UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us for the 2026 COEHS Scholarship & Service Recognition Banquet as we celebrate our scholarship recipients and recognize the generosity and service that help support the College of Education and Human Services.
The banquet will be held Tuesday, September 22, from 5:30–8:00 p.m. in the Curris Center Large Ballroom.
The deadline to RSVP is Friday, September 11 at 4:30 p.m
Mayor Bob Rogers has officially declared the third Saturday of September as National Day of Play in Murray! To celebrate, HPE invites the community to Healthy Horseplay on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m.–noon at the Arboretum.
Healthy Horseplay is a free play, movement and reflection program for children ages 3–10, featuring open-ended building and creative materials designed to encourage imagination, movement and connection with others.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
COEHS AI-Generated Content & Design Guidelines
As we continue to strengthen the COEHS brand and ensure our materials are professional and consistent, I wanted to share a few guidelines regarding AI-generated visuals and design requests.
AI-Generated Images & Graphics
Please do not use AI-generated images, illustrations or graphics in materials representing COEHS. This includes flyers, social media content, digital signage, event promotions, and other materials shared with students, faculty, staff, or the public.
AI can be a helpful tool for brainstorming and other behind-the-scenes work, but AI-generated visuals can create concerns about accuracy, quality, authenticity, and brand consistency. Whenever possible, I want our marketing materials to showcase the real people, programs, and experiences that make COEHS unique.
Please use original COEHS photos, University-approved photos and brand assets, appropriately licensed stock photography or professionally designed graphics that follow Murray State and COEHS branding.
Need Something Designed?
Please reach out! If you need a flyer, social media graphic, digital signage, event promotion, or another marketing piece, I’m more than happy to create something for you.
Please send requests at least 48 hours before you need the completed material. This gives me enough time to design the piece, send it to you for review, and make any needed changes. Larger or more involved projects may require additional time, so the more notice you can give me, the better!
When sending a request, please include as much information as you can — what you’re promoting, the necessary text and details, where the material will be used, and when you need it.
My goal is to make this process as easy as possible while ensuring the materials we put out are polished, professional, and something we can be proud to have representing COEHS.
As always, if you have questions or aren't sure what you need, feel free to reach out!
Thank you!
Jill
The City of Murray has officially proclaimed the third Saturday in September as National Day of Play, recognizing the important role play has in supporting physical, social, emotional, and cognitive well-being for people of all ages.
The proclamation, signed by Murray Mayor Bob Rogers, encourages residents, institutions, and organizations throughout the community to celebrate by creating time and space for play, rest, creativity, curiosity, and connection.
A special thank you to Dr. Kim Vigil and HPE for their work in putting this proclamation together and helping highlight the importance of play in our community!
The Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) is preparing for the Murray State Regional Educators Rising Conference on November 19 from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Curris Center. Last year, nearly 300 students from 22 high schools attended, and we hope to welcome even more future educators this year!
Faculty are invited to get involved by:
Hosting a program table during the browsing session from 8–9 a.m.
Presenting a 40-minute breakout session that inspires students to pursue careers in education.
Judging one of 17 student competitions showcasing students’ skills and creativity.
Educators Rising helps high school students explore the education profession and begin their journey toward becoming future teachers.
Interested in participating? Contact Ashley Bourke at abourke@murraystate.edu.
We are excited to offer faculty and staff the opportunity to update their professional headshots! Whether you need a new photo for your university profile, website, or any other professional purpose, we’ve made it easy for you to schedule a session.
How to Schedule Your Appointment:
Simply use the online appointment calendar to select a time that works best for you! An email follow-up will be sent after an appointment is made.
In an effort to showcase the outstanding work of our College of Education and Human Services faculty, we will be highlighting recent presentations, publications, and other scholarly accomplishments.
Please use the Google form below to submit any recent professional accomplishments. Submissions will be featured on our COEHS bulletin board and shared on our social media platforms to celebrate and promote the impactful work happening across our college.
Thank you for helping us showcase the excellence within COEHS!
DEPARTMENT UPDATE
From the desk of the Coordinator for the Reading and Writing Program
The Reading and Writing program successfully recruited Ms. Amanda Coleman, a special education teacher at Southwest Elementary School, who is currently a member of a committed team of educators selected for participation in comprehensive training associated with the "Read to Achieve" Grant.
The Reading and Writing Master’s Program is actively recruiting teachers to increase enrollment through targeted outreach and communication.
The Program's recent recruitment initiatives have successfully brought on board 11 exceptional educators, each of whom brings a wealth of experience and passion for teaching. These new candidates represent a positive step toward increasing program enrollment and expanding opportunities for educators to strengthen their knowledge and skills in the areas of reading and writing instruction.
We are genuinely excited to support their endeavors as they continue to develop their expertise and, in turn, enrich their students' educational experiences, creating a lasting positive impact!
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Murray Elementary Tiger 2K
Thursday, September 3
HPE students, along with Dr. Rogers and Dr. Vigil, joined Murray Elementary students for the Tiger 2K—running alongside them, cheering them on, and joining in on the fun!
HPE visits IDC100T
Friday, September 4
Dr. Vigil and several HPE students stopped by IDC100T, a transitions course for undeclared students, to share more about the major, their experiences in the program, and the career paths it can lead to.
ELE413 visits Hancock Biological Station
Tuesday, September 8
Students in ELE413 visited Hancock Biological Station to explore how local wildlife, ecology, and community resources can bring science standards to life for elementary learners.
During the visit, our future educators learned how to design engaging science centers, incorporate experts as classroom guest speakers, and organize meaningful field trips using local resources.
Fall Semester - 2026
Student Picnic- August 27
Scholarship Banquet- September 22
Homecoming Breakfast and Tent City- October 17
The mission of the College of Education and Human Services is to prepare future leaders, advocates, and practitioners through authentic, engaging, and student-centered academic programs for successful careers that positively impact communities.