Monday, Oct. 1, 2018

Applications are due today for the SIUE STEM Center's FY19 Community Impact Fellowship program.

This is a competitive fellowship, open to tenure-track or tenured faculty members, to support faculty as they leverage their research to engage area learners through STEM-based high impact community engagement products and practices.

The successful applicant will be a faculty fellow with the STEM Center beginning in fall 2018 through summer of 2019, during which time the applicant will work with STEM Center faculty and staff to develop their research into a practice and/or product that engages area learning communities. To support the faculty member’s efforts, fellows will receive a stipend of $1,500 upon project completion.

More information and application details are at: http://www.siue.edu/stem/impact.shtml.

Applications are due today.

Please feel free to contact Carol Colaninno, ccolani@siue.edu, with any questions.

The first day a student can complete the 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is today.

Students can go to FAFSA.gov or download the new App, myStudentAid.

The FAFSA is used to determine financial aid eligibility for the upcoming year. Some awards are based on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier students file the FAFSA, the better!

If you have questions, SIUE's Office of Student Financial Aid is happy to help!

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive on campus from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Morris University Center, Mississippi-Illinois Rooms on the following days:

• Tuesday, Oct. 2
• Wednesday, Oct. 3

To schedule an appointment and for more information about blood donation eligibility, please visit redcrossblood.org  and enter “SIUE” as the sponsor code. Walk-ins are welcome.

Please join Chancellor Randy Pembrook and the vice chancellors for the next Q&A:

9 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 2
Multipurpose Room, Building D
SIUE East St. Louis Center 

As a reminder, these meetings are open to all faculty and staff. The Chancellor invites you to ask questions, have a dialogue and/or express ideas that you might have.

If you would like to submit questions or suggestions to the Chancellor in advance of any of the Q&A sessions, please send them to siue.edu/chancellor/suggestions/.

We hope you can attend and we look forward to your questions.

The October Career Fair will be held:

10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 - College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and ALL non-teaching degrees
Thursday, Oct. 4 - School of Engineering
Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom

FREE professional LinkedIn headshots will be taken from 12:30-1:30 p.m. each day. 

Professional attire is required, and please bring copies of your resume!

For a list of attending employers, visit the CDC website.

SIUE Office of Educational Outreach invites you to attend the fall 2018 Lifelong Learning Speakers Series every Wednesday on the campus of SIUE.

Wednesday, Oct. 3
Morris University Center, Hickory-Hackberry Rooms

10:30-11:45 a.m. – Behind the Scenes in Theater, presented by James Wulfsong, associate professor in the Department of Theater and Dance

1:15-2:30 p.m. The Music of Steel Pan in Trinidad, presented by Daniel Smithiger, instructor of percussion, and director Basketball Bands and SIUE STEEL

Cost: $5 for general public, $2 for Lifelong Learning members and FREE for alumni and students (with valid student ID).

You don’t want to miss this exhilarating semester jam packed with presentations that are sure to inform and educate!

To view the fall brochure or to become a Lifelong Learning member, please visit our website or contact coordinator, Eboni Thompson at 618.650.3233.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to practice mindfulness and meditation:

12-12:50 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4
Morris University Center, Magnolia Room 

For more information, contact Lisa Thompson-Gibson in Counseling Services at lithomp@siue.edu or 650-2842.

No RSVP is required.

Check out these exciting courses and continuing education opportunities offered by Educational Outreach this fall.

Creating Zentangle Inspired Designs
6:30-8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4-25
Cost: $49

This course is designed for individuals at any skill level. Zentangle is a meditative art form, which is easy to create using simple deliberate strokes that build on each other to create unique pieces. At first glance, a Zentangle creation can seem intricate and complicated, but when you learn how it is done, you realize how simple it can be. A $12 supply fee will be collected on the first day of the course.

Immigrants in our Midst – Continuing Education Opportunity
8-4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 5
Cost: $25

The "Immigrants In Our Midst - One Nation" Conference is designed to assist professionals interested in working with immigrant population in the surrounding Metro-East area. Continuing Education Units are available.

Microsoft Excel: Beginner Level
6-8:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, Oct. 9-Nov. 13
Cost: $129

Designed for students with limited or no previous experience with Microsoft Excel, this beginner-level course will introduce new users to Excel 2016 with an overview of Excel basics that provides a beginner-level foundation of the application. Elements covered in this course include creating and managing multiple worksheets, rearranging data, working with basic formulas and formatting, inserting charts and graphics, and sorting and organizing large amounts of data. A brief introduction to Windows is included. Basic mouse and keyboarding skills are required for this course. Textbook and online resource materials are provided.

