Law School Academic Support Blog

Report from the LSAC New ASP Professionals Workshop in Baltimore

I just returned from the LSAC New ASP Professionals Workshop at the University of Maryland Law School in Baltimore. As always, the planning committee did an absolutely fabulous job, and the workshop seemed to those who attended to go off without a hitch.  It was a wonderful opportunity to meet many new ASP professionals just joining our community. I am always delighted to be a part of a community that has so many enthusiastic and supportive colleagues, from those who have been a part of ASP for 20 years to 20 days.
For those who were not able to make the workshop, here are the highlights:
1) Ricardo Villarosa had a wonderful demonstration of how we all have full plates (or bowls), yet with proper time management, we can fit in more than we thought. His boulders-and-sand demonstration was a wonderful example of active learning, and one I hope to replicate for a workshop on time management for my 1L's and bar takers in 2008-2009.
2) Paul Bateman and Ruth McKinney had a fascinating presentation on learning styles, processing types, learning theory and material/knowledge/information absorption preferences.  It truly takes master teachers to present so much information is a coherent, manageable way in such a short amount of time.
3) Russell McClain taught us all how to "sing the blues" and learn more about teaching through practice than we thought possible.  I can say with certainty that was one of the most entertaining presentations I have ever been a part of in my life. Russell's confidence as a teacher and a musician carried many (or most) of us with no known musical talent through a demonstration of how teachers can create music (and wonder) in our students.
4) Linda Feldman and Susan Darrow-Kleinhaus led a fabulous session on exam taking strategies for our students.  It's always inspires me to see master teachers can lead us to new insights about topics we thought we knew inside and out.  I teach exam-taking skills at least twice a year, and I still came away from this presentation with new ideas of how to approach exam strategies with my students.
5) I presented on giving feedback to students. Thank you to my warm and wonderful audience! I am happy to send my Powerpoint to anyone not able to make the conference.
6) Kris Franklin and Paula Manning did an awesome job condensing 2+ years of ASP into one 1-hour presentation.  Kris's beautiful presentation on the importance of sorting and weighing details using the art of Mary Cassett and Jacob Lawrence masterfully blended visuals to demonstrate reading and critical judgment skills.  Paula, truly one of the best 3L/bar preparation teachers in the country, worked her way through her comprehensive bar prep program in less than 30 minutes, which is a marvel.  Paula's use of new technology, such as YouTube, to reach her students is groundbreaking. 
7) Michael Hunter Schwartz presentation on organizing material was wonderful. Another master teacher, Mike taught us how organizing material by creating multiple neural pathways helps us retain  information for use during exams.  Mike is really the master of cognitive science in legal education, and I strongly encourage anyone new to the ASP community to buy his Expert Learning for Law Students text as a primer on how students learn. 
8)The last presentation of the workshop was lead my Mike Schwartz and Ruth McKinney on professional excellence.  As wonderful it is to be an ASP professional, it is a profession with a high level of burnout. It is critical to maintain work-life balance early in your career in order to stay happy and healthy. I think we all appreciated Ruth telling us to breathe for a few moments. 

Thank you again to all planning committee and my fellow presenters--you are an amazing bunch! We are so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful and warm community.
(Rebecca Flanagan)

Wingspread Pipeline Conference

WINGSPREAD IX, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, July 27-28 2008

Starting Sunday evening, Wingspread itself runs through Monday, followed by a law-themed strand for the full day on Tuesday and also the rest of the 15 th Annual Education & Law Conference (July 28-31).

Wingspread IX focuses on the role of career/theme, the relationships between LRE and diversity, plus the important roles of counseling & philanthropy. Specific sessions at Wingspread and in the following Ed & Law Conference sessions will include Wingspread for newcomers; law themed curricula and schools; multicultural education and resources; pipeline and admissions programs; curriculum lessons shared; student disability awareness; diversity and race neutrality; innovative law-themed programs; restroative justice models; why creativity in schools is so critical: thinking of MySpace, YouTube, etc. as positive learning environments; technology strand; the view from the Bench and the Bar. Presenters include several renowned law school faculty.

Contact

For Substantive Information Contact:
Professor Sarah E. Redfield

For Conference Information Contact:
Sherry Phillips, Assistant Director
Department of Conferences
(207) 780-5961
the Bench and the Bar.

2008 LSAC Workshop for New Academic Support Professionals

LSAC has e-mailed and mailed materials to ASP professionals regarding this year's Academic Assistance Topical Workshop for new professionals.  In addition, information has been sent through the ASP listserv.  However, if you are a new professional, you may have missed those sources of information.  So, the basic topic information and contact information are included below. (Amy Jarmon)

2008 LSAC Academic Assistance Topical Workshops

Workshop for New Academic Support Professionals

"Using Hands-On Strategies to Build a Strong Foundation for Successful Academic Support"

The University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, MD

June 12-14, 2008

Who Should Attend:

Registrationi for this workshop is restricted to faculty and administrators who work with academic assistance programs, either as a director or in a supporting capacity, with up to three years of experience.  For those new academic support faculty and adminsitrators with bar exam preparation responsibilities, there will be a conference devoted to that topic at Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, California, September 19-20, 2008.  Separate registration materials will be provided for that workshop.  The topic for the third workshop has not been decided yet.

The Workshop Planning Committee wants each registrant to know that an intense training curriculum has been planned and attendance at all sessions is expected.

Additionial Information and Questions:

Questions concerning the curriculum or registration should be directed to Kent Lollis, klollis@lsac.org, 215.968.1227.  Logistical questionis should be directed to Russell A. McClain, rmcclain@law.umaryland.edu, 410.706.2271.

AALS Second Annual Reception - Wingspread P20 Leadership Pipeline Consortium

Please join us for the 2^nd Annual AALS Wingspread P20 Leadership Pipeline Consortium Reception. 

Wingspread is a group of P-20 educators, the bench, and the bar committed to working across the educational continuum to improve participation, persistence, and success of diverse students in high school and college, with the goal of enhancing their aspirations and capacity to move into positions in the legal profession and leadership of the nation.

