Eastern Michigan University
November 8, 2023
Academic and Student Affairs
Provost Briefing
Institutional Priority #1
Promote Student Engagement and Success
Students, faculty and staff,
The autumn leaves will soon be gone and before long our campus will be covered with wintry snow! To celebrate the season, end of the semester, and upcoming holidays, the Office of the President will again host two Winter Wonderland luncheons. These luncheons are an opportunity for students, employees, and emeritus employees to take time out from their busy schedules to enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed setting with a delicious lunch!
Please save the date for the Winter Wonderland Luncheons on Tuesday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., in the Student Center Ballroom.
Employees or students may attend one or both luncheons. Tickets will be subsidized by the Office of the President and available for purchase online soon. We expect tickets to go quickly – so save the date(s) and watch your email for more details about these luncheons and the chance to order tickets as soon as they are available
Save The Date: Winter Wonderland luncheons
virtual Graduate Open House
Are you considering continuing your education? A graduate degree can be an important stepping stone to a promotion or career advancement in many fields. Join the Graduate School at their virtual Graduate Open House on Saturday, November 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
During the virtual Open House, you'll be able to learn about over 150+ programs, hear from experts regarding financial aid and graduate assistantship opportunities, and have the opportunity to meet with faculty members from all of our academic colleges.
If you have any questions, please get in touch at graduate_admissions@emich.edu or 734.487.6453.
Saturday, November 11, 2023
Institutional Priority #2
High Performing Academic Programs & Quality Research
EMUiNVENT Team Receives Invention Grant
EMUiNVENT has been awarded a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam® grant in the amount of $7,500 to create an invention geared towards aiding community-dwelling elderly in changing positions safely. EMUiNVENT is one of only eight high schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam this year.
The EMUiNVENT InvenTeam is inventing a solution for community-dwelling persons aged 60 and above to move and change positions, offering independence in mobility. Dr. Shiri Vivek, EMUiNVENT Co-Director at Eastern Michigan University initiated the InvenTeam application process during the summer and worked with the students to prepare the final proposal. A respected panel of university professors, inventors, entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and college students including former InvenTeam members now working in industry selected the grantees.
Photo courtesy of https://www.emich.edu/cob/events/emuinvent/
The InvenTeam will work with Dr. Muhammad Ahmed, Professor at the Game Above College of Engineering of Eastern Michigan University, and Mr. Ryan Horne, Instructional Coach of Howell Public Schools, who will guide the students through the development of their invention. In addition, the team will partner with Spark East Innovation Center, Michigan STEM Network Region 2, and the Toyota Driving Possibilities Program.
Over the next eight months, our EMUiNVENT InvenTeam will develop a solution to the problem. Our team will build a working prototype that will be showcased at a technical review here locally in February, and then again as a final prototype during EurekaFest®, an invention celebration taking place June 10-12, 2024, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“The InvenTeams are focusing on solving problems that impact their local communities," says Leigh Estabrooks, Lemelson-MIT’s Invention Education Officer. “Teams are focusing their technological solutions – their inventions – on inequities in health and wellbeing, environmental issues, and safety concerns. These high school students are not just problem-solvers of tomorrow, they are problem solvers today helping to make our world more equitable, healthier, and safer.”
Any high school students from the region who are interested in joining the EMUiNVENT InvenTeam should contact emu_invent@emich.edu for more information.
College of Business, 200 Hill Hall, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 ∙ 734.487.3323 ∙ Fax: 734.487.2378
Dr. Richard Douglass
The College of Health and Human services Hosts Dr. Richard Douglass
The College of Health and Human services was delighted to co-sponsor a campus-wide event with the Aging Studies Program and the EMU Foundation on October 25th, 2023. Welcoming EMU Health Administration Emeritus Faculty, Dr. Richard Douglass, the event centered on navigating the healthcare environment in the United States as health professionals.
Dr. Richard Douglass presents at EMU Auditorium
Dr. Douglass' talk highlighted the work of his recent book, The Evolution of the US Healthcare System: A Legacy of Opportunism and Greed. He guided the attendees, which included students, faculty, alumnae, emeritus faculty and staff, and healthcare community partners, in critically examining the history of healthcare in the US, exploring policies and structures that support and inhibit the altruistic work of health professionals, and posed opportunities for advocacy and avoiding professional burnout.
Institutional Priority #3
Service and Engagement
Brown Bag Speaker Series: Mental Health and Equity
Building a Caring Campus
Swoop’s Food Pantry Asks for Donations
EMU Swoop's Pantry is organizing Thanksgiving and Holiday baskets again this year. Your donations make it possible for EMU students to enjoy the holidays with family and friends when they may not otherwise be able to.
Swoop’s was able to reach their goal of 50 baskets last year, and with your help they can do it again!
