WOU Magazine Spring 2011: News
WOU recognized for outstanding academic advising for fourth consecutive year
Western Oregon University’s staff and faculty have been recognized for their outstanding academic advising by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) for the fourth consecutive year. Associate Provost David McDonald was named the 2011 Pacesetter Award Recipient and biology professor Dr. Bryan Dutton received a Certificate of Merit for the faculty academic advising category. The Pacesetter Award hasn’t been given to someone west of Texas since its inception in 1992. Dutton and McDonald will be presented with their awards at the NACADA Annual Conference this fall in Denver, Colo.
Since McDonald joined WOU in 2005, he has led successful initiatives to increase enrollment and retention. He instituted the Western Tuition Promise, which guarantees the same tuition rate for incoming students throughout their four years. WOU’s enrollment was 4,956 in 2005, and has grown to 6,233 in 2010. In his position, McDonald manages the Academic Advising and Learning Center, Admissions, Center for Teaching and Learning, Financial Aid, the Honors Program, International Students and Scholars Affairs, the Registrar’s Office, Study Abroad, University Marketing, and the Writing Center. McDonald worked in the Oregon University System’s Chancellor’s Office from 1999 to 2005, where he served as the director of enrollment and student services and director of Oregon GEAR UP.
The Pacesetter Award recognizes executive officers, provosts and academic or student affairs officers (i.e. vice provosts, vice presidents, deans, etc.) who exemplify a commitment to academic advising and are true advocates for advising, students, and advisors across the institution.
Dutton, a graduate of WOU when it was the Oregon College of Education, came to WOU in 1998 after holding previous positions at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Smithsonian Institution, and The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. He earned his doctorate in botany from the University of Maryland in 1995. Dutton has a comprehensive history of peer-reviewed publications, lectures, awards, and grants. One such grant was awarded in 2009 by the United States Department of Justice to a WOU research team that included Dutton ($685,754).The study was called “Application of Spatial Statistics to Latent Print Identifications: Towards Improved Forensic Science Methodologies.”
“I am deeply honored to be recognized for my advising efforts at WOU and am overwhelmed by the thoughtful and generous letters written by students, colleagues, and administrators on my behalf,” said Dutton. He is also the coordinator for the Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences, which is tasked with planning the annual Academic Excellence Showcase.
The Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit awards are given to individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students or outstanding academic advising administration. The Faculty Academic Advising category includes those individuals whose primary responsibility is teaching and who spend a portion of their time providing academic advising services to students.
