Meredith Exceeds National Averages in Educational Effectiveness Survey for Fourth Year
By Kristi Eaves-McLennan

According to a national survey released Nov. 10, Meredith College’s performance exceeds the national averages in five key areas of student learning and engagement.

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), known as “Nessie,” surveyed 145,000 seniors and freshmen at 437 colleges and universities to measure the following benchmarks of quality:

• level of academic challenge;
• active and collaborative learning;
• student-faculty interaction;
• enriching educational experiences; and
• supportive campus environment.

In each of the four years that Meredith has participated, the college has exceeded the national means in all five areas measured by the survey.

“In all years, Meredith’s scores have been positive ones and this year is no exception,” said Sue Kearney, assistant to the president for planning and dean of institutional effectiveness.

“Compared to the national sample, Meredith’s ratings in ‘supportive campus environment’ and ‘student-faculty interaction’ are particularly high, but all areas are strong this year,” she noted.

Kearney said Meredith participates in the survey because it gives the college valuable information about five areas of educational practice that “truly matter in the quality of undergraduate education.”

“We are interested in what our students tell us about what they are experiencing here,” she said.

Meredith has consistently used its NSSE results to enrich the undergraduate experience, both inside and outside the classroom. For example, when the College began developing a new general education curriculum in 2001, the College’s Task Force on General Education used Meredith’s NSSE data to inform the redesign.

A review of Meredith’s NSSE data also inspired an August 2002 workshop on collaborative learning, which involved more than 90 participants from the campus, and an all-day workshop in May 2003 in which 21 faculty advisers participated.

The National Survey of Student Engagement is co-sponsored annually by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Pew Forum on Undergraduate Learning. More than 430,000 students at 730 four-year colleges and universities have participated in the NSSE project since it first began in 2000.

For more information, contact Meredith’s Office of Research, Planning and Assessment, ext. 2364.

Meredith College Fall Alumnae Council
By Erin Hege ‘04

At Meredith, students, faculty and staff are connected to the College through daily participation in classes, activities and work. Meredith alumnae show their ties to the college through service, yearly contributions, and the oval onyx ring they still wear.

The Meredith College Alumnae Association serves as a link between all alumnae and the College. The Alumnae Association was started in 1902 by the first graduating class. For over 100 years the Association has represented alumnae with the same tradition and integrity alumnae held during their years as students at Meredith.

The Alumnae Association held its Fall Alumnae Council Meeting on October 4. The Council meets every fall to discuss alumnae business and goals, and to hear updates on College issues and programs. They also receive volunteer and leadership training. This year over 100 alumnae attended the meeting. After a general meeting in the morning, the Council attended a luncheon in Belk, which included a discussion of women and philanthropy, and current trends in gifts to colleges and universities. To conclude the day, alumnae participated in various training sessions and an interactive session with the Senior Management Team.

The Alumnae Council is made up of the Alumnae Association’s board of directors, Young Alumnae Board, class agents, past presidents of the Alumnae Association, chapter leaders and other key volunteers.

Catherine Rideout, director of alumnae and parent relations, said “I always look forward to having our alumnae volunteers and leaders on campus for the Fall Alumnae Council meeting. It's a great way to get them engaged in the life of the College and keep them informed about the current goals for the Alumnae Association.”

The theme for the Alumnae Association this year is “Building the Dream.” This idea contains two specific goals. Alumnae Association President Deborah Dove Smith, ’80, said, “This year we are working to improve our recruitment efforts and concentrating on alumnae leadership at the forefront for the Campaign for Meredith.” She feels it is essential to have a well-recognized alumnae body working with current and prospective students.

Other focuses for the association are to encourage an increase in the diversity among students and create a more visible alumnae presence on campus.

As the Alumnae Association continues to build these goals within the Meredith community, Smith said, “We are only as effective as our firsthand knowledge. Our place is right here, at Meredith College, whenever possible.”

Meredith Alumna Anne Bryan, Co-Founder and President of Exploris, to Give December Commencement Address
By Andrea Weaver

Anne Bryan, ’71, is the speaker for the Dec. 13 commencement exercises at Meredith College. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in Jones Auditorium.

As co-founder and president of Exploris, Bryan guides a major cultural institution in downtown Raleigh. Exploris, a global learning center, introduces its visitors to people and places around the world through interactive, hands-on exhibits and numerous artistic and theatrical shows. The Exploris campus includes a charter middle school and an IMAX Theatre.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Meredith in 1971, Bryan attended graduate school at Duke University. She completed a master’s degree in history in 1972. Bryan’s professional and civic responsibilities, as well as her personal commitments, have centered on creating opportunities for young people. During her career, Bryan has served with the Governor’s Crime Commission as juvenile justice director and deputy director, and with the state education agency as director of dropout prevention and chief of elementary education.

She is also the co-founder and former co-chair of The Raleigh School, and, among other civic activities, she has served as chair of the Wake County Youth Services Board. She has been elected to membership in the Women’s Forum of North Carolina, and her recognitions include the North Carolina 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award and Meredith College’s Distinguished Alumna Award.

For more information, visit www.meredith.edu/commencement.

Cornhuskin’ Sponsors Many Service Projects
By Erin Hege ’04

When students, faculty and staff experience Cornhuskin’ they often focus on skits, hog calls, songs, apple bobbin’ and corn shuckin’. While Cornhuskin’ contains many activities that are fun and games, students also complete several service projects during the week.

The entire campus participated in the penny barrels service project, sponsored by the Residence Hall Association. In the penny barrel contest, classes compete to raise the most pennies, dollars and checks, which count as positive points. Silver change counts as negative points, so students add those to their competitor’s barrel. The total amount raised this year was $1,573.12. The Residence Hall Association will present a check for this amount to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina on behalf of the students at Meredith College.

One of the biggest events takes place on Wednesday of Cornhuskin’ week when the classes gather in the quad to create themed designs out of aluminum cans. After the massive pictures are cleaned up, the cans are taken to be recycled. The profits from the cans go to a charity selected by the class that wins the can art contest. This year the Class of 2004 won can art for the third year in a row. The total amount collected from recycling cans was $210.28.

The junior class created a Cornhuskin’ service project, collecting the aluminum tabs off the top of the cans. The tab tops were then given to a drive held by the Raleigh Junior Women’s Club and donated to the Ronald McDonald House, a charity that provides housing and comfort for families who have a child in a hospital.

The Meredith Recreation Association is the student organization that sponsors Cornhuskin’ and all related activities. MRA adviser and Assistant Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development Kelly Scott said, “At times all we see during Cornhuskin' are balloons and costumes, and what we hear are a lot of cheers and whistles, but if you take a deeper look you will see members of each class getting involved in various service related events. You can have fun while also doing something worthwhile for the community.”

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