Provost's Wednesday Briefing - February 19, 2020

Nominations for the 24th Annual Student Gold Medallion Awards are Now Open!

The Student Gold Medallion Awards (SGMA) are the most prestigious student leadership recognition awarded at EMU, and offer an opportunity to identify and celebrate students, student organizations, and student organization advisors who make outstanding contributions on our campus.  The SGMA Award Ceremony will take place on March 24, 2020. The campus community is invited to enjoy an hors d’oeuvres reception in the Student Center Ballroom at 3 PM and the Awards Ceremony following at 4 PM. 

Please submit nominations online in the categories listed below. The deadline for nominations has been extended to February 27. 

Student Awards

• Eagle Ambassador -- This award recognizes a graduate or undergraduate student who has served as a goodwill emissary, positively and consistently representing EMU to other campuses and/or community constituencies in either an official or unofficial capacity.
• Outstanding Leadership by a Student -- This award recognizes a graduate or undergraduate student who has exhibited extraordinary commitment, vision and passion for leadership on behalf of the University.
• Outstanding Mentorship by a Student -- This award recognizes a graduate or undergraduate student who has fostered the spirit of mentoring, by aiding in the development of another student's leadership skills, social integration and scholarly achievement.
• Outstanding Volunteerism by a Student -- This award recognizes a graduate or undergraduate student who has demonstrated exemplary commitment, vision and passion for community in service to the campus or local community.
• Outstanding Professionalism by a Student Employee -- This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student employee who exhibits exemplary professionalism in the performance of their duties.
• The Glenna Frank Miller Award for Collegiate Leadership -- This award recognizes a student with senior academic standing who has demonstrated exemplary leadership throughout their time at EMU.

Student Organization and Student Organization Adviser Awards

• Outstanding Student Organization Adviser -- This award recognizes outstanding contributions by a faculty or staff member in their capacity as an adviser to a student organization.
• Outstanding Student Organization -- This award recognizes an outstanding student organization at EMU that has demonstrated exemplary commitment to their organization's vision, contributing positively to the campus community.
• Outstanding Student Organization Program -- This award recognizes an outstanding student organization program for its substantial contributions to quality of life and campus engagement at EMU.

Faculty and Staff who are interested in serving on the 2020 SGMA Selection Committee should email Lucas Langdon at [email protected]

Thank-an-Eagle Program

We encourage you to share with students a university-wide program called Thank-An-Eagle (formerly known as Thank-a-Teacher).  This program provides an opportunity for students to thank an instructor, staff member, coach, graduate assistant, or mentor who has helped them during their time here at Eastern. Students submit a message of gratitude online and the Faculty Development Center and Provost Office deliver each message in the form of a letter to the person thanked.  At the end of the academic year, a special "Thank-An-Eagle" event will take place to recognize all of the Eagles who made a positive contribution to our students’ experience. 

Tell Your Teaching Story and Win a $1,000

The Liggit Family and Friends Teaching & Learning Partnership Scholarship endowment annually awards $1,000 to an instructor-student pair who exemplify an outstanding example of an effective teaching and learning partnership. Applicants will describe how each contributed to the process of creating this partnership in learning. The $1,000 award will be split between the instructor and student.   The student need not be enrolled the semester the award is given.

All tenured and tenure-track faculty, full- or part-time lecturers, and adjunct faculty are encouraged to apply. The student may be an undergraduate or graduate and must be in good standing with all university policies. The winner of the Teaching and Learning Partnership will be announced on April 17, 2020 in conjunction with the Thank-an-Eagle Celebration from 9:30–10:00 a.m.

Download the Application [PDF] today and submit by March 6th, 2020.

You’re Invited! Qualitative Researchers Networking Mixer

Join your colleagues at the Tower Inn, 700 Cross Street, on Thursday, March 5 from 4-6 p.m. for a networking happy-hour mixer hosted by Eastern’s Office of Research Development and Administration (ORDA).  This event is a great opportunity for anyone interested in meeting other faculty involved in qualitative and mixed-methods research.  RSVP to Jennifer Glass at [email protected].

ORDA Weekly Updates

As you may know, the Office of Research, Development, and Administration publishes weekly updates to keep the campus community informed on a wide array of internal and external funding opportunities. Please consider visiting ORDA’s website today to see what opportunities exist for funding your next research endeavor.

