Health and Human Services News

Dispelling common advising myths

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Hillary Mayes, director of the MCHHS Student Success and Advisement Center (SSAC) and student success specialist, has encountered more than a few advising myths during her time here at Missouri State University.

The two biggest misconceptions Mayes has found are that advisors and advisement centers are only for students who are falling behind or for students who need help choosing their academic courses.

“The term ‘academic advisor’ is a bit of a misnomer since advisement is far more than simply helping students pick out academic courses,” she said.

The MCHHS SSAC team works hard to understand students’ unique needs and help them navigate their college experiences accordingly.

“We aim to help them connect to their programs and their program faculty in ways that will help them develop their professional interests and move closer to their professional goals,” Mayes said.

Myth

Advisement centers are only for struggling students.

Reality

Advisement centers and advising staff are here to help all students. In fact, Missouri State requires that all first- and second-year undergraduate students meet with an advisor before they can enroll in classes.

Advisors are a vital campus resource for students to help them navigate university policies, processes and procedures.

Myth

Advisors only help with course scheduling.

Reality

Although helping students create plans of study and selecting courses is an important part of the advisor/advisee relationship, it is not the only type of support provided. Advisors can often serve as a designated person on campus with whom students can feel comfortable having discussions; these discussions don’t always have to be academic in nature.

As student champions, advisors are here to celebrate with students when they are excited or to brainstorm with students if they feel conflicted. Advisors can assist with career and academic major exploration, connecting to relevant resources or offices and with personal or professional development.

Advisors also work closely with academic units and faculty, assist with marketing and recruitment, engage in professional development and provide service to the university through committee work.

Myth

Advisors can register students for their classes.

Reality

Because students are in charge of their academic experience, this responsibility resides exclusively with them. Although advisors are happy to discuss course options with students and make suggestions related to timing, course loads and modalities, students are the only ones who can register for their own classes.

Myth

Advisors provide mental health services.

Reality

This is a common misconception; the role of an advisor is often compared to the role of a counselor. Although advisors do support students and frequently discuss sensitive topics with them, they aren’t licensed mental health providers and can’t legally provide this service. If a student needs mental health services, we have wonderful resources available to them through our Counseling Center located in the Magers Health and Wellness Center.

Myth

Advisors hold appointments only when fall and spring classes are in session.

Reality

If university offices are open, staff advisors are on campus and available to meet with students. Advisors are 12-month employees, meaning they are available and willing to see students throughout all months of the year.

Explore the MCHHS Student Success and Advisement Center

Dietetics student gives back

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KY3 recently featured Andrew Falk, exercise and movement science major, for his work at Ozarks Food Harvest (OFH).

Falk found OFH because he needed to fulfill the requirements in a dietetics class — a community engagement project that requires students to volunteer.

Watch the clip

The KY3 segment shows OFH prepping for the Thanksgiving season and Falk discusses his personal story; he’s found his volunteer efforts at OFH are a great way to give back and help “build a better community.”

“When I was a kid, we went through a hard time and had to go to pantries and stuff like that,” Falk said. “It feels like everything’s come full circle and it’s nice to give back.”

OFH serves over 270 different charities across 28 counties in the Ozarks, providing 1.5 to 2 million meals per month. They’re expected to spend an additional $500,000 on holiday meals this year.

Learn more about the exercise and movement science program

Stellar staff

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We are pleased to recognize academic administrative assistants Tammy Shelton and Missi Lafarlette. Shelton works in the School of Nursing and Lafarlette works in the department of public health and sports medicine. 

Let’s learn more about them! 

What brought you to Missouri State? 

Shelton: I recently moved from the Kansas City metro area (a small town south of the city called Harrisonville, Missouri) when my husband returned to Springfield for his work.

Lafarlette: I’ve always known it was a great place to work.

What is your favorite memory here so far? 