Creative Non-Fiction Workshop: Memoir
5:30-7 p.m.
Wednesdays, Oct. 10-Nov. 7
Cost: $49

Presentational and practical application of creative non-fiction, focusing on the memoir in both short and long form.

For more information and to register for these amazing opportunities, please visit the educational outreach website.

Check out these exciting courses and continuing education opportunities offered by Educational Outreach this fall. 

Creating Zentangle Inspired Designs
6:30-8 p.m.
Thursday, October 4-25
Cost: $49 

This course is designed for individuals at any skill level. Zentangle is a meditative art form which is easy to create using simple deliberate strokes that build on each other to create unique pieces. At first glance, a Zentangle creation can seem intricate and complicated, but when you learn how it is done, you realize how simple it can be. A $12 supply fee will be collected on the first day of the course. 

Immigrants in our Midst – Continuing Education Opportunity
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 5
Cost: $25 

The "Immigrants In Our Midst - One Nation" Conference is designed to assist professionals interested in working with immigrant population in the surrounding Metro-East area. Continuing Education Units are available. 

Microsoft Excel: Beginner Level
6-8:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, Oct. 9-Nov. 13
Cost: $129 

Designed for students with limited or no previous experience with Microsoft Excel, this beginner-level course will introduce new users to Excel 2016 with an overview of Excel basics that provides a beginner-level foundation of the application. Elements covered in this course include creating and managing multiple worksheets, rearranging data, working with basic formulas and formatting, inserting charts and graphics, and sorting and organizing large amounts of data. A brief introduction to Windows is included. Basic mouse and keyboarding skills are required for this course. Textbook and online resource materials are provided. 

Creative Non-Fiction Workshop: Memoir
5:30-7 p.m.
Wednesdays, Oct. 10-Nov. 7
Cost: $49 

Presentational and practical application of creative non-fiction, focusing on the memoir in both short and long form. 

For more information and to register for these amazing opportunities, please visit the educational outreach website.

Please note these upcoming Faculty Developmemt presentations:

Creating a Campus Culture where Every Student Graduates
9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 5
Cougar Pavilion, Lukas Athletics Annex

This is a general talk given on how the 21st century college campus is necessarily evolving to be more student-centered. The presentation is broadly themed and intentionally provocative. It touches on the roles that administrators, faculty and students play on a higher education landscape impacted by changes in technology, pedagogy and higher education funding models.

Register here.

Do's and Don’ts of Creating Successful Student Success Programs
10:45 a.m.-Noon
Friday, Oct. 5
Cougar Pavilion, Lukas Athletics Annex

Dr. David Laude engages the audience in a workshop environment on what to do and what not to do in creating and implementing programs to increase student persistence and achievement. Talking points are drawn from a broad range of successful programs developed over the last 20 years at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), including traditional academic success programs, incentivized financial aid programs, teacher certification programs, and experiential and service learning programs.

Register here.

Dr. David Laude is a chemistry professor at UT Austin. He has held various administrative positions in the dean’s office and the provost’s office. While serving as senior vice provost for Enrollment Management, he was charged with improving four-year graduation rates for the campus.

Laude has been on the forefront of hybrid course design and spearheaded a successful drive to reduce non-passing rates in large gateway courses at UT. He also has been a leader in program reform at the undergraduate level at UT. Some of his initiatives include: the Texas Interdisciplinary Plan as a way to improve graduation rates for economically disadvantaged students, Freshman Research Initiative that today enrolls 900 incoming freshman students in the research programs of science faculty, and The University Leadership Network that better integrates at-risk students into the UT community.

Faculty, have you seen this icon in your Blackboard courses?

It is one of the new Blackboard Ally indicators for accessibility. Making course content accessible to all learners not only makes for better course design, but it helps to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Want to turn those red icons to green? ITS has scheduled two-hour working sessions from now until the end of November. Members of the ITS Instructional Design & Learning Technologies team will be on hand if assistance is needed.

Participants are expected to come to these working sessions with prior knowledge of how Blackboard Ally works so time can be spent on improving course content. If you are not familiar with how Blackboard Ally works, please watch this overview and review related materials. Visit this form to register for the sessions.

Dear Colleagues, 

Please accept this invitation to Chancellor Pembrook’s annual address to the University.

2 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Meridian Ballroom

Dr. Pembrook will provide a brief overview of the many successes of the past year and discuss strategic planning for our future. He will also discuss future plans designed to maintain SIUE’s positive momentum.

You will be able to visit with your colleagues and Chancellor Pembrook over refreshments at the reception immediately following in the Goshen Lounge.

Please note that classes will not be cancelled. If you are unable to attend, the Address will be recorded and available for viewing online.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Best regards,
Denise Cobb
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs