InCommon Blog

Summer is here!

Another school year finished and another year closer to graduation for many of you. Another year completed for others who are graduating this semester and they see the light at the end of the tunnel.    Congratulations to everyone for completing another year, moving onto another chapter in your life, and generally surviving another year.

The faculty and staff in the department of communication want to say congratulations and have a good summer!  We wish you all the best in the upcoming months.  We are proud of all of you and glad we could be a part of your time here at MSU!

REMINDER:   To all returning students--please keep an eye on your bearmail account for important updates from me this summer regarding classes and other relevant information.  I will do a couple of summer posts, and be on the lookout for a new departmental facebook page starting this fall.

CONGRATULATIONS 

Congratulations are also in order for a number of students who were recently inducted into the Communication National Honor Society (LPH) at our Honors Ceremony, April 22.

Nicole Rykbos, Beth Wiedmann, Kelli Fabick, Sheila Fish, Stephanie Austin, Hiliary Smith, Ashley Brendel, Mark Morgan, & Courtney Wendel.  Not pictured , Kate Grinstead, Emily FletcherKade McBroom, Stephanie Fuller, Kathryn Mallioux who were also inducted.

Also congratulations to the COM scholarship winners: Pictured below left to right: Courtney Wendel, Terra Pizzo, Hiliary Smith, Amada Kuda, Beth Wiedmann, and Lauren Terry. Not pictured Natalie Hinds who also received a scholarship.

Other congratulations are in order to the COM 210 poster session winners.  They each receive a $25 gift card to the MSU bookstore.

11:00-12:00 session:  Cris Swaters and Megan Anders

12:00-1:00 session: Joe Ivancic and Shawnte Middlebrook

And finally, graduate students and faculty recently received awards at the end of the year graduate honors ceremony.

• James Ackerman for Graduate Teaching Award
• Bridget Dierks for Graduate Research Award
• Dr. Randy Dillon for Graduate Faculty Award

We look forward to seeing all the returning students back here in the fall semester!

Kelly

Register NOW so we don't have to close classes!

I thought the subject might catch your attention.  I've heard from a number of you recently that some of your planned intersession and summer classes from other departments have been closed, leaving you to wonder what to do next. 

SO,  I am making another call to all COM majors and minors to register NOW for summer and fall classes.   As I've noted in previous posts, there is pressure from upper administration to make decisions much earlier now about closing classes that don't hit a specific cap.  For example, our 100 and 200 level courses (COM 115, 120, 209 and 205) have to have 20 students enrolled in them to make.  If they are even at 15 or 17, fall classes risk being cancelled, thus leaving you in a difficult position for having a full schedule of classes and advancing in your major.  300 and 400 level courses, most COM classes, need to have a minimum of 15 students enrolled.  In some cases, the dept has set the cap even higher.

So, as Smokey Bear would say, "Only you...can prevent forrest fires," it's true, only YOU can prevent us from closing classes by registering NOW before you leave for summer.   I don't want to cancel classes, but I am keeping my eye on a few courses which are at risk.  So, if you are thinking about any of these courses, register NOW.   If you are registered for any of these, pay attention, but DO NOT drop the course if it's listed below.  We have summer transfer and new freshmen students who will register this summer, so COM 209 and 322 should be okay, but I'm keeping my eye on them:

Classes currently at risk:

• COM 209, section 899, online
• COM 322, section 301 at 5:00 TR
• **COM 360, section 1 at 11:00 MWF
• **COM 379, section 1 at 10:00 MWF
• **COM 550, section 301, 6:30 on Tuesdays

GOOD NEWS:  Because the COM 328: Persuasion live section is full currently, we are going to open an online section of COM 328: Persuasion this fall.  We have changed the pre-requisites for this course, the only required course is COM 115, so any major or minor can enroll in this course!  This is also great news for those of you who need more flexibility in your schedule.   Please register for this course as well. 

If any of you have questions about courses that you are registered for, please contact me and we can talk about those directly. 

I'll be sending out another blog post later this week to recognize COM scholarship recipients and the LPH inductees announced at last week's Honors Ceremony. Good luck with your final papers and exams.

Kelly

Free Pizza for interested COM majors--This Friday

An important note from Dr. Stephanie Norander

Interested in learning about the Organizational Communication Major?

Plan to join us for a casual pizza lunch to discuss the advantages of an organizational communication major, how to sell the strengths of your major when looking for jobs and internships, and to meet the organizational communication faculty in the Department of Communication Studies. We also want to hear from you about how the organizational communication curriculum can best serve your needs.

When: Friday, May 1st

Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Where: Craig Hall 333

Please RSVP to Dr. Norander if you plan to attend.  Hope to see you there!

