Eastern Michigan University: Institutional Values Awards

The Institutional Values Awards were presented in September 2004 to the following individuals and teams.

Christine Lancaster

Contributions to the Quality of Student Learning Experiences: For contributions in providing a positive, supportive environment for student success at EMU. WINNER: Christine Lancaster, coordinator of the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program.

Lancaster is credited with increasing enrollment in the program by approximately 50 percent in three years. Prior to July 2000, there were approximately 425-525 students. Current enrollment is 820.

To help students make better choices by giving them timely information, Lancaster developed a quarterly newsletter for post-baccalaureate students and now edits a monthly, electronic e-mail message. Lancaster also has created an extensive set of checklists to help students proceed through the teacher certification program.

In a recent College of Education survey (of approximately 800 students), Lancaster was the highest-rated adviser named by students. She changed group advising from a "talking head" session to an interactive PowerPoint presentation where she shows students how to access information and understand college and University requirements using Internet resources.

"This award is important to me because it recognizes the importance of the adviser in student development, academic success and the educational experience. It is easy to be dedicated to the students in the post-baccalaureate teacher certification program," Lancaster said. "I have found these students to be motivated learners interested in quality education and personal development. Additionally, the education provided through the teacher preparation program at Eastern Michigan University is of such high caliber that I am honored to have the opportunity to serve it."

"Many students have commented on her sensitivity to their needs," said Sharon Draper, manager of the EMU-Flint campus, who provided a letter of recommendation. "They also state that she makes them feel as if they are human beings, not just a student number with Eastern Michigan University."

Rhonda DeLong

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: Rhonda DeLong, director of Web Communications.

DeLong was honored for her creation of a new University Web site and her tireless devotion to helping departments and divisions on campus create their own Web pages. Her contributions include creating customized or specialized Web sites, including the EMU Historical Walking tour site and the Campus Concept/Master Plan site. Noted for her collaboration and resourcefulness, DeLong also has worked with divisions and departments across the University, as well as students, to improve the Web experience for everyone. One example: She worked with ICT and Instructional Technology in the creation of E-Postcards, a feature that enables faculty, staff and students to send personalized messages along with positive images of EMU to colleagues, friends, family and alumni. Admissions has integrated E-Postcards into its student recruitment efforts.

In addition, DeLong has worked closely with ICT on the continuing development of EMU's technology infrastructure, which ensures that servers, database structures, application development support, network protocols and attention to issues of security and privacy are integrated with the development of EMU's overall Web service initiatives.

"I came to EMU because it is the type of place that resonates with my values and approach to life -- things like service, growth, integrity, challenge and striving for excellence," DeLong said. "There are so many people here who dedicate themselves to what Eastern stands for, and it is a wonderful and humbling honor for me to be selected for an award focused on the institution's core values. The work that I do is only one part of a larger whole. I have a great deal of esteem for my colleagues, and I am genuinely grateful for their collaboration and their many contributions to what makes EMU great. I also am profoundly grateful for their support, which takes many forms, and I view this award as a reflection of our collegiality."

Members of the Secondary Methods Group

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: The Secondary Methods Group, composed of 24 faculty members in three colleges and 14 departments.

This network of professional education faculty is a learning community that offers opportunities for collaboration and outreach. The group has enhanced opportunities on campus for instruction, service, cooperation among colleges and departments, and student support.

For example, the group has positively impacted instruction at EMU by mentoring new faculty in academic-service learning, field-based teaching and classroom research.

Members of the group have served as presenters at community college adviser days, created demonstrations for EMU's Family Day and served as mentors of students on grant projects, such as the U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Grant. Off campus, members have represented EMU at Ypsilanti and Willow Run Schools, the Science Olympiad and Natural History Day.

The group promotes cooperation by bringing together faculty to help plan and create large-scale collaborative grant projects, which the resources of one college cannot fully support.

In terms of student support, the group has been instrumental in using academic-service learning as a methodology in classes, helping students gain valuable classroom skills before their student teaching.

"The Secondary Methods Group is a model about how individuals from across campus can collaborate across departmental and college lines to focus on improving the experiences of our students," said Russell Olwell, professor of history and philosophy. "It also serves as a real support and mentoring group for faculty in their teaching, scholarly activity and grant writing."

