Before Spring Break--Faculty Meeting Prep and Important Announcements
I'm sure everyone is excited to get spring break going next week! What fun and exciting activities do you have planned?? Before we head off in all different directions, we've got an important faculty meeting this coming Wednesday, March 19 at 2:00. I'm attaching the minutes from the last faculty meeting Minutes-doc022008.doc for your review.
You have a memo in your box detailing these items 3_19_08 meeting memo.doc, but I've summarized them for you here: At our faculty meeting, we’ve got three tasks. First, we will discuss the curriculum issues surrounding Banner implementation. You received an email from me with an attachment that outlines a number of the undergraduate changes we might implement. Please review this list and provide feedback to Randy before the meeting. We should know by next week how these changes will be implemented, and we will vote on recommended changes. Second, we will have a number of elections for positions and committees relating to faculty senate.
Third, we will be discussing the results of the department conditions survey that was completed last December. In your box is a copy of the actual survey results for our department (N=13 responses) by item, with themes noted. What you should notice first among the results is that the majority of our collective responses are at or above the MSU and College means! That is indicative of an overall positive climate within the department. I’ve also provided a quick summary sheet Department Conditions Survey.doc of some items where we were far above the university and college means as well as items where there may be room for improvement. Please review these documents in advance of the faculty meeting.
Other Announcements
1. Please plan to attend and send your students to this year's Public Affairs Conference, April 15-18. This year's theme is Seeking Solutions: Conflict, Violence and the Courage to Change. Check out the website for specific panels, key note addresses, and attendees. Dianne Strickland, Professor of Art has organized a fabulous conference this year with with panels and topics that have wide-ranging appeal. Have you ever thought about how video games glorify violent behavior as the only viable course of action? Is violence a part of human nature? Why do we have monuments to wars? These are some of the questions posed at this year's conference.
2. Congratulations to Katie Striley who is the recipient of this year's CCSA Pamela Cooper Award! The
Cooper Award is named after former CSCA President Pamela J. Cooper and
is presented to one M.A. level graduate teaching assistant and one
Ph.D. level graduate teaching assistant. At the annual convention, the
recipients receive a $50 cash award and a certificate.
In addition to a recognition dinner at the conference for the Cooper award, Katie is also receiving the award for the top rhetoric paper at the conference:
Striley, K. M. (2008). Fear and loathing in the White House: A fantasy theme analysis of conservative web-based public relations. Paper to be presented at the Central States Communication Association annual meeting.
In addition to these achievements, Katie is participating on three other panels! CONGRATS Katie!
3. Congrats to the group of graduate and undergraduate students who presented at Oklahoma Sooner's conference last weekend. Isabelle witnessed some great presentations by our students. A couple of notables: Mallory Nolan won a top undergraduate paper and Lindsey Harness won a top graduate paper award. Congrats to everyone who presented!
4. Calendar Reminder: Monday, April 14, 3:00, Communication Honors Ceremony, PSU 400. We will award our COM scholarships, recognize the debate team results of NDT and have the LPH induction ceremony.
Have a great weekend.
Kelly