Author Archives: johnewing

Severe Weather Emergency Preparedness

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As a reminder, the following is an excerpt from the USF Sarasota-Manatee Emergency Action Plan for appropriate actions to take in the event of severe weather.

Contact University Police  at (941) 487-4210 in the case of an emergency.

Severe Weather Safe Spots

All faculty, staff and students shall become familiar with Severe Weather Safe Spots, and shall know the location of the nearest Severe Weather Safe Spot for the areas that they frequent and their work/classroom area.

Facility Location Safe Spot
Building A Interior hallway away from west window walls and mini-rotunda; stairwells
Building B Interior hallway away from main rotunda and mini-rotunda; stairwells
Building C Interior hallway away from west window walls and main rotunda; stairwells
Building D Interior gallery hallway away from window walls; stairwells

National Walking Day – April 4th

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As we prepare for the annual American Heart Association Heart Walk later this year, I would like to take a moment to personally make you aware of National Walking Day.

Walking is so easy. Just put one foot in front of the other. Step by step, day after day, you walk to make progress. Every day we take thousands of steps to get where we need to go. Now we can take steps toward a healthy workplace and support the American Heart Association.

On Wednesday, April 4, USF Sarasota-Manatee will join the American Heart Association in celebrating National Walking Day. It is a day to challenge ourselves and our nation to get heart healthy, get fit and fight the No. 1 killer of Americans – heart disease.

To help in this fight, we will have an event on this day, “Walk Across Campus.”

http://www.startwalkingnow.org/documents/SavetheDatecard.pdf

I hope you will join in this event to help make USF Sarasota-Manatee a healthier campus community. Mark your calendars now. More details will be coming soon!

5th grade students invited to (SM)2ART Fair at USF Sarasota-Manatee

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On March 3, 2012 the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) will host the (SM)2ART Fair for 5th grade students.  (SM)2ART stands for Sarasota-Manatee Sensational Mathematical Art and was developed by Dr. Patricia Hunsader, Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Children’s Literature in the College of Education (COE) at USFSM along with a team of USFSM students majoring in Education at the university.

“At the USF (SM)2ART Fair, math, art, and fun will collide in an array of neon,” said Dr. Hunsader.  “Fifth-graders will experience over twenty-five hands-on mathematical art projects that allow them to explore shapes, symmetry, optical illusions, pop-ups, fractals, origami and more. This is math like you’ve never seen it – engaging, exciting, motivating…..and educational, too!”

This free event for 5th grade students will take place at USF Sarasota-Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail from 9:30-12:30pm on Saturday, March 3rd.  Space at the event will be limited and pre-registration is required.  The online registration form can be found at www.sarasota.usf.edu/smart.  Once registration is full, a waiting list will be developed.  Questions about the smart fair can be emailed to Dr. Hunsader at hunsader@sar.usf.edu.

The College of Education at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is home to undergraduate and graduate programs preparing those who enter the field of education as teachers and administrators as well as professionals who can assume roles in business, industry, and the non-profit sector related to education.  Our graduates are in demand throughout the state and region for their excellent preparation to impact learning.  The USF College of Education has been continuously accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).  To receive national accreditation, a college must meet the six NCATE standards.

Partnerships for Arts-Integrated Teaching (PAInT)

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Partnerships for Arts-Integrated Teaching (PAInT) is an initiative in the College of Education, designed to help students learn through arts integration in the classroom.  The mission of PAInT is as follows:

In partnership, we will: Set the stage for 5500 students in local schools each year to LEARN  through integration of the arts; LEAD educator preparation with arts-integrated teaching; INSPIRE other communities by the successes at USF Sarasota & Manatee; TRANSFORM colleges of education and learning in schools.

The PAInT Programs are:

Arts Partnerships: Bring artistic expertise into educator preparation courses, internships and local school classrooms

Artist-to-Teacher Scholarship: Enable artists to become certified educators through scholarships in our graduate programs

The INPAInT Digitized Resource Center: Provide an online resource of member-shared materials for learning through arts-integration

Evidence and Advocacy: Document and share how the PAInT approach adds value to learning

Continuing Education: Provide learning experiences for current educators to enhance their skills in arts-integration

Questions about PAInT can be directed to Dr. Liz Larkin in the College of Education – llarkin@sar.usf.edu.

