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Office of the Provost

Provost's Briefing for September 25, 2019

Student Engagement and Success Updates

Eagle Engage Corps Welcomes New and Returning Students

Combining debt forgiveness and public service in order to re-engage students who have left Eastern, the Eagle Engage Corps is welcoming five new students in the Fall 2019 semester cohort.  They will join 10 returning students from the Winter and Summer semesters who are on pace to graduate in December.

 Students who join the Corps must enroll in a minimum of 9 credits and commit to community work throughout the semester. Students who complete 100 hours of community work and remain in good academic standing at the conclusion of the semester will see a portion of any debt owed directly to Eastern forgiven. Students who participate in the Corps for three consecutive semesters will see debts up to $6,000 forgiven.

TRiO Vets Student Support Services Earns Military Spouse Friendly Designation

Eastern earned the designation Military Friendly Spouse School for 2019-2020. This was awarded by Viqtory Media ('Viqtory' is not a typo) and GI Jobs Magazine. This is a phenomenal achievement and a true testament to our school's military and veteran friendly atmosphere.

Eastern’s Eric Reed Receives Central Michigan University’s 10 Within 10 Alumni Award

Central Michigan University’s 10 Within 10 alumni awards program honors exceptional achievements within a decade of graduation. This year’s honorees include Dr. Eric Reed, Director of Eastern’s TRIO Student Support Services. We congratulate Dr. Reed on all of the accomplishments that led to this award.  Read the full article on at CMU’s alumni page.

High Performing Academic Programs and Quality Research Updates

Last Call for Applications: Brickley Endowment Funding

Tony and Lois Evans have recently graciously donated an additional $50,000 of funding for the James H. Brickley Endowment for Faculty Professional Development and Innovation. Graduate Studies and Research will accept new proposals for funding through October 1, 2019.

The purpose of the James H. Brickley Award is to facilitate 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
  7. Similar or related academic activities 

Read more about the Brickley Awards here and contact Tracy Pytlak at [email protected] or 734.487.4875 with any questions or concerns about the program.

Service and Engagement Updates

Professional Programs and Training Launches New Non-Credit Courses

Professional Programs and Training (PPAT) is launching three new non-credit, online offerings this fall including a Business Process Optimization certificate and two programs in partnership with Amesite, Inc. - Lean Six Sigma for HealthCare and Cybersecurity Certification. PPAT offers practical, relevant and timely professional development, test and certification prep programs to help workers, managers and professionals gain the skills, knowledge and credentials they need to excel in their workplaces and careers.

EMU Bright Futures Program Continues to Expand

EMU Bright Futures has been awarded two new 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants from the Michigan Department of Education.  These grants support 10 school-based out-of-school-time programs.  EMU Bright Futures now provides programs in 25 schools in Romulus, Wayne-Westland and Ypsilanti.  Total annual funding for 2019-2020 is $3.375 million.  Each of the five grants we currently hold is approved for 5 years.

[email protected] Works to Improve Census Response Rates

In advance of the 2020 Decennial Census. Washtenaw County has formed a commission to increase the response rate of the census.  In 2010, Michigan had the fifth highest response rate at 78%, unfortunately, Ypsilanti had one of the lowest response rates in the state at 69%. What does this mean in dollars? $1,800/person per year x 10 years = $18,000. This means that Ypsi lost 31% of potential funding in 2010. It is critical to increase participation for this community to gain greater support for local needs like public safety, education, transportation, and much more. Students, Veterans, renters, and those with disabilities are top in the "hard to count" demographics. EMU connects with these groups and many more, which is why the university is a critical partner in the county's efforts to boost response rates.

[email protected] has put together events and messages to share with students, staff, and faculty.  Two Eastern students have been hired to act as ambassadors on campus. They will work to organize events and connect with students by staffing census information tables set up throughout the semester and supporting an informational event on the importance of the Census and why students should be involved.  Also, Eastern will participate in the county-wide "census week" which is March 16th-18th. This is the time to have people complete the survey. The hope is to collaborate with various programs and departments on campus to spread the word. National Census Day is April 1st, which is the last day to complete the census online. 

How can you help?

  1. Do your research by visiting the census website.
  2. Share resources with students or staff. This flyer [PDF] is helpful for answering questions and explaining why this is critical for our community.
  3. Get involved. Reach out to the office of [email protected] at [email protected]. The staff and student ambassador team would appreciate the support in sharing messages with students, gaining volunteers, and attending events.

Volunteers Needed: Winter 2019 Commencement Ceremony

If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer experience, please consider joining the team of faculty, staff, and alumni who work behind the scenes to support Eastern’s Commencement Ceremony.  For more information on how you can help, contact William Pollard at 7-4600 or [email protected]

Operational Effectiveness Updates

Health Care Open Enrollment is Coming! 

Open Enrollment for university benefits will begin October 1 and continue through October 15.  To support employees, Human Resources is hosting the Benefits and Wellness Fair on October 4, 2019, from 11 am – 3 pm, in the Student Center Ballroom. Enrollment stations will be staffed with members of the HR/Benefits team to answer questions and provide assistance for those who wish to enroll or get help during the Benefits Fair.  More information on Open Enrollment will follow via email. 

Mark Your Calendar!

SAFE Now Walk for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness

Eastern’s SAFE (Stigma and Fear End) Now and Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS) have partnered with a number of student organizations, such as Active Minds, to host the third annual EMU Walk for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness. This event increases awareness surrounding suicide prevention, helps to reduce the stigma and fear around mental illness, and reminds those suffering that someone cares.

Date: Friday, September 27, 2019.
Time: 3:30 to 5 p.m. (Walk begins at 4 p.m.)
Location: Big Bob’s Lake House

For more information please contact Ellen Gold, Dean of Students at [email protected] or 734.487.1107. 

Eastern’s College of Health and Human Services Hosts the Seventh Annual Global Perspectives on Health Care Teleconference

Dr. David Thomas, Professor, Therapeutic Recreation, has organized the seventh annual international teleconference, Interdisciplinary Trends in Healthcare for Older Adults, involving faculty from the College of Health and Human Services and internationally renowned gerontologists from the Institute of Gerontology and the Post Graduate Medical Academy in Kiev, Ukraine.  The Teleconference will be broadcast from Eastern’s Halle Library Auditorium from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2019.  This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact David Thomas at [email protected] or 734.487.6839.

Symposium to Commemorate and Examine Professor Mark Jefferson's Service as Chief Cartographer at the Versailles Peace Conference

The departments of Geography & Geology, History & Philosophy, and Political Science at Eastern Michigan University are pleased to sponsor an interdisciplinary symposium on Friday, October 18, 2019 that commemorates Mark Jefferson’s contributions to Versailles and celebrates the legacy of Eastern’s most distinguished faculty member. Speakers include Jeremy Crampton and Wesley Reisser, two geographers who have published on Jefferson’s work at Versailles, Eastern students Cassie Thayer and Dustin Elliott, who have conducted research with the Jefferson papers at the Eastern Archives, Eastern Archivist Alexis Braun Marks, and Eastern history professor and World War I expert, Jesse Kauffman. Read more about Professor Jefferson’s contributions and see the full symposium schedule.