MONDAY MEMO -- week of March 31 - April 6, 2003

Head's Comments

I am pleased to announce that Roberto Joseph has accepted an offer to join the faculty in C&I in the Educational Technology program, and Megan Staples has accepted an offer to join the faculty in Mathematics Education.

News and Information

  • To convert the Qual Lab into a more informal faculty and graduate student lounge and meeting area, we are in need of a couch and a coffee table. Although we've been looking, so far nothing has come through university salvage. If you have spare furniture that you would be willing to donate, please let us know.
  • The Call for Proposals for the 2003 annual meeting of the Midwestern Education Research Association has been issued. The meeting will be held October 15-18, 2003, at the Great Southern Hotel in Columbus, OH. The proposal submission deadline is May 1. For more information, see:
  • Let your students know that the Council for Exceptional Children will be meeting on Tuesday, April 1, from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., in BRNG 2290. It will focus on resumes and job interviews.
  • ITaP has announced that the Instructional Computing Services Information Center in MATH 231 will be moving to a new location in Stewart Center room 068 in early June. Color printer output, now available in MATH 231, will move to STEW B-010 in mid-April. Two new campus labs are now open in WTHR 212 and 214.
  • Purdue Student Government and the Purdue Grounds Crew have designated April 9, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., as a spring cleaning event. Students, faculty, and staff are urged to participate in this event .by donating an hour of their time to caring for our campus.
  • This year's Spring Fling, a celebration and day of appreciation for faculty and staff, will be on Thursday, May 22, in the Recreational Sports Center. Individual staff invitations and further information will be forthcoming.
  • The cost of graduate fee remissions is increasing substantially as a result of the recently approved tuition increase and the extra charge of $1000 for students new to the University. This change affects grant proposals that include support for graduate assistants. To cushion the initial impact of the tuition increase, the charge rate is being increased over a three-year period. The current graduate student fee remission charge rate has increased to $358 per pay period. The 2003-04 and 2004-05 budgeted charge rates will be $394 and $434 respectively. It is estimated that the fee remission system will again be in balance by fiscal year-end 2004-05.
  • Faculty are invited to attend the annual Teacher Appreciation Reception to be on April 24, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., in the new Holiday Inn Select Centre in downtown Lafayette.
  • It's time to think about ordering your PICES course and instructor evaluation forms. Get the order forms from Deb. The catalog of questions is available at the DIS website. For more information, see:
  • Anyone wishing to request an evening exam for a multi-section course for the Fall 2003 semester please contact Deb no later than Friday, April 11th.
  • The February 27, 2003 C&I Graduate Committee minutes are available here.
  • Search Updates:
  • George Hynd, candidate for dean, is making a second visit to campus on March 30-April 1.
  • Donald Moore, candidate in curriculum studies, will visit campus April 7-8. His research presentation will be Tuesday, April 8, at 1:00 p.m. in BRNG 3288.

Grant Opportunities

  • The Education Department is seeking applications for projects to enhance state-administered comprehensive school reform (CSR) program, a systemic approach to improving all aspects of schools, from curriculum design to student assessment. Funding categories include: providing quality technical assistance to states, local education agencies and schools in making informed decisions about providers of CSR; and fostering development of comprehensive school reform models and providing capacity buildingfor CSR providers to expand their efforts. Funding is $7 million across two categories for awards ranging from $1 million to $5 million a year for up to three years. Deadlines: April 7 for requested notices of intent; May 5 for applications. For more information, see:
  • The Education Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education is inviting applications to plan and implement small learning communities (SLC) within large high schools as a means of boosting the achievement of students who need a more intimate education environment. The program will support projects to place students in smaller learning communities based on student/parent choice or through random assignment, not using tests or other judgments; and address specific instructional or operation issues such as providing a common core of rigorous academic courses tied to standards, the process for distributing qualified teachers among the school's SLCs and improving teachers' knowledge, strategies for helping struggling students, and securing support. Available funding is $135 million for $25,000 to $250,000 each for one-year planning grants; and $250,000 to $2.5 million for three-year implementation grants. The deadline is May 19. For more information, see:
  • The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration is inviting applications for matching grants to fund demonstrations of new telecommunications and information applications that provide improved health care, public safety, education and other social services. The highly competitive program emphasizes innovation, learning, diffusion of new ideas and practical knowledge. Projects must be interactive, fostering the exchange and sharing of information among individuals and/or groups. Projects also should provide for an independent evaluation and address lessons learned and possible replication. Available funding is $12.4 million for awards of $350,000 to $700,000 each for the two-year project period. The deadline is April 23. For more information, see:
  • The National Science Foundation is inviting fiscal 2004 proposals for projects to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for undergraduate students by improving course and curriculum materials development and dissemination. Education materials development projects focus on producing innovative materials that incorporate effective education practices to improve STEM learning, including textbooks, software and laboratory materials for commercial distribution. NSF will support two types of projects: those that demonstrate the scientific and educational feasibility of an idea, a proof-of- concept or prototype; and those that fully develop and test a product or practices based on prior experience with a prototype. National dissemination projects will provide faculty with professional development opportunities that enable them to introduce new content into undergraduate courses and laboratories. Available funding is $18 million in fiscal 2004 for 100 awards total across educational materials development and national dissemination program categories. The deadline is June 18. For more information, see:

Schedule of Events for this Week

  • P3T3 Techie Talk, "Using ViaVideo and Polycom for Distance Education Observations" presented by Jean Petersen and Mark Balschweid, Tuesday, April 1, noon, BRNG 3292.
  • CIGSA meeting, Patty Mason will answer questions about graduate paperwork and procedures, Tuesday, April 1, noon, BRNG 4180.
  • Career and Technical Education Research Seminar, "Education in the United Kingdom" presented by Kim Doerflein, Friday, April 4, noon, STEW 311.

Faculty/Staff Notes

Kudos:

  • Donna Enersen has a publication on a study of the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children in the latest issue of Gifted Child Quarterly.
  • Jim Greenan has been awarded a Distinguished Service Citation by Epsilon Pi Tau, the International Honorary for Professions in Technology. Although honored at the ACTE conference in December of 2001, the citation was just conferred after a comprehensive review of Jim's work.

Got something for the Monday Memo? Send it to Gina ().