Thursday, January 3, 2008, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Conference Room D, Executive Conference Center, Sheraton New York, 811 7th Ave., 53rd St., New York, NY

Deans Cynthia Fountaine, Texas Wesleyan; Geoffrey Mearns, Cleveland Marshall College of Law Cleveland State University; Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law; Suellyn Scarnecchia, University of New Mexico School of Law; Ruthe Ashley, Chair ABA Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity

For more information on this reception or on Wingspread generally, contact Professor Sarah Redfield, sredfield@pacific.edu or 207-752-1721 (cell).

Scholarship Funds for Wingspread VIII P20 Pipeline Conference

There are Texas scholarship funds available for Texas law school team members that do not have other funding to attend the conference.  If you have a Texas law school team with the public/private schools or with colleges that works on a pipeline program, you may qualify for the scholarship funds.  The Texas Bar Foundation has provided a generous $20,000 grant to fund Texas teams.  There are also some limited funds available for California teams and teams from other states.  First come, first served for scholarships! 

Information on the conference is given below including the link to the web site.  If you want more information specifically about any possible scholarship eligibility for your team, contact Dr. Amy L. Jarmon, Assistant Dean for Academic Success Programs, Texas Tech University School of Law at amy.jarmon@ttu.edu.

The Wingspread 8 Conference information can be found on the web site for Texas Wesleyan School of Law.  Just click on the conference link on the home page for the law school.  The conference general announcement is included below:

Wingspread VIII, Fort Worth, TX
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
October 4, 5, 6, 2007

Cost: $125, which includes all meals beginning with dinner on Thursday evening through lunch on Saturday.

Starting Thursday evening, ending Saturday after lunch
PLUS Saturday meeting with medical and dental school team

About Wingspread: Wingspread is the collaborative national organization for professional school involvement in pipeline initiatives, an informal consortium with distinctive appeal, strengths, and impressive loyalty among its participants. It offers a highly placed and visible constituent base for national policy leadership and success in conceptually framing and drawing attention to the issues around diversity and the law community and the need for systemic and systematic change; enhancing the intellectual presence of law schools and their sister professional schools in the field of pipeline issues as participants, conveners, and collaborators; emphasizing, inspiring, and creating teams to work along the educational pipeline in site-specific projects; and assuring that lessons learned are lessons shared.

Wingspread involves a group of over 40 law-schools working with teams that includes P-20 educators, the bench, and the bar, all committed to working collaboratively across the educational continuum to improve the participation, persistence, and success of diverse students in high school and college. The goal of the group is to enhance these students’ aspirations and capacity to move into positions in the legal profession and in the leadership of the nation.

The 8th meeting of the group is focused on team-building and on action plans for collaborative improvement in outreach along the pipeline. The meeting also brings the law pipeline group together with their colleagues in medicine and dentistry. Specific sessions will include Wingspread for Newcomers; Law-Themed Curricula and Schools including both elementary and law magnet programs; Perspectives from our Sister Professions; Prelaw Programs; and the View from the Bench and the Bar. And, of course, Texas barbecue!  (Amy Jarmon)

Humanizing Legal Education Symposium

The following posting is from Michael Schwartz at Washburn School of Law:

Washburn still has 15 or so remaining slots for its Humanizing Legal Education Symposium, October 19-21.  The list of 32 presenters includes leading experts in the humanizing field, in the comprehensive law movement, and in the teaching and learning field.  The plenary speakers will be: Professor Larry Krieger of Florida State, Professor Susan Daicoff of Florida Coastal, Professor Barbara Glesner-Fines of UMKC, Professor Gerry Hess of Gonzaga, and Professor Paula Lustbader of Seattle.  The list of attendees already includes representatives from more than 40 law schools and includes a Canadian law professor, a Canadian dean and an Australian law professor.

The conference is free to all attendees.  Because space is so limited, please register as soon as possible.  The conference schedule and registration are online.  There are two ways to access the schedule and the registration form: either go to the Wasburn School of Law  homepage and find the link to the conference materials under “Upcoming Events” or go directly to Humanizing Legal Education Conference.  Register by clicking on the link labeled “Register Online” and then completing each of the fields in the registration form.

Wingspread 8 Conference for Law School Pipeline Projects

The Wingspread 8 Conference information can be found on the web site for Texas Wesleyan School of Law.  Just click on the conference link on the home page for the law school.  The conference general announcement is included below:

Wingspread VIII, Fort Worth, TX
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law & the Hilton Fort Worth
October 4, 5, 6, 2007

Cost: $125, which includes all meals beginning with dinner on Thursday evening through lunch on Saturday.

Starting Thursday evening, ending Saturday after lunch
PLUS Saturday meeting with medical and dental school team

About Wingspread: Wingspread is the collaborative national organization for professional school involvement in pipeline initiatives, an informal consortium with distinctive appeal, strengths, and impressive loyalty among its participants. It offers a highly placed and visible constituent base for national policy leadership and success in conceptually framing and drawing attention to the issues around diversity and the law community and the need for systemic and systematic change; enhancing the intellectual presence of law schools and their sister professional schools in the field of pipeline issues as participants, conveners, and collaborators; emphasizing, inspiring, and creating teams to work along the educational pipeline in site-specific projects; and assuring that lessons learned are lessons shared.

Wingspread involves a group of over 40 law-schools working with teams that includes P-20 educators, the bench, and the bar, all committed to working collaboratively across the educational continuum to improve the participation, persistence, and success of diverse students in high school and college. The goal of the group is to enhance these students’ aspirations and capacity to move into positions in the legal profession and in the leadership of the nation.

The 8th meeting of the group is focused on team-building and on action plans for collaborative improvement in outreach along the pipeline. The meeting also brings the law pipeline group together with their colleagues in medicine and dentistry. Specific sessions will include Wingspread for Newcomers; Law-Themed Curricula and Schools including both elementary and law magnet programs; Perspectives from our Sister Professions; Prelaw Programs; and the View from the Bench and the Bar. And, of course, Texas barbecue!

You don't write, you don't visit, you don't call....

