Provost Communiqué
Friday, May 9, 2008
CASL Celebration Ceremony
The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning (CASL) hosted its annual Celebration Ceremony on May 8 to recognize students, faculty, and community partners who participated in the CASL program in 2007-08.
Over 1,700 students served the community over 45,000 hours this year as students applied classroom theory to real-world needs in our city, region and the world. Students shared the benefits of their service-learning experiences and how they were able to make a difference.
Faculty interested in CASL support for service-learning courses are encouraged to contact Elizabeth Carmichael Burton.
Service-learning students traveled to El Salvador in March to learn about malnutrition in third world countries.
Theatre & Dance Department’s Senior Showcase in New York City
On Thursday, April 24, Missouri State University presented its inaugural BFA Musical Theatre Senior Showcase in New York City. The purpose of the showcase was to "introduce" the graduating class in Musical Theatre to theatre
industry professionals (casting directors, talent agencies, and professional companies). The seniors performed a 30-minute staged revue directed by Michael Casey, with Musical Direction by Heather Chittenden-Luellen and choreography by Darryl Clark. The showcase was presented at New World Stages, the same theatre complex that houses Altaz Boyz, which has starred two former students of the Musical Theater program - Andrew C. Call and Kyle Dean Massey.
The annual Senior Showcase has long been an industry expectation of the best BFA Acting and Musical Theatre programs in the country. Thanks to the support of the College of Arts and Letters, in addition to the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Department of Music, the MSU showcase is now a reality.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre was the first interdisciplinary program to be offered through the College of Arts and Letters. Its first graduate, Nathan Tysen (1999) was recently nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his Off-Broadway revue, Fugitive Songs. Other graduates include Jeffrey James Binney (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Andrew Greenwood (Cats). Graduates of the program continue to work in all areas of the stage entertainment industry, including theme parks, cruise ships, and Branson shows, as well as regional professional theatres throughout the country.
iGrade Request for Students
Students have opportunity to evaluate professors
Dear Faculty,
As you have probably heard, SB 389 was enacted into law and includes a number of provisions involving public institutions of higher education. We have been working closely with Faculty Senate and other groups on campus to develop the approach for our compliance with the law to post information on our faculty credentials, which includes our per course faculty and some general evaluation information. For now, the credentials piece is very basic and has been primarily drawn from the catalog, with additional information on per course faculty provided by departments. The evaluation information will be provided through the five questions on iGrade. These general questions have been approved by the Faculty Senate and the SGA.
On Friday, May 2nd, our students were contacted by the Provost Office and asked to participate in collecting the general information or the evaluation piece by going to the iGrade option on the web and completing the five questions for each of their professors. There is a very tight window for student access to this feature, and we will be monitoring the completion rates early next week. This will be completed before grades are posted.
We would very much appreciate your help in encouraging our students to help us comply with this new state law by completing the questions and by answering any questions the students may have about the process. We appreciate your time and support of this effort.
Dr. Christopher J. Craig, Associate Provost for Faculty
(417) 836-4589
Professional Development Opportunities
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Tuesday, May 27 |
Excel 2007 Level 1 Register Now |
8:30-12:00 LIBR 205 |
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Wednesday, May 28 |
Excel 2007 Level 2 Register Now |
8:30-12:00 LIBR 205 |
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Thursday, May 29 |
Blackboard 6.1 Level 1 Register Now |
8:30-10:30 LIBR 205 |
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Thursday, May 29 |
Blackboard 6.1 Level 2 Register Now |
10:30-12:30 LIBR 205 |
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Friday, May 30 |
Online Exams for Blackboard 6.1 Register Now |
8:30-10:30 LIBR 205 |
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Friday, May 30 |
Gradebooks for Blackboard 6.1 Register Now |
10:30-12:30 LIBR 205 |
Provost’s Leadership Preparation Program
Application Material Due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 9, 2008
The Office of the Provost sponsors the Provost’s Leadership Preparation Program to assist faculty in meeting professional goals as leaders on our campus and within their respective professions. The Provost’s Leadership Preparation Program is a one year, cohort-based program designed to help develop leadership and University knowledge, skills, abilities, and dispositions within faculty. The leadership focus, described in the Provost’s Leadership Preparation Program document, is broad and inclusive of faculty leadership within programs, departments, university, the community, as well as various administrative roles.
