2021 Provost's Office Message Archive

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

 FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

 SUBJECT:                   Chair, Department of Organization, Workforce and Leadership Studies

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Shetay Ashford-Hanserd as the Chair of the Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies (OWLS), effective February 1, 2022.

 Dr. Ashford-Hanserd joined the Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies at Texas State University in 2016 as an Assistant Professor, receiving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2021.  Dr. Ashford-Hanserd earned a B.S. in Computer Science in 2000 and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Career and Workforce Education in 2016 from the University of South Florida.  In addition, she holds graduate certificates in Project Management and Program Evaluation and earned an M.S.I.S. degree from the Occupational Education program in OWLS in 2011.  That same year, she was the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Researcher award in OWLS.

 Dr. Ashford-Hanserd worked for 13 years in the Information Technology (IT) sector as an intern, technical trainer, IT consultant, and global training program manager with Fortune 500 multinational corporations, including General Electric, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Dell Technologies.  She has served as PI or Co-PI on nearly $2.8M in federal research projects from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Department of Agriculture.  She is an award-winning professor and scholar recognized as one of Alpha Chi’s Favorite Professors for 2018 and as an NSF CAREER scholar, which is “NSF’s most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who demonstrate potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.” 

Dr. Ashford-Hanserd’s research agenda primarily focuses on broadening participation of women of color and historically underrepresented minorities in the U.S. P-20 (preschool, K-12, undergraduate, graduate) STEM (science, technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, mathematics) and Computing (STEM+C) workforce ecosystem.  She has publications in a variety of outlets, including Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Emerging Issues and Trends in Education, Journal of Negro Education, Journal of Science Education and Technology, Journal of Transformative Leadership and Policy Studies, Social Sciences, and many others.

 Please join me in congratulating Dr. Ashford-Hanserd on her appointment as Chair of the Department of Organization, Workforce and Leadership Studies.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Interim Director, School of Art and Design

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jeffrey Dell as Interim Director of the School of Art and Design, effective January 3, 2022.

 Jeffrey Dell is a Professor in the School of Art and Design and has been the area head for Printmaking since he joined Texas State in 2000.  His classes cover screenprinting, relief, intaglio, lithography, and other forms of graphics, as well as thesis classes for Painting, Drawing, Expanded Media, and Print.  He served for just over a decade as Coordinator for the Studio Art and Foundations areas of the School of Art and Design.  Prior to working at Texas State University, Jeffrey was a Fellow for two years at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, Italy.  Jeffrey received his MFA from the University of New Mexico, and a BA in Ceramics from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.  His current work shows the influences of Japanese Ukiyo-E, abstraction, the patterns and perceptual experiences of Annie and Joseph Albers, science fiction, platform gaming, and investigations into how the human mind visually perceives the world.

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Dell on his appointment as Interim Director of the School of Art and Design.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Valarie B. Fleming

                                  Assistant Vice President, Curriculum and Academic Programs

                                  Chair, Director of Faculty and Academic Resources Search Committee

SUBJECT:                  Open Forums – Director, Faculty and Academic Resources

 

You are invited to attend open forums with the finalists for the position of Director, Faculty and Academic Resources.  This position is responsible for overseeing selected human resources functions for faculty at the university, advocating for services, policies, and practices that positively affect faculty, the division of Academic Affairs, and the university, and serving as an advisor to and partner with academic administrators and other campus stakeholders.

These forums will take place during the week of December 13, 2021.  The two candidates listed below will be available on the following dates and times via Zoom.  The sessions will include the opportunity to learn more about each candidate’s qualifications and interest in the position as well as a question-and-answer period.  

Monday, December 13, 2021

Candidate: Ms. Kristi Bonnin

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Please follow this Zoom link to join

Meeting ID:  987 3699 4530

Passcode:  117609

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Candidate: Ms. Jessica Chamberlain

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Please follow this Zoom link to join

Meeting ID:  997 4596 9816

Passcode:  934226

TO:                  Faculty and Staff

 FROM:           Gene Bourgeois

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

 SUBJECT:       Faculty Fellow - Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

  

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Aimee Kendall Roundtree as Faculty Fellow for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).  The ORSP Faculty Fellow appointment is designed to complement leadership development programs in higher education and provides direct, hands-on experience in learning all dimensions of research administration.  Dr. Roundtree currently serves as co-chair of the Council of Funded Research.  In her role as Faculty Fellow, Dr. Roundtree will collaborate with ORSP directors and other divisional support areas, provide outreach to faculty, and assist the Chief Research Officer with strategic research initiatives.  She will also work on projects related to research communication, benchmarking, and strategic planning.

Dr. Roundtree holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy from Trinity University and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas at Austin.  Dr. Roundtree joined the Texas State faculty in 2014 as an Associate Professor in the Department of English.  She was tenured and promoted to Professor in 2017.  She serves as Associate Dean of Research for the College of Liberal Arts.  She was the recipient of the Mariel M. Muir Excellence in Mentoring Award for 2021.  Prior to her employment at Texas State, Dr. Roundtree held positions in research consulting and administration at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies.  She has worked in communication and promotion for the Texas Medical Foundation and Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base.

Dr. Roundtree is an active researcher with expertise in STEM and research communication.  She has been awarded research grants, gifts, and contracts from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Texas Medical Foundation, the NEC Foundation, State Farm Foundation, and the Center for STEM Education.  Her work is rich in collaborations with researchers across disciplines on critical research involving STEM and medical communication.  She serves on the board of the Research Management Review, the peer-reviewed journal of the National Council of University Research Administration.

Dr. Roundtree is also a member of the 2021 cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program hosted by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.  The program prepares the next generation of higher education administrators to be effective leaders; to view every decision through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens; and to further their institutions’ path to equitable student and institutional success.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Roundtree on her appointment as ORSP Faculty Fellow.

Complimentary Tickets

Texas State University Students, Faculty, and Staff

FREE Texas State Students, Faculty, and Staff

For Information or to download tickets, login at Texas State Presents

Bajo sexto master Max Baca, cut his teeth with the hit-making, crossover band The Texas Tornados, founded GRAMMY award winning, LOS TEXMANIACS in 1997.  He sought to form a group that espoused the traditions of Tejano music he grew up with and combined them with elements of blues, rock, country and jazz.  He enlisted his nephew, Josh Baca, a highly skilled accordion player who, on Max’s urging, absorbed the fundamental style and repertoire of the deep Conjunto tradition – old-time Tejano polkas, redovas, chotises (schottisches), waltzes and huapangos – to create what Josh calls his “Texas gumbo – my own posole” (Mexican hominy soup).

6-time GRAMMY award winning FLACO JIMENEZ is one of few if any artists in conjunto and Tejano music to have received the level of critical acclaim he has enjoyed over the course of a career that's spanned six decades, and it's certain that no one has taken the accordion-fueled Tex-Mex sound to a larger audience than he has.  Without compromising his musical vision, Jiménez has introduced the traditional conjunto sound to mainstream pop and country listeners thanks to his collaborations with the Texas Tornados, Dwight Yoakam, and the Mavericks, and he is celebrated by adventurous rock fans through his work with Ry Cooder, Carlos Santana, Doug Sahm, and the Rolling Stones.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22 at 7:30P

EVANS AUDITORIUM (627 N. LBJ, 78666)

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION for Texas State students, faculty, and staff.

Texas State students, faculty, and staff can log in with their Texas State ID and password to download FREE General Admission Tickets for this event.

Coordinated through the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

*Performances designated as "University Arts” are funded through student service fees and is managed by a committee of faculty and staff appointed by the Texas State University Faculty Senate with the goal of bring performing arts to San Marcos that rivals arts programming offered in the world’s largest cultural centers.

The Texas State Presents web page contains a full list of events.  For more information, you may contact Texas State Presents.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Michael Blanda

                                    Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   The International Research Accelerator (IRA): An Internal Funding Opportunity at Texas State University - Spring 2022

 

The International Research Accelerator program is offered by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to support all faculty and staff members engaged in international research with the goal to increase global engagement opportunities for the campus community.  

The maximum amount of funding that can be requested is $15,000, and it is anticipated that 3-5 awards will be made this year depending on available funding to the program.  IRA funding is available for both new and existing projects.  Successful projects must have a strong international component, link to strategic goals of the university, and have viable and articulated research outcomes.  Given the uncertainty related to travel due to COVID-19 and the negative impact that travel restrictions may have on project execution, the IRA program will support existing and emerging international partnership development through virtual and other mechanisms.  Directing payments to international collaborators will be possible via a well-developed scope of work with defined deliverables.

The application guidelines can be found on the IRA website.

The due date for proposals is January 31, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. CST. 

NOTE: The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Pre- and Post-award do not provide support internal grants.  These offices provide exceptional service and support for external awards only.

For programmatic questions you may contact Dr. Michael Blanda via email at mb29@txstate.edu.  For technical support you may contact Dr. Yongxia Xia via email at ys11@txstate.edu.

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TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. John Fleming

                                    Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication

SUBJECT:                   TEDx Tickets On Sale

 

The Department of Communication Studies and its TEDxTexasStateUniversity Planning Committee invite you to our in-person TEDx event on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.  This is event runs from 1:00-4:30 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased on the Texas State Presents web page.

TEDxTexasStateUniversity is hosting six speakers who will be speaking on various subjects surrounding our 2022 TEDx theme Green.  Here is the list of TEDx speakers:

• David Yeomans - Three-time Emmy Award-winning Meteorologist and is the Chief Meteorologist at KXAN in Austin
• Dr. Larry Fulton - Professor in the School of Health Administration at Texas State University and sustainable home enthusiast
• Jaz Burgess - Texas State University alumna, financial mental wellness advocate, and the Founder and Executive Director of Hustle Meets Grace, an online wellness company
• Jayairus Bryant - A free-spirited 2nd grader at Cooper Elementary in Houston who possesses a unique combination of grit and wit
• Wren Vogel - Graduate student in Sustainability Studies at Texas State University researching upcycling applications of invasive flora found in the San Marcos area
• Ian McKenna - A 17-year-old youth hunger advocate and Master Gardener who has grown and donated over 20,000lbs of organic produce to help reduce food insecurity in his community 

The event will also include many audience activations and snacks during breaks and entertainment by local artists.  Local artist announcements will be made closer to the event via social media and the TEDxTexasStateUniversity website.

What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.  TEDxTexasStateUniversity wants to explore what’s green about our community and world.  Our talks, activations, and fine art performances will represent a variety of fields and perspectives including climate issues, technology, health, the arts, media, social sciences, the humanities, money, and the hard sciences.  We invite you to join us for a day of inspiration and conversation as we discover what it means to be green.

We hope you will join us at TEDxTexasStateUniversity.

For more information or questions email us at TEDxTXST@txstate.edu or visit the TEDx Texas State University web page.

TO:                             Current Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Andrea Golato

                                    Dean, The Graduate College

SUBJECT:                   Announcing the winners of the 2021-2022 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor and Master’s Thesis Awards

 

It is my distinct pleasure to inform you that we have selected the recipients of the 2021–2022 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award and the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Awards.

Dr. Jennifer Irvin, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the recipient of The Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award.  This award recognizes a faculty member who has had extraordinary success in mentoring graduate students.  Congratulations to Dr. Irvin for her excellent work!  I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Irvin’s colleagues and former students, who submitted very thoughtfully written letters which described in detail the tremendous positive impact of Dr. Irvin’s mentorship on her students’ careers. 

Hailey Collord-Stalder, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in Anthropology, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life and Biological Sciences.  Her thesis, Digital Microscopic Methods for Sharp Force Trauma in Burned Human and Nonhuman Remains, was directed by Dr. Nicholas P. Herrmann, Professor in the Department of Anthropology.  Congratulations to Hailey for her outstanding research!

Bonnie Stice, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in Professional Counseling, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Education, and Business.  Her thesis, The Lived Experiences of College Sugar Babies: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study, was directed by Dr. Paulina Flasch, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology.  Congratulations to Bonnie for her outstanding research!

Michelle Myers, who earned a Master of Science with a Major in Applied Sociology, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award.  Her applied project SARAH San Antonio: Evaluating Permanent Supportive Housing Outcomes, was directed by Dr. Toni Watt, Professor in the Department of Sociology.  Congratulations to Michelle for her outstanding research!

As the winners of these competitions, Dr. Irvin will receive $2,500 to be paid into her research account, while Hailey, Bonnie and Michelle will each receive $500.  All four will be recognized at The Graduate College’s award ceremony next April.  The Graduate College has also entered them into the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ respective competitions.

I would also like to acknowledge the following members of the graduate community: Drs. Herrmann, Flasch, and Watt for their exemplary mentorship and commitment to their students; and the faculty members, graduate students, and Graduate College deans who served on the award committees.  It was indeed inspiring to read about the excellent research and mentoring which is happening on our campus.  And to the entire graduate faculty, I thank you all for your steadfast commitment to graduate education on our campus. 

If you have questions about this award, feel free to contact me via email at agolato@txstate.edu.

Spread Holiday Cheer with a Texas State University Holiday Ornament

2021 Texas State University Holiday Ornament

Bring Texas State home with our newest collectible ornament.  This year’s ornament is a gorgeous maroon and gold pennant that connects the traditions of our past to the next generation of students who take the journey of becoming lifelong Bobcats.  This beautiful holiday keepsake also features an elegantly designed maroon gift box.

Your purchase of the holiday ornament helps to support scholarships that help Bobcats thrive and accomplish what’s NEXT.  Let us be a part of your family’s holiday tradition.  Purchase the 2021 Texas State University holiday ornament today!
Ornaments can be purchased online or in-person.  Sales begin Monday, November 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. and close Monday, December 13, 2021 at noon.

For in-person purchases, please allow 24-48 hours for order processing.  You will receive a confirmation email when your order is ready for pickup.  In-person pickup will take place at JCK 860 during standard business hours. 

For online purchases, please allow seven days for order processing.  You will receive a confirmation email when your order has been mailed.

Please note: credit/debit card only for all purchases.  Cash will not be accepted. 
For more information or questions, please contact umarketing@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Michael P. O’Malley

                                   Dean, College of Education
                                   Chair, Assistant Provost Search Committee

SUBJECT:                   Open Forums – Assistant Provost

 

You are being invited to attend open forums with the finalists for the position of Assistant Provost.  These forums will take place during the week of November 15, 2021.  The four candidates, listed below,
will be available on the following dates and times:

Monday, November 15   

Candidate: Dr. William Kelemen

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Please follow this Zoom link to join

Meeting ID:  959 6556 4760

Passcode:  545207

Tuesday, November 16

Candidate:  Dr. Matthew Brooks

Time:  10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Please follow this Zoom link to join

Meeting ID:  979 1680 4153

Passcode:  401022

Wednesday, November 17

Candidate:  Dr. Christine Sellers

Time:  3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Please follow this Zoom link to join

Meeting ID:  953 3012 9505

Passcode:  535903

Friday, November 19

Candidate:  Dr. Duane Knudson

Time:  1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Please follow this Zoom link to join

Meeting ID:  914 9390 6881

Passcode:  432538

TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Kristy Daniel, Chair, University Lecturers Committee

SUBJECT:                  Invitation to Submit Proposals to Sponsor Guest Lecturers for Fall 2022 and Spring 2023

 

The University Lecturers Committee (ULC) acts as a steward for a student activities fund that assists colleges, schools, departments, and campus organizations in sponsoring outstanding speaking engagements at Texas State University.  In the current submission cycle, limited funds are available on a competitive basis to bring distinguished speakers to our campuses for Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.    

Proposals must be submitted via email to facultysenate@txstate.edu by 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 4, 2022.  Before submitting a proposal, please contact the speaker or speaker’s agent to determine availability and fees.

Awarded funds cannot be transferred to a replacement speaker.  University Lecturers Series funds should be used only for speaker fees, and if needed, travel and accommodations.  Receptions, incidentals (such as printing, food, flowers), and other costs will not be funded by the University Lecturers program. 

The ULC will review proposals and assign a priority ranking to each based on the following considerations.  The evaluation rubric has been updated and we encourage all intending to submit a proposal to review the four rating categories and the percentages assigned to them.

Interest/Anticipated Attendance (25%)  

• Potential that Speaker/Topic will Attract a Diverse Audience  
• Potential to Reach a Wide University Audience (expectations of attendance will be adjusted for speakers at the Round Rock campus)   
• Potential to Reach a Community/External Audience  

Topic/Speaker Involvement (31.25%)  

• Plans to Involve the University Community in Scholarly Dialogue  
• Clear Connection on How Event will Advance University's Diversity Mission   
• National/International Accomplishments of Speaker provided in Biography  

Event Logistics (18.75%)  

• Established Contact with Speaker  
• Tentative Commitment by Speaker  
• Comprehensive Description of Event Planning   
• Comprehensive Description of Marketing Plan  

Collaboration/ Budget (25%)  

• Collaboration Across University Units  
• Joint Sponsorship  
• Commitment for Shared Funding   
• Budget Justification 

Proposals judged to merit funding will be approved in ranked order until funds are exhausted.  In order to support as many speakers as possible, awards are limited to no more than $3,000.

All funded applicants are required to provide a brief follow-up report to the Faculty Senate within one month following the event.

The application form, instructions, evaluation rubric, and lists of past awards are available on the University Lecturers Series web page.  Please note that only proposals submitted on the proposal form will be accepted.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Dr. Kristy Daniel, ULC Chair, or Ms. Valerie Anderson, Administrative Assistant to the Faculty Senate, at (512) 245-8323.

We look forward to receiving your proposals.  The University Lecturers Series offers a valuable opportunity for stimulating scholarly discussion at Texas State.  We anticipate notifying successful applicants via email no later than April 1, 2022.

TO:                             Faculty

                                    Staff

                                    Graduate Teaching Assistants/Doctoral Teaching Assistants

FROM:                        Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   End of Semester Plans for Instruction

 

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and final exams for fall 2021, I want to express my deep appreciation and pride in your dedication and commitment to the safe and healthy continuity of education and university operations.

Given low positivity rates for COVID-19 in Texas, surrounding counties, and the university as well as the widespread availability and use of vaccines, the university will be open for in-person instruction, services, and activities after Thanksgiving, including classes and final exams.  However, faculty do have discretion to change delivery modes for their individual in-person classes and final exams if they feel compelled to do so while considering the learning outcomes, remaining assignments, and student success factors for those classes.  Faculty should consult with their unit peers, program coordinators, and chairs/directors to discuss and share plans for class continuity and final exams should they decide to move their classes to remote/online instruction after Thanksgiving.

Thank you for your diligence as we maintain a healthy university community that ensures faculty, staff, and students are progressing toward their educational and professional goals.  Best wishes in the remaining weeks of the fall 2021 semester.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Parking and Traffic Plan for Fall 2021 Commencement

 

Texas State University is pleased to honor over 2,800 candidates in six commencement ceremonies to be held on Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11, 2021.  The ceremonies will be held in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center (UEC) on our San Marcos Campus.  As graduates, families, and the university community prepare to celebrate, please note the following announcements and recommendations.

Parking at Commencement

Parking is available for all attendees as indicated on the Commencement Parking Map.

Recommended parking for faculty and staff, with shuttle services, include:

• Lots A and B, located by Bobcat Stadium, will have shuttle bus service.
• Lot C, located adjacent to the UEC, is restricted to those with Limited Mobility.  Golf cart shuttles will be available to assist individuals in this lot.  This lot should be accessed from Charles Austin Drive via Hopkins Street.

Recommended park and walk lots for faculty and staff include:

• Lot D, across the street from the UEC.
• Garage F, at the corner of Edward Gary Street and University Drive.
• Garage H, at the corner of Pleasant Street and LBJ Drive.

All lots and garages listed above are free to those attending commencement.

Please be aware that if you are traveling southbound on IH35 and exit Aquarena Springs Drive you are advised to turn left on to Thorpe Lane and right on to Robbie Lane in order to access Lots A and B.  Traffic inbound to campus on Aquarena Springs Drive will not be able to make a left turn into Commencement Parking Lot D.

Information on faculty parking, parking maps, the faculty processional, and other details can be found on the commencement website.

 

Sights and Sounds of Christmas Festival

The Sights and Sounds of Christmas festival will be held December 2 – 4 and December 9 – 11, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day.  Additionally, the Jingle Bell Run will be held on Saturday, December 11 with events from 7:30 a.m. to approximately 11:00 a.m.

Faculty and staff should expect traffic and parking delays during these time periods and are encouraged to follow the special instructions listed below.

Special Instructions

To alleviate the traffic, wait time, and congestion that is anticipated between the conclusion of the 2:00 p.m. ceremony and the start of the 6:00 p.m. ceremony, the following procedures are in place for employees:

Early Release – Friday, December 10, 2021

To ease traffic congestion, supervisors may elect to release selected staff at 3:00 p.m.  However, all university offices must remain open until 5:00 p.m. or the normal closing time.  Staff members who leave early are expected to use vacation, compensatory, or flex time arrangements approved by supervisors.

Vehicles in the JCK Area

The rear gate at the back of the JCK parking lot will be barricaded from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Vehicles that normally exit on to Sessom Drive will be directed back to the one-way service drive and should exit the back parking lot going the wrong way towards Woods Street or Moon Street.  No vehicles will be allowed to access the back parking area starting at 3:00 p.m.  A parking guard will be stationed at the service drive at the front parking lot to restrict vehicles from entering the back parking lot.

Vehicles in Other Campus Areas

It is highly recommended that vehicles avoid the Sessom Street, Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82, and University Drive roadways between the ceremonies on Friday.  Every effort should be made to exit the campus and San Marcos using Edward Gary Street, Guadalupe Street, Hopkins Street/Hunter Road, and other routes heading away from the UEC.

Thank you for your cooperation during this momentous time in our graduates’ lives.

Faculty or staff requiring accommodations due to a disability should contact commencement@txstate.edu at least one week prior to the event.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Staff in the Division of Academic Affairs

FROM:                       Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman

                                   Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Annual Course Review

 

The annual calendar for the Course Information Management (CIM) system provides an opportunity for faculty across campus to review the course proposals from all academic units.  The faculty review period this year ends on November 30, 2021.

 At this time, all faculty and Academic Affairs staff are invited to review the proposed course additions, changes, and deletions that are located in the CIM system.  For the fall 2022 cycle, there are 159 additions, 280 changes, and 98 deletions.  Faculty and staff who are interested in more details about the course proposals can visit the CIM system.

Per Academic Affairs PPS 02.01.01, “faculty who have comments or concerns regarding any course addition, change, or deletion should submit those comments or concerns in writing to their department chair or school director who will be responsible to confer with the originating department chair or school director.”

Should you need additional information, please contact Ms. Sonya Gutierrez in the Office of Curriculum Services at (512) 245-8857.

TO:                            Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Common Experience Insight Series and First Gen Proud Event  BECOMING: Michelle Obama in Conversation

 

The Common Experience Insight Series and First Gen Proud present a free livestream event of Michelle Obama in conversation with university students regarding her memoir, Becoming – moderated by Yara Shahidi – on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

University students nationwide will interview Mrs. Obama in Washington, D.C. and one student from Texas State University has been selected to attend in person, interview Mrs. Obama, and represent our campus for the event.  The student representative will ask questions related to our Common Experience theme of Compassion.

To attend this event, please register for one option below:

1. Livestream (open only to Texas State community members)
   1. Event time: Noon-2:00 p.m.
   2. Livestream registration closes November 5, 2021 at 10:59 p.m. Central Time / 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
2. LBJ Grand Ballroom Watch Party (open to everyone) *
   1. Event time: 11:45 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
   2. Watch party registration closes November 8, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time
3. Round Rock Campus Watch Party (open only to Texas State community members) *
   1. Event time: 11:45 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
   2. Watch party registration closes November 8, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time

* Those attending the watch party events will have the chance to receive a FREE COPY of Becoming by Michelle Obama while supplies last.  Priority will be given to current students.

About Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

Michelle Obama is a lawyer, writer, and the wife of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.  She was the first African-American First Lady of the United States.  Through her four main initiatives, she has become a role model for women and an advocate for healthy families, service members and their families, higher education, and international adolescent girls’ education.

Michelle Obama in Conversation is a First Gen Week event; more information can be found on the First Gen Week web page.

TO:                             Faculty

                                    Deans

                                    Associate Vice Presidents in the Division of Academic Affairs

FROM:                        Mr. Dan Roy and Dr. Shannon Weigum

                                    Co-Directors

                                    Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

SUBJECT:                   Call for Applications – SCALEUP Faculty Research Fellows

 

The Texas State University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is pleased to invite applications for Faculty Research Fellows to participate in the externally-funded Sustainable Cultivation and Advancement of Local Enterprises for Underserved Populations (SCALEUP) program.  SCALEUP was identified as a key priority for the university and CIE as part of the Big Ideas Round II competition.

 ABOUT THE SCALEUP PROGRAM

The number of minority entrepreneurs in the United States has grown substantially in recent years with many minority populations experiencing a two-fold increase in the number of entrepreneurs.  However, once minority-owned businesses are launched, studies show their growth lags that of non-minority businesses.  If minority-owned businesses grew at the same rate, estimates suggest that over $5 trillion would be added to the national economy and over 21 million jobs would be created.

Although considerable research evidence explains the challenges facing minority-owned startups, far less is known about the challenges these businesses face when growing, especially as compared to non-minority businesses.  Recent studies offer initial insights into why this growth is slower, but much remains to be discovered.  The goal of SCALEUP is to conduct research that identifies the challenges affecting minority-owned business growth and to develop practical tools that help overcome these challenges.

ABOUT CIE FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWS

A maximum of three (3) Texas State faculty members will be selected to serve as CIE Faculty Research Fellows to support the SCALEUP program for a one-year period beginning January 1, 2022.  CIE Faculty Research Fellows will support the SCALEUP program by participating in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary research group charged with identifying and investigating factors that impede minority-enterprise growth and developing practical tools to solve these challenges. 

CIE Faculty Research Fellows are provided support over the course of approximately one year that includes:

• participation in a collaborative group of fellows working to advance research with relevance;
• research support that includes, but is not limited to, editing of manuscripts and/or other intellectual contributions, potential support for travel, and data-collection opportunities;
• recognition on the CIE website and an individual designation as a “Faculty Research Fellow, Texas State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship”; and
• a stipend of $8,000 that can be used for salary and/or professional development; half of the stipend is issued at the midpoint of the fellowship with the balance payable at the conclusion of the fellowship; the stipend is contingent on individual and program goals being met.

TIMELINE

• • November 30, 2021:                     Applications due
  • December 10, 2021:                     Interviews begin
  • December 20, 2021:                     CIE Faculty Research Fellows for 2022 announced
  • January 1, 2022:                             Fellowship appointment begins

Additional information regarding eligibility and applications for the CIE Faculty Research Fellows program is available on the CIE website.  Please direct questions or inquiries to Dr. Josh Daspit, SCALEUP Program Lead, via email at josh.daspit@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Blanda as Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations, effective November 1, 2021.

 Dr. Blanda has been a member of the Texas State University community for 29 years.  During the first 10 years of his service to the university, he earned tenure and the rank of professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.  In 2007, he was appointed Assistant Vice President for Research and Federal Relations in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.  In his role as Assistant Vice President, Dr. Blanda serves as the Institutional Official for Research Compliance and oversees the Institutional Review Board, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, the Institutional Biosafety Committee, and other compliance areas.  In addition, he is the director for two university level centers, including The Freeman Center and the Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center. 

Dr. Blanda has helped to develop several research-related policies, including the Research Cash Advances policy and Faculty Incentive Compensation for Externally-Funded Sponsored Programs policy designed to facilitate and incentivize faculty engaged in funded research.  His office is the administrative arm of the Research Enhancement Program in partnership with the Faculty Senate.  He represents Texas State at federal and state organizations such as the Council on Governmental Relations and Federal Demonstration Partnership, which are comprised of nationally-recognized research institutions that focus on all issues related to best practices in conducting research with federal awards.

Dr. Blanda acts as a liaison between the research enterprise and other support divisions such as the divisions of Finance and Support Services, Information Technology, and University Advancement.  He is a strong advocate for researchers and scholars in all disciplines and actively assists with meeting their research goals.  He continues to make significant contributions to Texas State’s institutional goals of achieving National Research University Fund eligibility and R-1 designation.

 Please join me in congratulating Dr. Blanda on his appointment as Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations (Interim Chief Research Officer).

TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. John Fleming

                                   Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication

SUBJECT:                  The University Star invites you to Star Stories: True Stories of Life at TXST

 

Come join The University Star for its third annual Star Stories event, taking place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. 

“Star Stories: True Stories of Life at TXST” will feature true personal narratives from four storytellers that reveal something about our community’s greatest challenges and opportunities.  The goal is to open a dialogue among diverse groups while assigning value to first-person narratives.Trigger warning: Some stories may include descriptions of abuse, mental illness, sexual assault, and other sensitive topics. 

Tickets are available online on the Eventbrite web site.

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TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Shannon Weigum

                                   Co-Director, TXST Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

SUBJECT:                   REGISTER NOW for a Special Edition of the Women Entrepreneurship Founder Series with Janice Omadeke, CEO and Founder of The Mentor Method

 

As part of Women Entrepreneurship Week 2021, the Texas State Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is hosting a special edition of the WE Founder Series with Janice Omadeke on Friday, October 22, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. – noon.

 The WE Founder Series is designed to motivate emerging entrepreneurs and support inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems by:

1. addressing stereotypes about entrepreneurship and what an entrepreneur looks like.
2. engaging in dialogue about factors impacting female and other under-represented entrepreneurs.
3. listening and learning from each other.

In this live, virtual interview you will hear about the entrepreneurial journey of Janice Omadeke followed by an open Q&A.

Janice is the CEO and Founder of The Mentor Method, an enterprise platform helping companies keep and develop their diverse talent using the proven power of mentorship.  The company recently raised over $1M in seed funding, making U.S. history as one of the first 100 Black women to raise over $1M in institutional VC funding.  Black Enterprise recognizes Janice as one of DC’s top 5 black women in tech.  She has also been featured in Forbes as - Forbes Next 1000 class of 2021, Entrepreneur magazine, and she was a subject matter expert at the 2016 White House Summit on Building the Tech Workforce of Tomorrow.  Janice is certified in Entrepreneurship from MIT and is PMP certified with over 10 years of corporate leadership experience for Fortune 500 companies.

The event is free and open to all students, faculty, and community of entrepreneurially-minded people.  Please register for the event on EventBrite, share with others and encourage your students to attend.

More information can be found on the CIE website and WE Founder series site or you can contact Dr. Shannon Weigum via email at sweigum@txstate.edu

Hope to see you all there!

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FROM:                       Dr. Andrea Golato

TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

                                   Dean, The Graduate College

SUBJECT:                  2021 Texas State Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition

The Graduate College is excited to host this year’s 2021 Texas State Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition and invites the entire Texas State University community to join.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a university-wide research communication competition in which graduate students present their thesis or dissertation research and its significance in under three minutes.  This competition challenges graduate students to communicate their research to a non-specialist audience and invites viewers to learn about innovative research by members of the graduate student community.  The competition will consist of a virtual Preliminary Round and an in-person University Final.

You are invited to view the virtual 3MT® Preliminary Round presentations and vote for your favorites during the People’s Choice Voting from Thursday, October 14, 2021 through Wednesday, October 20, 2021 on the 3MT® webpage.  Nine finalists selected by judges and three finalists selected by the People’s Choice Voting will advance to the University Final.

On Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., the University Final will be held in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.  All Texas State faculty, staff, students, and members of the community are invited to attend.  During the University Final, audience members will have the opportunity to vote in person for their favorite presentation to help a competitor win the final People’s Choice Winner award.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided, and there will be door prizes and raffle prizes.

At all 3MT® events, we strongly encourage social distancing and masks to keep our campus safe.

For questions, please contact Dr. Patti Giuffre, Assistant Dean in The Graduate College, via email at the3mt@txstate.edu or at (512) 245-2581.

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TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Required Diversity and Inclusion Training for Faculty Search Committee Members

 

In spring 2020, Faculty Senate recommended that all members serving on faculty search committees be required to complete a diversity and inclusion training course.  President Trauth and I accepted the recommendation and asked Dr. Scott Bowman, Special Assistant to the Provost for Inclusion and Diversity, to lead the course development effort.  To this end, I am pleased to announce the implementation of the new training course, “Diversity and Inclusion Training for Faculty Searches.”

The course is aligned with the university’s Toolkit and Best Practices for Inclusive Excellence in Faculty Hiring and Retention that has been in use by search committees for several years.  The toolkit and training course are designed to ensure recruiting and hiring actions and decisions are aligned with the university’s shared values and policies, create strategies for strategically and intentionally recruiting faculty who broaden the makeup and perspectives of our disciplines, and provide an environment where all university community members are included, welcome, and valued.

Beginning October 15, 2021, members of new faculty search committees will receive invitations to take the required course via the university’s Canvas collaborative learning management system.  Committee chairs of existing faculty search committees may email the Office of Faculty and Academic Resources at FacultyResources@txstate.edu to request optional access to the course for committee members.  The email subject line should include the words, “Canvas course access.”

Please join me in extending deep appreciation to our Faculty Senate for their leadership in promulgating the course and to Dr. Bowman, Dr. Sherri Benn,  LynnAnn Brewer, Dr. Ben Martin, Jamie Saucedo, Dr. Michael Supancic, Dr. Debbie Thorne, Dr. Bobby Vasquez, Lyndi Wittekiend, and others who ensured a comprehensive and reflective approach to this important initiative.

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Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

As we prepare to move into the second half of the fall semester, I have much encouraging news to share on the COVID-19 situation.  The COVID-19 surge in Texas is abating and we should expect a continued positive trend through November.  However, there are some important actions to take before the holidays.

