Author Archives: johnsojg

Seeking faculty to pilot e-textbook platform

From Carolyn Haynes, Associate Provost:

I am writing to you about a new and voluntary textbook initiative that could result in significant cost savings to your students as well as ensure that your students have their texts prior to the beginning of the semester or term.

Miami University recently secured a contract for the Unizin Engage platform. The Unizin Engage e-textbook platform allows students to gain easy access to the text via the faculty member’s Canvas Course site. Because Unizin has a partnership with Canvas, the textbook is integrated into the course site for easy viewing and access by students and faculty from day one of the course.

Students in the course will be sent an email informing them of the course text and how to access it via the Canvas course site. Unless students opt out of using this e-textbook, they will be billed via their Bursar account once the semester or term begins.

Students have the ability to highlight and annotate the text as well as download the full textbook and print out the entire book or portions of it on a copy machine. The faculty member will also be able to annotate the text and use the platform’s analytics feature to identify whether students are reading the text.

As part of the Unizin contract, Miami will join a consortium with other institutions using the platform such as the University of Michigan, Indiana University, Ohio State University and the entire Florida and Nebraska systems. The sheer size of this consortium enables Unizin to negotiate with all of the major textbook publishers to secure significant cost savings (60% on average) for students.

We are seeking faculty on the Oxford campus who would be willing to pilot the Unizin Engage e-textbook platform in the spring 2020 semester. Interested faculty should contact Caroyln directly ([email protected]).

Meet Clinton Kelly during his visit to Miami

As part of Miami’s Lecture Series, we often get the opportunity for special events with the guest speakers. Those interested in potentially joining a small-group seminar or dinner engagement with Clinton Kelly on April 8 should let me know as soon as possible. From Lana Rosenberg, Chair of the Lecture Series:

Clinton Kelly is best known for co-hosting ABC’s daytime hit The Chew and TLC’s What Not to Wear. As moderator on ABC’s food-centric The Chew, Kelly hosted cooking and style segments. For ten years, he co-hosted What Not to Wear, the longest running primetime series on TLC, where he offered honest style advice with a sense of humor.

Among his books are Freakin’ Fabulous On a Budget and Freakin’ Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate and Generally Be Better Than Everyone Else. Previously Kelly was a New York based magazine editor and freelance writer; he received a Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s in Communications from Boston College.

Kelly is a sought-after fashion guru who empowers his audience to revamp their wardrobe and revamp their lives: “Looking good is everyone’s inalienable right. I’m interested in helping real people develop a sense of style that’s understandable for them and appropriate for their lifestyle.” His lecture is titled “Dressing the Body You Have, Not the Body You Want.”

Relay For Life faculty participation request

Grace Tomlinson, President of Colleges Against Cancer at Miami, asks for your (faculty) help for Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser:

We are looking for professors to volunteer for a “Pie a Professor” fundraiser from 7pm-9pm on April 5th. These volunteers would come for a portion of that time slot and be pied in the face with a plate of whipped topping in order to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Student’s would pay $3 to pie their professors. We will provide all of the supplies needed for the fundraiser

Anyone interested can reach out to Grace (tomlingk) to sign up or get more information.

John Dovidio speaking at Wittenburg University, March 27

Stephanie Little, Chair of Psychology at Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio invites us to two invited lectures by John F. Dovidio, Professor of Psychology and Public Health at Yale University. He will present “Why Can’t We All Get Along? The Challenges of Race Relations in America” onn Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. in Bayley Auditorium (Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center). He will also present a colloquium, “Included But Invisible? The Intergroup Consequences of Colorblindness for Immigrant and Racial Minority Groups,” at 4:00pm (same location). She writes:

Although John F. Dovidio may best be known by the public for his expert commentary on the ABC series, “What Would You Do?” with John Quinones, Dr. Dovidio is widely recognized in the scientific community as a preeminent social psychologist, winning the Donald T. Campbell Award in Social Psychology in 2011 for career contributions to the field and the Kurt Lewin Award in 2004 by the Society for the Study of Social Issues for scholarly accomplishments.

Dr. Dovidio, along with his long-time collaborator, Samuel L. Gaertner, uncovered evidence supporting the notion of “aversive racism,” where well-intentioned Whites who see themselves as egalitarian and fair-minded toward African Americans may nevertheless harbor unconscious negative thoughts and feelings that can often result in discriminatory behavior. Because such discriminatory behavior is antithetical to their conscious beliefs, they tend to rationalize and deny that their negative behavior toward African Americans is racist. Such subtle forms of racism have recently become popularized and introduced into the public forum as implicit, as opposed to explicit, racism.