Cordially,
Dr. Stephanie Norander

Important Registration Updates

GREAT OPPORTUNITY in KANSAS CITY.  Please read the attached flyer for a chance to travel to Kansas City this Wednesday with IABC.  Please read this information flyer Student Career Day.doc.

Kelly

Spring is here!

Welcome back everyone from Spring Holiday. I hope you got some good rest and got caught up on things last weekend. We are now in the home stretch to the end of the semester.  Below are a few items of interest to all COM majors and minors...opportunities, registration tips, and honors to our students.

 1.  Everyone is invited to our annual Communication Honors Ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 at 3:00 in PSU 312 A, B & C.  At this annual celebration we award all the COM scholarships, induct this semester's Lambda Phi Eta students, and celebrate the end of the semester. Of course we'll have some munchies and refreshments. Stop by and see some friends and faculty and celebrate your accomplishments from 2008-2009.

2.  A note from the president of PRSSA:  Cheer on the Springfield Cardinals!

TO: COM students

FR: Leah Almeling

With all the long, hard work we put into our education together, it is time for some fun! The Public Relations Student Society of America is sponsoring Springfield Cardinals PR Night on Thursday, April 23 for the COM department and all of your friends! The first pitch is at 7:10 p.m., but we are also hosting an informal PR meet and greet beginning one hour prior to the game! We have invited our local professional chapter of PRSA to come talk to students interested in the business. And for those over 21, it is two beers for $5 on the patio and Budweiser koozie night for people that get there early!

WHAT:  Come and Learn. “The Bear Essentials” needed to Survive!!!!!!

HOW TO: Creating a Spending & Savings Plan--Understanding Your Credit Report--Financing Your Education--Mastering Money Management--Calculating Your Future

WHEN:  Monday, April 27th at 6 p.m. – PSU room 308
Tuesday, April 28th at 6 p.m. – Blair-Shannon Grand Lounge
Wednesday, April 29th at 6 p.m. – Hammons House Basement
Sponsored by:  The Office of Student Financial Aid and Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE)

4.  Some additional registration tips:  How goes registration on the new Banner system?

• Contact faculty in advance of registering if the course requires permission.  You should email the person directly using the email link on the class schedule page.
• Remember that most errors refer to pre-requisites or permissions that you  have not yet met or cleared.  If you get an error for program or pre-req that means you do not meet a specific requirement.  If you plan to take a class this summer as the pre-req, you need to register for the summer class first. The banner system will recognize that as meeting the pre- req and you should be able to register for the fall class after that.
• How do you find out how many seats are left?  Click on the hyperlink of the course that you want to get into. That link will show you capacity and seats still available.
• Plan your schedule in advance of getting online to register. Use the old style "trial schedule" pdf  that is found on the registration page. Once you  have that done, you can keep checking close levels of courses to see which ones are still available.

Let me know if you have any questions about registration. We are all learning this system together, so remember to plan ahead and be patient.

When do I register? And where? Why?

Have you uttered any of these words lately?  This time of year is always a bit anxious for students as you wonder what courses will be offered, what times, will you get into the ones you want, and when do I register are issues you all are dealing with right now. On top of that, we are using TWO different registration systems this year--the old one for summer and a new "banner" system for the fall (and beyond). 

In this post I hope to provide you with concise, helpful information to wade through the sea of information out there...and sometimes that which isn't so helpful.  Here goes:

1. What's this new "banner" registration thing I've been hearing about?  Just for you, the university has created a short YouTube video to show you step by step how to register. It's a short, simple look at how to register click by click. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you take the quick 9 minutes to watch it. You'll pick up on the steps very quickly.

2. When do I register for fall classes?  Click here and you'll find a series of drop down menus to select, once you hit submit, you'll get a date returned to you for the day you can register. The good news is that registration begins at 7:00am each day for each group and runs CONTINUOUSLY after that. Yes, that means starting at 7am, you can register day and night from that point on. Wasn't it frustrating to register at a specific time, or only to start at one point and get timed out at the end of the day.

3. Where do I find the list of classes and when they are offered? Again, we'll start with the idea that you are trying to plan for fall classes. Click here and you'll get to a new "class schedule" page within banner. Here you won't have to log in, you click on TERM: Fall 2009 and then search by COM, MED, JRN, ENG, etc. for classes you want to put into your schedule. This assumes you know which classes you want to register for. The old "Find a class" option is no longer available...so be prepared to look.  The YouTube video gives you some great short cuts for how to navigate this search engine.  My recommendation, look at COM classes, for instance, by COM and the number you want to find. Just input only those items to see the new format of the courses. After that, you can search with more terms.