In addition to Olwell, team members include Douglas Baker, English language and literature; Wendy Burke, teacher education; Joanne Caniglia, mathematics; Philip Cardon, School of Technology Studies; Margaret Coffman, biology; Cathy Fleischer, English language and literature; Ronald Fulkert, School of Technology Studies; Barbara Gorenflo, teacher education; Ellen Hoffman, teacher education; Larry Kolopajlo, chemistry; Georgea Langer, teacher education; Barbara Leapard, mathematics; Peggy Liggit, biology; Anne Nerenz, foreign languages and bilingual studies; John Palladino, special education; Sandra Rutherford, geography and geology; Rebecca Sipe, English language and literature; Alane Starko, teacher education; Donald Staub, Office of Collaborative Education; William Tucker, English language and literature; Pat Williams-Boyd, teacher education; Bonnie Wylo, physics and astronomy; and Guey-Meei Yang, art.

Decky Alexander

Mary Jo Desprez

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. WINNERS: Jessica "Decky" Alexander, assistant professor of Communication and Theatre Arts, and Mary Jo Desprez, associate director, University Health Services.

Alexander and Desprez were recognized for their ongoing work with the CloseUP Theatre Troupe, which they created in 1997. The CloseUP Troupe is a group of EMU students that uses theatre to examine, inform and enlighten audiences about social, health and wellness issues with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. CloseUP themes have included racism, sexism, sexual orientation, religion and faith, personal health, civil rights, unemployment, affirmative action, terrorism, drinking and loneliness. The Troupe has been a significant force for tolerance, acceptance and multicultural understanding.

"This award, while honoring traits such as human dignity and multicultural awareness, is an award (to me) about honoring, celebrating and empowering the student voice which I hope we have done in our work with CloseUP, in the classroom and in everyday interactions," Alexander said. Desprez agreed.

"As you can imagine, I am thrilled and humbled by this honor. The troupe is a wonderful example of a group of dedicated faculty/students/staff who are willing to take advantage of this community's diversity and to take risks to explore the issues in a safe, creative, educational and provocative way," Desprez said. "The collaboration between Decky and I is incredibly special and powerful, and one of the things I value most about my position."

Peggy Harless

Kathleen Stacey

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. WINNERS: Peggy Harless, director of community service, leadership and VISION and Kathleen Stacey, professor of communication and theatre arts and director of Academic-Service Learning (ASL).

The two have been instrumental in making community service a vital part of the academic experience for EMU students. VISION provides 800-1,000 volunteer opportunities annually and more than 21,000 hours of service to community agencies each year. To date, 109 faculty have gone through ASL seminars to learn how to integrate ASL experiences into their courses. Based on survey results, it is estimated that more than 100 courses are offered with a service-learning experience. These courses engage approximately 2,200 students, who provide approximately 33,000 hours of service annually to area nonprofit agencies and school districts.

"We are thrilled to receive the Institutional Values Award, most importantly because we were nominated by students," the two said in a joint statement. "These students recognize the importance of collaborations between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs in order to provide a holistic educational experience. It also means that the University recognizes the effort and commitment of students, faculty and staff to create meaningful partnerships with the community."

Members of the Innovagency 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: Innovagency Team, division of Student Affairs.

The Innovagency was recognized for infusing innovation into the work plans of departments within Student Affairs. Implemented ideas have helped maximize resources, save dollars, enhance revenues and improve customer service, both to the campus and the surrounding community.

Ideas executed have ranged from collecting cereal box tops to generate up to $20,000 in new funding for The Children's Institute to offering instructional swimming to the Ypsilanti community.

"It is the intrinsic value of being recognized publicly by our peers that has honored us most," team leader Vickie Bagherzadeh said. "It validates for each of us the added value we contribute as a team, the importance of innovation for our future and inspires us to a new level of excellence. We are elated to be chosen to receive this most prestigious award and would like to thank everyone who had a hand in making this a reality for us."

Team members included Chris Aris, director, Children's Institute; Vickie Bagherzadeh, director of business operations; Alan Beesley, student; Tracey Buhinicek, senior secretary, Campus Life; Kevin Devine, director of Student Media; Phoebe Foy, McKenny Union/Campus Life; Jeff Koras, assistant director of business operations; Kathleen Russell, assistant dean, dean of students office; Lewis Savage, assistant director of housing/apartments.