It is that time of year again:  not only is the corn in the Northeast at its sweetest, but I am starting to contact all the students who, by virtue of their final grades last year, are required to see me.  Easy stuff, right?  I send an e-mail, they immediately respond, we set up a meeting where we develop a fabulous and successful working rapport; and before you know it, the student is back in good academic standing (batta-bing, batta-boom).  If only it were that simple.

Sadly, I often find that I have to coerce this relationship into being and I wonder if that coercion sets up a non-trusting relationship.  My first contact with students is usually an e-mail where I say something like, "pursuant to the Dean's letter dated in late June, you are required to see someone in the Academic Support Program.  The good news is:  you have been assigned to me, your new best friend!  So, contact me and we can set up a time to meet.  Oh, and by the way, if you don't, I'll have to tell the Dean about it, but let's not even go there yet...."

This year, that got me less than a 50% return.  So then I send out a second notice, and this one is laced with guilt (I have to say that having a little old Jewish grandmother in the Bronx puts me at an advantage in using guilt tactics...).  It goes something like this, "in my last e-mail, I asked that you contact me by a certain date, but I haven't heard from you yet."  This is a slightly less manipulative version of, "you don't write, you don't visit, you don't call...."  Then I add (I told you, I was taught by a master!), something to the effect of: "and if I don't hear from you, I will have to tell the Dean and I really, really don't want to do that."   Also known as:  "this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you!"

This might get me a few more students.  If I still haven't heard, I'll send the third notice cc'd to the Dean.  I won't mention in the notice that I have invited the Dean to join our correspondence, but it will be obvious.  I call this the passive-aggressive phase.  The fourth notice comes from the Dean.

In the end, I will have some students who finally show up, but are so bitter about it that we never really develop a rapport.  In ASP, connecting to students is key to a successful relationship, but sometimes beginning the relationship may be what dooms it.  Think about it:  if this were a dating situation it would be like having your old Aunt Manya set you up on a blind date with a friend's grandson ("a lovely boy"), who it turns out has a host of unfortunate personal grooming issues, and calling you constantly to ask how it is going and when you will see this walking CVS ad again.  When you do see him again, it is clear to both of you that other people have forced this to happen and it should end quickly and as painlessly as possible.

So when a student has been forced to see me after attempting to ignore me, what do I do?  Well, of course, I shower that day and then I still treat them as if I am their new best friend.  All is forgiven when you walk through the door.  (ezs)

Great ASP Workshop in Miami

Congratulations to all who were involved in the LSAC Academic Assistance Training Workshop in Miami this past week.  The program was filled with exceptional speakers and events.

Special thanks to Thorny Steele and LSAC and to the Program Planning Committee, led by Joanne Harvest Koren:  Paul Bateman, Linda Feldman, Kent D. Lollis, Ruth Ann McKinney, and Ricardo Villarosa.  Thanks as well to the University of Miami School of Law for its staff's help, the use of its beautiful campus, and the efforts of its student assistants.

Nice dancing, by the way. (Dan Weddle)

New York Area ASP Workshop

Dear All,

Join us on April 19 at Rutgers School of Law-Newark from 10:00 - 3:00 for the NY-ASP workshop. The theme will be "Building Community through ASP." We will spend the day looking at how we handle various circumstances that impact our students and their ability to avail themselves of our resources.

With an eye towards creating a welcoming and supportive environment, we will work cooperatively to generate new possibilities. The day will be split between how we handle individuals and how we build a sense of community. Tentative topics related to individuals include: academic counseling conversations, personal crisis management, family pressures, and career choices. Regarding community building, we will share the various activities we engage in to create an inviting, supportive and empowering environment.

If you are interested in leading a session or if you have an idea you wish to add to the agenda, please e-mail me by April 13. If you are unable to attend but have relevant materials you would like to share, please send by the 13th as well.

I look forward to seeing you in Jersey. We really aren't that far from the city!

 

Best,
Pascale

Pascale C. Walker, Esq.
Assistant Dean and Director of the Minority Student Program
Rutgers School of Law - Newark
123 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102-3094  (ezs)

An Important Conference Coming in March

Assisting Law Students with Disabilities in the 21st Century:  Brass Tacks

Thursday, March 8, 2007
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
Room 603

Sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs

To Register: www.wcl.american.edu/secle
And Click On Registration

Cutting-edge technology, court decisions, resource allocations, and individual perceptions each have the ability to affect the education of a law student with a disability. For student, career, and disability support professionals, for university counsels, faculty, and students themselves, knowledge of rights and responsibilities can be critical to academic achievement.  Federal and state laws may help frame the issues, but they do not always assist with the day-to-day application and support we provide our students. This conference will address the major disability issues in the academic arena and identify the best practices for assisting law students with disabilities. The conference will also include vendor exhibits displaying the latest in assistive technology. (dbw)

Seeing the Forest

I was speaking with Lorraine Lalli from Roger Williams the other day, and she commented that among the chief struggles for first-year students is an inability to see the forest for the trees.  They may understand a case; they may even master its principles; but they have a tough time seeing how the case fits into the larger scheme of things, how a rule connects to themes and principles running through a particular area of law or to themes running across legal disciplines.  If we can teach them how to find those larger connections, we will have taught them something much more valuable than any case. (dbw)

Important Consortium on Pipeline Initiatives

Joe Dhillon asked that we post this invitation to a reception for the Wingspread P20 Leadership Pipeline Consortium.  The reception will be held during the AALS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., next month.  Consider making time to attend this reception and to talk with members of the Consortium.  The Consortium is part of an important initiative that law schools across the country should seriously consider.  You may want to invite your dean and your admissions coordinator to attend as well. (dbw)

Please join us for a reception for the Wingspread P20 Leadership Pipeline Consortium, a group of P-20 educators, the bench, and the bar committed to working across the educational continuum to improve participation, persistence, and success of diverse students in high school and college, with the goal of enhancing their aspirations and capacity to move into positions in the legal profession and leadership of the nation.

Friday, January 5, 2007, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Caucus Room, Terrace Level, Hilton Washington & Towers, Washington, D.C.