UACDC Hosts Two Events in December
UACDC is hosting an Etiquette Dinner on Tuesday, December 5th at Palio Ann Arbor in partnership with Alumni Engagement.
The purpose of the Etiquette Dinner is for students to engage with staff and alumni and learn how to conduct themselves properly while dining during a business or professional situation over a multi-course meal. They will receive instruction on etiquette topics and have time to visit with fellow dinner guests. This dinner is by invitation only but if departments have interest in partnering with Career Development to host students for this type of event in the future please contact us.
UACDC's Student Employment staff is holding a Brown Bag lunch
- When: Wednesday, December 13th
- Where: Conference Room of 200 McKenny hall.
- Time: 12 - 1pm
Bring your lunch and discuss any topics related to student hires, rehires, the upcoming minimum wage increase, epafs or whatever else you have on your mind related to student employment.
Upcoming Events
Location: 109B Halle or Zoom
Date/Time: Friday, November 10 / 10-11:15am
Title IX protects pregnant and parenting students; however, many programs and faculty are unsure how to provide reasonable accommodations and aid. Join us for a session that focuses on supporting pregnant or parenting students in the classroom setting. There will be a short presentation with crucial information about Title IX provisions, followed by an opportunity to work through and get advice on individual questions and/or specific cases. Please bring any concerns to this session and get answers! Together, let’s work to create an inclusive learning environment that empowers and supports every student on their educational journey.
Location: 217 Halle
Date/Time: Friday, November 17 / 8:30am - 3:30pm
Faculty, full-time lecturers, and part-time lecturers who are teaching or on leave during Fall 2023 are invited to join this workshop.
Facilitated by Solange Simoes and Shiri Vivek, this workshop will provide instructors with tools and strategies for developing collaborative virtual global learning modules for their courses. As part of the workshop, participants will design a virtual global learning component for an existing assignment or create a new assignment for their current course content and pedagogical practices. Participants who complete the workshop will receive $100 for the development of a module and identification of a plan for implementation of the module.
Applications are due by Wednesday, November 8, 5 pm
Location: Student Center
Date/Time: Friday, December 1
While faculty are clearly the content experts regarding what they teach, students have a unique perspective on their own learning. When we consider how to most effectively teach and support students, it behooves us to listen to the learner. This conference, hosted by the Faculty Development Center, will “Flip the Script” to empower the learners to become the teachers, and the teachers to become the learners. Flipping the Script offers all of us an opportunity to straddle both worlds, and to grow through that opportunity. Stay tuned for the conference program!
Location: 109B Halle and Zoom
Date/Time: Tuesday, December 5 / 2:30pm
Lots of us have been wondering how the emergence of generative AI tools will affect our teaching going forward. A first step in thinking through this question is trying out a generative AI program, such as ChatGTP. What can it do? What can it not do? How can you work with it to enhance what you do in the classroom? Join Professors Raed El-Jarrah and Christine Clark for a hands-on session to explore generative AI and reach your own conclusions about its affordances and constraints.
The FDC has also created a page in our Teaching Blog that compiles previous blog entries on generative AI.
Upcoming Proposals
Deadline: Tuesday, November 14 by 5pm
The Faculty Development Center is seeking proposals for our Winter 2024 programming. We award up to $5000 per program, which can include an honorarium for a facilitator or speaker, honoraria for participants, supplies, travel expenses, etc. This funding can enable you to make a meaningful commitment of time and resources, enabling participants to learn together, develop new skills, collaborate, and innovate. We welcome the opportunity to learn from your ideas. If you have an idea, or even the smallest kernel of an idea, we’d love to talk to you about it and help you create a great proposal. Reach out to Jeffrey Bernstein, FDC Director, at jbernstei@emich.edu to schedule a time to talk.
Deadline: Monday, November 27 by 5pm
The eFellows program supports faculty and full-time lecturers in obtaining the resources needed to successfully pilot innovative technology-based projects that enhance student-focused instruction in courses and curriculum. The overall outcome of this program is to improve and enhance student learning and the scholarship of teaching through the integration of appropriate technology. The eFellows program is available through the collaboration between the Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center, Faculty Senate, and the Division of IT. The program funding and coordination is administered by the Faculty Development Center. To learn more about the Grant Application Process, view the eFellows Proposal Instructions.
Sigma Theta Tau International chapter Eta Rho recognized with 5 Showcase of Regional Excellence Awards
The Eta Rho chapter of Sigma Theta Tau has received five Region 10 Showcase of Regional Excellence Awards, highlighting their strong commitment to service, innovation, and distinctive programs.
Two of these awards commend the chapter for its outstanding community service endeavors. Their support for the Swoops food pantry and their efforts to raise funds for the nursing scholarship fund create a lasting and meaningful impact within the community.
