Quick Hits & Short Bits

August 5, 2008 

Quick Hits

• Busy Contract Week Includes All-College Meeting, Showcase on Teaching & Learning, More
  Faculty contracts begin Monday, August 18, and it promises to be a full week, as usual.  For a complete schedule, see below.
• Faculty Should Review Academic Policies While Preparing Syllabi
  The Faculty Handbook requires syllabi to contain certain information about each course as well as references to university-wide policies.  For more details, see below.
• Missouri State Percussionists Enjoy Spotlight on America's Got Talent
  Say what you want about David Hasselhoff's musical talent, he knows a good drummer when he sees one. For more details, see below.
• Phase I of Brick City Will Be Ready for Art Classes This Month
  Hey, I was skeptical, too, but the first building in the new downtown Art & Design complex is indeed ready on schedule.  For more details, see below.
• COAL Picnic Moves to Sequiota Park This Year
  After many years at Phelps Grove Park, scheduling conflicts have required that we hold the all-college picnic at Sequiota Park, 3500 South Lone Pine, this fall.  Mark your calendars for Friday, September 12, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
• IDS/UHC 110 Instructors Invited to Join COAL Community Online Discussion
  Early in the summer we set up a discussion forum for anyone teaching or otherwise interested in IDS/UHC 110.  There hasn't been much activity this summer, but perhaps now that August is upon us you'd like to check in with your colleagues and trade some good ideas.  The forum is open to anyone at http://coalserver.missouristate.edu/forums/67.aspx.

Short Bits

Busy Contract Week Includes All-College Meeting, Showcase on Teaching & Learning, More
Be sure to have all of these important events on your calendar for the week of August 18-22.

• Fall Showcase on Teaching and Learning, Wednesday, August 20, 8:00 a.m. -- 3:30 p.m., Strong Hall & Meyer Library.  In addition to the morning concurrent sessions and lunch, there will be a new concluding symposium from 1:45-3:30 p.m. in the Meyer Library Auditorium.  A full schedule is available online.
• COAL All-College Meeting, Thursday, August 21, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Karls Hall 101.  There are several advantages to holding our meeting in the morning rather than the late afternoon: (1) A two-hour meeting in the morning feels much shorter than a two-hour meeting late in the day; (2) You know we will dismiss on schedule because I wouldn't dare risk the backlash from making 150 of you late for the all-faculty luncheon that immediately follows.
• All-Faculty Luncheon, Thursday, August 21, 11:45 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m., PSU Ballroom.
• New Student Convocation, Sunday, August 24, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Hammons Student Center.

Faculty Should Review Academic Policies While Preparing Syllabi
The Provost's Office web site offers one-stop shopping for information to include in your course syllabi.  The Policies and Procedures page is the place to start, with links to academic integrity policies and procedures, suggested wording for required policy statements, information on Turnitin, and more.  Please remember that the Faculty Handbook (section 4.5.1.2) requires the following information to be provided in all course syllabi.

1. Purpose: A statement of the general content of the course.
2. Course Objectives: A list of measurable and desirable outcomes to be achieved upon successful completion of the course.
3. Attendance Policy: A statement of attendance policy consistent with that of the University, and the policies regarding late arrival and early departure. Refer to http://www.missouristate.edu/recreg/attendan.html.
4. Academic Integrity Policy: A statement concerning the policies concerning plagiarism and cheating, including consequences. Refer to the Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, http://www.missouristate.edu/registrar/acintegrity.html.
5. Textbooks: A list of textbooks and other sources to be used for the course and whether they are recommended or required reading.
6. Test Dates: A statement concerning the announcement of test dates and the test dates if known. If the dates are unknown, approximations should be offered.
7. Examinations: A general idea of the material to be covered on each exam.
8. Grading Scale: A statement of the grading policy to be used in the course.
9. Term Papers: (if applicable) A statement of the dates that term papers are due, and general criteria used to determine how the papers will be graded.
10. Final Exam: A statement as to whether the final will be comprehensive or not, and a general idea of the subject matter to be covered.
11. Makeups: A statement of how or if makeups will be allowed for exams, papers, or other assignments.
12. Nondiscrimination Policy: A statement consistent with University policy. Refer to "Suggested Wording for Course Syllabi/Policy Statements" on the Provost web site.
13. Policy on Disability Accommodation: A statement consistent with University Policy. Refer to "Suggested Wording for Course Syllabi/Policy Statements" on the Provost web site.
14. Cell Phone Policy: A statement consistent with University Policy. Refer  to Suggested Wording for Course Syllabi/Policy Statements" on the Provost web site.

Missouri State Percussionists Enjoy Spotlight on America's Got Talent
The Cadence is a performance percussion group that includes current and former MSU students.  Last week the group appeared on NBC's America's Got Talent and made the cut, advancing to this week's round in Las Vegas.  If you missed last week's performance, you'll find the video on the COAL web site. 

Phase I of Brick City Will Be Ready For Art Classes This Month
Despite an ambitious construction schedule and a whole lot of spring rain, the first phase of the new Art & Design complex just north of the square will be open for classes this August.  Take a drive down Boonville and check out the new digs at Boonville and Mill, just south of JVIC.

