MSU Foundation Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Research,
and Service
Nominations for 2013–2014 are now being accepted
The Missouri State University Foundation Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service are intended to provide incentives for continued performance to a select number of full-time faculty who evidence significant accomplishments in teaching, research and/or creative activities and service and are funded by the Missouri State University Foundation.
The awards are presented annually to faculty at the All-Faculty Recognition Reception held in the spring of each year. Six Foundation Awards are presented and each recipient will receive a $3,600 award funded by the Missouri State University Foundation.
Nominations for 2013–2014 are now being accepted. Faculty members do not need to be nominated to submit application material. You can access the online form on the Provost website. The initial intent to apply or nomination form is due to the Provost Office by Friday, December 13, 2013. Application materials will be due in departmental offices by Monday, January 27, 2014. Please see the 2013–2014 Guidelines for additional information.
Department of Geography, Geology and Planning
Geography Awareness Week
November 18–22 & 25
The department of Geography, Geology, and Planning will host Geography Awareness Week with the goal of promoting geography on campus and in the community. For more information, contact the Geography, Geology, and Planning department at (417) 836-5800.
Download schedule and event flyers
Blackboard Feature Spotlight: External Grade
A common question that we get at the Help Desk is “What’s that green check mark in the Grade Center?” It’s the sign that the column it’s over is your courses External Grade. The External Grade is the column displayed as the students’ grade for your course in My Grades, their Report Card Module, and elsewhere in Blackboard. You decide which column is set as the external grade. In new courses, the default total column is the default external grade column, and the external grade icon appears in the column header. If you use weighting in your course and build a “weighted total” column, setting it as your External Grade is simple; just access the drop down menu in the column header for the column you want to set as the external grade column and select “Set as External Grade”
For a full walk through of controlling what grades students see, read this Experts article.
See the Blackboard blog to learn more about other great features in Blackboard, and don’t forget about all the opportunities for Blackboard training at the Blackboard at Missouri State University website, and learn how you can become a Blackboard Black Belt while you’re there!
The Shots Heard ‘Round: The JFK Assassination, 50 Years Later
A series of presentations about the JFK assassination is scheduled. See an event calendar in the attached flyer.
Presented by the MSU political science department and the public affairs grant program
Optimal Preparation for Tenure and Promotion Workshop for Faculty 1–4 Years—CHHS
Date: Monday, November 11
Time: 3:30–5:00 p.m.
Location: Duane G. Meyer Library Auditorium, Room 101
This workshop will focus on the teaching, research, and service criteria that are used for tenure and promotion to various ranks and how to best prepare to meet them. The process for annual evaluation, what to expect in feedback, and how to respond optimally will be discussed. Establishment of yearly goals and documentation of progress will be emphasized.
Office of Citizenship & Service-Learning presents
For the Greater Good
Date: Thursday, November 14
Time: 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Location: PSU 313
Presenter: Dr. Marc Cooper, Professor, History Department
Session open to the entire campus community
The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning (CASL) invites you to attend the “Brown Bag” service-learning dialogue workshop on the topic of “Engaged Scholarship—Publishing in the eJournal of Public Affairs.”
Contact the CASL office for more information at 836-5774.
Open Enrollment for 2014 Benefits
The online enrollment for 2014 benefits will be open from November 1–December 1. Please review your benefits on the new system. You will also be able to make changes to your current benefits. Even if you do not intend to make changes, you must verify your current information. By doing so, the information will be accurate and up-to-date.
Open Enrollment–Action Required
Faculty Writing Retreat
Date: Friday, November 15
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Meyer Alumni Center, Room 101
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.
The Vanishing Black Male: Saving the Next Generation
Date: Tuesday, November 19
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Carrington Hall Auditorium (Room 208)
Moderator: Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson, Diversity Fellow and Professor at Missouri State University
Real talk, strategic plans, and action steps related to race, cross-cultural interactions, and other social issues (with an emphasis on listening to young constituents)
This symposium will bring together parents, community leaders, educators, and experts in legal affairs, higher education, and psychology/counseling, to talk about issues related to race, gender, and other social factors experienced by African American males (e.g., racial profiling, biases in education, and legal matters). The primary goal of the symposium is to facilitate open dialogue and communication in an effort to create community-wide support and intervention strategies for these important issues via home, school, community, and university collaborations to enrich the lives of African American males (e.g., academic success, social and emotional support). After the discussion portion of the symposium, a clearinghouse of local, regional, and national organizations/resources will be disseminated. More importantly, the remaining time will be provided for audience participants to network, brainstorm, and collaborate about proactive steps to advance equity, inclusion, and excellence for African American males. This event is free and open to the public.