The faculty committee who designed and evaluated this pilot program encourages your consideration of this professional development opportunity. They are looking forward to reviewing applicants in order to make recommendations to the Provost for next year’s participants.
All application material should be in the Provost’s office no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 9, 2008. Materials should be directed to Mary Lynne Golden, Office of the Provost. > Link to Provost’s Leadership Preparation Program web page
Faculty Professional Development Opportunity
Final Brown-Bag Spring Semester 2008
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Time: 12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m.
Location: Meyer Library 204 (Seating limited to 18)
RSVP or call (417) 836-3059
Discussion Topics for this session:
- Talking the Talk, but not Walking the Walk: A Meditation on Irony
- Finding the Space between Freedom and Control
- Introduction Ideas to Foster Participation
- Classroom Observation Guidelines
- Incorporating Process Pedagogy into Grading Student Essays
- Revving Up the Reluctant Reader
- End Notes: Distinctive Ways to Wrap-Up a College Course
Brown Bag Discussion
Pick a topic, pack your brown bag lunch, and join your colleagues.
All faculty and teaching graduate assistants are welcome to attend.
Discover the free online subscription available now!
Click here for Signup Instructions
Merit System Evaluation Available Online
Dear Faculty,
According to the compensation plan, the merit evaluation should have been completed, and you should know the percentage of your salary increase for AY2008-09 that appears in the college merit/equity matrix (posted on the provost’s web-site).
Last year, the Faculty Senate administered an evaluation of the merit process. Faculty appraisals of the evaluation process were important to discussions for strengthening the performance evaluation system. As a result, the compensation committee produced the Compensation 101 document (also on the provost’s web-site) to better communicate the evaluation process and improve its implementation.
This year, the Compensation Committee will again review the merit system, consider feedback from faculty and administrators, and produce another set of recommendations to improve the process. The link below will take you to the on-line evaluation, which is now available and takes around 7-15 minutes to complete (depending on comments). The Senate Executive Committee, with the full support of the Provost Office, will produce a report to be shared with faculty, administrators, and the compensation committee so that faculty input can be part of the dialogue for improving next year’s evaluation process. > View Merit System Evaluation online
The Merit System Evaluation will be on-line until 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2008 (the day final grades are due).
Thank you in advance for your help.
Pauline Nugent Margaret Weaver Tom Kane
Chair Chair Elect Past Chair
Call for Proposals For 2008-2009
Asian Arts and Letters Committee Calls for Proposals
The Asian Arts and Letters Committee is soliciting proposals for funding assistance for the 2008-09 academic year. 
This initiative is part of the Provost’s Research Incentive Program, and focuses on University-wide Asian research topics.
Examples of possible funding include visiting speakers or artists, colloquia, or panel discussions. Faculty travel is not typically funded. Preference will be given to proposals under $4,000.
To apply, send a description of the project of no more than 500 words along with a detailed, itemized budget to Weirong Yan, Coordinator, Asian Arts and Letters Initiative, Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Letters, Craig Hall 106. First consideration deadline: May 12, 2008.
Special Bull Shoals Field Station Event
Water Festival and Open House - Bull Shoals Field Station
Date: Saturday, May 24, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Bull Shoals Field Station (see directions below)
The Bull Shoals Field Station is a center for learning and research in an outdoor setting. Join us for the “nearly-annual” Open House. This year's event is a Water Festival that promises lots of wholesome family fun while learning about our Ozark water resources.
Some of the features of the day include: The "Fantastic Fun - River Run" interactive room-sized board game set up in our classroom; a walking fish key; face painting of fish on kids; music, displays from local water quality organizations, ART sale, and more. Bring a lunch, stay a while, or stay all day.
Directions to Bull Shoals Field Station
From the intersection of Highway 76 east of Branson and J Highway at Kirbyville, drive south on J Hwy to the end of Drury Road (about 5 miles paved) and onto the gravel road of the MDC Drury Wildlife Conservation Area (about 4 miles unpaved). There is a locked gate that will only be open for special events.
Submitting Information for the Provost Communiqué
Each person submitting information is responsible for ensuring that all content is appropriate, informative, and brief in keeping with the intent of the Communiqué. Submissions for this communication will be accepted by e-mail and should be directed to Mike Fisher, Webmaster, Office of the Provost. Items must be submitted by Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. to be eligible for review and publication in the subsequent Thursday issue. Please provide as much lead time as possible when submitting items for distribution.