Decreasing COVID-19 Infections

When we started the fall semester, Texas was reporting about 11,500 COVID-19 cases per day and a positivity rate of 16.1%.  Last week, Texas reported about 5,380 cases per day and a positivity rate of 8.7%.  COVID-19 cases reported to Texas State University dropped from 559 cases in the first week of classes to 44 cases last week.  The positivity rate for on-campus testing fell from 9% in the first week of classes to 1% last week.  For more information about cases and positivity rates at Texas State, check the COVID-19 Dashboard on the Roadmap. 

No Significant On-Campus Transmission

Contact tracing continues to show no evidence of broad transmission occurring in classrooms or residence halls.  Most exposures are still occurring out in the community, within households, during gatherings of friends or family, or crowded indoor settings like bars. 

Vax for the Holidays to Prevent the Next COVID-19 Surge

Every major COVID-19 surge in this country has been driven by social gathering during holidays or spring break.  Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of spreading infections during the upcoming holidays.  Because it can take up to six weeks to get a two-shot series of vaccinations and develop full immunity, those that have not vaccinated need to start now.  It is expected that the FDA will authorize booster shots for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson later this month and Pfizer vaccinations for children aged 5-11 in the next few weeks.  If eligible for a booster, please get the booster before the holidays.  Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Vaccinations are available at the Student Health Center Monday-Friday by calling for an appointment at 512-245-2161.

Testing to Find Silent Infections

An estimated 40% of COVID-19 infections are asymptomatic.  Even vaccinated persons can get infected and spread the infection to others.  Periodic testing, regardless of vaccination status, can help us find silent infections.  Please get tested when you receive a notice from the university’s proactive, random testing program.  Testing after potential exposures in high-risk situations is important—after going to a bar or concert, traveling by airplane, bus, or train, or attending a crowded indoor social gathering.  Getting tested before the holidays is a great way to make sure we don’t spread infection to family and friends.  For more information on free COVID-19 testing on or near our campuses, check TXST COVID-19 Testing.  Persons who test positive for COVID-19 should report to Bobcat Trace as soon as possible and notify their professors and supervisors.

New Medications to Treat COVID-19

While vaccinations remain the best way to bring the pandemic to an end, we now have several new medications to treat persons with mild to moderate disease who are at high risk for complications.  The FDA has authorized several monoclonal antibody treatments that can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 50-80%.  The FDA is also considering a request for an oral antiviral medication that has been shown to reduce hospitalization and death by 50%.  For more information on FDA-authorized treatments for COVID-19, check Emergency Use Authorization | FDA.

What We Do Matters

COVID-19 has caused over 700,000 deaths in the United States.  With only 66% of those 12 and older fully vaccinated in the United States, more COVID-19 surges are possible.  We have the tools available to bring this pandemic to an end—but we must all do our part.  LET’S VACCINATE, TEST AND MASK UP TO STOP COVID-19!  

Sincerely,

Dr. Emilio Carranco
Chief Medical Officer
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Director, Student Health Center

TO:                             Staff

FROM:                        Dr. Michael O’Malley

                                    Dean, College of Education

                                    Chair, Search Committee - Associate Vice President for Institutional Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity

                                    Officer

SUBJECT:                   Listening session:  Associate Vice President for Institutional Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer search

 

The university is launching a national search for an Associate Vice President for Institutional Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer, which is a position that will lead inclusive excellence programs and activities across the university.  The search committee is hosting listening sessions with key stakeholder groups on Monday, October 18, 2021.  You are invited to please participate in a listening session via Zoom for Staff Council and an open session for all staff at 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. on October 18, 2021.  

The purpose of the listening session is to gather stakeholder perspectives on your priorities for this leadership position in diversity, equity, and inclusion. These perspectives will inform both the posting and the search committee’s review of candidates.  The listening session will be facilitated by our search firm partners from WittKieffer.

I hope that you will be able to participate and am grateful for whatever time you can give to this process.  If you are unable to participate or have additional input to give after attending a listening session, you are very welcome to complete the survey.  The survey is open and closes on the evening of October 20, 2021.

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TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Mary Brennan

                                  Dean, College of Liberal Arts

SUBJECT:                  The Philosophy Dialogue Series - Fall 2021

Hosted by the Department of Philosophy at Texas State University, this eight-week series will feature prominent guest speakers.  Dialogues will be segmented into eight weekly themes:

• Dazed and Confused: Reflections on the Plague Year and Beyond
• Compassion and Empathy
• The Other
• Critical Race Theory and Education
• Compassion and Community
• Masked or Unmasked?
• God and Nature
• Conspiracies

The Fall 2021 Philosophy Dialogue Series began on Monday, September 20, 2021, and will conclude on Friday, November 5, 2021.  We hope that you will join us for the remaining weeks!

All events are free and open to the public.  The schedule is available on the Philosophy Dialogue Series website.  Unless otherwise indicated, all dialogues take place in 116 Comal Building, The Philosophy Dialogue Room.  The series will have select events that are available to attend via zoom and are indicated below.  Please review the website and register to receive the event’s zoom link and passcode.  Please direct any questions regarding the Philosophy Dialogue Series to philosophy@txstate.edu or (512) 245-2285.

Week V: Compassion and Community

Monday, October 11, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Liberty, Equality, & Fraternity: Where’s the Fraternity?
The Socio-Politicos

Monday, October 11, 2021

3:30 p.m.

Civic Education in College: Exploring Attitudes Towards Voting Through Value-Reappraisal Interventions

Taylor Acee & Jonathan Lollar (Developmental Education)
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

9:30 a.m.

Dewey’s Search for the Great Community

The Paideians

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

12:30 p.m.

What Exactly is a ‘Form of Life’? What Do 4th Century Egyptian Hermits Have to Do with It?

Dialogue Class with Special Guest David Anderson (Philosophy, Texas A&M)
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

At the San Marcos Public Library

4:30 p.m.

Compassion, Voting, and Community Building

Jonathan Lollar & Sam Owens (Developmental Education)

Thursday, October 14, 2021

12:30 p.m.

Is Dewey’s Vision of Creative Democracy Overly Optimistic?
Dialogue Class with Special Guest Sean Daniel Johnson (Texas State Philosophy Alumnus)
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Friday, October 15, 2021

12:00 p.m.

Talk of the Times: Panel on Voting for Our Health

Michelle Brown (Sociology) and Ron Stockdreher (Philosophy)
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Week VI: Masked or Unmasked?

Monday, October 18, 2021
2:00 p.m.
The State Unmasked: The Pluralist Theory of the State
The Socio-Politicos

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

12:30 p.m.

Masking the Face and Facing the Masks: Concealment and Exposure

Natalie Astudillo & Robert Mitchell (Dialogue Students)

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

At the San Marcos Public Library

4:30 p.m.

Grief, Spirituality, and Anger After a Covid-19 Loss

Natasha Mikles (Philosophy & Religious Studies)

Thursday, October 21, 2021

12:30 p.m.

Marx, Žižek, and Sartre on Character Masks

Cooper Beal & Christian Campos (Dialogue Students)

Friday, October 22, 2021

12:00 p.m.

Talk of the Times

Elizabeth Bishop (History) and Model Arab League Students
Macy Birdwell & Parker Weaver
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Week VII: God and Nature

Monday, October 25, 2021
11:00 a.m.
Climate Change and the Future of Humanity
Adam Briggle (Philosophy & Religion, University of North Texas)

Monday, October 25, 2021

3:30 p.m.

Thinking Through Climate Change

Adam Briggle (Philosophy & Religion, University of North Texas)

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

12:30 p.m.

Science, Scientism, Ethics, and Religion

Dialogue Class with Special Guest: Sherron Watkins (Executive-in-Residence, McCoy College of Business)

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

At the San Marcos Public Library

4:30 p.m.

Spinoza’s Ethics and Its God

Sean Daniel Johnson (Texas State Philosophy Alumnus)
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Thursday, October 28, 2021

12:30 p.m.

Expressing the Ineffable: Expansive Naturalism and Enactivism in Wittgensteinian Philosophy of Religion

Dialogue Class with Special Guest: David Anderson (Philosophy, Texas A&M)
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Friday, October 29, 2021

12:00 p.m.

Talk of the Times: Is There a Climate Change Compromise?

Michelle Brown (Sociology) and Ron Stockdreher (Philosophy)
*Zoom option available, register to receive link.

Friday, October 29, 2021
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
6th Annual Space Settlement Symposium
Hosted by Chris Elley (Founder, Electro-Fish Creative)

Featured Speakers: Laura Montgomery (Ground Based Space Matters) Carrie Crisp (Philosophy, Texas State) Eli Kanon (Philosophy, Texas State)
*Zoom event, register to receive link.

Week VIII: Conspiracies

Monday, November 1, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Communism: Political Philosophy or Conspiracy Theory?
The Socio-Politicos

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

12:30 p.m.

Conspiracy Epistemology

Dialogue Class

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

At the San Marcos Public Library

4:30 p.m.

Ideological Pathogens and Propaganda

Jonathan Surovell (Philosophy)

Thursday, November 4, 2021

12:30 p.m.

Vietnam: 50 years

Dialogue Class

Friday, November 5, 2021

12:00 p.m.

Talk of the Times: Diamonds in the Rough

Michelle Brown (Sociology) and Ron Stockdreher (Philosophy)

The Philosophy Dialogue Series Program Endowment supports the Philosophy Dialogue Series and its outreach activities at the San Marcos Public Library.  Co-sponsors of the Philosophy Dialogue Series are the American Democracy Project, College of Liberal Arts, Common Experience, Gina Weatherhead Dialogue Fund, Alliance, Step Up For State,  Sustainability Studies, The Alkek Library, Humanities Texas, National Endowment for the Humanities, ΦΣΤ ( Phi Sigma Tau, the philosophy honor society), University Seminar, The New York Times, The Acorn: Philosophical Studies in Pacifism and Nonviolence, the Honors College, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Student Affairs.

San Marcos Public Library, 625 E. Hopkins St. San Marcos, Texas 78666

 *The Department of Philosophy is excited to announce that the Space Settlement Symposium is a virtual event, and registration is open!

*Events marked as zoom events have a registration link available on the Philosophy Dialogue Series website.

If you require an accommodation due to a disability, contact the Department of Philosophy at (512) 245-2285.  Accommodation requests should be made at least 72 hours in advance of the program start time to ensure availability.

Stay in touch by following the Department of Philosophy’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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Dear Texas State University Community,

On October 8, Texas State University publicly launched NEXT IS NOW, the largest fundraising campaign in university history. The campaign is on track to raise $250 million to support initiatives focused on student success and becoming a Tier 1 research university.

We launched the quiet phase of the NEXT IS NOW campaign in 2014. Since then, more than 40,000 Texas State donors and friends have given $172 million toward the $250 million goal, and our university endowment grew from $165 million to $300 million. Gifts of every level have been essential to Texas State’s momentum, reflecting what the Bobcat community can accomplish together.

This generosity has changed the lives of students and transformed the university, such as providing more than $90 million for student scholarships and graduate fellowships, and enrichment programs like study abroad and mentorships; funding 11 endowed faculty positions; generating $62 million for the university’s research enterprise; dedicating $10 million to facilities and programs for student-athletes; and investing $26.9 million to construct or renovate nine facilities on the San Marcos and Round Rock Campuses.

The NEXT IS NOW Campaign is focused on four priority areas:

• Student Support

Students are the heart and soul of Texas State. Funding scholarships, fellowships and life-changing experiences such as study abroad programs, undergraduate student research initiatives, internships, faculty mentorships and community service is paramount.

• Teaching and Research 

Supporting endowed faculty positions and the university’s research enterprise will move Texas State on its trajectory toward becoming a Tier 1 research institution which translates into real-world benefits for students and society.

• Campuses 

Gifts invested in Texas State campuses will fund new buildings and enhance teaching and research spaces. Examples of priorities include a new music building, expanded educational and research space for The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, equipment for Health Professions programs on the Round Rock Campus, television and film equipment for Live Oak Hall, and an expansion of the South Endzone Complex training facilities in Bobcat Stadium for student-athletes.

• Athletics 

Supporting Texas State student-athletes with scholarships, improved facilities and programs ensures excellence on the field, the court and in the classroom. 

NEXT IS NOW aligns with university’s new branding campaign, TXST NEXT, which also officially launched on October 8.

With a strong foundation in place, NEXT IS NOW will continue to harness the power of giving to drive the university’s work to prepare future leaders and evolve as a premier research institution focused on bringing solutions to today’s urgent challenges. To learn more about the campaign, I invite you to visit the NEXT IS NOW website.

Thank you for all you do to create what’s NEXT for Texas State.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Dr. Barbara Breier

                                                            Vice President for University Advancement

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TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Retirement Reception for Dr. Walter E. Horton, Jr.

 

Retirement Reception

Join us as we honor

Dr. Walter E. Horton, Jr.,

Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

and Chief Research Officer

for his years of dedicated service to Texas State University.

Monday, October 25, 2021

Reed Parr Room on the 11th floor of the J.C. Kellam Building

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

(brief program at 3:40 p.m.)

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TO:                             Current Students

                                    Faculty

                                    Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Cuentos and Testimonies II: Students' Voices, Inclusion, & Anti-Racism

A few years ago, we solicited contributions to an interdisciplinary digital collection of essays, Cuentos & Testimonies: Diversity & Inclusion at Texas State University.  The purpose of the first edition of Cuentos and Testimonies, which was published in April 2019, was to provide a space for faculty to share their hopes and ideas for strengthening diversity and inclusion at Texas State University.

To continue this important conversation, Dr. Octavio Pimentel and Dr. Miriam F. Williams, both of the Department of English and editors of the first issue, edited a second edition, Cuentos and Testimonies II: Students' Voices, Inclusion, & Anti-Racism.  Thanks to the dedication and innovation of Dr. Pimentel and Dr. Williams, we are pleased to announced this edition to the university community.

In Cuentos and Testimonies II, contributors include students and their mentors, who share their experiences at Texas State, at home, and abroad.

The contributors to this issue are a diverse group of students, who include members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, are of various races and ethnicities, of different ages and economic statuses, of different faiths and beliefs, but they all share their lived experiences with bias in its many destructive forms.  These authors, while attempting to study during a pandemic, took the time to speak on behalf of themselves and maybe others who face bias and oppression due to their race, gender and gender identity, language diversity, learning disabilities, communication disorders, and/or financial concerns.  These contributors share their stories of both trauma and triumph.

It is our hope that sharing these stories will help the Texas State community reflect on our own biases and work diligently to overcome them.  It is our hope that we allow these cuentos to help us double our efforts to ensure that our actions are not performative but authentic efforts to create a more inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist community. 

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the students, their mentors, and the editors for their contributions to this issue of Cuentos and Testimonies.

If you are interested in contributing to future issues of this publication, please contact Dr. Octavio Pimentel and Dr. Miriam F. Williams via email at Cuentos@txstate.edu. 

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TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                  Engaging Research - Fall 2021

 

Welcome to the Fall 2021 issue of Engaging Research!  

This edition of Engaging Research introduces stories of life-changing research across five of our Texas State University colleges.  It also highlights Texas State faculty members for their achievement in winning the National Science Foundation CAREER award.  Please join us in celebrating Texas State research and researchers by reading and sharing their inspiring stories.

Faculty Research Spotlights

Ryan Anderson - Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural Mechanics Training Program Brings Secondary Teachers Up to Speed

Vanessa de Macedo Higgins Joyce - Journalism and Mass Communication
Texas State Partners with Colombian Universities to Support Vulnerable Communities

Carmen Westerberg - Psychology
Collaborative Team Explores Links between Sleep and Memory

Cody Patterson - Mathematics
Teaching Teachers: Shifting Math Education from Rote to Reasoning

Cindy Faith Miller - Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education & School Psychology
Promoting Inclusive Engineering Spaces for Elementary School Students

CAREER Feature 

Looking Back and Ahead at Texas State NSF CAREER Awards

With introduction by Michael Blanda

2021 CAREER Faculty: 

Shetay Ashford-Hanserd – Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies

Yoichi Miyahara – Physics

David Rodriguez – Biology

Hiro Lee Tanaka – Mathematics

2008-2018 CAREER Faculty 

Research Coordinator Corner

Preparing for the NSF CAREER: Tips and Resources from Your Research Coordinators

By Maggie Hutchins, College of Education, and Jessica Schneider, College of Liberal Arts

ORSP News and Updates
Meet Our Staff in Research Integrity and Compliance  

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TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                        Dr. Kristy Daniel 

                                    Chair, University Lecturers Committee 

SUBJECT:                   Invitation to Submit Proposals to Sponsor Guest Lecturers for Spring 2022 

 

The University Lecturers Committee (ULC) acts as a steward for a student activities fund that assists colleges, schools, departments, and campus organizations in sponsoring outstanding speaking engagements at Texas State University.  In the current submission cycle, the committee is issuing a supplemental application round to distribute remaining FY 2022 funds to bring distinguished speakers to the university in Spring 2022.  In order to support as many speakers as possible in the supplemental round, awards will be limited to no more than $2,000.  Later this fall, a call for proposals will be issued for the primary proposal round to fund speakers in the 2022 - 2023 academic year.
 
Proposals must be submitted via email to facultysenate@txstate.edu by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 29, 2021.  Before submitting a proposal, please contact the speaker or speaker’s agent to determine availability and fees.  

 Awarded funds cannot be transferred to a replacement speaker.  University Lecturers Series funds should be used only for speaker fees, and if needed, travel and accommodations.  Receptions, incidentals (such as printing, food, flowers), and other costs will not be funded by the University Lecturers program. 

 The ULC will review proposals and assign a priority ranking to each based on the following considerations.

Interest/Anticipated Attendance (25%)  

• Potential that Speaker/Topic will Attract a Diverse Audience  
• Potential to Reach a Wide University Audience (expectations of attendance will be adjusted for speakers at the Round Rock campus)   
• Potential to Reach a Community/External Audience  

Topic/Speaker Involvement (31.25%)  

• Plans to Involve the University Community in Scholarly Dialogue  
• Clear Connection on How Event will Advance University's Diversity Mission   
• National/International Accomplishments of Speaker provided in Biography  

Event Logistics (18.75%)  

• Established Contact with Speaker  
• Tentative Commitment by Speaker  
• Comprehensive Description of Event Planning   
• Comprehensive Description of Marketing Plan  

Collaboration/ Budget (25%)  

• Collaboration Across University Units  
• Joint Sponsorship  
• Commitment for Shared Funding   
• Budget Justification 

Proposals judged to merit funding will be approved in ranked order until funds are exhausted.  In order to support as many speakers as possible, awards are limited to no more than $2,000.   

All funded applicants are required to provide a brief follow-up report to the Faculty Senate within one month following the event.   

The application form, evaluation rubric, and lists of past awards are available on the University Lecturers Committee webpage.  If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Dr. Kristy Daniel, ULC Chair, or Ms. Valerie Anderson, Administrative Assistant to the Faculty Senate. 

We look forward to receiving your proposals.  The University Lecturers Series offers a valuable opportunity for stimulating scholarly discussion at Texas State University .  We anticipate notifying successful applicants via email no later than November 24, 2021.

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TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Emilio Carranco

                                   Chief Medical Officer

                                   Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

                                   Director, Student Health Center

SUBJECT:                  New Bobcat Trace Faculty Notice

 

Texas State University continues to enhance its COVID-19 response systems.  A NEW Bobcat Trace Faculty Notice will be implemented effective September 28, 2021.  As soon as a positive case submits a report to the Bobcat Trace notification system, an automated notice will be sent to the instructor of the class informing them that a student in their class has reported being positive for COVID-19.  This new faculty notice will replace the general notice that has been sent in the past to the instructor and students in the class.

The new Bobcat Trace Faculty Notice will provide a link to the Bobcat Trace Faculty Portal where faculty will see the name of the positive case and their period of infectiousness.  Faculty will be able to submit close contact (persons within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) information by entering the name of students in a search box and creating a list of close contacts in Bobcat Trace.  An automated Bobcat Trace notification will be sent to each student when faculty save the list of close contacts.  This process will replace the need for contact tracers to email instructors to ask for close contact information and will provide faster notifications to close contacts.  Instructions on how to use the Bobcat Trace Faculty Portal are included in the Faculty Portal.

Contact tracers will continue to investigate positive cases and identify close contacts—especially those outside the classroom.  Contact tracers will continue to look for evidence of case clusters in classrooms and other settings.  Faculty with questions about a case or this new notification process may submit questions using the COVID-19 Supervisor/Faculty Question Form.  Contact tracers will respond to questions as soon as possible.

Thank you for helping Texas State prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses!

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter E. Horton Jr.

Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

 

SUBJECT:                   Tea and Technology Transfer/Crumpets and Commercialization Virtual Event

 

You are cordially invited to a Tea and Technology Transfer/Crumpets and Commercialization Virtual Event to share information and discuss the following:

•          University-Industry partnering for Sponsored Research

•          Technology Transfer Process at Texas State University

When: Thursday, October 14, 2021

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Join meeting 

Meeting ID:  917 0927 5022

This event is hosted by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).  If you have questions or for more information, please contact Dr. Reddy Venumbaka in ORSP at (512) 245-2672 or via email at reddy@txstate.edu.

University Distinguished Professor 2022

Provost

Mon 9/27/2021 1:04 PM

To:

•  CB26@txstate.edu;

•  CC65@txstate.edu;

•  FR04@txstate.edu;

•  McGee, Reece Jon;

•  RW04@txstate.edu

+174 others

Bcc:

• Bourgeois, Eugene J </o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=399eccf6c86745b7b4a1be4d08e79f2b-eb04>

+3 others

AAPS 02.04.10 University-Distinguished-Professor-Award-Criteria.docx

Nomination For for University Distinguished Professor.pdf

Summary Presentation for University Distinguished Professor.pdf

Dear Colleagues:

We are accepting nominations for outstanding faculty members to receive the title of University Distinguished Professor.  Because you have been a full professor at Texas State University for at least five consecutive years you are eligible for nomination for this award.

Please carefully review the attached document that explains the process used to select recipients for this prestigious award.  Initially, you will only need to provide a completed nomination form and a summary of no more than five pages outlining your achievements in teaching, research, and service.  Based on the preview committee’s assessment of your submission, you may be called upon to provide a detailed portfolio that will be reviewed by the University Distinguished Professor award committee for possible recommendation to President Trauth for selection as a recipient of the award.  As in the past, Texas State’s nominations for the Regents’ Professor Award will come from the selected University Distinguished Professor award recipients.

The due date for the summary is November 29, 2021.  No late submissions will be accepted.  The summary should be sent via an email attachment to Dr. Beth Wuest, Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness (bw09@txstate.edu).  You will be notified no later than January 17, 2022, whether or not you will be requested to provide a portfolio to the University Distinguished Professor review committee.

Sincerely,

Gene Bourgeois

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

TO:                             Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Heather Galloway

                                   Dean, Honors College

SUBJECT:                  Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi Membership

If you joined either Phi Kappa Phi or Phi Beta Kappa as a college student, please take a few moments to complete this short survey to let our team know. 

Texas State University currently has an active chapter of Phi Kappa Phi and we are applying to add a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.  Both honor societies encourage us to identify all the members of our university community who were initiated as students.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Staff

                                   Graduate Teaching Assistants/Doctoral Teaching Assistants

                                   Graduate Instructional Assistants/Doctoral Instructional Assistants

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Policies Related to Teaching and Instruction

 

In an effort to consolidate email communications from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, this memo provides an overview of policies and information related to teaching responsibilities, student records, and classroom materials.  Faculty are encouraged to visit the websites linked below and to talk with their department chairs/school directors about specific questions regarding these policies and practices.

Inadvertent Release of Student Education Records: Updated with Secure Communication Instructions

This is a reminder of your obligation to guard against the inadvertent release of student education records as stipulated in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  UPPS 01.04.31, Access to Student Records Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, addresses this law and faculty and staff obligations. 

A few examples of inadvertent releases of student education records are emailing student grades, grade point averages, test scores or posting grades by student ID numbers, social security numbers, or other numbers that make student identities easily traceable.  These actions violate federal law and university policy.  A list of frequently asked questions is available for additional information.

Please review File and Data Sending and Receiving information standards as well as best practices for Data Classification (confidential, sensitive, or public) from the division of Information Technology.  To securely send and receive confidential student education records per FERPA regulations, use the university’s secure File Transfer system.

Faculty and Staff may login the Bobcat Family Portal to verify a student has granted someone access to their records, which includes detailed login instructions.

Faculty-Authored Teaching Material 

AA/PPS 02.03.30, Faculty-Authored Teaching Material, requires approval to prescribe any textbook, notebook, manual, or other materials written or prepared by a member of the Texas State University faculty for which a charge is required.  The policy covers materials authored or prepared by Texas State University faculty, even if the materials are used in classes taught by other instructors. The approval process, which is described in the policy, involves the faculty member prescribing the course material, department chair/school director, dean, and provost.  The deadlines for the submission of requests for materials to be used are: July 1 (fall semester), November 1 (spring semester), and April 1 (summer sessions).

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Chair, Department of Sociology

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Toni Terling Watt as the Chair of the Department of Sociology, effective September 1, 2021.

Dr. Watt is a first-generation college graduate.  She holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Master’s degree in Sociology.  She received her Ph.D. in Sociology with an emphasis in Demography from the Population Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin.  Dr. Watt joined Texas State University as an Assistant Professor in 2001 and was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2004.  She was promoted to Professor in 2013.  Dr. Watt has supervised over 30 graduate theses/practica and is the recipient of several College of Liberal Arts and/or university awards for research and service.

Dr. Watt’s research is both academic and applied and focuses on child abuse/neglect, substance abuse, mental health, and race/ethnicity.  She has numerous academic publications and her work has been featured in the The New York Times, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and other national and international media.  Dr. Watt is the recipient of the Pro Humanitate Literary Award given by the Center for Child Welfare Policy for research that makes a significant contribution to “best practice” in the field of child welfare.

Dr. Watt, along with Dr. Christine Norton, is a co-founder of FACES (Foster Care Alumni Creating Educational Success), a support program for Texas State students who have experienced foster care.  She is on the board of Education Reach for Texans, a non-profit organization working to improve higher education outcomes for youth who have experienced foster care.  She has designed and evaluated an early childhood intervention for mitigating the effects of toxic stress, worked with school districts to integrate behavioral health interventions into schools, and evaluated mental health peer support initiatives in several cities.  Her research has been funded by the Greater Texas Foundation, St. David’s Foundation, the Hogg Foundation, The George Foundation, and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.  She is currently a member of the Hays County Mental Health Task Force and is a Co-PI with Dr. Rebecca Davio on a needs assessment on homelessness in the City of San Marcos.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Watt on her appointment as the Chair of the Department of Sociology.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Chair, Department of Anthropology

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christina (Christi) Conlee as the Chair of the Department of Anthropology, effective September 1, 2021.

Dr. Conlee joined the Department of Anthropology in 2005 as an Assistant Professor, received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2009, and was promoted to Professor in 2016.  Dr. Conlee earned her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1991.  Her graduate work was conducted at the University of California, Santa Barbara where she earned a M.A. in Anthropology in 1996 and a Ph.D. in 2000.

Dr. Conlee is an archaeologist whose research revolves around the development and collapse of ancient civilizations.  Much of her work focuses on the Nasca region of Peru, where she studies the challenges and resilience of people living in a desert environment.  Currently, she is investigating how Wari, the first empire in the Andean region, colonized Nasca and the ways local people responded.  Dr. Conlee has published a book entitled, Beyond the Nasca Lines: Ancient Life at La Tiza in the Peruvian Desert, and has published in multiple journals including Antiquity, the Journal of Archaeological Science, Current Anthropology, the Journal of Anthropological Anthropology, Latin American Antiquity and Ñawpa Pacha: Journal of Andean Archaeology.  She has received grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society and has contributed to public education by appearing in videos produced by National Geographic and the Discovery Science Channel.

Prior to becoming department chair, Dr. Conlee was the Graduate Program Coordinator for the department’s master’s program.  She was part of the team that developed the proposal for a doctoral program in Applied Anthropology.  Once the program was approved, she served as the Doctoral Program Coordinator.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Conlee on her appointment as the Chair of the Department of Anthropology.

TO:                            Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Sanjay Ramchander

                                   Dean, McCoy College of Business Administration

SUBJECT:                  October 19 | Enron, 20 Years Later

 

In 2001, the Enron scandal shook America.  Just one year after claiming $101 billion in revenues, Houston's energy giant — “America’s Most Innovative Company” — collapsed after revelations of massive accounting fraud.  Enron was suddenly bankrupt, with 29,000 employees out of work and their retirement savings gone.  Twenty years later, we are left with questions: What happened? What have we learned? How has the business world changed?

Texas State University's McCoy College of Business Administration invites you to join the inaugural McCoy Conversations webinar: "Enron, 20 Years Later" on Tuesday, October 19, at 11:30 a.m.  Zoom registration is required.  Visit the event webpage for speaker information and the registration link.

Featured Panelists and Speakers:

Sherron Watkins

2021-2022 Executive-in-Residence, McCoy College of Business Administration

Enron Whistleblower and 2002 TIME Magazine Person of the Year

Michol Ecklund

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Callon Petroleum

Dr. Nate Cannon

Scott Emerson Professor in Business Administration and Associate Professor of Accounting, McCoy College of Business Administration

Dr. Stephanie Solansky

Associate Professor of Management, McCoy College of Business Administration

Evan Smith, Moderator

CEO and Co-Founder of The Texas Tribune

Dr. Sanjay Ramchander

Dean, McCoy College of Business Administration

Dr. Alexis Stokes

Associate Dean for Faculty and Research, McCoy College of Business Administration

The event is open to all students, staff, faculty, alumni, and members of the business community.  For questions about the event, contact Dr. Alexis Stokes via email at stokes@txstate.edu.

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TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs              

SUBJECT:                  Chair, Department of Psychology

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Natalie Ceballos as Chair of the Department of Psychology, effective September 1, 2021.

Dr. Ceballos is a first-generation college graduate raised in rural Oklahoma.  She earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a B.A. in Chemistry from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1998.  In 2003 she completed a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, where her dissertation was funded by an Individual National Research Service Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  Following a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the National Institutes of Health at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Ceballos joined the Department of Psychology at Texas State University in 2006.  She began as a non-tenure line faculty member, then joined the tenure track as an Assistant Professor in 2007.  She earned early tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2012 and was promoted to Professor in 2017.

Dr. Ceballos’ research focuses on disentangling the contributions of common factors that may accompany or predate the development of addictive behaviors.  Much of her work has examined neurophysiological indices of addiction-related cue reactivity in college drinkers, as well as the influence of factors such as stress and acculturation on the use of alcohol and other drugs.  She has published in multiple outlets including Addictive Behaviors, Biological Psychology, the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the Journal of Studies on Alcohol & Drugs, and Pharmacology, Biochemistry, & Behavior.  Dr. Ceballos’ research program has been funded by external grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism Consortium, and Humanities Texas.

Dr. Ceballos is a twenty-year member of the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) and currently serves as Co-Chair of RSA’s Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee.  She has held numerous editorial positions with scholarly journals, including her current role as Assistant Field Editor for the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.  At Texas State, Dr. Ceballos served as a Faculty Senator for three years, including terms as Secretary and Vice Chair, and chaired Texas State’s Non-tenure Line Faculty Committee from 2019-2020.  She served as Associate Chair of the Department of Psychology from 2014-2016 and again from 2020-2021.  In 2020, Dr. Ceballos was selected as a Fellow of the Texas Academic Leadership Academy.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Ceballos on her appointment as Chair of the Department of Psychology.

TO:                             Faculty

FROM:                       Dr. Debbie M. Thorne

                                   Associate Provost

SUBJECT:                  Advancing Your Career: Re-Envisioning Your Career Path and Professional Goals

 

Faculty Development and the Faculty Development Advisory Committee are excited to host guest speaker and faculty life expert, Dr. Vicki Baker, on Friday, September 24, 2021, noon – 2:00 p.m., via Zoom for an interactive and introspective workshop on advancing your career.  All faculty are invited to attend the workshop, “Advancing Your Career: Re-Envisioning Your Career Path and Professional Goals.”

The goals of the session are to identify action steps to pursuing a fulfilling career, understand the power of investing in yourself, leverage professional development opportunities in career advancement, and gain clarity about your contribution and role in creating a sense of community/belonging.  This workshop is in response to a survey of faculty conducted by Faculty Development over the summer, which revealed significant interest in academic career planning, work/life balance, and productivity.

Recognized as a “Top 100 Visionary” in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning, Dr. Baker is at the forefront of innovation and strategy in faculty and leadership development.  As a faculty member herself, her goal is to help faculty members and colleges and universities thrive.  She regularly consults with industry and higher education institutions on the topics of leadership, faculty development, change management, and mentoring.

Dr. Baker has written over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and invited opinion pieces on the topics of faculty and leadership development and is the author of Charting Your Path to Full: A Guide for Women Associate Professors and the editor of Success After Tenure: Supporting Mid-Career Faculty.  She is a professor of Economics & Management at Albion College.  Read more about Dr. Baker’s background on her Faculty Profile page.

Registration for this event is required.  The session will be recorded and posted on the Faculty Development website after the event.  For more information, please contact Faculty Development at facultydevelopment@txstate.edu or (512) 245-2112.

TO:                             Direct Reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

                                   Department Chairs/School Directors

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy

Please make sure all supervisors in your area have reviewed UPPS 04.04.16, Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy.  This policy sets forth the overtime and compensatory time policy for all university employees and complies with applicable federal, state, and university requirements.

