Aug. 14, 2007 issue
News Briefs

By Ron Podell

• Teaching "Gen Ed" workshops
• Heritage Fest scheduled Aug. 17-19
• End-of-summer social set for young alumni
• EMU to host table at DTE concert events
• Bid Day Prep Showdown III
• New faculty orientation scheduled Aug. 29-30
• EMU Resource Fair
• Fall Emeritus Social
• New Student Orientation takes place Sept. 1-4
• Athletics plans football fan bus trips
• Meijer Madness set for Sept. 6
• EMU Today seeks individuals for focus groups

 

The following are news briefs about important activities and events happening at Eastern Michigan University.

GENERALLY SPEAKING: Chris Wood Foreman (above, center), EMU's General Education Program director, leads a recent "Teaching Gen Ed" workshop for faculty and lecturers in Halle Library. Future workshops are scheduled Aug. 14, 15, 21 and 28.

• "Teaching Gen Ed" workshops: All faculty members   and lecturers (part- and full-time) are invited to participate in a "Teaching Gen Ed" workshop. These workshops will provide an opportunity for faculty to think about and plan a Gen Ed course, and to interact with colleagues from across campus whoalso will be teaching in the program. The workshop will focus on ways to make the new curriculum, and all of the courses that are part of it, more intentional, and will also address ways to help students integrate and apply their learning. Faculty and lecturers also will learn about and have opportunities to apply various assessment strategies. Please plan to attend one of the following workshops: Tuesday, August 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, August 15, 5-9 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (NOTE: This   is a new addition.); Tuesday, August 28, 9 a.m.-noon; or Tuesday, August 28, 1-4 p.m. All workshops will be in Halle Library. More details will be furnished upon R.S.V.P. Please do this by e-mail at generaleducation@emich.edu. Space will be limited to the first 30 respondents for each, so please respond as soon as possible. For questions, contact Chris Foreman, chris.foreman@emich.edu, or call 487-0439.

OUR HERITAGE: Eastern Michigan University cheerleaders march in the Heritage Festival Parade. This year's Heritage Festival is scheduled Aug. 16-19.

• Heritage Fest scheduled Aug. 17-19: The annual Ypsilanti Heritage Festival is scheduled Aug. 17-19. This year's festival includes the annual parade, a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament, a vintage baseball game played by the La-De-Dahs, a children's amusement park, disc golf tournament, Buffalo Soldiers, a beer brewing demonstration, Rubber Duck race, authentic Native American dance and artifacts, and more. Activities will take place in Riverside Park, Depot Town, Frog Island Park and downtown Ypsilanti. For more information, go to www.ypsilantiheritagefestival.com

• End-of-summer social set for young alumni: GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) and friends are invited to enjoy an end-of-summer social hosted by the Office for Alumni Relations Thursday, Aug. 23, 6-8 p.m., at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris Street in Depot Town, Ypsilanti. There's no cost to attend, and complimentary appetizers and drink specials will be available. Although reservations are not required, please confirm your participation by contacting the Office for Alumni Relations, 487-0250, or alumni.relations@emich.edu

• EMU to host table at DTE concert events: Eastern Michigan University's new Events Squad, an extension of the Grassroots Marketing Program, will host a table at six youth-oriented concerts at DTE Energy Music Theater. Concerts include Michael W. Smith, Aug. 19; Ozzfest, Aug. 26; and Velvet Revolver and Alice in Chains, Aug. 27. To volunteer or for more information, contact Meghan Britton, 487-2483.

FOOTBALL FEAST: The Big Day Prep Showdown III includes seven high school football games played over two days in Rynearson Stadium.

• Big Day Prep Showdown III: The addition of three Friday games and a new scholarship program will highlight the 2007 Big Prep Showdown III Aug. 24-25, at EMU's Rynearson Stadium. All games will be shown on Comcast Local 8. The schedule is as follows: Friday, Aug. 24, Fraser vs. Warren Cousino, 2 p.m.; Allen Park vs. Detroit Finney, 5 p.m.; and Westland John Glenn vs. Livonia Franklin, 8 p.m. The Saturday, Aug 25 schedule is: Chelsea vs. Ypsilanti, 11:45 a.m.; Belleville vs. Plymouth, 2:30 p.m.; Canton vs. Toledo Central Catholic, 5 p.m.; and Milford vs. Walled Lake Central, 8 p.m. Tickets to the Aug. 24 games are $6 in advance and $7 the day of the event. Tickets to the Aug. 25 games are $9 for adults and $7 for students. Children age five and under get in free for Saturday's games. All one-day, game-day tickets for the Aug. 25 are $10 at the gate and are good for all games that day. For more information, go to www.bigdayprepshowdown.com

• New faculty orientation scheduled Aug. 29-30: New faculty orientation is scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 29; and Thursday, Aug. 30, Halle Library. The purpose of new faculty orientation is to provide: essential information that will be required for new faculty to start teaching within one week; a good sense of the mission, spirit and culture of EMU; a welcoming, supportive environment; and an overview of services and resources available. The orientation will include a number of workshops, an introduction to Faculty Council and a reception. Thomas Sidlik, chair of the EMU Board of Regents, will provide a welcome to new faculty. For information, call Karen Busch, 487-0020, extension 2114.