Furthermore, two additional awards celebrate their creative methods for recruiting and retaining members. Eta Rho has implemented initiatives to engage individuals and encourage active participation, cultivating a robust membership community.
The fifth award acknowledges Eta Rho's collaboration with the Michigan Nurses Association, where they provided an update on the opioid epidemic and current best practices in pain management. This unique program underscores the chapter's unwavering commitment to advancing the nursing field. The Eta Rho chapter of Sigma Theta Tau is a shining example of excellence and dedication, leaving an enduring impression on the nursing community.
Institutional Priority #4
Institutional Effectiveness
Year Two of The Navigating Returning Citizens AmeriCorp Program
The Navigating Returning Citizens AmeriCorp Program within Engage @ EMU department is determined to thrive as it enters 2 year of programming. This Fall 2023, the program successfully onboard 5 new AmeriCorp Members who are excited to serve with Returning Citizens in the Washtenaw County Area.
This program promotes, advocates and creates pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals to pursue their higher education endeavors through programming and direct service from AmeriCorp members. This year, members will be serving at host sites such as A Brighter Way, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility.
Our member team is diverse and rich in experiences, including undergraduate and graduate students at EMU as well as working professionals. We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following new members who are working to uplift the program in positive momentum during year 2: Dushuandre Williams, Sara Crisenbery, Paris Pittman, Colton Ray and Sydnee Wilson.
It is NRCA's goal to help Navigate our community to higher learning! We are looking forward to our 2023-2024 AmeriCorp team leading in innovative ways and continuing to onboard new members through Fall 2023.
Putnam, Walton, and Downing residential buildings
Concept image of Lakeview student apartments
Housing Improvements on Campus
Housing and Residence Life was excited to open their doors with three newly renovated buildings (Putnam, Walton, and Downing). Lakeview and Westview will open in Fall 2024—these are the new apartment-style buildings.
More students are living on campus this fall:
- As of September 30th, 2022, we had 1,166 of 2,004 first-year students (58%) as residents.
- As of September 30th, 2023, we have 1,202 of 1,852 first-year students (65%) as residents.
- In total we have 2,594 students living on campus which is up 129 or 5.2% from last year.
Applications are open soon
- Winter 2024 housing is open November 20 – December 14 for students looking for winter semester housing.
- Fall 2024 housing application opens for new and returning students January 24, 2024.
Karen Craig Selected as Chair of Financial Management Association
Karen Craig, Eastern Michigan University’s assistant vice president of academic budgeting and operations and associate professor of finance, has been appointed as the chair of the student chapters committee for the Financial Management Association (FMA) International organization. In this capacity, she will assume a three-year term and oversee, direct, and supervise FMA's student programs and the National Honor Society.
Craig took over this position on Oct. 15. During her three years, she will work with over 175 other chapters across the globe. She will provide resources to student members to help with professional and personal development while supporting them with networking opportunities.
Read more on EMU Today.
Karen Craig
Dr. Courtney B. Morris
Dr. Courtney Morris, Director of EMU's AmeriCorps Program
Dr. Courtney B. Morris, a Detroit native, is a scholar, educator, and activist whose professional mission is to advance equity and opportunity for at-promise students. During her undergraduate journey, Courtney actively participated in projects related to educational equity.
Courtney’s entry into the profession of education began as a college advisor for the AmeriCorp AdviseMI program. Since then, she has dedicated her professional career to serving students, families, organizations and education institutions in much impactful work towards success post-secondary goals and college degree attainment. She comes with experience working with local school districts, higher education institutions, as well as nonprofits and community organizations.
Courtney received her Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Schoolcraft College, Bachelor's of Science in Health Administration and Masters of Arts in Higher Education & Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University, and Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. Courtney re-joins the Engage @ EMU department as director of the Navigating Returning Citizens AmeriCorp Program.
Alicia Apperson and Sandra Murchison selected for MI - ACE Senior Level Shadow Program
Alicia Apperson, Director of Academic Advising and Career Planning, and Sandra Murchison, Director of the School of Art & Design, have both been selected for the competitive 2023-24 MI - ACE Senior Level Shadow Program.
The MI ACE Senior-Level Leadership Development Job Shadow program aims to further develop leadership skills for women in their current higher education positions and to prepare them to enter senior-level positions in Michigan higher education institutions. The MI ACE program provides participants from a MI institution with an opportunity to shadow and be mentored by one or more senior-level administrators from a Host institution in the State. Mentees will fulfill program expectations throughout the academic year, which includes about 150 hours with the host institution. Home institutions are not expected to provide any financial support for participants. The shadow experience is to be co-designed by the Host senior mentor and participating mentee around the mentee’s interests and goals.
Alicia Apperson and Sandra Murchison
Prepared by: Andi Pontiff & Karen Peacock
734.487.3200
Office of the Provost
Academic and Student Affairs