This university policy meets the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a federal statute that establishes, among other things, the federal minimum wage and required overtime compensation for certain employees at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek.  Certain employee groups are exempt from the overtime provision while other employee groups earn overtime compensation.  Exempt employees are unclassified, which means there is no pay plan maximum for their job titles.  Non-exempt employees are classified, which means there is a pay plan minimum and maximum for their job titles.  If supervisors would like to confirm the exempt or non-exempt status of a position, they may inquire with the Office of Human Resources or the Office of Faculty and Academic Resources.  The University Pay Plan also provides information.

The division of Academic Affairs does not have a separate written policy on overtime and compensatory time for exempt and non-exempt employees earning state comp time and FLSA time (time earned at the rate of one and one-half hours for one hour).

However as stated in Section 02.05, d. and e., of the above UPPS:

d.  All state compensatory time off is at the discretion of the supervisor within the state compensatory time off policy.  Both the employee and the supervisor must agree on any time taken.

e. No more than 24 consecutive hours of state compensatory time may be used at any one time without approval from the divisional vice president.  This excludes energy conservation days.

Exempt employees in the division of Academic Affairs shall take state compensatory time as approved by individual supervisors and shall not take more than 24 consecutive hours of state compensatory time without approval from the provost.  This excludes energy conservation days.

All supervisors are responsible for ensuring that exempt and non-exempt employees understand and follow university policies and procedures for the timely recording of leave, overtime, and other exceptions to their normal work schedules.  Please note recent updates in section 15 of UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy, which explain record keeping, the timeline by which employees must enter time, the timeline for approvals, and documentation requirements.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman

                                   Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Study in America Program Development Grant: Call for Proposals

 

The Office of Distance and Extended Learning is pleased to announce the renewal of a competitive process for awarding development grants for new Study in America faculty-led program initiatives.  Like Education Abroad, Study in America courses provide the opportunity for students to learn or augment classroom time in a location that directly relates to course content and learning outcomes.  Examples of Study in America courses may include: 

• Fashion Merchandising courses incorporating visits to New York fashion markets.
• Biology courses focusing on conservation, recreation, and wildlife, including field work in the national parks.
• Geography courses focusing on the regional geography of the Big Bend area.

The purpose of the Study in America Program Development Grant is to provide funds for Texas State University faculty to develop new and innovative Study in America opportunities for our students.  The Office of Distance and Extended Learning intends to fund multiple grant awards, with an individual grant limit of $3,000.  The total of all grants awarded will be no more than $15,000.  The list below outlines the different types of initiatives that will be considered during the grant evaluation process: 

• A faculty member who has never led a Study in America program at Texas State.
• A new discipline (the course or content has not been offered previously through a Study in America program at Texas State).
• A new program model that has not been previously used in a particular discipline.
• A new location where Texas State does not currently offer a Study in America program.

 Grant funds can be used for the following: 

• Exploratory site visit to a proposed location.
•  Cover program expenses to reduce the total cost to students and to encourage enrollments.
• One-time special compensation for faculty to cover the time invested in the planning and development of a new program (limit $500).
• Other program development expenses or any combination of the above options.

 The New Study in America Program Development Grant application is available on the New Study in America Program Development Grant web page.

For a list of current and previous Texas State Study in America programs, please visit the Study in America Program Offerings web page.

Complete online applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, 2021.  All applicants and their department chair or school director will be notified by email of grant award decisions no later than January 14, 2022.

For additional information or assistance, please contact Ms. Danielle Cale in the Office of Distance and Extended Learning at (512) 245-2322 or via email at daniellecale@txstate.edu.

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

TO:                             Currents Students

                                   Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Mr. Dan Roy, Co-Director

                                   Dr. Shannon Weigum, Co-Director

                                   Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

SUBJECT:                   Ignite Entrepreneurship Workshop

 

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is now accepting applications for the Ignite entrepreneurship workshop. 

 Ignite is a virtual, 3-day weekend, learning-by-doing workshop for students interested learning about entrepreneurship.  Whether you have an idea for a business or are simply curious about the fascinating world of entrepreneurship, Ignite is the perfect place to begin your journey! O ver the weekend, you will learn how to transform an idea into a business and position it for success! 

As part of the workshop, students work in diverse teams with peers from across campus and receive guidance from experienced faculty, entrepreneurs, and mentors (many of whom have started and sold their own businesses). 

The workshop will be held 100% online (via Zoom) and runs from Friday, October 15, 2021 through Sunday, October 17, 2021.  There is no cost for students to attend. 

Registration is open now!  Applications will be accepted until Friday, October 1, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.  Additional information and a link to register can be found by visiting the Ignite web site.

Please note that students from all majors (including non-business majors) and all levels (including undergraduate and graduate) are encouraged to apply.  Space is limited, so apply today. 

Questions about the Ignite workshop may be directed to Mr. Dan Roy via email at d_r560@txstate.edu.

Dear colleagues,  

As a result of questions and feedback from individual faculty members, Faculty Senate, and department chairs and school directors, please note the following additions that will be made to one of the frequently-asked-questions (FAQs)
 on the Teaching & Research webpage of the university’s Roadmap. The FAQs are updated as new questions emerge and I encourage everyone to check the Roadmap and the Teaching & Research webpage on a regular basis.

What if I am absent from class?

As in the past, faculty who are absent from class coordinate with their chairs/directors to ensure continuity of instruction.  These absences may relate to faculty illness, family illness, faculty attendance at conferences, and other reasons.
In some cases, a faculty member teaching face-to-face may briefly transition to remote/online learning by using Zoom, Teams, Canvas, or other tools. These transitions, which may be due to emergency or unforeseeable events,
do not count against the in-person contact hours required by instruction modes. The university recognizes the flexibility needed during times of emergencies and unforeseeable events. For example, if a faculty member teaching a face-to-face class has already implemented 15% of class time online and subsequently becomes ill and needs to isolate or is a close contact and needs to quarantine, the faculty member may teach virtually or online during the
quarantine or isolation period. This period of online instruction does not count against the required in-person hours per face-to-face and hybrid instruction modes.

For extended absences, another faculty member may be asked to assume responsibility for the class.  Deans and chairs/directors may contact the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for support or guidance. 
Faculty with extended absences are advised to review UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy, and contact Human Resources for guidance.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 or are identified as a close contact to someone who tested positive must isolate or quarantine and should promptly report to Bobcat Trace, follow the instructions, and visit with their
supervisor about leave options. Supervisors should reinforce the importance of prompt reporting to Bobcat Trace, as these reports directly inform the university’s plans and statistics on COVID-19.
Thank you for your willingness to share ideas and feedback.

Gene Bourgeois

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

To:             Faculty and Staff

From:        Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Subject:    Director, Common Experience

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Erika Nielson as Director of the Texas State University Common Experience effective September 1, 2021.  The Common Experience offers academic event opportunities and collaborations based on an annual academic theme and a Common Reading experience.  This academic year, the Common Experience theme is compassion and the academic exploration of genuine human kindness – for ourselves, for others, and everything around us.

Dr. Nielson, Senior Lecturer in University College, has worked with the Common Experience and Common Reading programs since 2014, serving as Common Reading Coordinator and Assistant Director of Common Experience.  She has over 13 years of experience in education, including teaching music education, choir, and literacy skills in PK-12 settings as well as teaching developmental literacy, education, and general studies at Texas State University.  She has shared her research at professional conferences including the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, the College Reading and Learning Association, National Association of Developmental Education, American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, National Council of Teachers of English, and The Association of the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education.  Born in San Rafael, CA, Erika has traversed the country as a military-connected individual.  She received a B.A. in Anthropology from Texas A&M University, M.A. in Reading Education from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, and Ph.D. in Developmental Education from Texas State University.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Nielson on her new appointment.

TO:                             Associate Provost and Associate/Assistant Vice                                                 Presidents                         

                                   Deans

                                   Department Chairs/School Directors

FROM:                        Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Time and Leave Policy – Supervisor Responsibilities in Academic Affairs

 

This email serves as the annual reminder to academic administrators, academic deans, department chairs, and school directors in the division of Academic Affairs about supervisor responsibilities for following time and leave policy and procedures found in UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy. Please forward this message to all supervisors who report directly or indirectly to you, such as directors and associate/assistant directors, center directors, managers, grant administrators, administrative assistants, and all others with supervisory responsibilities.

 All department heads/supervisors are responsible for knowing and monitoring time reports and balances for each employee assigned to their departmental units, including faculty and staff.  All leave must be entered into the SAP time management system.  Each department or office must have a procedure in place for timely reporting and assigned responsibility for getting time entered into the SAP time management system, either by a faculty member, staff member, or the departmental time administrator. 

As a result of a recent audit finding, Faculty and Academic Resources will be regularly reviewing leave reporting across units in the division of Academic Affairs.  During October and April of each academic year, four academic units and one administrative unit will be randomly selected for an actionable review of their leave procedures including reporting, approving, and maintaining supporting documentation.

Questions regarding leave procedures and the use and recording of faculty and staff time may addressed in UPPS 04.04.320 or directed to the appropriate administrator or staff in Human Resources.

TO:                            Deans and Department Chairs/School Directors

                                  Faculty

                                  Staff

FROM:                      Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                 Time and Leave Policy – Faculty Sick Leave Reporting Requirements

 

Faculty members appointed in benefits-eligible positions (50% or more appointment) earn sick leave and must report sick leave taken even if no classes were missed.  Reporting is required by the State of Texas (Texas Government Code 661.203).

Faculty must report sick leave for the actual time missed from carrying out their normal, negotiated workload responsibilities, including teaching, research and scholarly/creative activities, and service.  Sick leave taken must be recorded in hours, including partial day absences.

The specific guidelines and procedures for faculty to use in reporting sick leave are prescribed in UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy. In particular, please review Section 03, Sick Leave Procedures, Section 03.10, Faculty, Section 14, Record Keeping Policy, and Section 15, Record Keeping Procedures.

Employees, including faculty, may take sick leave with pay when sickness, injury, pregnancy, or confinement prevent the employee’s performance of duty, or when the employee needs to care for an immediate family member who is sick, or to obtain medical or dental examinations as part of an employee’s or immediate family member’s personal health maintenance program.  Employees are allowed to use up to eight hours of sick leave each fiscal year to attend educational activities of their children in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.

Questions regarding the use and recording of faculty sick leave should be directed to the appropriate department chair or school director. Each department/school must have a procedure in place for timely reporting and assigned responsibility for getting time entered into the SAP time management system, either by a faculty member or the departmental time administrator.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   Announcing Limited Submission: CPRIT High-Impact/High-Risk (HIHR) Research Awards

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submissions: CPRIT High-Impact/High-Risk (HIHR) Research Awards competition.  The View competition web page provides more information and allows you to submit your letter of intent (LOI).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, October 6, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Discipline/Subject Area: Cancer Research
• Description:  CPRIT High-Impact/High-Research Awards seek to provide short-term funding to explore the feasibility of high-risk projects that, if successful, would contribute major new insights into the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of cancers.  Because HIHR Research Awards are designed to support new ideas, preliminary data are not required.  Using this mechanism, CPRIT intends to support innovative, developmental projects that focus on exceptionally promising topics that are not yet sufficiently mature to compete successfully for more conventional funding.  The HIHR Research Awards are expected to provide the foundation for individual or multiple investigator awards upon completion.  Applicants must explain why more conventional sources of support are not available for the proposed research and how short-term funding will lead to strong applications for additional support.

Applications may address any research topic related to cancer biology, causation, prevention, detection, screening, treatment, or survivorship.  Areas of interest include laboratory research, translational studies, and population-based and/or clinical investigations.  More details on this award can be found on the full RFA web page.

As CPRIT limits the number of proposals that can be submitted for this opportunity to five per institution, Texas State University will hold an internal competition to determine which investigators/teams can proceed with an application to CPRIT.

If you are interested in submitting an LOI, please upload the following information as a single PDF document (single-spaced, 10 pt. or higher font, one-inch margins) to our online portal by Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

• 1. A cover page with the following information:
     • title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
     • title of proposed project
     • a list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators
     • an estimated total amount of funding request
     • a description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required)
  2. A two-page narrative with the following information:
     • a one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements
     • a half-page describing how this project aligns with the department, college, university and/or research strategic plans
     • a half-page broader impact statement
  3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu. 

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Constitution Day

 

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is an American federal observance recognizing the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become United States citizens by birth or naturalization.  It is normally observed on September 17, the day the United States Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787 in Philadelphia.  During any year that September 17 falls on a weekend, colleges and universities may present educational programs on the week preceding or following September 17.

This year, Texas State University is hosting Dr. William B. Allen, Emeritus Dean of James Madison College and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University.  A former member of the National Council on the Humanities and a former member and chair of the United States Civil Rights Commission, his books include George Washington: America’s First Progressive, Rethinking Uncle Tom: The Political Philosophy of H. B. Stowe, and Habits of Mind: Fostering Excellence and Access in Higher Education.  His Constitution Day lecture is entitled “The Constitution as Critical History” and will take place on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Alkek Teaching Theater.  The lecture is sponsored by the Department of Political Science and made possible by a grant from the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History.  For more information, you may contact the Department of Political Science via email at politicalscience@txstate.edu.

Also, Student Government will be at the Quad on September 16, 2021 and September 17, 2021 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., distributing pocket-sized United States Constitutions to students.  The main goal during this activity is to make their fellow students understand the importance of the U.S. constitution and in particular, the right to vote which is one of the greatest privileges in a democracy.  Because of this, Student Government will have students who are deputized and who can assist students to register to vote in Hays County.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Presidential Seminar Invitation – Dr. Kate Melhuish

 

Presidential Seminar (2020)

Dr. Kate Melhuish, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics

Thursday, September 16, 2021

3:30 p.m. with reception following

McCoy Hall 119

“When ‘Mathematics for all’ is not mathematical for all: An inquiry into the efficacy and equity of a conceptually-focused, standards-based professional development”

Dr. Melhuish’s research program focuses on increasing the quality of mathematics instruction through the use of validated instruments and instructional supports.  They have been Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on four National Science Foundation (NSF) grants.  Dr. Melhuish’s projects have spanned elementary to undergraduate mathematics settings, resulting in over 50 publications and more than $5 million in grant funding.  They are a NSF Fellow of STEM Education Research, synthesis lead on a NSF-funded effort to catalog instruments in undergraduate mathematics education, and lead developer of several instruments used widely in the field.  

TO:                              Faculty and Staff

FROM:                        Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Something Exciting is Coming NEXT!

 

Texas State University is launching a new brand campaign to tell the university’s story in a new and innovative way.  Online, on campus, and across a variety of media platforms, TXST NEXT will put a fresh spotlight on how the work we do
shapes the future, from groundbreaking faculty research to limitless opportunities for students.

Over the summer, the university initiated a soft launch of the campaign.  You may have noticed a few TXST NEXT brand expressions on social media and at events like University Convocation and the Annual General Faculty Meeting.  
The campaign will continue to build in the days ahead, leading to the official kickoff date of October 8, 2021 to coincide with the public launch of the university’s next fundraising campaign.

The TXST NEXT campaign will be far-reaching, aiming to connect us with the general public, including people outside Central Texas and those beyond our existing network of faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends of the university, and their families. We will attract new audiences and supporters and show them what makes Texas State a destination institution and generator of opportunity.

The key initiatives of our campaign launch will include:

• Increased advertising in key markets across Texas and beyond. 
• Interactive projects, like the TXST NEXT Mixtape to highlight our talented, creative, and enthusiastic students.
• New digital and physical brand-themed art and images on our campuses.
• New TXST NEXT social media content.
• Brand guidelines and self-service design tools to help all departments keep their official marketing and communications consistent with our brand look, feel, and voice.

TXST NEXT is about each promising student, each inspiring professor, every dedicated staff member, and every new graduate primed to have an impact, change a life, and make a difference in the world.  It’s the expanded opportunities created by Texas State scholarships and aid.  It’s our cutting-edge facilities and unique resources that bolster the incredible research footprint and impact we’ve built over the last 20 years.  It’s our drive for cultural and economic development that enriches live and communities, finds solutions to pressing problems, and compels others to join our efforts.  

While our primary goal is to elevate our brand and reach new communities, TXST NEXT is a new way for us to celebrate all we have accomplished together and an opportunity for every Bobcat to show how we are driving what’s NEXT.

TO:                     Faculty, Staff, and Current Students 

FROM:               Dr. John Fleming

                           Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication 

SUBJECT:          TEDxTexasStateUniversity Call for Speakers & Artists

 

The Department of Communication Studies’  TEDxTexasStateUniversity  team is seeking speakers to share innovative ideas at this year’s TEDx event on Saturday, February 12, 2022. The application portal is open, and we need your help finding speakers who will inspire our community and embody our theme Green. 

2022 Theme Description and Call for Speakers: 

What do you think of when you hear the word “green?” Do you think of a bold color that symbolizes renewal, growth, and hope? Do you begin to worry about our environment and climate change? Is green the term used when you are new to an industry or organization? Maybe being green with envy comes to mind. For many, this is the color that represents money. For others, the word green takes them to a garden or their favorite tree. TEDxTexasStateUniversity wants to explore the green aspects of our community and world. Our talks will represent a variety of fields and perspectives including climate issues, technology, health, the arts, media, social sciences, the humanities, and the hard sciences. We invite you to join us for a day of inspiration and conversation as we discover what it means to be green.

If you or someone you know has an idea worth sharing that fits the Green theme, please apply at https://forms.office.com/r/H55962HLFF

The application is open to anyone, including children, and the deadline to apply is Sunday, September 26 at 11:59 p.m. The application also requires a two-minute video of the applicant talking about their idea. You do not have to have a fully written or developed presentation to apply, just an idea worth sharing. If selected, speakers will work with our speaking coaches starting in October. Community members who are not affiliated with the university are also encouraged to apply. Though this event will be live, the speakers will be featured in a professionally edited video, post-event, that will be uploaded to TED Headquarters. 

We are also looking for fine arts performances and exhibits for the event. If you have an idea for a performance or exhibit, please contact us at TEDxTXST@txstate.edu

If you have questions about the application process or event, please contact us at TEDxTXST@txstate.edu.  

Together, we can build an amazing event. 

TEDxTexasStateUniversity Organizing Team 

Dr. Michael Burns, Department of Communication Studies 

Dr. Kristen Farris, Department of Communication Studies 

Mr. Mark Paz, Department of Communication Studies 

Dr. Cassandra LeClair, Department of Communication Studies 

Ms. Katy Henrick, Department of Communication Studies

Dr. Seth Frei, Department of Management    

TO:                            Faculty and Staff

FROM:                      Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                 University Registrar

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Martha Fraire-Cuellar as the University Registrar, effective September 1, 2021.

She began working as a student assistant in the Registrar's Office at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1996.  In 2002, Ms. Fraire-Cuellar started her professional career in an entry-level position in the Registrar's Office at Texas A&M International University.  She quickly progressed through the ranks and became the Associate Registrar there in 2004.

Ms. Fraire-Cuellar joined Texas State University in October 2006 as Associate Registrar.  She brings 17 years of experience as an Associate Registrar to her new role at the university.  Her leadership and management experience includes direct supervision of transfer advising, NCAA compliance certification, Veterans Affairs, graduation planning, student records, registration services, and class scheduling management.  Ms. Fraire-Cuellar’s professional expertise has afforded many opportunities to present at conferences and serve as a consultant to other public universities in Texas.

She has served as interim University Registrar since March 1, 2021.  One reference described her leadership, “Her openness to suggestions, willingness to shift gears when necessary, and adaptability to the continually changing needs of a complex university system indicate that she has the "right stuff" for this position.”

Ms. Fraire-Cuellar earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M International University.   

Please join me in congratulating Ms. Fraire-Cuellar on her appointment as the University Registrar.

TO:                 Faculty

FROM:           Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                       Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:       Announcing Expedited Limited Submission – Texas Parks and Wildlife Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grant

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission – Texas Parks and Wildlife Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grant competition. Click on the  View competition link to view more information and
submit your letter of intent.  Thank you!

• Internal Submission Deadline: Thursday, September 9, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Monday, November 1, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Description: 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grant provides funding for programming that engages under-served populations in TPWD mission-oriented outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education activities. Target audiences served include low income, ethnic minority, female and individuals with a disability. 

CO-OP program grants range from $5,000 to $60,000. This is a reimbursement grant program. Recipients must purchase eligible items and submit proper documentation before being reimbursed. Eligible organizations can apply to use these funds for programming expenses such as personnel, food, travel expenses, participant liability insurance, entrance fees, outdoor recreation equipment and environmental education supplies.

The following are CO-OP grant priorities:

Outdoor Recreation:

• Accommodate high-quality participation in mission-oriented outdoor recreation activities.
• Facilitate access to TPWD owned and operated facilities including State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, State Natural Areas, State Historical Sites, and Fish Hatcheries & Centers.

Environmental Education:

• Provide hands-on environmental & Cultural resource education for Texas Natural resources & ecosystems.
• Integrate TPWD education programs to develop life-long behaviors consistent with the Agency’s mission.

Conservation:

• Cultivate citizen participation in science-based stewardship of natural and cultural resources that result in tangible conservation benefits.
• Develop the next generation of natural resource leaders and professionals.

For more details on this program, please view the Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grant website.

Only one CO-OP proposal may be submitted per eligible institution. If you are interested in submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to ORSP, please upload the following information as a single PDF document (single-spaced, 10 pt or higher font, one-inch margins) to our online portal by Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 5:00 pm.

1. A cover page with the following information: 

• Title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
•  Title of proposed project
• A list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators.
• An estimated total amount of funding request
• A description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required).

2. A two-page narrative with the following information: 

•  A one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements.
•  A half page describing how this project aligns with department, college, University and/or research strategic plans.
•  A half page broader impact statement

3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments. Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

View competition

For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu.

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu.

To:                 Faculty and Staff

From:            Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                      Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Subject:         Director, Innovation, Discovery, Exploration, and Analysis Center (IDEA)

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Golato as Director of the Innovation, Discovery, Exploration, and Analysis Center (IDEA) effective September 1, 2021.  As a component of the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan, the IDEA Center will support students, faculty, and departments/schools in expanding opportunities for research, scholarship, and creative inquiry for undergraduate students across the university’s disciplines. 

Dr. Golato, Professor in the Department of World Languages and Literatures, has been an enthusiastic supporter of undergraduate and graduate student success throughout his career as faculty member at the University of Alabama (1998-1999), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1999-2013), Utah State University (2004-2005), and Texas State University (2013-present).  As director of graduate studies, language program director, advisor to student organizations, and a faculty member in foreign language teacher education programs, he has provided training and professionalization opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to prepare them for teaching in public schools, applying to graduate programs, and seeking careers in academia.  He has successfully directed the research of numerous students through undergraduate honors theses, master’s theses, and doctoral dissertations.  An applied linguist, Dr. Golato’s earlier research examined the learning and processing of language and used quantitative methodologies from experimental psychology.  His more recent research focuses on the qualitative study of the natural and spontaneous use of language in everyday social settings.  
He has published articles in journals such as Applied Psycholinguistics, Journal of Pragmatics, and Research on Language and Social Interaction, while his book-length projects have been published with Yale University Press, McGraw-Hill, and John Benjamins. 

While at Texas State, Dr. Golato received the Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Teaching for the College of Liberal Arts, has been named an Alpha Chi Favorite Professor, was awarded the Stephany Goodbread Faculty Advisor of the Year Award in the Honors College, and received the Golden Apple Award in the College of Liberal Arts.  He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Connecticut, a M.A. in French Linguistics from Louisiana State University, and a Ph.D. in
French Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Golato on his new appointment.

Dear colleagues,  

This message provides guidance on classroom management following Dr. Emilio Carranco’s attached email regarding new notification emails from Bobcat Trace.  The new emails are for notification purposes only and do not require recipients to isolate or quarantine at this time.  Individuals who receive the email are asked to 1) self-monitor for symptoms, 2) wear a face mask for 14 days, 3) stay home and get tested upon the development of any symptoms of COVID-19, and 4) report to Bobcat Trace if a positive test is received.  

Below are responses to three common questions.  We will continue to update frequently asked questions in the Teaching and Research section of the university’s Roadmap.  

I invite all of you to join us for a virtual town hall for the Texas State community tomorrow, Wednesday, September 1, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Respectfully,  

Gene Bourgeois 

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Do faculty have flexibility in delivering fall 2021 classes? How does the instruction mode assigned to my class affect flexibility?  

Classes must be implemented in the instruction mode that appears on the Schedule of Classes in Catsweb. The University Registrar defines the most common instruction modes as follows: 

• FTF- At least 85% of the section is taught face-to-face (in-person) 
• INT- At least 85% of the section is taught via the internet 
• HYB- 50-85% of the section is taught via the internet, the other portion is taught face-to-face (in-person) 
• ITV- Section is taught via two-interactive video 

Faculty have discretion and flexibility to implement classes according to the definition and parameters of instruction modes.  For example, the face-to-face course instruction mode means 85 percent or more of the faculty-student interaction occurs in-person. The remaining 15 percent may occur in other formats, including Zoom. 

The A/B classroom model for a face-to-face class could work as long as the 85 percent in-person threshold is met across the semester.  As another example, an instructor could deliver a face-to-face class via Zoom for two weeks and then transition to in-person instruction to meet the 85% in-person threshold.   

G/PPS 02.11, Instructional Contact Time and Academic Credit defines required contact hours and is useful for calculating class time that should be delivered in-person, online, and/or through alternative means in alignment with the class section’s instruction mode.  

How do faculty handle student absences from class or campus work, including those due to COVID-19?  

As in the past, faculty have discretion in managing student absences, including those due to illness.  Faculty members determine appropriate arrangements for students who miss class, which may be similar to or the same arrangements offered in the past for students absent due to illness or other reasons. 

Students who test positive for COVID-19 or are a close contact to someone who had a positive viral test should report to Bobcat Trace and follow the instructions provided by email.  Students should forward this email to their professors and make appropriate arrangements for completing assignments. The email notification to students from Bobcat Trace is an official university communication that serves as documentation for student absences.   

To bolster reporting, faculty members are encouraged to require students who test positive for COVID-19 or are a close contact to 1) report to Bobcat Trace and 2) forward the notification email from Bobcat Trace to receive an excused absence.   

Student employees who test positive or are a close contact should report to Bobcat Trace and visit with their supervisor. 

What if a faculty member is absent from class?  

As in the past, faculty who are absent from class coordinate with their chairs/directors to ensure continuity of instruction.  In some cases, a faculty member teaching face-to-face may briefly transition to remote learning by using Zoom, Teams, Canvas, or other tools.  For extended absences, another faculty member may be asked to assume responsibility for the class.  Deans and chairs/directors may contact the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for support or recommendations in these cases.  Faculty with extended absences are advised to contact Human Resources for guidance. 

Faculty members who test positive for COVID-19 or are a close contact to someone who had a positive viral test for COVID-19 should report to Bobcat Trace and visit with their supervisor about leave options, including plans for instructional continuity.  Faculty are required to report sick leave taken.  Questions about faculty sick leave and reporting procedures should be directed to the appropriate chair/director or departmental time administrator. 

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   Program Announcement – FY21 Research Enhancement Program

 

Through a peer review process, the Research Enhancement Program (REP) provides funding for research and creative activities by faculty in all disciplines.  Funding for the REP is allocated to the academic colleges via a proportional model based on each college’s percentage of the total requested amount of funding across the university.  The program guidelines, college scoring rubrics, and other programmatic information are available on the REP webpage.

Completed REP applications must be submitted via the online submission system before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.  Submissions after 5:00 p.m. will not be accepted by the system.  A tutorial for submitting applications through the online system can be downloaded from the REP webpage navigation bar.

Interested faculty are encouraged to attend a REP overview workshop on September 3, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.  To get the link for the presentation you must first sign up.

Programmatic questions may be directed to Dr. Michael Blanda, Assistant Vice President for Research at (512) 245-2314 or via email at blanda@txstate.edu or to Dr. Augustine Agwuele, Chair of the University Research Enhancement Committee via email at aa21@txstate.edu.  Questions regarding technical support for the online application system should be directed to Dr. Yongxia Xia at (512) 245-2314 or via email at ys11@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Supplemental Awards Associated with Faculty Development Leaves

 

President Trauth has established ten $20,000 supplemental awards to assist faculty in conducting their faculty development leave projects, including support to provide up to 100 percent of salary for a full academic year leave (fall and spring).  Alternatively, supplemental awards may be used for $20,000 in expenditures for equipment, travel and lodging, and/or materials needed for research purposes during the leave period.

A committee appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will review all requests for supplemental awards received from faculty who have been approved by the President for faculty development leave.  The committee will recommend award recipients to the Provost, who will make the final decisions.  Award notifications will be made by January 17, 2022.

To apply for the award, faculty must complete the regular application for faculty development leave and concurrently submit the supplemental award application via the Texas State Faculty Requests portal at https://tim.txstate.edu/facultyrequests.  Additional information regarding the online application process is posted on the Faculty Senate website.  Criteria for selection are described in AA/PPS 04.02.02.  I encourage you to apply for faculty development leave and the supplemental award.

Dear faculty,

As part of the university’s plan to communicate and reinforce the importance of protecting health and safety in our living, learning, and working environments, I ask that the following health and safety reminders be read to your students on the first day of class:

1. Wear a mask indoors at all times.
2. Get vaccinated.
3. Get in the habit of testing for COVID regularly – at least every two weeks.
4. Stay home and get tested if you develop cold-like or other COVID-19 symptoms.
5. Promptly report to Bobcat Trace if you test positive for COVID-19 or have had close contact with someone who received a positive test.
6. Isolate or quarantine as directed by Bobcat Trace.

Thank you for your support of our health and safety guidelines.

Respectfully,

Gene Bourgeois

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

 

FROM:                       Dr. Andrea Golato

Chair, University Registrar Search Committee

Dean, The Graduate College

SUBJECT:                   Rescheduled Public Presentation – University Registrar

 

Texas State University is currently seeking to hire a new University Registrar.  Thus far, two of the three candidates for the position of University Registrar have already visited campus.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, the public presentation of the third candidate has been rescheduled to the date and time below.  Faculty and staff are invited to attend this public presentation which will be held via Zoom.

Bryan Heard, University Registrar, University of Houston - Clear Lake

Wednesday, August 11, 1:30-2:30

https://txstate.zoom.us/j/95657931770  Meeting ID 956 5793 1770  Passcode: 501324

The search committee and I hope that you will be able to attend this presentation.  Feedback will be requested via an online form from those who are able to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Andrea Golato via email at agolato@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Deans

                                    Department Chairs/School Directors

                                    Faculty

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Compliance with HB 2504 and Website

 

Per the Texas Legislature and House Bill (HB) 2504, undergraduate course syllabi and associated instructor curriculum vitae (CV) must be posted to a university website by the seventh day after the first day of classes of each semester or other academic term during which the course is offered.  

Website Access & Launch

Detailed information on the legislation and Texas State University’s compliance plan is located on the HB 2504 website.

Please note that a link to the HB 2504 website is also available by clicking “Faculty & Staff” at the top right corner of the Texas State home page.

Due DateAll faculty CV and fall 2021 syllabi should be uploaded to Texas State’s HB 2504 website by Monday, August 30, 2021.

 Information and Instructions on Uploading CV and Syllabi

Go to the HB 2504 website and click “Information” on the menu bar and then click “Info for Faculty and Staff” for HB 2504 directions and detailed information.

To summarize:

1. All instructors will need to upload the course syllabus for each undergraduate course section he or she is teaching in the 2021 fall semester (instructors teaching lecture or seminar courses in the following formats: on-campus, off-campus, dual credit, education abroad, distance education, or extension).  Undergraduate course sections required for HB 2504 are pre-populated into the website.  These are updated every morning to reflect schedule changes.
2. Instructors with an existing CV on the HB 2504 website can use that version or upload a more recent CV.
3. Instructors who are new and/or do not have an existing CV on the website will need to upload a CV.
4. The following course types and instructors are excluded from compliance with HB 2504: independent study, directed readings, laboratory, clinical, internship, practicum, private lessons, discussion sections or others tailored specifically to individual students.  All graduate level courses and instructors are also excluded.
5. This information must be uploaded by Monday, August 30, 2021.

Permissions to Upload CV and Syllabi

Instructors automatically have permission to upload their CV and syllabi by virtue of logging in with their NetID and password via the “Editor Access” link on the website.  New instructors will be able to upload their CV and syllabi once their hire paperwork is processed by Faculty and Academic Resources.  Course sections with “staff” or “TBD” listed as the instructor will not appear on the HB 2504 website until an instructor has been named.  The database and website re-populate every morning.  In the event the department uploads the materials for the faculty member, the faculty member must approve the documents before they are uploaded.

Student Perceptions of Instruction Update

Summarized results of the student perceptions of instruction (SPI) for each undergraduate course/instructor will be available and posted to the HB 2504 website approximately four to six weeks after the end of each semester or other academic term.

Finally, thank you for your assistance to ensure Texas State’s transparency, communication, and compliance with HB 2504.  Reports of our compliance activities are posted under “Information” on the HB 2504 website.

Please email hb2504@txstate.edu for any questions.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt

                                   Associate Vice President for Academic Success

                                   Dean, University College

SUBJECT:                  ATSD Open House

 

All faculty are invited to visit the Academic Testing for Students with Disabilities (ATSD) Open House from August 23 – September 3, 201 anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Commons Hall G18.  Those in attendance will have an opportunity to ask questions, tour our testing facility, receive assistance using the ATSD testing system, and meet the staff.