Cynthia Fountaine, Dean, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
Geoffrey Mearns, Dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Cleveland State University
Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, Dean, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Suellyn Scarnecchia, Dean, University of New Mexico School of Law

For more information on Wingspread, or to RSVP, contact Professor Sarah Redfield, sredfield@Pacific.edu or at the Marriott during AALS or 207-752-1721 (cell).

LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop Updates

The two hotels have provided slight extensions to the deadline to get the conference room rates. Hawthorne Suites will allow room reservations through midnight on October 31st. Lubbock Inn will allow room reservations through 6:00 p.m. on October 31st. Hawthorne Suites (806) 765-8900 conference rate code "LSAC." Lubbock Inn (800) 545-8226 conference rate code "LSAC, #G00022-04."

The list of speakers included on the program is below.

Michael Hunter Schwartz, Washburn University School of Law: Best Practices for integrating academic support into the first-year curriculum, influencing faculty, and designing introductory programs. Followed by working groups on each topic led by Michael Hunter Schwartz, David Nadvorney, CUNY School of Law, and Amy L. Jarmon, Texas Tech University School of Law

Martha M. Peters, Iowa University School of Law: Best Practices for moving forward in academic support: assessment of accomplishments and focus on the future

Ellen L. Swain, Vermont Law School: Best Practices for working with law students with learning disabilities and ADHD

Vernellia Randall, University of Dayton School of Law: Best Practices for assuring academic achievement and bar passage for Black, Hispanic and other law students of color or why a good academic support program is not enough

Dennis Honabach, Dean at Northern Kentucky University School of Law, and Walter Huffman, Dean at Texas Tech School of Law: Best Practices for workling with deans on budgeting and administration

Amy L. Jarmon, Texas Tech University School of Law: Best Practices along the P-20 Pipeline to Increase Diversity

Vinita Bali, Santa Clara University School of Law: Best Practices for designing and supervising upper-division students as structured study-group leaders and tutors

Rory Bahadur, St. Thomas University School of Law: Best Practices for evaluation of academic support programs

Robert Coulthard, Oklahoma City University School of Law, and Everett Chambers, Texas Wesleyan School of Law: Best Practices for credit and non-credit bar prep programs to maximize bar passage

Nancy Soonpaa, Texas Tech University School of Law: Best Practices for developing a working knowledge of learning theory in academic support programs

Newcomers Breafast Roundtable: Moderator: Nancy Soonpaa, Texas Tech University School of Law with the Planning Committe Members in attendance

Remember that Saturday night is West Texas hospitality at the National Ranching Heritage Center with barbeque (brisket, chicken, and sausage with all the fixings) and Lone Prairie playing Country & Western swing and fiddle music.

The web pages for additional information can be found at LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop.

LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop

The call for presenters and additional topics has been issued.  We are encouraging academic support professionals at all career levels to apply for being presenters/panel members.  The list of current topics and information on applying to be a presenter are also on the web site.  Please apply to be a presenter by e-mail or fax by midnight (extended from 5:00 p.m.) on Thursday, October 19th and provide the information indicated in the web site details. We are asking for a limited amount of information, so you still have time to apply today!

The workshop is being hosted by Texas Tech University School of Law on November 10 - 11, 2006.  You do not need to be from the region to attend the workshop or to be a presenter.  See the web site for details at LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop.

Main speakers at the meals for the workshop have now been selected.  See the web site for additional details on the topics.  The main speakers are:

1. Michael Hunter Schwartz, Washburn University School of Law, will speak on Best Practices for Integrating Academic Support into the First-Year Curriculum, Influencing Faculty, and Designing Introductory Programs.
2. Ellen L. Swain, Vermont School of Law, will speak on Best Practices for Working with Law Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD.

3. Martha M. Peters, Iowa School of Law, will speak on Best Practices for Moving Forward in Academic Support: Assessment of Accomplishments and Focus on the Future.

The costs for registration and lodging are very reasonable.  The on-line registration fee of $50 covers lunch and dinner on Friday, meals on Saturday, and a resource binder.  Rooms cost $65 to $105 per night depending on whether you have a double, king, queen suite or king suite.  Details on lodging and flights are on the web site.

If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Amy L. Jarmon, Assistant Dean for Academic Success Programs, at amy.jarmon@ttu.edu or (806) 742-3990, ext. 294. (alj) 

LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop Call for Presenters and Other Updates

Check out the LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop web site for new information on the November 10 - 11, 2006 events at Texas Tech University School of Law.  Web site updates include an expanded agenda with information on the main speakers and topics, the call for concurrent session presenters, and a call for additional topic suggestions.  The deadline for application to be a concurrent session presenter is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 19th - see the web site for all the details.

Do not forget to register for the workshop on-line at the web site.  The registration cost is $50 which includes meals (Friday lunch and dinner and Saturday light breakfast, lunch, and dinner).  You do not want to miss Saturday night's West Texas barbeque and entertainment at the National Ranching Heritage Center.  Flight and lodging information are also available on the web site.

The web site for registration and to answer all of your questions for the LSAC Southwest Regional Academic Assistance Training Workshop is LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop.  If you still have questions after visiting the web site, contact Dr. Amy L. Jarmon, Assistant Dean for Academic Success Programs, Texas Tech University School of Law at amy.jarmon@ttu.edu or 806.742.3990, ext. 294. 

   

LSAC Southwest Regional On-Line Registration

The on-line registration link is now available for the LSAC Southwest Regional Academic Assistance Training Workshop.  The workshop is being held at Texas Tech University School of Law on November 10 - 11, 2006.  The link to the workshop web site is at LSAC Southwest Regional Workshop.  Registrants will need to make their own flight and hotel reservations.  See the web site for hotel and airline information as well as other details on the workshop.  (alj)

LSAC Southwest Regional Web Site

The LSAC Southwest Regional Academic Assistance Training Workshop will be held at Texas Tech University School of Law on November 10 - 11, 2006.  The meetings will begin on Friday, November 10th at 12:30 p.m. and continue all day on Saturday, November 11th.  A $50 non-refundable registration fee will be charged.  Registrants will make their own room and flight reservations and pay for the same.  Blocks of rooms have been reserved at two hotels near the TTU campus.

