coE-News: April 24, 2009, VOL 4 ISSUE 7
Dean’s Message
On rankings, faculty productivity and optimism
The U.S. News rankings of America’s Best Graduate Schools, announced earlier this week, brought some satisfying news for several COE academic programs—including a major “first” for our Educational Administration program. (See related story on the rankings below, under Top Stories.) Additional cause for hope and optimism in these historic, dismal economic times can be found in the impressive list of faculty achievements and key initiatives cited in the Dean’s Annual Report to Faculty. By capitalizing on our strengths, we can tap into new revenue sources to help us cope with the budget reductions we face. (more)
Top Stories
No surprises, but painful cuts still forecast in UF’s ‘worst-case’ budget plan
The University of Florida’s “worst-case” budget plan announced April 16 held no major surprises for the College of Education, but the final swing of the budget ax still figures to leave some deep cuts in the college’s finances and programs. (more)
COE programs maintain Top 5 rankings
UF’s counselor education and special education programs maintained their Top 5 positions in their respective specialties in the rankings of U.S. News Media Group’s 2010 edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools, which was released Thursday, April 23. Counselor Education retained the third spot from last year’s survey, and Special Education was fifth in its specialty–nearly matching last year’s No. 4 ranking. UF’s Education Administration program also made the rankings, holding the No. 26 position. Congratulations to the faculty, staff and students in these high-achieving units! The College of Education ranked 54th overall among 278 U.S. education colleges–one spot lower than last year. Florida State and Miami, tied at No. 41, were the only Florida education schools ranked among the Top 50. UF, though, was the state’s only education college with any top-10 academic programs in their specialties. To view the complete Education rankings, click here to visit the U.S. News Web site and follow the “Education Rankings” links.
News & Notices
Global Connections: The College of Education Goes Worldwide (first in a series)
“Teaching students about the world is not a subject in itself, separate from other content areas, but should be an integral part of all subjects taught. We need to open global gateways and inspire students to explore beyond their national borders.” Guest columnist John Bailey (above, with the whole world in his hands), an assistant scholar in the School of Teaching and Learning, uses this quote to introduce his first in a series of articles on the COE’s international academic offerings and activities. This first installment offers a mini-profile of Professor Linda Lamme’s International Children’s Literature course. (more)
ProTeach students promote children’s books to local libraries
As part of Professor Linda Lamme’s course in children’s literature, UF ProTeach student Kathy Warner (MEd ’09) (pictured, right) describes a selection from her list of favorite children’s books to a group of Alachua County Library staff members. Warner is one of four ProTeach students serving a practicum this semester at either the library or a local public school media center. Each student compiled a list of favorite books on a special topic of interest and created flyers on the books for library patrons. They then presented their book summaries April 15 to library staff. (Photo special to coE-News by Debbie O’Donnell)
Awards & Appointments
Daniels honored for (literally) setting new standards in counselor education
Harry Daniels, UF professor of counselor education, is a co-recipient of the 2008-09 Robert O. Stripling Award for Excellence in Standards, given through the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES). The national award is named for one of UF’s early giants in the field of counselor education who was best known for his pioneering work in the professional credentialing of counselors. (more)
Staff Members of the Year: Brian Lane, Patty Lefevers
One is a main cog in the college’s vital grant application operation. The other has been a stabilizing force during her department’s reorganization implemented over the past year as part of the university’s budget reduction plan. Meet Brian Lane and Patty Lefevers, this year’s COE Staff Members of the Year. (more)
UF honors college’s 2009 Outstanding Young Alumni
A Lake Mary fourth-grade teacher who combines class assignments with community service opportunities for her students, and a 2005 doctoral graduate who now oversees the College of Education’s critical accreditation process have been named the college’s 2009 Outstanding Young Alumni by the UF Alumni Association. Education graduates Jamee Cagle Miller (BAE ’01, Med ’02) and Elayne Colon (MAE ’02, PhD ’05) received their awards April 18 at UF’s Outstanding Young Alumni Awards Banquet. (more)
Terzian adds elite ‘UFRF Professor’ designation as latest honor
The academic honors keep rolling in for Sevan Terzian, associate professor and coordinator of UF’s social foundations of education program. Chosen last year as UF Teacher of the Year and as Undergraduate Teacher of the Year by the College of Education, Terzian recently received the prestigious designation of University of Florida Research Professor. (more)
UF selects Algina as top mentor, dissertation advisor
James Algina, longtime professor of research and evaluation methods, has been selected for the universitywide 2008-09 Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award. The honor recognizes excellence, innovation, and effectiveness in doctoral dissertation advising. (more)
Counselor Ed student wins Diversity Research Award
Rachel Goodman, a doctoral candidate in counselor education, has received the 2009 Dr. Daya and Mrs. Usha K. Sandhu Multicultural Counseling/Diversity Student Research Award from the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, a division of the American Counseling Association. The award recognizes students who have embarked on research in the area of multicultural counseling.
