EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY EMU HOME Sept. 4, 2007 Volume 55, No. 03 EMU to unveil first brand tagline FL·atu rl'd Eastern Michigan University's first Brand Launch is scheduled .\rticlei., Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1-2 p.m., in Grand Ballroom A, Student Center. At that time, the University's brand campaign and tag line will be unveiled. Th external launch of the brand campaign takes place Friday, Sept. 7. Look for FOCUS EMU's :JEMU to unveil first brand coverage of the event later this week. tagline (coming soon) r.:iNew General Education M�ore on tbis__story ... program launches this fall �EMU receives designation as "Best -· Midwestern College" FOCUILWD from The Princeton Review for fifth consecutive year i:l"Diverse" magazine recognizes EMU for strides in African­ American students receiving degrees c:EMU's General Education Program receives national attention :JHonors College increases visibility with new location, updated Web site :Jloppnow appointed EMU's executive vice president; move heads administrative appointments :JTwenty-six new faculty start this fall �New vice president for enrollment management heads 27 new staff appointments c:EMU's College of Business partners with Chinese Association of Detroit :JEMU assembles 16-point plan to improve campus safety :JFurniture, technology added to improve classrooms; McKenny Hall reopens \JStudent Government leaders have heavy agenda for fall �ampus Life plans more Student Center events this year IJDigital print art exhibition kicks off fall schedule for University, Ford galleries 11Fall music lineup includes 36 events 11"Diamonds in the D" returns to EMU Theatre 12Be in the know with University Communications ilWhen's the next FOCUS EMU? IJPhoto: Family takes moving break, enjoys picnic iJPhoto: Students move in for fall semester �hoto: EMU Resource Fair offers many campus services 1JPhoto: Commuter Central staff ready to help aPhoto: Sumera Children's Literature Alcove opens in Halle Library 11By the numbers 1J8riefs 11Jobsline mWhy I work at Eastern Michigan University EASTERN MICHIGAN lJN IVERSITY EMU HOME {_'o\·er Story Eastern Michigan University's first Brand Launch is - scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1-2 p.m., in Sept. 4, 2007 issue Grand Ballroom A, Student Center. At that time, EMU to unveil first brand the University's brand campaign and tagline will tag line be unveiled. Th external launch of the brand campaign takes place Friday, Sept. 7. Look for FOCUS EMU's coverage of the event later this week. By Ron Podell EASTERN MICHIGAN UN IVERSITY EMU HOME ' Feature After years of preparation, Eastern Michigan University's new General Education program launches this fall. Sept. 4, 2007 issue New general education program The new program, dubbed "Education for Participation in the Global launches this fall Community," is designed to prepare students to function effectively in a global world and economy. By Ron Podell This summer, EMU faculty participated in a number of General Education program workshops, designed to help them prepare to teach General Education courses they either created or modified. "All (general GENERALLY SPEAKING: Chris Foreman, director of education) Eastern Michigan University's General Education courses have program, leads a recent workshop for faculty who had to be have created a new Gen Ed course or altered an reworked or existing course to meet the new Gen Ed outcomes. new courses The new General Education program launches this that meet the fall. outcomes," said Chris Foreman, director of EMU's General Education Program. "About 10 percent are brand new courses. But, all are new in a way because they've had to be reworked to demonstrate the outcomes." The new curriculum is outcome-based and focuses on five areas. Under the new program, the largest number of credits - 25 - must cover knowledge of the following disciplines: natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. Other credits are required to demonstrate effective communication (6), perspectives on a diverse world (6) and quantitative reasoning (3). The new program requires students to take 40 hours of credits rather than the previous 50 credits required. Some of the new courses for this fall include: "Perspectives on a Diverse World," created by Barry Pyle, an associate professor of political science;" Harry Potter: Literary Allusion, Children's Theater and Popular Culture," created by Annette Wannamaker, assistant professor, English language and literature; and coordinator of the Children's Literature Program; and "Around the World in 80 Years," created by Kristine Ajrouch, associate professor of sociology and director of the gerontology program; and Anita Clos, adjunct lecturer in the School of Social Work. Students will be required to take foundation courses in writing, speech and quantitative reasoning within their first 45 hours. Having those basic skills early should translate to upper-level courses, where such skills become more prevalent. In addition, students will, through two required courses, become better aware of global