A web site is now available with information about the workshop details: airlines, hotels, meals, tentative agenda, etc.  On-line registration and details on the call for presenters will be available on the web pages by the end of this week.  An update will be posted on this Blog and on the ASP listserv when on-line registration becomes "live" and presenter information becomes available on the web site.  The web pages for the workshop can be found at LSAC Southwest Regional.  (alj)

Workshop in New York

Kris Franklin has asked me to post an announcement of what looks to be a great workshop coming up.  Below is the announcement. (dbw)

The New York Area workshop, originally scheduled for the second weekend in November, has been moved to November 17th. We were not aware of the LSAC southwest regional ASP conference when we chose dates for our NY area workshop, so, to avoid that conflict we have rescheduled our meeting. 

Almost everyone who responded to our initial e-mail was excited about a two-day event, but were unable to agree on which two days of the week were best.  So instead, we will do an intensive full day workshop on Friday, November 17, at Brooklyn Law School.

The morning session will be focused on our own professional development.  Each of us should be prepared to explain to the group some project that we are beginning to, or would like to, undertake.  The projects described can be anything that would help us grow in our jobs, which might mean ideas for writing, teaching, building new programs, and so on.  We will offer feedback and assistance to each presenter in turn. 

The agenda for the afternoon session is open.  We ask that each participant lead a short discussion (about 20 minutes or so) on a topic of your choosing.  Examples of things that people have done in the past that were very helpful include: sharing specific exercises that have worked well with students; explaining what they have learned about working with students with learning disabilities; asking for collaborative brainstorming from the group about a particular problem they want to tackle with their students or in their schools.  We are not asking that people be masters of what they talk about, only that each of us share our thoughts, questions and expertise in a structured way.

If you have read carefully you’ll have figured out by now that we are actually asking those who come to present twice.  We hope that everyone will take us up on that, but we won’t be rigid about it – if you would prefer to present in only one of the sessions, that’s fine, too.

We plan to start the morning workshop early (breakfast will be provided!), break for lunch (that too!) and work through the afternoon.  We hope everyone will also be able to join us at a local restaurant for dinner. 

For people outside the immediate NY area, this will likely mean at least an overnight stay on Thursday and perhaps Friday as well.  This is a small gathering rather than a formal conference, so we are not charging for attendance and will not be able to arrange hotels, etc.  But if you want recommendations for local hotels let us know, and if you would like to come but think that your travel budget might not cover a hotel for a one-day workshop, Kris can probably have one or two people stay at her house.  Just ask.

If you plan to attend, please e-mail Kris Franklin at kfranklin@nyls.edu or Linda Feldman at Linda.feldman@brooklaw.edu and let us know what topic(s) you would like to discuss.  We will circulate a full agenda in a few weeks.  If there are short materials that you would like us to circulate to workshop participants before the event, please send it by Tuesday, November 7.

            We hope this sounds interesting to you and that you’ll be able to join us on the 17th.

Workshop Update

LSAC SOUTHWEST REGIONAL ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP AT TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW NOVEMBER 10 - 11, 2006

MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORKSHOP

When is it: Friday, November 10th (starting at 12:30 p.m.) and Saturday, November 11th (all day)

Where is it: Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, Texas

What is the topic: Best Practices in Academic Support

Who should attend: Anyone who is concerned about best practices in our field - and who is not! You do not have to be from the Southwest region to attend. Maximum number who may attend: 70.

Can you tell me more about being a presenter or topics as a participant: A wide range of sub-topics is under consideration. More information for potential presenters and participants will be available next week. In addition to several large group panel or speaker presentations, there will be opportunities for concurrent small group workshops.

How much will this cost me: The registration fee is expected to be $50 and will include lunch and dinner on Friday and a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday. All materials for the workshop will also be included in the registration fee. Registrants will pay for their own travel and lodging.

How do I get to Lubbock: The closest airport is Lubbock International Airport (LBB) 20 minutes northeast of Texas Tech University School of Law. Southwest, American, and Continental airlines have flights that connect through Dallas, Houston, and other cities.

Where will I stay: A block of rooms has been reserved at two hotels near the campus for the nights of Thursday, November 9th through Saturday, November 11th. You must reserve your room before October 31st to receive the workshop rate. You may reserve rooms by contacting the following hotels:

Hawthorne Suites: (806) 765-8900; queen rooms are $85 per night and king rooms are $105 per night; the conference rate code is "LSAC"

Lubbock Inn: (800) 545-8226; rooms with 2 double beds or king rooms are available for $65; the conference rate code is "LSAC, #G00022-04"

Why should I stay through Saturday night: Because you are going to be treated to real West Texas hospitality with a barbecue dinner at the National Ranching Heritage Center. If you want an excuse to wear your jeans, cowboy (or cowgirl) boots, and Stetson, this is it! Entertainment is in the works! So, y'all stay for the night and have a real good time.

What if I am eager and cannot wait to register: Hold on, Pardner. Reserve your room and your flight now. On-line registration for the conference should be fenced off on our web pages next week. More information will also be on the ASP listserv and ASP Blog next week.

Who is the ranch foreman for this workshop: Dr. Amy L. Jarmon, Assistant Dean for Academic Success Programs, Texas Tech University School of Law, (806) 742-3990, ext. 294, amy.jarmon@ttu.edu.

As Roy Rogers used to say, "Happy trails to you, until we meet again."

Workshop Opportunity

LSAC REGIONAL ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TRAINING WORKSHOP TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 10 - 11, 2006 AT TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

More details will be available shortly on the final program topic, attendance at the workshop, and solicitation of presenters. Please mark the event on your calendar now if you may want to attend. As soon as more information is available, it will be posted on this Blog site and on the ASP listserv.

Texas Tech University School of Law will host the workshop. Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas in the Panhandle South Plains.