The "trial schedule" tool is no longer.  Booo, I know. But until the computer programmers get us a new program built, you'll have to use the old fashioned way, use the trial schedule worksheet. You'll find a link to it on the class schedule page.  Print it and use the old pencil and paper method...it's good for you to do some things by hand every once and awhile.

4. How about some good news?  Starting this fall registration and beyond, there will be NO $60 deposit fee required to hold classes.  Good news indeed, that means you won't be dropped from your classes for failing to pay the fee!  Indeed this is a great policy for students.

5.  Want more tips?

• If you plan to register for any course that has a lecture and lab combination, you need to register for them at the same time. In the new system, you can register course by course, or all at once.  With "linked courses" you need to list them both (lecture and lab) and then click on "register for classes" at the same time. If you do not, you will get an "link error."  So, avoid the error, register for linked classes TOGETHER.  This applies to COM 209 and MED 120.
• Speaking of ERRORS, expect a lot of them the first time you register.  BE PATIENT. You can read about what they mean and how to get them remedied. 
• You will need to request PERMISSION from a faculty member in the following situations:
• The course requires permission. What to do? Email the faculty member and request it. Once you get permission from the faculty member, then you go into registration and REGISTER for it.  The permission does not register you.  This will apply to courses like COM 509, 599 and online courses which require permission already.
• The course is closed. Again, you contact the faculty member and request permission to enter a closed class. Of course, the faculty member can deny you permission, that part of the process hasn't changed. It just means you need to email or call the faculty member and request to be put on their "waitlist" so that when someone drops, you are next in line.
• You don't meet a pre-requisite for a course. This is a tough one. There are course pre-reqs (like you need COM 209 or COM 210) that if you have not completed it, then you cannot register for the course.  If you want to talk with the faculty member about a specific course pre-req, of course you may request an exception.
• If you are not admitted to the major because you have not completed the requirements (2.5 gpa, core gpa of 25, etc.) then you WILL be blocked from registering for the course. The good news is that if you are currently completing those pre-reqs now, the system will recognize that and allow you to register. However, if you are NOT currently enrolled, you cannot register.  In other words, PRE-REQUISITES WILL BE ENFORCED AND REGISTRATION WILL BE BLOCKED.  Please do not request permission to register for a course that you do not meet pre-reqs for, faculty will not be granting overrides in cases where you are not eligible for admission.
• In any case where you have a question about a pre-req for a class that you do not meet, TALK to the faculty member directly via email or phone.

6.  What is this I've heard about new course minimums and classes being cancelled?  Sad but true, we have to meet new course minimums for a class to make beginning this fall.  The good news is that historically MOST COM classes make without a problem. So, don't worry too much about this.

Where we may have a few issues is with special topics courses (COM 397, COM 597) that are different topics each semester. Students tend not to know much about these courses, "fear the 500" level course, or otherwise think they can't take such courses.  Quite the contrary, we offer special topics courses BECAUSE you should take them and get different material than we offer in regular classes, and 500 level courses are not to be feared but approached with great ferver!  In fact, our COM 597 offering with Dr. Heather Carmack "health communication and culture" is a great course which you should consider. We need 15 students enrolled for it to make. If we do not, we will have to cancel the course. Don't miss a great opportunity to experience this and other "special topics" courses. If you have a question, ask me or your advisor or the instructor. They are great courses, which we offer sparingly with good reason.  You will begin to see at least one special topics course each semester and so take advantage of them.

Note too that this summer is not immune to the new course minimums. COM 315 with Dr. Dudash needs to have at least 16 for it to make.  If you want to take a 300 level course this summer and have not completed 315, summer is a GREAT time to take this course.  If  you don't pre-register for the course, we may not be able to offer it.  Spread the word to others in different majors because ALL departments are being heavily scrutinized regarding caps. Generally 100-200 level courses need 20, 300-400 need 15, 500-600 need 8 to make.  

Let me know if you have questions and as always, my pledge to you is that you will be contacted WELL in advance of a course being cancelled and we will make accommodations to your degree plan if you are graduating that semester (or have other sequencing issues).  We are here to make sure you get your programs completed in reasonable timeframes. Your degree plan is safe! even if we have to cancel a course.

That's it for now. Please talk to your COM faculty and advisors. We are all learning this new system together so patience is the word for the rest of the semester.  We will get through it together. 

Kelly

P.S. Just so you know, my name in the new schedule appears as Kelly S. Wood, that's my new name

Thinking about Graduate School? Think Missouri State University.