As a gesture of support, we are encouraging youth (and youth supporters as desired) to wear hoodies to the symposium. Also, please share this information because we welcome the presence of educators, children and families, community groups, faith-based partners, social clubs, fraternities/sororities, and other members of the community in attendance at the symposium.
For more information contact Dr. Brinson at 836-5070.
This event is sponsored by the African American Studies Committee in Partnership with the Division of Diversity and Inclusion—“Shattering the Silences” Series at Missouri State University.
The Art of the Book
Date: Thursday, November 14
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Duane G. Meyer Library Auditorium, Room 101
This program is free and open to the public
The MSU University Libraries and the Missouri Center for the Book—Ozarks Chapter present The Art of the Book, a program by John Hoover, Executive Director of the St. Louis Mercantile Library. Mr. Hoover will provide a free presentation on the art of the book using examples from the Mercantile Library’s extensive rare book collection. Mr. Hoover has a degree in history from Northwestern University, an MLS from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and an advanced degree in history from Southern Illinois University. He is past president of the Bibliographical Society of America, one of the oldest learned societies in the United States, and former vice president of the Missouri Center for the Book. He is on the history faculty of the University of Missouri-St. Louis and teaches in the Museum Studies graduate program.
For more information contact the MSU Libraries at 836-4525.
View background information on Missouri Center for the Book and the St. Louis Mercantile Library
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 8, 5 p.m. (deadline extended). We hope to have the theme selected by Monday, December 2.
Fall 2013 Public Affairs Convocation Lecture–Blake Mycoskie
Date: Monday, November 11
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: JQH Arena
Open to the public
The Fall 2013 Public Affairs Convocation Lecture will feature Blake Mycoskie, CEO/Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS Shoes. Blake Mycoskie is the person behind the idea of One for One, for every pair of shoes purchased, the company gives a pair of shoes to a needy child in the world. Blake’s first book, Start Something that Matters, is the MSU common reader for this year. In his book, he offers his own amazing story of inspiration and power of incorporating giving into business. His book, Start Something that Matters, is available at Paw Prints in the PSU. This is a free event, but a ticket is required for admission. Tickets can be picked up at JQH Arena, Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts and the PSU Theater ticket offices. Book signing will follow.
Fall 2013 Noncredit Programs
Knitting and Crocheting
Date: Saturday, November 9
Time: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Location: Alumni Center, Fourth Floor
Cost: $79
Discover the possibilities with some sticks and string! These ancient arts have gone from functional to just plain fun! Learn the basic techniques for both handcrafts, practice basic stitches and learn to read patterns, and get the secrets to fixing problem areas. Students will learn the skills to get started with these portable projects, and be inspired to create gifts for family and friends.
Visit the knitting and crocheting course page for registration and more detailed course information.
Fundamentals of Photography
Dates: November 11, 13, 18 and 20
Time: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Location: Alumni Center, Fourth Floor
Cost: $49
This course will help the student learn the functions of their cameras (film or digital) and how to make better use of composition, lenses, lighting, software, flash units, and other equipment including tips and techniques for capturing photographs that stand out from the everyday snapshot image. In addition, this course is recommended to hobbyists, budding journalists that need to shoot their own stories, artists, and anyone else looking at improving their photographic imagery.
Visit the fundamentals of photography course page for registration and more detailed course information.
Sustaining Our Water Supply
Dates/Times: Thursday, November 14, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Registration at 8:30 a.m.;
Friday, November 15, 8:00 a.m.–Noon, Registration at 7:30 a.m.
Location: Darr Agriculture Center, 2401 S. Kansas Expressway, Springfield, MO
Cost: Both Days $115, One Day $75
This two-day conference will focus on two major themes of sustaining water supplies: Release of Phase 2 of the regional supply availability forecast for Southwest Missouri and the value of water in agriculture production and processing.
Visit the sustaining our water supply course page for RSVP and more detailed course information.
Home for the Holidays
Dates: Saturday, November 23
Time: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Location: Alumni Center, Fourth Floor
Cost: $50
Did you ever wonder where some of our favorite holiday traditions and customs started? Do you know that using spices like cinnamon and cloves are part of Ozarkian lore? Do you know the story behind the animals talking on Christmas Eve? Did you know the practice of making New Year’s resolutions dates back to the Romans? Do you have an interest in recording your unique holiday memories in writing as part of your own legacy? Let’s explore some crafts, customs, recipes and time-honored traditions and sites as we celebrate our history and heritage this holiday season.
Visit the home for the holiday’s course page for registration and more detailed course information.
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