Monday Minutes

Here are your Monday Minutes for the week of August 24-28, 2020. 

From the Department Head

Dear Staff, Faculty, and Students, 

We made it through the first week of the semester! Last week, we started new ways of teaching. Some face to face classes met outside, and blended and online classes are running smoothly. Give yourself a hearty congratulations, as we are in uncharted territory. 

On Thursday, August 27, 7:30pm, we will welcome Sarah Vowell, Bozeman High School and MSU graduate, for our virtual convocation. Sarah will also work with university seminar courses this semester. This event is sure to be inspirational, funny, and energizing!

As always, I am here for questions, concerns, and ideas. My job is to facilitate your success!

Take good care,

Dr. Ann Ewbank

News and Announcements 

• Our first department meeting will be Tuesday, August 25 from 3:10-4:30 in Ann Ewbank’s WebEx room. We have an exciting announcement and will also discuss a proposal for a 15-credit Lifelong and Workplace Education Certificate, led by Marilyn Lockhart. This meeting will be recorded.

Join by phone
+1-855-797-9485 US Toll free
+1-415-655-0002 US Toll
Access code: 920 310 123 

• The Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Education in Reid 418 is open M-Th 9am-3pm for students, staff and faculty. The Center offers a safe and socially-distanced space for students to collaborate and receive support. Please see the attached flyer for upcoming activities. 

• Instructors: please include the approved syllabus language developed by the Center for Faculty Excellence. It is imperative that we provide clear and consistent messaging to our students. 

• The department has a variety of technology for classrooms, such as Swivl robots and OWL cameras. Contact Becky Stanton to learn more and check out equipment. 

• Graduate student advisors: Please encourage your students to register for classes ASAP, especially EDU 690 dissertation credits. EDLD 529 Post-secondary Distance Delivered Education (10/05-11/25) is also an excellent course which will enhance any graduate program of study. 

• All Monday Minutes are archived and available for your reference. 

• Make sure to check the MSU COVID-19 webpage frequently as university and system-wide updates are available all in one place.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

• Congratulations to Jayne Downey and colleagues for the upcoming publication of Teaching in Rural Places, the first textbook of its kind! 

• Congratulations to Kristin Harney in the School of Music for the upcoming publication of Integrating Music Across the Elementary Curriculum! 

• Congratulations to Bill Mendoza, PhD student, for his quillwork featured in First American Art Magazine. This piece was subsequently acquired by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian - Permanent Collection! Bill also recently was awarded best Beadwork and Quillwork at the 2020 Santa Fe Virtual Indian Market which featured 450+ artists in 9 classifications! 

• Please send accomplishments and kudos to [email protected].

Professional Development & Engagement Opportunities

• The Initiative for Regulation and Applied Economic Analysis seeks MSU undergraduate students to work on faculty-led research projects. A stipend is provided. The application deadline is 5pm 8/31/2020. 

• The OCHE Research Fellows Program is an exciting opportunity for graduate students. Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend and can elect to receive 3 academic credits. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 28^th and students will be notified of acceptance decisions on September 8^th. Applications should be submitted to [email protected]. 

• The Montana State University Outreach and Engagement Council invites seed grant proposals for the 2020-2021 academic year for outreach and engagement activities that involve faculty, students and staff in partnership with local and regional constituents. Proposals are due September 20, 2020. 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources

• The Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Re-Imagining Integration for Diverse and Equitable Schools initiative has many resources for EDI as does Arizona State University’s Equity Alliance.

A Special Request from Field Placement & Licensure

Teacher Education Program instructors: As we head into the fall term, we have over 80 student teachers.  This is a healthy enrollment and we are looking forward to supporting each student during their semester.  I would like to ask you each to review the list of students, which is attached, and encourage you to reach out to former students.  During this time of uncertainty and potential fear of what lies ahead, I believe they would appreciate hearing from a friendly face.  I think they would each appreciate the support and connection, perhaps now more than ever.

Thanks in advance!    - John Melick

Please see the attached PDF for the list of students. PDF: Student Teachers – Fall 2020