Eastern Michigan University
December 14, 2023
Academic and Student Affairs
Provost Briefing
Institutional Priority #1
Promote Student Engagement and Success
The Provost Office would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all Winter graduates
Continue scrolling for more information on the various commencement celebrations hosted by EMU this year including The Honor’s College and The Center of Race & Ethnicity (CORE)
Winter 2023 Commencement
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Eastern Michigan University will hold an in-person Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. This ceremony will be for students who have an active application to graduate in December 2023. Plan on arriving early to allow ample time for the entrance screening process.
Honors College
Winter 2023 Commencement
Saturday, December 16
The Honors College will hold an in-person graduation ceremony on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 3:00pm. The ceremony will be held at the Honors College, 511 W. Forest Ave., Ypsilanti, Michigan. Honors students who have been approved to graduate in Summer 2023 (that did not walk in Winter 2023) can participate in this semester's Honors Graduation Ceremony.
Multicultural Graduation Celebration
Friday, December 15
The Center of Race & Ethnicity (CORE) hosts the Multicultural Graduation Celebration (MGC) to acknowledge the achievements of graduating students of color; domestic and international students at EMU. This event also celebrates the rich culture of our diverse student body; from the music, performances, speeches, and more.
CORE invites all students, graduates, parents, families, and friends to be a part of this grand celebration. The guest number is limited to 8 individuals.
44th Annual Undergraduate Symposium Keynote Speaker
We are excited to welcome Dr. Dara Walker as our Dennis M. Beagen Keynote Speaker for the 44th annual Undergraduate Symposium.
Walker, who graduated from EMU in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Africology and African American Studies and a minor in Social Science, is a two-time Symposium presenter.
An Assistant Professor of African American Studies, History, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Pennsylvania State University, Walker earned her PhD in History from Rutgers University.
Dara Walker
As a student in the Africology and African American Studies department at EMU, Walker became engaged in undergraduate research which allowed her to explore interests in African American and African diaspora history and culture, gender and sexuality, language and literature, and the Black radical tradition. Joining the EMU McNair Scholars Program and the Honors College supported her involvement in research.
Dara’s senior Honors thesis, “We Were Fighting For Self-Determination and Power: Black High School Student Activism and the Black Power Movement”, is still available in Digital Commons. While writing her honors thesis, Walker also published “Report on Information Literacy and the Mic: Teaching Higher Education Students Critical Research Skills Using Hip Hop Lyricism” in the first volume of the McNair Research Journal.
Dr. Walker’s research and teaching interests include African American history, urban history, the History of Education, and the history of childhood and youth. Dr. Walker is currently writing her first book, High School Rebels: Black Power, Education, and Youth Politics in the Motor City, 1966-1973, which examines the role of Black high school student organizing and political study in the development of Detroit’s Black Power movement. She is also the author of “Moving Beyond the ‘Dark Africa’ Narrative: Black Girls, Black Power, and the Battle for a Culturally Relevant Curriculum” in The Global History of Black Girlhood by Corinne Field and LaKisha Simmons. Her research has been funded by the Ford Foundation, The Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University, the National Academy of Education, and the Spencer Foundation. Dr. Walker’s writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Black Perspectives, The Journal of African American History, and Feminist Studies. In 2024, two of her forthcoming articles will appear in print: “Tomorrow’s Citizens’: Black Youth Organizing, Education, and the Politics of Urban Renewal in Detroit during the Black Power Era” which will be published in The Journal of Urban History and "Music That Moves Me’: Preliminary Thoughts on Music Education in the Era of Black Power,” which is a part of a special issue in The Black Scholar).
We are excited to host this outstanding EMU alum and allow her to celebrate both the Symposium and the academic success of its participants at the 44th event on Friday, March 22, 2024. The keynote address will be delivered during the private event luncheon which is hosted for students, faculty mentors, and invited guests.
2024 Graduate Research and Creative Activity Conference (GRCAC) Applications are Open
The Graduate Research and Creative Activity Conference (formerly the GRC), is an annual event for graduate students of all disciplines, colleges, and degree designations (master’s and doctoral) to present research and creative projects in a professional conference format. We encourage all graduate students to showcase their work!
Important dates for the 2024 GRCAC
- December 11, 2023 - The application portal opens
- January 26, 2024 - Application submission deadline
- February 2, 2024 - Faculty mentor approval deadline
- February 9, 2024 - Acceptance response notification date
- February 16, 2024 - 3 Minute Thesis Competition
- March 8, 2024 - Presentation upload due
- March 15, 2024 - Graduate Research and Creative Activity Conference
More information can be found on the Graduate Research and Creative Activity Conference website.
