Eastern Michigan University: Institutional Values Awards

The inaugural Institutional Values Awards were presented in September 2003 to the following individuals and teams. The EMU Annual Report featured the Institutional Values Award winners as part of its "strategic assets" section. View the PDF document, "strategic assets," here.

Developmental Math Team members included (L-R): Jo Warner, Fred Hughes. Karen Holmes, Mary Jo St. Louis, Elaine Richards, Jill Nugent Shelley Walker and Nancy Oestrike.

Contributions to the Quality of Student Learning Experiences: For contributions in providing a positive, supportive environment for student success at EMU. WINNER: Developmental Math Team.

The program was created in 1992 to provide support for lower division mathematics courses. The program provides placement testing for more than 1,200 students a year and enrolls more than 1,000 students annually.

The team works constantly to develop new ways to evaluate techniques that help relieve students’ anxiety about math. Their work has helped to significantly improve the number of students successfully completing 100-level math courses.

Akosua Slough

Continuous Improvement, Innovation and/or Customer Service: For contributions in developing new approaches to service delivery; increasing effectiveness and efficiency; providing greater customer satisfaction; using creativity to improve services to EMU’s students, faculty, staff and external constituencies. WINNER: Akosua Slough.

Akosua Slough is the certification secretary in the office of academic services in the College of Education. Among her contributions she developed a comprehensive database system that eliminated duplication and enhanced work efficiency and effectiveness. The system provides the college the ability to automate and track student progress through the post-baccalaureate program.

Gerald Hartenburg

Support Role in Teaching, Learning, Scholarship, Research, and/or Creative Activity: For contributions in enhancing the content and delivery of undergraduate and graduate programs (e.g., support for increased online offerings, grant-writing to secure external funding, proposals for new courses/programs, mentoring programs, etc.). WINNER: Gerald Hartenburg.

Gerald Hartenburg is an instrument technician in the biology department. Because of his expertise in maintaining and fixing lab equipment, he has saved the department countless dollars. The “technical soul” of the department, he takes an active role in helping graduate and undergraduate students with specialized experimental design and equipment needs.

Kathleen Russell

Diversity, Human Dignity, Multicultural/International Involvement: For contributions in enhancing understanding, respect and inclusion of diversity among members of the EMU community and all of its constituencies. WINNER: Kathleen Russell.

Kathleen Russell is assistant dean of students and director of Project YES. Russell was recognized for her work with Tri-Pride, Role Models and Mentors, and the EMU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) and Friends alumni group. She also was instrumental in securing funds for Project YES (Youth for Equality and Safety). The purpose of the project is to eliminate homophobia and heterosexism in Michigan’s youth-specific social services systems.

Elvia R. Krajewski-Jaime

Public Engagement and Community Service: For contributions in completing exemplary community service activities and building EMU linkages/partnerships with the local community, the Detroit metropolitan area, southeast Michigan, the State of Michigan and the nation. WINNER: Elvia R. Krajewski-Jaime.

Elvia R. Krajewski-Jaime is a professor of social work and director of the Community Outreach Partnership Center. She is being honored for her focus on developing and leading international experiences for EMU students and for her work creating partnerships with ethnic communities in southeast Michigan that have created opportunities for teaching/learning, research and public engagement.

Members of the Undergraduate Symposium Cross-Divisional Team.

Team Excellence: For contributions in furthering the mission of EMU in the areas of instruction, institutional support or service, cooperation among units, customer service, and/or student support, for results achieved in the previous calendar/academic year. WINNER: Undergraduate Symposium Cross-Divisional Team.

Over the 23 years of its existence, some 2,500 students and 500 faculty have participated as presenters and sponsors in the Undergraduate Symposium. The event is the longest, continuously operating undergraduate research symposium of its kind. Other institutions, including California State at Northridge, Albion college and Grand Valley State University, have copied it.

Members of the Undergraduate Symposium XXIII team include: Dennis Beagen, department head, communication and theatre arts (CTA), and chair of the Undergraduate Symposium Team; Rita Abent, executive director, University Communications; Nina Contis, associate dean, CAS; John Cooper, professor, CTA; Steve Dotson, director, technology support services, CAS; Patrick Doyle, former vice president for business and finance; Susan Gardner, room rental operations, McKenny Union; Cindy Hall, associate director, public safety; Jill Hunsberger, development director, CAS; Wendy Kivi, special events manager, CTA; Sally Lucas, administrative secretary, Dean’s Office, CAS; Paul Majeske, assistant professor, interdisciplinary technology; Steve Martin, engineer, CTA; Bernard Miller, professor, English language and literature; Michelle Nelson, assistant professor of art; Carl Ojala, professor of biology; Ron Podell, assistant manager, news services, University Communications; Barry Pyle, assistant professor of political science; Laura Ramm, secretary, Dean’s Office, CAS; Linda Sanderson, special projects audiovisual technical, McKenny Union and Campus Life; and Marilyn Szymanski, Dining Services.