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Credit by Assessment Incentive (CBA)
The Provost Office is piloting a new incentive program to encourage departments to offer academic credit for existing courses through assessment and to support the revision of existing assessments that are used to award course credit. The overall goal of the program is to expand the number of courses that can be completed through assessment and to support departments on an ongoing basis for their participation in credit by assessment (CBA).
Learn more about the CBA program
International Travel Awards
The purpose of International Travel Awards is to provide financial assistance to faculty who will be traveling abroad to advance the university mission, in a manner related to sharing the results of research. Learn more.
Study Away Exploratory Travel Funds and Short-Term Faculty-Led Program Summer 2015 Deadline
In 2014–15, the Provost will provide $10,000 in funding for faculty exploratory travel. The aim of the exploratory travel funds is to increase the number of faculty-led short-term Study Away programs towards an end of increasing students’ cultural competence. Additionally, funded travel will help to ensure faculty preparedness in safety measures for future short-term Study Away programs. The application deadline is October 20, 2014. Please review the request for proposals here.
Separately, the deadline for Study Away short-term faculty-led summer 2015 programs is September 26, 2014. Please download the proposal template here. For a list of Study Away events, dates and deadlines, please review this Study Away flyer here. Contact Study Away Director Elizabeth Strong, 836-6368, if you have any questions about either the exploratory travel funds or the Study Away program proposal process.
The Power of Snickers and Social Media: Successfully Promoting the BCSSE Survey
This summer, the Office of Assessment spearheaded a campaign to promote the Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement, or “BCSSE.” The BCSSE is a short, 36-question survey that collects information on incoming students’ high school academics and co-curricular experiences as well as their expectations for their first year of college. The last time BCSSE was given was in 2011, only 545 students completed the online survey. But this summer, with help from SOAR, 1,991 surveys were filled out! How did this 72% response rate miracle happen? Click along to the Assessment in Action blog for the full story.
How is this data being used?
BCSSE has been especially valuable for individuals working on
- Recruitment
- Curricular reform
- Academic advising
- Retention
- Faculty development
- Accreditation
- Self-studies
- First-year programs
Upcoming BCSSE events
October 3: For the first time our advisors will have access to individualized reports for each of their students that completed the BCSSE this summer!
November: BCSSE data will be available to all interested faculty and staff. The Office of Assessment will be hosting several “Coffee Breaks” where faculty and staff can collaboratively delve into the data.
If you are interested in the data or attending a coffee break, please email the Assessment office.
Conference on Civic Engagement
Building and Sustaining Partnerships for Stronger Communities
Date: Wednesday, September 17
Time: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Location: Plaster Student Union
Save the date for MSU’s inaugural conference on civic engagement! This conference will focus on the university’s involvement in partnership-based solutions to address pressing public issues in Springfield and the surrounding region. Register by contacting the Office of Public Affairs Support at 417-836-8832.
Center for Community Engagement
Ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 17
Missouri State University’s Board of Governor’s has approved our request to form a new Center for Community Engagement with the specific goals of strengthening and increasing the visibility of our Public Affairs mission on campus and in the surrounding region. The new Center, directed by Dr. Mike Stout, will be a readily visible point of contact for anyone on campus or in the community who wishes to conduct community engaged research and/or service opportunities. There will be a ribbon cutting on September 17, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. in Plaster Student Union Room 131 to officially open the Center and to begin the inaugural Missouri State University Civic Engagement Conference. More information about the Center for Community Engagement can be found on the Center’s website.
Missouri State Graduate to Present Lecture
Date: Monday, September 8
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: PSU 313
Please join Dr. J. Blake Perkins for his presentation of “Ain’t Servin’ Them Ungodly Silk-hatted Fellers: World War I Draft Resistance in the Ozarks.” Dr. Perkins is a graduate of Missouri State and currently teaching at Williams Baptist College. This program is presented by the Ozarks Studies Institute and Ozarks Studies Program.
Accessibility 101
As faculty we know the importance of making our course materials accessible to students; including individuals with disabilities. But how can we do this? This session will provide valuable insights from a visually impaired graduate student on how screen readers navigate documents and practical tips on how you can make your course materials more accessible.
This session will be offered two different times in the FCTL, Meyer Library Rm 204.
Monday, September 8, 1:30–2:15 p.m.
Tuesday, September 9, 8:00–8:45 a.m.
Please register through My Learning Connection.
For more information, email the FCTL or call 836-3059.
Shattering the Silences Series
Shattering Silences: Nigerian Cultural Connections
Date: Friday, September 26,
Time: 4:00–6:30 p.m.
Location: PSU, Parliamentary Room 313
This presentation is part of the Nigeria Public Affairs Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Section, Abuja, Nigeria, and Missouri State University Provost Office and Division for Diversity & Inclusion. “Shattering Silences: Nigerian Cultural Connections” is a presentation by a Nigeria Scholars Delegation from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, designed to share Nigeria’s cultural diversity with Missouri State University campus and the greater community. Come participate in cultural exchange and learn about Nigeria’s rich culturally diverse heritage. Food will be served at this event, so register through My Learning Connection to ensure adequate food service. Call the FCTL at 836-3059 if you have any questions.
Shattering Silences: International Disability Studies: Building Community
Date: Monday, September 29
Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Location: PSU, Parliamentary Room 313
This panel is part of the Nigeria Public Affairs Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Section, Abuja, Nigeria, and Missouri State University Provost Office and Division for Diversity & Inclusion. “Shattering Silences: International Disability Studies: Building Community” focuses on the experiences of Nigerian students with disabilities and their backgrounds, expectations, and challenges. This panel discussion is a peek into some international faculty and student perspectives and issues related to disability studies. It is also listed on the Academic Advisor Forum calendar and will count toward master advisor recertification. Even if you are not attending this event for Master Advisor credit, please register through My Learning Connection to attend. Food will be served at this event. Call the FCTL at 836-3059 if you have any questions.
Computer Services Presents
Blackboard Feature Spotlight: Global Navigation Menu and
My Blackboard
The Global Navigation Menu and My Blackboard Suite of tools makes it faster and easier to interact with Blackboard for both instructors and students. To access it, simply click on your name in the upper right hand side of the Blackboard window. This will reveal the Global Navigation Menu, a far more convenient way of navigating from course to course. Along the left side of the Global Navigation Menu, you’ll see a series of icons. These are the My Blackboard suite of tools. Each tool gives you quick access to some aspect of your digital learning experience, from the “Posts” area which covers your discussion boards, blogs, wikis, and journals to “People,” which allows you to connect to your fellow Bears in a whole new way. For more information about the Global Navigation Menu and My Blackboard suite of tools, check out this article in Experts.
(Click on image for larger view.)
See the Blackboard Blog to learn more about the great features in Blackboard. Don’t forget about all the opportunities for Blackboard training from Computer Services at the Blackboard at Missouri State University website, and learn how you can become a Blackboard Black Belt while you’re there! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!
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