Last Updated: May 9, 2008

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: AUGUST 29, 2008

Eligible JSU faculty members are invited to apply for the University Scholars 2009 Class. This deadline has been changed in response to faculty desires to make plans for the following summer significantly earlier. More information about the University Scholars Program is available here. Applicants are requested to complete the application form online and to ensure that their completed applications are submitted by August 29, 2008. (An Adobe .pdf version of the application is available by request from the Center at jsucus@jsums.edu.)

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS CLASS OF 2008

From a record pool of 23 applications, fourteen JSU faculty members were awarded University Scholars grants for summer research. They are Mohammed Ali, Technology Department; Zikri Arslan, Chemistry Department; Wellington K. Ayensu, Biology Department; Lecretia Buckley, Mathematics Department; Jaehwa Choi, Chemistry Department; Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Biology Department; Djiby Fall, Mathematics Department; Hyun Chong Kim, Art Department; Natarajan Meghanathan, Computer Science Department; Hyung Park, Political Science Department; Dmitri Sobolev, Biology Department; Elizabeth Stammerjohan, Management and Marketing Department; David Ware, Music Department; and Hua Xu, Public Policy and Administration Department.

THE CENTER SPONSORS FACULTY PODCASTING WORKSHOP

The JSU Center for University Scholars invites faculty members to participate in the first of a series of podcasting workshops. The workshop occurs Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 4:00 PM in the Holden Reading Room (Room 3 of Johnson Hall). This first workshop features Dr. Steve Yuen, one of two project directors of USM's Podcasting Initiative and a user of podcasting in his own courses.

AUDIO CONFERENCE: HOW TO TRAIN TEACHING ASSISTANTS

The JSU Center for University Scholars invites graduate teaching assistants and faculty who work with graduate teaching assistants to an audioconference, "How to Train and Help Teaching Assistants." The audio conference will occur at 12 PM on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 in the Holden Reading Room (Room 3 of Johnson Hall). Recipients of JSUCUS graduate assistantships are required to participate unless they have a class conflict. For more information please e-mail the Center at jsucus@jsums.edu or telephone us at 979-6949.

SEEKING FACULTY INTERESTED IN PODCASTING

Increasing the use of podcasting as a supplemental teaching tool is one of the initiatives of the JSU Center for University Scholars. During the Spring 2008 semester, we will host a discussion of the uses of podcasting in higher education settings and a hands-on workshop for the recording, basic mixing and dissemination of podcasts. JSU faculty members and graduate teaching assistants that are interested in participating or who are already podcasting, please contact the Center by e-mail at jsucus@jsums.edu or by phone at ext. 6949. While all faculty may participate, the Center encourages participation from faculty teaching core curriculum courses, introductory courses with large enrolllments or on-line courses.

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: DECEMBER 20, 2007

Eligible JSU faculty members are invited to apply for the University Scholars 2008 Class. More information about the University Scholars Program is available here. Applicants are requested to download the application or complete the application form online (available online since November 4, 2007) and to ensure that their completed applications are submitted by December 20, 2007.

UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE CENTER'S WEBSITE

During the winter break, we will be modifying the Center's website. We will add a blog with an rss feed and recode to ensure that the site renders correctly in Mozilla Firefox browsers. The information here should be unchanged and accessible throughout the process. If you experience any difficulty, please e-mail us at jsucus@jsums.edu.

LIMITED INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FUNDS AVAILABLE

Funds for subsidized international travel are quite limited. Faculty seeking such funds should apply as soon as possible. The Center will privilege applications in which faculty are presenting research findings.

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONAL RATING SYSTEM (SIRS) SURVEYS ONLINE

From the Office of Academic Affairs: For the past two years, OAA and the Academic IT team have investigated the feasibility of an online student evaluation system. The team reviewed several commercial products and concluded that the Student Instructional Rating System could be launched through JSU P.A.W.S. The online SIRS was successfully piloted last year. Online SIRS will be available starting Wednesday, November 28, and may be accessed through December 7. Faculty should encourage students to access SIRS during this time period. Instructions for completing SIRS (pdf file) should be posted and distributed to students. Thanks for your usual cooperation!

RECAP OF 2007 UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM

A recapitulation of the events of the Fifth Annual University Scholars Symposium and photos are now online. Please mark your calendars for the sixth annual symposium that convenes November 6-7, 2008.

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM, NOVEMBER 1-2, 2007

The Center for University Scholars hosts its fifth annual symposium for University Scholars grant recipients. Joining us this year will be Dr. Ira Katznelson, an historian at Columbia University, to present the first Matthew Holden, Jr. Symposium Lecture. He will speak on Thursday, November 1, at 10:00 AM in Room 266 of the Robinson Liberal Arts Building. Presentations for the symposium will occur in the H.T. Sampson Library Auditorium on Thursday, November 1 and Friday, November 2. The schedule of presentations has been posted.

CENTER SEEKS RESIDENT-SCHOLAR IN ETHICS FOR ETHICS STUDY GROUP INITIATIVE

The Center is creating a Faculty in the Ethics Group (FEG) to sponsor a resident-scholar in ethics and develop a study program of reading and case study development for faculty and select students. Year-long faculty participants will receive a certificate of completion for service and collegiality. The Center seeks nominations by college for the resident-scholar position no later than November 8, 2007. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and three letters of recommendation by the same date. The resident scholar will receive a $10,000 stipend per year, book budget and travel to at least two ethics-related conferences per year. He or she will be expected to participate in study group sessions, facilitate case study development and assist in integrating ethics studies into the curricula, teaching practices and research programs of his or her college. To participate in the study group or to submit an application, please telephone us at ext. 6949, e--mail us at jsucus@jsums.edu or visit us in Johnson Hall, Room 1.