The Reporter, December 2013

The Reporter is a publication produced by Western Carolina University featuring news, events, and campus community updates for faculty and staff. The publication began in August of 1970 and continues digitally today. Click on the link in the “Related Materials” field to access recent issues.SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | TOP STORIES Annual holiday video greeting is unveiled Western Carolina University has shared its third annual holiday video greeting card, titled “Moments to Remember” and hosted at the website seasonsgreetings2013.wcu.edu. Created by WCU’s Oce of Communications and Public Relations, this year’s greeting card is patterned after the popular “Good Morning America” segment “Your Three Words,” in which viewers submit videos expressing themselves in three words. The concept for the video is to share highlights – both personal and university in scope – from 2013 while also looking toward the year ahead and the celebration of the 125th anniversary of WCU’s founding, said sta writer and editor Teresa Killian Tate, who proposed the idea for this year’s holiday greeting. The video was shot and edited by sta videographer Joseph Hader, who also enlisted the assistance of students from WCU’s Film and Television Production Program. The website housing the video was designed by Zack Keys of the Office of Creative Services. WCU highlights from 2013 featured in the video include: Film program gets camera from Sony WCU dedicates new building to well-being of WNC Pride of the Mountains to participate in Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Grant supports forensic science research WCU fall enrollment tops 10,000, sets record Budget includes funding for expansion of engineering program to Biltmore Park Cherokee language program director researches at Yale WCU’s new 6.7-mile trail system now open to public WCU prepares to celebrate 125th anniversary of founding For more information, visit the video greeting at seasonsgreetings2013.wcu.edu. CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR 5/29/2017 Ancient Forms, Modern Minds 5/29/2017 Print Plus One: Beyond LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT © 2013 Western Carolina University. SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | ACHIEVEMENTS Belt and Lefler examine issues stemming from anthropological research involving Native peoples at national conference Roseanna Belt, director of the Cherokee Center, and Lisa Leer, director of WCU’s Culturally Based Native Health Programs, participated in the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association held recently in Chicago. Leer organized a two-panel session for the national meeting titled “Research and Partnership: Old and New Lessons for Anthropologists from Native America.” The session included anthropologists and Native peoples in examining what has been done in the past and what needs to be done better in the future to provide a lasting, collaborative relationship, said Leer. Belt gave a presentation on her experiences as a tribal member working with researchers. “These sessions were needed to discuss important issues facing researchers working in Indian country,” said Leer. “American anthropology was developed in large part from studies in Indian country. From Frans Boas and Elsie Clews Parsons, to the contemporary Raymond D. Fogelson and Margaret Bender, we have experienced years of trust, mistrust and navigation of partnership in the homes and communities of Native peoples. We have extracted culture, language and artifacts and conducted studies of almost everything one can study regarding the human body and experience. As anthros in Indian country, we have been cussed, heralded, despised, loved and evaluated.” Papers for the sessions were presented by professionals in the eld from linguistics, archaeology, ethnohistory, physical anthropology, ethnobotany and various sub-fields of socio-cultural anthropology. “No other discipline has dealt with the legacy of past missteps and grievances as anthropologists who work among this nation’s First Peoples,” said Leer. “Today, however, as most of these communities face tremendous challenges in health, education and economic disparities, as well as revitalization of language and culture, those of us who do work with Native communities feel privileged to be asked to assist because of skills our discipline provides. We have opportunities to work smarter and partner in our research as never before by listening and learning from our partners.” Lefler said the sessions were well attended and participants expressed interest in planning future sessions. CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR 5/29/2017 Ancient Forms, Modern Minds 5/29/2017 Print Plus One: Beyond the Glass Matrix 5/29/2017 Water Portraits: Barbara Tyroler 6/9/2017 Musical Variety Show 'Livin' the Dream' 6/10/2017 Musical Variety Show 'Livin' the Dream' LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT © 2013 Western Carolina University. SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | Western Carolina University student Tomas Aponte (right) assists Aquilla Greene during a session to help participants master the basics of email, social media