 July 3, 2008 

Short Bits

Faculty and Staff Salary Increases Show Progress
I'll provide a more detailed summary at the all-college meeting in August, but faculty may be interested in a few figures.  Only 6.43% of FY08 COAL faculty salaries were at 100% of their CUPA averages, while 34.29% were between 70% and 80%.  Compared against the same CUPA data (which, of course, is a year behind, but that's the best comparison we have), the percentage of faculty salaries at 100% or better rose to 10%, and the percentage of salaries between 70% and 80% fell to 7.68%.  All together, 39.29% of FY09 salaries are at 90% of CUPA averages or better, and 92.15% are at least 80%. 

"Contract Week" Events Scheduled
All faculty are expected to be available for work beginning Monday, August 18.  New faculty orientation begins Monday afternoon and continues through Tuesday, culminating with dinner at the President's home Tuesday evening.  The Showcase on Teaching and Learning is Wednesday, August 20.  Our all-college meeting will be Thursday morning, 9:00--11:00 a.m. in Karls 101, followed by the All-Faculty Luncheon in the PSU at 11:30 a.m.

Call for Intersession Course Proposals Forthcoming
I expect next week to distribute a call for proposals for intersession courses for January and May 2008.  Now that intersessions are administered by the colleges rather than the Extended Campus office, we have modified the procedure slightly and devised a new proposal form.  We also will add a college intersession policy.  For those of you considering proposing courses for January or May, recommended proposals are due to the Dean's Office from department heads by August 8, so you may want to consult with your head regarding when you need to have proposals turned in to their office.

June 2, 2008 

• Roger Stoner Named Associate Dean
  Music department head Dr. Roger Stoner will succeed Dr. Carol Anne Costabile-Heming as associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters.  Dr. Stoner's appointment officially begins July 1.  For more details, see below.
• Dianne Strickland Will Become Acting Head of Music
  Dr. Dianne Strickland, Professor of Art History, will become acting head of the Music department effective July 1, succeeding Dr. Roger Stoner.  A search will be conducted during the 2009-10 academic year for a new head to begin in July 2010.  For more details, see below.
• Isabelle Bauman To Lead College Efforts in Graduate Studies and Research
  Dr. Isabelle Bauman, Associate Professor of Communication, will serve as Dean's Fellow for Research and Graduate Education in the 2008-09 academic year.  For more details, see below.
• June 6 Will Be Last Day For Carol Anne Costabile-Heming
  Outgoing associate dean Dr. Carol Anne Costabile-Heming's last day in the office will be Friday, June 6.  She begins new duties July 1 as founding head of the new world languages and literatures department at Northern Kentucky University.  For more details, see below.
• COAL Community Forum Established for IDS/UHC 110
  Faculty and staff teaching IDS 110 or UHC 110 this fall are encouraged to join in an online discussion as we prepare for this fall.  Others interested in the discussion are invited to participate, as well. 
• Theatre & Dance Department Wins College Commencement Challenge
  Although several departments stepped their commencement presence up a notch, the theatre and dance faculty took home the prize for best percentage attendance.  As promised, the Dean's Office will pick up the catering tab for a departmental meeting/event this fall.

Short Bits

Roger Stoner Named Associate Dean
Music department head Dr. Roger Stoner will succeed Dr. Carol Anne Costabile-Heming as associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters.  Dr. Stoner's appointment officially begins July 1. During June he will be tying up lose ends in Music while transitioning to the Dean's Office.  Dr. Stoner became head of the Music department in January 2005 after having served five years as chair of the Music department at Eastern Illinois University.  He holds M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from Catholic University and a bachelor's degree in music education from the University Kansas, where he also taught for over 25 years.

Dianne Strickland Will Become Acting Head of Music
Dr. Dianne Strickland, Professor of Art History, will become acting head of the Music department effective July 1, succeeding Dr. Roger Stoner.  The appointment is for two years, and a search will be conducted during the 2009-10 academic year for a new head to begin in July 2010.  Dr. Strickland has been a member of the Art & Design Department since 1974.  She served as head of that department from 1985-1991 and more recently as assistant head for several years.  This past year she was the Provost’s Fellow for Public Affairs and coordinator of the 2007-08 Public Affairs Conference.  Dr. Strickland is directing a four-week study away program in Florence this month and will assume her new responsibilities upon her return. 

Isabelle Bauman To Lead College Efforts in Graduate Studies and Research
Dr. Isabelle Bauman, Associate Professor of Communication, will serve as Dean's Fellow for Research and Graduate Education in the 2008-09 academic year.  She will play a facilitator role in assisting college faculty and staff to identify and pursue external funding opportunities as well as chair the college Graduate Education Committee.  She also will serve as the COAL's representative to the group of college research coordinators that meets regularly with the Director of the Office of Sponsored Research.  Dr. Bauman has served as Director of Graduate Studies in the Communication Department for the past several years as well as serving on the Graduate Council's Executive Committee.

June 6 Will Be Last Day For Carol Anne Costabile-Heming
Outgoing associate dean Dr. Carol Anne Costabile-Heming's last day in the office will be Friday, June 6.  She begins new duties July 1 as founding head of the new world languages and literatures department at Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Costabile-Heming has been a tremendous asset to the college, first as a Professor of German and for the past three years as associate dean.  She will be in Springfield through the end of June, so you still have time to send an email expressing your appreciation and good wishes.