Publications
Mistler, B. J., & Sherrard, P. A. D. (2009). Ecosystemic perspective: An interview with Peter A. D. Sherrard. The Family Journal, 17, 77-88.
Presentations
A UF education research team recently presented their National Science Foundation-funded work as part of a major address at the National Education Association Women’s Summit in Washington, D.C. The five researchers–faculty members Rose Pringle (P.I.), Thomasenia Adams, Cirecie West-Olatunji, Diane Archer-Banks, and doctoral student Katie Milton–reported on their NSF study in which they are examining ways African-American girls are steered away from science, mathematics and other technical subjects. (Pictured, from left, are West-Olatunji, Pringle and Adams.) Adams also presented the group’s work recently at the annual meeting of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, comprised mostly of mathematics supervisors, coaches and curriculum resource teachers.
Dissertations
Dissertation topics of spring grads reveal hot education issues
Interested in learning what vital education issues our spring 2009 doctoral candidates tackled in writing their dissertations and earning the right to place “Ph.D.” or “Ed.D.” after their names? If so, then check this out: Ph.D. candidate Erik Black (in Curriculum and Instruction) evaluated the influence of family involvement in a child’s achievement in online coursework; James Porter (Mental Health Counseling) studied how gender and other social factors influence a child’s tendency to defend victims of school bullying; and David Horton (Higher Education Administration) assessed how student-athletes in community colleges compare with their non-athlete peers in persistence and academic success. To see the dissertation topics of all 22 spring doctoral graduates, click here.
P.K. Yonge News
P. K. Yonge Presents Ragtime
Ragtime, opened on Broadway on January 18, 1998, christening the brand new Ford Center for the Performing Arts and garnering 13 Tony Award nominations, the most of any show that season. It paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of life in the turn-of-the-century America. Based on E.L. Doctorow’s distinguished novel, Ragtime intertwines the three distinct stories that poignantly illustrate history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate.
It draws upon traditional Jewish folk sounds to color the haunting music and yearning lyrics of the immigrants, Vaudeville’s outrageous style to capture the spectacle of Evelyn Nesbit, and Joplin and Jazz to invoke the enlivened spirit of Harlem.
For our production of Ragtime, we have procured the original Tony-nominated costumes from the Broadway show. With the addition of a full 20-piece orchestra, incredible sets and an award-winning cast of over 60 PK students, Ragtime promises to be our biggest, most elaborate production ever. Order your tickets now to secure your seat with our reserved seating plan.
Show Dates
- Friday, May 1, 2009 | 7:00pm
- Saturday, May 2, 2009 | 2:00pm & 7:00pm
- Thursday, May 7, 2009 | 7:00pm
- Friday, May 8, 2009 | 7:00pm
- Saturday, May 9, 2009 | 2:00pm & 7:00pm
In the News
EDUCATION WEEK — Catherine Cavanaugh (Education Technology)—March 18, 2009
Dr. Cavanaugh was quoted extensively in an in-depth article headlined: “Experts Debate Cost Savings of Virtual Education.” The article refers to her upcoming report written for the Center for American Progress, which addresses the timely issue of the costs of virtual courses. Dr. Cavanaugh offered data indicating that the average per-pupil cost of online learning ($4,300) in the 14-state study was less than half of the per-pupil cost for a traditional public school. According to the article, Cavanaugh’s research focuses on the role that virtual courses could play in expanding learning time—which would allow schools to provide instruction “before, during and after school less expensively.”