and other tools. NOTEWORTHY NEWS Communication students host public outreach presentations Student teams from a course taught by Jim Manning, associate professor of communication, recently oered public outreach presentations at the Jackson County Senior Center and Cullowhee Valley School. One presentation focused on the basics of email, social media, online shopping and mobile phone apps. A second presentation centered on how parents can monitor and control a child’s web and mobile device use. CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR 5/29/2017 Ancient Forms, Modern Minds 5/29/2017 Print Plus One: Beyond LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT © 2013 Western Carolina University. SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | TOP STORIES Faculty gain access to national online education improvement tool Western Carolina University faculty can now access the rubric developed by Quality Matters, a nationally recognized research-based resource for online educators, for applying quality standards to course design and soon will be able to take part in related professional development opportunities and peer reviews. WCU recently subscribed to Quality Matters, a faculty-centered, peer-based approach to improving online and hybrid or blended courses, and work began this fall to prepare WCU to be able to administer the program. “Quality Matters will give our faculty, who are already outstanding teachers, the opportunity to have the quality of their courses validated externally,” said Susan Fouts, interim director of educational outreach. “The Quality Matters seal of approval is similar to a SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) seal of approval. The other benefit and one that is probably more important to our faculty members is receiving feedback enabling them to improve their courses even further.” Originally developed by Maryland Online, a consortium of community colleges and universities in Maryland, Quality Matters features a rubric rooted in research with eight standards and 41 specific standards to help guide online course design. In addition, Quality Matters offers a structure for institutional- or Quality Matters-managed course reviews. Faculty members who teach any of the online courses that serve about 20 percent of WCU’s students will be able to participate on a voluntary and nonpunitive basis in Quality Matters professional development workshops and peer reviews through which they can earn the Quality Matters seal for their courses. Laura Cruz, director of Coulter Faculty Commons, was a member of a committee of stakeholders that researched online course assessment tools and supported making Quality Matters resources available at WCU in addition to the recently updated, WCU-developed Online Readiness Course Assessment tool. “There is a perception that persists in higher education that online courses are somehow not as good, as challenging or as time-consuming to teach as face-to-face courses, and this is a false assumption,” said Cruz. “We believe that Quality Matters, a highly recognized tool vetted by hundreds of schools and institutions, could offer some extra credibility and recognition.” A Quality Matters institutional-managed peer review involves two reviewers from within the institution and one external reviewer. The process allows faculty members to exchange ideas and share experiences with colleagues on how they handle aspects of courses from technical assistance to disability services. “It is similar to getting two or three colleagues to sit down, look at your course, and say ‘Oh, here’s what I do,’” said Fouts. “The peer reviews are designed to be a very collaborative, positive experience that is not punitive in any way. The goal is to help us get better.” Tony Miller, associate director of distance and online programs, also noted that the structure allows for flexibility. “The peer reviews preserve the faculty member’s ability to maintain academic freedom and run the course the way he or she believes works best while still receiving some guidance that could help students be able to navigate the course better,” said Miller. Completion of successful Quality Mattters reviews will enable an instructor to apply the Quality Matters seal to the course. Cruz said becoming a Quality Matters institution could ultimately help with recruitment and retention of online faculty who perceive participation as a commitment to quality online education. WCU Coulter Faculty Commons is currently seeking programs which are interested in adopting Quality Matters. “Becoming a reviewer enables you to be part of reviews at our institutions and other institutions and learn about what other schools are doing,” said Miller. Joseph Lakatos, the Wesley R. Elingburg Distinguished Professor of Business Innovation and director of WCU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, has taught online courses since 2005 and has used Quality Matters resources. “I am always looking to improve my course designs and tools, and I found the Quality Matters program supports faculty that seek to continuously improve,” said Lakatos. “The approach opens the minds of faculty to innovative ways that accomplish more in a course while keeping students