Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016

In collaboration with the YWCA, the SIUE Sociology Program and Club are hosting a Witnessing Whiteness group for faculty and staff members.

Since 2011, the YWCA has been sponsoring Witnessing Whiteness groups as part of its mission to eliminate racism. Witnessing Whiteness (WW) groups are white people coming together to do work around racism in a supportive, non-threatening setting. It is about learning to speak about race and racism, explore white privilege and learn what ally work looks like.

WW groups are designed for individuals who identify as white. The groups have been successfully launched at Washington University Saint Louis and featured on St. Louis Public Radio.

The work of WW groups draws on the book Witnessing Whiteness: The Need to Talk About Race and How to Do It. While group sessions draw on the book, the work is about participants’ own lives, not textual analysis.

During group meetings, participants consider their own lives in light of what they are learning through individual reflection, as well as exercises that occur in pairs, triads and the entire group.

Members of the book club will meet weekly:

1-3 p.m.
Thursdays, Sept. 1-Dec. 8
Morris University Center Missouri Room

The Sociology Department and Sociology Club would like to extend a special thank you to the Office of the Provost for its financial support of this special programming. Due to this assistance, books for this program will come at no cost to the participants.

Get your adventure on! SIUE is one of 90 universities nationwide, and the only in Illinois and Missouri, chosen to participate in the 2016 Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge.

The challenge is coordinated by Campus Recreation, and gives SIUE students, faculty, staff and surrounding community members an exciting opportunity to earn points for completing certain activities, win prizes and enjoy healthy activity. Activities range from biking, outdoor climbing and adventure racing, such as color runs and tough mudder competitions, to restoration and trail maintenance, stargazing, yoga and geocaching.

Outdoor Nation anticipates approximately 35,000 participants nationwide.

Pre-registration is now underway, via a free account at oncampuschallenge.com or through the free mobile app.

The challenge runs Sunday, Sept. 4-Saturday, Oct. 15. More details are included in this SIUE news story.

Presenters are needed for the Fall 2016 Leadership Programming Series. 

The Student Leadership Development Program is open to any SIUE undergraduate or graduate student and covers a variety of topics centered around leadership, communication and career issues.

Please note the below dates and times that need to be filled: 

Effective Communication, Professional Etiquette, Conflict Resolution, Cross Cultural Awareness, Understanding the Organizational Climate, Stress Management, Ethical Leadership, Civic Responsibility, Team Leadership, Mindfullness in Leadership, True Colors, Leading Your Peers, Keys to Leadership Success, Dealing with Change, Social Justice, Becoming a Successful Leader, Social Change Model of Leadership, Event Planning, Creating Effective Incentive Programs, Positive Psychology/Leadership, Recruitment and Retention, Sustainable Leadership, Social Media, Interviewing Skills,Building Your Resume, Leadership Issues in the LGBT Community, Time Management and LinkedIn

The following session dates and times are available: 

Wednesday        Sept.  7          Noon
Wednesday        Sept.  14        Noon
Wednesday        Sept.  21        Noon
Saturday            Sept. 24         Morning*see note below
Wednesday        Sept.  28        Noon
Wednesday        Oct. 5             Noon
Wednesday        Oct. 12           Noon
Wednesday        Oct. 19           Noon
Tuesday             Oct. 25           4:10 p.m., 5:20 p.m., 6:20 p.m.
                                                 *see note below
Wednesday        Oct. 26           Noon
Wednesday        Nov. 2            Noon
Wednesday        Nov. 9            Noon
Wednesday        Nov. 16          Noon

*On Saturday, Sept. 24, we will host our Student Organization Leadership Orientation.  This is a required program for all of our student organizations.  There are more than 300 student leaders attending this program. Approximately 12 breakout presenters are needed for the morning. 

*On Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 4-7:30 p.m. we will host a Diversity and Leadership Institute.  This program will be open to 60 students. Anyone interested in presenting during any of the three session times would need to be able to cover such topics as issues regarding diversity and multiculturalism. 

If you are interested and available to present, please contact Michelle Welter, associate director of the Kimmel Student Involvement Center at 650-2690 or mking@siue.edu.

