses?  ASC  Coaches  possess  active  listening  skills,  knowledge  about  resources  on  campus,  empathy,  unconditional  positive  regard  for  others,  leadership  abilities,  and  teamwork.      What  are  some  steps  to  being  successful  at  UNLV?  Some  tips  for  being  successful  at  UNLV  are:  knowing  resources  available  to  you  and  utilizing  them,  networking  with  students  and  faculty,  finding  balance  between  school  and  social  activities,  asking  for  assistance  when  needed,  managing  finances,  being  aware  of  deadlines,  utilizing  the  syllabus  (reading  through  them  and  constantly  checking  due  dates),  staying  organized,  and  staying  motivated.      Have  you  learned  any  valuable  lessons  from  being  a  coach?  Is  so,  what  are  they?  Yes,  I  have  learned  several  valuable  lessons  as  a  coach.  The  most  important  lesson  I  feel  I  have  learned  is  to  never  assume;  don't  overlook  the  little  things.  Something  that  may  appear  simple  may  be  an  influencing  barrier  for  someone  else.  In  all,  our  job  is  never  to  give  up  on  our  students,  no  matter  what.

Hixson-­‐Lied  Scholar  Newsletter   2  

Hixson-­‐Lied  Scholar  Newsletter  

Health  and  Wellness  as  Keys  to  Success  (Continued)  3  

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needs  to  maintain  well.    

Getting   enough   sleep   is  

important   to   staying   focused  

during   class   lectures.   Attending  

class  while   tired  may  cause  you  

to   fall   asleep;   which   makes   it  

difficult   to   focus   and   retain  

information.   Sleep   deprivation  

can   cause   daytime   sleepiness  

and   fatigue.   A   common  

misconception   that   many  

students   have   is   that   they   can  

stay  up   late  the  night  before  an  

exam   to   study   and   still  perform  

well.  However,  sleep  deprivation  

will  cause  test  scores  suffer.  You  

should   expand   your   studying  

over   the   week   so   that   you   are  

well   rested   and   can   focus   in  

your   classes.   Unfortunately,  

sometimes   sleep   deprivation  

cannot   be   stopped   because   of  

physical  health  issues.    

  When   your   physical  

health  is  at  its  peak  you  will  find  

that   you   are   overall   at   a   better  

well-­‐being.   Your   confidence  will  

rise   and   you   will   feel   more  

energized.   Working   out   at   the  

Student   Recreation   and  

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Wellness   Center   can   help   to  

keep  your  physical  health  high.  

Maintaining   your   physical  

health/   well-­‐being   makes   it  

easier   for   you   to   attend   class  

and   comprehend   the  material.  

When  you  are  not  feeling  well,  

you   begin   to   feel   sleepy   and  

fatigued  which   relates   back   to  

the   importance   of   sleep   and  

nutrition.  

   

Nutrition   is   imperative  

to   survival,   but   it   also   plays   a  

significant   role   in   student   life.  

Students   should   be   eating  

hearty   and   healthy   meals   in  

the   morning   and   evening.  

Small   meals   should   be   eaten  

throughout  the  day  in  order  to  

ward   off   hunger.   It   will   help  

your   concentration.   Nutrition  

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will   help   keep   all   of   these  

components   such  as   sleep  and  

physical   wellbeing   in   shape.  

You   need   nutrition   to   be  

physically   healthy   and   when  

you   are   physically   healthy   you  

get   a   more   full   night’s   rest.  

And,   when   you   get   a   good  

night’s   rest   you   will   find   that  

you  are  more  attentive  in  class.  

  These   keys   are  

important  to  open  the  doors  to  

success.   They   go   together   and  

relate   to   each   other.   As   with  

Holistic   Development,   all   of  

these   relate   to   one   another.  

When   one   fails   the   rest   fail.  

Most   of   these   fall   under   the  

holistic   development   ideas.  

You   need   all   of   these   success  

keys  to  be  running  smoothly  to  

benefit   from   the   rest.   To  

achieve   success,   you   need   to  

make   sure   you   are   at   the  

highest   points   in   your  

development.   Therefore,   you  

can   improve   on   these  

developments   and   reach   new  

heights.  

 

 

 

Hixson-­‐Lied  Scholar  Newsletter   4  

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  Advising   is  a   very   important  

tool   to   being   successful   in   college.    

Direction   and   advice   given   by  

academic   advisors   is   crucial   to  

completing  your  degree  on  time.  In  a  

recent   interview   Aaron   Brown,  

Director  of  Advising  at  the  Academic  

Success   Center,   shares   some   insight  

into   why   it   is   beneficial   to   seek  

advising   and   how   students   can   sign  

up  to  make  an  appointment.    

As   the   new   Director   of   Advising,  

what   do   you   hope   to   accomplish  

this  semester?  In  the  future?  

  Increase   our   in-­‐person  

contacts   with   and   outreach   to  

students;   with   an   emphasis   on   our  

new  incoming  freshman  and  transfer  

students.   This   past   summer   we  

established  ambitious  goals  as  a  Unit  

to   increase   our   contacts   with  

students.   Educational   researchers  

and   experts   have   found   that  

connecting   students   to   advisors  

early   and   often   contribute   to   the  

student’s   ability   to   establish  

meaningful   institutional  

relationships   that   can   help   them  

persist  and  graduate.  In  the  ASC,  the  

advisors   love  what   they  do;  working  

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with   students   to   help   them   achieve  

their   academic   and   personal   goals.  

