COPLAC

07/13/2020

Thank you to our colleagues who joined us for the virtual COPLAC Annual Meeting to share ideas, accomplishments, and challenges we are facing in this higher education landscape. As the keynote speaker, Dr. Mary Grant, Senior Administrative Fellow for Civics and Social Justice at Bridgewater State University, said, "Citizenship is at the heart of the liberal arts. Now is the time for us to deliver on our respective missions. It's time to collaborate in new ways."

Sign up for the COPLAC newsletter to stay engaged in this work: http://eepurl.com/ds84fX

06/28/2020

Higher education institutions across the United States are engaging with the Black Lives Matter movement and taking action to create more equitable campuses for Black and brown students. As high-quality, public liberal arts institutions, many COPLAC campuses are taking a close look at how they can identify and dismantle systemic racism in all of its forms at their institutions.

This is an ongoing resource page that we encourage COPLAC campuses to contribute additional content to by commenting below or contacting [email protected].

http://coplac.org/current-events/racial-justice-in-the-public-liberal-arts-conversations-actions-and-resources/

05/08/2020

Congratulations to our 2020 Winner of the Charles Dunn Award, Dr. Olympia Nicodemi, professor of mathematics at SUNY Geneseo! Learn more about Dr. Nicodemi's accomplishments and commitment to student success here: http://coplac.org/awards/

05/06/2020

Troy D. Paino column: The importance of community in times of COVID-19

"My hope is that we come out of this crisis with a better understanding of how meaning and purpose grow in direct proportion to how much we invest in other people’s lives, in how much we contribute to what Martin Luther King Jr. called the “Beloved Community” — a community built on the values of justice, equal opportunity and love for one’s fellow human beings." -Troy Paino, President of the University of Mary Washington

https://www.richmond.com/opinion/columnists/troy-d-paino-column-the-importance-of-community-in-times-of-covid-19/article_a63fab7a-1d94-57e0-9c21-5860ee39a640.html

Loneliness, isolation, social distancing. Our lives have been disrupted in ways we could not have imagined just a few weeks ago. While we know that now is not the time

05/04/2020

Congratulations to our 2020 Winner of the David J. Prior Award, Zoe Frantom, from Truman State University! Read Zoe's essay "A Merging of Passions" here: http://coplac.org/awards/

05/01/2020

Shepherd University winter crop to help those unable to work during COVID-19

The winter crop that has been growing in the greenhouse at Shepherd University’s Agricultural Innovation Center at Tabler Farm is going toward helping members of the community who are unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/special/coronavirus/shepherd-university-winter-crop-to-help-those-unable-to-work-during-covid-19/article_8872babf-bd20-515f-82ac-366d18ae0592.html

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — The winter crop that has been growing in the greenhouse at Shepherd University’s Agricultural Innovation Center at Tabler Farm is going toward helping members of the community

04/29/2020

UMW professor's online support group goes global

By the end of the first day of its existence, 3,000 people had joined the group and now, the Higher Ed Learning Collective has 25,000 members in more than 100 countries and has accumulated 400,000 posts, comments ,and reactions.
https://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/umw-professors-online-support-group-goes-global/article_7e09c384-a8fd-5b64-8748-498a7bdb18e1.html

John Broome didn’t realize that the Facebook group he created had gone global until a professor in Australia noted that there, the current semester isn’t “Spring 2020” but “Fall 2020.”

04/27/2020

#FLCtogether

Fort Lewis College faculty, staff, and assorted pets welcome students back for a historic and virtual end of term.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WzVMNtPfXc

FLC staff, faculty, administration and assorted pets welcome our students back for a historic & virtual end of term!

04/24/2020

Shepherd University | FASTEnER lab to make protective face shields for first responders, medical providers

"I am very grateful to our talented faculty and staff who are working tirelessly to create critically needed medical supplies using innovative technology to combat the COVID-19 virus."
https://www.shepherd.edu/news/fastener-lab-to-make-protective-face-shields-for-first-responders-medical-providers/

The official Web site of Shepherd University, a liberal arts institution located one hour from Washington, D.C., in historic Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

04/22/2020

How to Help Struggling Students Succeed Online

"As instructors across the country move to remote teaching, many are worried about students who are already at a disadvantage. How can professors support them during this challenging time?"
https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-to-Help-Struggling/248325

Remote learning is tough on many students, but for disadvantaged students it can be even harder. Two experts offer advice on how to continue to support your students throughout the experience.

04/20/2020

Community and UNC Asheville Volunteers Come Together to Protect Health Care Providers and Help Curtail COVID’s Spread - Stories from UNC Asheville

In an effort that is at once high-tech and homemade, a loose-knit group of people in the Asheville community and at UNC Asheville are working as volunteers to fabricate and donate personal protective equipment to health care providers in Asheville and beyond to help protect against spread of COVID-19.
https://stories.unca.edu/community-and-unc-asheville-volunteers-come-together-to-protect-health-care-providers-and-help-curtail-covids-spread

In an effort that is at once high-tech and homemade, a loose-knit group of people in the Asheville community and at UNC Asheville are working as volunteers to fabricate and donate PPE (personal protective equipment) to health care providers in Asheville and beyond to help protect against spread of C...

