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Subject:
Scholarship and Beyond...
Submitter:
Theresa L Martin, Administrative Assistant, Center for Teaching and Learning
Message:
A group is working to create a significant series of events this spring that highlight student research, performance, and faculty scholarship at Augsburg College. Built around the foundation of the Student Research Poster Session and moving forward to include faculty scholarship, multidisciplinary performances and the arts, we will have the last word (zyzzogeton) of the academic year from April 19-22. Note those dates.
If you would like to be involved in planning of this event, please contact Diane Pike at pike@augsburg.edu OR show up in Dixie Shafer's office on Wednesday Feb 8 at 11 a.m. You are welcome.
Subject:
Spring Term Academic ALERT reminder
Submitter:
Sheila Anderson, Associate Director of Academic Advising, Academic Advising
Message:
The Academic Alert system is up and running for the term. Thanks to each of you who submitted Academic ALERT messages in previous terms. We hope you will continue to use ALERT. Instructors in both Day and Weekend College are encouraged to send an ALERT message to students when problem areas are identified. Problem areas might include, but are not limited to: lack of attendance, unprepared for class, poor performance on test and assignments, and or lack of participation. ALERT is not meant to replace face to face interaction with students. I'm sure each of you addresses academic issues with students as they arise. The ALERT message can however be used in addition to speaking with the student and/or when you have been unable to reach them via phone or e-mail. The electronic ALERT message replaces the paper format of the Mid-Term Progress Report. We hope that by reporting concerns early, students will have more opportunity to correct the situation and selvage the course.
Now is the perfect time to report students who have never attended your course(s). This gives us an opportunity to contact students and process withdrawal paperwork as needed.
The Academic ALERT message is generated in Augnet. When logged into Augnet, look for the link to "Academic Alert." It's located in the buff colored box under Administrative Tasks. New this term, you must enter the studentâs Augsburg User ID instead of the student ID number. A link to the Augsburg Directory is conveniently located on the ALERT submission page. Please contact me (andersos or X1777) if you have difficulty using ALERT or don't have this link listed under Administrative Tasks.
Subject:
Should I Take The Current or the Revised GRE?
Submitter:
Dixie Shafer, Director, Office for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity
Message:
By October 1, 2006 the GRE will change significantly (see today's A-mail detailing changes).
It's natural to ask if you should take the test before October 1 or after. Things to consider while making this decision.
1. You can go to the gre.org web site, download the PowerPrep software, take a Practice Exam and receive instantaneouly scores on your Verbal and Quantitative Sections, the two sections that are changing the most. Consider your score. If it's strong take the test now. If not, perhaps you might wait for the new administration.
2. Read the description of the changes and see if it sounds like you might do better on one test or the other. For example, the Current Verbal Reasoning Section requires a strong vocabulary. You might do better on the Revised GRE because the emphasis will be more on Reading Comprehension or vocabulary in context.
3. Don't rush to take the Current Exam unless you know your scores will be strong (see #1). All scores from the past 5 years are reported to colleges.
4. Don't decide simply to take the shorter exam (the Current GRE), but the one that you will post the highest score.
5. E-mail shafer@augsburg.edu with additional questions.
Subject:
U of M McNair Program Seeks Student Researchers
Submitter:
Dixie Shafer, Director, Office for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity
Message:
The McNair Scholars Program at the University of Minnesota prepares students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.
Through the McNair Summer Research Program, students from all disciplines are paired with seasoned faculty mentors for a ten-week research project. In addition to research, students receive GRE Prep, assistance selecting and applying to graduate programs, practice making research presentations, a chance to participate in social and cultural activities and further understanding of the culture of graduate school. Scholars are given a significant research stipend and receive free room and board.
This program has been in operation for over 15 years and has sent a large majority of participants on to graduate programs across the country.