Many of you are weighing your options right now in this tight job market. What to do??? Do you try to get that first job and get your foot in the door? Or, do you consider staying in school and completing a masters degree for that competitive edge later?

I just finished teaching COM 300: Careers in Communication in the first block and in this course we discussed these very issues. There were a number of COM alums with jobs in pharmaceuticals, insurance, non-profit administration, and public relations who came and spoke with the students about interviewing, job hunting, networking, and resumes.  Their most common piece of advice about graduate school---GO!  If you do, be sure to get some professional work experience while you are taking classes. This could mean any number of options. Now is a good time to talk with your academic advisor about what those are. If you are considering graduate school, take heed of that advice of recent COM alums and grads. 

I'll offer another piece of advice that EVERYONE should know about graduate school:  It's perfectly fine to stay at Missouri State to get your masters degree. In fact, in many instances, it's a better choice both financially and academically.  We have a number of wonderful masters level programs in Communication.  I heard today that some students think you are not allowed to get your masters at MSU because you graduated from here...and that's just plain bad information. There is nothing that prevents you from getting your masters here.

I recommend talking with your advisor about graduate school. You may also wish to speak with Dr. Randy Dillon or Dr. Isabelle Bauman about our graduate programs specifically. They both work closely with our graduate program, deal with questions, help with admissions applications, and help with getting courses picked. 

Consider a few other options:

• Take graduate credit while an undergraduate using the senior permission process. There are forms outside Craig 375 about how this process works too.
• Consider doing an accelerated Masters in COM program. This allows you to take graduate credit as an undergrad and apply it a masters degree. It is designed so that when you graduate with your Bachelors, the remaining coursework for the Masters will take ONLY 1 year (full time).  Talk with Dr. Dillon about this program, and there is a brochure with more information in Craig 375.
• If you qualify and are selected, you may be able to get your graduate school PAID for by becoming a graduate assistant for the department. You could help a faculty member with their research, teach COM 115 or do programming with the Center for Dispute Resolution. If accepted, you will get your tuition paid for and receive a monthly stipend for expenses. HOW COOL IS THAT?  Talk with Dr. Dillor for more information.

The best thing about staying at MSU for your graduate degree is that you already know the faculty, they know you, and you will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with faculty on a research project involving communication.  The essential part of graduate school is mentoring by a faculty member on a self-developed research or writing project.

I hope this post has cleared up a few things for you regarding graduate school. If you have further questions, you can email me directly or speak with Dr. Dillon or Dr. Bauman, or any faculty member in COM. 

Kelly

Ice Cream...in March?

GET THE SCOOP ON INTERNSHIPS

Wondered about internships? How do you get one?  Is it paid or unpaid? Where would I work?  How do I apply?  What's the best way to apply for an internships?  So many questions!    So, here's an invitation to an Internship Open House:

WHEN?  MONDAY, MARCH 9, 3:00 – 4:00PM

WHERE?  CRAIG 315

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?  COMMUNICATION MAJORS AND MINORS INTERESTED IN INTERNSHIPS

WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED?

·         APPLYING FOR AND INTERVIEWING FOR INTERNSHIPS

·         THE “STEP 5” APPLICATION PROCEESS

·         WHAT TO EXPECT FROM AN INTERNSHIP?

·         INTERN ACADEMIC AND REAL LIFE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

·         YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT INTERNSHIPS

OH- AND THERE WILL BE ICE CREAM TOOJ

For more information, contact Dr. Randy Dillon, randydillon@missouristate.edu.

I need YOUR accomplishments!

IMPORTANT REMINDER: COM SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 1

As noted in previous posts applications for scholarship in Communication are due --REVISED--March 2, in Craig 375. There are five undergraduate and two graduate scholarships available this year.

Don't miss this opportunity to apply for a scholarship--sure it's money but it's also a way to be recognized for the great work that you do. Scholarship recipients will be notified at our Annual Honors Awards Ceremony, April 22, in the PSU.  In addition to receiving a fabulous plaque, the scholarships have a monetary award and range in value from $300 up to $1000. As they say, "if you don't apply, you can't be considered." 

If you aren't sure if or how you should apply, talk to a faculty member about the scholarships and get their input on which one to apply for or how to write a strong application letter. The COM department office has graduate and undergraduate scholarship criteria and applications in Craig 375. They should also be found on the departmental webpage.  Check in the office first.  These are great opportunities to be rewarded for your excellence in the classroom as well as excellence in community engagement. APPLY NOW!

Tell me about your accomplishments in 2008!