Dr. Dovidio not only identifies and illustrates modern forms of prejudice and their consequences through empirical investigations, he also demonstrates mechanisms for ameliorating their negative effects. For example, using their “Common Ingroup Identity Model” of intergroup relations, Dr. Dovidio and his colleagues have facilitated processes which can enhance trust and adherence to medical advice among White physicians and Black cancer patients. These procedures may ultimately be applicable to a wide range of problems confronting our multicultural society.

Join the Diversity Interest Group

From Akanksha Das, who is organizing a new group with JJ Togans:

Based on feedback and interest we are going to be starting a “Diversity Interest Group” to facilitate conversations around diversity science, fostering an inclusive environment in our department, and/or anything else pertaining to diversity in the field of psychology.

If interested in joining, please take a look at the survey below to indicate your availability for an hour meeting on a biweekly basis. Please fill this out before Spring Break so we can identify a time for our first meeting for when we return!

http://whenisgood.net/diversityinterestgroup

Diversity & inclusion events next week

Racial Legacies and Learning
When: Monday, 3/18 @ 6-9pm
Where: Hamilton Campus, Harry T. Wilks Conference Center
Description: Dr. Karla Scott, from Saint Louis University, will present a talk related to her research on and advocacy for “giving voice to the lived experiences of Black women.”

Women’s Journeys, Women’s Voices: The Refugee Experience in America
When: Tuesday, 3/19 @ 10-11am
Where: Middletown Campus, Johnston Hall 142
Description: “Come and listen to the experiences of local women who started their journey in the United States as refugees. Following the presentations, a light lunch will be served for guests and participants.”

Holocaust and Genocide Education Council Tabling
When: Tuesday, 3/19 @ 10am-3pm
Where: the Outdoor Seal
Description: Students for Israel at Miami and Hillel: Association of Jewish Students will host this tabling event, where attendees can stop by the table and learn what the Holocaust and Genocide Education Council is doing this year.

Women’s History: Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
When: Wednesday, 3/20 @ 12-1pm
Where: Middletown Campus, Gardner-Harvey Library Room 124
Description: “An autobiographical account of how the author, a botanist, found a sanctuary in science, and the disappointments, triumphs, and exhilarating discoveries of scientific work.”

Hamentashen Pass Out
When: Wednesday, 3/20 @ 12-3pm
Where: Armstrong
Description: Hillel: Association of Jewish Students will be passing out Hamentashens and teaching about the Jewish holiday, Purim.

Carmen Miranda: Bananas is my Business
When: Wednesday, 3/20 @ 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Middletown Campus, Johnston Hall 111
Description: This event will feature an “award-winning documentary about the life of 1940s film star and inspiration for the Chiquita Banana logo.”

Tools for Respect, Dialogues, and Diversity (part 1 of 2)
When: Thursday, 3/21 @ 2:30-4:30pm
Where: 320 Laws Hall
Description: “This two workshop series…will build skills in facilitating respectful and productive dialogues across diverse people and diverse topics.” Note that this workshop will feature members of our Department, including Jen Green, Kathryn Smith, and Deborah Wiese. Also note that registration is limited to the first 20 registrants. Register here.

Diversity & Inclusion Teach-in, April 5

The department’s third annual Diversity and Inclusion Teach-In is on Friday, April 5th from 3-5PM in Room 125. This event is a unique opportunity to learn about and discuss important issues facing our department, campus, and society. I encourage you to attend and spread the word! This year’s event will feature four presentations and discussions on the following topics:

  • “Modifying Intergroup Anxiety” – Marie Parsons
  • “Ageism and Mental Health” – Annika Goldman
  • “Confronting Racist Incidents on a College Campus: Who Should Respond, How, and Why” – Alejandro Trujillo
  • “Culture and Help-Seeking: Collecting Cross-Cultural Data at Miami” — Sarah Dreyer-Oren

Dr. Ferber faculty seminars on diversity & inclusion

Dr. Abby Ferber will be on campus for two days next week to give a public lecture (included in Lauren’s weekly roundup) as well as some other programming specifically for faculty. Dr. Ferber is a Professor of Sociology and Women’s and Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado, and Co-founder and Director of the Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion. The Center is the home of The Knapsack Institute: Transforming Teaching and Learning, and the international journal Understanding and Dismantling Privilege, the first and only journal dedicated to examining privilege. Her presentations and workshops include:

Becoming More Inclusive Educators; Tuesday, March 12, 1:15-2:35 – Lunch in UPH 351, Talk in UPH 361 (for Faculty)
Description: This workshop will examine common problems in the classroom, that faculty are often unaware of, but impact already vulnerable and marginalized students. We will examine tools and strategies to create more inclusive classroom environments, no matter what the subject of the course is. We will briefly discuss proactive measures, implicit bias, stereotype threat and microaggressions, which consist of the indignities, disrespect and hostilities that individuals, who belong to marginalized groups face, on a daily basis.