04/17/2020

Events – BRAINworks

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Berkshire Cultural Assets Network members are in the process of launching the BCAN Creative Challenge Series, a new way for people of all ages to be creative at home during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
http://brainworks.mcla.edu/events/

Events Calendar Home of the BCAN Creative Challenge Series: Stay home, stay safe, and stay creative! This series is an opportunity to stay creative with Berkshire arts and cultural organizations! Check back on Tuesdays and Thursdays for new challenges. Click on the calendar dates to view the latest....

04/15/2020

Eastern Makes, Donates Masks in COVID-19 Relief Effort

Looking for ways to help during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, a team of volunteer "seamstresses" from Eastern Connecticut State University has collaborated to produce face masks for organizations on the frontlines of the health care emergency.
https://easternct.meritpages.com/news/eastern-makes--donates-masks-in-covid-19-relief-effort-/15082

Looking for ways to help during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, a team of volunteer "seamstresses" from Eastern Connecticut State University has collaborated to produce face masks for organizations on the frontlines of the health care emergency. T...

04/13/2020

Truman Faculty Messages of Encouragement

In the wake of in-person classes being suspended for the remainder of the semester, Truman reached out to faculty members so they could provide messages of encouragement to students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=ULIk5RRQERk&feature=youtu.be

In the wake of in-person classes being suspended for the remainder of the semester, Truman reached out to faculty members so they could provide messages of e...

04/13/2020

How to Recover the Joy of Teaching After an Online Pivot

"Slow down from time to time and take note of what feels good and bad about your online pivot."
https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-to-Recover-the-Joy-of/248314?cid=wcontentgrid_hp_9

It’s only natural to feel a letdown once the initial frenzy of moving courses into a virtual classroom passes.

03/13/2020

Public Health Major Prepares for Journey to Zambia after Graduation

“The whole idea of promoting health at a bigger scale and not just focusing on one individual is what I like most about the curriculum. I like the idea of helping a whole bunch of people before they get sick.”

https://www.keene.edu/news/stories/detail/1582640181877/

There are many paths Keene State students take after graduation to launch a career. For senior Andrew Reilly, that journey will start in Zambia. The public health major will be embarking on an adventure volunteering with the Peace Corps after he graduates in May. Andrew’s interest in public health...

03/11/2020

Virtual reality ‘field trips’ for students created by Georgia College team | Georgia College News and Events

Georgia College professor creates new opportunities for students to learn topics like science and history using virtual reality field trips.

https://frontpage.gcsu.edu/article/news/virtual-reality-%E2%80%98field-trips%E2%80%99-students-created-georgia-college-team

Submitted by Brittiny Johnson on Mon, 2020-02-24 15:10 Facebook Google Plus Reddit Twitter  Chris Greer works with the 360-degree camera. Teachers face a host of challenges to engage students in the classroom. With new technology at their fingertips, children crave innovative ways of learning. G...

03/09/2020

UM alumna becomes first female African American presiding judge in Alabama - The University of Montevallo

University of Montevallo alumna Elisabeth French ’93 has become the first female African American presiding judge in the state of Alabama.

https://www.montevallo.edu/um-alumna-becomes-first-female-african-american-presiding-judge-in-alabama/

University of Montevallo alumna Elisabeth French ’93 has become the first female African American presiding judge in the state of Alabama after she was recently selected to serve at the helm of the Jefferson County judicial system. She will replace Judge Joseph Boohaker who is retiring at the end ...

03/06/2020

Washington Center Summer Institute for Improving Undergraduate Education | The Washington Center

The Washington Center Summer Institute for Improving Undergraduate Education will offer your campus team the time and support to develop a two-year action plan for your campus initiative.
http://wacenter.evergreen.edu/institute

Washington Center Summer Institute for Improving Undergraduate Education Don't miss the March 25 priority deadline for team applications. Do you have an important campus project that hasn't quite taken flight? Do you need help bringing the right people together to address issues of significance for....

03/02/2020

Faith In Arts Institute

The first Faith in Arts Institute is convening at UNC Asheville. This intimate, immersive institute will include workshops led by art historians and curators, writers and musicians, a choreographer/dancer, and scholars of religion and the arts. A limited number of scholarships for emerging artists and scholars are available.
https://faithinarts.unca.edu/

 Faith in Arts: An Exploration of the Intersections of Art, Faith, and SpiritMay 13-17, 2020The Faith in Arts Institute is presented by UNC Asheville and Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center with support from the Center for Jewish Studies at UNC Asheville, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institu...

