General Studies: Assessment Using Taskstream Beginning this Fall in Portal Courses

Students and faculty will be using the online e-portfolio Taskstream for assessment of General Studies courses, starting with portal courses this semester. In each portal course, students submit their written assessment assignment on Taskstream and the faculty member teaching the course evaluates the assignment. Students receive a score based on a standard rubric developed at UNK for use specifically in the portal courses. Once all of the student assessments have been evaluated and entered on Taskstream, UNK can sort and analyze the data in a number of ways. This will allow UNK to gauge how well freshmen are developing their critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills is the primary purpose of portal courses.

It's anticipated that Taskstream will be implemented in General Studies on the following schedule: fall 2010 - portals; spring 2011 - democracy and capstones; fall 2011 - foundational core and distribution. There are already common assessment instruments and common rubrics in place in the portal courses. Having common instruments and rubrics was a recommendation from the North Central Association. In future implementation, it is anticipated that there will be common assessment instruments and rubrics for the remaining General Studies categories. This will allow UNK to make valid, reliable assessments of how well students achieve the General Studies learning outcomes.

 - Daren Snider, Director of General Studies 

Homecoming Week Celebrates UNK, “Where the Magic Happens”

UNK’s 2010 Homecoming celebration began September 27 with the traditional student competitions and entertainment. The festivities continue this weekend with sporting events, concerts, and presentations, all designed to showcase the special experiences available at UNK, “Where the Magic Happens.”

The weekend’s schedule includes the Trike Race and Homecoming Pep Rally this evening at 8:00 at the Bell Tower Plaza. 

Tomorrow’s events feature Nebraska's Largest Homecoming Parade at 10:00 a.m on Central Avenue, following the parade route north to 27th Street and west to campus. The parade will be followed by the 11:30 a.m. Loper Luncheon for alumni at the Alumni House and the 1:00 p.m. football game against Adams State. Alumni Services is also hosting an alumni party Saturday afternoon and evening in the parking lot north of MONA in downtown Kearney, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Attendees can also celebrate Loper pride with a planetarium presentation, tennis tournament, soccer game, UNK Choirs Concert, and many other activities.

For details and a schedule of events, visit the Homecoming 2010 website, or the UNK Alumni Homecoming 2010 website. Go Lopers!

 - written in collaboration with Sharon Pelc, Director of the Nebraskan Student Union and
Michelle Widger, Assistant Director of Alumni Services 

The Division of Student Affairs Observes National Careers in Student Affairs Month

The division of Student Affairs is recognizing National Careers in Student Affairs month, giving students opportunity to learn about and consider careers in Student Affairs. They are sponsoring two events to showcase the enjoyable and meaningful aspects of a Student Affairs career choice. 

On October 6, several Student Affairs professionals will be in the atrium of the Union from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to educate students about careers in Student Affairs as they walk through the Union. They will also be raffling UNK shirts and water bottles, as well as iPod speakers donated by UNK Connections. 

On October 13, Student Affairs is hosting a Careers in Student Affairs Panel Discussion at 7:00 p.m. in The View Lounge of Nester Hall. The target audience is students interested in a Student Affairs career. A panel of current professionals will talk about how they got into this field and what they enjoy most about their job. 

The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), which recognizes October as National Careers in Student Affairs month, describes the work of Student Affairs professionals: “They provide services and develop programs that affect all aspects of students' lives inside and outside of the classroom. Some of the things student affairs professionals do in their day-to-day jobs include: enhancing student learning, helping guide academic and career decisions, mentoring students, and developing leadership skills" (from the “Careers” page of the NASPA website). 

Watch http://unkantelope.com/ for an article about National Careers in Student Affairs month.

 - written in collaboration with Aaron Estes, Advisor in Academic and Career Services 

Modern Languages Hosts Annual Foreign Film and Cultural Festival

UNK’s Foreign Film and Culture Festival will take place October 11-13 in Thomas Hall. The films are shown with English subtitles. Refreshments will be served in the Thomas Hall Atrium each day at 6:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend free of charge and participate in this celebration of international creativity. Consider attending one or more of these films: 

For more information, contact the department at 308-865-8536.

- written in collaboration with Cherie DeFreece, Department of Modern Languages 

Undergraduate Student Research Showcased at Annual Fall Symposium

The annual Fall Student Research Symposium will be Sunday, October 24, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Nebraskan Student Union. Students will present oral and poster presentations to describe the research they have conducted with their faculty mentors. Plan to attend the symposium to see the rich variety of research projects taking place among the undergraduates at UNK.

 - written in collaboration with John Falconer, Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity and
Susan Campbell, Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity 

Library - In Brief Online  

Curriculum resources for educators 

Written by Jennifer Harvey, Curriculum Librarian
harveyjs@unk.edu 

Looking for pre-K through 12^th grade or adult basic education curriculum resources? Kraus Curriculum Development Library (KCDL) indexes this type of information resource, with much of the content available in full-text. 