We also invite all graduate students to view our previously recorded GRCAC workshop, which details the application process, important dates, and tips on crafting a successful presentation. You can click here for the workshop recording, as well as view the presentation slides.
Institutional Priority #2
High Performing Academic Programs & Quality Research
Pictured from left to right: Chanuth, Cameron, and Karthikeya
EMU BlackHatHackers place 9th in annual hackathon
In late October, the EMU BlackHatHackers, a team of three EMU computer science majors, placed 9th out of 127 U.S. teams in the IEEExtreme 17.0, an annual hackathon event organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Team members included freshmen Chanuth Jayatissa and Karthikeya Thota and sophomore Cameron Jones. All three are computer science majors and Chanuth and Cameron are also members of The Honors College.
EMU Presidential Scholars accepted into MLT Career Prep Program
Pictured from left to right: Tatiana Worthy and Randy Kamindo
Two sophomore Presidential Scholars, computer science major Randy Kamindo and communication technology major Tatiana Worthy have been accepted into the Career Prep Program hosted by Management Leaders of Tomorrow (MLT).
MLT Career Prep is a national program that provides college students from underrepresented backgrounds with 20 months of programming, including personalized coaching, job and internship search guidance, exposure and access to top employers, a powerful professional network, and industry bootcamps and seminars. MLT participants are typically selected in the fall of their sophomore year of college.
Institutional Priority #3
Service and Engagement
Upcoming Events
Proposals Due: Friday, January 12, 2024
Event Date: Friday, February 9, 2024
Amidst the cold days and gray skies of a Michigan winter, sometimes we just need to CONNECT with each other, learn from each other, and support each other. This is especially so in the teaching realm - while teaching is at some level a communal activity, the challenges we face can often breed isolation, and loneliness. So, join us at our CONNECT Conference, which will take place on February 9th, to learn about what your colleagues are doing, to share your own insights on this work we share, and to think deeply about how we can be better at what we do when we do it together. Commensurate with this theme, we are especially excited to have Peter Felten join us to talk about the importance of relationships in higher education.
We encourage you to consider submitting a proposal to present at the 2024 CONNECT Conference.
Location:
- Part I: 109B Halle and Zoom
- Part II: 109B Halle
Date/Time:
- Part I: Thursday, January 11, 3:30-4:45 PM
- Part II: Tuesday, January 23, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM or Monday, January 29, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
The Faculty Research Fellowships and Sabbaticals are intended to encourage and support the research, creative, artistic, and scholarly endeavors of full-time tenured or tenure-track EMU faculty by providing released-time awards (fall and winter semesters) for outstanding proposals. The Faculty Development Center strives to support EMU faculty in their applications for Faculty Research Fellowships (FRF) and Sabbaticals by hosting workshops focusing on helping you write a strong proposal. Part I intends to inform attendees on the application process and strategies for writing a proposal. This session will give you an opportunity to hear about how awards are judged, common pitfalls to avoid, and ways to make your application as appealing as possible to the audience that will be evaluating it. Part II consists of two peer-review sessions for your completed drafts.
Announcements
Flipping the Script: A Student-Led Teaching and Learning Conference, took place on December 1st. We thank all of you that attended, participated, and supported our Center’s effort in improving student-faculty partnerships here at EMU. We all had a great day learning from our students about how teaching and learning looks from their perspective. You can see the online program for the conference, and the PowerPoints for each session, at this link.
Faculty, Lecturer, and Staff Awards at EMU
2023/2024 EMUFT Lecturer Distinguished Teaching Award
The Provost’s Office is now accepting nominations for the 2023/2024 EMUFT Lecturers Distinguished Teaching Award.
Eligibility for nomination of Lecturer Distinguished Teacher Award applies to all Lecturers, Part-Time and Full-Time (as defined by the EMU/EMUFT Collective Bargaining Agreement). Up to two selected recipients will receive a $3,500 one-time, lump-sum award and a plaque celebrating their achievements. Any current Lecturer is eligible, with the exception of the winner of this award from any of the previous five award periods (awarded in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023).
Eastern Michigan University administrators, tenured/tenure-track faculty, Full-Time or Part-Time Lecturers, and/or any student may nominate a Lecturer for this award, individually or as a group, to the Eastern Michigan University Federation of Teachers. Lecturers may also nominate themselves.
