Provost's Wednesday Briefing - January 29, 2020

Eastern Students Win National Championship Moot Court Competition

Congratulations to Eastern students Kelsey Hall and Charles Graham on securing the National Championship at the Moot Court Competition! With guidance from co-coaches Dr. Barry Pyle and C. Robert Dombroski and assistant coach David Klein, the two political science majors won overwhelmingly, sweeping all five first place votes from the five judges. Read more about their exciting win here!

You’re Invited! Signature Learning Arc Dialogue

The Bringing Theory to Practice grant team invites the campus community to participate in the last in a series of three dialogues about creating a signature learning arc at EMU. The first session focused on the first year component of a signature learning experience, the second considered the middle component from sophomore to junior year, and this session will focus on an integrative capstone experience for the degree (not just the major).

Please consider joining this important conversation on February 7, 2020. Refreshments and socializing begin at 9:45 a.m. The dialogue will run from 10 a.m. to noon in room 300 of the Student Center. RSVP online today!

Reminder: Eastern’s University Writing Center Faculty and Lecturer Survey

In order to provide better services and writing support to all EMU students and faculty, the University Writing Center is asking all faculty and lecturers to participate in a brief online survey. The survey is open through January 31 and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please consider participating as your input is valued and appreciated.

Call for Applications: Women’s Commission Scholarship

The Women's Commission Scholarship Application 2021 is now available. This scholarship is open to admitted undergraduate and graduate students who plan to be or are enrolled at least half-time. This is a one-time scholarship for the academic year (the award will be split evenly between fall 2020 and winter 2021 semesters). For further information, download the application and review the criteria [PDF]. Applications are due by 5 p.m., April 3, 2020.

Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity Showcase

The Office of Research Development and Administration is hosting the third annual faculty research showcase and strolling reception on March 19, 2020.  In conjunction with the George Liepa Sigma Xi Lecture, this event celebrates faculty and their recently disseminated research, and scholarly/ creative activities.  All tenured and tenure-track faculty are invited to display posters, journal articles, books, artwork, videos of performing arts, etc., that highlight scholarly/creative activities from the 2019 calendar year.  Applications are due by February 7. Space is limited and places are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, so submit your application early! 

Last Call: Faculty Research Fellowship and Sabbatical Proposals

Full-time faculty are encouraged to submit applications for Faculty Research Fellowship (FRF) awards and/or Sabbatical Leave Awards.  Applicants must use the online proposal submission portal to upload their application materials.  Submit your applications before the January 31, 2020 deadline!

Call for Applications: 2020 Writing Across the Curriculum Regular Institute and Advanced Retreat

The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Writing Fellows program is an established professional enrichment experience focused on helping faculty plan and offer courses infused with writing. It is for any interested faculty member or full- or part-time lecturer who wishes to incorporate writing into specific undergraduate or graduate courses or who will be teaching a Writing-Intensive (W) course in the major. The Institute will run Thursday and Friday, April 30 and May 1, and then Monday and Tuesday, May 4 and 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.  Compensation is provided to participants.

The Institute provides participants with the opportunity to develop or refine a course that uses writing. Topics include developing and addressing writing outcomes; integrating writing outcomes with other course learning outcomes; planning and developing assignments; supporting student writing through instruction, feedback, and staged activities; using formal and informal writing; grading, responding to, and assessing student writing; and managing the paper load. Participants also become familiar with the services and support offered by the Office of Campus and Community Writing, including student and faculty writing support provided by the University Writing Center.

The deadline to apply is February 21, 2020.  Priority will be given to first-time attendees, and the cohort will be capped based on available funding so we encourage you to apply early!  Download the announcement [PDF] for complete information on the Institute. 

In addition to the WAC Writing Fellows program, we will be offering an Advanced WAC Retreat which is open to current and former WAC Writing Fellows.  This year, participants will explore – through reading, activities and dialogue – connections between reading and writing and how to design and assess assignments that support our students in both areas.  The Advanced WAC Retreat will take place May 13, 9 a.m, to 4 p.m. and May 14, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Download the announcement [PDF] for complete information on the Advanced Retreat and apply by the February 21, 2020 deadline.

Distinguished Achievement Recognition Awards – Nominate Your Favorite Staff Person! 

We are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2020 Distinguished Achievement Recognition Awards will be accepted from January 24 through February 9 to honor the recent achievements of our staff.  The awards are divided into four categories:

• Student Engagement and Success Award
• Leadership Award
• Innovation Award
• Community Engagement and Service Award

More information, nomination guidelines, and nomination submission for the Distinguished Achievement Recognition Awards are available online.  

Call for Applications: Josephine Nevins Keal Professional Development Fund

The Josephine Nevins Keal Professional Development Fund Application 2021 is now available. Fellowship funds are to assist faculty women in advancement of professional competence and rank. Download the application [PDF] or access it on the Women's Commission website. For more information, please contact Kate Mehuron, Chair, EMU Women's Commission, [email protected]. Applications are due by March 1, 2020.

Celebrating Earth Day 2020 at EMU

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Ecology Center! In celebration, the Office of Academic Service-Learning (AS-L) is helping to spread information, awareness, and appreciation of this day. If you already have events planned, or have ideas for events to hold, please fill out this form so the AS-L team can help spread awareness on all the events happening on campus, both within and beyond the classroom.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to connect with the community to create "teach-out" experiences. These can be in the form of collaborations with local organizations and students, workshops, displays, and other such experiences. We also encourage individuals or organizations that work with schools and youth to consider a way to bring awareness on the Filter First project.

For more ideas on local events happening around Earth Day this year, visit the University of Michigan's Earth Day at 50 as well as the Ecology Center. 

Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents Meeting

The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents meeting is approaching.  Please note that this meeting is scheduled over a two-day period.  We welcome you to attend the general meeting and/or committee meetings as your schedule permits. 

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

3 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Education Policies Committee, Welch Hall, Room 205

4 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., Student Affairs Committee, Welch Hall, Room 201

Thursday, February 13, 2020

10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m., Faculty Affairs Committee, Welch Hall, Room 205

11:15 a.m.– 11:45 a.m., Finance and Investment Committee, Welch Hall, Room 201

1:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Welch Hall, Room 201 

CPR and AED Training Available

Faculty and Staff are encouraged to participate in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification training.  Reserve your spot at an upcoming training by emailing Katherine Wilhoff, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, at [email protected].

February 12, 1:30 – 5 p.m.
March 19, 8:30 a.m. – noon
April 20, 1:30 – 5 p.m.
May 15, 8:30 a.m. – noon
June 16, 1:30 – 5 p.m.

All trainings will be held in 300 Halle. 

Be sure to bookmark the EMU Today site to keep current with all the news and events taking place on campus! 

Events

• January 30 -- Scientific Devices at the Smithsonian: An Insider’s View” by Dr. Amy Shell-Gellasch @ 4 p.m., Strong Hall Auditorium (Room 100)
• February 7 – Signature Learning Arc Dialogue, Student Center (Room 300)

Deadlines

• January 31 – Faculty Research Fellowship (FRF) and Sabbatical Leave Awards applications due
• January 31 – University Writing Center Faculty and Lecturer Survey closes
• February 7 – Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity Showcase applications due
• February 17 – Undergraduate Research Stimulus Program applications due
• February 21 – Writing Across the Curriculum Regular Institute and Advanced Retreat applications due
• March 1 – Josephine Nevins Keal Professional Development Fund applications due
• March 6 – Tell Your Teaching Story Scholarship applications due
• April 3 – Women’s Commission Scholarship applications due