VCAA Newletter

Dear Colleagues,

This morning I walked into Erika Zynda’s office and confessed that two Sundays ago I had written my remarks for this month’s newsletter but could not find them in my computer. I remember vividly saving my remarks to a computer file. But lo, and behold, which file? And under what name? As I often do when I write, I find a quiet and comfortable space where I let my thoughts wander, then focus on an idea or two. With fountain pen in hand (words fail to express the effusive joy I receive as the ink flows gracefully from the nib across the page), I begin to scribble aimlessly, more accurately, free write. I’ve mentioned this technique of free writing to one of our colleagues in English who gave me a thumbs up for this approach.

Now back to that Sunday when I first began my VCAA Newsletter. I remember it was a beautiful day. I sat down embraced by the comfort of my favorite sofa chair, looking across the lawn at the wooded area that lines the Indiana-Michigan border. Inspired by the tranquility of the scene, I began composing my thoughts for the VCAA newsletter on my laptop rather than my custom of pen in hand. And now several days later those typed words are as elusive as that hapless needle in the haystack. Perhaps that faux pas of beginning with high tech transcription is a gentle reminder that pen and paper are superior tools for a writer’s craft. Whatever the case, hopefully you will find the information in this month’s newsletter entertaining and useful.

Part of my summer was spent in the company of Derek Bok’s latest book, Our Underachieving Colleges. In my August newsletter, I invited faculty and staff to join me in a reading group to discuss Bok’s provocative indictment of higher education in this country. I am curious as to how IU South Bend might fare in Bok’s assessment. If you are interested in having engaging conversations with me and other colleagues, please let me know. Several colleagues have already responded to my initial invitation. By the way, I will be ordering several copies of the book once I get a final number of participants.

With the first anniversary of Katrina, several of you have inquired about my family in New Orleans. Even this noon at a luncheon downtown, Senator Bayl’s legislative aide posed a similar question to which I responded that we are scattered hither and thither, but are well and making the best of a difficult situation. For more information about New Orleans’ recovery post Katrina, I refer you to my remarks on WVPE which is now posted on the American Democracy website. http://ee.iusb.edu/index.php?/adp/blog/new_orleans_diaspora/.

IU South Bend is continuing its concerted efforts to recruit and retain a diverse faculty. This year’s incoming full-time faculty number thirty-five, fourteen of whom represent international or ethnic faculty. They are indeed an impressive group of teachers and scholars. Please join me in welcoming them to campus. A list is attached.

This month’s faculty feature is Professor Grant Black in Economics who has become quite a celebrity a commentator in the local news media. He follows the honored traditions of Professors Paul Joray, Paul Kochanowski and others whose quips about the local, state and national economy provided helpful information to our region.

Just one more comment about writing. This essay was written sans plume. Best wishes for a successful semester.

Grant Black's research focuses on the economics of science and innovation. In particular his research typically explores three broad issues: innovative activity, such as patenting, and the transfer of knowledge; the foreign born in the sciences; and the education and careers of scientists. For instance, recent research has examined patenting behavior of faculty at universities in the United States and the labor market in the emerging field of nanotechnology. Grant has contributed to collaborative research funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the South African Revenue Service, and the United States Agency for International Development. He is the author of The Geography of Small Firm Innovation, and his research has been published in diverse publications, including Research Policy, Economic Development Quarterly, Science and Public Policy, and Growth and Change.

The 11^th Annual FACET sponsored Associate Faculty and Lecturer conference will be held at the University Place Conference Center and Hotel at IUPUI on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14. The 2006 conference will explore how faculty can foster student learning by examining critical thinking and puzzling ideas. A variety of workshops and discussion forums will offer practical strategies and give faculty a chance to exchange their best practices with faculty from all of the other IU campuses. The following Associate Faculty members and Lecturers will represent IU South Bend at this conference. CONGRATULATIONS to each of them for their selection for the conference.

