PSIP Workshops Scheduled
Dear Colleagues,
We have planned a couple of workshops to discuss the application process for the Professor Salary Incentive Program (PSIP) and to provide some examples of how to build some of the components of the application. There will be some opportunity to discuss the criteria and answer any questions faculty might have about the process. We look forward to working with eligible professors this first round of the program.
Tuesday, September 24th, 3:00 p.m., KARLS 101
Wednesday, September 25th, 3:00 p.m., GLASS 102
Take care,
Chris
Dr. Christopher J. Craig
Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs
Office of the Provost
Carrington 209
Office 417-836-4589 – Fax 417-836-8432
ChrisCraig@missouristate.edu
State of the University Address
Thinking Bigger and Bolder: The 8 Major Goals for 2013–14
Date: Thursday, September 19
Time: Noon
Location: PSU Theater
Join President Clifton M. Smart III and Provost Frank Einhellig as they present the eight major goals for 2013–14. This event will be streamed live online, as well as replayed on OPT and KSMU and archived on the MSU website.
Orientation for Academic Departments Doing RTP Review
Date: Monday, September 16
Time: 3:30–5:00 p.m.
Location: LIB 101
This session is for departments from CHHS, COAL, and CNAS who will be undergoing review of their tenure-promotion plans during 2013–14. An overview of the schedule, process, and review criteria will be presented. For additional information, visit the Provost website.
Today is the Deadline to RSVP to the Study Away Fall Faculty Luncheon
The Study Away Fall Faculty Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, September 18 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. in PSU 308. Join experienced Study Away faculty directors to learn about developing one- to eight-week programs. Topics include logistics and budgeting, collaborating with other institutions, research opportunities, enriching academic content, and more. The event is free, but seating is limited. RSVP by today, Thursday, September 12 to Marian Green at 836-6368 or MarianGreen@missouristate.edu.
Public Affairs Graduation Requirement
As we prepare for the implementation of the Public Affairs Graduation Requirement next fall this link should help to clarify how the requirement will impact our students.
Fall Commencement Faculty Regalia Order Deadline—Friday, October 4
The University Commencement Committee asks all academic department heads to encourage their faculty to participate in Fall Commencement on Friday, December 13 at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., JQH Arena. Strong faculty participation makes for an impressive ceremony for our graduates and their families. Please note that recently hired faculty may not yet be in the Banner system and therefore might not have been included in the Commencement email that was sent out in August. Your assistance in ensuring all faculty are aware of the regalia order deadline is greatly appreciated.
Faculty Mentoring Program
The Offices of the Provost and Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion are pleased to announce a pilot mentoring program for junior faculty from underrepresented groups. This 2-year program is designed to provide a roadmap to academic success through reciprocal relationships between junior and senior faculty. Junior faculty from underrepresented groups and senior faculty with a commitment to diversity and inclusion and a willingness to engage in reciprocal relationships are encouraged to participate. For additional information, see calls for junior faculty and faculty mentors and contact Julie Masterson in the Provost’s Office at 836-4589.
The Cuban Dilemma—Raúl Castro’s Reforms and U.S. Policy
Date: Thursday, September 26
Time: 6–7:30 p.m.
Location: Meyer Library Auditorium
Join Professor Philip Brenner, School of International Service, American University in Washington, DC, as he talks about the current reform process in Cuba and its implications for U.S. policy, especially the longstanding economic and trade embargo on Cuba.
Contact Indira Palacios-Valladares, Assistant Professor in the Political Science department, if you have questions.
This event is sponsored by the Political Science department with support from a Missouri State Public Affairs grant.
Voluntary Benefits Enrollment
Enrollers are available to meet with you one-on-one to review the new voluntary benefits, i.e., Vision Insurance Plan, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness Insurance. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to enroll. Coverage is “guaranteed issue” during this open enrollment until Friday, September 20. This means that you will not need to answer health related questions to obtain coverage. No appointment is required. Please click on the link below for locations and dates.
