May 15, 2024
Academic and Student Affairs
Provost Briefing
Institutional Priority #1
Promote Student Engagement and Success
welcome to
summer
The Provost Office is excited to bring your summer semester updates this season.
Have a restful and rejuvenating summer!
Summer Computing Camps at EMU
Bits & Bytes
Summer Computing Camp for Middle School Girls
June 24-28, 2024 (on EMU’s campus)
Gigabytes
Summer Computing Program for High School Girls
July 22-26, 2024 (on EMU’s campus)
Sponsored by:
NASA’s Michigan Space Grant Consortium
Award number: 80NSSC20M0124
Institutional Priority #2
High Performing Academic Programs & Quality Research
EMU to lead National Park Service-sponsored African American Civil Rights Survey of Detroit's Eastside
EMU’s Historic Preservation program, spearheaded by Dr. Dan Bonenberger, will be sponsored by the National Park Service through a $75,000 African American Civil Rights (AACR) grant.
Detroit’s African American Civil Rights Survey Phase 2: Eastside will enable students of the Preservation Studies program at Eastern Michigan University to work with community partners in Detroit and its eastside over the next 18 months to identify, document, and designate significant places related to Black history, heritage, and culture.
Historic Preservation are thrilled to collaborate with the Detroit Historical Society, Detroit Black Historic Sites Committee, Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, NPS, and our Black Heroes of Detroit advisory group to engage with eastside community leaders, elders, block clubs, and others so that we have maximum positive impact on how places like the Sarah E. Ray House, Robert X House, and Gladys Mitchell Sweet House are seen, remembered, and preserved.
Student Highlights
Allison Muschong
EMU Presidential Scholar presents at the Spring Meeting of APS EGLS
Allison Muschong, an EMU physics research major and EMU Presidential Scholar, contributed a talk entitled “Exploring Scientific Ethics Requirements for U.S. Undergraduate Students in Physics” at the Spring Meeting of the Eastern Great Lakes Section of the American Physical Society (APS EGLS), conducted jointly with the Spring Meeting of the Michigan Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, held on April 12 – 13 at Kettering University. Her poster presentation was an extension of her EMU Symposium poster, “Are Scientific Ethics Courses Commonly Required in Collegiate STEM Programs?”.
Allie is mentored by Professor Marshall Thomsen, and her work is supported by a grant obtained from the National Science Foundation by Thomsen together with EMU collaborators Prof. Greg Argeros and Dr. Sonia Chawla.
From left to right: Carter Coyne, Adriano Liberato Estraiotto, Nathan Bohr, Emily Smith, Eric Molina, and Dr. Anderson Romero
EMU Trumpet Quintet Perform at ITG Conference in Anaheim, CA
The EMU Trumpet Quintet was invited to give multiple performances at the 2024 International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference in Anaheim, California (May 28-June 1, 2024). Students of Dr. Anderson Romero, Assistant Professor of Music in the School of Music & Dance, the quintet will be one of only 15 chamber music groups selected via competitive audition to perform in the Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition. Additionally, the quintet will also perform as a prelude to a conference session presented by Ko Skinsnes and Javier Gonzalez.
Earlier this year, the EMU Trumpet Quintet was invited to perform earlier at the National Trumpet Competition, as featured in EMU Today. While the quintet is very thankful for the support they have received from the School of Music & Dance, these accomplishments have required significant travel expenses. If you would like to consider donating to support their travel to perform at ITG, please follow this link.
Anya Fuller
EMU Magic Star Graduate Anya Fuller
EMU’s MAGIC program celebrates its 2024 graduate Anya Fuller. Fuller took part in Winter Commencement, graduating with a Bachelors in Public Relations and a Minor in Sports Management. She has a PR internship this Summer and a full-time job lined up in August with MCAN to be a college advisor at Belleville High School.
EMU Mentorship, Access, and Guidance in College (MAGIC) is a campus-based support program that helps students who have experienced foster care graduate from college by removing barriers that interfere with academic success and the process of becoming an interdependent adult.
Congratulations Anya!
EMU Places Top 12 in the 2024 National Forensics Association Competition
The EMU Forensics Team placed top twelve in the nation at the National Forensic Association Competition this past April. Twelve students performed 80 different speeches ranging from humorous satire, to persuasive arguments, to poetry. These wins follow a long history of EMU placing high in this competition, a trend sure to continue under new Director Bill Heinze’s leadership. Read more on the CAS Newsletter.
Students interested in joining EMU Forensics should email Bill Heinze. No experience is required; all are welcome!
Photos courtesy of EMU Forensics
Events & Student placement
Overall Tournament Speaker - 11th Place
Louise Engohang
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking - 2nd Place
Ethan O'Neill
Extemporaneous Speaking - Top 3
Kate Inman
Informative Speaking - Top 3
AbdurRahaman Elder, Louise Engohang
Prose Interpretation - Top 5
Louise Engohang
After Dinner Speaking - Top 12
Katie George
Duo Interpretation - Top 12
Katie George, Gavin Millard, Meghan Huelsman
Impromptu Speaking - Top 12
Olivia Wetzel
Program Oral Interpretation & Duo Interpretation - Top 12
Gavin Millard
Communication Analysis - Top 12
Cedrick Charles, Kate Inman, Louise Engohang
Persuasive Speaking - Top 12
Louise Engohang, Cedrick Charles, Kate Inman
EMU Baja Racing Team to showcase vehicle innovation
The Eastern Michigan University Baja Racing Team, comprised of engineering students from the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, is gearing up to showcase its latest innovation in off-road vehicle design. From May 16 to May 19, the team will demonstrate its skills and engineering prowess against competitors from around the globe during the Baja SAE Williamsport Competition in Montgomery, Pennsylvania.
