UM Business advisor named UM-DeSoto 2006 T.P. Vinson Outstanding faculty/staff award winner
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Carol Mahaltic, academic advisor for business majors at UM-DeSoto, receives this year's award. |
The University of Mississippi – DeSoto Release
Media Contact: Pam Starling
pam@olemiss.edu
(662) 816-5248
University of Mississippi School of Business academic advisor Carol Mahaltic, of Oxford, relates to her career just as old saying goes “it takes one to know one.” As an academic advisor for the large group of non-traditional students on the Southaven and Tupelo campuses, Mahaltic understands the balancing act that these students undertake to complete their degrees while working full-time jobs and tending to family responsibilities. It is this understanding and fervent support that led The UM- DeSoto administration, faculty, and staff to award her the 2006 T.P. Vinson Outstanding Faculty Award.
T.P. Vinson was a UM School of Education associate dean and faculty member who became a strong supporter of bringing the highest quality of student services to the satellite campus students. After helping establish the framework and foundation of the DeSoto Center education program, Vinson lost his battle with a cancer related illness. Today, The DeSoto Center seeks to honor his legacy by bestowing this award on a University employee who exemplifies his characteristics in student services.
“The award honors an advisor who exceeds expectation and brings the wonderful quality of education that is in Oxford to our students in Southaven,” UM-DeSoto Center Dean, Dr. Bonnie Buntin said. “Dr. Vinson was an advisor, professor, and zealous supporter of our students, and we wanted to honor other Oxford campus faculty and staff who show this same advocacy for off-campus students.”
Mahaltic travels from the Oxford campus up to four days a week to the Southaven and Tupelo branch campuses advising junior and senior business majors on their course selections and tracking their path to graduation. She also visits with prospective students who are interested in transferring to the campuses, to make sure they are taking the correct prerequisite courses to enter the UM business program.
“Choosing Carol to receive this award was an easy decision,” Buntin said. “She was the catalyst in bringing banking and finance courses to the DeSoto Center. She saw that business majors were requesting these courses and that their addition to the schedule would be a major benefit to the education of these students. She saw a need and alerted the professors and dean. It is this belief in helping these place-bound students that made her stand out for this award.”
Mahaltic not only advises working students who are trying to further their education-- she is one. As the mother of two children attending college, she is also working toward her own academic goals as a graduate student in the UM Higher Education Department.
“What is unique about the DeSoto and Tupelo campuses is you have non-traditional students who often juggle family life and full-time jobs with school,” Mahaltic said. “Their burden is really heavy, and anything I can do to make things smoother, I try to do.”
Mahalitc believes that because the DeSoto Center student’s time is limited, they tend to be more focused.
“Most of them are only taking 12 hours, and with everything else, that is a really full load,” she said. “I enjoy making sure that they are on the right track for graduation and that they can balance the load of their courses.”
Mahaltic was presented the award among some of her biggest fans-- The UM- DeSoto Center students-- as part of the Graduation Celebration honoring the over 150 graduates of the campus earlier this month.
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