Things I learned in Wisconsin

Well, I just got back from the NCBE Academic Support Conference in Madison, Wisconsin and I have a lot to report.  I've learned quite a few things from both the NCBE and my fabulous ASP colleagues:

1.  Bar examiners are human beings.  They are not, as we all previously thought, evil robots intent on extinguishing the spirit and self-esteem of our aspiring lawyers.  Not only that, but they appear to be intelligent, nice and hospitable:  so hospitable, in fact, they they insisted on feeding us every 1.5 hours. 

2.  Many ASP programs across the country are offering bar prep and bar related classes and workshops to their students, some for credit, some not.  Some schools have been lucky enough to get the big outside vendors to come in and conduct classes for their students.   (Now, I am definitely looking into that!)  Some ASP programs invite in or give discounts for hypnosis and/or yoga classes to fight stress and depression. 

3.  The MBE, MEE and MPT go through a very rigorous internal creative process before ever hitting the big exam day.  It was fascinating to see how the process works.  And, despite statistical information that woman and "minority" groups are consistently under performing on the MBE in particular, we are assured that the test is fair and unbiased.  Hmmm.

4.  The Bar Examiners at the conference told us that practicing hundreds or thousands of MBE questions is not effective.  Sure, in lieu of studying the material this is true, however, I will still tell students that the way to Carnegie Hall and success on multiple choice questions is the same:  practice, practice, practice.  (Do NOT take the B,C or D trains to garner success on multiple choice tests.)

5.   The University of Wisconsin at Madison is huge.  We walked at least a mile loop each day (to counteract the feedings) and didn't even see the whole campus.  Not only was the campus beautiful (right on the water), but the walks themselves proved educational.  For example, my lovely walking buddies (you know who you are, ladies) taught me, among many other things:  that female cows can have horns, the difference between a steer and a bull, and why forget-me-nots are called that.  It turns out the exercise came in handy because (see next item).....

6.  The airport in Chicago (O'Hare) is also huge and just because your plane lands in the same terminal that your connection leaves from, doesn't mean that the gates are close together.  Oddly, I think I passed about four Starbucks on my way from one flight to the next.  I heartily apologize to the nice guy sitting next to me on the Boston bound part of my journey who had the pleasure of cranky, sweaty me for two hours. 

7.  I am now ashamed of my "Northeast Superiority Complex".  As it turns out, you can find excellent ethnic food and outstanding medical care in places other than New York and Boston.   I had a great Nepalese meal during the conference at a lovely restaurant in Madison.  Also, the gentleman sitting next to me on the Madison-Chicago leg of my journey told me that he had just finished his last infusion of an experimental medication in Madison.  Evidently, one of only three doctors in the world who wold operate on and treat his brain tumor were in Madison.  He told me this well over a year past the time his doctors in another state said he would survive.  He assured me that our plane would land safely because any other outcome would be far too ironic.  He was right, we were safe but a little late.

8.  Finally, and this isn't something I learned, but rather something that was reinforced, ASP folks (with very, very few exceptions) are the nicest people in legal education, bar none (get it? BAR?).  We really love our students and want them to succeed more than anything else.  To put it in elementary school terms, we play nice and we share.  We offered each other wisdom, materials and, best of all, friendship. 

Thank you all, it was a great adventure. (ezs)

Upcoming Conferences

I would like to post announcements of upcoming conferences that would be of interest to academic support professionals.  If you know of such conferences, I invite you to send me the relevant information at weddled@umkc.edu (a shortcut to my email address is on the left of this page).

When I receive such announcements, I'll post them here and put them under the topic "Meetings" in the Archives (see the shortcut on the right of the page) so that you can access them easily down the road. (dbw)

June ASP Workshop Will Look at Bar Prep

Are you considering offering or expanding bar preparation for your students?  You may want to visit Columbus, Ohio, this June. 

Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, Will host the 2006 Midwest Regional Academic Assistance Workshop “Designing a For-Credit Bar Exam Preparatory Course” June 16 – 17, 2006. 

Specific information regarding the program, registration, and lodging can be found by clicking on “Registration Information” at:  http://www.law.capital.edu/MRAA/index.asp.

For additional information contact Yvonne Twiss at ytwiss@law.capital.edu or Athornia Steele at asteele@law.capital.edu.  (dbw)

Workshop in Rhode Island

Further information regarding the Northeast Regional Academic Support Workshop

Q. When is it?
A. Thursday, June 15 (starting at noon) and Friday, June 16 (all day).

Q. Where is it?
A. Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Q. Who should attend?
A. Those who are (relatively) new to academic support in law school, and those who are instituting new academic support programs at their schools.

Q. How many may attend?
A. Maximum: 40.

Q. What topics will be addressed?
A. Presently scheduled workshop topics include  ...
    • Whom we support   
    • Academic support for students with LD/ADHD            
    • What new ASPers should know, including “political” issues, and program evaluation basics
    • Interrelation between Academic and psychological (etc.) counseling
    • Teaching students how to answer exams
    • My first year in ASP & yours ... what to expect
    • Ask the experts

Q. Who will be presenting?
A.  Presenters include: 
     Lorraine Lalli, Roger Williams Law
     Ellen Swain, Vermont Law
     Darby Dickerson, Stetson Law
     Linda Feldman, Brooklyn Law
     Pavel Wonsowicz, U. Nevada Law
     Herb Ramy, Suffolk Law
     Natt Gantt, Regent Law
     Dan Weddle, U. Missouri (KC) Law
     Kim Baker, Roger Williams Law
     Others to be announced later
     [Do you want to present?  Alert me and we can discuss it.]

Q. How much will this cost?
A. Registration fee: $50, which includes all materials, lunch and dinner on Thursday, and light breakfast and lunch on Friday.  Registrants will pay for their own travel and lodging.   

NOTE: Summer in Bristol, RI, is a tourist-heavy time.  Book soon to obtain lodging.  Call Tracy (below) for more travel information after visiting the web sites below.

Q. Where is Rhode Island?
A. Visit: http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/.  The closest Airport is T.F. Green airport (Providence).  Logan airport in Boston is about one hour away (more time if traffic).

