July 2024
Vol.VI, Issue II
🅻🅴🅰🅳🅴🆁🆂🅷🅸🅿 🅲🅾🆁🅽🅴🆁
Greetings MaPS Community,
Welcome to the beginning of an exciting new academic year!
As we embark on this fresh journey, it's a time filled with anticipation, opportunities, and renewed energy within the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. This period of new beginnings sets the perfect stage for our planned activities and initiatives. Several are outlined in this edition of the newsletter.
This academic year, let’s commit to supporting one another, embracing new learning opportunities, and striving for excellence in all we do. Each of you plays a crucial role in shaping the vibrant and dynamic environment of MaPS, and I am enthusiastic about the achievements we will accomplish together.
Wishing you all a fantastic start to the academic year filled with growth, learning and success.
Happy Reading!
🅷🅴🆁🅴 🆈🅴! 🅷🅴🆁🅴 🆈🅴!
🅻🅾🅾🅺 🆆🅷🅰🆃'🆂 🅷🅰🅿🅿🅴🅽🅸🅽🅶!
Annual Notice on Compliance
Its time for our annual mandatory compliance training. This training is part of our ongoing commitment to professional excellence and compliance. It serves as a vital refresher of our institutional responsibilities to our students and one another.
The required training modules for this year include:
Online Security Fundamentals
Harassment and Discrimination
Title IX
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Refresher Training
These training modules will be accessible starting July 15, 2024. You will receive a notification from APL in your inbox once the training is available.
Please note that employees hired in 2024 are exempt from this year's training requirements. The deadline for completing all assigned training is Friday, August 16, 2024.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your dedication to maintaining our standards of excellence.
2024 Pi Day Pilish Contest Winners
Peg Hohensee, Mathematics
Watchful
How I love a young grandbaby.
To ponder hopes and frets.
Diving wistfully futures unlimited.
Woe to see infinite days.
Hoping to remain just for the memories, but an obscure condition halts an organism.
Reformed anew; a babushka watches a lovely grandbaby.
The ceaseless attention one affords love.
A guard untiring.
If cherubims outlast one's departing body, then loyal guardians to wee infants ardently I behest join.
Taryn Bromser-Kloeden, Science
"Pietry" For I know a verse difficult to recite. Words too short, elsewise incorrect, Compete hurriedly for my pen. Centered mind, search in sounds, Seek out the faithful mix of letters, Concealed among mathematic of circular formulas. Here I exemplify majesty I pulled, Numerical and rhapsodic. Parnassus and rhythms Greet a surprising match: Formulas by principled Archimedes.
Christian Hampson, Mathematics
Ere I made a verse regarding AI poetry Chance had close unerring relevance. ChatGPT rendering had no fit sentence. That device of advice Able not for building one of applied gigahertz words. To perceive relevant need, I abandoned balance. I sought recompense for software's inability And initial state n. Being original? No. Eloquence deniers with bijective maps Form ready injustice to all. Leaving dejected, I wander past. Failed to actually effect it. Rendering lettered adjective, Internet server is terrible.
Congrats to our winners!
Congratulations Brook!
Brook Bernhardt was honored to receive the Rainbow Recognition 2024 Inclusive Teaching Award! You can read more about this awards ceremony and other winners here. Congratulations, Brook!
Tuesday July 16th Noon ET
Reignite Your Passion: Finding Joy in Your Work
2024 MaPS Speaker Series
We are excited to continue the MaPS Speaker Series. This year's theme, "Expertise Exchange: Unlocking Collective Wisdom in Education," aims to ignite meaningful conversations and share valuable insights that will enrich our educational practices and pedagogical approaches. We invite you to come and listen as fellow faculty members share their expertise and the lessons learned through their professional journeys. Please join us for our next session on July 16th at Noon (ET) with our speaker, PGO Faculty Jennifer Schott.
Upcoming Dates and Times [ET]:
August 2024:
Tuesday, August 17: 12 – 1 PM
Tuesday, August 20: 1 – 2 PM
September 2024:
Tuesday, September 15: 1 – 2 PM
October 2024:
Tuesday, October 15: 1 – 2 PM
Please visit our Speaker Series website to access recordings of past sessions.