Each year, we compile a list of all the research, teaching and service accomplishments in the COM department.  So, I need to hear from you…tell me what kind of things you achieved last year as an undergraduate or graduate student at MSU so that I can include them in my report.  There’s much to be proud of in this department and I want to include yours, so DON’T be shy.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

1.      Perhaps you won a state, national, or international award? If so, please explain the award.

2.      Did you have a conference paper or panel accepted for presentation at any level of conference (Sooners, Central, NCA, etc.)? If so, please submit the APA citation for that (your name, date, title, and where it was presented).

3.      What research projects were you involved in last year with a COM or other faculty member? Please briefly explain the project and the name of the faculty member.

4.      Other?

If at all possible, I’d like you to send this information to me electronically…by Friday this week. If it’s easier, copy and paste the lines from you vita or resume.  I really want to include your accomplishments, so take a few moments and send me this information.  Thank you!

Kelly

Unique Opportunities To Explore: Jobs and New Courses Offered

My last post provided information about COM scholarships and I hope you have taken my recommendation to apply based on your qualifications.  March 1 is the deadline, so you've got plenty of time to complete your application, request letters of recommendation, or write a short essay.  With money tight for everyone these days, finding all available sources of funding for your continued education is very important. These scholarships range from $300-$1000, which will be applied to your 2009-2010 account.

This week's post is about additional opportunities and offerings coming up.  Be sure to check out the updated COM bulletin board in the lobby of Craig Hall (next to the newstand). I have updated staff and student profiles as well as a couple of new quotes for February.

Summer 2009 COM courses

The budget for offering summer classes is tight. Of course, we always offer COM 115 sections because students always fill those up. However, other COM classes are more difficult to fill, so I am advertising those that we are offering so you can make plans to take one or both.  

• COM 209, online, full 8 weeks: Ms. Heather Walters
• COM 315, M-R, 12:30-1:45pm, full 8 weeks.  Dr. Elizabeth Dudash
• If you would like to see another course offered, please email me as soon as possible. If enough people request the same course, we may be able to open a section.

Planning for Fall 2009 Registration

With the arrival of new faculty (Carmack and Norander) we have a great opportunity to offer special topics classes to explore their areas of expertise and current practices in communication.  In the next few blog posts I will highlight a specific course that we are offering which I believe you should consider putting in your fall schedule.  Here's the first:

COM 597/698: Health Communication and Culture.  Tuesday 6:30-9;20pm. Dr. Heather Carmack

Jobs in the health care field are predicted to rise each year, despite the economic downturn.  Dr. Carmack's research specialty is health communication, the study of communication processes in the delivery of health care. This special topics class (undergrads register for COM 597 and grad students for 698) focuses on communication in health with an emphasis on how culture influences the experience and delivery of health care. This class explores the role of culture in how we understand and make health decisions.  It explores both Western and non-Western cultures and their conceptions of health. Learn about how cultural experiences shape how we communicate about health. This topics (COM 597) course should count in any COM major or minor program...check with your advisor.  Health com, intercultural, and interpersonal majors especially should take this course!

Career Expo 2009 Coming Soon

Summer vacation is only 100 days away!

Where will you work?

Find a FULL-TIME job, a SUMMER INTERNSHIP, or a PART-TIME job

at the Missouri State University Career Expo 2009

When? Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 1:00- 5:00 PM

Where? University Plaza Convention Center, St. Louis Street, next to Kentwood Hall

More than 100 EMPLOYERS will be there to meet you!

For additional information or for help preparing for the Expo,

call us at 836-5636

or visit the Career Center- Carrington Hall 309 or Glass Hall 103

Don't be jobless June 1^st!

Speaking of Internships--PR Majors should look into Fleishman-Hillard Internships opportunities.

Did you know that most PR agencies hire college grads only as interns as a "training" period to see if there is a good fit?  Fleishman-Hillard is a St. Louis based agency and is a leader in this practice. I'm attaching here a Fleishman-Hillard STL Internship Brochure.pdf with information about their internships and how to apply. 

CIEE Teach Abroad Programs February 2009

Why CIEE?