One   concrete   example   of   how   we  

are   building   these   meaningful  

contacts   is   by   revamping   the   New  

Student  Orientation   to   include   even  

more   personalization   and   earlier  

connection  with  incoming  students.    

Why  should  students  seek  advising?  

  An   academic   advisor   can  

become   a   student’s   “go-­‐to”   person  

on  campus;  understanding  the  many  

facets   of   university   life   and  

resources   available   to   achieve  

student-­‐success.   Additionally,  

academic  advisors  are  often  the  very  

first   opportunity   for   students   to  

engage   in   meaningful   dialogue   with  

a   campus   professional   that   goes  

An  Interview  with  Aaron  Brown:  What  You  Need  to  Know  About  Advising  

By:  Garrett  Wilson,  Hixson-­‐Lied  Scholar  

Aaron  Brown,  Director  of  Advising  

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beyond   one   single   momentary  

encounter.   Research   clearly  

demonstrates   that   the   earlier   the  

student   connects   with   an   advisor,  

the  more   likely   that   student  will   be  

successful   at   the   institution   and  

experience   higher   levels   of  

satisfaction   with   the   institution.  

Moreover,   advisors   have   access   to  

information   that   is   vital   to   students  

successfully   navigating   the   many  

institutional  policies  and  procedures;  

decreasing  time-­‐to-­‐degree.    

What   are   the   goals   of   the   Advising  

Department?  

  Please,   refer   to   the  mission,  

vision   and   philosophy   of   the   Unit:  

http://academicsuccess.unlv.edu/ad

vising/Advising/Philosophy.html    

What   are   some   of   the   tools  

available   to   students   regarding  

advising?  

  Follow   this   link:  

http://academicsuccess.unlv.edu/ad

vising/index.html  

There,   you’ll   see   worksheets,  

calendars   for   time   management,  

GPA   calculator,   and   information   on  

the  other  advising  centers.    

Who   should   students   seek   out   to  

utilize   the   services   of   the   Advising  

 

 

 

Hixson-­‐Lied  Scholar  Newsletter   Volume  2,  Issue  1  

Academic  Success  Center  4505  Maryland  Parkway  Las  Vegas,  NV  89154-­‐2001  

(702)  895-­‐3177  academicsuccess.unlv.edu  

Quick  Tips  for  College  Success  �        Review  the  syllabus  for  each  class.  Write  down  any  important  dates,  such  as  exam  days.  

�        Arrive  to  class  early.  If  you  are  too  early,  you  can  study  or  review  the  material  needed  for  the  day.    

�        Don’t  be  afraid  to  socialize  with  your  classmates.  It  is  helpful  to  have  a  “Class  Buddy”  in  case  you  are  have  to  miss     class  one  day  or  to  study  with,  but  remember  not  to  conduct  socializing  during  class  time.  

�        Attend  your  professor’s  office  hours  if  you  are  struggling  with  the  material.  

�        Keep  a  planner.  You  can  keep  school,  work,  and  personal  commitments  organized  when  they  are  written  down  in     one  place.  

�        Write  down  notes  by  hand  in  class.  Using  any  form  of  electronics  can  be  distracting  and  the  mechanical  process  of     writing  down  information  will  help  you  remember  what  you  have  learned.    

�        Read  required  material  twice:  once  as  a  “first-­‐glance”  read  and  once  more  in  depth.  This  will  help  you  retain     information.  

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Department?  

  All   UNLV   students   have  

access   to   an   advising   center  

depending   on   what   Major   they’ve  

selected.   There   are   11   advising  

centers  on  campus  designed  to  meet  

the  unique  needs  of   the   students   in  

each  major.  If  students  are  Exploring  

or  non-­‐degree  seeking  they  come  to  

the   Academic   Success   Center   to  

meet  with  their  advisor.  To  schedule  

an   appointment   with   an   academic  

advisor,   please   contact   the  

appropriate   advising   center  

according   to   your   declared   major.  

Each  center   is   equipped  with   a  staff  

of   academic   advisors  who  are  eager  

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to   meet   with   students   about   their  

academic   goals   and   to   assist   in  

constructing   a   plan   for   graduation.  

Please   be   sure   to   arrive   to   your  

appointment   prepared   with   any  

questions   that   you  may   have   about  

degree   requirements,   involvement  

on   campus   and   any   other   area   that  

will  help  you  succeed  at  UNLV.    

Are   there   any   upcoming   events  

regarding   the   ASC   or   Advising  

Center   that   students   should   be  

aware  of?  

  Be   sure   to   see   your   advisor  

this   semester   to   update   them   on  

your   current   semester   progress   and  

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to   discuss   options   for   summer  

and/or  fall  registration.    

What   are   some   steps   to   achieving  

success   in   conjunction   with   the  

Advising  Department?  

  Tips   for   college   success:  

manage   your   time,   keep   yourself  

organized,   be   proactive   with   your  

studies   (i.e.   stay  ahead  of   your  class  

readings  and  sit  towards  the  front  of  

the  class),  and  don’t  be  afraid  to  ask  

for   assistance.   It’s   also   critical   to  

maintain   a   connection   with   your  

advisor   and   let   them  know   if   you’re  

having  difficulties  with  any  aspect  of  

college.