02/12/2020

President Denise A. Battles and Dr. Michael Mills Create Endowment for Student Research | SUNY Geneseo

SUNY Geneseo President Denise A. Battles and her spouse, Michael Mills, director of national fellowships and scholarships, have created a $32,000 endowment to support student research.

SUNY Geneseo President Denise A. Battles and her spouse, Michael Mills, director of national fellowships and scholarships, have created a $32,000 endowment to support student research.

02/10/2020

UVA Wise adds four new majors this fall | UVA Wise

UVA Wise now has four new majors within the College’s Education Department so current students and prospective students have more academic choices and more career opportunities.

https://www.uvawise.edu/2020/01/28/uva-wise-adds-four-new-majors-fall/

UVA Wise now has four new majors within the College’s Education Department so current students and prospective students have more academic choices and more career opportunities. The new fields of study, which begin in Fall 2020, also give graduates with degrees in those academic programs prime opp...

02/08/2020

‘Teaching Gives Me Credibility With Students,’ Says an Administrator

“Teaching and learning is why we are here.” - Jeff McClurken, Chief of Staff at the University of Mary Washington

https://www.chronicle.com/article/teaching-gives-me/247883?fbclid=IwAR09mAuFs_jnKtNIjik83YLHI0eL7eOVAw5BWOKLonXDPpszanZM5HxJdgs

After Jeff McClurken became an administrator at the University of Mary Washington, the professor of history and American studies wanted to continue teaching.

02/06/2020

Liberal arts education: Waste of money or practical investment? Study’s conclusions might surprise you.

"She explains that critical thinking, writing skills, the ability to think across disciplines, the technical classwork, the internship experiences of students — all provide good preparation for the workforce and are things employers are seeking."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/liberal-arts-education-waste-of-money-or-practical-investment-studys-conclusions-might-surprise-you/2020/01/13/5a197b14-3649-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html

A Georgetown University study sought to evaluate long-term return on investment for liberal arts colleges in the United States.

02/04/2020

Thank you to our COPLAC colleagues who joined us and presented at the 2020 Winter Annual Meeting!

01/12/2020

2020 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs

Congratulations to Sonoma State University and SUNY Geneseo for being named "2020 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs" by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.
https://diverseeducation.com/article/163247/

Contact: Ralph Newell Phone: 703.385.2419 Email: [email protected] Fairfax, Va.— For the seventh consecutive year, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education is pleased to announce its report “The Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs” will be published in the March 5, 2020 editio...

11/30/2019

SUNY Geneseo student voting sees a huge increase

The number of students casting ballots on the SUNY Geneseo campus rose by almost 600%, according to a report released by the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement.

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/suny-geneseo-student-voting-sees-a-huge-increase/

SUNY Geneseo has been recognized by National Voter Registration Day for it’s student-led voter registration efforts. They also have been designated a voter friendly campus by the Campus Vote …

11/27/2019

Georgia College grant tackles nurse examiner shortage for sexual assaults

Funded by an $803,000 federal grant, Georgia College’s School of Nursing is working to narrow the gap between the number of sexual assaults and domestic violence victims and too few nurses trained in the specialized care of victims.

https://www.unionrecorder.com/news/georgia-college-grant-tackles-nurse-examiner-shortage-for-sexual-assaults/article_ebebea70-ff69-11e9-b351-d7bdabb3c2bd.html

Funded by an $803,000 federal grant, Georgia College’s School of Nursing is working to narrow the gap between the number of sexual assaults and domestic violence victims and too few

11/26/2019

Why hiring managers value a liberal arts education

"In any sector, some jobs will be highly technical while others will require creativity, good communication skills and analytical thinking – the very skills endowed by a liberal arts education."

https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/sponsor-story/midwestern-state-university/2019/11/04/why-hiring-managers-value-liberal-arts-education/4113838002/

Learn why a liberal arts degree is a real asset in the marketplace, today more than ever.

11/21/2019

UVa-Wise Honor the Future Campaign sets $100M goal

“This ambitious campaign is a pathway to inspiring incredible students by igniting their imagination to achieve dreams they never thought possible." -Chancellor Donna Henry

https://www.roanoke.com/news/education/uva-wise-honor-the-future-campaign-sets-m-goal/article_7b5bc531-ae9d-59ab-b9d8-86ef71631a96.html

WISE, Va. — The University of Virginia’s College at Wise launched its Honor the Future Campaign on Saturday and unveiled a goal to raise $100 million, according to a news

11/19/2019

UNC Asheville, BRCC create program for guaranteed entry

Blue Ridge Community College graduates now will have a direct admission option to North Carolina’s public liberal arts and sciences university with the Transfer Promise Program at UNC Asheville.
https://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20191105/unc-asheville-brcc-create-program-for-guaranteed-entry

Blue Ridge Community College graduates now will have a direct admission option to North Carolina’s public liberal arts and sciences university with