To be eligible the students must meet the following criteria:
1. First-generation college students who are low-income
OR
Students from groups underrepresented in higher education (American Indian, Alaskan Native, African American, Chicano or Latino)
2. U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
3. Full-time Augsburg students who will have completed sophomore year of study but will not graduate before May 2006
4. Students planning on attending graduate school (professional schools like law and medicine are excluded)
5. Minimum GPA of 2.5
Application Deadline: March 1
For additional information and an application, contact Dixie at shafer@augsburg.edu
Subject:
Dramatic Changes to the GRE in October 2006
Submitter:
Dixie Shafer, Director, Office for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity
Message:
As stated at the GRE Web Site:
The GRE Program will introduce a revised GRE General Test in October 2006 that is designed to:
* Increase test validity
* Provide faculty with better information regarding applicants' performance
* Address security concerns
* Increase worldwide access to the test
* Make better use of advances in technology and psychometric design
CHANGES INCLUDE:
Verbal Reasoning
* Greater emphasis on higher cognitive skills and less dependence on vocabulary
* More text-based materials, such as reading passages
* A broader selection of reading passages
* Emphasis on skills related to graduate work, such as complex reasoning
* Expansion of computer-enabled tasks (e.g., clicking on a sentence in a passage to highlight it)
* Two 40-minute sections rather than one 30-minute section
Quantitative Reasoning
* Quantitative reasoning skills that are closer to skills generally used in graduate school
* Proportion of questions involving real-life scenarios and data interpretation increased
* Proportion of Geometry questions decreased
* Better use of technology (e.g., on-screen calculator)
* Two 40-minute sections rather than one 45-minute section
Analytical Writing
* New, more focused prompts that reduce the possibility of reliance on memorized materials
* The Issue and Argument tasks are each 30 minutes in length
* Essay responses will be made available to designated score recipients
Changes in the Verbal and Quantitative Score Scales
* The GRE Board has approved new score scales for the Verbal and Quantitative sections. The GRE Program anticipates that the new score scale range will be 110 to 150, in 1-point increments. Final specification of the score scale will be determined based on data from the initial revised General Test administrations in October 2006.
* A concordance table will be available in early January 2007 to assist score users in determining the relationship between old and new Verbal and Quantitative scores.
* The score scale for the Analytical Writing section will continue to be 0 to 6, in half-point increments.
Changes in Test Delivery
* The GRE General Test will be administered on fixed administration dates approximately 30 times per year.
Subject:
Nobel Peace Laureate to Speak
Submitter:
Orval Gingerich, Associate Dean for International Programs, International Programs
Message:
Nobel Peace Laureate (2004), Dr. Wangari Maathai, will be the keynote speaker at the 18th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum on Friday afternoon, March 10th. Other speakers include Christine Todd Whitman (former governor of New Jersey and chief of the EPA) and Michael Osterhom (internationally known expert on bio-terrorism and pandemic outbreaks). A full schedule of speakers and registration is available on the forum web site: http://peaceprizeforum.luther.edu/
A $25 registration fee will cover all expenses (bus, meals, lodging) at the forum, hosted by Luther College, Decorah, IA, March 10-11. Augsburg College is a co-sponsor of the event. A bus to and from Luther College will be available for all registered Augsburg College faculty, staff and students. Register on the website for the forum:
http://peaceprizeforum.luther.edu/
Call Event Services at extension x1104 with your questions.
Subject:
Theater Event
Submitter:
Theresa L Martin, Administrative Assistant, Center for Teaching and Learning
Message:
Free tickets for faculty and staff! Reserve your ticket for "The Illusion" with Terry Martin x1229. The Center for Teaching and Learning is sponsoring a night out at the theater on Feb. 10th at 7:00. Join us after the performance for cheescake and beverages as well as a chat with the performers.
Subject:
GRE PREP STARTS NEXT WEEK
Submitter:
Dixie Shafer, Director, Office for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity
Message:
Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
Don't pay Kaplan $1200 when you can take GRE PREP on campus for $25.00.
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) will be hosting a six-week GRE prep course this semester, beginning Wednesday, February 15.
Course meets from 6 to 8 p.m. (9 p.m. first evening) on the following Wednesdays: February 15 and 22, March 1, 8 and 29 and April 5
Session One: How to Get Your Best Score on the GRE, Sentence Completion and Analogy
Session Two: Antonym and Reading Comprehension
Session Three: Analytical Writing: Making an Argument
Session Four: Analytical Writing: Critiquing an Argument
Session Five: Quantitative Reasoning
Session Six: Quantitative Reasoning
INSTRUCTORS
Director of URGO Dixie Shafer, English Professor and Department Chair Kathy Swanson and Math Professor Blake Boursaw
COST
$25.00 (includes prep materials)
Bring check made out to Augsburg or cash to first session.
REGISTRATION
E-mail shafer@augsburg.edu
Staff and alums also welcome.
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