ASU Magazine-Summer 2014
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Making Connections with a New Generation of Students On the Flip Side By Design from the President Angelo State University Cover Story: 16 Dear Friends: Summer 2014 Vol. 7, No. 2 Angelo State University Making Connections ............................16 With this issue of Angelo State University Magazine, we examine the challenges and opportu- Member, Texas Tech University System Figuring out how to “click” with today’s students is an ongoing nities of connecting with the modern student, who is technologically sophisticated and likely Board of Regents challenge for institutions of higher education, ASU included. carries a mobile device that has more computing power than was available on the spacecraft Mickey L. Long, Chair, Midland Larry K. Anders, Vice Chair, Dallas that first landed Americans on the moon in 1969. John Esparza, Austin L. Frederick “Rick” Francis, El Paso Features: The challenge for us as educators is to adapt to this technological sophistication of our tradi- Tim Lancaster, Abilene Debbie Montford, San Antonio On the Flip Side ....................................18 tional college-age students and utilize the power of technology through the Internet to serve Nancy Neal, Lubbock Hybrid, or “flipped,” courses offer an innovative option to both them and nontraditional students. To help our faculty adapt, academic affairs is provid- John D. Steinmetz, Lubbock John Walker, Houston the traditional class lecture/homework dynamic. ing training to them all through the Quality Matters model, which is becoming the standard Joshua Heimbecker, San Angelo Plus … Not Your Parents’ Blackboard for effective online course delivery. Our goal is not only to expand our online offerings, but Chancellor also to provide a quality online experience for our students, whether on campus or elsewhere. Kent Hance, Lubbock Inventive Instruction ...........................21 Angelo State University Effective teaching methods can take many forms, limited only Each semester, approximately 71 percent of all our courses have an online component. For sev- Brian J. May President: Dr. Brian J. May 18 Provost and Vice President by a professor’s imagination. Dr. Michael Dixon constantly eral years, we have offered completely online degrees in nursing, education and security stud- for Academic Affairs, seeks new ways to engage his students at every level. ies. This past year, we added an online M.B.A. program that can be completed in two years Interim: Dr. Nancy Allen Vice President for Finance and a semester, providing added convenience for business professionals seeking an advanced and Administration, By Design ..............................................22 Interim: Angie Wright degree. These programs are allowing hundreds of students an educational opportunity they Vice President for Student Affairs and Offering an increasing number of online courses and programs, likely might never have had to complete their degrees in a traditional setting. Enrollment Management: Dr. Javier Flores ASU relies on its instructional designers to deliver the best Angelo State University Magazine product to students on campus and around the world. While we initiated many of these online programs to adapt to the learning style of today’s The Angelo State University Magazine is published three times a year by the students, we soon realized that the electronic offerings were also an added service to our ASU Office of Communications and Marketing, Premier Programs ................................24 alumni and to our nation’s military personnel, allowing all to advance their education on their ASU Station #11021, San Angelo, TX 76909-1021; Long-Distance Relationships … Setting Up for Success 325-942-2248; Fax: 325-942-2238; own schedule and at their own location, even if it was far from San Angelo. For instance, this [email protected]. Reaching Tomorrow’s Students ..........26 past year we had one military student complete the orals for a security studies degree while ASU Magazine Staff Next-Gen Education … Getting Techie With It … serving in Afghanistan. Editor: Preston Lewis Associate Editor: Tom Nurre Jr. The Personal Touch … Hall-apalooza Director of Graphics: Michael Martin 35 As we look to the future, Angelo State University is embracing the new age of education deliv- Graphic Artist: Gabrielle Miller Design Assistant: Leonor Constancio ery as a path to better meet the needs of our students and as an avenue to help the university Photographers: Danny Meyer Sections grow and thrive in an ever more competitive marketplace and world. Tina Doyle Writers: Laurel Scott President’s Message ..................................................Opposite Jayna Phinney Sincerely, Rebekah Brackin Student Assistants: Gaby Gutierrez Along the Mall .........................................................................4 Martha Avila Agriculture Extension … A New Chapter … Reaching for the Sky … History in the Making … Arturo Gonzalez Keeping it Real … Nurturing Hearts … A Diplomat’s Perspective … Diagnosing Health Care … Athletic Communications News Briefs … Blue & Gold Events … Angelo Staters Contributors: Brandon Ireton Brian J. May Wes Bloomquist Robert Hummingbird Athletics ..................................................................................30 President Alumni Association Hall of Honor Class … Field of Dreams … Home Turf Advantage … Karli’s Rebound … Contributors: Kimberly Adams Court General … Sports Wrap Melinda Springer Alumni Association................................................................38 © 2014 Angelo State University Common Cause … Class Notes … In Memoriam … Donors All Rights Reserved Editor’s Note: Modern college students have On the Cover: With even toddlers becoming more tech savvy these days, mobile devices grown up in a world vastly different than that of previous generations. This issue of ASU Magazine and other technologies offer both opportunities and challenges for education. examines how the university is adapting to educate technology-savvy “Millennials.” Back Cover: Looking skyward through “Sunhelix,” the latest addition to Angelo State’s growing collection of public art. (Photo by Danny Meyer) 2 SUMMER 2014 Angelo State University Magazine Angelo State University Magazine SUMMER 2014 3 news ALONG the MALL Agriculture Extension A New Chapter With the cutting of a ribbon, Angelo State Dr. Erin Ashworth-King wants to open the ed itself on everything in it having a very who solicits, selects and edits book reviews has become one of the premiere institutions lid on one of Angelo State’s best-kept secrets, strong sense of place. We don’t want to lose on publications from the region’s smaller for educating the future high school agricul- the Concho River Review literary journal. that, but we want to broaden it.” and university presses, is the only section ture teachers of Texas. Founded in 1987 by Dr. Terry Dalrymple The journal used to be subtitled “Texas editor at ASU. The others, while long as- The new $1.07 million, 4,372-square- of the ASU English faculty, the Concho River Literature,” then it became “Literature from sociated with the journal, are from as far foot Mayer-Rousselot Agriculture Educa- Review (CRR) has long provided an important Texas and Beyond.” away as South Carolina. Ashworth-King is tion Training Center was officially opened publishing opportunity for emerging and es- “We’re trying to emphasize the beyond the fourth general editor of the journal and in March at ASU’s Management, Instruction tablished writers in Texas and the Southwest while not losing the Texas,” Jackson said. is excited about a new era for the Concho and Research (MIR) Center and will be the U.S. Funded through the university and sub- Heightened visibility has also led to an River Review. focal point of the ASU Agriculture Depart- scriptions, the literary journal has a new gen- increase in submissions. “My hope is that we continue on with ment’s agricultural science and leadership eral editor in Ashworth-King, whose primary “The poetry editor had to comb through what we’re doing,” Ashworth-King said. “It’s program. It was named for the family whose goal is to increase subscriptions and, thereby, 1,000 poems for the fall issue and we pub- been a lot of work, but a great joy.” donation made the facility possible. Photo by Danny Meyer help secure the journal’s financial future. To lished 30,” Jackson said. “A lot of journals Published twice a year by ASU’s Depart- “For many generations, the Mayer-Rous- help attract more subscribers, she attended are charging for submissions, but we don’t.” ment of English and Modern Languages and selot family has been helping the people of the Texas Book Festival for the first time last “It’s a lot of work and third or fourth on numbering about 150 pages, an annual sub- West Texas,” said ASU President Brian J. May. fall, along with Dr. R. Mark Jackson, assis- the list of things you have to do after teach- scription for the soft-cover bound journal “Our agriculture leadership program has tant professor of English. ing and service to the university,” he added. costs $17. Single copies may be purchased been one of the fastest growing programs on Cutting the ribbon at the new Mayer-Rousselot Agriculture Education Training Center, “The Texas Book Festival in Austin is “But I look forward to working on the re- for $10 each. campus, and because of their generosity, this (left to right) Norm Rousselot, Edwin Mayer and Richard Mayer. the biggest in Texas, one of the largest in view every week because it’s so different. More information about the Concho Riv- new facility will make it even better.” the country,” said Jackson, also a CRR sec- It’s a break from what I normally do.” er Review, including how to subscribe and “The State of Texas has not built any new to welding, we will also teach a small gas were in high school, they really blossomed tion editor. “Almost every subscription we The Concho River Review’s all-volunteer how to submit original writing, is available buildings for about the last seven years,” he engines laboratory here. We’ll tear engines in the ag program. With the shortage of ag sold was to someone from San Angelo who staff includes four section editors.