CONFeRENCE BRIEFS
NOSS 2024
The 2024 National Organization for Student Success (NOSS) conference took place at the Westgate Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Faculty and staff from across Purdue Global attended and presented, with a particularly strong representation from the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies (MaPS). This event provided an excellent opportunity for many colleagues to meet for the first time, and for others to connect face-to-face.
A special recognition goes to Ritu Sharma, a Full-time Faculty member in English and Rhetoric, who was honored with the NOSS Member Conference Fee Waiver Award.
Looking ahead, the 2025 NOSS conference will be held in New Orleans. The final deadline for proposal submissions is September 1, 2024. If you are interested in collaborating on a proposal, please reach out to Kirsten Meymaris at kmeymaris@purdueglobal.edu.
NOSS 2024 Attendees
Leslie Johnson, MS Math Assistant Department Chair
Leslie Johnson, MS Math Assistant Department Chair, Kirsten Meymaris, MS
Math Faculty
Ritu Sharma,PhD
English & Rhetoric Faculty
BEST PRACTICES & TIPS
When grading the discussions via the grade book, I sort them by grades. As I grade, the score items, even the zero's go to the bottom of the list. This eliminates a lot of scrolling while grading in this manner.
Do you have a best practice or tip you'd like to share? Feel free to email your department chair or fill out the MaPS Digest Spotlight Form found on the homepage.
BITS & PIECES
Faculty Highlight: Nikki Williams at the 7th Annual McCabe Conference
We are delighted that Nikki Williams, Assistant Department Chair in Science, was invited to speak at the 7th Annual McCabe Conference. Nikki and Angela Owens, DNP Department Chair in Nursing, delivered an impactful presentation on the importance of belonging in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Their journey to the McCabe Conference began with their well-received presentation at the NOSS Conference, which earned them a recommendation to present at McCabe. Their presentation focused on the critical role of belonging within DEI, sharing personal experiences and stories that underscored its significance.
Nikki has a deep passion for DEI and is an active member of the university’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC), which comprises faculty, staff, and student representatives. She is committed to continuing her contributions to the field of (DEIB) both at Purdue Global and within her local community. Nikki has previously presented on DEIB at Purdue Global Village, demonstrating her dedication to this important work.
We are proud of Nikki for her outstanding contributions and for representing MaPS and Purdue Global on such a prominent platform. Her work highlights the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity within our academic and professional environments.
Congratulations to Nikki Williams and Angela Owens for their exceptional achievements and continued commitment to DEIB!
Click Here to Review The Recording: Belonging: The Bridge Between Authenticity and DEI
Recognizing Faculty Presenters at the McCabe Conference
Kirsten Meymaris, MS
Math Faculty
Nancy Reck, MED
Math Faculty
Shamma Grimmage, EDD
Professional Studies Faculty
Join us in aknowledging the contributions of our faculty members who presented at the 2024 McCabe Conference. Their dedication to enhancing the educational experience through innovative and inclusive practices is inspiring!
Make It Social. Make It Fun. Make it Math! High-Presence Online Teaching Tactics
Kirsten Meymaris and Nancy Reck: In this game-based, interactive session, Kirsten and Nancy shared practical tactics and methods for high-presence online education. They demonstrated how components of social interaction and fun can make seemingly insurmountable tasks, like passing College Algebra online, achievable. Watch the session recording. Passcode:!J7trSCS
We commend Shama Grimmage, Kirsten Meymaris, and Nancy Reck for their outstanding presentations and for sharing their expertise with the wider educational community!
Social Interaction in an Online Learning Community: Creating an Inclusive Online Classroom Environment
Shama Grimmage: This interactive session delved into the most recent studies on the value of an inclusive online learning environment. Participants left with a renewed appreciation for the importance of providing support for students equipped with practical strategies to foster inclusivity in their online classrooms. Watch the session recording. Passcode: b6%xA!pq
We commend Shama Grimmage, Kirsten Meymaris, and Nancy Reck for their outstanding presentations and for sharing their expertise with the wider educational community!
Faculty Publications
Navigating Environmental Academia in a Disabled Body: An Embodied Autoethnography of Ableism and Advocacy
Science faculty member Taryn Bromser-Kloden has just shared her newly published paper titled "Navigating Environmental Academia in a Disabled Body: An Embodied Autoethnography of Ableism and Advocacy."
This article was published in the Disability & Society journal, a prominent disability studies publication that focuses on debates around human rights, discrimination, policy, and practices. Taryn's work provides an exploration of the challenges and advocacy efforts within environmental academia from the perspective of someone with a disability.