Since October, the job outlook for most recent graduates has gone from bad to worse. On January 12th, the New York Times reported, "There are 11.1 million unemployed people in the United States, and the unemployment rate is at a 16-year high." CIEE Teach Abroad programs provide college graduates with semester or academic-year paid teaching positions in Spain, Chile, China, or Thailand. No matter their career aspirations, teaching English abroad is a fantastic opportunity for graduates to: Build transferable management skills in the classroom Acquire international savvy and perspective through full cultural immersion Make a difference in the lives of students and school community Gain real-world skills and international competency Improve their foreign language ability Why CIEE?CIEE Teach Abroad programs are the most comprehensive foreign teaching programs available worldwide, offering complete service and support. With over 60 years experience in international education, you can trust CIEE. CIEE provides: An English Teaching position with primary, secondary, or university level students A local stipend (to cover living expenses and some travel!) Comprehensive in-country orientation Accommodations (full housing in Thailand, China, and Volunteach Chile; temporary housing in Spain/Chile) Knowledgeable staff offering pre-departure and 24-hour in-country emergency support Visa advice Travel and medical insurance TEFL certification at a discounted rate Teaching, language, and cultural resource materials Teach TimelineAll of this is good news for frustrated job seekers! CIEE offers programs to accommodate anyone at any point in their job search. VolunTeach Chile starts May 25, apply by February 15 ~Graduate in May, start working RIGHT AWAY! Teach in Thailand starts May 5, apply by February 21 Teach in China starts in late August, apply by May 1 Teach in Spain starts in late September, apply by March 15 Teach in Thailand starts in mid-October, apply by June 15 I hope that you encourage your students to explore the experience CIEE Teach Abroad programs offer. If you or your students have any questions or would like additional posters and brochures, please do not hesitate to contact me. SincerelyJ. Spencer Jones Director of Non-Credit Programs CIEE International Work & Study Programs Tel: .207.553.4045 Fax: .207.553.5045 Email: jsjones@ciee.org Web: www.ciee.org/teach

In the category of "something to think about"-- FACEBOOK and your boss

Check out this article on CNN.com about if you should friend your boss from work. It's definitely something to think about as you move from school to work. I wonder if you think the same decision rules applies to friending your faculty members as well. What do you think?  Post a comment...

Kelly

2009-2010 COM Scholarships

The 2009-12010 Department of Communication Scholarships are now available for application.

Attached,  2009Flyer_undergraduate.doc, is a copy of the newest scholarship information for undergraduate scholarships available for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Please review the criteria for application for each one carefully, as well as pay close attention to the deadlines.

We are excited to offer a new scholarship this year in recognition of a former faculty member David Dollar, now deceased.  Mr. Dollar was a prominent feature of the public relations program for many, many years. Students could not get through the program without having at least one class with the always positive and laughable "Dollar" as his students referred to him.  Applicants of the scholarship must be a Missouri resident, a full time junior or senior PR or general COM major with a cumulative gpa of 3.25, with preference given to those with demonstrated financial need.

Attached, 2009flyer_graduate.doc, is the announcement of graduate student scholarships in communication.  

 I encourage all of you to review the scholarship guidelines and consider applying.  These scholarships have been designated to recognize outstanding faculty members who want to reward outstanding students for their achievements.  Once we review applications, all students who have applied for scholarships will be invited (along with friends and family) to attend the annual COM Honors Ceremony, date to be scheduled in April. We will announce all scholarships at this ceremony and also induct a new group of COM honors students to Lambda Phi Eta.  I will notify everyone of the date as soon as we get it finalized.

**Additional item: I highly recommend you to attend a guest speaker on campus next week, Mr. Jack Stack. He will be in Glass Hall 108 at 7:00 on Tuesday, February 3, 2009.  Mr. Stack is the President and CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation, a locally owned and very profitable company.  He has written a couple of very influential books, relating to his "open book management" approach.  This is a leadership speaker series  sponsored by the provost office.  It is free and open to the public.For more information, view the calender event.

Let me know if you have any questions about scholarships, or anything else.

Kelly

2009 Spring Semester: Welcome Back

You know, I've always wondered why this semester is called "spring." It doesn't feel like spring to me this week, does it to you?  We've had major ice and snow storms in the "spring" semester before so it's never made sense to me. By the time the semester is over, it's spring, so I get that.  What if we called it "winter" semester?  Would students and faculty not look forward to it as much, perhaps thinking, "Ugh, another winter semester. Who wants that?"  So, perhaps we call it spring semester in order to give us something to look forward to...

It's now Friday of the first week of classes and it's about the time we all get into a routine with our classes. I hope you are enjoying your new schedule of classes and that faculty members have set out some exciting and challenging tasks for you this semester. The dean of the college of arts and letters, Dr. Carey Adams, also maintains a "dean's blog" and this week he talks about how as teachers we hope to inspire big ideas and big thinking in our students. Sometimes we also feel like we just have to get through the material to ensure that you've got the basic information. These days when faculty talk about effective teaching strategies, we are more likely to include "learning" in the same phrase. Teaching and learning should go together, right?  You hope for inspiring teachers, and we hope for learning in our students.  They go together also because faculty learn from their students, as well, excellent teachers should inspire learning for all in their classes.  What helps you to learn, truly learn, and become inspired about a topic? Just a few thoughts as we embark on a new semester's worth of classes and experiences together.

