COE Dean's Blog

Dean's Office Update for faculty and staff

Leadership Council: April 30, 2020

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College of Education
Leadership Council
April 30, 2020
9:00 – 10:30 am
Agenda
Zoom

In attendance: David Hough, Russ Brock, Jef Cornelius-White, Denise Cunningham, Kim Dubree, Janice Duncan, Karen Engler, Deanna Hallgren, Stephanie Huffman, Dennis Lancaster, Travis Marler, Juli Panza, Barri Tinkler, Ximena Uribe-Zarain, Rose Lee, Sharon Lopinot

Guests: Andrea Mostyn, Rhonda Bishop, Rachel Heinz

Dean Hough welcomed everyone. Andrea Mostyn, Director of Communications, attended to discuss a project she emailed the dean about. Since students graduating in August will not have a commencement to attend until later in the fall, MSU is going to post 15 second videos on the university and social media accounts from faculty members sending words of encouragement and congratulations. This would also include staff who work with the students. All of this would take place during the week of May 10. The process would be to record the video on your phone vertically, email it to yourself, and upload it to the Google Drive folder by May 6. Department heads will send this information to their faculty and explain how important this is. Juli and Kim will also reach out to their staff. Contact Andrea if you have any questions. Andrea also mentioned there are numerous Zoom backgrounds you can download on the communications branding site.

TikTok only had 3 videos posted. Juli asked everyone to spread the word. Rhonda Bishop is working with the Bears in Every Building. Rachel with talk to Bear POWER students. Dean Hough would like to put on a “Saturday Night Live” piece together. Andrea mentioned that most students only use TikTok for entertainment. You can contact Juli or anyone on the committee if you have questions.

Dean Hough reported:

  • All deans are taping a 2-minute script for commencement. Dean Hough’s taping will at the Meyer Alumni Center on Thursday, May 7th.
  • Dean Hough sent his FEMA report to the Provost a few days back. Barri added that ATLL, staff, administrators, CEFS, and RFT have been completed and submitted theirs. CLSE should be completed by tomorrow.
  • Regarding the 2/3 bucket, there have been no changes this week, but the University still wants cost centers to increase the number of staff designated as such.
  • The Mayor will have a televised update regarding what the plans are for Greene County as a follow up to the Governor’s newest plan today at 10:30 a.m. The University will be releasing its plan soon, perhaps as early as next Monday or Tuesday.
  • We will know more about the State budget next week, as it has to be finalized by May 8th. Dennis reported that they have completed the FY20 budget for West Plains and are working on FY21. They are hopeful regarding enrollment. They will also be looking at personnel.

Dean Hough plans to reopen the Child Development Center during the first week of June. The most recent SGCHD guidelines would make this appropriate. Deanna is working on preparations. Janice reported that the plans for Greenwood are looking well, as they have developed a variety of options for the fall 2020. GLS will monitor from now until mid-July and see how others will be handling the opening of their schools. Janice has drafted a letter to the parents regarding the different scenarios. The Dean asked her not to send any letter to parents until it is approved by the University. He suggested she send it to David Hall today and then to him, so he can share it with AC and/or the COVID-19 Executive Team for consideration. Russ said some of the public schools may have virtual classes for the first half of summer school and change to something else, perhaps traditional sessions, for the second half.

Dean Hough reminded all department heads that their academic course delivery/mitigation and contingency plans for the fall need to be continually reviewed. Denise may be making some changes. The Dean also reminded department heads that they should be getting information on specific items that need to be added to everyone’s syllabi. Department heads need to work with any faculty who need assistance.

Around the Zoom room

Rachel Heinz
She is amazed at how well the students have transitioned. The staff ambassadors are great and have one virtual social event every Wednesday. They have included a scavenger hunt, meet my pet, and movie night. Bear POWER students would like to see this continue through the summer. Rachel did her admissions meetings online. Everyone was flexible and all went well.

Russ Brock
They are still hosting Zoom sessions for teachers.

Rhonda Bishop
She is working with the Bears in Every Building on recruiting other bears. They are now at 928. She has also been putting information on social media and is working with two versions of a letter with Barri. One is a follow-up for people who have not responded. Rhonda is almost ready to send the dean the flyer that will be sent to secondary graduates.

Deanna Hallgren
She is concentrating on reopening the CDC. She has a COVID-19 contingency plan. The plan is being reviewed by Barri and then will go to David Hall. The Dean asked if it would be possible to take extra students from MSU employees working at home temporarily. Deanna responded there is a plan that would allow that.

Janice Duncan
Student contracts are going out this week. She is getting some responses regarding families coming back. A few need more time to decide, some of which are MSU employees.

Denise Cunningham
Five of her faculty volunteered to be judges for the Virtual Einhellig Interdisciplinary Forum. Stephanie Livers and Sara Jean Baker met with the people from Nursing who made plans for a student graduation. They are also working with other program coordinators so there may be more planned. On May 8, instead of a department faculty meeting they will be having a virtual social event.

Kim Dubree
All is going well. There are 32 Spring 2020 candidates who need to apply for certification by May 15. She is in the process of getting in touch with them.

Stephanie Huffman
Three of her faculty signed up for the Virtual Einhellig Interdisciplinary Forum. Her faculty are working on new guidelines regarding teaching observations. Faculty will then vote on the final document. This will be in effect when faculty start back. Stephanie is monitoring the class schedule and mid-level students.

Karen Engler
She will be attending the Fall Field Experiences Task Force meeting this afternoon. There are 8 faculty members: Kim Dubree, Minor Baker, Abby Lowe, Sarah Baker, Kelly Wynne, Rebecca Woodard, Rebecca Knowles, and herself. Also participating is Dean Hough and Chris Craig.

Barri Tinkler
They are moving forward with the Pathways for Para Program. Springfield schools may have twenty participants.

Janice Duncan
They are not having their drive through graduation. Springfield Public Schools will be using JQH Arena for their commencement exercises (August 6-7). She would like to schedule a date for Greenwood, either in July or August. She will discuss it with her faculty today.

Dean Hough
He asked where we are regarding the flyers for the new graduate certificates. Denise is waiting for a photo. Stephanie sent her two to Barri. The Dean received an email regarding the 2020 Student Employee of the Year Virtual Reception scheduled for tomorrow. He is unable to attend and asked if one of more of those at today’s meeting could represent the college. He will forward the information to Sharon to send out to everyone.

He doesn’t know about travel funds for faculty yet. We need to wait, although there will probably be none available for the Fall semester. FYI, Dean Victor Matthews moved fifty classes to various rooms for Fall semester.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 am.

Submitted by Sharon Lopinot, Executive Asst., II