National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual celebration that recognizes the incredible contributions made by this global industry for which Tourism is an economic driver that supports jobs and careers at every level while leading the way in sustainability efforts to support our fragile environment.

This year, National Travel and Tourism Week was held May 19-25, 2024, and on Tuesday, May 21, Tourism and Hospitality Course Leads Mimi Gough and Julie Dort hosted the 3rd Annual NTTW Webinar. Special guests included Camrynn Mahon and Yvette Gibson-Dopwell, Purdue University Career Specialists and Amanda Guido, Cvent Senior Learning & Development Specialist who shared information about careers and credentials available to PG students. All participants at this event were eligible to win some exciting prizes during the trivia contests and four students were winners!

There were two identical 1-hour sessions held, one during the day and another in the evening. If you want to check out the evening session, just click on this link. For any questions regarding the TH concentrations, please contact the course leads: Mimi Gough at mgough@purdueglobal.edu or Julie Dort at jdort@purdueglobal.edu

My years of experience with Kaplan/Purdue system has helped me better understand and accept the “real” world of academia that was offered to me 20 years ago.  The Dean of Bus/IT, Dr. Jeff Buck, has taken the lead in fostering open communications with the faculty community. During my tenure time with the organization, I can attest to the openness and sincerity Jeff has portrayed in getting to know us during the fireside chat meetings. Jeff expects us to pursue the same with no strings attached.

Participating and collaborating during school-sponsored fire-chats, committee opportunities, clubs, and publications have contributed to my personal and professional growth. The knowledge gained throughout these associations has left an indelible spot in my teaching approaches while also leaving space for further inquiries. Most of these experiences have trickled down to my learners in ways otherwise not possible. The fireside chat provides a unique opportunity to meet and recognize areas of mutual interests as well as areas requiring considerations for improvements. It also validates that we are a family supporting the professional stature of the Purdue Global organization. Getting to know everyone more directly has been my greatest reward.

I profess that our life revolves on numbers and relationships. “In the most granular form, only two mutually inclusive entities rule our existence, “numbers and relationships”. Everything else is incidental and non-binding.” Each of us plays a critical role in this equilibrium. 

Thanks again for the opportunity to share.

My pleasure and honor.

Gus

As a researcher, I actively seek opportunities to contribute to peer-reviewed book chapters in project management and strategic leadership. This involves staying updated on current literature and networking within academic circles to identify potential collaborations and upcoming publications. I believe in the collective sharing of knowledge and the significance of disseminating research findings through this medium. 

Writing book chapters allows for a deep exploration of specific topics, presenting comprehensive analyses and insights that contribute to scholarly discourse. The process demands rigorous research and writing, requiring meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to academic integrity. I value the opportunity book chapters provide to delve into complex ideas. Unlike journal articles, they offer more space for a thorough treatment of topics, enabling nuanced arguments and comprehensive examinations of key issues. 

This flexibility also allows for diverse structures and styles, fostering engaging narratives that provoke thoughtful reflection. Contributing to edited volumes exposes me to diverse perspectives and methodologies, enriching my scholarly practice and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. Through my work, I aim to inspire other faculty members to embrace this mode of scholarly communication and contribute their unique insights to the academic conversation.

Simon Cleveland, Ph.D., Ed.D., PMP, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, SSBB
Professor, Project Management
School of Business & Information Technology

Reminder: Mandatory Alternative Assignment for Canceled Seminars

As a reminder, faculty must assign an alternative activity for any canceled seminar, including seminars not held due to a university-recognized holiday. 

Faculty must not grant points to a student for an assignment or seminar that was canceled or otherwise not completed by the student. Awarding unearned points can result in students receiving a failing grade when they should have been withdrawn from the course. 

If a seminar is canceled, faculty must post instructions on completing an alternative assignment in the classroom announcements and email the information to students. Students should be directed to ask their instructor questions about the alternative assignment.

Upcoming university-recognized holidays include: 

·  Juneteenth: Wednesday, June 19

·  Independence Day: Thursday, July 4

View the complete holiday schedule for additional dates. Faculty with questions about alternative assignments should reach out to their academic chair.

The School of Business and Information Technology (SBIT) Academic Innovations Committee wants to build a Course Lead Technology and Resource Repository. This repository would store an array of resources, templates, open source materials, and include documentation and tutorials on best practices for teaching, learning, and curriculum design.

Your insights are crucial as we aim to enhance collaboration and provide a user-friendly platform for hosting and distributing open-source educational resources. Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that are freely accessible and can be used, adapted, and shared. OER can include textbooks, lecture notes, quizzes, videos, tutorials and other educational content.

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on course revisions and your development needs and challenges. 

Here is a link to the survey: https://forms.gle/eZFurBmx4pGvsRoVA