enthusiastic about learning the course material. It is a well-devised program that can reinvigorate faculty and stir some to rethink their view about online education. I think it will be a good fit at Western Carolina University” By Teresa Killian Tate CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT © 2013 Western Carolina University. SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | Western Carolina University faculty member Carroll Brown (center) and WCU students (from left) Ellen Anderberg and Savannah Macias help with lights and decorations for the Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries festival. TOP STORIES Faculty member and students light and learn in Dillsboro Helping Dillsboro glow for the town’s annual Lights and Luminaries festival are Carroll Brown, an associate professor in the hospitality and tourism program at Western Carolina University, and her students. For the last five years, they have helped light more than 2,500 candles, placed luminaries in designated locations and assisted with decorations and lights. “Having the students help out during our Lights and Luminaries festival has been a great blessing for the town of Dillsboro,” said Susan Leveille, co-owner of Dillsboro business Oaks Gallery. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Kilmer, a junior from Concord majoring in hospitality and tourism as well as marketing, said the experience has been valuable. “There’s no better teacher than experience,” said Kilmer. “Taking part in setting up the Lights and Luminaries festival taught me more than any textbook could have. Helping out Dillsboro when they needed a few extra hands was so rewarding.” Brown described the ongoing relationship with her students and the town of Dillsboro that has grown out of the Lights and Luminaries festival as mutually beneficial. Merchants appreciate the help, and students in her festival and special events course learn from and enjoy the experience. “The event helps my students get into the Christmas spirit, and many of them bring their parents, which helps the merchants in Dillsboro,” said Brown. For Brown, the Lights and Luminaries festival is also a time to visit Dillsboro stores to complete most of her holiday shopping. “I truly love this event, and I look forward to it every year,” said Brown. The Lights and Luminaries festival will be held in downtown Dillsboro on Friday, Dec. 6; Saturday, Dec. 7; Friday, Dec. 13; and Saturday, Dec. 14. For more information, visit online visitdillsboro.org/specialevents.html. By WCU student Kane Rowell CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT © 2013 Western Carolina University. SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | ACHIEVEMENTS Faculty members explore partnership to improve special education in Jamaica David Westling, the Adelaide Worth Daniels Distinguished Professor of Special Education, and Karena Cooper-Duffy, professor of special education, recently met with educational leaders and teachers in Jamaica to discuss a proposal to improve education and training of children with severe disabilities. The proposal includes creating a new master’s degree program in special education, developing a training center for teachers and launching a campaign to help educate Jamaicans about people with disabilities, according to an article titled “WCU Partnership with Jamaica to Address Special Needs Education, Support,” by Kate Chappell. CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR 5/29/2017 Ancient Forms, Modern Minds 5/29/2017 Print Plus One: LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT © 2013 Western Carolina University. SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | ACHIEVEMENTS Faculty, staff members help host regional training event More than 60 National Ski Patrol instructors from across the Southeast came to WCU this fall for the organization’s daylong annual Outdoor Emergency Care Instructors training. The course prepared participants to train ski patrol members for the upcoming ski season. WCU has hosted the annual training course for the past six years. Ben Tholkes, associate professor of parks and recreation management, and Bill Clarke, director of Ramsey Regional Activity Center, assisted in setting up the training. CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR 5/29/2017 Ancient Forms, Modern Minds 5/29/2017 Print Plus One: LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT © 2013 Western Carolina University. SEARCH Search Home About Archives Subscribe Contact WCU Home December 5, 2013 Email This Post Print This Post Share | WCU guests of honor will participate in the rst horse-drawn carriage ride of the 30th annual Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries festival at 5:35 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. TOP STORIES Festival opening with WCU Night Iceless ice skating and a reworks show headline the activities for the 30th annual Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries Festival, which is always the rst two Fridays and Saturdays in December in downtown Dillsboro. The festival opens with Western Carolina University Night on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 9 p.m., during which an iceless ice skating