Please call (512) 245-7856 or email atsd@txstate.edu if you have any questions regarding our Open House event.  If you would like to make an appointment to meet with the ATSD Supervisor or any other ATSD staff member to address a specific need, please email atsd@txstate.edu to schedule an appointment.

Have a wonderful semester!

Good afternoon,

I would like to remind you to please join President Trauth and me for University Convocation and the Annual General Faculty Meeting to be held on August 20, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in Strahan Arena in the University Events Center.  Information on the event and honorees, access to live stream, and other resources will be available prior to the event on the Convocation 2021 web page.  

Details regarding Convocation are found in the messages below.

For special accommodations, please contact the Office of Faculty and Academic Resources at (512) 245-2786 or via email at facultyresources@txstate.edu at least 72 hours in advance.

See you there!

Gene Bourgeois

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

TO:                             Current Undergraduate Students

                                    Faculty

                                    Deans

FROM:                        Dr. Heather Galloway

                                    Dean, Honors College

SUBJECT:                   Fall 2021 Undergraduate Research Fellowships

 

The Honors College and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the Fall 2021 Undergraduate Research Fellowship program at Texas State University.  This initiative, known as URF, may award funding to any enrolled undergraduate student involved in research.  Students may apply for funding up to $1,000.  The deadline to apply is Monday, September 20, 2021.

We will offer an application workshops on Friday, August 27, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Zoom and on Monday, August 30, 2021 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in person in COMAL 116.  Interested students are invited to sign up to attend one of these free Undergraduate Research Fellowship Workshops.

Further information about these research fellowships and the online application is found on the Undergraduate Research Fellowships website. 

The URF committee encourages undergraduates from all colleges and majors to apply.  Please note that URF recipients must expend funds by August 31, 2022 and present their projects on campus within one academic year of receiving the award.  In addition, recipients must be enrolled as undergraduates for the duration of the project.  Please direct any questions to Melanie Liddle via email at ugresearch@txstate.edu.This program is supported by contributions from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, private foundations, and colleges within the university.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                  Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                  Announcing Limited Submission - NSF Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission - NSF Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) 2021 competition.  Click on the  View competition link to view more information and to submit your letter of intent (LOI) to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Thursday, August 26, 2021

The Internal Submission Deadline has been extended to September 30, 2021.

• Funding Organization's Deadline: Friday, December 3, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Description: NSF Crest Center awards provide multi-year support (typically 5-years) for eligible minority-serving institutions that demonstrate a strong research and education base, a compelling vision for research infrastructure improvement, and a comprehensive plan with the necessary elements to achieve and sustain national competitiveness in a clearly defined area of national significance in science or engineering research.  Successful Center proposals will demonstrate a clear vision and synergy with the broad goals of the CREST Program and the Human Resource Development Division with respect to development of a diverse STEM workforce.  CREST Centers are expected to provide leadership in the involvement of groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM at all levels (faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers) within the Center.  Centers are required to use either proven or innovative mechanisms to address issues such as recruitment, retention and mentorship of participants from underrepresented groups.

For more details on this program, please view the full NSF solicitation.

 This Limited Submission competition is for a preliminary CREST Center proposal, which requires an initial Letter of Intent to NSF, due on Friday, December 3, 2021.  Only one preliminary CREST Center proposal may be submitted per eligible institution.  Full CREST Center proposals are to be submitted only when invited by NSF.

One proposal will be chosen to go forward for this NSF opportunity.  If you are interested in submitting an LOI to ORSP, please upload the following information as a single PDF document (single-spaced, 10 pt. or higher font, one-inch margins) to our online portal through the View competition link by Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

• 1. A cover page with the following information:
     • title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
     • title of proposed project
     • a list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators
     • an estimated total amount of funding request
     • a description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required)
  2. A two-page narrative with the following information:
     • a one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements
     • a half page describing how this project aligns with department, college, University and/or research strategic plans
     • a half page broader impact statement
  3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

 For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu.

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Information and Guidance for Fall 2021 Course Syllabi

 

As we quickly approach the fall 2021 semester and prepare for a return to in-person classes, services, and activities, the following message provides guidance on recent questions about course syllabi and implementation, including the university’s measures for health, wellness, and safety, office hours, instruction modes, student absences, and other areas.  I am aware of concerns raised by some members of the university community about the Delta variant of COVID-19 and recognize the genuine worries and concerns.  As President Trauth stated yesterday, President’s Cabinet meets weekly with our Chief Medical Officer to review the latest data on vaccination rates and COVID-19 case counts, to assess the effectiveness of current protocols, and to make adjustments.  As the situation evolves, we will communicate with you and update the Texas State Roadmap.

This message also provides information about the university’s mission and shared values, emergency management, and the reporting responsibility of faculty and staff who learn of sexual misconduct.  Extensive information on course syllabi and classroom procedures is found in AA/PPS 02.03.01, Conduct and Planning of Courses.  Please pass this message along to new faculty and teaching assistants, as new hire transactions occur daily.

Health, Wellness, and Safety

Considering rising infection rates and recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Texas State is requesting all members of the university community to take these five additional steps: 

1. Get tested. Regardless of vaccination status, get tested before the start of the fall semester and when selected to participate in Texas State’s random COVID-19 testing program. Testing information can be found on the Texas State’s COVID-19 Testing, Reporting, and Response Steps webpage.  
2. Stay home and get tested if you develop cold-like or other COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. 
3. Promptly Report to Bobcat Trace if you test positive for COVID-19 or have had close contact with someone who received a positive test result. Reporting information can be found on the Texas State’s COVID-19 Testing, Reporting, and Response Steps webpage.
4. Isolate if you test positive for COVID-19. Stay home and away from others for 10 days from the start of symptoms or the positive test if you have no symptoms.
5. Quarantine if you have been identified as a close contact and stay home for the prescribed time period. 

Fully vaccinated Bobcats who are asymptomatic are not required to quarantine but should get tested for COVID-19 three to five days after last exposure. They should also wear a face mask when indoors in public spaces for 14 days since the exposure or until a negative test result is obtained three to five days after exposure.

Unvaccinated Bobcats are required to quarantine for 10 days since the time of last exposure.

Please continue to follow the university’s Roadmap for updates. 

Face Covering and Vaccination Protocol 

Per standing guidance from Governor Abbott’s executive orders and confirmed by The Texas State University System’s Office of the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, the university  is not able to require face coverings or vaccinations.  Every member of the university community is urged to get vaccinated and wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Together, we can reduce the risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19 and live out our shared values of respect and compassion.  

Office Hours

As in the past, faculty members may consider alternatives to face-to face office hours, such as video conferencing in Teams or Zoom, telephone calls, emails, and other means. 

Class Instruction Modes

Classes must be fully implemented in the instruction mode that appears on the Schedule of Classes in Catsweb.  Approximately 87 percent of fall 2021 classes will include some form of face-to-face instruction (face-to-face and hybrid instruction modes) and 13 percent will be completely online.

Instructor requests to change a class instruction mode should be rare, since changes at this late date may have multiple ramifications via: student expectations and learning preferences, required certification for faculty to teach hybrid/online, student immigration status and regulatory requirements, on-campus or off-campus student residential status, new or different charges on tuition and fee statements, classroom availability and utilization, student transition time to other classes, and so forth.  Changes based on other university policy and procedures, such as ADA workplace accommodations, proceed independently. Tuition and fee's can be reviewed by visiting the Cost of Attendance (COA) website.

Student Accommodations

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) provides reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.  Faculty are responsible for implementing accommodations based on the office’s process, assessment, and formal recommendations per UPPS 07.11.01, Disability Services for Students.  Please note that although students with ODS accommodations may discuss alternatives with instructors if they are unable to attend a face-to-face class, a faculty member is not required to accommodate a request that represents a fundamental alteration to the delivery methods of a course or program.

Student requests for modifications outside of the ODS process may be considered by a faculty member, but there is no requirement to make modifications.

Student Absences

As in the past, faculty have discretion in managing student absences, including those due to illness.  Students who must isolate or quarantine should report to Bobcat Trace and contact their professors to make appropriate arrangements for completing assignments.  Students can notify instructors directly or utilize the absence notifications form.  Faculty members determine appropriate arrangements for students who miss class.

If there are a large number of absences in a face-to-face class and the instructor finds difficulty in managing make-up assignments and course delivery, remote learning and alternative strategies are at the instructor’s discretion.  For example, the instructor may choose to use Zoom so absent students are able to observe lectures and class activities. Or, an instructor may record and distribute lectures, add discussion boards in Canvas, create substitute assignments, or implement some other plan.

Faculty and Staff Absences

Faculty who are absent from class coordinate with their department chairs/school directors to ensure continuity of instruction.  In some cases, a faculty member teaching face-to-face may transition to remote learning for a brief period by using Zoom, Teams, Canvas, or other tools.  For extended absences, another faculty member may be asked to assume responsibility for the class.  Deans and chairs/directors may contact the Office of the Provost for support or guidance.

Employees who must isolate or quarantine should report to Bobcat Trace and visit with their supervisor about leave options. Employees in isolation or quarantine may work remotely only if requested and approved through their Department Head. For more information, visit the Employee Time and Leave section on the Roadmap. 

Syllabus Content Reminders (see section 13 of AA/PPS 02.03.01 for all syllabus requirements)

• Required class materials, access to materials, use of Canvas, and/or instructional strategies.
• Technology or software are needed for the class, including getting support from ITAC.
• Exams, assignments, grading rubrics, assessment and testing, and due dates.
• How office hours will be handled (i.e., Zoom, Teams, email, etc…).
• Attendance policy and record-keeping procedures.
• Assigned seating and required seating charts for face-to-face and hybrid class sections.
• Monitor the university’s Roadmap for any updates. 

Substantive Interaction

In all courses, faculty members provide regular and substantive interaction with students.  This interaction is instructor-driven, frequent, and consistent throughout the semester.

Our Mission and Our Shared Values

Faculty who wish to include information about the university’s mission and shared values statements in a syllabus for spring 2021 courses should use the following statements from the 2017-2023 Texas State University Plan: 

Mission

Texas State University is a doctoral-granting, student-centered institution dedicated to excellence and innovation in teaching, research, including creative expression, and service.  The university strives to create new knowledge, to embrace a diversity of people and ideas, to foster cultural and economic development, and to prepare its graduates to participate fully and freely as citizens of Texas, the nation, and the world.

Shared Values

In pursuing our mission, we, the faculty, staff, and students of Texas State University, are guided by a shared collection of values:

·     Teaching and learning based on research, student involvement, and the free exchange of ideas in a supportive environment;

·     Research and creative activities that encompass the full range of academic disciplines—research with relevance, from the sciences to the arts, from the theoretical to the applied;

·     The cultivation of character, integrity, honesty, civility, compassion, fairness, respect, and ethical behavior in all members of our university community;

·     A diversity of people and ideas, a spirit of inclusiveness, a global perspective, and a sense of community as essential conditions for campus life;

·     A commitment to service and leadership for the public good;

·     Responsible stewardship of our resources and environment; and

·     Continued reflection and evaluation to ensure that our strengths as a community always benefit those we serve.

Academic Integrity and Student Conduct

·     Code of Student Conduct

·     The Honor Code

Emergency Management

In the event of an emergency, faculty, students, and staff should monitor the Safety and Emergency Communications web page.  This page will be updated with the latest information available to the university, in addition to providing links to information concerning safety resources and emergency procedures.  Faculty, students, and staff are encouraged to sign up for the TXState Alert system.

Sexual Misconduct Reporting (SB 212)

Effective January 2, 2020, state law (SB 212) requires all university employees, acting in the course and scope of employment, who witness or receive information concerning an incident of sexual misconduct involving an enrolled student or employee to report all relevant information known about the incident to the university's Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX coordinator.  According to SB 212, employees who knowingly fail to report or knowingly file a false report shall be terminated in accordance with university policy and The Texas State University System Rules and Regulations.

Thank you. I greatly appreciate your ongoing dedication to the mission, vision, and shared values of Texas State University and look forward to seeing you soon. I hope you and your family are safe and healthy.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                  Dr. Andrea Golato

                                   Chair, University Registrar Search Committee

                                   Dean, The Graduate College

SUBJECT:                  Rescheduled Public Presentation – University Registrar

 

Texas State University is currently seeking to hire a new University Registrar.  Thus far, two of the three candidates for the position of University Registrar have already visited campus.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, the public presentation of the third candidate has been rescheduled to the date and time below.  Faculty and staff are invited to attend this public presentation which will be held via Zoom.

Bryan Heard, University Registrar, University of Houston - Clear Lake

Wednesday, August 11, 1:30-2:30

https://txstate.zoom.us/j/95657931770  Meeting ID 956 5793 1770  Passcode: 501324

The search committee and I hope that you will be able to attend this presentation.  Feedback will be requested via an online form from those who are able to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Andrea Golato via email at agolato@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Direct Reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

                                   Department Chairs/School Directors

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy

 

Please make sure all supervisors in your area have reviewed UPPS 04.04.16, Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy.  This policy sets forth the overtime and compensatory time policy for all university employees and complies with applicable federal, state, and university requirements.

This university policy meets the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a federal statute that establishes, among other things, the federal minimum wage and required overtime compensation for certain employees at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek.  Certain employee groups are exempt from the overtime provision while other employee groups earn overtime compensation.  Exempt employees are unclassified, which means there is no pay plan maximum for their job titles.  Non-exempt employees are classified, which means there is a pay plan minimum and maximum for their job titles.  If supervisors would like to confirm the exempt or non-exempt status of a position, they may inquire with the Office of Human Resources or the Office of Faculty and Academic Resources.  The University Pay Plan also provides information.

The division of Academic Affairs does not have a separate written policy on overtime and compensatory time for exempt and non-exempt employees earning state comp time and FLSA time (time earned at the rate of one and one-half hours for one hour).

However as stated in Section 02.05, d. and e., of the above UPPS:

d.  All state compensatory time off is at the discretion of the supervisor within the state compensatory time off policy.  Both the employee and the supervisor must agree on any time taken.

e. No more than 24 consecutive hours of state compensatory time may be used at any one time without approval from the divisional vice president.  This excludes energy conservation days.

Exempt employees in the division of Academic Affairs shall take state compensatory time as approved by individual supervisors and shall not take more than 24 consecutive hours of state compensatory time without approval from the provost.  This excludes energy conservation days.

All supervisors are responsible for ensuring that exempt and non-exempt employees understand and follow university policies and procedures for the timely recording of leave, overtime, and other exceptions to their normal work schedules.  Please note recent updates in section 15 of UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy, which explain record keeping, the timeline by which employees must enter time, the timeline for approvals, and documentation requirements.

Dear Colleagues,

As a reminder, Summer 2021 Commencement will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, at Strahan Arena in the University Events Center on our San Marcos Campus.  The event will be live-streamed so that friends and family may attend from afar.

Faculty that wish to attend commencement should confirm their attendance using the Faculty Commencement RSVP form.  Additional details can be found in the message below dated June 25, 2021.

Sincerely,

Gene Bourgeois

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Co-Director of the Materials Applications Research Center (MARC)

 

I am pleased to announce that effective September 1, 2021, Dr. Jennifer Irvin will become Co-Director of the Materials Applications Research Center (MARC).

Dr. Irvin joined the faculty at Texas State University in 2008 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, receiving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2014.  She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from Texas State and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida.  She was a post-doctoral fellow at Sandia National Laboratories and then a Research Chemist and Head of Analytical Chemistry at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division.  Dr. Irvin has served as the Director of the Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (MSEC) Program since 2015 and will continue to serve as the Associate Director of MSEC.

Dr. Irvin is the Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Site grant and a co-Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation Partnership for Research and Education in Materials grant.  She is a member of the national University Materials Council and the Texas University Network for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  At Texas State, she serves on the New Ventures Advisory Committee, the Shared Research Operations Advisory Committee, the SURE Advisory Council, and the Women in Science and Engineering Committee.  She is also a founding organizer of Texas State’s annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Week.  Dr. Irvin conducts applied materials research in electroactive polymers for alternative energy, water purification, and biomedical applications.  She has published in journals such as ACS Applied Polymer Materials, the International Journal of Nanomedicine, Materials, Reactive and Functional Polymers, the Journal of Biomaterials Science-Polymer Edition, the Journal of the Electrochemical Society, and the Small Business Institute Journal.  Dr. Irvin is also an inventor on 19 patents.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Irvin on her new appointment.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Responses to Inquiries - Fall 2021 Plans

 

The purpose of the following message is to provide responses to several recurring inquiries.  Please continue to monitor your Texas State University email account and the university’s Roadmap for additional information and updates.  Thank you.

 Fall 2021 Course Syllabi

As customary, faculty and staff will receive information regarding statements and recommendations for fall 2021 syllabi, including information specific to health and safety protocols and related areas.  The email will be entitled “Information to Include in Fall 2021 Course Syllabi” and will be sent during the week of August 9, 2021.  This is a bit later than usual due to the potential for changing conditions.  Instructors will have information in time to complete their course syllabi.

 Face Covering Protocol 

Per standing guidance from Governor Abbott’s Executive Order of May 18, 2021, and confirmed by The Texas State University System’s Office of the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, we are not able to require face coverings.  We want members and guests of the university community to feel safe and comfortable, so face coverings are welcome.  

 While offices and employees cannot require that face coverings be worn, they may ask visitors/patrons/guests not wearing a face covering if they would like a face covering.  Department heads may place an order for face coverings by completing the COVID-19 Department Order Form.

 The university’s 12 Health and Safety Guidelines recommend that everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear face coverings indoors.  Face coverings are not necessary outdoors but are recommended for unvaccinated persons in crowded settings. 

Alternatives to face to face meetings in small spaces include accessing larger spaces, video conferencing in Teams or Zoom, telephone calls, and others. 

 University Convocation and Annual General Faculty Meeting

Convocation will be held in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.  The arena set-up, including the platform, video and audio projection, and seating arrangements, will be the same as commencement.  This will allow significant social distancing opportunities.  The event will be live-streamed so that friends and family may enjoy from afar.  Please watch your Texas State email for event reminders and more information on seating arrangements.

Schedules and Class Instruction Modes

Class selections and student schedules for the fall 2021 semester are complete for the vast majority of Texas State students.  Continuing students began registering on March 29, 2021.  Tuition and fee statements are available to students next Monday, August 2, 2021 and payments are due August 19, 2021. You may also visit the university's Cost of Attendance page to obtain a estimate of your potential out-of-pocket educational expenses.

 Instructor requests to change a class instruction mode should be rare and carefully assessed, since changes may have multiple ramifications via: student expectations and learning preferences, required certification for faculty to teach hybrid/online, student immigration status and regulatory requirements, on-campus or off-campus student residential status, new or different charges on tuition and fee statements, classroom availability and utilization, student transition time to other classes, and so forth.  Changes based on other university policy and procedures, such as ADA accommodations, proceed independently. 

 Instruction Mode Definitions:

The University Registrar defines a face to face class and other instruction modes in its documentation for producing the Schedule of Classes.  These definitions are below.

 FTF- At least 85% is taught face to face 

INT- At least 85% of the section is taught via the internet

HYB- 50-85% of the section is taught via the internet, the other portion is taught face to face

ITV- Section is taught via two-interactive video

MEM- 50% of the section is taught via electronic instruction other than ITV or online

VTV- Section is taught by video tape and/or Broadcast TV

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                  Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Pilot Program

 

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is pleased to announce the expansion of services through a new pilot program that provides support for qualitative, and mixed methods research.

The pilot program will begin this summer and is hosted by Methodology, Measurement and Statistical Analysis (MMSA).  MMSA's mission is to provide support that meets the faculty’s need for comprehensive, rigorous, design, analysis, and publication of interdisciplinary research and scholarship.

The goal of the pilot is for MMSA to engage a larger, more diverse group of faculty and disciplines with assistance on grant proposals and publications involving professional data analysis.

Dr. Emily Summers, Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, has joined the MMSA team to provide the enhanced services.  Dr. Summers has extensive experience with employing qualitative and mixed methodology in her own research and teaching, while providing mentoring, and consulting to assist others.

Please see our website for more information and for links to forms to request any of the above services.

The team at MMSA wishes you the best in your research endeavors.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Parking and Traffic Plan for Summer 2021 Commencement

 

Texas State University is pleased to honor over 1,500 candidates in three commencement ceremonies to be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.  The ceremonies will be held in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center (UEC) on our San Marcos Campus.  As students, families, and the university community prepare to celebrate, please note the following announcements and recommendations.

Parking at Commencement

Parking is available for all attendees as indicated on the Commencement Parking Map.

Recommended parking for faculty and staff, with shuttle services, include:

• Lots A and B, located by Bobcat Stadium, will have shuttle bus service.
• Lot C, located adjacent to the UEC, is restricted to those with Limited Mobility.  Golf cart shuttles will be available to assist individuals in this lot.  This lot should be accessed from Charles Austin Drive via Hopkins Street.

Recommended park and walk lots for faculty and staff include:

• Lot D, across the street from the UEC.
• Garage F, at the corner of Edward Gary Street and University Drive.
• Garage H, at the corner of Pleasant Street and LBJ Drive.

All lots and garages listed above are free to those attending commencement.

Please be aware that if you are traveling southbound on IH35 and exit Aquarena Springs Drive you are advised to turn left on to Thorpe Lane and right on to Robbie Lane in order to access Lots A and B.  Traffic inbound to campus on Aquarena Springs Drive will not be able to make a left turn into Commencement Parking Lot D.

Information on faculty parking, parking maps, the faculty processional, and other details can be found on the commencement website.

Special Instructions

To alleviate the traffic, wait time, and congestion that is anticipated between the conclusion of the 2:00 p.m. ceremony and the start of the 6:00 p.m. ceremony, the following procedures are in place for employees:

Early Release – Friday, August 6, 2021

To ease traffic congestion, supervisors may elect to release selected staff at 3:00 p.m.  However, all university offices must remain open until 5:00 p.m. or the normal closing time.  Staff members who leave early are expected to use vacation, compensatory, or flex time arrangements approved by supervisors.

Vehicles in the JCK Area

The rear gate at the back of the JCK parking lot will be barricaded from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Vehicles that normally exit on to Sessom Drive will be directed back to the one-way service drive and should exit the back parking lot going the wrong way towards Woods Street or Moon Street.  No vehicles will be allowed to access the back parking area starting at 3:00 p.m.  A parking guard will be stationed at the service drive at the front parking lot to restrict vehicles from entering the back parking lot.

Vehicles in Other Campus Areas

It is highly recommended that vehicles avoid the Sessom Street, Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82, and University Drive roadways between the ceremonies on Friday.  Every effort should be made to exit the campus and San Marcos using Edward Gary Street, Guadalupe Street, Hopkins Street/Hunter Road, and other routes heading away from the UEC.

Thank you for your cooperation during this momentous time in our students’ lives.

Faculty or staff requiring accommodations due to a disability should contact commencement@txstate.edu at least one week prior to the event.

TO:                            Faculty and Staff

FRoOM:                   Dr. Andrea Golato

                                  Chair, University Registrar Search Committee

                                  Dean, The Graduate College

SUBJECT:                 Public Presentations – University Registrar

 

Texas State University is seeking to hire a new University Registrar.  Three finalists have been scheduled for on-campus interviews.  Faculty and staff are invited to attend the public presentations to be held via Zoom.

The three public presentations will be:

1. Martha Fraire-Cuellar, Interim University Registrar, Texas State University

Tuesday, July 27, 1:30-2:30 

https://txstate.zoom.us/s/97194693912 Meeting ID 971 9469 3912 Passcode: 662100

2. Brenda Schumann, Deputy University Registrar, The University of Texas at Austin

Wednesday, July 28, 1:30-2:30

https://txstate.zoom.us/s/97802067050 Meeting ID 978 0206 7050 Passcode: 195233

3.  Bryan Heard, University Registrar, University of Houston - Clear Lake

Monday, August 2, 1:30-2:30

https://txstate.zoom.us/s/93302628504 Meeting ID 933 0262 8504 Passcode: 610444

The search committee and I hope that you will be able to attend these presentations. Feedback will be requested via an online form from those who are able to attend.

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Andrea Golato via email at agolato@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions  

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Beverly Woodson Day as the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions, effective Monday, August 9, 2021.

For the past eight years, Dr. Day worked at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), progressing from Director of Undergraduate Admissions to Senior Director of Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions.  She provided leadership and oversight of freshman and international recruitment and admissions.  She has been an outstanding leader in guiding UTSA's rapid enrollment growth.

Dr. Day brings twenty-five years of successful enrollment experience to her new role.  Before joining UTSA, Dr. Day spent 18 years in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Texas State University.  She began her tenure at Texas State in
June 1995 as an Assistant Coordinator of Orientation and was promoted to four different positions until reaching Associate Director of Admissions in February 2009.  She served in that role until 2013.

Dr. Day earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics, master’s degree in Developmental and Adult Education, and Ph.D. in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State.

She has demonstrated leadership in professional associations, including service as the Undergraduate Admissions & Recruitment Chair for the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, Chair-Elect for the College Board Southwestern Regional Council, Past President for the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling, and member of the President’s Council for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.  In July 2020, she participated in an extensive training program and received an endorsement in Strategic Enrollment Management from the American Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Day on her appointment as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Chair, Department of Health Information Management

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David Gibbs as the Chair of the Department of Health Information Management, effective August 1, 2021.

Dr. Gibbs joined the Department of Health Information Management in 2015 as an Assistant Professor, receiving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2021.  Dr. Gibbs earned his B.S. in Computer Science from East Tennessee State University, M.S. in Education with an emphasis in Online Teaching and Learning from California State University-East Bay, and Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State University. In 2020, he completed a graduate certificate in Applied Biomedical Informatics from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and maintains certifications in health informatics and cybersecurity. 

Prior to joining academia, Dr. Gibbs gained relevant industry experience from leadership, management, and consulting roles with Hewlett Packard, Lockheed Martin, Oak Ridge National Laboratory & National Security Complex, and the US Army Medical Information Technology Center.  Dr. Gibbs’ research interests include the application of biomedical informatics and interprofessional education practices to improve patient outcomes and develop the healthcare workforce. He has published articles and chapters in multiple outlets including Communications of the Association for Information Systems, Perspectives in Health Information Management, Health and Technology, Journal of AHIMA, Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy, and Health Informatics: An Interprofessional Approach (2^nd ed.).

Dr. Gibbs’ professional and academic contributions earned him recognition as a Fellow of the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Dr. Gibbs led the effort to establish the Texas State University Chapter of the Alpha Eta Society, the national honor society for the allied health professions.  Dr. Gibbs maintains a global professional network through active participation and leadership in several relevant professional organizations including the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), HIMSS, IEEE, and the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA). He has contributed to many national committees and currently serves as Chair of the HIMSS Students and Early Careerists Task Force and Ambassador for the HIMSS Early Healthcare Leaders Circle. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Gibbs on his appointment as the Chair of the Department of Health Information Management.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Director, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology

 

I am pleased to announce that effective September 1, 2021, Dr. Christopher J. Sullivan will join Texas State University as Professor and Director of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. 

Professor Sullivan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark.

An active and award-winning scholar, Dr. Sullivan has published more than 90 academic articles and book chapters on justice and criminology-related topics.  He is author of Taking Juvenile Justice Seriously: Developmental Insights and System Challenges (Temple University Press, 2019), which earned an Outstanding Contribution Award from the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Developmental and Life Course Criminology.

Since 2000, he has been data analyst or principal investigator on numerous federally or state-funded evaluations of diversion programs, treatment interventions, and juvenile drug courts.  His recent research on developmental and life-course criminology and juvenile justice topics has been funded by the State of Ohio, National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.  Since 2017, he has been Co-Editor of the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, a leading journal in the field.

Dr. Sullivan joins Texas State from the University of Cincinnati where, as Professor and Graduate Program Director of its top-ranked program in Criminal Justice, he was named Fellow of the Graduate School.  Dr. Sullivan was named a 250^th Anniversary Fellow at Rutgers University and has received award recognition for academic leadership and mentoring and teaching of graduate students.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Sullivan as he begins his responsibilities as the Director of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

TO:                             Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Andrea Golato

                                   Dean, The Graduate College

SUBJECT:                  The Graduate College’s Outstanding Dissertation Award

 

It is my pleasure to inform you of the outcome of The Graduate College’s recent Outstanding Dissertation Award competition.

Dr. Sara Patricia Weaver, who earned her Ph.D. in Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology, has won The Graduate College’s 2021-2022 Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Life and Biological Sciences.  Her dissertation, “Understanding Wind Energy Impacts on Bats and Testing Reduction Strategies in South Texas,” was directed by Dr. Ivan Castro-Arellano, Professor in the Department of Biology.

Dr. Weaver’s dissertation is one of the first comprehensive studies of wind energy impacts on Texas bats and the first to assess an impact reduction strategy.  Negative impacts from burning fossil fuels are promoting increased development of renewable energy alternatives, resulting in an exponential global expansion of wind energy facilities.  However, wind energy directly impacts bats, which suffer significant fatalities at wind turbines when struck by moving turbine blades.  Dr. Weaver’s results are informing wind energy operators across the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico about species of concern and needs for conservation efforts.  Consequently, multiple wind energy facilities across the globe, from Hawaii to Africa, have now installed the deterrents she tested in her dissertation to reduce bat mortalities.  By reducing bat mortality and the need for turbine runtime curtailment at wind energy facilities, this research directly effects human populations by supporting renewable energy alternatives, mitigating the impacts of climate change while protecting wild bat populations that are vital to human food production, pest and pest-born disease management, and general economic stability through the agricultural sector.  Dr. Weaver’s dissertation research has been funded by multiple large-scale external grants.

As the winner of this competition, Dr. Weaver will receive $1,000 and will be recognized at The Graduate College’s Awards Ceremony next April.  We have also entered her into the Council of Graduate School’s national competition for best dissertation in the above-mentioned category.

Congratulations to Dr. Weaver on her outstanding work!  I would also like to acknowledge Professor Castro-Arellano for his exemplary mentorship and commitment to his students.

If you have questions about the dissertation awards, please contact Dean Andrea Golato via email at agolato@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Search – Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations and Chief Research Officer

 

Thank you for your participation in the recent visits of finalists in the Chief Research Officer (CRO) search.  While our candidates brought strong credentials and a variety of experiences, we have decided to extend the search for the next CRO to ensure we find the right leader to continue Texas State University's progression towards National Research University Funding eligibility and R1 status.

As we continue the search, we strongly encourage you to submit nominations and recommendations to WittKieffer and the search committee via the following email address: TXST-CRO@wittkieffer.com

We are targeting the fall semester to have additional finalists visit the university and engage with stakeholders across campus.  We would like to thank Dean Hailey and the Search Committee for their hard work through the search thus far, and their commitment to continuing to serve as the search moves forward.

As a reminder, specific information about the search is available on the WittKieffer website.  Please review application details and the leadership profile that outlines the qualifications and qualities expected in the successful candidate, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing the next CRO.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                        Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman

                                    Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Service-Learning Excellence Program Summer Training Opportunity

 

The Service-Learning Excellence Program will be hosting two four-hour workshops (lunch is included) on July 2, 2021 and July 30, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at STAR Park, conference room 173.  These workshops will demonstrate how faculty can incorporate Service-Learning into their classes and research agenda.  The incorporation of Service-Learning, which is a form of experiential learning, into teaching and research improves the quality of life for students, faculty, and community members, provides students opportunities for solving real-world problems, engages students in active learning, and promotes a deep understanding of the subject matter.  During the first workshop, a panel of faculty, students, and community partners will present on how Service-Learning has impacted their research productivity, our students, and the community.  Following the panel discussion, participants will brainstorm how to incorporate Service-Learning into their research agenda and classes.  In the second workshop, participants will present their Service-Learning research agenda and/or course development and will receive feedback during the closing workshop.

Please use this link to register.  Faculty that successfully participate in the summer workshop may qualify to receive a $750 stipend for attending the workshops and a $500 grant for the incorporation of Service-Learning in their courses/research.

For questions about the workshops or the Service-Learning Excellence Program, please email your inquiry to ServiceLearning@txstate.edu.

TO:                              Faculty

                                    Deans

FROM:                        Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt

                                    Associate Vice President for Academic Services                              

                                    Dean, University College

SUBJECT:                   Search for IDEA Center Director

 

We are excited to launch an internal search for the Director of the Innovation Discovery, Exploration, and Analysis (IDEA) Center.  A component of the new Quality Enhancement Plan, the IDEA Center will support students, faculty, and departments/schools in expanding research and creative activity opportunities for undergraduate students across the university’s disciplines.  The Center will 1) coordinate, promote, and evaluate curriculum, workshops, training, collaborations, and programs to promote undergraduate research and creative activity, and 2) provide staffing and organizational support for student research publications and creative activity, symposia, and conferences—including a new, on-campus Research, Inquiry, and Creative Expression showcase.  The Director’s role will be to lead the newly implemented center and seek funding to sustain it.  The successful candidate will work with and be sensitive to the educational needs of a diverse student population.  The university is particularly interested in applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented groups.

Please feel free to refer colleagues who may be interested in applying.  The position will be 50% administration as Director of the IDEA Center (12 month basis) and 50% faculty in their home department/school (9 month basis).  In their administrative role, the Director reports to the Dean of University College.  The hire date will be no later than September 1, 2021.

Applications are being accepted through the university’s Human Resources website.  Interested applicants may learn more about the position by visiting the job posting on the Human Resources Job Opportunities website.  For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Paula Williamson, chair of the search committee, via email at pw04@txstate.edu.  Review of applications will begin July 9, 2021.  For full consideration, all materials must be received by July 21, 2021.