In addition to posing some questions for you think about, I also post helpful information and opportunities for you to consider:

OPPORTUNITIES for PR Students

• Use this link SWMO PRSA Scholarship Criteria & Application (Fall '09).pdfk to download an application for a scholarship in public relations: Dr. Joe McAdoo Memorial Scholarship.  SWMO PRSA recognizes the role of education in maintaining the integrity and creativity of the public relations profession.  In order to promote opportunities for future PR practitioners, Public Relations Society of SW Missouri award an annual scholarship of $1,000 ($500/semester).  Materials must be postmarked by April 9, 2009.  If you have any questions about the scholarship application process, contact Jacob Day at jday@bkd.com \\
• PR students might find this an interesting presentation online. It was created by interns at Peppercom.com and it talks about what to expect in an internship and how to use it to leverage full time work.  It runs 20 minutes and the production quality is so-so...but the personal commentaries do capture your attention. http://www.repmanblog.com/repman/2009/01/this-podcast-is-must-listening-for-any-college-student-thinking-of-a-career-in-public-relations.html

New Web Registration System to come online

• You've probably heard it through the grapevine that for fall registration we are going to roll out a new web registration and advisement system.  As more details includimg information sessions for students become available I will be sure to keep you posted with tips and hints for how to use the system effectively. 
• One thing you need to know initially is that fall registration will occur in the new system but summer registration will occur in the current web registration system. This means you'll have to navigate both systems if you plan to register for summer and fall classes.  You will register for summer classes first.  
• As we've done in the past, I'll provide information on classes that will be offered this summer and fall so you can begin planning before registration begins. The schedules will be available from the Registrar near March 1. But as we get our schedules confirmed, I will post a schedule of COM classes sooner.
• If there are questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Will be in touch again soon. As always, I encourage your feedback and thoughts.

Kelly

Spring 2009 schedule change--Very Important Message

Budgets are tight these days, I'm sure you are feeling the pinch with tuition, fees, books, and bills. Has your employer cut back your work hours? If so, then your budget gets tighter and you have to cut back on some things.  University budgets are not immune in this situation either.  The university gets about half of its money to operate from the state. When state revenues fall short of what's expected, universities are  asked to reduce their expenses because the payments from the state may not come or are drastically reduced. One thing the President has asked us to do is review all course enrollments.  And, if a class doesn't meet a minimum number, we have to cancel the section and put the faculty member in another class this is needed. 

What does this mean to you?  Availability of classes needed in your major for spring will be reduced.  So, if have pre-registered for spring classes, thank you but pay attention, we are making some schedule changes. If you have not pre-registered for spring classes or are waiting to add a class please note a few changes we are currently making to the schedule. Based on current enrollments and a mandate from the University President that we monitor course enrollments carefully, we are going to make the following changes to the spring schedule. If your classe appears below, please contact your advisor to make necessary changes or modifications to your schedule in spring. If you have NOT registered yet PLEASE register now so that we don't have to cancel any further classes. 

Classes now deleted due to low enrollments:

COM 350 section 301, R 6:30pm

COM 205 section 1, MWF 9:00am

Courses AT RISK of closing:

COM309- 2     PRIN PUBLIC RELATN   M W F   01:00 PM   01:50 PM   (currently at 9 enrolled)

COM315- 2  PUBLIC SPEAKING II  T R  11:00 AM  12:15 PM   (currently at 7 enrolled)

COM322-301     INTRO ARGUMENTATN   T R   05:00 PM   06:15 PM   (currently at 8 enrolled)

COM512-301     COMM & DIV IN WORK   R   06:30 PM   09:20 PM   (currently at 5 enrolled)

Please know that we don't like to close classes, just as you don't want to change your schedule, faculty don't either.  So, here's what I will do; with regards to this list of courses 'at risk' above I will decide by Friday December 12 if we will retain the course or delete it.  For 300 level courses, we need to have minimum of 10-11 in each section, for COM 512 we need 8.  I will send out an additional blog post with more information on Friday afternoon.What that means for you is if you are in one of these classes, develop a contingency plan. If you have not registered for a class and one of these is on your list, REGISTER now to keep the course open.   Get in touch with your advisor.

If we cancel a class and there is another section, we will try to accomodate you in another section. 

Thank you for your patience as we try to navigate through these budgetary issues. Please know  that we are committed to helping you complete your programs within the resources we have. Let me know if you have any questions.

Kelly McNeilis

Student Organization Reception THIS Thursday

Winter Is Calling: Get Involved, Get Networked, Get Interviewed & Get Registered!