Civil Dialogue and Respect in the Classroom and Beyond: Problems and Solutions; Tuesday, March 12, 2:50-4:10 – UPH 364 (Workshop for Faculty and Administrators)
Description: As social discourse becomes increasingly divisive, it is essential that faculty and administrators understand the complex issues, develop proactive solutions to create civil dialogue in the classroom and on campus, and to provide students with the skills they need to communicate and treat others with respect, even those they most disagree with. In addition, it is essential that we examine strategies that protect our most vulnerable students and faculty, and provide support as they navigate these dynamics.
4:30-6:30 Reception SHRIVER-Main Floor What We Must Remember: A Call to Action

Why Bring Disability into the Curriculum? Wednesday, March 13, 8:30-9:30am – Breakfast in UPH 351, Talk in UPH 365 (for Faculty)
Description: Do you teach about race, gender, or other oppressed groups? Disability is a latecomer to Intersectionality discourse, or the interplay of multiple oppressions, but is relevant to teaching any classes that deal with one or more forms of oppression or privilege. Disability studies is an exciting field that has exploded in the past two decades, and much of the literature in disability studies is intersectional. However, many of us who use the concept of Intersectionality do not include disability, or include it only as term. We will examine concrete examples that demonstrate the importance of including disability more fully in order to really understand these other systems of inequity.

Myths and Misconceptions About White Privilege; Wednesday, March 13, 1:15-2:35 – Lunch in UPH 365 (for Faculty and Students)
Description: White privilege has increasingly entered public discourse and become a divisive and controversial subject. The term has been used and misused in partisan political media. We will examine the definition and concept of white privilege rooted in scholarship, as well as the most common myths and forms of resistance faced in talking about white privilege. Finally, we will explore some methods for responding to these misconceptions.

Diversity & inclusion events next week

Dr. Richard Southall: The NCAA Collegiate Model of Athletics: Institutional Racism in an Amateur Disguise
When: Monday, 3/11 @ 6-7:50pm
Where: 001 Upham Hall
Description: Dr. Southall will present a talk as part of the Penny Lecture 2019 series on Race, Sport, and Social Justice.

Further than Falafel: Israeli Dinner and Discussion
When: Tuesday, 3/12 @ 6-7:30pm
Where: 1086 Armstrong
Discussion: Hillel: Association of Jewish Students and Students for Israel at Miami will host a free dinner where attendees will discuss the topic of “What is going on with Israel’s April 9th elections?”. All opinions, backgrounds, and viewpoints are welcomed.

Women’s Read-In/Makerspace
When: Wednesday, 3/13 @ 10am-5pm
Where: King Library, third floor (CDS/room 303)
Description: “The Women’s Center and University Libraries are partnering to celebrate National Women’s History Month with a Women’s Read-in/MakerSpace. The event offers presentations on various aspects of women’s ‘herstory’ as well as creative workshops including vision boards, yarn crafts, button making, rock wrapping, book binding, zine making, and more.”

Hate and Hate Speech Lecture
When: Wednesday, 3/13 @ 4:30pm
Where: 152 Shideler Hall
Description: “As part of the Sherry Corbett Memorial Lecture Series, this afternoon lecture will examine the difference between free speech, hate speech, and academic freedom.” The lecture will also include “discussion on possible responses to this increasingly tense and hostile conflict.”

Safe Zone 101 Training
When: Thursday, 3/14 @ 1-3:30pm
Where: Armstrong Student Center room 2078
Description: Safe Zone 101 trainings are open to students, faculty, and staff, and provide attendees with more information about LGBTQ-inclusive language, being an ally to the LGBTQ community, and resources available for LGBTQ people on campus. Register for the training here.

Deliberate Dining
When: Thursday, 3/14 @ 5-7pm
Where: Marcum Center (951 E Withrow St)
Description: Hillel: Association of Jewish Students is hosting this dinner that is “bringing people of all different faiths together.”

White Day Party
When: Thursday, 3/14 @ 6-8pm
Where: 226 Upham Hall
Description: The Japanese Culture and Language Club is hosting this event to celebrate the White Day Japanese holiday. The celebration will include chocolates, crafts, and a movie screening.