Monday Minutes

Here are your Monday Minutes for January 11-15, 2021. 

From the Department Head

Dear Students and Colleagues,

Welcome to the first day of Spring 2021! We have much to look forward to, with asymptomatic student testing beginning and vaccines on the way. I am committed to transparency- if I have information to share I will share right away. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email me or request a meeting. Many of MSU’s actions are dependent on the state’s decisions, and if I don’t have an answer, I will listen and pass along your questions and concerns to decisionmakers. 

Last week was a difficult one. Many of us are still processing the events. I encourage all to participate in the governance of this country by voting and communicating with our elected officials once in office. They can’t do their jobs unless they hear from us. In February 2020 I traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with our Congressional delegation. I rode the train under the Capitol, crossing an item off my bucket list! The artwork is provided by the winner of Montana’s Congressional Art competition for youth. It’s titled Sun’s Out, Tongue’s Out. I hope you enjoy these photos.

Take good care,

Dr. Ann Ewbank

Micki's Desk

From the Graduate School Dean, Dr. Craig Ogilvie:

• Graduate Assistantship for Work in Graduate Wellbeing: The Graduate School is seeking a graduate student for a 19-hour assistantship* to work on several graduate wellbeing projects. The assistantship will start Spring semester 2021 and may continue contingent on available funding, student eligibility, and mutual agreement. The deadline for full consideration is Friday 22 Jan, 5pm. Please see the attached pdf for information on applying.
• Here are updates on our two Graduate School fellowships for students who will start in Fall 2021.

1. TheMildred Livingston Presidential Award is now open for nominations https://www.montana.edu/gradschool/fellowships/presidential_award_notice.html
   1. It comes with a $2000 award distributed over two years
   2. Eligibility is all new masters and doctorate students who will be starting Fall 2021.
2. TheUniversity Fellowship (formerly known as the Meritorious Award) is now open for nominations https://www.montana.edu/gradschool/fellowships/meritorious_award.html
   1. To be more competitive, this award has been increased to $4000/year for up to 5-years, i.e. a $20,000 award. It used to be a 1-year award of $5000.
   2. Eligibility is all new PhD students who will be starting Fall 2021.

• Other funding opportunities are listed at https://www.montana.edu/gradschool/fellowships/
• Anyone needing to apply for housing with Family & Graduate Housing, they provide a great community and provide a nice variety of living options. Students should apply as soon as possible for the best chance of being offered a housing assignment. Students can apply for housing by clicking Apply Now at http://www.montana.edu/fgh/prospective_tenants.html
• Announcement: Completing your FAFSA If you are a US citizen and have not filed either a 2020/2021 or a 2021/2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, www.fafsa.gov), please consider doing so. In order to be considered for student assistance from the federal stimulus (CARES Act funding), you need to have submitted a FAFSA. Filing a FAFSA does not commit you in any way to funds, but is used for eligibility for resources.
• Weblink for the January Grad School Newsletter – great workshops, events and announcements

Important Change - How to apply for Graduation on May 1^stATTENTION all Education Graduate Students – If you will be applying to graduate Spring Semester on May 1, 2021, please contact your Advisor/Chair. Your Advisor/Chair will need to review your DegreeWorks and approve your request to graduate.  As soon as this has been completed, you will receive notice through MyInfo that you may submit your Online Graduation Application.  I have attached two documents for your instruction.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me at [email protected].  This online process is new for you, your Advisor/Chair, and me, so we will be learning together.  REMEMBER, the FIRST STEP to apply to Graduate on May 1^st is to contact your Advisor/Chair. February 5^th is the deadline for submitting your online application

UPCOMING Spring DEADLINES:

Jan 15 Last Day to Add courses using My Info – after this date please notify me at [email protected] if you need to add a course.

Jan 18 Martin Luther King Day (no classes; offices closed)

Jan 25 Last Day to Add a course and Last Day to Drop Online using My Info

Feb 1 Last Day to Drop a course without a “W” grade

Feb 5 Last day for graduate students to file Graduation Application

Feb 15 President’s Day Holiday (no classes; offices closed)

March 8 Second Half Session courses begin

NOTE – No Spring Break this semester

April 2 University Day (student holiday – MSU offices will be open and staff will be working)

April 6 Last Day to Drop a course

April 21 Last day for Master and Doctoral comprehensive exams and defenses if a student plans on graduating Spring Semester

April 26 – 30th Final Examinations and Last day for approval of thesis / dissertation by Formatting Advisor

April 30 Last Day of Classes and Last day to withdraw a Graduation Application and file for a One-Credit Extension

May 1 Spring Commencement 

If you have not yet registered for Spring Semester 2021

Please register now as classes began on Monday.  You may contact Micki at [email protected] to request your registration pin for spring semester or to request assistance with registration.  I would like to highlight a few course opportunities below: 

• EDU 608. Advanced Quantitative Research. 3 Credits. PREREQUISITES: EDU 607. Doctoral Students will operationalize a research plan proposed in EDU 607. Specifically, they will refine their research proposals to produce a dissertation proposal that is defensible by piloting research procedures, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, and presentation of results in written and oral formats. 

• EDLD 630. Supervision & Instructional Leadership. 3 Credits.  The course focuses on increasing the knowledge and skills of supervising and leading instruction on a district or school systems basis. Emphasis is given to dimensions of leadership at the district level including supervision of the leadership team, aligning the vision, mission, and strategic plan with student needs, professional growth, and maximizing resources to support teaching and learning. 

• EDLD 501. Foundations of Adult Education. 3 Credits.  This course provides a study of the field of profession of adult education as a part of life-long learning. Professionalism in adult education is approached through the study of historical and philosophical foundations, providers and programs, and teaching strategies appropriate for adult education settings.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

• Congratulations to all EHHD Convocation award recipients! For the next two weeks MSU will celebrate a recipient each day. Watch MSU News and the MSU home page to learn more about all recipients. Today, Katie Bark of Team Nutrition in HHD is featured!
• Congratulations to Dr. Bill Ruff and Shihua Brazill for their presentation titled "Using Transformational Leadership to Create Brave Space in Teaching Multicultural Education" at the National Association of Multicultural Education virtual conference.
• Congratulations to Shihua Brazill for her presentation titled "Living Multicultural Education: Teaching and Working with Diverse Students" at the National Association of Multicultural Education virtual conference.
• Our department’s success is determined by our collective accomplishments. Share your own accomplishments with pride! Or if you hear of a colleague or student’s accomplishment, please share. Please send accomplishments and kudos to [email protected]. 

Professional Development & Engagement Opportunities

• Call for Volunteers: Please see the attached for ways for you and your class to participate in the virtual Science Olympiad scheduled for April. 

• From the Weidenheft Lab: Please share this short video on the biology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 for high school and middle school students. The goal is to inform young people around the state about actions they can take to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV2. 

• Wondering why your students are hesitant to turn on cameras during live online classes? It’s a social justice issue. This article provides information about how you can build an inclusive environment to encourage full engagement in your classes. Thanks to Dr. Christine Rogers Stanton for sharing this resource.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Opportunities

From Assistant Dean Dr. Kayte Kaminski: 

• Mark your calendars for our first EHHD Diversity Dialogue with Dr. Jody Bartz! She will lead a one-hour discussion on disability rights on Friday, January 22^nd at 1pm via Webex. In advance of this discussion Jody asks that you please review this TED Talk and this video content in advance.