This year, the EMU Baja Racing team is proud to unveil their updated model vehicle, set to meet the demands of the competition. The team has worked tirelessly to refine their design, incorporating aspects of all the engineering programs within the college and innovative features to maximize performance and durability.
Institutional Priority #3
Service and Engagement
Swoops open all summer
Non-Perishable Donations Needed
Swoops Food Pantry provides the EMU community with both food and non-food item assistance along with additional resources to positively impact well-being and college success.
Donations of non-perishable items are always welcome; currently, Swoops is especially in need of paper products and feminine hygiene products.
Items can be dropped off during open hours at the John and Angie Sabo Swoop's Food Pantry Room 104 Pierce Hall, the School of Social Work office in 319 Marshall, or by scheduling an appointment. To schedule an appointment, email swoops_pantry@emich.edu.
In addition to no-cost food items, Swoop's Food Pantry offers a wide selection of no cost, non-food items such as:
- School Supplies
- Infant Diapers and Formula
- Menstrual Health Items
- Sexual Health Items
- Household Goods
- Paper Products
- Clothing (including Commencement Gowns)
- Accessories and More!
Upcoming Events
Summer Research Writing Sprint
Location: The Student Center
Time/Date: Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23, 9AM - 3:30PM
Join us for a two-day writing retreat on Wednesday, May 22nd and Thursday, May 23rd. You bring your laptop and your work in progress. We’ll bring the snacks and the supportive environment to keep you focused and productive. Take two days away from the usual distractions and demands on your time. Reconnect with your writing practice and finally finish that manuscript (or book proposal or grant application or…)!
Collaborative Course (Re)Design Learning Community
Applications Due: Friday, May 31, by 8PM
The Faculty Development Center is excited to offer another round of our Collaborative Course (Re)Design (CCRD) Learning Community. CCRD is an approach to redesigning a course that you have taught previously. This learning community will include pairs of faculty-student partners who will participate in a learning community during the Fall 2024 semester. Ideal faculty fellows should have a course in mind that they have previously taught and to which they would like to make revisions. Additionally, they should be open to the possibility of collaborating with and learning from their student partner. We welcome applicants from faculty members, full-time lecturers, and part-time lecturers in all programs.
If you are interested in participating in this learning community for the fall 2024 semester, please read the full Call for Applications.
EMU Offers Free Summer Science Research Program for High School Students
Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is excited to announce the return of its free summer science research program for high school students. This unique three-week program, funded by the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides an immersive experience for students interested in exploring the exciting world of scientific research.
Spark a Passion for Science
The program is open to all high school students in the area who have completed at least one science class. Students will be paired with dedicated faculty and student mentors from EMU's Biology and Chemistry departments. These mentors will guide them through the process of conducting original research projects, fostering a love for scientific discovery.
Hands-on Learning and Scientific Inquiry
Throughout the program, students will gain valuable hands-on experience:
- Performing scientific experiments
- Learning proper laboratory safety procedures
- Gathering and analyzing data
- Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Honing scientific communication through poster presentations at the program's culmination
Building an Inclusive Scientific Community
EMU is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where all students feel empowered to pursue their scientific aspirations. The MSGC funding allows the program to specifically target low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students in science.
For more information on the Eastern Michigan University Summer Science Research Program please visit the program website or contact the Program Director, Dr. Brittany Albaugh, Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Institutional Priority #4
Institutional Effectiveness
Photos Courtesy of CHHS
Sports Management Students Participate in NFL Draft Detroit
The Sport Management program had 42 students participate behind the scenes of the NFL Draft in Detroit, April 25-27. Students worked in such areas as event operations, fan engagement and services, and crowd management. Some students also took leadership roles, serving as Area Managers and in other supervisory capacities. And, students had ample opportunities to network with other sport industry professionals. This event is just one of many examples of EMU Sport Management students getting real-world experience that sets them apart and beyond their peers at other institutions.
If you are interested in finding out more information about this experiential event, please contact CHHS Sport Management faculty member Erica Zonder.
EMU and Coherix Inc. Partner to Launch New Adhesives Program
EMU has launched a new adhesives dispensing program focused on reducing waste, boosting quality, and improving throughput for manufacturers using robotic dispensing. Last fall, Coherix Inc. donated $358,000 to establish the program.
Adhesives are used to assemble a variety of products, including automotive and aerospace parts, appliances, consumer goods, electronics, furniture, and medical devices. Among other attributes, adhesive bonding is ideal for joining dissimilar materials, such as glass, metal, and plastic. However, many engineers and operators lack the knowledge they need to harness the full benefits of the technology. EMU’s program aims to address this issue.
Coherix Inc.’s donation included 3D computer-vision technology and a team of engineers to help set up the new lab. The goal of this new three-year program is to expand the use of computer vision, virtual reality and adaptive process control systems in the automotive, electronics, and medical industries.
Photo credit: Assembly
Staff & Faculty Highlights
Andi Pontiff
Andi Pontiff Joins EMU Provost Office as Divisional Communications Officer
Andi (Anduriel) Pontiff has joined the Office of the Provost as the Divisional Communications Officer. A graduate of EMU’s MA Creative Writing Program, Andi is experienced in content creation, community engagement, and collaboration.
As the Divisional Communication Officer, Andi will be responsible for planning, creating and distributing communication content related to the Division of Academic and Student Affairs on behalf of the Office of the Provost.
Office of the Provost
Academic and Student Affairs
Prepared by Andi Pontiff
734.487.3200