Edwin Fuller, President of Marriott International, to speak at USF Sarasota-Manatee

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The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee School of Hotel and Restaurant Management will host its annual Linda Novey-White Memorial Lectureship on Tuesday, February 28th at 4:00pm in the Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.  Linda Novey-White was a founding member of the Advisory Board for the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management (SHRM) and this lectureship, featuring renowned keynote speakers known for the experience and leadership in the advancement of best practices and customer service in the hospitality industry, recognizes Ms. Novey-Whites contributions to the field.

The keynote speaker for this year is Mr. Edwin D. “Ed” Fuller, President and Managing Director of International Lodging for Marriott International, Inc.  Based at the company’s headquarters in Washington D.C., he has been in charge of international lodging since 1990.  Under his leadership, the business has grown from 16 properties outside the United States and Canada to over 350 hotels in 70 countries with another 175 hotels under construction.

Mr. Fuller will discuss leadership, the topic of his book, You Can’t Lead With Your Feet on the Desk.  The lecture is free and open to the public, however, due to limited seating, reservations are recommended.  Reservations and questions may be emailed to LNW@sar.usf.edu or visit www.sarasota.usf.edu/LNW to reserve your seat online.

Kudos

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Please join me in congratulating the College of Education Math Club and advisor - Dr. Patricia Hunsader – in achieving affiliate status for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).  There are only 21 student affiliate groups in the U.S. and USFSM COE is now the only student affiliate of NCTM in the state of Florida!  They will receive their charter at the Delegate Assembly on April 26 in Philadelphia.  From the NCTM website:

NCTM is a public voice of mathematics education, providing vision, leadership, and professional development to support teachers in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students. . . The  purpose of the affiliation partnership is to enhance both NCTM’s and its Affiliates’ ability to build effective relationships within their respective communities. Strong, open relationships with teachers, school leaders, parents, legislators, businesses, media, and others are all vital to the process of improving mathematics education. By working together through affiliation, we strengthen all our efforts.

Dr. Hunsader and her students’ commitment and accomplishments reflect the work USFSM COE is doing to strengthen STEM field education for our region.

(SM)ART Fair

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Do you have, know or work with any 5th grade students?  If so, make sure to tell them about the (SM)ART (Sarasota-Manatee’s Sensational Mathematical Art) Fair happening on campus on Saturday, March 3rd from 9:30-12:30.

This unique event will teach 5th graders about the connections between math and art through over 25 different creative, hands-on stations, including 3 Dimensional art, optical illusion art, string art, and more.  The event is free to attend, but registration is required and space is limited, so encourage the 5th graders you know to register early!

Online registration is available through www.sarasota.usf.edu/smart and questions can be directed to Dr. Patricia Hunsader in the College of Education (hunsader@sar.usf.edu).

Nominations needed by February 6th!

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Recognition is an important part of our culture at USF and this year our Outstanding Staff Award program has been enhanced to include the opportunity for team nominations in addition to individual nominations.  Additionally, a new award program has been established that focuses on our Student Success initiatives. Details on the awards and nomination process are outlined below:

NEW OUTSTANDING STAFF AWARD TYPES: Individual and Team

Individual: designed to identity a single outstanding employee’s accomplishments

Team: allow for recognition of a team of employees for its execution of a project, plan and/or initiative

Both individual and team award nominations focus on the standards of excellence set by the USF Values and the USF Standards of Service.

Each year, the University of South Florida’s Outstanding Staff Awards Program recognizes a number of exceptional employees who demonstrate a commitment to the pursuit of excellence and a level of performance that exceeds the values and standards of the university. Recognition is an important part of our culture at USF Sarasota-Manatee and the most prestigious award for Staff and Administration is the Outstanding Staff award. Nominees and our campus winner will be honored at our campus Faculty and Staff Recognition Event. This winner (team or individual) will also be recognized at USF System ceremony in March.

STUDENT SUCCESS AWARD:

This award specifically allows for the recognition of employees who have dedicated their time and services to promoting the success of a student or group of students. These nominations focus on the student success indicators and the student success mission. Nominations will be reviewed by the System Student Success Council.