So, as the days are getting cooler (okay, cold), it’s time to start doing some planning and preparation for next year (for some of you next semester, others on the job market).  As students, you are presented with numerous opportunities to make connections with professionals to help with career preparation and even that first job.  You also have opportunities to volunteer and make connections as well.

Because we want you to make full use of resources on and off campus to succeed and get your prepared for the world of work, below is a wide variety of opportunities for you to get … “fill in the blank.”  Make the most of your time here, choose wisely.  Note #4 includes some excellent tips for cool classes and special topics for spring 2009 in the COM department.

1. Get Involved:  Dr. Gloria Galanes has a volunteer opportunity for anyone who’s interested and lives in or near Greene County.  Morey Mechlin is managing the campaign for a nonpartisan court plan for Greene County (re: the appointment of judges, etc.).  She needs volunteers to work 2-3-hour shifts on election day, Tuesday, Nov 4.  Here’s the relevant information from her email: 

“We need students who can provide their own transportation to a voting precinct for 2-3 hour shifts on Tuesday, November 4.  They will be outside passing out "Vote Yes" cards.  They have their choice to work morning (6-9 a.m.), noon (10:30 - 1:30 p.m.) or evening (4-7 p.m.) shifts.  We will have a training session on Sunday, November 2 at 4:00 p.m. so that they are familiar with the issue and understand the laws about working at a precinct.”

If anyone is interested, please email Dr. Galanes that you are interested by Wednesday noon if possible and she’ll give Morey the list of names:  GloriaGalanes@MissouriState.edu  417.836.4983

2. Get Interviewed:  The Career Center will host a Mock Interview Day for students on November 12,  9am-4pm in the PSU Ballroom West. This event gives students experience interviewing with employers so those students will become more comfortable and knowledgeable with how to interview when they are seeking a job or internship.

The employers will interview each student for 10-15 minutes and then provide 10-15 minutes of feedback for the student. Many different types of employers are participating in this event, including Missouri State University Graduate Programs, Cerner, Liberty Mutual, St. John’s Health System, Missouri Parole & Probation, Unifirst, Associated Electric, City Utilities, Jack Henry, and Joplin School District. This diversity of employers doing the mock interviews should enable students to interview with a company/organization in their future career field.

Students may sign up for this event and find the full list of employers on the Career Center website: www.careercenter.missouristate.edu. Please contact the Career Center (Carrington 309 or Glass 103; 836-5536; CareerCenter@missouristate.edu) if you have any questions.

3. Get Networked: Mentoring 101

From Rachel Bachus, 2007 alum: “I wanted to share with you about the “Magic of Mentoring”, AWC-Women in Communication Event (the Magic of Mentoring.pdf flyer explains and has registration details).  The event is on Wed. November 12 and the guest speaker is Dr. Nancy O’Reilly who will discuss the importance of mentoring at any age and give tips on how to be a mentor, find a mentor, etc.

I am a current member of AWC and it is a great networking opportunity for any communication/public relation majors at MSU…a way to learn about communication related jobs in the community.  This would be an excellent event for any MSU students and/or professors to attend. 

Let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks so much and hope to see you soon!”

Rachel L. Bachus  Advancement Coordinator

1212 Lombard, Springfield, MO 65806

Direct:417.864.3974 Fax:417.869.0276

Rachel.Bachus@bgtm.org

4. Get Registered:  Next week begins pre-registration for the spring 2009 semester. 

As you plan your schedule, take note of a few special sections, cool topics, and  additions/changes.

• COM 397: January Intersession: Randy K. Dillon
TOPIC: SEMIOTICS: COMMUNICATION OF SIGNS AND SYMBOLS 01/05/2009 to 01/09/2009, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm  MTWRF
   
• COM 436: Communication and Leadership, special section taught by Dr. Gloria Galanes with local leaders as guest speakers and lecturers. T R 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm

• COM 315:  Special Section on Public Speaking in the Legal Environment by Joe Passanise, local attorney and COM alum
Section 301  6:30 pm to 9:20 pm  Thursday

• COM 505: Health Communication with Dr. Heather Carmack
Section 301 5:00 pm to 6:15 pm   Mondays and Wednesdays

• COM 300: Careers in Communication
1st block course, 01/12/2009 to 03/05/2009, MW 2-2:50.

• Need a flexible course to meet your needs as a busy student?
How about COM 328: Online section of Persuasion—how convenient is that?

Online COM 512: Communication and Diversity in the workplace—TWO sections

Online COM 511: Communication and Conflict.

• COM 326: previously MWF at 9:00, now offered MWF at 10:00am

That's it for now,

Kelly