June 14, 2013
Cheryl SpectorCheryl Spector (English Department, Director, Academic First Year Experiences) has received the Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award from the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (2013). She is an active advocate who supports student rights across her campus. Since 1998, she has been involved with first-year seminar programs beginning with the creation of the University 100 class at California State Northridge. Aside from the first-year seminar, she is involved with the Freshman Connection learning communities program and the One Campus, One Book common reading program.
Each year, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition invites presidents of American higher education institutions to nominate one educator on their campus for this award who is doing exceptional work in the areas of student learning, development and success. A national panel of distinguished educators reviews the nomination portfolios and select 10 individuals as the nation's Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates. Two award recipients are chosen in each of the following institutional categories:
- Two-Year Colleges
- Four-Year Colleges & Universities with less than 2,000 students
- Four-Year Colleges & Universities with 2,000 to 7,000 students
- Four-Year Colleges & Universities with 7,001 to 15,000 students
- Four-Year Colleges & Universities with more than 15,000 students
List of all 2013 award winners: http://tech.sa.sc.edu/fye/awards/advocate_award/current_year_list.php