Sydney Bontrager, School of Education
Linda Thorpe Gordan, School of Business and Economics
Angela Grabelle, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Marcia Gresbeck, Division of Nursing and Health Professions
Rebecca Hovan, Raclin School of the Arts
Anne Magnan-Park, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Sharon Novotny. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Nancy Poehlmann. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rachael Sylvester, Raclin School of the Arts
Laura Talcott, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Robert York, School of Business and Economics
Diane C. Youngs, School of Education

This summer Randy Isaacson offered a three day workshop, "Navigating the Bottle-Neck: Learning and Motivation for Under-Prepared Students" for instructors who teach classes which have high D-F-W rates for students entering the university. The workshop, sponsored by UCET, was attended by 21 faculty from English, math, science, and U100 classes as well as a number of undergraduate peer mentors. The focus of the workshop was to examine the characteristic of students entering IU South Bend who were able but under-prepared. Salina Shrofel talked to the group about the demographics of entering students and Randy Isaacson led the group through an examination of the characteristics of millennium students. The primary focus of the workshop was on the motivation of at-risk students and classroom accommodations that do NOT lower the standards of the class but support the success of student learning. On the last day of the workshop the participants developed a list of best-practices that they believed could be applied in their discipline. This fall, faculty from the workshop will be participating in Faculty Learning Communities in conjunction with UCET to discuss how the adaptations they are using in their courses are impacting student learning. Faculty teaching introductory classes are encouraged to contact UCET if they are interested in joining the discussion.

The student services general information web-page has been updated. We think that faculty and general advisors will find this page very useful as they work with students. The site can also be reached by clicking on student services in the left column of the IUSB home page. http://www.iusb.edu/~sbinfo/index.shtml

The following faculty recently received the 2006 Trustee's Teaching Award:

Anderson, Gretchen
Barrau, Oscar
Bennion, Elizabeth
Brown, Anne
Grant, Otis
Holm, Daniel
Isaacson, Randy
Ladd, Kevin
Lewandowski, Judith
Lidinsky, April
McGuire, Gail
Sage, Sara
Sernau, Scott
Skarbek, Denise
Sofhauser, Cynthia
Sprague, Constance
Woodrick, LuAnn
Youngs, Diane

Associate Faculty Grant Recipients: The Associate Faculty Advisory Committee reviewed grant applications. Five associate faculty members received grants to support their projects. Debra S. Inglefield, Raclin School of the Arts, received $975.90 to support her attendance at a workshop for French horn players and teachers at the Barry Tuckwell Institute in Washington D.C. Rebecca Hovan, Raclin School of the Arts, received $1043.40 to fund her attendance at the National Flute Associate Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. Elizabeth Mooney, Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was awarded $1088 to fund her attendance at the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO. Betty will present a paper on the history of sex research at the meeting. Kimberly Teska, also from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology received $300 to fund her attendance at the Social Welfare Action Alliance Conference at Loyola University in Chicago where she will present a paper titled, “Oneness, Diversity, Discrimination, and Our Responsibility”. Kimberlie Warren, School of Education, received $643.92 to fund her attendance at a workshop titled, “Disparities in Health in America: Working toward Social Justice”. The workshop will be held in Houston, Texas. Kudos to these associate faculty members.

Faculty Giving: Between September 2005 and April 2006, 77 full time faculty of the 278 total full time faculty have given to IU South Bend; 28% of our faculty donate to the IU South Bend. Eighteen Retired faculty donated to the university during the same time frame.

The Professional Advisor's Committee (PAC) is pleased to announce its new Executive Committee: Chair 2006-2007- Darrell Sanders (School of Education), Chair Elect 2006-2007 and Chair 2007-2008 - Janet Gilroy (School of Nursing and Health Professions) Secretary 2006-2007 - Karen Christopher (School of Continuing Studies)

Kudos

Gabrielle Robinson was recently awarded an IU Exchange Affiliation grant. IUSB received $3,000 in the first year for Dr. Daphna Sharfman, chair of Political Science and communications at Western Galilee College, to visit our campus in September 2006. In the second year we will receive another $3,000 for Becky Torstrick to visit Western Galilee College.

John M. Hammang, Director of Special Projects and Development with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, has notified me that AASCU has successfully launched the national Electoral Voice Study Project. Seventy-seven institutions with over 800,000 students have joined this effort. Professor Elizabeth Bennion, Political Science, will serve as IU South Bend’s campus coordinator for this project. Hammang went on to state, ”The participation of campus coordinators is absolutely critical to the success of the project. ... We appreciate the professional skill and time she will devote to successfully completing this very important national project. This work will not only be empowering for your students but will also help us to learn what are the most effective ways we can encourage student electoral participation. Thank you, not only for this effort, but also for your contribution to our larger goal of teaching students about the importance of civic engagement. We want to thank Indiana University South Bend for joining this important study effort.”

This summer the IUSB Martin piano studio scored yet another triumph: Our own Edisher Savitski won the Grand Prize in the Minnesota International Piano Competition. Edisher will perform in New York, Chicago, Paris, and other places, and will record a CD. Bravo Edisher! You can read more about this victory here.