Shelton: I love walking around the campus, especially in the fall. MSU has beautiful trees and landscaping, as well as buildings (both really old and some brand new) that are designed so interestingly. You can’t beat a beautiful fall day with leaves swirling and the crisp air blowing as you walk back from the Plaster Student Union. 

Lafarlette: My favorite memory has been volunteering for the United Way Day of Caring as a staff senator for the public affairs committee. Working at the Midtown Springfield Community Garden was very fulfilling. We learned the purpose of the gardens. We packaged freshly made fruit rollups for children’s programs. They explained that they donate veggies to local food banks and grow seeds for the public library’s giveaway. Did you know you can check out seeds at the library? It was very memorable and a great group of people to work with. 

Learn more about the department of public health and sports medicine 

What are your favorite Thanksgiving foods? 

Shelton: Pecan pie. My husband makes the best pie EVER! He worked his way through school as a baker for the Heritage Cafeteria here in Springfield (before it closed down). Pecan is his specialty! 

Lafarlette: Pie, any kind of pie. 

Where are you from? 

Shelton: I grew up in Springfield, graduating from Parkview High School. My family moved around some. I received my bachelor’s degree in communication science disorders from the University of Texas at Austin.

Lafarlette: I’m a local. I was raised in Fair Grove, but now live in Ash Grove. 

What are you most thankful for? 

Shelton: My family. We’re blessed to have two wonderful kids (twin boys) who have grown up into amazing men, married sweet wives and had great kids of their own.

Lafarlette: The health and wellbeing of my family of course. I’ve worked with some wonderful people during my time here and got to know people all over campus. MCHHS staff and faculty are the best. It’s a fun place to work. 

How many years have you been at Missouri State? 

Shelton: I started working at MSU in July of this year, but I’m an alumna from the SMSU (Southwest Missouri State University) days. I graduated with my master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders back in 1994.

Lafarlette: As of October, I’ve been at Missouri State for eight years.  

What’s your favorite part about working here? 

Shelton: I love supporting students who are pursuing their dreams to help others.  The School of Nursing has great people who are all committed to making this world better!

Lafarlette: We have some awesome students, and working with them is the best. Helping and encouraging them to reach their goals is very fulfilling.  

Learn more about the School of Nursing  

 

New PsyD program halfway through its first semester 

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The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program was born out of a partnership between Missouri State University and Burrell Behavioral Health, which was announced in early 2022. 

Dr. Dana Paliliunas, associate professor in the School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences and PsyD program director, could not be more thrilled to finally have the first cohort on campus. 

“We’ve been planning for years now, so having students on campus is so exciting; we get to see it all come to fruition rather than just planning what it’s going to be,” Paliliunas said. 

About the PsyD faculty and staff 

Leading the way is Dr. Paul Deal, school director and the psychology department head.  

Paliliunas and several other core faculty members in the department of psychology have been building the program and brainstorming for about three years. 

Other members of leadership include:  

  • Dr. Ann Rost, director of clinical training. 
  • Dr. Brad Powers, director of clinical training. 

Current updates and goals 

All energy is going toward creating a great experience for current students, building a strong sense of community and purpose within the cohort and checking in with students as they begin the journey to their five-year degree. 

“Every year what we’ll do is figure out what we did this year that we can do better the next,” Paliliunas said. 

The first PsyD graduate student committee is officially formed. This committee comprises student-elected representatives to work with program leadership and ensure students’ voices are heard. 

“We’re doing everything with this cohort for the first time. There’s a lot of planning, preparing and organizing, but now also putting things into action,” said Paliliunas. 

The current goal is to seek accreditation within the next few years. 

Accreditation is a long process involving a lot of paperwork, transferring everything being done in the program to a package that is shared with the American Psychological Association — the accrediting body. The entire process will likely take at least a full year to complete. 

Information for students 

New cohorts for the program will be added in rotation every fall, with application deadlines for the next year due Dec. 15, 2023. The review and interview process will take place in the spring. 

Learn more about the psychology program