perspectives and issues relating to U.S. diversity. These courses must be competed within a student's first 60 credit hours. An upper-level writing requirement in one's major, as well as options emphasizing "Learning Beyond the Classroom," provides general education throughout the college years. "This gives us our first opportunity to assess our General Education program. Before, we had no way to measure outcomes," Foreman said. "General Education is no longer just a set of requirements. It's its own program." The following is a Q & A presented to faculty at a recent General Education program workshop. Q: What's the first question you should ask if a student asks you a question about their general education requirements? A: Are you following the old (before fall 2007) or new {fall 2007 or later) General Education Program? Q: A student takes Anthropology 135: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Have they satisfied both the Global Awareness and Social Sciences requirements? A: No, courses may be cross-listed, but students may not use the same course to meet both requirements. Q: True or false. A student has an ACT score of 22. You can advise them to take Math 118 since they will need that to complete their major. A: False. Students with an ACT of 22 must take either Math 110 or Math 110E, or elect to take the QR Choice exam. Q: A student transfers in with MACRAO {Michigan Agreement Between College Registrars and Admissions Officers). This means they have completed their General Education requirements. A: False. They also must meet three additional requirements: Quantitative Reasoning, Perspectives on a Diverse World and Learning Beyond the Classroom. Q: True or false. Students transfer in an equivalent to Literature 100. They really want to take Literature 137, the Harry Potter course. Since they need two humanities courses, the Literature 137 course would count toward their General Education requirements. A: False. Two courses in Humanities with different prefixes are needed to meet the requirements. Q: True or false. Writing Intensive courses are only required for those programs where the emphasis is on writing. A: False. All students are required to complete a Writing Intensive course. Q: An EMU student wants to take a course elsewhere after their initial enrollment at EMU. What should you advise? A: Courses must be direct course-to-course equivalencies, so check the Online Equivalency Guide and/or contact the General Education Office. Q: For purposes of General Education advising, what's the difference between "Univ 101L" and "Univ 101"? A: Only those sections of courses with "L" designations can count toward the Learning Beyond the Classroom {LBC) requirement. The same goes for "W" designations for Writing Intensive courses. Q: How do you respond to a student when they ask you, "Why do I have to take this (general education) course?" A: General Education is the core of an undergraduate education. It is general in that it provides students with a comprehensive educational experience and prepares them for study within their majors. General Education teaches students to think critically and to communicate effectively; it provides an introduction to the methodologies and practices of the foundational academic disciplines; and it promotes intellectual curiosity and love of learning. EASTERN MICHIGAN lJN IVERSITY EMU HOME The students of Eastern Michigan University have spoken and, for the fifth straight year, EMU was recognized as a "Best Midwestern College" by The Princeton Review. The results of the student-driven survey can be found at Sept 4, 2007 issue www.princetonreview.com/college/research/regional. EMU receives designation as "Best "This kind of designation is extremely important because it comes from the Midwestern College" students. They are the reason we are all here," said Don Loppnow, from The Princeton executive vice president of Eastern Michigan University. "It's good to hear Review for fifth them say so many positive things and it lets us know how we can consecutive year improve." By Ward Mullens EMU was one of 161 institutions to earn the designation of "Best Midwestern College." The recognition is based solely on a survey of students. The 80-question survey asks students about their school's The�r academics/administration, campus life, student body and themselves. 366 CoJ!�ges Students continue to cite EMU's diversity and excellent faculty as ..... --" -.1...- ........... ULA...-..1.a&...111...4...-&DI points of pride. ............... --­---- According to The Princeton Review r- --­ ,_....... " Web site, "Students in and around .. Ypsilanti value Eastern Michigan �-.-&.�-­ ._.....�--­ � University for its "small campus that .........--1'.....1:-4r-- is comfortable," as well as the fact that it is "affordable and provides a quality education." The school is regarded as "one of the top BEST COLLEGE: Eastern universities in Michigan for those Michigan University was one of pursuing a career in education." 161 institutions to earn the designation of "Best Midwestern College" by The Princeton Other areas cited by students Review.