Faculty Writing Retreat
Date: Friday, September 20
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Meyer Alumni Center, Hospitality Room
Monthly Faculty Writing Retreats provide a supportive and productive environment to work on writing projects. Faculty use this time to work on research articles, books, data analysis, grants, dissertations, etc. Feedback sessions are provided as needed. Retreats are free of charge to faculty members. A light breakfast and lunch are provided. This program is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Associate Provost for Student Development and Public Affairs Office, and the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. Please register through My Learning Connection and contact Stephanie Norander, Provost Fellow for Faculty Development—Writing, with questions.
Start Collecting Your Old Shoes Now!
Starting Family Weekend (Saturday, September 28) through Homecoming (Saturday, October 19) MSU will be joining with Drury, OTC, Evangel and SBU in “Stomp Out Hunger: All-Collegiate Shoe Drive” benefiting Sole Food, a program of Friends Against Hunger. Bring your unwanted shoes (no holes in the soles, please) to one of the many drop locations on campus to do your part in this campus-wide project. Through this collection, we will also attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the longest string of shoes (using only the shoes with laces). The current record of 12,481 pairs of shoes is held by the Shoeman Water Project who displayed the shoes at the University of Missouri on May 7, 2011. For more information, visit the Public Affairs website and download the information sheet.
Artwork provided by Hook Creative
– – – – – – – – – –
Volunteer Opportunities
The campus-wide community service project “Stomp Out Hunger: All-Collegiate Shoe Drive” will provide many opportunities for everyone on campus to be involved. Besides bringing shoes for the drive, there are opportunities to help assist in all phases of the collection and attempt to break the record. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Office of Public Affairs Support (6-4233) or send an e-mail to publicaffairsupport@missouristate.edu. Let’s make this a true, campus-wide event!
Public Affairs Theme Suggestions for 2015–2016 Now Being Accepted
As is the case with this year’s theme of Global Perspective: Why it matters and the 2014-2015 theme of The Ethical Citizen: Can you make a difference?, the intent is to identify and adopt a theme that can permeate the campus community for the academic year. While public affairs themes generally focus on challenges in public policy or issues confronting our world, you are encouraged to submit any and all ideas. Ultimately, the theme will be developed in a collaborative manner involving representatives of the university and Springfield communities; these individuals will look for a concept that can engage and excite the campus through a broad topic and provide meaningful opportunities for learning.
The intent is for the annual public affairs theme to be selected a minimum of two years in advance so that the theme may be incorporated into SOAR materials for new students in the 2015-16 academic year. This time frame also allows for careful planning of a multitude of public affairs activities that will occur that year.
In addition to serving as the focal point of the annual Public Affairs Conference, the theme should be broad enough to be used in a wide variety of both curricular and co-curricular activities, yet focused enough to be illustrative of our public affairs components: community engagement, cultural competence, and ethical leadership.
Proposals should include a brief (1 page) description of the theme and how it would fulfill the above criteria (including specific examples of curricular and co-curricular activities that could take place). Because the Associate Provost for Student Development and Public Affairs will select a Provost Fellow to coordinate the year-long activities, and in particular, to serve as the coordinator of the 2016 Public Affairs Conference, proposals including the name(s) of potential Provost Fellows for Public Affairs are encouraged.
Send all proposals to Dr. Rachelle Darabi, Associate Provost for Student Development and Public Affairs by Friday, November 1, 5 p.m. We hope to have the theme selected by Monday, December 2.
Academic Integrity Days: College and Beyond
Dates: Tuesday–Thursday, October 1–3
Academic Integrity is a cornerstone of Missouri State University and MSU is strongly committed to the practice of ethical values by administration, faculty, staff, and students. Integrity is a daily choice that each individual must make. This year’s theme is “College and Beyond.” There will be a number of discussions and activities to take part in so be sure to download a complete schedule of events.
Blackboard Feature Spotlight: Inline Grading
Tired of receiving a pile of assignments in your email inbox, opening them one by one in Word, commenting on them, saving them and then resending each one individually? Have we got a Blackboard feature for you! Inline Grading is an enhancement to how instructors can view and provide feedback to student assignment submissions. The new and improved method allows the instructor to provide this feedback directly in the browser window without needing to save a local copy first.
Feedback options include a commenting tool, highlighter, text selection tool, strikeout tool, even a drawing tool. Once you have saved your feedback, your options for downloading include the original submission attachment as well as the marked up version, saved in PDF format. (Students have these same download options.)