• EMU Resource Fair: A Resource Fair of EMU resources is scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 29, 3:10-4:30 p.m., in the commons areas on the first and second floors of the Student Center. More than 70 exhibitors from EMU organizations, centers and programs have agreed to participate. Available resources can help faculty in their personal and professional development. There will be prize drawings, including a grand prize of an iPod. For information, call Karen Busch, 487-0020, extension 2114.

• Fall Emeritus Social: The Fall Emeritus Social is scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2-4 p.m., Ballroom B, Student Center. Don Loppnow, provost and executive vice president, and Board of Regents Chairman Thomas Sidlik will be in attendance from 2-2:45 p.m. and provide short remarks at 2:30 p.m. Finger foods will be served and free valet service will be offered. This event is by invitation only. For information, call Laura Thomas, donor relations manager, EMU Foundation, (734) 481-2323.

WELCOME TO EMU: Fusion, Eastern Michigan University's New Student Orientation, is scheduled Sept. 1-4.

• New Student Orientation: Fusion, Eastern Michigan University's new student orientation, is scheduled Sept. 1-4. The mandatory four-day program for incoming freshmen is geared toward helping them be prepared and connected for success. The event includes residence hall move-in, a family picnic, seminars about life at EMU, Fajita Fest, Community Plunge, YpsiFest and more. For more information, call Campus Life, 487-1208, or go to www.emufusion.org

• Football plans fan bus trips: The Eastern Michigan University Athletics Department has announced that six fan bus trips have been planned for football road games during the 2007 season. Tickets to ride the fan bus are $10 each, while 2007 EMU football season ticket holders will receive two complimentary bus tickets. The bus ticket includes a boxed meal. However, riders still must purchase a game ticket for admission into the stadium.

FOLLOW THE EAGLES: The EMU Athletics Department is making it easy for Eagle fans to follow the football team this year. Six fan bus trips have been planned.

Chartered buses will be available for the Pittsburgh game Saturday, Sept. 1 (departure time is 11 a.m.); Northern Illinois Saturday, Sept. 15 (departure time is 6 a.m.); Vanderbilt Saturday, Sept. 29 (departure time is 8 a.m.); Ohio University Saturday, Oct. 13 (departure time is 7 a.m.); Toledo Saturday, Nov. 3 (departure time is 4:30 p.m.); and Central Michigan, Friday, Nov. 16 (departure time is 3 p.m.). The buses will depart from the Rynearson Stadium parking lot located off of Hewitt Road.

All trips, except the Vanderbilt game, return to Ypsilanti following the game. The Vanderbilt trip will be an overnight trip, leaving the morning of Sept. 29 and returning the evening of Sept. 30. Anyone taking the bus to this game will need to make their own hotel accommodations. EMU has reserved a block of rooms at the Drury Inn near the Nashville airport, which is where the fan bus will be parked for the night. Please call (615) 902-0400 to make a reservation under the EMU group. The bus will depart the Drury Inn, Sept. 30, at 8 a.m. CST, and arrive back in Ypsilanti around 6 p.m. EST.

Fans will need to reserve their spot on the fan bus no later than two weeks prior to the game, so that EMU Athletics can make a determination on how many buses will need to travel. To reserve a spot, contact the EMU Ticket Office, 487-2282.

START THE MADNESS: Eastern Michigan University students wil have the chance to do a little back-to-school shopping during Meijer Madness, scheduled Sept. 6.

• Meijer Madness set for Sept. 6: Eastern Michigan University students can enjoy free samples and do some back-to-school shopping at Meijer Madness Thursday, Sept. 6, 7-11 p.m., at the Ypsilanti Meijer store on Carpenter Road. The event will include food, giveaways, music and more. Free transportation from EMU to the Ypsilanti Meijer will be available from 6:45-11 p.m. at the following bus stops: Ann Street (near the First-Year Center), Washtenaw Avenue (near McKenny Hall) and Oakwood (the Student Center circle drive). Approximately 4,500 students are expected. For questions, or if you would like to volunteer, call 487-2226, or e-mail eric.ward@emich.edu

• EMU Today seeks individuals for focus group: EMU Today is seeking regular readers to participate in a readership survey. We would like to find out what our readers like about EMU Today, what they don't read and even subjects you might like to read about which are not listed. We are looking for a good cross-section of faculty, staff and administrators for this survey. If you are a regular or an occasional reader of EMU Today and would like to participate, please call Ron Podell, 487-4400, or e-mail him at rpodell@emich.edu NOTE: If you participated in the FOCUS EMU readership survey, you may not participate in this survey.