TO:                             Academic Affairs Full-Time Staff Members

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Staff Educational Development Leave – Spring 2022

 

The Staff Educational Development Leave Program provides an opportunity for one full-time staff member per semester in each division of the university to receive special support for degree work.  Applications for participation for the spring 2022 semester are now being accepted.  This is a reminder that after approval by the appropriate supervisor(s), the final date to receive applications in my office is September 1, 2021.  A decision will be made by October 1, 2021.

Please refer to UPPS 04.04.35, Professional Development and Educational Opportunities, for details regarding eligibility criteria, program requirements, and the application procedure.  The application form is attached to the UPPS.

Please contact Ms. Stacey Rodriguez, Executive Assistant, in my office at (512) 245-2791 if you have any questions.

Thank you.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. John Fleming

                                   Chair, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions Search Committee

                                   Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication

SUBJECT:                   Public Presentations - Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions

 

Texas State University is seeking to hire a new Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions.  Three finalists have been scheduled for on-campus interviews.  Faculty and staff are welcome to attend the public presentation (which will also be available via Zoom).

The three public presentations will be:

1. Scott McDonald. Wednesday, July 7. 1:15-2:15 in Old Main 320.  https://txstate.zoom.us/j/93616220861?pwd=dkRtTTZZRnNoT0FucnJsa1JLalZmZz09 Meeting ID 936 1622 0861 Passcode: 1903

2. Beverly Woodson Day. Friday, July 9. 1:15-2:15 in Old Main 320. https://txstate.zoom.us/j/97626217391?pwd=YVIvQitjdmdCREkwbUVINGlnT2NQZz09 Meeting ID 976 2671 7391 Passcode: 1903

3. Ginger Reyes Reilly. Monday, July 12. 1:15-2:15 in Old Main 320. https://txstate.zoom.us/j/94264053130?pwd=MG1UVHBVaXlsYWJxK1VxTmxqM0VaQT09 Meeting ID 942 6405 3130 Passcode: 1903

The search committee and I hope that you will be able to attend these presentations.  Feedback will be requested via an online form from those who are able to attend and will be an important consideration for the search committee when preparing its final assessment.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   Announcing Limited Submission – OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant Program

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission – OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant Program competition.  The View competition web page provides more information and allows you to submit your letter of intent (LOI).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Tuesday, July 6, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Monday, August 23, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Description: OSHA awards grants to nonprofit organizations on a competitive basis through its Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.  Grants are awarded to provide training and education programs for employers and workers on the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of safety and health hazards in their workplaces and to inform workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.

 Types of Grants in 2021 (Please note—each grant type has a separate solicitation and we are only allowed one application, regardless of grant type)

•  
  • Capacity Building grants focus on developing and/or expanding the capacity of an organization to provide safety and health training, education and related assistance to the targeted audiences.  The organization must provide financial plans to continue capacity beyond the grant period.  Two types of capacity building grants have been awarded: developmental and pilot.
  • Targeted Topic grants focus on training of workers and/or multiple employers on occupational safety and health hazards associated with one of the OSHA selected training topics.
  • Training Materials Development grantees are expected to develop, evaluate, and validate classroom quality training materials on one of the OSHA selected training topics.

 Because the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program limits the number of proposals an institution is allowed to submit to one, an internal competition will be held to determine which investigator/team will be cleared to apply.  The deadline for the LOI is Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

The LOI, submitted online through our Limited Submissions portal through the View competition link, shall consist of the following (single-spaced, 10 pt. or higher font, one-inch margins):

1. A cover page with the following information:

• title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
• title of proposed project
• a list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators
• an estimated total amount of funding request
• a description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required)

2. A two-page narrative with the following information:

• a one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements
• a half page describing how this project aligns with department, college, University and/or research strategic plans
• a half page broader impact statement

3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu.

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu.

TO:                      Faculty and Staff
FROM:                Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                            Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:           Chair, Department of Physical Therapy
 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Janet Bezner,  as the Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, effective July 1, 2021. 

Dr. Bezner joined the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State University in 1995 as an Assistant Professor, receiving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2002.  Dr. Bezner earned her B.S. in Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch, M.S. in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University, Ph.D. in Health Education from the University of Texas at Austin, and Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.  She is a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the highest honor awarded by the APTA. 

Dr. Bezner left the university in 2002 to pursue her passion for health promotion and wellness, joining Peakcare, Inc., a healthcare technology startup, as Senior Vice President.  She transitioned to Vice President of Education at the APTA in 2005 and served in several senior leadership roles.  Dr. Bezner resumed her academic career at Texas State in 2014.  She became a founding member of the employee wellness program, WellCats, and was promoted to professor in 2020.  Dr. Bezner’s research interests include the integration of health promotion and wellness into physical therapist practice, the impact of health coaching on health and wellness outcomes, and the role of non-cognitive factors in the development of physical therapist students and graduates.  She has published in multiple outlets, including the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal, Journal of Physical Therapy Education, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Journal of Health Promotion, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy and is internationally known in the physical therapy community for her work in the areas of prevention, health promotion, and wellness. 

Dr. Bezner has been an active member of professional organizations, including serving as the President and Chief Delegate of the Texas chapter of the APTA, as a member and Vice President of the APTA Board of Directors, and as Chair of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy Leadership Academy.  At Texas State, she has served as Faculty Senator for the past five years, as Chair of the Faculty Senate for the past two years, and as a member of the Faculty and Staff Morale Pandemic Work Group.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Bezner on her appointment as the Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy.

TO:                              Current Students

                                    Faculty

                                    Staff

FROM:                        Dr. John Fleming

                                   Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication

SUBJECT:                   Free Summer Dance Event

 

The Department of Theatre and Dance in conjunction with the City of San Marcos Arts Commission invite you to attend Semilla Fest, a FREE family-friendly event on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. and
Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. at The City of San Marcos Outdoor Plaza Park Stage. 

Semilla Fest is a multidisciplinary performing arts festival in San Marcos TX for artists, scholars, activists, community leaders, organizers, migrants, and the general public to view live performances that celebrate the Latinx, Hispanic and African arts. This unique festival links Texas State University with the San Marcos performing arts community. It connects us to our city and brings life to our public spaces. Semilla Fest places San Marcos in the spotlight as a diverse and vibrant city in central Texas. Semilla Fest is also a space for exploration, experimentation, and interdisciplinarity. It encourages meaningful conversations between under-represented communities. It builds community and inspires new conversations locally, nationally, and internationally. 

Semilla Fest was selected by the Big Idea's initiative under the umbrella of Human Expression, and it aligns with Texas State's diversity and inclusion initiatives. It emphasizes our commitment as a Hispanic Serving Institution to better serve our Latinx population. It promotes the advancement of cultural understanding and embraces a diversity of peoples and ideas. It also diversifies the research agenda of the Department of Theatre and Dance by underscoring the importance of BIPOC artists and scholars. 

The performances will include live dance, theatre, and music by: Ana Baer, Claudia Fragoso, Richard D. Hall, Rocio Luna, Nadine Mozon, Christa Oliver, Jerry Ruiz, and Aboubacar "Abou" Sylla as well as Merge Dance Company,
and Theatre students from The Department of Theatre and Dance. 

Bring friends, family, a blanket, and bug spray!! 

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman

                                    Associate Vice President for  Academic  Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Service-Learning Excellence Program  Summer Training Opportunity

 

The Service-Learning Excellence Program will be hosting two four-hour workshops (lunch is included) on July 2, 2021 and July 30, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at STAR Park, conference room 173.  These workshops will demonstrate how faculty can incorporate Service-Learning into their classes and research agenda.  The incorporation of Service-Learning, which is a form of experiential learning, into teaching and research improves the quality of life for students, faculty, and community members, provides students opportunities for solving real-world problems, engages students in active learning, and promotes a deep understanding of the subject matter.  During the first workshop, a panel of faculty, students, and community partners will present on how Service-Learning has impacted their research productivity, our students, and the community.  Following the panel discussion, participants will brainstorm how to incorporate Service-Learning into their research agenda and classes.  In the second workshop, participants will present their Service-Learning research agenda and/or course development and will receive feedback during the closing workshop.

Please use this link to register.  Faculty that successfully participate in the summer workshop may qualify to receive a $750 stipend for attending the workshops and a $500 grant for the incorporation of Service-Learning in their courses/research.

For questions about the workshops or the Service-Learning Excellence Program, please email your inquiry to ServiceLearning@txstate.edu.

TO:                   Faculty and Staff
FROM:             Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                         Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:        Chair, Department of Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Alexander McLeod, Jr. as the Chair of the Department of Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods in the McCoy College of Business, effective August 1, 2021.

Dr. McLeod joined the Department of Health Information Management at Texas State University in 2015 as an Assistant Professor.  He was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and became the Chair of the Health Information Management Department in 2019.  Dr. McLeod received his BBA in Information Systems, his MBA, and Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  

Dr. McLeod’s scholarship spans cyber security, analytics, business ethics, and healthcare information systems and he has published in journals such as Decision Support Systems, Information Systems Frontiers, Information Technology and People, Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of Communication Information Systems.  During his time at Texas State, Dr. McLeod has served as a reviewer for the university’s Big Idea program and founded the Data Science Group drawing faculty expertise from Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Health Information Management, and Mathematics. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. McLeod on his appointment as Chair of the Department of Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods.

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

Since the introduction of COVID-19 vaccinations, the COVID-19 pandemic situation has been steadily improving.  Across Texas, COVID-19 cases, positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths are at their lowest levels in a year.  However, we cannot become complacent.  COVID-19 has resulted in over 595,000 deaths in the United States—that is almost 17 times the number of deaths compared to the average flu season.  CDC data indicates that persons 18-49 years of age now represent about 36% of those being hospitalized.  We all want to have a “normal” fall semester, but we must do our part to achieve that goal.

VACCINATION IS A GAME CHANGER

As COVID-19 vaccination rates have increased, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have decreased to their lowest level in a year.  No other prevention measure during the pandemic has yielded such success.  With over 300 million doses of vaccines administered in the United States, the data show that the currently authorized vaccines are effective and safe.  Serious adverse effects are rare with most experiencing mild to moderate side effects that resolve within 1-2 days.  Vaccinations have been administered in the United States for well over six months and intense monitoring by the CDC has failed to reveal any long-term side effects.  There is no evidence that vaccinations affect fertility or pregnancy.  Many myths about COVID-19 vaccination have been circulating.  To get the facts about COVID-19 vaccination, check Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC .

VACCINATION RATES MUST INCREASE

Having most of our faculty, staff and students vaccinated will provide our best opportunity for a “normal” fall semester.  Many infectious disease experts believe that if 70-85% of our community is vaccinated, we can create a protective effect for the entire community (herd immunity).  In Texas, only 45% of persons aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated at this time.  CDC data indicates that only 34% of persons aged 18-24 are fully vaccinated.  We strongly encourage our faculty, staff and students to get vaccinated as soon as possible. 

VACCINATIONS ARE FREE AND AVAILABLE

Vaccinations are widely available at pharmacies, health department clinics and doctors’ offices.  No-cost vaccinations are available at the Student Health Center Monday-Friday by calling 512-245-2161 for an appointment.  To find vaccine providers in your area, check Texas Vaccine Finder or CDC Vaccine Finder.  

TESTING FOR ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTIONS

A significant proportion of persons infected with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic and not know they are infected. COVID-19 testing, especially for unvaccinated persons, remains an important part of our strategy to find silent infections and stop their spread.  Despite the improved COVID-19 situation, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is still significant.  Free COVID-19 testing is available on the San Marcos campus and at testing locations near the Round Rock campus. Please check TXST COVID-19 Testing for more information. For those living in other areas of the state, you can check with local healthcare providers, health departments or Curative COVID-19 Testing for testing availability.  If you have a positive test, please follow CDC guidance on isolation and report to Bobcat Trace as soon as possible.

 

WE NEED TO FINISH STRONG

We are more hopeful than ever that a “normal” fall semester is possible.  The key is to get more people vaccinated—especially our students.  While we work to increase vaccination rates, we continue to recommend the prevention measures that have worked so well throughout the pandemic—face coverings indoors (especially for persons not vaccinated), social distancing and hand hygiene.  Let’s finish strong Texas STATE—VACCINATE!

Sincerely,

Dr. Emilio Carranco
Chief Medical Officer
Director, Student Health Center

Faculty, Staff, Current Students, and Future Students,
 

Texas State University is pleased to offer Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations to faculty, staff and students.  If you have already received a COVID-19 vaccine OR if you have already received an appointment confirmation email for another vaccination event, please disregard this email.

VACCINATION INFORMATION

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations will be provided on Friday, June 11th from 9:00 am-2:00 pm in San Marcos at the Student Recreation Center.  

Be prepared to stay 15-30 minutes after your vaccination for observation.

Minors are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine and must have written parental consent.

Vaccination is by reservation, but walk-ins may be accepted if vaccine is available. If you would like to request a vaccination on June 11th, please complete the following form and select the vaccine you are requesting:

Vaccine Request Form

After submitting the vaccination request, you will receive an email from the Student Health Center with your specific reservation time and additional instructions. Vaccine reservations may be cancelled or changed by calling the Student Health Center at 512-245-2161. Please do not arrive before your reservation time as that will create longer lines and increase the wait for everyone.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: READ BEFORE SCHEDULING VACCINATION

If you have the following history, you CANNOT receive this vaccine:

1. History of an allergic reaction to any component of the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (such as polyethylene glycol or polysorbate).
   Allergic reaction to any component of a COVID-19 vaccine is a contraindication to vaccination. A list of ingredients is available at the following link:
   Health Center

If you have the following history, you should POSTPONE your vaccination:

1. History of a positive COVID-19 test during the past 10 days.
   Vaccination should be postponed until you have recovered from COVID-19 illness and your isolation period is over. If you received monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma as treatment for COVID-19 illness, we recommend that you wait a minimum of 90 days before being vaccinated to avoid interference with the vaccine-induced immune response.

If you have the following history, you should CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN prior to vaccination:

1. Bleeding disorder or blood thinner.
   Please consult your physician to determine if COVID-19 vaccine can be administered safely.  After vaccination, be prepared to hold pressure on the vaccination site for 2 minutes.
2. Current pregnancy or breastfeeding.
   If you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, please consult your physician regarding the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

Risks of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine:

• Pain, swelling and redness at the injection site. 
• General side effects such fatigue, muscle aches, headache, fever or nausea.
• Rare risk of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction
• Rare risk of inflammation of the heart muscle and surrounding tissue

Risks of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine:

• Pain, swelling and redness at the injection site. 
• General side effects such fatigue, muscle aches, headache, fever or nausea.
• Rare risk of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction

Rare risk of blood clots with low platelets occurring within 1-2 weeks of vaccination, especially in women younger than 50 years old.

TO:                     Faculty and Staff
FROM:               Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.
                           Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations
SUBJECT:          Engaging Research - Summer 2021
 

Welcome to the Summer 2021 issue of Engaging Research!  Please join us in celebrating Texas State University research and researchers by reading and sharing these inspiring stories.

AVPR Farewell Message

Faculty Research Spotlight

Lindsey Oakes - Department of Health and Human Performance
Passion for Social Inclusion Drives Professor’s Research on Student Health and Wellness

Keisuke Ikehata - Ingram School of Engineering
Ikehata Lab Develops New Green Technology to Produce Drinking Water

Ana Martínez - Department of Theatre and Dance
Performance in the Zócalo: An Interdisciplinary Book about Public Space, Performance, and Mexican History

David Rodriguez - Department of Biology
Rodriguez Team Investigates Fungi Infecting Reptiles and Amphibians

Regina Jillapalli - St. David's School of Nursing
Rising to the Challenge: Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences for Nursing Students in the Era of COVID-19

TO:                     Faculty
                           Deans
FROM:               Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.
                           Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations
SUBJECT:          Announcing Limited Submission - NEH Summer Stipends

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission - NEH Summer Stipends competition.  The View competition web page provides more information and allows you to submit your letter of intent (LOI).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Thursday, June 24, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Wednesday, September 22, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Description: The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Summer Stipends program aims to stimulate new research in the humanities and its publication.  The program works to accomplish this goal by:
  • providing small awards to individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both
  • supporting projects at any stage of development, but especially early-stage research and late-stage writing in which small awards are most effective
  • furthering the NEH’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the humanities by encouraging applications from independent scholars and faculty at Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and community colleges

Summer Stipends provide $6,000 for two consecutive months of research and writing.

NEH funds may support recipients’ compensation, travel, and other costs related to the proposed scholarly research.

NEH invites research applications from scholars in all disciplines of the humanities and related social sciences.  Examples of previously funded Summer Stipends and previously funded projects can be found using the NEH's Funded Projects Query Form.

Summer Stipends are awarded to individual scholars.  Organizations are not eligible to apply.  Emeritus faculty, adjunct faculty, part-time faculty, and applicants with academic appointments that terminate by the summer of the period of performance may apply on their own.  Applicants may seek funding for projects based on completed dissertations.  You must state in your narrative that the application is to revise a dissertation, and you must explain how the new project moves beyond the original dissertation.

However, faculty members with tenured or tenure-track positions who teach full-time must be nominated by their institutions to apply for a Summer Stipend.  The program limits an institution to two nominations per year, so we are initiating an internal competition to determine which investigators will be cleared to apply.  If you are interested in submitting an application, you must submit an LOI through our Limited Submissions portal by Thursday, June 24, 2021.

The LOI, submitted online through our Limited Submissions portal using the View competition link, shall consist of the following (single-spaced, 10 pt. or higher font, one-inch margins):

1. A cover page with the following information:
   •  
     • title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
     • title of proposed project
2. A two-page narrative with the following information:
   •  
     • a one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements
     • a half page describing how this project aligns with department, college, University and/or research strategic plans
     • a half page broader impact statement
3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu.

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu.

TO:                      Faculty and Staff
FROM:                Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                            Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:           Promotion and Tenure

 

I am pleased to announce the following promotions and elections to tenure.  Please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of these individuals.

PROMOTIONS

From Associate Professor to Professor

Dr. Mira Ahn, Family and Consumer Sciences
Dr. Lisa M. Baumgartner, Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education,
     and School Psychology
Dr. Scott W. Bowman, Criminal Justice and Criminology
Dr. Yihong Chen, Ingram School of Engineering
Dr. Erina D. Duganne, Art and Design
Dr. Li Feng, Finance and Economics
Dr. Rebekah L. Fox, Communication Studies
Dr. Lawrence V. Fulton, Health Administration
Dr. Wilhelmus J. Geerts, Physics
Dr. Krista J. Howard, Psychology
Dr. Farzan Irani, Communication Disorders
Dr. Jennifer Jensen, Geography
Dr. James D. Kilby, Anthropology
Dr. Clemens Scott Kruse, Health Administration
Ms. Laura Lane, Theatre and Dance
Dr. Minda M. López, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Jane M. Saunders, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Benjamin F. Schwartz, Biology
Dr. Kenneth S. Smith, Social Work
Dr. Jitendra S. Tate, Ingram School of Engineering

From Assistant Professor to Associate Professor

Dr. Amitai Abramovitch, Psychology
Dr. Todd M. Ahlman, Anthropology
Mr. Brian Sterling Allen, Art and Design
Dr. Shetay N. Ashford-Hanserd, Organization, Workforce,
     and Leadership Studies
Ms. Jennifer L. Buschhorn, Journalism and Mass Communication
Dr. Catherine A. Cherrstrom, Organization, Workforce,
     and Leadership Studies
Dr. Matthew T. Clement, Sociology
Dr. Kiyomi S. Colegrove, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Kristina H. Collins, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Joshua J. Daspit, Management
Dr. Phillip E. Davis, Management
Dr. Jennifer A. Devine, Geography
Dr. Liqin Du, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ms. Jennifer J. duBois, English
Dr. Jessica Dutton, Biology
Dr. Michelle L. Edwards, Sociology
Dr. David L. Gibbs, Health Information Management
Dr. Jennifer H. Greene-Rooks, Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education,
     and School Psychology
Dr. Barbara A. Hewitt, Health Information Management
Dr. Seoyoun Kim, Sociology
Dr. Lindsay E. Kipp, Health and Human Performance
Dr. Jeffrey D. Lieber, Art and Design
Dr. Luz A. Maldonado Rodríguez, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Debra R. McDowell, Physical Therapy
Dr. Kathleen M. Melhuish, Mathematics
Mr. Mark J. Menjivar, Art and Design
Dr. David Rodriguez, Biology
Dr. Stephanie T. Solansky, Management
Dr. Paula E. Stigler Granados, Health Administration
Dr. Joseph B. Topinka, Health Administration
Dr. Mark H. Trahan, Social Work
Dr. Peiqin Zhang, Computer Information Systems and
     Quantitative Methods
TENURE

Dr. Amitai Abramovitch, Psychology
Mr. Brian Sterling Allen, Art and Design
Dr. Shetay N. Ashford-Hanserd, Organization, Workforce,
     and Leadership Studies
Dr. Catherine A. Cherrstrom, Organization, Workforce, and
     Leadership Studies
Dr. Matthew T. Clement, Sociology
Dr. Kiyomi S. Colegrove, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Kristina H. Collins, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Joshua J. Daspit, Management
Dr. Phillip E. Davis, Management
Dr. Jennifer A. Devine, Geography
Dr. Liqin Du, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ms. Jennifer J. duBois, English
Dr. Jessica Dutton, Biology
Dr. Michelle L. Edwards, Sociology
Dr. David L. Gibbs, Health Information Management
Dr. Jennifer H. Greene-Rooks, Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education,
     and School Psychology
Dr. Barbara A. Hewitt, Health Information Management
Dr. Seoyoun Kim, Sociology
Dr. Lindsay E. Kipp, Health and Human Performance
Dr. Jeffrey D. Lieber, Art and Design
Dr. Luz A. Maldonado Rodríguez, Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Kathleen M. Melhuish, Mathematics
Mr. Mark J. Menjivar, Art and Design
Dr. David Rodriguez, Biology
Dr. Stephanie T. Solansky, Management
Dr. Paula E. Stigler Granados, Health Administration
Dr. Mark H. Trahan, Social Work
Dr. Peiqin Zhang, Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods

TO:                      Faculty, Deans
                            Department Chairs/School Directors
FROM:                Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                            Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:           Compliance with HB 2504 and Website

 

Per the Texas Legislature and House Bill (HB) 2504, undergraduate course syllabi and associated instructor vita must be posted to a university website by the seventh day after the first day of classes of each semester or other academic term during which the course is offered.  
Website Access & Launch
Detailed information on the legislation and Texas State University’s compliance plan is located on the HB 2504 website.

Please note that a link to the HB 2504 website is also available by clicking “Faculty & Staff” at the top right corner of the Texas State home page.
Due Date
All faculty vita and summer 2021 syllabi should be uploaded to Texas State’s HB 2504 website by Tuesday, June 8, 2021.
Information and Instructions on Uploading Vita and Syllabi
Go to the HB 2504 website and click “Information” on the menu bar and then click “Info for Faculty and Staff” for HB 2504 directions and detailed information.

To summarize:

1. All instructors will need to upload the course syllabus for each undergraduate course section he or she is teaching in the 2021 summer sessions (instructors teaching lecture or seminar courses in the following formats: on-campus, off-campus, dual credit, education abroad, distance education, or extension).  Undergraduate course sections required for HB 2504 are pre-populated into the website.  These are updated every morning to reflect schedule changes.
2. Instructors with an existing vita on the HB 2504 website can use that version or upload a more recent vita.
3. Instructors who are new and/or do not have an existing vita on the website will need to upload a vita.
4. The following course types and instructors are excluded from compliance with HB 2504: independent study, directed readings, laboratory, clinical, internship, practicum, private lessons, discussion sections or others tailored specifically to individual students.  All graduate level courses and instructors are also excluded.
5. This information must be uploaded by Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

Permissions to Upload Vita and Syllabi
Instructors automatically have permission to upload their vita and syllabi by virtue of logging in with their NetID and password via the “Editor Access” link on the website.  New instructors will be able to upload their vita and syllabi once their hire paperwork is processed by Faculty and Academic Resources.  Course sections with “staff” or “TBD” listed as the instructor will not appear on the HB 2504 website until an instructor has been named.  The database and website re-populate every morning.  In the event the department uploads the materials for the faculty member, the faculty member must approve the documents before they are uploaded.

Student Perceptions of Instruction Update
Summarized results of the student perceptions of instruction (SPI) for each undergraduate course/instructor will be available and posted to the HB 2504 website approximately four to six weeks after the end of each semester or other academic term.

Finally, thank you for your assistance to ensure Texas State’s transparency, communication, and compliance with HB 2504.  Reports of our compliance activities are posted under “Information” on the HB 2504 website.

Please email hb2504@txstate.edu for any questions.

TO:                     Current Undergraduate Students, Faculty, Deans
FROM:               Dr. Heather Galloway
                           Dean, Honors College
SUBJECT:         15th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference and Thesis Forum Awards

 

The Honors College and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs are pleased to announce this year’s Scott Emerson Health Innovation Award recipient at the 15th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference and Thesis Forum: 

McKenzie Siller, Nanoparticle-Mediated Photothermal Therapy for Cancer Treatment, Advisors, Dr. Tania Betancourt and Dr. Ivan Ojeda-Ruiz, Biochemistry 

We are also happy to announce our general category poster presentation award winners: 

Kayra Tasci, 1st Place, Altered Academic Rigor in the Post-Secondary Classroom During COVID-19: How and Why, Advisor, Dr. Merritt Drewery, Agricultural Sciences 

Alyssa Reid, tied for 2nd place, Gender Inequality in Unemployment, Advisor, Mr. Shuang Xu, Finance and Economics 

Joshua Rogalski, tied for 2nd place, Emotional Portrayal in Popular Children's Movies: Coding Basic and Complex Emotion in Aladdin (1992) and Aladdin (2019), Advisor, Dr. Amy Weimer, Family and Child Development   

Kennedy Farrell, tied for 3rd place, Evaluating X-Ray Binary Formation and Evolution in High and Low-Metallicity Simulated Stellar Environments, Advisor, Dr. Blagoy Rangelov, Physics  

Victoria Villarreal, tied for 3rd place, Generation Z Attitudes About the Workplace During COVID-19: An Exploratory Survey, Advisor, Dr. Katherine Warnell, Psychology  

Katelyn Domer, Honorable Mention, The Deceiver and the Deceived: Effects of Recollecting Prosocial Lying on Emotions and Values, Advisor, Dr. Katherine Warnell, Psychology 

Connor MacKinnon, Honorable Mention, What Defines You: A Subordinate View of Authentic Leadership, Advisor, Dr. Randall Osborne, Psychology 

Please join us in congratulating these students’ outstanding work in research!

All 154 student submissions can still be viewed at 15th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference.  We appreciate the work of all our undergraduates and faculty mentors.

TO:                     Faculty and Staff
FROM:               Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                           Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:          The Conversation

 

Texas State University is excited to announce its partnership with the global news organization, The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit online newsroom devoted to bringing academic expertise, research, and scholarship into the public discourse.  This partnership provides Texas State faculty and researchers with the opportunity to write and publish short research-informed articles that appeal to and educate a public audience on a national and international level.  Areas of interest span academic disciplines at Texas State, including arts and culture, business, education, environment and energy, ethics, health, politics, science and technology, and others.

With six million or more visitors to the site per month, individual articles may garner tens of thousands of reads.  Because of its wide audience and public-centric approach to discussing important topics and research, authors published in The Conversation are often sought out by other organizations and news agencies as experts in their fields.

Faculty and researchers from every academic discipline are invited to participate in this initiative.  Collectively, the articles published by our faculty have been read over 1 million times and republished by over 125 different organizations and agencies, including the Chicago Tribune, Discover Magazine, Houston Chronicle, Popular Science, Salon, The Telegraph, and Yahoo News!

A sampling of these articles includes:

• Dr. Angela Jones – Chauvin conviction: 2 things to know about jury bias and 2 ways to reduce it
• Dr. William Chittenden – Biden is inheriting a wrecked economy, but Democrats have a record of avoiding recession and reducing unemployment
• Dr. Rodney E. Rohde – Who is doing all those COVID-19 tests? Why you should care about medical laboratory professionals
• Dr. Carlton J. Fong (and alum Dr. Megan Krou) – Motivation is a key factor in whether students cheat
• Dr. Ty Schepis – College-age kids and teens are drinking less alcohol – marijuana is a different story
• Dr. Michael Devlin (coauthor) – Voters are starting to act like hard-core sports fans – with dangerous repercussions for democracy
• Dr. Natasha Mikles – The many stories of Diwali share a common theme of triumph of justice
• Dr. Emily Roehl (coauthor) – How to plan successful e-conferences during and after the COVID-19 pandemic    

The university is committed to introducing your knowledge and expertise to as many people as possible.  For more information about writing for The Conversation, please visit this resource website.

I look forward to reading all about the meaningful research that continues to advance and elevate Texas State's research enterprise.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Interim Chair, Department of Physical Therapy

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lois Stickley as Interim Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, effective May 24, 2021.

Dr. Lois Stickley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and is the Program Director of the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency.  She joined Texas State University in 2014 and teaches clinical reasoning and professional and leadership courses.  Dr. Stickley previously taught for 19 years at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) where she was the Program Director for the post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program and was the Assistant Program Director for the professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Amarillo.  Additionally, she held a clinical faculty position in the Internal Medicine Department in the School of Medicine at TTUHSC, Amarillo.  Dr. Stickley received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and her M.S. and B.S. from Texas Woman’s University.  She is active in the American Physical Therapy Association and has held many leadership positions in the Texas Physical Therapy Association.  Her current research involves the relationship between fitness levels and memory in older adults, motor control, and self-efficacy in physical therapist students.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Stickley on her appointment as Interim Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Chair, Theatre and Dance

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Maines as Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, effective June 1, 2021.

Professor Maines specializes in theatrical lighting design and recently served as Associate Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance.  She is the recipient of the National Partners in American Theatre Mentor Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival as well as Presidential Distinction and College Achievement Awards in teaching and scholarly/creative activity.  Professor Maines earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Production from the University of Florida.  She studied under Royal Shakespeare Company and Broadway designer Chris Parry to earn a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Lighting Design from the University of California, San Diego. 

During her 11 years at Texas State University, Professor Maines has led the theatrical lighting design program and spent seven years as head of design, technology, and management.  She helped create and launch the design concentration of the department’s MFA degree and has coordinated the graduate program in lighting design since its inception six years ago.  Her graduating MFA candidates have presented annually at the Hemsley Lighting Design Portfolio Review in New York City.  Graduate and undergraduate students have established careers with leading lighting companies, as regional designers, and Broadway assistants.  They have presented work and won recognition at regional and national conferences of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and the Southeastern Theatre Conference.  As lighting designer, Professor Maines has designed several productions each season for ZACH Theatre in Austin.  Recent designs include A Christmas Carol: A Rockin’ Musical, Once, In the Heights, Terrance McNally’s 80^th birthday gala, and Ann starring Holland Taylor, which was featured on PBS’s Great Performances and is streaming on BroadwayHD.  Additionally, she designed 36Q in Prague, Water by the Spoonful at Stages Rep, A Dolphin Christmas at Sea World San Antonio, and Illinois Shakespeare Festival’s 2013 and 2014 seasons.  As assistant lighting designer, she worked on seven national and two international productions of Jersey Boys, which won the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design and Best Musical in 2006.  She will bring the production back to London this summer at the West End’s Trafalgar Theatre.  She also worked as associate lighting designer on the Broadway production of Sarah Jones’s Bridge and Tunnel, the New York City Center and Broadway productions of Gypsy starring Patti Lupone, and the first national tour of In the Heights.  Prior to joining the faculty at Texas State, Professor Maines spent four years as the head of graduate lighting design at Florida State University. 

Please join me in congratulating Sarah Maines on her appointment as Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   Announcing Limited Submission – DoD Research and Education Program for HBCU/MI Equipment/Instrumentation

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission – DoD Research and Education Program for HBCU/MI Equipment/Instrumentation competition.  Click on the link View competition below to view more information and to submit your letter of intent (LOI).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Monday, June 7, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Monday, August 16, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Description: The Department of Defense (DoD) is soliciting applications for the acquisition of equipment/instrumentation under the Fiscal Year 2022 Research and Education Program for HBCU/MI.  The Research and Education Program is designed to enhance the research capabilities of HBCUs and MIs and to strengthen their STEM education programs.  The purpose of funding under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to (1) support the acquisition of equipment/instrumentation to augment existing capabilities or to develop new capabilities in research areas of interest to DoD, and (2) attract students to pursue studies leading to STEM careers.  Although funding provided under this FOA cannot be used for student support, in order to further DoD’s objective of attracting students to pursue studies leading to STEM careers, applicants must address the impact of the requested equipment/ instrumentation on student participation in research.

An application may request DoD funding ranging in the aggregate from $100,000 to $600,000.  Requests of less than $100,000 or more than $600,000 will be considered non-responsive and will not be accepted for review.  An application may request a single item of equipment/instrumentation or multiple items, including items of equipment/instrumentation that comprise a “system” for a common research purpose.

For additional information, please view the full 2022 solicitation.

 Because the DoD HBCU/MI program limits the number of proposals an institution is allowed to submit to three, an internal competition will be held to determine which investigators/teams will be cleared to apply.

The deadline for the LOI is Monday, June 7, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

The LOI, submitted online through our Limited Submissions portal using the View competition link, shall consist of the following (single-spaced, 10 pt. or higher font, one-inch margins):

• 1. A cover page with the following information:
     • title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
     • title of proposed project
     • a list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators.
     • an estimated total amount of funding request
     • a description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required).