We encourage you to read Taryn's paper and reflect on the important issues it raises regarding ableism and advocacy in our academic community. Congratulations to Taryn for this significant achievement!
Kirsten Meymaris, MS
Math Faculty
Nancy Reck, MED
Math Faculty
Earth Day Activity: Population Projections
As a follow-up to our Earth Day celebrations, we are pleased to share an insightful poster presentation titled "Earth Day Activity: Population Projections" by Kirsten K. Meymaris and Nancy C. Reck. This presentation was featured as part of our Earth Day activities and provides valuable insights into population projections and their environmental implications.
We encourage everyone to review this impactful work and consider the implications of population projections in our shared efforts toward sustainability.
Thank you to Kirsten K. Meymaris and Nancy C. Reck for their dedication and for sharing!
Celebrating Faculty Achievement: ACUE Certification
Join in celebration of our dedicated faculty members who have earned the ACUE Certificate in Effective Online College Instruction. These individuals have demonstrated their commitment to enhancing their teaching practices and improving student outcomes through rigorous professional development.
To earn this certification, our faculty members completed a comprehensive 25-module course, requiring them to learn about and implement new evidence-based teaching practices in their courses and reflect on their experiences. Aligned with the latest research in cognition and adult learning, ACUE’s courses cover over 200 evidence-based teaching practices. These practices include designing practical courses, establishing productive learning environments, using active learning techniques, promoting higher-order thinking, and utilizing assessments to inform instruction and promote learning.
Endorsed by the American Council on Education, this certificate provides concrete evidence of their educator expertise.
Join us in celebrating their achievements and commitment to excellence in college instruction. Congratulations to all the faculty members who have achieved this milestone!
Student Faculty Recognition
We are proud to acknowledge the following faculty members who have been recognized by our students through the Student-Faculty Recognition form found in all MaPS courses. This form allows students to recognize faculty members who have gone above and beyond, motivated and inspired them, and stood out as memorable contributors to their success at Purdue Global.
Thank you to these outstanding educators for their dedication and positive impact on our students' academic journeys. Your efforts do not go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated by both students and the MaPS community.
Congratulations to all the recognized faculty members! Keep up the excellent work in inspiring and motivating our students!
Taryn Bromser-Kloeden "Professor Bromser-Kloeden is an incredible instructor. She excels at facilitating passionate and engaging dialog within seminars. While encouraging critical thinking and open minded perspectives on often times difficult topics amongst student discussions. She has diversely unique experiences and studies that enhance her ability to apply a variety of applications bridging social, psychological, and scientific aspects to our course material. Some times you come across an instructor that seems born to teach. She's one of them."
Russell Fail "He was a great professor and kept coursework interesting and really facilitated a learning environment."
Dr. Regan "really cares about his students and their success. He took a topic that is dry, dull and boring, and for most of us have never experienced before and made it palatable. Also, he showed us how if we did the coursework correctly, we'd be miles ahead on the research required for our Captstone class. When any of us faltered, he offered his time and guidance to help us along and ensured we weren't left behind. He even offered opportunities for make-ups if we were lagging behind or missed anything. I truly enjoyed having him as a professor and wish he could be on my research committee!"
Professor Wink "is an amazing teacher. She provided all the resources I needed to succeed in her class. She was always there to help when I needed it. Her teaching style kept me motivated to be an amazing student. I would have her as my teacher for all classes if I could."
Stephanie Thompson"I had Professor Thompson as my PR500 Professional Global Communication instructor a year ago. She was actively engaged in our discussion boards and student success. The course material was great, but she was accommodating in my understanding of global communication and unconscious biases, so I still use the skills I learned in her course. I remember enjoying the seminar discussions as well. During one of the last few seminars, Professor Thompson called me out and asked me to share my tips with others about how I managed my time to stay successful in the course and at school. That was the first time that happened to me during my Purdue Global experience. I appreciated her feedback and kind words. One of the papers I wrote for her course was nominated for the 2022-2023 Purdue Global Writing Across the Curriculum Award. It felt great to have my work noticed because I worked hard on every assignment I have turned in at Purdue Global. I am returning the favor by calling her out for being a memorable contributor to my educational success. We need more instructors like Professor Thompson to stay motivated in our academic journeys."