rink sponsored by WCU’s A.K. Hinds University Center will be open to all festival-goers. Admission is free and skates will be provided. Participants also can bring their own ice skates. The rink will be located in front of Dogwood Wellness and may be accessed via the footbridge behind the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s depot. The rink will be available only on Dec. 6. The WCU Holiday Dancers will kick o the event at 5:30 p.m. with a performance down Front Street. The dancers are led by Karyn Tomczak, a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette and director of WCU’s dance program. Then, several WCU guests of honor have been invited to experience the rst horse-drawn carriage ride of the evening at 5:35 p.m. They include Sam Miller, vice chancellor for student aairs; Carol Burton, associate provost for undergraduate studies; Je Hughes, director of the University Center; Ryan Hermance, president of the Student Government Association; and WCU Homecoming king and queen Brandon Truitt and Mary Hannah Hughes. In addition to a variety of musicians and singers who will provide entertainment in individual shops throughout the town every night of the festival, entertainment for WCU Night will include: •Voices in the Laurel at 6 p.m. – A nonprot youth choir in Western North Carolina that combines classic choral instruction with an extensive assortment of music will be caroling at Dillsboro businesses on Front Street. The goal of the choir is to provide young people quality choral education in fun and innovative ways. •Sing-A-Long with Susan Belcher at 6:30 p.m. at the Front Street Courtyard – Cullowhee Valley elementary students, under the direction of music teacher Katee Johnson, will join Belcher, an accomplished opera performer and wife of WCU Chancellor David Belcher, singing favorite holiday tunes. •Broadway Cat Singers at 7 p.m. at the Front Street Courtyard – The WCU Broadway Cat Singers will perform Christmas songs in a classical musical theater style. •WCU Horn Choir at 7:30 p.m. at the Front Street Courtyard – The WCU Horn Choir is a student French horn group. •The Trantham Family Band at 8 p.m. in the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot – The Trantham Family has been prominent in the music scene of the Western North Carolina mountains for three generations. In addition to playing music for all ages, the musicians teach audiences about Appalachian culture. •WCU Inspirational Choir at 8:30 p.m. in the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot – The Inspirational Choir promotes African-American culture and diversity through song. Additional free activities on WCU Night include paint-your-own ornaments at Claymates while supplies last and face painting provided by Macon Faces at K.J.’s Cross Stitch Store and Emporium from 6 to 8 p.m. During WCU Night, merchants will oer special discounts to faculty, sta and students who show their Cat Cards. WCU participants will be able to enter a drawing for a basket of merchandise and gift CATEGORIES | THE REPORTER TOP STORIES NOTEWORTHY NEWS ACHIEVEMENTS EVENTS PHOTOS | WCU NEWS SERVICES CALENDAR 5/29/2017 Ancient Forms, Modern Minds 5/29/2017 Print Plus One: Beyond the Glass Matrix 5/29/2017 Water Portraits: Barbara Tyroler 6/9/2017 Musical Variety Show 'Livin' the Dream' 6/10/2017 Musical Variety Show 'Livin' the Dream' LINKS Calendar Higher Education NewsWatch WCU Hub AFRICA! MORE THAN A CONTINENT Children enjoy the festivities at the annual Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries festival, which is always held the first two Fridays and Saturdays in December in downtown Dillsboro. certicates totaling more than $500 donated by the merchants. No purchase is necessary in order to enter the drawing and the winner does not have to be present to win. Santa and Mrs. Claus will draw the winning entry at 9 p.m. Dec. 6 in front of Town Hall. Also on WCU Night, free round-trip shuttle transportation will be available for faculty, sta and students and their families. The shuttles will leave from the University Center beginning at 5 p.m. and will run every half hour until 7:30 p.m. Shuttles will return to WCU from Dillsboro beginning at 7 p.m. and run every half hour until 9:30 p.m. To reserve seats, email Caitlynn Pitts, a WCU student majoring in communication, at cmpitts1@catamount.wcu.edu by Wednesday, Dec. 4. “We are expecting rain on Friday, but we really hope the rain won’t keep people from coming out,” said Betty Farmer, professor of communication and special assistant to the chancellor for Dillsboro. “There will be plenty of things to do inside, and it will be a great time for folks to get a jump on their holiday shopping.” In the event of inclement weather on WCU Night, entertainment currently scheduled to be held outdoors, including the iceless ice skating rink, will move to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot and warehouse spaces. WCU Night at the Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries is an activity of the Dillsboro/WCU Partnership, which was formed at the request of Dillsboro leaders in 2009 and matches the expertise of WCU faculty, staff and students with Dillsboro’s challenges and opportunities. Dillsboro Lights and L