Last Call: WAC Institute and Advanced WAC Retreat

We are very excited to share the calls for this year's Writing Across the Curriculum Spring Institute and the Advanced WAC Retreat. This year's WAC Institute and Advanced Retreat will mark our 20th anniversary of WAC at EMU (and our nation's 50th anniversary of WAC).

The Regular Institute will be held in 301 Porter Building, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 30; Friday, May 1; Monday, May 4; and Tuesday, May 5, 2020. The deadline for applying to the Regular Institute is Friday, February 21, 2020, and the application can be found here. New WAC Fellows will receive $600 for participating in the Institute, and returning Fellows will receive $400.

The Advanced Retreat this year will focus on teaching, supporting, and assessing reading and writing in online and web-enhanced classes. The Advanced Retreat is for those who have already participated in a WAC Institute. It will take place in room 300 Halle from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. The application can be found here. Again, the deadline for applying is Friday, February 21, 2020.

If you assign any writing in your classes, we encourage you to consider participating in the WAC Institute. Part- and full-time lecturers as well as tenure-track and tenured faculty are all eligible to participate. All are welcome!

Please reach out to Ann Blakeslee at 734.487.4813 or [email protected] if you have any questions about these opportunities. We hope you will consider joining us!

Part-Time Lecturer Professional Development Seminar Summer 2020

Part-Time Lecturers who have at least two complete semesters of teaching experience at EMU are invited to this summer seminar geared towards those who want to move from A-level to B-level or to build on their current B-level expertise.  In addition to improving teaching and learning, this seminar will also include support in career development and scholarly opportunities. The seminar goals are to:

• Give participants a "teaching toolbox" -- new or improved strategies for active learning within the classroom.
• Enhance self-awareness so that participants develop more effective teaching and research strategies.
• Develop an action plan for participants' teaching/learning methods and career trajectories.
• Build collaborative relationships with other seminar participants and with the Faculty Development Center.

Facilitated by Dr. Peggy Liggit and Kim Pavlock, the format of the seminar will include readings, research design, group discussion, active learning exercises, including sharing successful practices experienced in your teaching. Participants will attend three 3-hour sessions during the Summer I, 2020 semester. The group will meet Friday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. on the following dates: May 15. May 29 and June 12. A $300 honorarium is given to participants who have 100% attendance and complete the action plan by the deadline.

Applications will be accepted through April 3, 2020 and must have the support of the PTL’s Department Head or School Director. 

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.

Eastern Awarded 2020 Campus Sexual Assault Grants

Congratulations to Chief Robert Heighs and Ellen Gold on their recent awards of nearly $100,000 from the Michigan State Police.  The funds will be used to improve the public safety camera systems on campus and in the formation of the Creating a Respectful Environment for Survivors (CARE) program.

New Social Media Account Registration Process

Social media is an important tool for sharing academic achievements, promoting program excellence, and reaching out to prospective students. Beginning in March, the University will implement a new registration process in order to gather information for a new online directory of official University social media channels. When the registration site is activated in March, the Division of Communications will communicate with those in colleges and departments who oversee social media accounts and will assist with the registration process.

I.T. Scanning Services Adds Off-Hours Locker Pick-up

I.T. now offers secured lockers as an option for exam pick-up outside normal Scanning Service window hours. This service, coupled with the 24-hour dropbox implemented previously, provides faculty members with the flexibility to drop-off and pick-up exams at their convenience. Lockers are located in the hallway opposite the Scanning Services window and can be accessed at any time during normal building hours. If you have questions regarding the locker pick-up service, please contact I.T. Scanning Services at [email protected] or (734) 487-1492.

Upcoming Professional Development Workshop: Understanding Business & Finance

Would you like to know more about the university’s budget and purchasing processes?  If so, please register for the upcoming professional development session, “Understanding Business & Finance at EMU.”  The workshop will be held on Friday, February 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Reminder: Deadline Approaching for Student Enrollment in Duo Authentication

Effective Monday, March 9, 2020, all EMU student accounts (current students, former students and alumni) must enroll in Duo.  No action is required for currently enrolled EMU Duo users such as student employees. More detailed information is available on the I.T. Duo page or by submitting an I.T. Help Desk request.

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].

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

• March 27 – Undergraduate Symposium

Deadlines

• February 21 – Writing Across the Curriculum Regular Institute and Advanced Retreat applications due
• February 27 -Nominations for Student Gold Medallion Awards 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