• 2. A two-page narrative with the following information:
     • a one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements.
     • a half page describing how this project aligns with department, college, University and/or research strategic plans.
     • a half page broader impact statement

• 3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu. 

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu. 

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Director, Ingram School of Engineering

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jesus Jimenez as the Director of the Ingram School of Engineering, effective June 1, 2021.

Dr. Jimenez joined the Department of Engineering Technology at Texas State University in 2006 as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering (IE) and was part of the inaugural faculty of the Ingram School of Engineering in 2007.  He was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2012.  From 2013 to 2018, he served as the IE academic program coordinator.  He was promoted to Professor in 2019.  Dr. Jimenez earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in IE from The University of Texas at El Paso and a Ph.D. in IE from Arizona State University.

Dr. Jimenez conducts multi-disciplinary research in the simulation of manufacturing and supply chain logistics, data-informed analysis, Industry 4.0 digital twins, and exploratory analysis and quality assurance for market products.  He is currently leading the development of the “Digital Operator,” a digital twin framework to model the human-centered manufacturing environments.  Companies and organizations such as 3M, International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative, NEC America, Texas Workforce Commission, and Toyota Material Handling North America have sponsored his research initiatives.

Dr. Jimenez actively participates in technical conference organizational committees and advisory boards and as a peer reviewer for many professional journals.  He has written many refereed journal articles with his students and collaborators and presented his research at numerous conferences and symposiums.  Dr. Jimenez has mentored students from underrepresented minority groups through programs funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Education.  He has designed programs where the students work very closely with national and international companies.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Jimenez on his appointment as Director of the Ingram School of Engineering.

TO:                     Faculty and Staff
FROM:               Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                           Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:          Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Southwestern Studies, 2021-2024

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jason Reed, Professor of Photography, as the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Southwestern Studies for 2021-2024.

After earning his MFA in Photography from Illinois State University and serving as an AmeriCorps member in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2007-2008, Mr. Reed joined the Texas State University faculty in 2008 as an Assistant Professor of Photography in the School of Art and Design.  He is the co-founder and lead facilitator of the socially-engaged art project Borderland Collective, started in 2007.  With a focus on the confluence of land, politics, and visual histories, Reed has created gallery and public space exhibitions at venues such as Artpace in San Antonio, Krannert Museum at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, storefront windows in Miles, Texas, Galerie Reinthaler in Vienna, Austria, La Asamblea Legislativa in Mexico City, Mexico, and the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. 

During his three-year appointment, Mr. Reed will develop opportunities for engagement and conversation around photography, storytelling, and the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.  These projects, such as an exhibition by photographer Hope Mora about her hometown Pecos, Texas, a participatory Migration Stories workshop with artist Mark Menjivar, and a collaborative photobook workshop and discussion with photographer Alejandro Cartagena, will bring forward the contemporary challenges, historical complexities, and affirmative joys and successes of borderland communities.

Funded by the Houston Endowment, the Jones Professorship in Southwestern Studies supports projects of the Center for the Study of the Southwest.

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Jason Reed.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Interim Chair, Communication Disorders

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Lori Stiritz as Interim Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders (CDIS), effective May 17, 2021.

Ms. Stiritz received her undergraduate degree and master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  She attended The University of Texas at Austin for post-graduate work in audiology/neuroscience and joined the Texas State University faculty in 1993.  She is a licensed audiologist and earned the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

She is the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Department of Communication Disorders and is heavily involved in curriculum design based on national professional accreditation standards and workplace changes.  In the classroom, she is known for her innovative pedagogical practices.  Ms. Stiritz has received multiple teaching awards from the College of Health Professions, the Presidential Distinction Award for teaching at the university level, and has been recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Teaching Symposium for Foundational Sciences.

Clinically, Ms. Stiritz has managed and grown the audiology clinic in San Marcos and Round Rock since 1993.  She is well known across Texas as the leading expert in the diagnosis and treatment of Central Auditory Processing Disorders and she is a member of the international group, Pathways: Central Auditory Processing Disorders.

Ms. Stiritz’s service commitments include work at the departmental, college, university and professional levels.  She was a lead contributor during the department’s last Council on Academic Accreditation – American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s accreditation process, which awarded CDIS a seven-year accreditation.  She has served as the Interim Chair for CDIS on two different occasions in the past.

Please join me in congratulating Ms. Stiritz on her appointment as interim chair of the Department of Communication Disorders.

TO:                     Faculty, Deans
FROM:               Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman
                           Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:          Nominations Open – Award for Excellence in Online Teaching

Self-nominations are now being accepted for the Award for Excellence in Online Teaching.  Nominations may be submitted for courses taught in fall 2020, spring 2021, or summer 2021.  Submissions are due October 22, 2021.  The documents required for self-nomination are now available, so that faculty may build their nomination package over time. 
 
This annual award, sponsored by the Office of Distance and Extended Learning, recognizes and rewards superior online teaching, provides models of excellence for fellow faculty, and encourages all faculty to continue to improve and advance their online teaching pedagogy.  The award recipient will receive $2,500, and up to two runners-up, each, will receive $1,250, and will be asked to present their work to the campus community during a reception in their honor.

This award underscores the ongoing commitment of Texas State University to distance learning and reflects the university's emphasis on teaching excellence.  Dr. Injeong Jo, the recipient of the 2020 award, noted, “I was skeptical about online education until I took a leadership role in developing an online master’s program in geography.  But while developing and instructing online courses with the support of the department and the university over the past several years, I have become confident that online courses can provide students with meaningful and engaging learning experiences.  I am honored to be recognized for excellence in online teaching.  My sincere thanks go to the Department of Geography, the Office of Distance and Extended Learning, and my online students.”

 For more information on the award and submission process, please visit the Award for Excellence in Online Teaching webpage.  For questions, contact Dr. Gwen Morel, Director of the Office of Distance and Extended Learning, via email at gwendolynmorel@txstate.edu.

---

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TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   Announcing Limited Submission - NEA Our Town

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission - NEA Our Town competition.  Click on the View competition link to view more information and to submit your letter of intent (LOI).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Thursday, May 27, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Thursday, August 5, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Description: Our Town is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program.  Through project-based funding, we support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes.

Successful Our Town projects ultimately lay the groundwork for systemic changes that sustain the integration of arts, culture, and design into local strategies for strengthening communities.  These projects require a partnership between a local government entity and nonprofit organization, one of which must be a cultural organization, and should engage in partnership with other sectors (such as agriculture and food, economic development, education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, public safety, transportation, and workforce development).  Cost share/matching grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount.

 Eligibility: You may apply to other National Endowment for the Arts funding opportunities, including Art Works and Challenge America, in addition to Our Town.  In each case, the request must be for a distinctly different project, or a distinctly different phase of a project.  If you have applied to the NEA in the past and were not recommended for funding, you may apply again to any funding opportunity, including Our Town.

For details on project types, partnerships, successful grants, and other information on this opportunity, please visit the Our Town website.

Because the Our Town program limits an institution to two proposal submissions, an internal competition will be held to determine which investigators/teams will be cleared to apply.  If you are interested in submitting a proposal, you must submit a LOI by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, 2021.

The LOI, submitted as a single PDF document to our online portal through the View competition link, shall consist of the following (single-spaced, 10 pt. or higher font, one-inch margins):

• 1. A cover page with the following information:
     • title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
     • title of proposed project
     • a list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators
     • an estimated total amount of funding request
     • a description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required)

• 2. A two-page narrative with the following information:
     • a one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements
     • a half page describing how this project aligns with department, college, university and/or research strategic plans
     • a half page broader impact statement

• 3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu. 

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu. 

TO:                    Current Students, Faculty, and Staff
FROM:              Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                          Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:         2021-2022 Common Experience: Compassion

 

Texas State University presents an academic theme each year, providing numerous opportunities for everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members.  This is our Common Experience.  It is the nation’s #1 initiative of its kind, offering Texas State students more academic event opportunities than any other university.  Our Common Experience is also a national trendsetter in students’ participation rates and social media engagement.

Our Common Experience theme for the 2021-2022 academic year is Compassion.  It is an academic and real-world look at who we are, focusing on topics such as mindfulness, support, relief, and genuine human kindness — for ourselves, for others, and for everything around us.

When you do well, you feel the spotlight.

When you do good, you illuminate the world.

This Common Experience theme focuses on compassion as a concept that unites in commitment to affect change for the better beginning with the self and expanding throughout the campus, community, country, and world.  With profound implications for personal wellbeing and growth, dynamic potential for application and collaboration across disciplines, and promise of deeper connection between students, faculty, staff, and administration, moving toward compassion can empower our university and its members to shape lasting personal and collective change for the better on our campus and beyond.

Watch the new Common Experience video for an overview of the theme.

As part of the Common Experience, all incoming first-year students receive a critically acclaimed book related to the year’s theme.  Students discuss the book in their University Seminar class and other courses.  The Common Reading selection committee is completing its work on a book selection for the year ahead.  We will make a separate announcement about that selection soon.

For additional information about the theme, events, and activities planned for the 2020-2021 academic year, please contact (512) 245-3579 or commonexperience@txstate.edu.

@TXSTCE on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

TO:                             Currents Students, Faculty, and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman

                                   Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Online Catalogs

 

The 2021-2022 graduate and undergraduate catalogs are now available online.  

The 2020-2021 catalogs have been archived in PDF format and can be found on the Previous Catalogs webpage.

If you have any questions or comments about the catalogs, please feel free to contact the Office of Curriculum Services at (512) 245-8857 or via email at sg42@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman

                                   Associate Vice President for  Academic  Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Office of Distance and Extended Learning First Annual Summer Institute

 

The Office of Distance and Extended Learning (ODEL) is excited to offer its first annual Summer Institute!  The theme of this event is Texas State Strong: Creating Resilient Courses.

 We are looking for faculty who began teaching online or hybrid as a result of the pivot to remote instruction and who would like to improve their courses and teaching methods in online and hybrid course modes in future semesters.  Our shared focus will be taking what you have already accomplished and giving it a boost to help achieve stronger student engagement and student learning outcomes.

 Attendees of the Summer Institute will have nine weeks of intensive, individualized access to ODEL resources to create or redesign a course of their choosing.  Stipends will be awarded for successful completion of the institute, with opportunities for additional stipends for completing advanced steps in data collection, research, and publication/presentation.

 The Summer Institute will begin June 7, 2021, with a week of dynamic presentations, group activities, and one-on-one consultations with ODEL instructional designers.  The creative collaboration will continue throughout the summer with weekly check-ins, coaching sessions, multimedia production support, and opportunities to connect and share with other Summer Institute attendees.  The event will conclude on August 6, 2021, with a showcase of the work everyone has achieved. 

 Please visit the Summer Institute page for more information and to apply!  Space is limited.  Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, 2021.  Participants selected for the institute will be notified no later than May 21, 2021.

 We look forward to working with you!

TO:                              Current Students

                                    Faculty

                                    Staff

FROM:                        Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   “The Dynamics of Dynamics,” Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.

 

The Dynamics of Dynamics

Wednesday, April 28

2:00-3:00 p.m. via Zoom Webinar

Register for this event

The final event of the 2020-2021 Common Experience theme on Dynamics will be a conversation with the team that made it happen.  During the most challenging academic year of our lifetimes, Texas State University’s Common Experience took the lead role in offering academic opportunities beyond the classroom.  With a focus on Texas State students' wellbeing and academic growth, collaborators presented and promoted nearly 200 events — among the highest totals in the initiative's history — and created new avenues for communication via social media.  This event will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the big moments, and the speakers will take questions from the live audience.

Highlights:

• Successful transition to eBook format for Common Reading
• 196 total Common Experience events
• 2 events with live online audiences of 2,000+
• 2 more events with live online audiences of 1,000+
• Industry-leading social media engagement
• 6,453 new social media followers in one year

Speakers:

• Dr. Brian Cooper, senior lecturer, Geography (theme co-chair)
• Stephanie Finau, doctoral student, Curriculum and Instruction (theme co-chair)
• Tricia Edgel, doctoral student, Curriculum and Instruction (theme co-chair)
• Dr. Erika Nielson, assistant director of the Common Experience and Common Reading coordinator
• Vanessa Villescas, social media manager, Texas State University
• Anna Martin, student, social media coordinator, Common Experience
• Allison Jones, graduate student, senior social media coordinator, University College
• Giselle Kowalski, student, social media coordinator, Philosophy
• Twister Marquiss, moderator, director of the Common Experience

Questions about this event should be directed to Twister Marquiss via email at twister@txstate.edu or (512) 245-3579.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities for 2021-2024

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Yasmine Beale-Rivaya as the university’s Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities for 2021-2024, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Dr. Beale-Rivaya, Professor of Spanish Linguistics, joined the Texas State University faculty in the Department of World Languages and Literatures in 2006.  She holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of California Los Angeles.  Dr. Beale-Rivaya´s research centers on language contact, change, and borrowing among medieval Iberian (Spanish) borderland and minority communities.  Her main area of focus is the use of Romance and Semitic languages, such as Andalusí Arabic, by Mozarabic (Arabized-Christians), Mudejar (Muslims living in Christian territories), and Morisco (recent converts to Christianity from Islam) from the ninth to the early fourteenth centuries.  She maintains a parallel line of research looking at language contact and maintenance in bilingual Spanish-English speaking communities.

Dr. Beale-Rivaya has taught and developed undergraduate and graduate courses on Spanish in professional contexts, historical linguistics, phonetics, syntax, contemporary issues of Spanish linguistics, and applied linguistics among others.  She is the recipient of several teaching and scholarly awards.  She sits on the editorial board of several journals and has served on the Modern Language Association´s Forum on General Linguistics and the Delegate Assembly.  She has also served as President of the Texas Medieval Association.  Finally, Dr. Beale-Rivaya has organized several international scholarly conferences.

During her three-year appointment, Dr. Beale-Rivaya will implement a project, “Minority Languages and Communities in Contact,” which focuses on minority languages and communities that coexist with another language that is preferred by the majority.  Activities will include guest speakers, student mentoring events, a symposium, and the production of teaching modules based on the presentations that will be published in an open-access platform for repeated use both on campus and at large.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Beale-Rivaya.

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Texas State University is pleased to announce a joint vaccination event with Hays County on April 22nd from 9am to 8pm at the University Events Center on the San Marcos Campus.  Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations will be offered to anyone who is 16 years of age and older.  You do not have to be a Texas State student or employee to register to receive a vaccination at this event.  This is a great opportunity for faculty, staff and students—as well as family members, friends, retired faculty and staff and others to be vaccinated.  Please spread the word and share the vaccination registration link below.

If you have already received a COVID-19 vaccine OR if you have already received an appointment confirmation email for another vaccination event, please disregard this email.

VACCINATION INFORMATION

Pfizer vaccinations will be provided on Thursday, April 22nd at the University Events Center on Charles Austin Drive.  Parking will be available in the Coliseum lot located adjacent to Aquarena Springs Drive and Charles Austin Drive.

Be prepared to stay 15-30 minutes after your vaccination for observation.

Please register for your vaccination.  Vaccine supply is limited and not everyone requesting vaccination will get a reservation. Walk-ins will be allowed but cannot be guaranteed a vaccination.  Please do not arrive before your reservation time as that will create longer lines and increase the wait for everyone.

VACCINATION REGISTRATION PORTAL  After clicking on the registration portal, select the Texas State option and click April 22 to view vaccination slots available.

2nd Dose Appointment: Your 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine will be scheduled for Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Please be sure that you will be available for the 2nd dose on this date.

TO:                              Current Students

                                    Faculty

                                    Deans

FROM:                        Dr. Heather Galloway

                                    Dean, Honors College

SUBJECT:                   15^th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference & Thesis Forum 

 

The Honors College is pleased to present The 15th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference & Thesis Forum on Wednesday, April 21 – Friday, April 23, 2021, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

The conference will showcase undergraduate achievements from across campus, hosting over 150 asynchronous poster and 80 synchronous oral presentations on Zoom.  Everyone is welcome to attend the event by creating an account on the Symposium Platform. 

Questions should be directed via email to ugresearch@txstate.edu or (512) 245-2266. 

The conference is sponsored by the Honors College, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Common Experience, and the STEM Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program at Texas State University. 

TO:                             Faculty and Staff
FROM:                       Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman
                                   Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:                  Assistant Vice President for Curriculum and Academic Programs

 

I am pleased to announce that effective May 17, 2021, Dr. Valarie Fleming will serve as Assistant Vice President for Curriculum and Academic Programs in the Office of Curriculum Services.  In this role, Dr. Fleming will provide leadership in curriculum and commencement that will include developing new academic programs, performing research and data analytics, planning and implementing commencement ceremonies, and collaboratively developing a strategic plan for curriculum and commencement functions within the context of the university’s mission, values, and strategic planning process.  

Dr. Fleming holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Central Arkansas, an M.A. degree in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Memphis, and a Ph.D. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Fleming joined the Texas State University faculty in 2007 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2013.  During that time, she also served as the graduate program coordinator and graduate advisor.  Dr. Fleming was appointed as Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders in 2015 and promoted to Professor in 2019.  Under her leadership, the department earned the prestigious Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders 2016 Diversity Award.  Dr. Fleming served as the 2017-2018 Presidential Fellow and the 2020-2021 Chair of the Council of Chairs.  Dr. Fleming was a 2018 participant in the Harvard University’s Management Development Program for higher education leaders. 

Dr. Fleming is an active scholar whose works include an edited book, book chapters, and many refereed journal articles, conference proceedings, conference papers, and invited lectures.  She was the lead PI on a $1.6 million grant from the United States Health Resources and Services Administration to fund scholarships for disadvantaged graduate students.  She has successfully secured both internal and external grant support for her research.  Finally, Dr. Fleming has served on many university, college, and departmental committees, and has also provided outstanding service to her profession.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Fleming as she begins her responsibilities as the Assistant Vice President for Curriculum and Academic Programs.

TO:                             Faculty, Deans
FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.
                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations
SUBJECT:                  Announcing Limited Submission: NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission: NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) competition. The View competition web page contains more information and information on how to submit your letter of intent (LOI).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 27, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2022
• Description:
  NIH has announced a Limited Submission opportunity for the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed).  The SEPA program supports P-12 and informal science education (ISE) activities that: (1) enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce and (2) foster a better understanding of NIH-funded biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its public health implications.

The SEPA program targets two primary audiences: (1) SEPA formal or classroom-based projects, provide STEM content, pedagogical expertise, and problem-solving skills to teachers, students, and families in communities not generally supported by advanced and innovative educational practices: (2) SEPA informal science education (ISE) activities, conducted in outside-the-classroom venues as well as in science centers and museums, target both workforce diversity and improved public health literacy.

Applications that target pre-kindergarten to grade 12 (P-12) or ISE topics that are not be addressed by existing school, community, or ISE-based activities are encouraged.

More information about the SEPA program and proposal requirements can be found on the full 2021 solicitation web page.  Please note that a letter of intent to this program, submitted 30 days prior to the full application deadline, is encouraged but not required.  The full application deadline to NIH is July 13, 2021.

As NIH limits submissions for this opportunity to one application, we will hold an internal competition to determine which proposal is allowed to go forward.

If you are interested in submitting a Letter of Intent, please include the following information and submit through the InfoReady online portal by Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

The LOI shall consist of the following (single-spaced, 10-pt. or higher font, one-inch margins) and should be submitted through the application portal on the View competition link:

1. 1. title of opportunity.
   2. title of proposed project.
   3. a list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators.
   4. an estimated total amount of funding request.
   5. a description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required).
   6. a two-page narrative with the following information:
      • A one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements.
      • A ½ page describing how this project aligns with department, college, University and/or research strategic plans.
   7. a ½ page broader impact statement.
   8. a two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

 For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu. 

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff
FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:                   Request for Proposals – 2022-2023 Common Experience Theme

 

The deadline has been extended for submitting proposals for the 2022-2023 Common Experience theme.  The original deadline was April 20.  Proposals are now due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 30. 

Proposals must be submitted using the official form, accessible from the webpage linked below.  Finalists will present to the selection committee in May.  Decisions on proposals will be made and communicated no later than June 7.

Common Experience – Request for Proposals

Texas State University presents an academic theme each year with related events for everyone.  This is our Common Experience.

The Common Experience at Texas State is the nation's #1 initiative of its kind, offering more academic event opportunities than any other university.  Our students' participation rates and engagement rates are national benchmarks, as well.  Even with online-only programming last fall, the Common Experience presented 102 events, setting university records for online event attendance.

The 2020-2021 theme of Dynamics will continue until the end of the spring semester.  A team is currently working on the upcoming 2021-2022 theme, which was selected last year.  That theme will be announced publicly on May 3, 2021.

We now invite faculty and staff to submit proposals for the 2022-2023 Common Experience theme.

Because the Common Experience is a collaborative initiative at Texas State, crossing departmental and divisional boundaries, we encourage proposals that address an important theme that can foster multiple, sustained conversations throughout the year among students, faculty, and staff — as well as alumni and the community beyond the campus.

Background
Each year since 2004, diverse groups of faculty, staff, and students have created distinctive experiences for our campus and community, with presentations by some of the world's most important voices on the issues of our time.  Speakers have included poet Maya Angelou, filmmaker Spike Lee, writer Isabel Allende, broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, Adm. William McRaven, attorney Bryan Stevenson, astronaut José Hernández, and Oscar/Grammy-winner Common.  In fall 2020, the Common Experience presented live online events with John Quiñones of ABC News (and host of What Would You Do?) and U.S. Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez.  Additionally, there have been many special events, such as Innovation Week in 2018, which offered 50-plus events over five days for learning and engaging with new ideas on campus.

Common Experience proposals should establish strong connections to a theme and events that cross academic boundaries, creating junctions for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.  Proposals should reflect collaborative potential as well.  The selected theme’s chair(s) and the long-standing Common Experience Committee will coordinate selection of the main speaker with the (separate) LBJ Distinguished Lecture Series Committee, and the Common Reading Program will coordinate selection of a book aligned with the theme.

Proposal Requirements
A Common Experience selection committee will review all proposals submitted.  Finalists will be asked to make presentations to the committee.  Each proposal must meet the following requirements:

• welcome interdisciplinary analysis and conversation
• reflect high academic aspirations conducive to scholarly dialogue
• include collaborative links across the campus (Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and community engagement)
• engage students and community
• suggest possible contributors and participants for a Common Experience structured around the suggested theme
• recommend resources that potentially connect to the proposed theme
• provide a theme title that is concise and memorable (preferably one word)

In addition, these requirements apply to the proposal team:

• at least one member of the proposal team must be a faculty member at Texas State
• at least one member of the proposal team must have recent experience teaching University Seminar (US 1100) or have demonstrated experience working recently with first-year student populations

The author(s) responsible for the selected proposal will transition into the role(s) of chair(s) for the 2022-2023 theme, coordinating with the director and assistant director of the Common Experience for the planning year leading up to the theme's implementation and throughout the 2022-2023 academic year.

Deadline
Proposals are due on or before Tuesday, April 20, 2021, and should be submitted using the form linked below.  Finalists will present to the selection committee in May.  Decisions on proposals will be made and communicated no later than Monday, May 31.

Information and submission form

First Step: Guidance Meeting
Anyone considering a proposal is advised to meet first with the Common Experience leadership team for guidance.  Contact Twister Marquiss, director of the Common Experience, via email at twister@txstate.edu or (512) 245-3579.

TO:                             Current Students

FROM:                       Dr. John Fleming

                                   Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication

SUBJECT:                  The University Star hiring applications set to close Friday

 

The University Star is now hiring!  The Star is the independent student-run news source for Texas State University and the San Marcos community.  It is run by students – for students.  We are looking to fill positions going into the summer and fall.  We would love for you to be a part of our hard-working, passionate, and national award-winning team. 

Applications are currently open until 11:59 p.m., on Friday, April 2, 2021.

The Star accepts applications from students of all majors, experience levels, and backgrounds for a wide variety of non-paid contributor positions.  Working for The Star is an excellent way to get involved both on and off-campus while gaining real-world experience and building your resume.  Interest in a journalism career is a plus but not at all required.

Current positions available include:

Contributor (unpaid) positions available:

News Reporters, Feature Writers, Sports Reporters, Columnists, Photographers/Videographers, Graphic Designers/Illustrators, Public Relations Specialists, Event Planning and Promotions, Social Media Specialists, Podcast Producers and more.

Requirements: applicants must be enrolled at Texas State must have a minimum cumulative, semester and Texas State GPA of 2.0

Applications will be available through Friday, April 2, 2021.

How to apply:

All applicants must submit the online Application Form available through the Jobs link on the The University Star home page.  Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. 

A list of all job descriptions and expectations is included in The University Star handbook.  A link is also provided on the Jobs page.  The handbook includes information on how we are operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.  All applicants must acknowledge they have read and understood the requirements outlined in the handbook.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many positions as they intend to pursue seriously. 

Once applications close on April 2nd, editors will review applications and plan to set up interviews throughout the latter part of April/early May.  Outside of incoming freshmen, students chosen to join our staff will only be able to do so upon completion of grade checks that will take place at the end of the spring semester (must have a minimum cumulative, semester and Texas State GPA of 2.0).  Students hired will be alerted of the next steps. 

If you have any questions, please email stareditor@txstate.edu.

TO:                   Current Students
                         Faculty
                         Deans

FROM:             Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                         Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:        Announcing the Nina Vaca Award for Innovation and
                         Entrepreneurship

 

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is seeking applications for the Nina Vaca Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award to highlight the amazing innovators and entrepreneurs thriving in all disciplines across the growing ecosystem at Texas State University and to celebrate the power of an entrepreneurial mindset to change the world for the better.  This award will be presented to one undergraduate and one graduate student along with $1,000 in recognition of their outstanding works in innovation and entrepreneurship.  The deadline for applications is April 9, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.

AWARD OBJECTIVES         

• To provide a $1,000 award to one undergraduate student and to one graduate student.
• To encourage the cultivation of an entrepreneurial mindset that generates value regardless of industry or business setting.
• To support the long-term growth of ideas and innovative research across all disciplines.
• To celebrate success that drives a university-wide culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.          

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Students interested in being considered for this award should submit the application materials via the CIE website.

The announcement of this year’s award recipients will occur during the keynote address of Business Leadership Week on April 22, 2021.

For questions about the award, contact the CIE Co-Directors Dr. Shannon Weigum (sweigum@txstate.edu) and Mr. Dan Roy (d_r560@txstate.edu).

 

TO:                  Current Students
                        Faculty
                        Staff
FROM:            Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                        Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:       State of Black Design Conference, April 9-10

 

State of Black Design Conference
presented by IBM
April 9-10, 2021

» Conference Website

Texas State University's Communication Design Program and the Common Experience are excited to announce a partnership with IBM to present the State of Black Design Conference, April 9-10.  The event will bring together aspiring designers with academic and industry professionals for select networking opportunities, career development workshops, and important panel discussions with leaders in the field.

Additional sponsors include Adobe, Civilla, AIGA, Texas State's College of Fine Arts and Communication, and the School of Art and Design.  The theme of the conference is "Black Design: Past. Present. Future."

The Intersection of Race and Practice
This two-day virtual conference will provide networking, development, and career opportunities for young designers, with a focus on student designers of color.  The event will be split into four categories: Honoring Our Ancestors, Honoring Our Present, Honoring the Diaspora, and Honoring Our Future.  Presentations will offer a safe space at the intersection of race and practice.

Career Fair
Career Services will present a designer-focused career fair on Friday, April 9, to connect numerous designers of color with employers who seek to hire them.  The career fair represents a concentrated effort to diversify and promote inclusion efforts in professional practice.

Honoring Our Ancestors
The first category, Honoring our Ancestors, explores design pioneers and unsung heroes.  The opening speaker will introduce the panelists as well as their generation’s obstacles of practice.  This introduction will lead to a moderated panel discussion among design pioneers and will close with a speaker who connects our pioneers’ influence with the work of today’s industry.

Honoring Our Present
The second category, Honoring our Present, will focus on current thought leaders and pioneers in our industry today.  This panel will explore current trends and issues, as well as advice for design aspirants.

Honoring the Diaspora
The third category, Honoring the Diaspora, will highlight the global reach of black designers.  The opening speaker will explore the Black diaspora and subjects investigated by non-American designers.  This panel will unpack African influence on the design industry and what decolonizing design means to foreign designers.  The second half of this discussion will bring in some of our design pioneers, our current design thought leaders, and foreign designers.  A few quick questions will be asked to create parallels and bridge the diaspora.

Honoring Our Future
The conference's Career Fair will connect attendees with employers who seek to recruit designers of color.  Partnered employers will participate in virtual information sessions, potential mock interviews, portfolio reviews, and design challenges.  The goal is to create a catalyst moment in diversifying the field of Design.

Attendance Is Free
Texas State presents this conference at no cost to students and young designers — all of it made possible by corporate sponsorships and individual donations to the State of Black Design Event Excellence Fund.

» Register for Free

» View Conference Speakers

» Support the Conference

For additional information about the conference, please contact Omari Souza in the School of Art and Design via email at blackdesign@txstate.edu.

TO:                              Vice Presidents

                                    Deans

                                    Department Chairs/School Directors

                                    Faculty

FROM:                        Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Nominations for Distinguished Professor Emeritus

 

In accordance with the provisions of AA PPS 02.04.10, Honorary Faculty Titles and Emeritus Faculty, I am writing to invite nominations of individuals to be recognized with this special rank.  The PPS describes the mechanism whereby Texas State University may recommend that extraordinary retired or retiring faculty members be awarded the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus/Emerita by the President.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements of having held the rank of Professor and has served the university, with distinction, at least 10 years, and being in the last full year of teaching prior to retirement or in the first seven years following retirement, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus/Emerita must meet Criteria 1 and 2 and must meet three of the additional five criteria:

Criteria 1       Outstanding record of teaching excellence;

Criteria 2       Regional or national recognition resulting from sustained scholarly or creative work;

Criteria 3       Regional or national service/recognition in professional organizations;

Criteria 4       Regional or national recognition resulting from program development at Texas State;

Criteria 5       Outstanding record of community service;

Criteria 6       Outstanding record of university service;

Criteria 7       Outstanding record of generating public and/or private monetary support for the university through grants, contracts, endowments, contributions, etc.

We are presently inviting nominations for Distinguished Professor Emeritus/Emerita.  Please refer to AA PPS 02.04.10 for details on the nomination process.  A list of eligible faculty is below, as well as the master list of all faculty honored as Distinguished Professor Emeritus/Emerita.  Please forward each completed nomination packet, via the department chair/school director and the college dean, to Ms. Tammy Sharp, Faculty and Academic Resources, no later than Wednesday, May 19, 2021.

