Monday Minutes

Here are your Monday Minutes for the week of September 8, 2020

From the Department Head 

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff, 

Can you believe that our Fall 2020 semester is 20% complete? We are still able to hold face to face classes due to your care for the community- we all have a part in keeping each other safe by wearing masks, social distancing, and cleaning our individual areas with our Clean Cat Kits. Keep it up, Bobcats! 

My message this week is simple. Please keep those affected by the wildfires in the western United States and elsewhere in your thoughts and consider donating to the Red Cross Wildfire Relief fund. Please also keep our emergency responders and their families in your thoughts. Be safe!

Take good care,

Dr. Ann Ewbank

Micki's Desk

• The deadline for those who will be graduating at the end of this Fall Semester has now past.  If you need to submit a Graduation Applications please do so immediately. 

• I’m happy to report all but two students have confirmed their fall Bill.  Thank you! 

• NO WRONG DOOR – Please know that there is no wrong door at MSU if you need information.  As your Grad Coordinator in the Department of Education, know that you can come to me for any questions regarding your program [email protected] or phone 406-994-6786.  I’m currently working from home but will quickly return your email message or phone message.  You may also contact your advisor for questions and directions.  There is No Wrong Door if you come knocking at MSU. We are here to help! 

• If you are submitting Graduate School forms please send them directly to [email protected] and I will put them in DocuSign to gather signatures and submit the form.

News and Announcements

• The Department of Education is sponsoring a free, online Reading Clinic for children in grades 5-8 from 10/5-11/9. There is limited space available.  Flyer to share with interested parents being sent via separate email. 

• This semester, the Graduate School will allow video conferencing for comprehensive exams, Master’s and Dissertation defenses. No prior authorization is needed. Micki MacGregor can assist with public notices for online defenses. 

• All Monday Minutes are archived and available for your reference.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

• Congratulations to Christine Stanton, Brad Hall, and Veronica Willeto DeCrane for their recent publication of "Keep it Sacred!": Indigenous Youth-Led Filmmaking to Advance Critical Race Media Literacy in the International Journal of Multicultural Education! 

• Congratulations to Alex Aylward and Jody Bartz for their VPREDGE award which will examine the effects and experiences of COVID-19 on school-age students with disabilities, their families and their teachers. 

• Congratulations to Jayne Downey and the Center for Research on Rural Education for serving as the new home for Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), a program that originated in Sweden designed to address risk and protective factors associated with adolescent suicide.  Last year 29 Montana schools participated in the program and Dr. Downey will spearhead its continuation. 

• Congratulations to Lauren Davis who received an additional year of NIH funding for her study on trauma-informed teaching/learning and mindfulness practices! 

• Don’t hide your light under a bushel! Please send accomplishments and kudos to [email protected].

Professional Development & Engagement Opportunities

• Thank you to those who attended first webinar in the MSU library media certificate program webinar series: Adapting School Librarianship in a Pandemic. You can find the recording of the webinar here. Dr. Deborah Rinio’s presentation and Nora Martin’s presentation are both available online, and include all the links referenced during the webinar. If you wish to continue the conversation, please join us on Slack on the #lmc-chat channel. If you are not familiar with Slack, here is a video on how to use it. Please register for the October 6th webinar:  Open Access Health Resources for Teachers, Kids, and Teens, presented by Mary Anne Hansen. 

• Did you know there are over 30 Littles in Southwest Montana who are waiting to be matched to their perfect "Big" (mentor)? That’s why this September, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Big Sky Country's goal is to recruit 30 Bigs in 30 days! If you have ever considered becoming a mentor to a child or are just looking for a way to give back to your community - what are you waiting for? Now more than ever, kids need stability and ways to engage and connect during these uncertain times. All that is required of you is a one-year commitment of 1-2 hours a week. For more information on becoming a Big, visit our website or reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram!" 

• The Journal of Research in Rural Education calls for papers on “Black Lives Matter and Rural Education.” The deadline for abstracts (250 words) is September 28, 2020. Direct questions and submissions to Ezekiel Joubert. Black matters are rural matters. Please also see the attached call from guest editors, Dr. Maria Cody and Dr. Nidza Marichal for a special issue of Languages called "Multilingualism in Rural Education."  Abstract submission deadline is November 1, 2020. 

• AERA Rural Education SIG’s Graduate Student Fellowship and Research Grant Program invites applications due September 15, 2020. Two $500 dissertation research grants are available. Please see the attached call for more information and encourage graduate students to apply!  

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources

• Don’t forget to register to vote for the upcoming general election! Election Day is a university holiday. Civic participation is the foundation of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Monday Minutes
9/8/2020