The nominee is ultimately responsible for the completion and submission of the application.
If you have any questions, please contact Deron Overpeck.
Deadline: 11:59 pm, Monday, January 22, 2024
Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards
Deadline: 11:59 pm, Tuesday, January 16, 2024
The Faculty Senate is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards.
The Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards are offered in the following six categories: Teaching I, Teaching II, Research I, Research II, Creative Activity, and Service. Each award carries a $3,500 stipend given as a one-time lump sum (not included in the faculty member's base salary). All tenure-track and tenured faculty members are eligible to receive only one EMU Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Award. The awards will be presented at the Academic Affairs Awards Ceremony, March 25, 2020, 3:00-5:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
A faculty member may be nominated in the following way:
- Self-Nomination
- Nominated by another faculty member
- Nominated by three (3) or more students
- Nominated by a department/college
The nominee is ultimately responsible for the completion and submission of the application.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Perry C. Francis.
Institutional Priority #4
Institutional Effectiveness
EMU Faculty and Lecturers Awarded Funding from the Upshur Institute
The Upshur Institute for Civic Education (UICE) at Eastern Michigan University has awarded funding to faculty and lecturers for projects to prepare Eastern Michigan University students for the intellectual demands of democratic participation through critical inquiry and engagement in History and other Social Studies disciplines.
Winners of the inaugural UICE Grant Awards are:
Mark Whitters (Lecturer): "Rethinking Civic Education in High Schools: A New Strategy, Part I."
Zuzana Tomas (Faculty): "Cultivating Teacher Candidates' Critical Global Citizenship through Innovative, Community-Engaged Study Abroad."
Mary Elizabeth Murphy, Ashley Bavery, Alexis Braun Marks (Faculty):
"You Are Welcome Here: "EMU's Afghan Refugee Oral History Project."
Established in September, UICE-EMU promotes innovative teaching and learning methods in History and social studies. The UICE investigates and tests new ways to apply and adapt approaches to history and social studies teacher training courses at EMU and helps foster a new generation of informed and engaged citizens and innovative educators at the high school and college levels to benefit students in Michigan and beyond. The Institute grounds itself in producing citizens with strong civic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and capacities.
COE Office of Academic Services Holds Student Mental Health Day
The Office of Academic Services (OAS) in the College of Education recently completed a Mental Health Day on December 4, 2023! Two graduate assistants at the OAS, Samuel Anthony and Jacob Zeidman, proposed a relaxing, supportive day with hot cocoa provided for students who would take rigorous final exams the following week.
Since Sam and Jacob are both master’s students in the COE’s counseling program, they were able to give professional advice to students who were feeling anxious about the upcoming exams.
Several students were eager to listen to Sam and Jacob’s advice, and approximately 120 cups of hot coco were served!
Tips for Mental Wellness During Academic Stress
- Prioritize Self-Care: Schedule breaks for meals, sleep, and relaxation Taking care of your body supports a healthy mind.
- Create a Study Plan: Break down your workload into manageable chunks. Set realistic goals and stick to a schedule to reduce overwhelm.
- Practice Mindfulness: Take short breaks to breathe deeply, meditate, or do quick exercises. Mindfulness can help reduce stress and improve focus.
- Stay Connected: Reach out to friends, family, or counselors for support. Talking about your feelings can alleviate stress and provide perspective.
- Move Your Body: Exercise releases endorphins, boosting your mood and reducing stress. Take short walks, do yoga, stretch, or engage in any physical activity you enjoy.
- Limit Caffeine and Monitor Screen Time: Excessive caffeine and prolonged screen exposure can negatively impact sleep and increase anxiety. Balance your intake and take regular screen breaks.
Aaron Liepman Invited to Serve on Scholarship Review Team
Dr. Aaron Liepman, Professor of Biology and a Faculty Fellow in The Honors College, has been invited to serve on the Barry Goldwater Scholarship life sciences review team for 2024.
The invitation was extended to Liepman on the basis of his record of accomplishment in biology, his extensive undergraduate mentoring experience and his work as the Goldwater representative for EMU.
In the past two years, Liepman's mentoring has led to two EMU students being named as Goldwater Scholars, Alex Chumney from Biology in 2022 and Rosie Friend from Physics in 2023.
Aaron Liepman
Have a restful, wonderful winter break!
Office of the Provost
Academic and Student Affairs
Prepared by: Andi Pontiff & Karen Peacock
734.487.3200