Retired faculty eligible for nomination as Distinguished Professor Emeriti

(who meet years of service at Texas State requirement)

 2014 Retirees

Eric C. Blankmeyer                                     Professor Emeritus

Finance & Economics  

 9/1/82-1/15/14

Michael D. Boone                                       Professor Emeritus

Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology

7/16/88-5/31/14                                                           

T. Richard Cheatham                                 Professor Emeritus

Communication Studies

8/1/78-8/31/14

Jene T. Laman                                             Professor Emeritus

Family and Consumer Sciences

7/16/76-5/31/14

Susan M. Macey                                         Professor Emeritus

Geography

9/1/88-5/31/14

John W. McGee                                          Professor Emeritus

Finance and Economics

9/1/80-1/15/14

Brian Row                                                     Professor Emeritus

Music 

9/1/77-1/15/14

Naymond Thomas                                      Professor Emeritus

Music

9/1/87-8/31/14

Sue W. Williams                                          Professor Emerita

Family and Consumer Sciences

6/1/85-8/31/14

2015 Retirees

BJ Friedman                                                 Professor Emeritus 

Family and Consumer Sciences 

9/1/85-5/31/15

Robert A. Davis                                           Professor Emeritus

Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods

9/1/02-7/31/15

Gilbert E. Fulmer                                        Professor Emeritus

Philosophy

9/1/72-8/31/15

Jeffrey L. Gordon                                       Professor Emeritus 

Philosophy 

9/1/78-8/31/15

Robert D. Gratz                                           Professor Emeritus  Communication Studies

9/1/69-12/31/14

Charles Hardin Rahe                                  Professor Emeritus   

Agriculture 

12/1/98-1/15/15

Walter E. Rudzinski                                    Professor Emeritus  

Chemistry and Biochemistry 

9/1/79-1/15/15

Bruce Smith                                                 Professor Emeritus

Journalism and Mass Communication

4/13/00-8/31/15

Philip W. Suckling                                      Professor Emeritus

Geography

7/1/05-5/31/15

2016 Retirees

Judy L. Allen                                                 Professor Emerita

Family and Consumer Sciences 

9/1/77-7/31/16

Jon D. Bible                                                  Professor Emeritus

Finance and Economics  

9/1/85-5/31/16

David C. Easter                                            Professor Emeritus

Chemistry and Biochemistry

9/1/93-5/31/16

H. Stephen Hager                                       Professor Emeritus

Music

9/1/83-5/31/16

Sheila A. Hargett                                        Professor Emeritus

Theatre and Dance 

9/1/71-5/31/16

Gordon E. Martin                                       Professor Emeritus

Curriculum and Instruction                                                                              

1/1/81-1/15/16

Lucille M. Montondon                              Professor Emeritus   

Accounting  

9/1/89-8/31/16

Roselyn E. Morris                                       Professor Emeritus

Accounting   

9/1/93-8/31/16

Larry J. Wheeler                                          Professor Emeritus 

Curriculum and Instruction   

9/1/81-8/31/16

2017 Retirees

Richard L. Archer                                        Professor Emeritus

Psychology 

9/1/82-7/15/17

Carroll L. Bandy                                          Professor Emeritus  

Mathematics

1/16/78-5/31/17

James D. Bell                                                Professor Emeritus

Management 

9/1/85-1/15/17

John J. Edgell, Jr.                                        Professor Emeritus 

Mathematics

9/1/66-5/31/17

Charles P. Garofalo                                    Professor Emeritus 

Political Science 

9/1/82-5/31/17

Dean J. Geuras                                            Professor Emeritus

Philosophy

9/1/71-5/31/17

Karen S. Knox                                              Professor Emerita 

Social Work

9/1/95-12/31/17

Shirley M. Ogletree                                    Professor Emeritus

Psychology

9/1/77-7/15/17

Robert B. Pankey                                       Professor Emeritus

Health and Human Performance

8/1/00-5/31/17

Richard P. Sodders                                     Professor Emeritus 

Theatre and Dance

9/1/85-5/31/17

2018 Retirees

Miriam B. Echeverria                                Professor Emerita

Modern Languages 

9/1/87-5/31/18

Paul R. Gowens                                           Professor Emeritus   

Finance and Economics 

9/1/80-5/31/18

Gary A. Hartman                                        Professor Emeritus

History 

9/1/95-8/31/18

Jack C. Laumer                                            Professor Emeritus 

Music

9/1/77-5/31/18

Sandra Mayo                                               Professor Emeritus

Theatre and Dance 

6/1/01-1/15/18

Tinker D. Murray                                        Professor Emeritus

Health and Human Performance   

9/1/84-1/15/18

Ricardo M. Torrejon                                  Professor Emeritus  

Mathematics

9/1/81-5/31/18           

2019 Retirees                    

Elizabeth A. Allison                                     Professor Emerita 

English 

9/1/99-2/13/19

Janet B. Butler                                             Professor Emeritus 

Accounting

8/25/03-8/31/19

Michel L. Conroy                                        Professor Emeritus 

Art and Design

9/1/82-5/31/19

Richard A. Earl                                             Professor Emeritus 

Geography 

9/1/91-5/31/19

James F. Garber                                          Professor Emeritus

Anthropology

1/16/82-8/31/19

Stephen P. Gordon                                    Professor Emeritus

Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology         

9/1/93-5/31/19

Elizabeth M. Makowski                            Professor Emerita 

History

7/16/93-5/31/19

Erik A. Nielsen                                             Professor Emeritus

Art and Design                                                           

9/1/71-5/31/19

Marilynn S. Olson                                       Professor Emerita

English 

1/16/83-8/31/19

Cynthia Plotts                                              Professor Emerita

Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology  

9/1/77-12/31/18

Cecily A. Raiborn                                        Professor Emeritus

Accounting 

9/1/06-5/31/19

Jovita M. Ross-Gordon                             Professor Emeritus 

Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology         

9/1/01-5/31/19

2020 Retirees                    

Vicki Brittain                                                Professor Emeritus

Political Science

1/16/80-5/31/20

Ann Brooks                                                  Professor Emerita

Counseling Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology        

9/1/04-8/31/20

John Davis                                                    Professor Emeritus                    

Psychology                                      

9/1/74-5/31/20

Marcus Felson                                             Professor Emeritus

Criminal Justice and Criminology 

1/16/11-8/31/20

Kathleen Fite                                               Professor Emerita

Curriculum and Instruction                           

9/1/73-7/31/20

Ruben Garza                                                Professor Emeritus     C

Curriculum and Instruction           

9/1/02-8/31/20

Dickie Heaberlin                                         Professor Emeritus 

English 

9/1/67-8/31/20

Elvin Holt                                                      Professor Emeritus

English   

9/1/83-8/31/20

Charles Hurt                                                 Professor Emeritus 

Music       

8/29/77-8/31/20

Tomas Mijares                                            Professor Emeritus

Criminal Justice and Criminology   

9/1/90-10/31/19

John (Jack) Mogab                                     Professor Emeritus

Finance and Economics   

9/1/81-8/31/20

Thomas Myers, II                                       Professor Emeritus 

Physics 

10/1/08-8/31/20  

Katherine Peirce-Burleson                       Professor Emeritus

Journalism and Mass Communication 

9/1/88-8/31/20    

David Perkins                                              Professor Emeritus

Criminal Justice and Criminology          

9/1/88-8/31/20

Donald Sanders                                          Professor Emeritus

Finance and Economics   

9/1/79-8/31/20

Cecilia Temponi                                          Professor Emerita 

Management  

9/1/93-5/31/20

Thomas Thickstun                                      Professor Emeritus 

Mathematics 

9/1/81-8/31/20

Master List President Emeriti (In Perpetuity)

Supple, Jerome H.*, Ph.D., President Emeritus (4/1/89-8/31/02)

Hardesty, Robert L.*, B.A., President Emeritus (11/1/81-6/13/88)

Regents’ Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeriti (In Perpetuity)

Augustin, Byron D., D.A., Regents’ Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography (6/10/78-8/31/10)

Baccus, John T., Ph.D., Regents’ Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology (9/1/75-8/31/11)

Beebe, Steven A., Ph.D., Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies (8/1/86-5/31/18) Butler, David R., Ph.D., Regents’ Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography (7/16/97-8/31/19)

Chavkin, Nancy F., Ph.D., Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emerita of Social Work (9/1/87-8/31/17)

de la Teja, Jesús F., Ph.D., Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History (9/1/91-8/31/17)

Dunn, Dennis J., Ph.D., Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History (9/1/70-8/31/18) Estaville, Lawrence E.*, Ph.D., Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography (7/16/94-12/20/18) Olson, Donald W., Ph.D., Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics (9/1/81-8/31/19)

University Distinguished Professor Emeriti (In Perpetuity)

Furney, Steven R., Ed.D., University Distinguished Professor of Health and Human Performance (9/1/80-5/31/18) Gorman, Robert F., Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor of Political Science (9/1/79-5/31/19)

Pollock, Joycelyn M., Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice (9/1/93-5/31/17)

Williams, M. Lee, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies (9/1/74-5/31/12)

Distinguished Professor Emeriti (In Perpetuity)

Abernathy, Elton*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies (9/1/46-7/15/78)

Andrews, Gregory A., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History (9/1/88-8/31/09)

Aron, Gary M., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology (1/15/74-5/31/14)

Avent, Henrietta*, D.P.E., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (9/1/58-5/31/93)

Barton, James Gabriel*, M.A., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies (6/1/46-1/15/80)

Bechtol, William*, Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction (8/1/77-2/16/98)

Beck, John J., Jr., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Educational Administration (7/10/79-8/31/07)

Blanchard, Lydia A.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of English (9/1/83-5/31/07)

Bowles, Ira Renay*, Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music (9/1/47-7/15/86)

Brown, Brock J., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography (9/1/92-5/31/15)

Brown, Judith Karen, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Social Work (9/1/76-7/31/08)

Buie, Tollie R.*, Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Agriculture (9/1/45-7/31/76)

Busby, Mark B., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (8/1/91-5/31/17)

Bynum, Victoria E., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History (9/1/86-1/15/10)

Calsbeek, Franklin A*., Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (9/1/74-8/31/95)

Carman, Douglas Gary, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Finance and Economics (9/1/78-5/31/01) Carpenter, Delbert Stanley, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology (8/1/03-8/31/18)

Caruana, Louis B., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Clinical Laboratory Science (10/9/75-5/31/00)

Cassidy, Patrick E.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry (1/15/71-7/31/10) Caverly, David C., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction (7/16/89-8/31/18)

Chatfield, John A., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics (9/1/65-5/31/04)

Cohen, Paul N., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (9/1/82-5/31/17) Conroy, Michel L., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art and Design (9/1/82-5/31/19)

Cook, James R., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Methods (1/1/74-1/15/12)

Craddock, Emmie*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of History (9/1/50-7/15/80)

Davis, Wilbon P., M.A., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Computer Science (9/1/66-8/31/05) Day, Frederick A., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography (9/1/88-8/31/14)

Early, Grady G., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Computer Science (9/1/71-1/15/00)

Ellis, Ann Marie, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Sociology (9/1/85-1/15/12)

Farlow, Daniel Edward*, M.A., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science (6/1/59-5/31/89)

Fischer, Robert A.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages (9/1/73-8/31/16)

Fitch, John W., III, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry (9/1/67-8/31/98)

Fling, Sheila, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Psychology (9/1/75-5/31/00)

Ginsburg, Harvey J., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology (9/1/73-7/15/17 )

Gravitt, Garland Jack*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (9/1/71-5/31/00)

Grayson, Nancy J., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of English (9/1/68-8/31/17) Gordon, Stephen P., Ph.D., Distinguished professor Emeritus of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology (9/1/93-5/31/19)

Hannan, Herbert H.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology (9/1/60-8/31/89)

Hannon, Daniel L.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theatre (9/1/81-5/31/98)

Hatcher, Barbara A., Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction (7/15/75-8/31/08)

Haynes, Martha L. Brunson*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of English (9/1/67-7/15/98)

Hays, Joan C.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Dance (9/1/64-5/31/03)

Hazlewood, Donald G., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics (9/1/71-8/31/11)

Henderson, Richard B.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science (6/1/49-5/31/84) Hennessy, Michael J., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (9/1/80-1/15/18) Homeyer, Linda E., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology (9/1/95-5/31/18)

Houston, Ralph H.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (9/1/37-7/31/78)

Irvin, James D., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry (9/1/73-5/31/10)

Jorgenson, Christabel B., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of School Psychology (9/1/76-7/15/98)

Jorgenson, David E.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology (9/1/76-5/31/99)

Joy, Glenn C., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy (9/1/65-5/31/14)

Juel, Martin Oliver*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction (9/1/50-5/31/81)

Kissler, Betty Jane*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of History (9/1/58-8/31/93)

Koke, Joseph R., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology (9/1/78-7/15/11)

Laird, Edgar S.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (9/1/66-5/31/11)

Larsen, Robert D., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography (9/1/73-12/31/14)

Leder, Priscilla G., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of English (9/1/88-5/31/12)

Longley, Glenn, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology and Director, Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center (6/1/69-8/31/14)

McBride, Michael H., Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Journalism and Mass Communication (9/1/83-5/31/01)

Meixner, Wilda F.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Accounting (9/1/86-1/15/08)

Morgan, Celia A., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Economics (9/1/71-1/15/94)

Newsom, Rollo K., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Folklore (9/1/66-7/15/96)

Norris, William Elmore*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology (9/1/49-8/31/82)

Northcutt, Robert A., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics (9/1/64-7/15/06) Ogletree, Shirley M., Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology (9/1/777/15/17)

Olney, Robert J.,* Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Management (1/16/82-1/31/09) Olson, Marilynn S., Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Emerita of English (1/16/83-8/31/19)

Patterson, Larry T., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Marketing (7/15/80-5/31/01)

Patton, Robert E., Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Health and Human Performance (9/1/62-7/31/12)

Piersol, Darrell T.,* Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Management (9/1/82-1/15/97)

Pino, David J., D.M.A., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music (9/1/67-5/31/12)

Pohl, James W*., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History (1/16/64-7/15/11)

Renfro, Paula C., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Journalism and Mass Communication (9/1/83-5/31/07)

Rogers, J. Lloyd*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Education (6/1/36-8/31/73)

Rose, Francis L., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology (7/16/91-5/31/08) Ross-Gordon, Jovita M., Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology (9/1/01-5/31/19)

Schultz, Clarence D.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology (9/1/65-7/31/90)

Shell, Lon R., Ed.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Agriculture (9/1/71-7/15/01)

Skinner, Douglas D., M.M.Ed., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music (9/1/73-8/31/11)

Smith, Milton L., Jr.,* Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Educational Administration (9/1/77-1/15/90)

Swinney, Everette,* Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History (9/1/57-7/15/96)

Stimmel, D. Theron, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology (9/1/69-8/31/08)

Stutts, Mary Ann, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Marketing (9/1/82-7/15/13)

Walts, Robert W.*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (9/1/59-5/31/87)

Webber, Jo A., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Curriculum and Instruction (9/1/86-5/31/12)

Weller, Eric C.,* M.F.A., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art and Design (9/1/78-8/31/08)

Wheeler, Richard Wade, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology (9/1/69-5/31/11)

Whiteside, Bobby, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology (9/1/67-5/31/00)

Wilson, Miles S., M.F.A., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English (9/1/80-8/31/15)

Wilson, Ryce Neal, M.F.A., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art and Design (1/23/71-5/31/09)

Yager, Billy J., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry (9/1/62-5/31/01)

Zedler, Empress Young*, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Special Education (3/1/48-8/31/79)

*Deceased   Updated 03.20

TO:                             Faculty

                                    Deans

FROM:                       Walter E. Horton Jr., Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   Tea and Technology Transfer/Crumpets and Commercialization Virtual Event

 

You are cordially invited to a Tea and Technology Transfer/Crumpets and Commercialization Virtual Event to share information and discuss the following:

•          University-Industry partnering for Sponsored Research

•          Technology Transfer Process at Texas State University

When:           Thursday, April 1, 2021

Time:              3:00 p.m.

Click to join meeting.

Meeting ID:  959 2371 4364

This event is hosted by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).  If you have questions or for more information, please contact Dr. Reddy Venumbaka in ORSP at (512) 245-2672 or via email at reddy@txstate.edu.

TO:                            Current Students, Faculty, Staff
FROM:                      Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                                  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:                 Continuity plan for instruction in the week following spring break 2021

 

I hope everyone is doing well and that the spring semester is progressing well.  In preparation for spring break and the resumption of classes on Monday, March 22, 2021, the following guidance is provided. 

As we plan for spring break, I call upon our university community to sustain their commitment to the COVID-19 mitigation policies in place that have ensured our safety and well-being in the past.  The CDC recommends against travel.  If you travel, please follow our health and safety guidelines for mitigating COVID-19 transmission and consult the CDC guidelines for traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Please consult the March 3, 2021 memo from Dr. Emilio Carranco, the university’s Chief Medical Officer, regarding the health and safety implications of spring break, as well as President Trauth’s message dated March 3, 2021 for current guidance about our health and safety precautions.  

Regarding instruction in the week following spring break, it is important to note that instruction will resume via the instructional modality assigned to the course in the beginning of the semester in the formal schedule of classes.  Instruction will not pivot to all virtual/remote instruction in the week following spring break.  Faculty may, on a case-by-case basis, move classes to virtual/remote delivery for the week after spring break if they feel compelled to do so while considering the learning outcomes and student success factors for those classes.  These changes are made in consultation with department chairs/school directors. 

If the instructional modality will be changed the week after spring break, faculty must ensure that they communicate with students via email no later than Thursday, March 11, 2021.  In courses where the instructional modality will be changed the week after spring break, faculty must remind students via email on or before Friday, March 19, 2021.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to find the best solutions to help keep our Bobcat community safe and ensure that students progress toward attaining their educational goals.

TO:                     Students, Faculty, Staff
FROM:               Dr. Emilio Carranco, Chief Medical Officer,
                          Director, Student Health Center
SUBJECT:         COVID-19 Update and Spring Break Recommendations

 

As spring break approaches, I want to share some important updates on the COVID-19 situation and what we can expect in the months ahead as we work to bring the pandemic to an end.   

Improving COVID-19 Situation
After the December-January surge, COVID-19 cases and positivity rates in Texas have decreased significantly.  On January 3rd, Texas recorded a positivity rate of 21.0%.  This past week, the positivity rates for Texas, Hays County and Williamson County were 9.9%, 8.9% and 8.3%, respectively.  Texas State University began the spring semester with a positivity rate of 4.7% which has decreased to 2.3% this past week.  If we continue to follow prevention measures, especially the use of face coverings and physical distancing, we can keep COVID-19 positivity rates in the low range which will allow us to slowly expand activities on our campuses.  To monitor the COVID-19 situation at Texas State, check the COVID-19 Dashboard.

More COVID-19 Testing Leads to Less Spread
If we want to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is important to test and report to Bobcat Trace as soon as possible if positive.  I want to encourage you to test for COVID-19 regularly during the spring semester because you can be infected without knowing it.  When you receive an e-mail notice to get tested as part of the university’s proactive, random testing, please complete the test that week.  The testing data helps to inform university decisions—including decisions to expand activities on campus.  For information about free COVID-19 testing on our campuses, check TXST COVID-19 Testing.

Spring Break
While COVID-19 positivity rates have been declining, transmission levels remain in the moderate to high range across Texas and most of the United States.  Travel may increase your risk of getting COVID-19 and the CDC recommends that you not travel at this time.  For those that must travel, it is important to follow CDC Travel Guidance.  However, other activities such as social gatherings, going to amusement parks or movie theaters, or dining inside a restaurant can also increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19.  To protect our university community and prevent the spread of infection, faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 test either before returning to our campuses or during the week after spring break.  In addition to free on-campus testing sites, you can check TX COVID-19 Testing Sites or Curative COVID-19 Testing Sites for other options.

Vaccinations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to provide a third option for vaccination.  This one-shot vaccine also has an excellent safety profile and is very effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization.  As vaccine supply improves and eligibility groups are expanded, I would strongly encourage vaccination with any of the authorized vaccines when it is your turn.  The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has information about vaccination sites at TX COVID-19 Vaccine Information.  
Prevention Measures Still Needed
The decrease in COVID-19 cases and positivity rates that we have experienced on our campuses is an indication that our prevention measures are working.  The hard work of our faculty, staff and students has created an opportunity for Texas State.  If we can continue to keep COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates low, the university can slowly begin the process of expanding activities on our campuses while maintaining a safe environment.  However, we need to keep practicing the prevention measures that work—especially wearing face coverings, physical distancing and hand hygiene.

While we still have challenges ahead with COVID-19, we have more reasons than ever to believe that we can bring this pandemic to an end.  Let’s be safe during spring break, get tested when we return, and continue our commitment to keeping ourselves and those we care about safe as well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Emilio Carranco
Chief Medical Officer
Director, Student Health Center

TO:                             Faculty and Staff
FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:                  Request for Proposals – 2022-2023 Common Experience Theme

 

Texas State University presents an academic theme each year with related events for everyone.  This is our Common Experience.

The Common Experience at Texas State is the nation's #1 initiative of its kind, offering more academic event opportunities than any other university.  Our students' participation rates and engagement rates are national benchmarks, as well.  Even with online-only programming last fall, the Common Experience presented 102 events, setting university records for online event attendance.

The 2020-2021 theme of Dynamics will continue until the end of the spring semester.  A team is currently working on the upcoming 2021-2022 theme, which was selected last year.  That theme will be announced publicly on May 3, 2021.

We now invite faculty and staff to submit proposals for the 2022-2023 Common Experience theme.

Because the Common Experience is a collaborative initiative at Texas State, crossing departmental and divisional boundaries, we encourage proposals that address an important theme that can foster multiple, sustained conversations throughout the year among students, faculty, and staff — as well as alumni and the community beyond the campus.

Background
Each year since 2004, diverse groups of faculty, staff, and students have created distinctive experiences for our campus and community, with presentations by some of the world's most important voices on the issues of our time.  Speakers have included poet Maya Angelou, filmmaker Spike Lee, writer Isabel Allende, broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, Adm. William McRaven, attorney Bryan Stevenson, astronaut José Hernández, and Oscar/Grammy-winner Common.  In fall 2020, the Common Experience presented live online events with John Quiñones of ABC News (and host of What Would You Do?) and U.S. Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez.  Additionally, there have been many special events, such as Innovation Week in 2018, which offered 50-plus events over five days for learning and engaging with new ideas on campus.

Common Experience proposals should establish strong connections to a theme and events that cross academic boundaries, creating junctions for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.  Proposals should reflect collaborative potential as well.  The selected theme’s chair(s) and the long-standing Common Experience Committee will coordinate selection of the main speaker with the (separate) LBJ Distinguished Lecture Series Committee, and the Common Reading Program will coordinate selection of a book aligned with the theme.

Proposal Requirements
Common Experience selection committee will review all proposals submitted. Finalists will be asked to make presentations to the committee. Each proposal must meet the following requirements:

• welcome interdisciplinary analysis and conversation
• reflect high academic aspirations conducive to scholarly dialogue
• include collaborative links across the campus (Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and community engagement)
• engage students and community
• suggest possible contributors and participants for a Common Experience structured around the suggested theme
• recommend resources that potentially connect to the proposed theme
• provide a theme title that is concise and memorable (preferably one word)

In addition, these requirements apply to the proposal team:

• at least one member of the proposal team must be a faculty member at Texas State
• at least one member of the proposal team must have recent experience teaching University Seminar (US 1100) or have demonstrated experience working recently with first-year student populations

The author(s) responsible for the selected proposal will transition into the role(s) of chair(s) for the 2022-2023 theme, coordinating with the director and assistant director of the Common Experience for the planning year leading up to the theme's implementation and throughout the 2022-2023 academic year.

Deadline
Proposals are due on or before Tuesday, April 20, 2021, and should be submitted using the form linked below.  Finalists will present to the selection committee in May.  Decisions on proposals will be made and communicated no later than Monday, May 31.

Information and submission form

First Step: Guidance Meeting
Anyone considering a proposal is advised to meet first with the Common Experience leadership team for guidance.  Contact Twister Marquiss, director of the Common Experience, via email at twister@txstate.edu or (512) 245-3579.

TO:                             Current Students

FROM:                       Dr. John Fleming

                                    Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication

SUBJECT:                   KTSW-FM 89.9 is Now Accepting Applications for Summer/Fall 2021

 

KTSW-FM 89.9 is Texas State University’s official radio station broadcasting to San Marcos and the Interstate 35 corridor stretching from San Antonio to south Austin, all from our home in the Trinity building.  We are a student run, college indie-formatted station featuring music from all genres.  We want you to become a part of our passionate, dedicated, hard-working, award-winning team! 

 KTSW is accepting applications from students of all majors, experience levels, and backgrounds for a wide variety of volunteer positions including DJs, Music Journalists, Sports Announcers, Promotional Coordinators, Social Media Contributors, Account Executives, and more!  Working at KTSW is an excellent way to get involved both on and off campus while gaining real world experience. 

Some positions may require a regular or limited presence at the Trinity building.  Remote working options will be offered based on department and position and are subject to change based on pandemic conditions.     

There are two levels of positions available, which include executive directors and staff volunteers.  Prior experience is preferred for executive position applicants.  Executive directors are paid a monthly stipend based on work responsibilities.  

  Executive positions available: 

Station Manager 

Program Director 

Sports Director 

Multimedia Director 

Social Media Director 

Community Manager 

Web Development Director 

Volunteer staff positions available: 

DJs/On-Air Personalities  

Show Producers/Sound Techs 

Photographers/Videographers 

Audio Production (create promos, PSAs, etc. for on-air use) 

Music Journalists/Podcast Producers 

Sports Announcers/Sports Reporters/Sports Show Hosts 

Sales Account Executives 

Social Media/Web Content Contributors 

and many more! 

Requirements: 

To be on the KTSW staff, applicants must: 

• be enrolled at Texas State 
•  have a minimum cumulative, semester and Texas State GPA of 2.0 for volunteer staff positions, 2.25 for executive positions, 2.5 for station manager position  

  The deadline for executive applications is Friday, March 19, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. 

The deadline for volunteer applications is Friday, April 9, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. 

How to apply: 

All applicants must submit the online Application Form found on the KTSW webpage under the Family tab, and upload a current resume and Catsweb transcript (unofficial).  Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted!  A list of all jobs and descriptions is available in a document on the application page.  Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many positions as they intend to pursue seriously.  However, you may only work in three (3) positions during any given semester or term.  

  If you have any questions about the KTSW application process, please contact Mr. Juan Garcia via email at ktswmanager@txstate.edu.   

  We look forward to hearing from you!

TO:                             Faculty and Staff
FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.
                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations
SUBJECT:                  Engaging Research - Spring 2021
 

Welcome to the Spring 2021 issue of Engaging Research!  Please join us in celebrating Texas State research and researchers by reading and sharing these inspiring stories.

Faculty Research Spotlight

Laure Brimbal - School of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Centering Ethics in Research on Law Enforcement Interview Techniques

Jasmine Austin - Department of Communication Studies
Communication Professor Builds Community through Scholarship and Activism

Casey D. Nichols - Department of History
Archival Research Brings Stories of African American and Latinx History to Light

Research Program Feature

The Clinic for Autism Research, Evaluation and Support (CARES)
CARES Team Improves Educational Outcomes for ASD-Diagnosed Students Across Texas

Faculty Research Collaboration

NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: HSI Program
Building Culturally Diverse STEM Communities

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Interim University Registrar

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Martha Fraire-Cuellar as the interim University Registrar effective March 1, 2021.

Ms. Fraire-Cuellar earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M International University.  She began working as a student assistant in the Registrar's Office at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1996.  In 2002, Ms. Fraire-Cuellar started in an entry-level position in the Registrar's Office at Texas A&M International University.  She progressed quickly through the ranks and became the Associate Registrar there in 2004.

Ms. Fraire-Cuellar joined Texas State University in October 2006 as Associate Registrar.  Her professional leadership experience includes direct supervision in transfer advising, NCAA compliance certification, Veterans Affairs, graduation planning, student records, registration services, and class scheduling management.  She brings 17 years of experience as Associate Registrar to her new role.

Ms. Fraire-Cuellar has been active in teaching US 1100 classes since 2016.  Her professional experience and leadership have afforded her many opportunities to serve as a registrar consultant to other public universities in Texas.

Please join me in congratulating Ms. Fraire-Cuellar on her appointment as the interim University Registrar.

TO:                             Faculty, Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Search – Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations and Chief Research Officer 

 

We are excited to launch the search for Texas State University’s next Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations.  This individual will serve as the institution’s chief research officer (CRO) and will provide vision and leadership in support of progression toward National Research University Funding eligibility and R1 designation. 

We have engaged WittKieffer in this important search.  WittKieffer is a leading executive search firm with a strong focus on higher education, conducting more than 200 search assignments for colleges and universities each year.  They will work closely with the search committee to recruit a highly qualified and diverse candidate pool for the committee's consideration.   

Specific information about the search is available on the WittKieffer website.  Please review application details and the leadership profile that outlines the qualifications and qualities expected in the successful candidate, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing the next CRO. 

We strongly encourage you to submit nominations and recommendations to WittKieffer and the search committee via the email address below:
 TXSTCRO@wittkieffer.com

 Please include the institution or organization where the nominee is employed.  Contact information and comments are helpful but not required.

 Thank you for your help identifying prospective candidates for this important search.  We will provide updates on the search as it continues to progress.

TO:                        Faculty, Staff
                              Graduate Teaching Assistants/Doctoral Teaching Assistants
FROM:                  Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                              Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:             Further Information on Winter Storm Disruption and Completing Spring 2021 Semester

The major winter storm that impacted us this week and the power and water outages, hazardous weather, and unsafe conditions that resulted in its wake have been incredibly challenging for our Bobcat community and indeed for people across the state of Texas.  Many of our faculty, staff, and students are dealing with additional hardships that include busted pipes, water leakages, and related difficulties in their lives and that of their dear ones.  These travails add to the many, many adjustments members of our university community have incorporated in their professional and personal lives because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  I am very grateful and proud of the dedication of our faculty, staff, and graduate/doctoral assistants and their continued commitment to student success and to the continuity of education. 

As an earlier university wide message has indicated, all classes have been canceled through 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.  The cancelation recognizes attention needed to personal challenges and infrastructure as well as student and faculty re-engagement in teaching and learning, including the availability and access to the internet, facilities, computers and software, and course materials.  The cancelation in its scope also includes all organized class activities such as assignments, exams, lectures/discussions, and so forth.  While classes are canceled, assignment due dates, scheduled exams, lectures/discussions, and other activities are postponed to a later date. 

In accordance with guidance provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), faculty and other instructors of record are called upon to ensure missed contact hours on Monday, February 22, 2021 and Tuesday, February 23, 2021 are compensated by providing students with sufficient supplemental materials and assignments or scheduling make up class sessions.  Assignments, discussions, lectures, and other activities delivered flexibly and asynchronously online to the class may be especially useful in meeting THECB requirements.  To accommodate the many different schedules of students, I ask that compensatory measures be asynchronous in delivery/participation.  These measures may be implemented from Wednesday, February 24, 2021 onwards and should conclude by the end of the spring 2021 semester.  Please direct specific questions to your department chair, school director, and/or academic program coordinator.

Unquestionably, these are unprecedented and difficult times for our faculty, staff, and students.  I hope you can take time over the next few days to address the many pressing issues that richly deserve your undivided attention.  Thank you all. 

TO:                    Faculty, Staff
                          Graduate Teaching Assistants/Doctoral Teaching Assistants
FROM:               Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                           Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:          Further Information for Instructional Faculty Due to University Closure

 

Over the next few days, a major winter storm will continue to impact central Texas in a manner forecasted to be unlike any other inclement weather impacts in the past few decades.  During this period, I urge you to exercise extreme caution regarding travel and exposure to the elements.  As of Sunday afternoon, this inclement weather will result in university closure and cancellation of all classes over at least the next two days until 8:00 a.m. Wednesday to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff.  The university will continue to monitor weather and road conditions, and will announce the operational status of our campuses beyond Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. no later than Tuesday, February 16 at 5:00 p.m.  Please monitor TXST Weather Emergencies for updates and track all emergency notifications at Safety and Emergency Communications.  

As you are aware, the pandemic has disrupted many aspects of the academic enterprise including instruction.  Your hard work and dedication to student success has enabled students to persist in their programs of study and continue to make progress toward degree completion.  The winter storm and the consequent university closure will add to the pandemic disruption and also draw on instructor innovation.  Therefore, to ensure that continuity of education is sustained, I call on our dedicated faculty to deploy contingency plans that ensure the required contact hours and learning outcomes as well as regular and substantive student-faculty engagement are achieved.  Since the inclement weather could potentially disrupt access to the internet and device connectivity, adaptations for assignments and student engagement with course material may occur this week and/or throughout the semester.  When the university reopens, the planned instructional modalities of spring 2021 class sections continue, although augmentations may be necessary to make up missed class time and faculty/student engagement (e.g. additional online lectures and discussions, missed assignments delivered online, extended office hours).  

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to the success of our students in ensuring that contact hours and learning outcomes are met. 

TO:                            Faculty, Deans

FROM:                      Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                                  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:                 Search for Assistant Vice President for Curriculum and Academic Programs

 

I am pleased to announce a campus search for the Assistant Vice President for Curriculum and Academic Programs.  Applications are being accepted through the university’s Human Resources website.  For full consideration, applicants should upload the following documents to the job posting on the Human Resources Job Opportunities website: 1) Curriculum Vitae; 2) letter of intent that outlines how you meet the requirements and qualifications; and 3) contact information for three references.  Review of applications will begin March 8, 2021.  The position is open until filled, with appointment beginning in May 2021.

The Assistant Vice President for Curriculum and Academic Programs (AVPCAP) is responsible for managing a broad range of services in curriculum and commencement to include: developing new academic programs, performing research and data analytics, planning and implementing commencement ceremonies, collaboratively developing a strategic plan for curriculum and commencement functions within the context of the university’s mission, values, and strategic planning process.  The AVPCAP coordinates curriculum and commencement activities with campus leadership and works closely with faculty, department chairs/school directors, college deans and other offices on campus.  In addition, the AVPCAP is responsible for ensuring effective operations in the Office of Curriculum Services and oversees work carried out by its staff.  The AVPCAP will report to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.

 Please feel free to refer colleagues who may have an interest in applying for this position.  Review of applications will begin on March 8, 2021.

 Members of the search committee include: 

Dr. Michael O’Malley, Chair – Dean, College of Education
Dr. Bill Chittenden – Presidential Fellow, Associate Dean, McCoy College of Business Administration, and Associate Professor, Department of Finance and Economics
Dr. Lucy Harney – Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts, and Chair, Department of World Languages and Literatures
Dr. Michael Supancic – Assistant Professor, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology and Chair, University Curriculum Committee
Mr. Dana Willett – Assistant Vice President, Distance and Extended Learning
Ms. Sonya Gutierrez – Curriculum Coordinator, Office of Curriculum Services
Ms. Kristin McDaniel – Commencement Coordinator, Office of Curriculum Services

To make nominations or other inquiries, or if additional information is needed, please feel free to contact Dr. Michael O’Malley, Chair of the search committee, via email at mo20@txstate.edu.

TO:                              Current Students, Faculty, and Staff
FROM:                        Dr. Mary Brennan
                                    Dean, College of Liberal Arts
SUBJECT:                   Philosophy Dialogue Series - Spring 2021

 

Hosted by Texas State University's Department of Philosophy, this eight-week online series will feature prominent guest speakers.  Dialogues will be segmented into eight weekly themes:

• Sex, Love, and Intimacy
• Reasoning
• Isms
• Ethics and the Economy 
• Searching for Meaning in a Dynamic Universe
• Environment (In)justice
• Phenomenology
• Mending the Social Fabric

All events are free and open to the public.  Registration is required to attend each virtual event.