Inline grading does away with the need to download and open every student’s submission and then save and re-upload, making the workflow fast and convenient for everyone involved.
Check out this Blackboard Quick Hit video about Inline Grading!
[youTubeVideo url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X9Rerz0VX0″ width=”220″ height=”140″]
See the Blackboard Blog to learn more about other great improvements to Blackboard, and don’t forget about all the opportunities for Blackboard training at the MSU Blackboard website, and learn how you can become a Blackboard Black Belt while you’re there!
William T. White String Concert featuring violinist Brian Lewis
Date: Tuesday, September 24
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts
Violinist Brian Lewis was a pupil of the late Dorothy Delay at the Juilliard School. He now performs and records internationally and is a Professor of Music at the University of Texas, Austin. He will be joined by pianist Laura Kennedy. Free admission.
Citizen Scholar Award Nominations
Nominations due at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 19
The Board of Governors is once again soliciting nominations for the annual Citizen Scholar Award. Since the award was created in 2007, 35 exceptional students have been chosen to receive this prestigious honor, and the Missouri State University Board of Governors is expecting to recognize six more outstanding students this fall.
If you are a faculty or staff member who knows of a student who excels academically and exemplifies the Public Affairs mission, please download the nomination packet from the Citizen Scholar homepage and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs. Please be sure to read the “Criteria for Consideration and Selection” sheet, and provide sufficient details in your submission.
Recipients will receive an engraved memento, and recognition on a plaque in Plaster Student Union, Room 313. In addition, winners of the Citizen Scholar award are recognized at breakfast before the December Board meeting and at various times throughout the academic year.
Questions or comments may be directed to the Office of Student Affairs in Carrington 200 (836-5526).
Nominations for a Common Reader
Nominations must be received by Tuesday, October 1
The First-Year Programs office is currently accepting recommendations of books suitable to use as a common reader in fall 2014. All sections of GEP 101 and some sections of UHC 110 will use the book. The book is also used in collaborative community programs with the Springfield-Greene County Library system and Ozarks Technical Community College.
We need your help in identifying books that relate to the university’s Public Affairs mission and next year’s Public Affairs theme: The Ethical Citizen: Can You Make a Difference? Visit the Public Affairs website for more information on next year’s theme.
An ideal common reader will contain themes and content allowing students to explore multiple pillars of the public affairs mission: cultural competence, community engagement, and ethical leadership. Because the book will be used in GEP 101 and UHC 110, courses that serve students from all majors on campus, the book should be written in ways that appeal to students from a variety of disciplines and interests. The book you nominate needs to be written for a general audience, requiring little or no expertise with the topic in order to understand the book.
The selection committee will consider both fiction and nonfiction. The common reader will be chosen based on the book’s relationship to the public affairs mission, the quality of the book itself, and the book’s suitability for first-year students.
Please send nominations to FirstYearPrograms@missouristate.edu. Include the following information: the title of the book, the author of the book, and a brief explanation about why you are recommending the book. Nominations must be received by Tuesday, October 1.
Submit Your Public Affairs Student Work to the Quality
Initiative Project
The Quality Initiative Project (QIP) is a continuous and non-intrusive system for assessing (not grading) student work related to the public affairs mission. By collecting student work across all disciplines, course levels, and both curricular and co-curricular units, this project will provide campus constituents with a sense of our students’ understanding and integration of the public affairs mission themes and our diversity goals.
How the process works:
- Fill out the online Intent to Participate Form
- Collect student work as usual
- Either submit copies electronically to assessment@missouristate.edu, or
- We can come to you, make copies, and return your originals in 2-3 days
- Faculty and staff reviewers score the work using a scoring rubric, and we send you a report
- Office of Assessment staff report aggregate data to the Assessment Council and Faculty Senate
As a bonus, everyone who submits student work will receive a Starbucks gift card and a certificate of participation that can be included in a promotion and tenure dossier or ADP!
To submit student work: complete the online Intent to Participate Form
To become a QIP reviewer: fill out the online application
For additional information: visit the QIP page on the Office of Assessment website, or contact us at assessment@missouristate.edu or 836-6300.
Provide Feedback
Send Comments to the Provost Office
Download Adobe Reader to view and print documents on this page.