Through KCDL find ideas for defining curriculum, establishing standards, and developing lesson plans. Want to teach about how ecosystems recover from oil spills? Search for “oil spill” and find NOAA’s Prince William’s Oily Mess: A Tale of Recovery. Find music resources from Carnegie Hall. Kearney Public Schools’ K-5 Language Arts and Mathematics standards are indexed and available in full-text through KCDL. 

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) of the U. S. Department of Education is another good resource for locating pre-K through 12^th grade curriculum resources. 

Need ideas for teaching? Check out KCDL and ERIC.  Both resources are also listed on the library’s “Articles & E-Resources” webpage, under “Education (K-12)” and the alphabetical lists. 

Note:  These resources are available to authorized users from anywhere in the world. If accessing from off-campus, complete the library’s login form to gain access. 

Health and performance literature in OregonPDF 

Written by Jennifer Harvey, Curriculum Librarian
harveyjs@unk.edu 

Interested in research in the areas of health, sport, exercise, and recreation? OregonPDF in Health & Performance collects dissertations and theses in areas related to health and performance. 

Interested in tap dance? Search with these key words (tap dance) and find several articles about this type of dance, including a history of tap dance. 

Interested in reviewing studies exploring imagining techniques to enhance sport performance? Look here for articles on “imagery.” 

Do a school search for Nebraska and see what you find! 

The OregonPDF database is listed under the “Os”, as well as the subjects of “Education (K-12)” and “Physical Education” from the library’s “Articles & E-Resources” webpage.  

China Study Abroad Students Share Experiences

On August 20, nine students began their four-month long study abroad adventure at Hebei Normal University in Shijiazhuang, China, along with faculty director, Kathy Smith (Accounting/Finance). 

As part of their credit requirements, the students are journaling and blogging about their experiences.

An excerpt from Emily Wemhoff’s blog was published in the September 16 issue of the Antelope. The story is available online at http://www.unkantelope.com/story/?a=3822 and contains a link to Emily’s blog, which details more of her experience studying in China this semester.

Senior Ben Cooney is also writing about his experience at http://www.gingertrips.com/ 

 - written in collaboration with Ann Marie Park, Study Abroad Office 

Recognition  

2010-2011 Department Chairs

- Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

 Items to Note for Faculty and Faculty Committees

• Academic Affairs Committee 
  The link to the CAP ("Course Approval Process") information is located on the Academic Affairs Committee page. CAP is the electronic approval system that allows department chairs to initiate course proposals (create, alter, inactivate, or discontinue). Worksheets for both the creation of new courses and the alteration of existing courses are available on the CAP website for faculty members to use as they gather the information department chairs will need to submit requests. Department chairs initiate program proposals (create, alter, or discontinue) using a paper form, which is available on the Academic Affairs Committee page, along with instructions.
  
  The schedule of Academic Affairs deadlines for the 2010-2011 academic year is available on the Academic Affairs Committee page. The page also contains a committee roster and a link to the approved Academic Affairs minutes. Department or program chairs needing to make curricular changes should be aware of these deadlines and instructions.
   
• Faculty Handbook 
  The online Faculty Handbook contains the most current policy information. The purpose of the handbook is to gather the documents and policies that inform and guide critical decisions, including the Collective Bargaining Agreement (2009-2011) and the Guidelines for Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure. 
  
  ** NEW ** The constitutions from the College of Business and Technology and the Library have been updated. Both constitutions were recently revised and approved by the Board of Regents.
   
• Faculty Senate
  To keep faculty informed and in the spirit of shared goverenance, the 2010-2011 Faculty Senate Roster is posted on the Faculty Senate home page. The page also contains links to meeting agendas and packets, meeting minutes of both the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Senate committees, and the Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws.
   
• General Studies 
  The General Studies website contains a description of the new General Studies Program effective for students entering UNK in the Fall of 2010, as well as a list of the courses approved during the 2009-2010 academic year. 
   
• Graduate Council 
  The Graduate Council webpage contains information regarding changes to graduate courses or programs, as well as a list of the 2010 Graduate Program Committees.  
   
• WI/CD Committee 
  The WI/CD Committee has posted a schedule of deadlines for the fall semester on the WI/CD Committee page. The page also contains instructions for applying for WI or CD designation, as well as a committee roster, agendas, and minutes. These resources are provided for those wishing to offer courses as WI or CD. 

Deadlines Approach for Various Opportunities 

 Calendar of Events within the Academic and Student Affairs Division

Edited by Kim Elliott, Coordinator of Academic Publications 

A Publication of the
Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
University of Nebraska at Kearney
905 West 25th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
Phone: (308)865-8209 

For questions or submissions,
contact the Coordinator of Academic Publications at 8935 or academicpublications@unk.edu.