Week I: Sex, Love, and Intimacy 

Wednesday, February 10, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Women, the Law, & the Legal Profession
Workplace Ethics Students

5:30-6:30 p.m.
Spectral Blackface:  Fetishizing Monstrosity in the Ghost Tours of the American South
Whitney May (English)

Thursday, February 11, 2021
12:30 p.m.
What Can Nonmonogamy Teach Us about Healthy Relationships?
Guest Interlocutor: Christopher Hall (Alumni Philosophy Graduate)

 2:00 p.m.
Where Academic Freedom Ends: A Panel Discussion
Moderator: Vince Luizzi (Academic Freedom Committee Chair)
Panelists: Shannon Duffy (History), Catherine Hawkins (Social Work),
Ivan Marquez (Philosophy), and Amanda Soto (Music)

Sponsored by Faculty Senate, Philosophy Dialogue, and The Academic Freedom Committee of the Faculty Senate
Week II: Reasoning

Monday, February 15, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Bad Legal Reasoning in Camus’s The Stranger
Workplace Ethics Students

Tuesday, February 16, 2021
12:30 p.m. 
Reason Under Siege
Josh Grimes (Dialogue Student)

5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tau Talks: Semantic Compositionality
Tori Cotton (Phi Sigma Tau)

Thursday, February 18, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Post-Truth?  Misinformation and Willful Ignorance in the Internet Age
Michael Peters (Dialogue Student)

Friday, February 19, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Skeptical Theism and the Problem of Evil
Eric Gilbertson (Philosophy)

Week III: Isms
Monday, February 22, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Professionalism in Medicine: Part One
Workplace Ethics Students

Tuesday, February 23, 2021
12:30 p.m. 
Anti-Intellectualism, Populism, and Elitism
Evan Schmiedehaus (Dialogue Student)

5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tau Talks: Racism
James Attwood (Phi Sigma Tau)

Wednesday, February 24, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Professionalism in Medicine: Part Two
Workplace Ethics Students

5:30 p.m.
What is Paganism?
Pagan Student Fellowship

Thursday, February 25, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Sexism, Misogyny, and Women’s Work
Taylor Jackson (Dialogue Student)

Friday, February 26, 2021 
11:00 p.m.
The Political Pulse
Carrie Crisp (Philosophy)

Week IV: Ethics and the Economy
Monday, March 1, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Ethics for Leaders
Workplace Ethics Students

Tuesday, March 2, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Are Democracy and Capitalism Incompatible?
Isaac Horn (Dialogue Student)

5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tau Talks
Phi Sigma Tau

Wednesday, March 3, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Marketing the Medical Humanities
Workplace Ethics Students  

Thursday, March 4, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Are Economic Reparations Morally Required?
Dialogue Class

Week V: Searching for Meaning in a Dynamic Universe 

Monday, March 8, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Human Worth in Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych
Workplace Ethics Students

Tuesday, March 9, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Meaning and the Emergence of Consciousness in an Evolving Universe
Devin Granado (Dialogue Student) 

5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tau Talks
Phi Sigma Tau

Wednesday, March 10, 2021
2:00 p.m.
When Medical Professionals Treat Patients as Objects
Workplace Ethics Students

Thursday, March 11, 2021
12:30 p.m. 
Meaning, Purpose, and the Brain
Madison Rhodes (Dialogue Student)

Week VI: Environmental (In)justice

Monday, March 22, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Environmental Injustice and Health
Workplace Ethics Students 

Tuesday, March 23, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Applied Ethics and Environmental Concerns
Josef Mathews (Dialogue Student)

5:30-6:30 p.m.
The Horrors of Scripture
Brandon Grafius (Ecumenical Theological Seminary)

Wednesday, March 24, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Ethics for Environmentalists
Workplace Ethics Students

Thursday, March 25, 2021
11:00 a.m. 
Second Annual Lecture and Panel Discussion

"Philosophy of Technology/Pragmatism/Sustainability: Reflections Inspired by the Philosophy of Larry Hickman"

Followed by audience Q&A

Featuring:

Paul Thompson, Michigan State University, co-author of Sustainability: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford)

Ken Stikkers, Southern Illinois University 

Larry Hickman, Southern Illinois University 

Sponsored by the Annual Ethics Lecture Fund of the Philosophy DialogueEndowment

12:30 p.m.
Toward an Ethic of Sustainability
John Fulbright (Dialogue Student)

3:00 p.m.
States of Confinement and Ecological Violence: Incarceration and the Struggle for Environmental Justice

David Pellow (UC Santa Barbara)

Co-Sponsor with Sustainability Studies, Biology, Political Science, Geography, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Sociology

Friday, March 26, 2021
11:00 p.m.
The Political Pulse
Carrie Crisp (Philosophy) 

Week VII: Phenomenology

Tuesday, March 30, 2021
12:30 p.m.
The Phenomenology of Forms: Plato Revisited
Guest Interlocutor: James Attwood (Dialogue Graduate Student)

 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tau Talks
Phi Sigma Tau

Wednesday, March 31, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Phenomenology of Bluffing
Workplace Ethics Students

Thursday, April 1, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Foolin’Around: Humor and Play as Human Phenomena
Nathan Hagman & Nathan Vila (Dialogue Students) 

Week VIII: Mending the Social Fabric

Monday, April 5, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Trust
Workplace Ethics Students 

Tuesday, April 6, 2021
12:30 p.m.
Feminism and Care Ethics
Mia Ciaramitaro (Dialogue Student) 

5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tau Talks
Phi Sigma Tau 

Wednesday, April 7, 2021
2:00 p.m.
An International Business Ethics
Workplace Ethics Students 

5:30-6:30 p.m.
How Do You Say “Feminism” in Tibetan? Buddhist and Local Theories of Gender
Jue Liang (Denison College)

Thursday, April 8, 2021
12:30 p.m.

Deliberative Dialogue
Rhetoric and Resistance:  Beyond Slogans
Dialogue Class 

Talk of the Times and Tau Talks are open forums led by members of Phi Sigma Tau, the philosophy honor society.   

The Philosophy Dialogue Series Program Endowment supports the Philosophy Dialogue Series and its outreach activities at the San Marcos Public Library.  Co-sponsors of the Philosophy Dialogue Series are the American Democracy Project, College of Liberal Arts, Common Experience, Gina Weatherhead Dialogue Fund, Alliance, Step Up For State,  Sustainability Studies, Alkek Library, Humanities Texas, National Endowment for the Humanities, ΦΣΤ ( Phi Sigma Tau, the philosophy honor society), University Seminar, The New York Times, The Acorn: Philosophical Studies in Pacifism and Nonviolence, Honors College, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Student Affairs.

 If you require an accommodation due to a disability, contact the Department of Philosophy at (512) 245-2285.  Accommodation requests should be made at least 72 hours in advance of the program start time to ensure availability.

TO:                     Deans, Department Chairs/School Directors
                           Faculty
FROM:                Dr. Gene Bourgeois
                           Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
SUBJECT:          Multicultural Curriculum Transformation and Research Institute 2021 Participants

 

Last year the annual Multicultural Curriculum Transformation and Research Institute (MCTRI) sponsored by the Center for Diversity and Gender Studies was cancelled due to COVID-19.  This year, the decision has been made to allow last year’s applicants to complete the MCTRI to be held May 24-28, 2021 via Zoom.  No new call for applicants will occur until the 2022 MCTRI.

We appreciate your support and inquiries regarding the Institute.  Please direct all questions and concerns to the Center for Diversity and Gender Studies via email at cdgs@txstate.edu, or contact Dr. Gloria P. Martinez-Ramos at (512) 245-2361 or via email at gm21@txstate.edu.

TO:                              Current Undergraduate Students

                                    Faculty

                                    Deans

FROM:                        Dr. Heather Galloway

                                    Dean, Honors College

SUBJECT:                   The 15th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference and Thesis Forum

 

Event Dates: Wednesday, April 21 – Friday, April 23, 2021

The 15th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference will showcase undergraduate achievements from across campus.

We invite undergraduate students from all academic areas to submit abstracts for asynchronous presentations of creative and scholarly work.  Students may also request a spot for a synchronous presentation as space allows.

The deadline for abstract submissions is March 29, 2021.  Please register for the event online via the Honors College website.

All asynchronous presentations are eligible to win cash prizes, which include the $2,000 Scott Emerson Health Innovation Award specifically for innovative research with the potential to improve human health or healthcare.

Questions should be directed via email to urgresearch@txstate.edu or (512) 245-2266.

Sponsored by: the Honors College, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and the STEM Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program at Texas State University.

 

TO:                              Current Undergraduate Students

                                    Faculty

                                    Deans

FROM:                        Dr. Heather Galloway

                                    Dean, Honors College

SUBJECT:                   Undergraduate Research Fellowship Deadline Approaching

 

The Honors College and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the Spring 2021 Undergraduate Research Fellowship program at Texas State University.  This initiative, known as URF, may award funding to any enrolled undergraduate student involved in research.  Students may apply for funding up to $1,000.  The deadline to apply is Monday, February 8, 2021. 

We will offer an application workshop on January 22, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. and January 25, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.  Sign up to attend a free Undergraduate Research Fellowship Workshop.  

Further information about these research fellowships and the online application is found on the Undergraduate Research Fellowships website.  

The URF committee encourages undergraduates from all colleges and majors to apply.  Please note that URF recipients must expend funds by August 31, 2021 and present their projects on campus within one academic year of receiving the award.  In addition, recipients must be enrolled as undergraduates for the duration of the project.  Please direct any questions to Melanie Liddle via email at ugresearch@txstate.edu. 

This program is supported by contributions from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, private foundations, and colleges within the university.  

Texas State University, to the extent not in conflict with federal or state law, prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.  Texas State University is a tobacco-free campus.  

 

TO:                             Faculty, Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Denise M. Trauth Endowed Presidential Research Professorship

 

Texas State University is pleased to announce the establishment of the Denise M. Trauth Endowed Presidential Research Professorship made possible by the tremendous generosity of Dr. Miriam McCoy.  Dr. McCoy wishes to recognize the leadership and service to Texas State provided by Dr. Denise M. Trauth during her tenure as university President. 

This endowed presidential professorship will promote and encourage research and/or creative expression among Texas State tenured faculty members who hold the rank of associate or full professor. 

This professorship will provide an award to a faculty member engaged in compelling and transformational research or creative expression with a twofold purpose: 1) reward a faculty member for previous accomplishments and 2) allow the holder of the award to carry out a specific project. 

An endowed presidential professorship is a special academic appointment and the selection will be made by the President of the university following a university-wide competition.  The professorship will be for a three-year period. 

Investment income from the endowment will be used for one or more of the following purposes: to supplement the faculty member’s base salary, to support research or other professionally related expenses, and/or to provide other programmatic support.  The anticipated award is $75,000 total over the three-year period. 

Review criteria:

• The applicant must be a tenured faculty member who holds the rank of associate professor or professor who has a substantial and well-documented portfolio of research or creative expression productivity.
• The fellowship proposal will describe a specific project (research activity and/or development of a creative original work or expression) that can be substantially completed over a 3-year period.
• Defines a research project and/or creative activity that will contribute new knowledge and understanding to the area or research or scholarly endeavor.
• The proposed project will encourage and promote further research and scholarly activity in the field.

Application process and review:

IMPORTANT:
Required intent to submit notification by February 8, 2021:  Any faculty member intending to apply for this Professorship must email Lydia Longoria at Lydia.longoria@txstate.edu and indicate that you intend to submit an application package.

The full submission package is due by March 31, 2021 and all materials will be submitted through the Faculty Qualifications Portal.  Faculty who have submitted their intent to apply will receive instructions for submission. 

The submission packages will be reviewed by the presidential award for scholarly and creative activities committee.  The committee will forward their top three proposals along with a list of all proposals reviewed to the President who will select the recipient.

The following material will serve as the application package:

            curriculum vitae
            description of the project (not to exceed 5 pages)
            budget with justification (1 page)
            personal statement describing the significance of the proposed project (1 page)
            three letters of endorsement

The overall application package will receive a numerical score on the following rubric:

            1-3      high impact
            4-6      moderate impact
            7-9      low impact

TO:               Faculty, Deans

FROM:         Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                     Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:    Spring 2021 Annual Faculty Evaluation and Personnel Processes   

 

Dear colleagues,

As we embark on spring 2021 activities associated with annual faculty evaluation, tenure-track faculty evaluations, and other personnel processes,  I want to reiterate the university’s understanding of and compassion for the challenges faced by faculty over the last ten months.  Progress on all types of faculty responsibilities has been disrupted, delayed, or even halted.  As an immediate result of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, face to face courses were moved to remote or online delivery, research facilities were closed, human subjects research was suspended, and conferences, performances, and travel were canceled.  In conjunction with professional delays, many faculty members faced new demands at home due to school closures, family illness, remote work arrangements, and other factors.  Many of these disruptions continued into summer 2020 and fall 2020 and remain evident today.

Impact Statements
Faculty at Texas State and other universities are talking about the ways in which their careers have been impacted by COVID-19.  These conversations also recognize that faculty have been affected in disproportionate ways, which is often dependent on specific roles and expectations in teaching, research, scholarly, and creative activities, service, and family/life situations.  On January 14, 2020, Faculty Development offered a workshop, “Documenting the Impact of COVID-19 on Faculty Performance,” to provide guidance on best practices for faculty in documenting the adjustments, challenges, contributions, and innovations resulting from COVID-19 and their effects on faculty performance.  The workshop also explored ways to document invisible contributions as well as the importance of self-advocacy.  The recorded workshop is available for review.

On annual review reports and other personnel documents, faculty members may choose to write impact statements or provide information that contextualizes their workload, responsibilities, and professional performance during 2020.  Impact statements may be discrete narratives or integrated throughout annual review reports and other documents.  At their discretion, faculty members may also choose to discuss personal circumstances.  While discussion may center on the detrimental impact of COVID-19, faculty may also report teaching innovations, new research trajectories, and other professional benefits.  

To this end, I ask all participants in the annual faculty evaluation process and other personnel matters to fairly consider how the pandemic affected professional contributions, goals, and future plans. While impact statements do not change standards or expectations, they provide a valuable context for reviewing the annual and cumulative records of faculty members.  Like all personnel documents, discussions, recommendations, and decisions at Texas State, impact statements and related information should be treated as confidential.

Spring 2020 Student Evaluations of Teaching
Faculty members have the discretion to include or exclude spring 2020 results in their annual evaluation documents and other personnel documents, without prejudice.  If provided, faculty, chairs, directors, personnel committees, and other evaluators are encouraged to review spring 2020 student evaluation of teaching results for the purposes of professional growth.  This is an opportune time to reinforce a long-term and holistic assessment of teaching effectiveness via peer observations, student learning outcomes, artifacts of learning, philosophy of teaching statements, syllabi review, and other means.

Tenure Clock for Tenure-Track Faculty
The pandemic affected the productivity of tenure-track faculty who have a mandatory and limited probationary period before the tenure and promotion decision.  These circumstances may warrant a request to toll the tenure clock. See section 03.01.g of AA/PPS, 04.02.20, Tenure and Promotion Review for more information.  Tenure-track faculty are advised to consult with their chair, director, and others before making a request to toll the tenure clock. Faculty members whose mandatory tenure review occurs in FY22 (fall 2021) or later have until May 31, 2021 to make a request to toll the FY21 academic year (fall 2020 and spring 2021).  The request memo originates with the faculty member and requires approval by the chair/director, dean, and provost.  Contact Ms. Tammy Sharp, director, faculty and academic resources, for more information at (512) 245-2475 or via email at tsharp@txstate.edu.

Please join me in celebrating the resilience and courage of our faculty in making numerous and successful transitions in response to COVID-19.  Texas State University’s community spirit and shared values have never been more apparent and important.  Thank you.

Gene Bourgeois

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

TO:                             Deans, Department Chairs/School Directors

                                   Faculty

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Compliance with HB 2504 and Website

 

Per the Texas Legislature and House Bill (HB) 2504, undergraduate course syllabi and associated instructor vita must be posted to a university website by the seventh day after the first day of classes of each semester or other academic term during which the course is offered.  

Website Access & Launch
Detailed information on the legislation and Texas State University’s compliance plan is located on the HB 2504 website.

Please note that a link to the HB 2504 website is also available by clicking “Faculty & Staff” at the top right corner of the Texas State home page.

Due Date
All faculty vita and spring 2021 syllabi should be uploaded to Texas State’s HB 2504 website by Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

Information and Instructions on Uploading Vita and Syllabi

Go to the HB 2504 website and click “Information” on the menu bar and then click “Info for Faculty and Staff” for HB 2504 directions and detailed information.

To summarize:

1. All instructors will need to upload the course syllabus for each undergraduate course section he or she is teaching in the 2021 spring semester (instructors teaching lecture or seminar courses in the following formats: on-campus, off-campus, dual credit, education abroad, distance education, or extension).  Undergraduate course sections required for HB 2504 are pre-populated into the website.  These are updated every morning to reflect schedule changes.
2. Instructors with an existing vita on the HB 2504 website can use that version or upload a more recent vita.
3. Instructors who are new and/or do not have an existing vita on the website will need to upload a vita.
4. The following course types and instructors are excluded from compliance with HB 2504: independent study, directed readings, laboratory, clinical, internship, practicum, private lessons, discussion sections or others tailored specifically to individual students.  All graduate level courses and instructors are also excluded.
5. This information must be uploaded by Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

Permissions to Upload Vita and Syllabi
Instructors automatically have permission to upload their vita and syllabi by virtue of logging in with their NetID and password via the “Editor Access” link on the website.  New instructors will be able to upload their vita and syllabi once their hire paperwork is processed by Faculty and Academic Resources.  Course sections with “staff” or “TBD” listed as the instructor will not appear on the HB 2504 website until an instructor has been named.  The database and website re-populate every morning.  In the event the department uploads the materials for the faculty member, the faculty member must approve the documents before they are uploaded.

Student Perceptions of Instruction Update
Summarized results of the student perceptions of instruction (SPI) for each undergraduate course/instructor will be available and posted to the HB 2504 website approximately four to six weeks after the end of each semester or other academic term.

Finally, thank you for your assistance to ensure Texas State’s transparency, communication, and compliance with HB 2504.  Reports of our compliance activities are posted under “Information” on the HB 2504 website.

Please email hb2504@txstate.edu for any questions.

TO:                             Faculty, Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Policies Related to Ethics and Compliance

 

In an effort to consolidate email communications from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, this memo provides an overview of policies and other information related to ethics and compliance following university, state, and federal regulations and policies.  Faculty are encouraged to visit the websites linked below and to talk with their department chairs/school directors about specific questions regarding these policies and practices. 

Health and Safety Measures
As of January 2021, Texas State University has adopted twelve health and safety measures to protect the learning, living, and working environments on our campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Compliance with these measures is expected of all faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  The health and safety measures remain in effect until further notice.  Faculty with questions about classroom compliance with these measures may refer to the spring 2021 presentation on the Faculty Guide webpage.

University Ethics and Compliance Program
Texas State’s Ethics and Compliance Program is designed to coordinate and disseminate information that is necessary for the performance of faculty members’ responsibilities.  The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs has selected eight modules that all faculty shall review that are required by law or good practice.  These modules educate faculty about current university policy and procedures as well as the right thing to do in a variety of circumstances.  

There are several parts of the program that involve faculty: 

1. Ethics and Compliance Training: Faculty review eight compliance modules on the Office of Human Resources website.  The eight modules include:

Ethics and Compliance

Appropriate Use of Information Resources

Information Security

Copyright Protection

FERPA

Conflicts of Interest

Drug-Free and Weapon-Free Workplace

Reporting Abuse of Minors 

2. EEO and Title IX Training: All faculty must complete an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Title IX training, which is required every two years to meet the requirement mandated by the State of Texas.  The EEO workshops are online via the SAP Self Service Portal, found under the “General Business Apps” section, “Training and Development” tab, and the “Employee Information and Legal Issues” course catalog section.  All faculty and staff, without regard to their supervisory status, are required to complete the online EEO and Title IX course every two years and will receive an email reminder when their training is due to be updated.   

3. Cybersecurity Training: To combat the growing threat of cyberattacks, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3834 in the 2019 legislative session, which requires certain state and local government employees to complete a cybersecurity training program certified by the state’s Department of Information Resources (DIR).  All faculty must complete the Cybersecurity Training available in the “Training and Development” tab in SAP.  The course is listed in the “Employee Information and Legal Issues” course catalog section.  

4. Clery Act and Campus Security Authorities: The Clery Act is a federal law that requires the institution to provide accurate and timely information about crime and campus safety to the university community as well as prospective students and their families.  The act requires the identification of individuals and organizations that meet the definition of a campus security authority (CSA).  While many faculty members are not designated as CSAs, please see the list of CSAs provided by the University Police Department, which includes advisors to student organizations.  CSAs must complete the CSA Clery Training Course that is available in the “Training and Development” tab in SAP.  The course is listed in the “Personal Effectiveness” course catalog section.  

Dual/Outside Employment
UPPS 04.04.06, Outside Employment and Activities, defines outside employment as any compensated employment, consulting, or service performed by the employee outside of the employee’s employment relationship with Texas State for the direct or indirect benefit of the employee or the organization serviced.  Outside activities that involve non-compensated services are not always reported.  However, there are special provisions for holding public office.  Employment or activities must not interfere or create a conflict of interest with the faculty member’s duties and responsibilities at Texas State.  

Annual approval is required for 1) any outside employment or consulting prior to beginning such outside employment or consulting; 2) any employment with another state agency, community college, or school district (regardless of the faculty member’s FTE at Texas State);  3) any faculty member holding public office (elected or appointed to serve for a federal, state, or local government entity including school districts, cities, and towns); or 4) non-compensated activities where the employee or supervisor believes there may be a conflict of interest or interference with the employee’s university duties and responsibilities, or if the outside activities will take place during or interfere with the employee’s normally scheduled work hours.

If the outside employment is with another State of Texas entity, Texas law requires that all state employees must inform their state agencies or institutions of higher education before accepting an additional employment with another agency or institution.  See section 03.02 of UPPS 04.04.06. 

Annual reporting is required.  Thus, outside employment approved from a prior academic year must be reported for the current year if the employment is ongoing.  The current reporting academic year is 9/1/20 – 8/31/21.  Faculty are required to report any changes that may occur during the academic year (e.g., additional outside employment throughout the year or change in outside employment workload).

Note: Honorariums need not be reported. 

Reporting of dual and outside employment is done electronically via the SAP Self Service Portal, found under the “Self-Report” tab.

Online Reporting of Relatives Working at Texas State University
An online form is available for employees to report certain relatives also working at Texas State University.  With centralized records, Human Resources and Faculty and Academic Resources will be able to better manage potential conflicts and provide accurate reports as required by state law and The Texas State University System Regents’ Rules and Regulations.  The governing policy is UPPS 04.04.07, Nepotism and Related Employment.  

Note: If you have already reported relatives working at Texas State and there are no changes, no action is required.  After your initial certification, you must report any changes as they occur. 

If needed, please take action by February 15, 2021.  Reporting of dual and outside employment is done electronically via the SAP Self Service Portal, found under the “Self-Report” tab.  Instructions for Self-Reporting of Relatives at Texas State are available.  The records will be reviewed by Human Resources or Faculty and Academic Resources against the organizational structure in SAP.  If there is a potential conflict, Human Resources or Faculty and Academic Resources staff will contact the department head for resolution.  Questions may be directed to the Office of Faculty and Academic Resources at (512) 245-3628.

Thank you for your commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

TO:                             Faculty

                                   Deans

FROM:                       Dr. Walter Horton, Jr.

                                   Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:                   Announcing Limited Submission - NSF Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions (ADVANCE)—IT Track

 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Limited Submission - NSF Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions (ADVANCE)—IT Track competition.  Click on the View competition link to view more information and to submit your letter of intent (LOI).

• Internal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, January 27, 2021
• Funding Organization's Deadline: Thursday, April 22, 2021
• Award Cycle: 2021
• Description: The NSF ADVANCE program contributes to the National Science Foundation's goal of a more diverse and capable science and engineering workforce.  The NSF ADVANCE program provides grants to enhance the systemic factors that support equity and inclusion and to mitigate the systemic factors that create inequities in the academic profession and workplaces.

This competition is only for the Institutional Transformation (IT) track of the ADVANCE program, which requires a preliminary proposal by April 22, 2021.  The IT track supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative systemic change strategies within a single non-profit Institution of Higher Education (IHE) with the intention that these innovative strategies could be adaptable by other IHEs and organizations.  The IT project must include a rigorous research study related to the ADVANCE project that contributes to knowledge about gender equity and systemic change in STEM academics.  The study may be based in the methods and theories from the social, behavioral, learning, or economic sciences.  Only IHEs that submit an IT-Preliminary proposal can submit a full IT proposal.

Please see the full NSF solicitation for details on the IT track and this funding opportunity.

As NSF limits submissions for this opportunity to one IT track proposal, we will hold an internal competition to determine which proposal is allowed to go forward.

If you are interested in submitting an LOI, please upload the following information as a single PDF document (single-spaced, 10 pt. or higher font, one-inch margins) to our online portal through the View competition link by Wednesday, January 27 at 5:00 p.m.

• 1. A cover page with the following information:
     1. title of opportunity and application type if applicable (ie. NSF MRI-acquisition proposal, USDA HSI ED-cooperative proposal etc.)
     2. title of proposed project
     3. a list of names, departments, and contact information for all identified investigators
     4. an estimated total amount of funding request
     5. a description of the amounts and sources of cost share (only if cost share is required)

• 2. A two-page narrative with the following information:
     1. a one-page description of the proposed project and how it meets the solicitation requirements
     2. a half page describing how this project aligns with department, college, University and/or research strategic plans
     3. a half page broader impact statement

• 3. A two-page vita, for each investigator on the project, highlighting the investigator’s research accomplishments.  Teaching and service accomplishments should only be included if they are relevant to the proposed project.

For questions about the opportunity itself, please contact your research coordinator or research@txstate.edu. 

For technical questions about submitting to our online system, please contact researchsystems@txstate.edu.

TO:                             Faculty and Staff

FROM:                       Dr. Vedaraman Sriraman

                                   Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Award for Excellence in Online Teaching: Virtual Reception and Showcase

 

Please join us on Thursday, February 25, 2021, from noon to 1:00 p.m., for a Virtual Award Showcase via Zoom, as we congratulate the winners of Texas State University’s eighth annual Award for Excellence in Online Teaching and learn what makes their online courses successful. 

The recipients, Dr. Injeong Jo, Department of Geography, Dr. Laura Ellis-Lai, Department of English, and Ms. Valerie Gomez, School of Social Work, will showcase their winning courses and discuss the elements that contribute to the courses’ unique character and effectiveness. 

Reservations are required for this event.  Please make a reservation no later than February 23, 2021.  A Zoom link to the event will be provided the day before the event. 

This event is hosted by the Office of Distance and Extended Learning.  For more information, or if you require accommodations to this virtual event, please contact Ms. Dana Ortiz, Administrative Assistant III, at (512) 245-7965 or via email at do15@txstate.edu.  

More information about the award is available on the Award for Excellence in Online Teaching website.

TO:                              Faculty

                                    Staff

                                    Graduate Teaching Assistants/Doctoral Teaching Assistants

                                    Graduate Instructional Assistants/Doctoral Instructional Assistants

FROM:                        Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Policies Related to Teaching and Instruction

 

In an effort to consolidate email communications from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, this memo provides an overview of policies and information related to teaching responsibilities, student records, and classroom materials.  Faculty are encouraged to visit the websites linked below and to talk with their department chairs/school directors about specific questions regarding these policies and practices. 

Inadvertent Release of Student Education Records: Updated with Secure Communication Instructions
This is a reminder of your obligation to guard against the inadvertent release of student education records as stipulated in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  UPPS 01.04.31, Access to Student Records Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, addresses this law and faculty and staff obligations.   

A few examples of inadvertent releases of student education records are emailing student grades, grade point averages, test scores or posting grades by student ID numbers, social security numbers, or other numbers that make student identities easily traceable.  These actions violate federal law and university policy.  A list of frequently asked questions is available for additional information.  

Please review File and Data Sending and Receiving information standards as well as best practices for Data Classification (confidential, sensitive, or public) from the division of Information Technology.  To securely send and receive confidential student education records per FERPA regulations, use the university’s secure File Transfer system.

Faculty and Staff may login the Bobcat Family Portal to verify a student has granted someone access to their record, which includes detailed login instructions. 

Faculty-Authored Teaching Material
AA/PPS 02.03.30, Faculty-Authored Teaching Material, requires approval to prescribe any textbook, notebook, manual, or other materials written or prepared by a member of the Texas State University faculty for which a charge is required.  The approval process, which is described in the policy, involves the faculty member prescribing the course material, department chair/school director, dean, and provost.  The deadlines for the submission of requests for materials to be used are: July 1 (fall semester), November 1 (spring semester), and April 1 (summer sessions).

TO:                              Direct Reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

                                    Department Chairs/School Directors

FROM:                        Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy

 

Please make sure all supervisors in your area have reviewed UPPS 04.04.16, Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy.  This policy sets forth the overtime and compensatory time policy for all university employees and complies with applicable federal, state, and university requirements. 

This university policy meets the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a federal statute that establishes, among other things, the federal minimum wage and required overtime compensation for certain employees at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek.  Certain employee groups are exempt from the overtime provision while other employee groups earn overtime compensation.  Exempt employees are unclassified, which means there is no pay plan maximum for their job titles.  Non-exempt employees are classified, which means there is a pay plan minimum and maximum for their job titles.  If supervisors would like to confirm the exempt or non-exempt status of a position, they may inquire with the Office of Human Resources or the Office of Faculty and Academic Resources.  The University Pay Plan also provides information.  

The division of Academic Affairs does not have a separate written policy on overtime and compensatory time for exempt and non-exempt employees earning state comp time and FLSA time (time earned at the rate of one and one-half hours for one hour). 

However as stated in Section 02.05, d. and e., of the above UPPS:

d.  All state compensatory time off is at the discretion of the supervisor within the state compensatory time off policy.  Both the employee and the supervisor must agree on any time taken.

e. No more than 24 consecutive hours of state compensatory time may be used at any one time without approval from the divisional vice president.  This excludes energy conservation days.

 Exempt employees in the division of Academic Affairs shall take state compensatory time as approved by individual supervisors and shall not take more than 24 consecutive hours of state compensatory time without approval from the provost.  This excludes energy conservation day.

 All supervisors are responsible for ensuring that exempt and non-exempt employees understand and follow university policies and procedures for the timely recording of leave, overtime, and other exceptions to their normal work schedules.  Please note recent updates in section 16 of UPPS 04.04.30, University Leave Policy, regarding the timeline by which employees must enter time and the role of departmental time administrators.

TO:                             Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Teaching Assistants

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                  Starting Spring 2021 Semester: First Two Weeks of the Semester, COVID-19 Testing, Students and Residence Hall Students, Faculty Guide, and Course Syllabi 

 

First Two Weeks of Spring 2021
To gradually increase campus density, faculty teaching face-to-face classes are encouraged to use remote teaching, as appropriate, as much as possible during the first two weeks of the spring 2021 semester. Faculty are responsible for communicating any changes to students in their face-to-face classes as soon as possible.  

Free COVID-19 Testing
In a December 7, 2020 email, faculty were asked to plan to get a COVID-19 test one week prior to returning to our campuses.  A similar email was sent to staff.  Testing is part of the university’s comprehensive approach to maintaining a healthy and safe environment.  Those who have not been tested should schedule a free test at the Curative kiosk on the San Marcos Campus or at a Curative site near you.  Any person testing positive should immediately isolate, notify their supervisor, and notify Bobcat Trace for instructions on isolation and contact tracing.  

Students and Residence Hall Students
On December 7, 2020 and January 4, 2021, Texas State students were sent an email reminding them that they are expected to get tested before coming to campuses for the spring semester.  Students living in and employees working in on-campus housing are required to get a COVID-19 test within a week before the start of classes.  Proof of a negative test must be submitted when students return to the residence halls.   

While the resident hall requirement will primarily affect freshman students, faculty may continue to have other students who require flexible instruction due to isolation or quarantine. See recent recommendations from the Continuity of Education Work Group on handling students in isolation or quarantine (page 15).  

Faculty Guide
In preparation for spring 2021, my office created a comprehensive guide with updates on the pandemic work groups’ recommendations, health and safety measures, and plans and strategies for the classroom and instructional activities.  Faculty, deans, chairs/directors, and program coordinators are asked to review and use the guide for planning instruction, responding to questions, and setting expectations.  The spring 2021 guide may be downloaded from the Faculty Guide webpage on the Office of the Provost’s website.   

Spring 2021 Course Syllabi
On December 18, 2020, my office provided information on course syllabi for the spring 2021 semester. The email is attached [below] for your convenience.  

During the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic, I continue to be inspired by the dedication of our faculty in successfully guiding students toward academic success and degree progression.  I greatly appreciate your innovation and flexibility as Texas State continues to navigate this public health challenge.  As always, please stay abreast of the university’s COVID-19 efforts by visiting Texas State’s Roadmap on a regular basis.  Thank you and best wishes for the new year.

TO:                             Academic Affairs Full-Time Staff Members

FROM:                       Dr. Gene Bourgeois

                                   Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT:                   Staff Educational Development Leave – Fall 2021

 

The Staff Educational Development Leave Program provides an opportunity for one full-time staff member per semester in each division of the university to receive special support for degree work.  Applications for participation for the fall 2021 semester are now being accepted.  This is a reminder that after approval by the appropriate supervisor(s), the final date to receive applications in my office is March 1, 2021.  A decision will be made by March 12, 2021.

Please refer to UPPS 04.04.35, Professional Development and Educational Opportunities for details regarding eligibility criteria, program requirements, and the application procedure.  The Application for Staff Educational Development Leave is found in UPPS 04.04.35.

Please contact Ms. Stacey Rodriguez, Executive Assistant, in my office at (512) 245-2791 if you have any questions.

Thank you