Q. Where is Roger Williams University School of Law?
A. Visit: http://law.rwu.edu/.

Q. How do I secure a spot at the workshop?
A. Send an email to Administrative Assistant TRACY SARTRYS.  Her address is tsartrys@law.rwu.edu.  You may reach Tracy by phone at (401) 254-4647.  Because of limited space, only “for sure” reservations will be accepted.

Q. Where can I stay?
A. Newport is about 30 minutes south of Roger Williams University. Providence is about 20 minutes north of the school.  The (above) websites should be your guide.  We will assemble some more detailed local hotel information soon, and forward it to those who plan to attend.  (djt)

An Opportunity to Share Your Expertise with the Rest of Us

Do you have something you could share with the ASP community?  Here's a great opportunity from the program committee of the AALS Section on Academic Support:

CALL FOR PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

The Section on Academic Support is seeking presenters for the AALS Annual Meeting program.  If you are interested, please send a one or two page description or bullet outline of the content you want to present. Be sure to include a description of your proposed presentation methods along with a biographical description and your qualifications for presenting on this year's topic.
            
        Workshop Topic: "Integrating Academic Support Across the Curriculum."  Our workshop description and suggested subtopics for prospective presenters are as follows:
      
        Brief Workshop Description:  This workshop will highlight ways in which schools can interweave academic support topics throughout their first-year curriculum and beyond.  Studies have shown that the most effective interventions are integrated into students' regular coursework.  The presenters will address how to achieve maximum benefit of academic support throughout a school curriculum.  Workshop participants will be asked to think broadly and critically about what constitutes effective teaching learning in law school.  The workshop will be geared towards both doctrinal and skills professors.
             
        Potential Subtopics:  The presenters could potentially address the following subtopics:
      
        - Including the "Must-Haves" - academic support topics that all schools   should include (such as course outlining techniques, developing analysis - application of law to fact);
       - Integrating academic support concepts into doctrinal and skills courses;
       - Designing, critiquing, and grading individual and group assignments;
       - Team-teaching;
       - Teaching with low-tech and high-tech resources; and
       - A related idea not on this list.
      
      Please send your presentation abstracts to Prof. Robin Boyle via email at: boyler@stjohns.edu by Friday, March 31, 2006.  If you have questions, you may direct your questions to Prof. Boyle at her email address or call her at (718) 990-6609.(dbw)
      

Lawyers with Disabilites

The most recent (March 2006) issue of the ABA publication Student Lawyer includes (see page 34) a conference notice of interest.  Quoting from the magazine ...

"The ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law ... in conjunction with ABA president Michael Greco and the EEOC, is sponsoring a National Conference on Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities.  Participants will discuss ways to further the employment opportunities for and promote the hiring of recent law graduates and young lawyers with disabilities."

The conference is on May 22 and May 23.  "The conference," the notice continues, "encourages law students to attend the conference.  To support student participation, the commission will offer a reduced registration fee as well as scholarships to students demonstrating need."

Encouraging news: "With proper accommodations and open lines of communication, lawyers with disabilities have proven themselves to be as successful as their peers without disabilities."

In the academic support field, most of us work with students manifesting a variety of disabilities (visible and invisible); and many of us contend with comments by students, faculty and lawyers along these lines, "Why is she even going to law school?  Who is going to hire a lawyer with (fill in the blank)?"  Oh, that gets to me.  Between your school's Career Services office and its Academic Support office ... somewhere ... we need to be able to provide accurate, up-to-date answers to these inquiries ... not only for those who ask the questions above, but, more importantly, for those who ask this question: "Will I ever get a job if they find out about my _________?"

For detailed conference information, visit the commission's web page. (djt)

A Summer Weekend in Chicago?

If you are looking for a great conference that will provide insightful and practical advice for helping law students learn, check out the upcoming Twelfth Annual Gonzaga University Institute for Law School Teaching Conference.  Hosted by Chicago-Kent College of Law on June 2-3, this year's conference will focus on "Inspiring Students and Facilitating Learning."  The conference lineup boasts an impressive array of presenters and will feature seminars that focus on student learning outside the classroom.  Take a look; you might find a sudden desire to spend a weekend in the Windy City. (dbw)

First Regional Announced!

This Is a "SAVE THE DATE" Notice!

The Northeast LSAC Regional Academic Assistance Workshop will take place at Roger Williams University Ralph R. Papitto School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island, on Thursday, June 15 and Friday, June 16.

Why Thursday and Friday?  Sunday is Fathers' Day ... many attendees may need to travel on Saturday.

Who should consider attending?  Those new to the Academic Support field.  We intend to have some "old hands" on board to help those who are developing programs, and/or who are themselves newcomers to law school academic support.

Would you like to present solo, or as part of a duet or panel?  Let me (Dennis Tonsing) know what you have in mind (by e-mail, please). Do you have a suggestion as to what ought to be presented (by someone other than you)? Let me know.

Details? Forthcoming. Watch the blog, and watch the ASP list-serve. (djt)

Academic Support Rocks and I Can Prove It!!!

Professor Tonsing is absolutely right. Academic Support does help. We can make a difference to students and now I can prove it!!! (with the caveat, of course, that I am not a mathematician, see below).  

I am just now compiling our statistics from last year to see if there is any correlation between what we do and the ultimate success or failure of our students. Interestingly, because I was out on maternity leave last spring, I have a control group of sorts to work with because our office did not see all the students who were flagged as “at risk” by their first semester grades.

In the past, we have worked with every student (in some capacity) that has received an unsatisfactory grade (defined here as a C- or below). Usually we conduct one-on-one meetings with these students and follow a curriculum that involves a review of outlining and exam taking techniques as well as many practice hypotheticals and multiple choice questions. But last year we couldn’t see everyone: and it made a difference (by my calculations, keeping in mind the last time I took a course in statistics was as an undergraduate!). It really seems (note the intentional use of the passive voice to take into account my potentially flawed statistical analysis), that seeing students one-on-one will help keep them from being placed on academic warning at the end of their first year.

Judging from our numbers, about twice as many students we didn’t see one-on-one were on academic warning at the end of the first year as those we did see. This is significant because the one-on-one triage the office engaged in involved not seeing those students who appeared to be at a lower risk for being in academic distress at the end of the year. That is, we did not see students who had one unsatisfactory midterm grade as opposed to those who had an unsatisfactory final grade or more than one unsatisfactory midterm grade. We also saw some students whose GPA’s were in the automatic dismissal (if it were the end of the year) range.

