Category Archives: Undergrad

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Support for writing and service learning

In preparing your courses and other pursuits, please keep in mind the valuable resources offered by the Howe Center for Writing Excellence and the Office of Community Engagement and Service.

A selection of Howe Center services, from Liz Wardle, Director, Howe Center:

  • Workshops for faculty about writing
  • Faculty can also sign up to participate in writing groups in order to make progress on their own writing, or to attend a writing “boot camp.”
  • We also support graduate students with dissertation completion groups and writing boot camps.
  • On our website you can find statements for your syllabi about writing center usage, as well as videos to introduce your students to the writing center services.
  • You can join the HWCE mailing list here.

Services from Community Engagement and Service, from Christie Zwahlen, Director:

The Miami University Service-Learning Designation Committee (SLDC) is now accepting Service-Learning class proposals for the Spring and Summer 2018 terms. Miami defines Service-Learning (SL) as “an experiential pedagogical practice that uses action and reflection to meet needs and enhance learning through mutually beneficial, reciprocal partnerships”. Note that a syllabus is NOT required at the time of submission. Due Wednesday, September 20, 2017. [Upcoming Service-Learning Workshops for Faculty are co-sponsored by CTE and available on either website.]

Finally, Faculty from all Miami campuses are invited to submit a proposal for the first-ever Miami SOUP, a mini-granting dinner which celebrates and supports innovative and transformative community change projects in Southwest Ohio. Teams of campus and community partners are eligible to apply. Proposals are due Sunday, September 24.

Four proposals will be chosen as finalists to present their ideas LIVE before a voting audience hungry for soup and change on Saturday, October 21. First prize will receive a minimum of $2,000 + donations; second prize will receive a minimum of $1,000 + donations. Mini-grants are one-time (not yearly recurring) awards.

Career development for your students

Two major things to note for professional and career development for your (undergraduate) students. First, we have a new career center liaison, Shelby Ballard, to help you with any aspect of advising, course development, etc. Second, Ginger has developed a new career development course that is offered online in the fall and thus easily accessible to students on all campuses. From Ginger:

Career Development in Psychology and Related Social Sciences (PSS 211, 2 cr.) is appropriate for all majors, especially those in the social sciences and helping professions. The course includes:

  • Make the most of your degree and your college years, both in and out of the classroom
  • Lay out a 3-, 4-, or 5-year (or whatever your timeline is) plan for your courses toward graduation
  • Understand what employers are looking for
  • Prepare your professional documents (e.g., resumes and cover letters) for the job market
  • Consider and explore graduate school options
  • Practice interviewing skills

Support the neuroscience curriculum! #MoveInMiami

Sheep brain dissections in PSY251 teach students the basics of neuroanatomy and help conceptualize the 3-dimensional structure of the brain. This experience creates a strong foundation for all upper-level neuroscience courses.

The second of our #MoveInMiami projects is to support the undergraduate neuroscience curriculum; the related page can be found here, and states:

Neuroscience is one of the most demanding fields in medicine and research, and is also incredibly popular among Miami undergraduates. Enrollment in the neuroscience co-major has steadily increased since its inception.

The behavioral neuroscience fund will expand experiential learning experiences across the neuroscience curriculum in the Psychology Department, including 200, 300, and 400 level courses.

Stay tuned for more about how you can help with this effort as well as the graduate student travel fund, our other #MoveInMiami project. This project was previously announced in this post describing the campaign.

Seeking CPI associates for fall

Do you have RAs, advisees, or other notable undergraduates that would work well as CPI associates? Contact Christina Fitzpatrick; she writes:

The Center for Psychological Inquiry (CPI) is looking to recruit talented students to become CPI associates. CPI associates sign up for 1 credit hour of independent study and assist other students with homework and general questions. If you have any current or previous students that you think will be interested in this opportunity please email Christina Fitzpatrick.

Who are your accomplished alums?

CAS is maintaining a list of your most interesting undergrad and grad alumni, for featuring alumni profiles in newsletters, websites, and other communications. The department can also make use of these to benefit programming ranging from events, to class visits, to hosting during conferences.

Think about some of the “success stories” among your academic lineage, as well as undergraduate RAs and other close advisees, who may be in industry, government, or NGOs. CAS asks you to reach out to them and have them complete the information here so CAS can edit them into narrative alumni profiles. The new format can be previewed here.

Department flyer

Each year, Jason Barone (CAS communications) produces flyers for each department. These are targeted at prospective and incoming students, and used by CAS advising for students indicating an interest in changing/adding majors. Vaishali worked with Jason to update the flyer, which can be found here. Feel free to use as you see fit.

Regional neuroscience symposium

The 2017 Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Regional Symposium (mGluRs) will be held at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH on Saturday, September 30, 2017! This is a regional academic conference, exclusively for undergraduates, where students can present their neuroscience-related research, learn about work being done at other colleges and universities, and engage in professional development seminars. There will also be workshops for faculty who teach undergraduate neuroscience courses.

Details about the conference, registration and more will be posted soon on the conference webpage: mglurs.org. Registration & Abstract submission opens July 14.