Provost's Wednesday Briefing for February 20, 2019

Invitation to Faculty: Join us at Eastern’s Spring 2019 Commencement Ceremony

Faculty participation in commencement helps create a more memorable occasion for students and their families by demonstrating our sincere conviction in the value of an EMU degree, and honoring our graduates accordingly.

The Spring 2019 commencement ceremony will be held as follows:

Sunday, April 28, 2019

9:30 a.m. College of Arts and Science and College of Education
1:30 p.m. College of Health and Human Services, College of Business and College of Technology
Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center

All commencement participants must attend the ceremony in academic dress. If you do not own regalia and need to rent a cap and gown, you may place your order beginning February 28, 2019.

As always, your department head or school director will serve as primary point of contact for commencement participation. If you plan to attend the ceremony, please inform your head or director by Friday April 19, 2019, to allow for seating and other necessary arrangements.

Please visit Eastern's Commencement Ceremony webpage for the most updated information on the ceremony. We hope to see you there!

Last Call for Applications: 2019 Writing Across the Curriculum Regular Institute and Advanced Retreats

Faculty are encouraged to apply to be part of the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Writing Fellows program and/or WAC Advanced Retreats. The deadline to apply is February 22, 2019. For more information, see last week’s briefing or download the Call for Applications.

Questions about these WAC events may be directed to Ann Blakeslee, Ph.D. at [email protected] or at 734.487.4813.

Call for Applications: Global Learning Seminar

Faculty are invited and encouraged to apply for the 2019-20 Global Learning Seminar (GLS). The focus of the GLS is to work with faculty to develop a global-centered approach to curriculum development and course design. Seminar co-facilitators, Solange Simoes and Shiri Vivek will collaborate with a small group of Eastern faculty during the Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 semesters to share teaching and learning strategies that support faculty in their efforts to impart a global perspective into their courses. Please take a moment to view the application [PDF] and consider applying to be part of the GLS. The deadline for applications is March 29, 2019.

Invitation to Participate in MI-ACE Women’s Network Mentor Connection Program

Connect with women on campus! Find Support! Share Wisdom! This program is centered on the spectrum of women's identities and welcome to all. Participate in the Mentor Connection Program, as a Mentor or Mentee! Applications are due by February 21 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Mentor Connection Program Application, or contact Toni Stokes Jones at [email protected] or 734.487.2737.

Call for Nominations: Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award

Presented by EMU MI-ACE Women's Network, the Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award honors women who have provided outstanding leadership to women in their institutions, profession and society. Nominations are due March 8 at 5 p.m.

For more information visit: Award Criteria and Submission Nomination Form. For more information on this award, please contact Colleen Croxall at [email protected] or 734.487.2072.

Updated Forms and Processes from the Office of the Registrar

In the spirit of keeping everyone informed, we are passing along some updates from the Office of the Registrar regarding the Spring 2019 commencement ceremony.

Updated Grade Change Form

Please begin to use this new form immediately. We are working to make this a fillable form, but wanted to get this out to you to begin using now. No new information is being requested on the form, only the layout has been revised. Download the form here.

Commencement Exception Request Form and Process

Please note this is a new form and slightly different process. Highlighted changes:

Students will need to apply to participate no later than March 15. Requests received after that date will NOT be accepted/reviewed. This has always been our stated deadline, but will be enforced this year.
Students will need to apply for August graduation between February 1 and March 20 in order to receive final approval. This is new and will allow us to ensure participants are actually reviewed for degree conferral.

Please pass this information on to all who work with students — especially those who work with students who are graduating!

Swoop’s Food Pantry March Madness

Swoop's Food Pantry is hosting the third annual March Madness, food pantry style! Buildings on Eastern’s Campus will be randomly paired up to compete against another to collect the most donations for the pantry. The winning team earns campus-wide bragging rights and a trophy!

Here are the rules:

Beginning Monday, March 4, after noon, we will be delivering donation bins to your building captain in all 16 competing buildings
1^st round donations will be accepted 3/4 through 3/15
2^nd round donations: 3/16 through 3/22
3^rd round donations: 3/23 through 3/29
Final round donations 3/30 through 4/5
Donations will be picked up at 11:30 a.m. on the final day of each round. Any donations dropped off to the pantry before Friday must be clearly labeled as to which building to count the donations toward.
Buildings will earn points by number of items donated and each item will be worth varying point values. If a food item is donated in bulk, it will be worth multiple points. For example, four jars of peanut butter in one package is worth 4 points.
Point values are non-negotiable and are subject to change each round depending on what items are most needed in the pantry. Updated point values will be sent out by email each round. Be sure to check with your “team captain” or building administrator weekly to see which items are worth the most points in the next round. If something is not on the list and you are donating it, please feel free to email to inquire how many points it will be. Points do not roll over to the next round -- points will be refreshed each round your building advances.
Any writing utensils donated will be counted in 5’s (1 point for every five items)
Sample size/travel size hygiene donations will be counted in 5’s (1 point for every five items)

Download the point values for round one and look for email and social media updates as the contest continues. Learn more about Swoop's Food Pantry on their website or email [email protected].