There are some variables that I could not quantify and include while doing my analysis. For example, I personally think the student who comes in to see us with the attitude of, “I messed up, please help me get this right” is always bound to make more progress than the, “my professors hate me” student. I also could not tell from the numbers if there were students who were just not capable of doing the work, no matter how much and what kind of help they were given. But even so, the numbers really do seem to point to an advantage in meeting with students individually after the red-flag of a poor grade in the first semester.

Simply put, in the end, the students we saw one-on-one did better.  I agree with Prof. Tonsing that this is a hard time of year for academic supporters, but get out your pom-poms and get going, because we really can make a difference!!(ezs)

Kudos to Kris!

Of course, I should have brought along the digital camera to take a group photo.  Kris Franklin (pictured, right) organized another wonderful NY-centered worskshop on Friday, November 18. 

Academic Supporters from Maryland, Pace, NYLS, Touro, Hofstra (see Richard Neumann, at right) , Quinnipiac (see Gail Stern, at left), Roger Williams, Fordham and Cuny gathered to discuss, learn and work together. 

You shoulda' been there!  Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus  and Myra Berman taught us how to use "IRAC Diagraming" to help students "...see IRAC in action."  Fabulous.

Mark Padin sparked a discussion about  LSAT/diversity-minority/bar-pass issues, concerns and controversies ... not the least of which was the mandatory vs. voluntary participation controversy, which led ... as you would expect ... to the stigma/backlash controversy.  Mark not only offered his own comments and experiences, but distributed material documenting the disturbing fact that "minority representation among law students has dropped for the past two years, from 20.6 percent in 2001-2002 to 20.3 percent in 2003-2004" (based on ABA statistics).

[By the way, one of the articles Mark handed out was from a publication you may be unaware of: Minority Law Journal Student Edition.  This particular article featured the FIU and FAMU attempts to "increase the legal profession's diversity in Florida." ed.]

Dionne Koller (left) explained how she trains and employs "Teaching Fellows" to assist with the Academic Support Mission at the U. of Maryland.

Kris Franklin ran us through a drill which required us to analyze two (actual) students' exam answers, then discuss how to best help each student.  For this part, I passed out four-color pens, and explained the Dan Wilson (see tribute to Dan by his Denver students) method of helping students analyze their own answers.  Kris provided a typed transcript of her detailed voice recording commentary that she delivered to the student (a method which provides the opportunity to offer detailed, lengthy and – one would hope – more helpful advice to struggling students).

Note to workshop participants: consider writing a short version of your impressions of what went on during the workshop, and I'll post them here.  Send them as an attachment.  (djt)

New York Law School Hosts Get-Together

On Friday, November 18, from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., New York Law School's Professor Kris Franklin (recently featured in this Blog's "spotlight")is hosting another annual regional Academic Support Get-Together soon. 

"If everyone does the homework assignment," she suggests, "we should be well-prepared to compare notes about how we would diagnose and discuss the work of two 'sample students' on a criminal law exam.   This will help us learn from both our similarities and our differences, and will show how the differences in our program designs might change our ways of working with students."

Presenters will also cover at least three other discussion topics:

●  Professor Dionne Koller (at left) (University of Maryland School of Law) will share materials and lead a discussion on “Training and Using Teaching Fellows.”

●  Assistant Director Myra Berman and Professor Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus (Touro Law Center) will demonstrate their use of “IRAC Diagramming.”

●  Director Mark Padin (Pace Law School) will help frame a discussion on whether our programs are adequately and uniquely serving students of color.

There’s still time to add discussion topics! 

Professor Franklin writes, "Though one of the great benefits of the workshop is its intimacy, we do want to encourage everyone who can possibly participate to come.  All the cool kids will be there."   

Editorial note: (And there are usually brownies.)

I plan to attend ... how about you?

For further information, call/write Professor Kris Franklin.  (djt)

Don't ask, Don't tell

How often have you had a normal, mundane meeting with a student that is suddenly interrupted by a bombshell sort of announcement? 

For example, one day, after reviewing a student's outlines and setting up what I call an "exam plan," I asked my signature end of meeting question, "So, how is everything else going?" 

"Oh, really much better than last year at this time; I talked to my wife about separating yesterday. "

"What??????"  Okay, I didn't really do a Danny Kaye and spit my coffee on this fellow, but I was a little surprised.  And then confused.  What do I say to this?  "Gee, student, are you sure a divorce is a good plan this close to exams?  Can't you remain in this terrible relationship until after finals and then start proceedings?"

So I said nothing.  "Mazel Tov" seemed patently wrong and "I'm sorry" didn't correspond with his somewhat glib tone either.  I let him talk it through; he explained that this was not unexpected, that he had been in marriage counseling for some time, etc.  When he had questions about the university housing office listings, I went back to safely drinking my coffee and gave him some advice on that.

At the beginning of an ASP relationship with a student in academic difficulty, I always ask if there is some reason why this has happened (and I always phrase the question in this way purposely).  The answer often explains an egregiously inconsistent grade or a slew of bad finals following a set of lovely midterms.  But I looked at this student's form, and he had written that he had been sick much of the prior year without a clear diagnosis.   Now, however, he had finally completed his treatment; and I assumed that was it.

But then again, what did I expect?  Would anyone really answer my gently phrased question with, "Well, my marriage appears to be loveless, and frankly we are bored with each other, so I imagine that might have had some effect on my grades"?  No, that would be a bizarre insight stemming from such a vague question and perhaps one that eluded the student as well.

But there is a teachable moment here.  As lawyers, we are all trained to think on our feet: to have the ability to respond immediately; but we are never taught in law school that sometimes silence is golden.  I have advised new attorneys that learning when to sit down and shut up is a very high level skill for lawyers.  In fact, it may be the most difficult skill for a lawyer to master.  Now I know that ASP folks need to be able to do that also. (ezs)