Jerry Robbins, dean of the College of Education, has announced that he is leaving the deanship at the close of business on August 31, 2004.  Following a period of preparation, Robbins plans to join the faculty of the Department of Leadership and Counseling.  During July and August, Robbins will have limited responsibilities, as he will be on annual leave much of that time.  However, the COE Fall Conference is scheduled for August 31 and Robbins expects to play a substantial role in that event.

"It’s been a wonderful 13 years as dean," Robbins commented.  "We’ve had many successes in the COE, including the Porter Building and three successful NCATE reviews," he added.  "I’m just at an age now where this job requires more energy than I have to give to it."

Robbins came to EMU in 1991 from Georgia State University, where he had served as dean of the COE, as associate vice president for academic affairs, and in several other central administrative roles.  Prior to that, he had served as dean of the COE at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and as chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations of Education at the University of Mississippi.  He "came up through the ranks" as a faculty member at Ole Miss and was earlier a high school principal and a classroom teacher.  His graduate degrees (educational administration) are from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and his undergraduate degree (mathematics, music) is from Hendrix College. 

Robbins has participated in the ACE Fellows program and the Harvard Management Development Program.  He has held office in a number of professional organizations, including being the international president of Kappa Delta Pi, president of TECSCU, and vice chair of The Renaissance Group.  He is the author of numerous books, articles, and papers.  He is currently a member of the AACTE Board of Directors and is president of the MACTE.

Jeffrey Schulz has been named program director for EMU’s Community Leadership Fellows.  This is an activity of the Center for Community Building and Civic Engagement that will begin in January.  John Palladino has been named as a Fellow in the program.

Dibya Choudhuri received a Borders gift certificate in appreciation for her contributions to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Curriculum Development Seminar.

Jon Margerum-Leys conducted one number and served as the narrator for "‘Twas the Night Before Christmas" in the holiday performance of the Ypsilanti Community Band.  Jerry Robbins conducted the remainder of the performance.

A memorial for Kathleen Kootsillas will be held on January 13 in Porter 202 at 4:00 p.m.  Kootsillas, 58, had been employed at EMU since 1986 and she was a senior secretary in the COE Clinics.  She died on December 1 of complications from surgery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the North Shore Animal League or the Salvation Army.  Envelopes will be available at the memorial service, or contributions may be left with Norma Taylor-Bishop, Pat Sullivan, or Sylvia Bethea.  The EMU community is invited to the event.  For additional information, contact Steve Press at 487.4410.

Ellen Hoffman has received $721,833 from Spring Arbor University for "Developing an Ecology for Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers for Technology, Year 3 Primary Funding."

This continuing project will develop an ecology for preparing teacher candidates who teach excellently with technology.  The candidates will be teamed with cooperating teachers and university supervisors.  An increasing percentage of the teams will involve school districts that are technologically underserved.

The College of Education was well represented at EMU’s December 14 Commencement.  David Anderson, Elizabeth Broughton and Kathleen Quinn served as marshals of the students.  Tara Wall, who received a master’s degree in speech pathology, was singled out by President Kirkpatrick as one of three students who were graduating under unusual circumstances.   Her son suffers from a very rare chromosomal abnormality; even so, Wall worked her way through school as a GA and as a waitress, earned a 3.9 GPA, and was the Graduate Student of the Year in Speech Pathology.

Ten doctoral students in educational administration were hooded and received degrees: Norman Abdella, Ned Cooper, Sally Covert, Sharon Donahue-Rascke, Daniel Guernsey, Jeff Hamlin, Will Hathaway, Daniel Jonkers, David Maile, and Barbara Sofferdine.  Participating in the hooding ceremonies were Bill Price, Ron Williamson, James Barott, Helen Ditzhazy, Martha Tack, and David Anderson.

In addition to the ten new doctorates, 13 students received Sp.A. degrees through the College of Education, and 261 students received COE masters degrees. 

In the Ann Arbor News account of the event, Robin Erkfritz was interviewed.  Erkfritz started out in college as an accounting major.  She dropped out "a couple of decades."  A few years ago, while working as a paraprofessional in a school district, she found that teaching was her calling.  As of December 14, she is now a fully credentialed special education teacher with a job waiting for her in the Clarkston school district.

Dissertation Defense.  Last Friday, Gretchen Gabler defended her dissertation, "Full-Day Kindergarten and Developmentally Appropriate Practices: Perceptions from Classroom Teachers."  Bill Price was the dissertation chair.

