Provost's Wednesday Briefing - October 23, 2019

2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Awards Nominations

As part of our 2020 MLK Celebration, Eastern continues its tradition of recognizing individuals from within the University and surrounding community who exemplify the values and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, a key part of the celebration is the presentation of three awards at the MLK Day President's Luncheon, to be held on January 20, 2020. These awards include the:

• MLK Student Scholarship
• MLK Humanitarian Award
• Evans-Strand Peace Award

Nominations for these awards will be accepted through Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 5 p.m. For a full description of each award and information on the application process, please visit Eastern’s MLK Celebration website.

Last Call for Academic Proposals for the 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

The MLK Planning Committee invites proposals from faculty, staff, students, and community members for academic sessions to be offered on Monday, January 20, 2020, from 8:30 - 11 a.m. that support the MLK Celebration theme of, Rise Up Against Injustice.

The Academic Programs Sub-committee will consider academic sessions that explore, analyze, or inform our understanding of Dr. King’s legacy. Session content may explore the past, present, or future and address issues, challenges, and successes related to the 2020 theme. 

Proposals are due by October 28, 2019. Download the full call for proposals here.  For more information visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration website.  Questions may be directed to the Academic Program Chair Julia Heck at [email protected] or 734.487.8036. 

You’re invited to an Evening with Dominique Jackson

Dominique Jackson, actress, author and activist, is coming to campus to speak with the Eastern community.  Currently starring in the groundbreaking FX Series, POSE, Dominique will share her journey and how she strives to command respect, not tolerance, for the trans community. This event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Community Involvement and Campus Life and is LBC eligible.  Please share this opportunity with your students and consider attending on November 5 at 6:45 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.   

Professional Programs & Training to Offer GRE Prep Classes

Eastern’s Professional Programs & Training (PPAT) announces GRE Prep Classes in two formats: Live-online classes starting October 2019 and on-campus classroom sessions beginning June 2020. Our test preparation classes were designed by a team of former standardized-test-item writers and test-preparation experts. All test prep classes Include:

• Extensive classroom instruction
• Experienced, dedicated instructors
• Comprehensive preparation materials, including actual questions and practice tests from the test-makers
• Thorough presentations and explanations
• Convenient access to our team of experts
• Flexible in-person and online schedule options
• Access to online support resources

To learn more, visit Eastern's PPAT website or find available dates on our registration site. Current EMU faculty and staff and their dependents may be eligible for a 60% discount on course fees. Contact [email protected] or 734.487.2259 for more information.

James H. Brickley Endowment for Faculty Professional Development and Innovation Award Winners

The James H. Brickley Endowment for Faculty Professional Development and Innovation fund facilitates faculty professional development and innovation through a broad range of activities, including but not limited to, things such as (1) reassigned time from teaching for scholarly, creative, and innovative endeavor;  (2) conference presentations;  (3) travel;  (4) hiring of research assistants;  (5) purchase of special equipment or supplies for teaching, scholarly, research, creative, or innovative activities;  (6) development of a grant proposal for external funding;  and (7) similar or related academic activities.

Please join us in congratulating the award winners for fall 2019:  Brigid Beaubien, Tana Bridge and Caren Putzu, Karen Ann Craig, Megan Endres and Alankrita Pandey, Suzanne Gray, Roxanne Katus, Jamie Lawler, John McCurdy, Beverly Mihalko, Eric Portenga, Ildiko Porter-Szucs, Amani Rashid, Phil Rufe, Elena Sanchez-Vizcaino, and Andrea Zakrajsek.  For information on the award recipients and their winning projects, download a PDF of the award summary sheet.  

Come to the Cabaret!

Looking for a place to forget your troubles?  Come to Eastern's Theater production of the musical, "Cabaret." Performances are scheduled through October 27.  All performances will take place in the Legacy Theatre.  Legacy Box Office hours are Monday-Friday from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 90 minutes before show time. Please note that this production is recommended for audiences ages 16 and over.  Visit the Eastern's Theatre page for a complete performance schedule. 

ypsiGLOW Shines this Weekend!

ypsiGLOW is a free street festival in Downtown Ypsilanti with lights, music, art, and more! Thanks to Peninsular Place, you can take a FREE shuttle from the Student Center or McKenny to the event. Local artists will activate downtown storefront windows with creative installations. Many pieces will come to life during the event, along with over a dozen multi-media projects, video projections, giant luminaries, performance art, live painting, shadow puppets, chalk muralists, and laser shows. Dance to the DJ and grab something from Go! Ice Cream. The fun is endless!   

Shuttle Schedule

Starting at 6:45 pm the shuttle will loop approximately every 20 minutes.  The last pickup from ypsiGLOW is 9:45 pm.