Student Success Indicators demonstrate that the employee has:

  • Furthered students’ academic achievement.
  • Helped make education more accessible and/or affordable.
  • Contributed to the development of students’ skills in the areas of knowledge, communication and critical thinking.
  • Developed students both personally and professionally.
  • Recruited and/or retained students.

Nomination Process:

  • Complete the appropriate nomination from in its entirety and have it signed by the supervisor
  • Write your own letter of endorsement
  • Solicit an additional two letters of endorsement from other colleagues (a maximum of three letters including the nominator)
  • Submit the nomination form along with the letters of endorsement to Carolyn Dyson, Human Resource in B116, no later than February 6, 2012

All employees are encouraged to nominate staff/administrative employees who demonstrate the high standards of excellence expressed in the USF Values and Standards of Service and/or employees who promote the success of students.  Employees may be nominated for the individual and/or team Outstanding Staff Award and the Student Success Award (separate nomination must be completed for each award). Nominations should be submitted to Carolyn Dyson, Human Resources in B116 no later than February 6, 2011.

If you have questions, please contact Carolyn Dyson (cdyson@sar.usf.edu).

 

Community members tapped for PAInT Advisory Board at USF Sarasota-Manatee

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Several members of the community involved in either arts, education or both have been asked to join the PAInT (Partnerships for Arts Integrated Teaching) Advisory Board for the College of Education (COE) at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM).  The group has been tasked with making local connections that will help the College of Education (COE) begin developing curriculum centered on arts infusion.

Dr. Elizabeth Larkin, Professor of Childhood Education in the COE is the lead for this new initiative and is excited about what it will mean for students, both at the University and in the local schools.  “Our USFSM College of Education graduates will benefit from the faculty partnering with a variety of arts organizations and collaboratively exploring effective curriculum design and strategies for enhancing learning,” she said.  “We are focused on developing critical and imaginative literacies to help students listen carefully to different perspectives, reflect on professional practices, find innovative solutions by reframing problems, and express ideas with clarity and conviction. We will be documenting our work, and using the outcomes to build our programs.”

While the initiative is still in its early stages, the university has already incorporated several activities and events to its annual agenda that help make PAInT a reality.  In early February, the Children’s Literature Symposium, in its 6th year, will bring together educators for a two day workshop exploring variants in children’s media.  Then, in early March, 5th graders from around the county are invited to participate in the SMART Fair on campus, an event that allows students to make the connections between math and art by participating in hands on activities.  These events, along with classroom curriculum, faculty brainstorming sessions and involvement by the local arts community will continue to unfold this initiative.

“PAInT really does set us apart,” said Dr. Terry Osborn, Dean of the College of Education.  “It’s going to allow our students the opportunity, through their internships and teaching in the local schools, to take advantage of the tremendous resources we have in this community and take those to the classroom.  It will create a learning environment in our local schools like none other.  We are very excited about that.”

Members of the PAInT Advisory Board are: Shelly Dorfman with the Lincoln Center Institute; Nancy Roucher, a member of the Arts Education Task Force; Stephen Miles, Provost, New College of Florida; Judy Sedgeman, newly appointed Director at Manatee Tiger Bay; Johnette Isham, Executive Director of Realize Bradenton; Elizabeth Power, Executive Director of the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast; Robert Warren, Director of Education and Community Engagement at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall; Gregory Chesnut, Director of Music at First Congregational Church; Angela Hartvigsen, Fine Arts Program Specialist for the School Board of Sarasota County; and Sherry Lawrence, Curriculum Specialist, K-12 Arts & Gifted Education Director and Project STAGE for Manatee County Schools.

Recently COE faculty participated in a one day retreat led by Shelly Dorfman and Nancy Roucher where they were submerged into arts integrated learning.  The retreat utilized books, artwork, music and creative discussion to help the faculty members grasp how impactful arts integrated teaching can be.  Due to the successful nature of the discussion and experiences at the retreat, the COE has scheduled a follow up meeting to continue in their discussions and to begin to work through how these new tools will be integrated into their own teaching.

The College of Education at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is home to undergraduate and graduate programs preparing those who enter the field of education as teachers and administrators as well as professionals who can assume roles in business, industry, and the non-profit sector related to education.  Our graduates are in demand throughout the state and region for their excellent preparation to impact learning.  The USF College of Education has been continuously accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).  To receive national accreditation, a college must meet the six NCATE standards.