Check out the Fall 2016 Kindermusik classes and register online.

"VILLAGE" Class - Dream Pillow
For ages birth to 1 1/2 years

This title alone brings images of rocking, cuddling, singing and lulling to sleep. But leading up to sleepy time are many upbeat and playful activities. Babies and adults will swirl to a dreamy cloud dance “Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland.” They’ll also play baby appropriate instruments to “Aiken Drum,” and “Sarasponda.” Favorite nursery rhymes like “Wee Willie Winkie" and “Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling” are sprinkled throughout the classes. It’s easy to weave many of the class songs and activities into your families’ daily routines.

9 a.m. Saturdays
Sept. 10, 17, 24 and Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
SIUE Early Childhood Center

10 a.m. Thursdays
Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29 and Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27
Dunham Hall

"OUR TIME" Class - Milk & Cookies
For ages 1 1/2 to 3 years

Make everyday home activities and chores easier and more fun with music! Cook and sing to “The Muffin Man;" dust and clean to the original song “In My House;" get ready to wash clothes to the delightful poem “Washing Machine." Baking cookies, eating cupcakes, blowing on hot cross buns, wiggling like jelly, going grocery shopping and making tea are all represented in familiar as well as new songs. Move, play and sing together in developmentally appropriate activities created just for 1-½ through 3-year-olds. Capture the familiar and new moments of the day and learn how music can impact your toddler.

10 a.m. Saturdays
Sept. 10, 17, 24 and Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and Nov. 5, 12
SIUE Early Childhood Center

11 a.m. Thursdays
Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29 and Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 10
Dunham Hall

"Sing & Play" 4-Week Class - Yum!
For ages 1 and 2 years

Get ready to sing, play and move with your little one in this high-energy music class designed to be just right for children under two years of age. This new Kindermusik curriculum focuses on your child's beginning movement, helping to build the muscles your baby needs to walk and helping to nurture your child’s speaking and singing voice. With a mix of both parent-child joint activities and child-focused activities, you’ll be able to join right in on all the singing and dancing, while also getting the chance to observe how your older baby or toddler learns on her own.

9 a.m. Saturdays
Nov. 19 and Dec. 3, 10, 17
SIUE Early Childhood Center

10 a.m. Thursdays
Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, 8, 15
Dunham Hall

“Laugh & Learn” 4-Week Class – Outside My Window
For ages 3 and 4 years

Rise and shine, weather and adventures are waiting! There are raindrops to catch and snowmen to build, wind and thunder sounds to make, and sunny-day games to play, too. I rub my eyes and what do I see? Sun, rain, wind, and snow…right Outside My Window!

10 a.m. Saturdays
Nov. 19 and Dec. 3, 10, 17
SIUE Early Childhood Center

11 a.m. Thursdays
Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, 8, 15
Dunham Hall

The next scheduled New Employee Orientation for newly hired employees:

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 16
Morris University Center Mississippi Room

This fun and interactive session provides training for new employees on topics such as: campus safety, employee benefits, student affairs, equal opportunity, access & Title IX and more. Attendees will be provided lunch.

Attendance at the New Employee Orientation is strongly encouraged for all civil service, administrative and professional staff. It is optional for faculty members, who will have a School specific orientation hosted by their department. 

New employees are asked to register by visiting the following link. Please register by end of business on Monday, Sept. 12.

You must register in order to guarantee a spot in orientation and to ensure accurate lunch and welcome gift count. Supervisors are asked to register their new employees who do not have access to this e-mail.

For more information, please contact Jen Oates-Blair, 650-2127 or joatesb@siue.edu.

The SIUE Early Childhood Center (ECC) and the Early Childhood Education Program in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior will host its second Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Conference:

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 19
Morris University Center
Reception following at the ECC

The conference is being held in partnership with the Illinois Early Childhood Center of Professional Development and Spaces for Play.

SIUE educators believe it is never too early to begin learning about STEAM.

The conference will feature internationally known keynote speakers Toni and Robin Christie of New Zealand, who are passionate early childhood advocates, highly inspirational, knowledgeable, entertaining and fun.

Registration is now open at this link.