Honors Program Senior Thesis/Project Awards and Workshop.   Junior and senior departmental honors students are invited to apply for the University Honors Program Senior Thesis/Project and Symposium award. Although the number and amount of the monetary awards have not yet been determined, it's expected to fund between 1020 students at approximately $2,000 each. Completed applications must be received in the University Honors office (2nd floor of Wise Hall) no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 16, 2004.  Call 487-0341, or email Joe Rankin at jrankin@emich.edu

Michigan House Civics Commission.  VISION hosts the Michigan House Civics Commission (MHCC) for a public hearing Monday, January 26, 2004, 11:00 a.m. to1:00 p.m., Room 201 Welch Hall.  The MHCC is a bipartisan commission focused on civic engagement in Michigan. The MHCC has chosen to host the first ever higher education statewide public hearing at EMU to hear testimony and proposals from students on their legislative ideas. This is an opportunity for students to bring real ideas to a real legislative body and is an exciting way to present a student voice on critical issues.  There also is a possibility that some of the ideas will become actual laws. Individuals, groups or classes are encouraged to submit proposal ideas.  Students will have 34 minutes to present their proposal, followed by 10 minutes to answer any questions the representatives have about their ideas.  All proposals must be new ideas not addressed in a current bill or law. 

In order to take part in this exciting program and be considered to present, students must submit a short email outlining their idea to Alena.Frey@emich.edu no later than January 2, 2004.  A copy of the full presentation and written proposal must be submitted no later than January 9, 2004.  Proposals may be mailed to VISION, 21 McKenny Union, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Students selected to present will be notified by Jan. 16, 2004. Call Frey, 487-3045.

Women’s Commission Scholarship.  The 2004-2005 EMU Women's Commission Scholarship application is now available at the Office of Financial Aid, 403 Pierce Hall.  This application is for both undergraduate and graduate students who have had an interruption in their education of at least five cumulative years and/or are planning a career that is generally nontraditional for their gender. The deadline for a completed application is Friday, February 13, 2004. Call 487-0455.

Undergraduate Symposium.  Students with outstanding undergraduate research and creative projects are being sought to give presentations at Symposium XXIV, scheduled Friday, March 26, 2004, McKenny Union. Nomination forms and abstract guidelines may be obtained through departments, the College of Arts and Sciences (411 PrayHarrold), or the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts (124 Quirk). Visit www.emich.edu/symposium, or call 487-3198.

The Office for Alumni Relations is currently accepting nominations for the 43rd Annual Alumni Awards. There are four award categories: Outstanding Young Alumnus/Alumna; Alumnus/Alumna Achievement; Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna; and the Dr. John W. Porter Distinguished Service Award. The deadline for nominations is January 16, 2004. Awards will be presented at a dinner ceremony May 8, 2004, at the Ypsilanti Marriott at Eagle Crest. For more information about the awards, and a nomination form, go to www.emich.edu/alumni/awards/awards_a.html

Because of the EMU budget situation, Graduate Studies and Research has imposed a moratorium on Graduate School Research Support Fund awards, effective immediately. 

HPERD has received one of 14 financial awards for marketing graduate programs in that department.  The award will cover program brochure development as well as web site enhancement.

Until January 8, nominations are being received for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards.  For information, contact Kathy Tinney at 487-2420.

The SINOAmerican Education Consortium, of which the EMU COE is a member, has announced the Summer Education Trip, May 31June 15, to the People’s Republic of China in connection with the 15^th SINOAmerican Education Consortium International Conference in Wuhan, China.  For additional information, contract Binyao Zheng at bzheng@Kennesaw.edu or Ann Smith at asmith@kennesaw.edu.

(For a complete list, see http://www.emich.edu/coe/newhome/opportunities.html)

January 7–ORD’s "Introduction to the World of Grants," 9:009:45 a.m.   To register, donna.noffsinger@emich.edu.

January 9–ORD’s "Identifying Funding Sources,"10:0010:45 a.m.   To register, donna.noffsinger@emich.edu.

January 10–Linda Rief, teacher and noted author, will present "Writing to Read, Reading to Write," 1:003:00 p.m., Eagle Crest Conference Center.  Cost: $25.  Contact the EMU Writing Project, c/o Erin Banks, 612 PrayHarrold, EMU.

January 13–ORD’s "The Review Process," 9:3010:45 a.m.  To register, donna.noffsinger@emich.edu.

January 13–Advanced Programs Committee meeting, 3:30 p.m., Porter 301B.

January 13–Memorial gathering in memory of Kathleen Kootsillas, Porter 202, 4:00 p.m.  For information, Steve Press at 487.4410.

January 14–COE Council meeting, 2:00 p.m., Porter 301B.

(For a complete list, see http://www.emich.edu/coe/newhome/proposals.html)

January 6–nominations due for National Teachers Hall of Fame.For information, www.nthf.org.

January 8–Deadline for nominations for EMU’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards.  For information, Kathy Tinney, 487.2420.

January 9–Nominations due for Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards.  For information, www.emich.edu/public/aa/Info_Faculty.htm

January 15–Deadline for applications for editorship of Action in Teacher Education, the  journal of ATE and for guest editorship of the summer 2004 issue of the journal.  For information, jodonnel@nmsu.edu.

January 15–deadline for Kappa Delta Pi New Teacher Advocate articles on "classroom management."  For information, pubs@kdp.org.