• Stop 1: Peninsular Place
• Stop 2: EMU Student Center
• Stop 3: McKenny Hall
• Stop 4: ypsiGLOW on N. Washington Street 

For more information visit ypsiglow.org or email Kristen at [email protected] 

Reminder: Academic Regalia Orders Due by November 1

Faculty who plan to participate in the Winter 2019 ceremony must inform their department head or school director by November 15 to ensure we have adequate seating at the ceremony. All commencement participants must attend the ceremony in academic dress. If you do not own regalia and need to rent a cap and gown, please place your order online. The deadline for ordering regalia is November 1. We look forward to seeing you at the ceremony!

Diversity Campus Climate Assessment

As you may be aware, Eastern Michigan University is conducting a Diversity Campus Climate Assessment. As part of that initiative, a survey will be emailed this week to a random cross-section of students, faculty and staff.  If you receive an invitation to take the survey, we strongly encourage you to participate. For more information on this important initiative visit the DCCAC webpage.

Upcoming Workshops on Personal Safety

Eastern’s Faculty Development Center is bringing Candace Dorsey to campus to facilitate workshops for faculty and staff addressing issues of personal safety.    

Bystander Effect:  What to do When Witnessing Uncomfortable Situations

October 29, 2019 from 5:00-6:00pm, Room 300 Halle Library 

This workshop will focus on identifying what a bystander is and discuss different options to intervene on behalf of others when they cannot or do not know what to do. Participants will discuss different types of scenarios that could make a person feel uncomfortable, feel fear and/or receive repetitive unwanted attention that may require bystander intervention. Also included are discussions on how and what to report to Law Enforcement, Title IX Investigators or designated University personnel when circumstances require additional assistance, resource information or professional staff intervention.   Register here.

Creating Barriers to Personal Safety

November 7, 2019 4:30-5:30 pm, Room 300 Halle Library 

This workshop will focus on learning tactics and strategies to acknowledging and paying attention to your surroundings, body language, listening and trusting instincts, creating comfort zones and acknowledgment of others being present while in your space. Participants will practice safety options in scenarios when dealing with solicitors, close quarter conversations, repositioning our bodies when in close quarters with others, options to make us feel more comfortable when people are walking or standing close behind or in front of us and unwanted staring situations.  Register here.

Smile!  Dates are set for Faculty and Staff Photos

The Office of Communications provides studio-quality headshots of faculty, staff and students to be used for university purposes.  If you don’t have an official university photo, or if it’s time to update your existing photo, you may register for one of the following sessions: 

October 30, noon to 2 pm
November 4, 2:30 to 4 pm
November 21, 1:30 to 2:30 pm 

All photographs are taken in 102 Welch Hall and should take approximately 10 minutes.  For more information email Deb Burke or call 734.487.6895.

Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents Meeting

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

Thursday, October 24, 2019

2 – 2:45 pm             Student Affairs Committee, Welch 201
3 – 3:45 pm             Faculty Affairs Committee, Welch 205
4 – 4:45 pm             Educational Policies Committee, Welch 205

Friday, October 25, 2019

10 – 10:45 am         Finance and Investment Committee, Welch 201
11 am                     Regular Board Meeting, Welch 201

Get your Tickets for the Thanksgiving Luncheon

The Thanksgiving Luncheons will be held Wednesday, November 20, 2019 and Thursday, November 21, 2019 in the Grand Ballroom of the Student Center Building. From 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. each day.

The cost to attend is subsidized by the President's Office, and remains only $6 per person. Tickets must be paid for personally, and no University Payment Card or departmental funds may be used. Individual tickets and tables of eight can be purchased at the Convocation Center ticket office in person, by phone at 734.487.2282, or online at the EMU tickets website. 

As part of Eastern’s tradition of making giving back a part of the Thanksgiving Luncheon, we have partnered with the VISION Volunteer Center to collect donations for SOS Community Services at the Thanksgiving Luncheon. To learn more about the amazing work SOS Community Services does in our community, please visit their website. As you consider donating, please consult the SOS wish list to inform your giving. 

For questions regarding the Thanksgiving luncheons, please contact William Pollard at (734) 487-4600 or [email protected]

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

Events

• October 25 - Global Perspectives on Health Care Teleconference

• October 25 – Closing Night of Gallery Show: EMU School of Art and Design Lecturers

• October 28 – Pamela S. Nadell Talk and Book Signing, “America’s Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to Today,” 7 pm, Student Center Ballroom

• October 31 – Academic Service Learning Lecture: Deborah Appleman: Teaching Literacy at a High-Security Prison, 5:30 pm, Student Center, room 350

• November 8 – Global Engagement Council CCampus 2 Career Retreat [PDF]

• November 22 – Social Justice Fellowship applications due

Deadlines

• October 28 – Academic Proposals for the 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration due

• October 31 Summer Research/Creative Activity Awards applications due

• November 12 – Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, In Our Neighborhood Grant applications due

• November 20 – Academic Service-Learning/Community Based Seminar applications due

• January 31 – Faculty Research Fellowship (FRF) and Sabbatical Leave Awards applications due