Here are your Monday Minutes for the week of January 11-15, 2021.

Please make a point of reading this email every Monday (or Tuesday), as it highlights key department announcements, opportunities, and events, particularly events hosted by one of the Department of Education’s student clubs. It covers everything you need to know in a single email message.

From the Department Head

Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty,

Welcome to the first day of Spring 2021! We have much to look forward to, with asymptomatic student testing beginning and vaccines on the way. I am committed to transparency- if I have information to share I will share right away. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email me or request a meeting. Many of MSU’s actions are dependent on the state’s decisions, and if I don’t have an answer, I will listen and pass along your questions and concerns to decisionmakers. 

Last week was a difficult one. Many of us are still processing the events. I encourage all to participate in the governance of this country by voting and communicating with our elected officials once in office. They can’t do their jobs unless they hear from us. In February 2020 I traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with our Congressional delegation. I rode the train under the Capitol, crossing an item off my bucket list! The artwork is provided by the winner of Montana’s Congressional Art competition for youth. It’s titledSun’s Out, Tongue’s Out.I hope you enjoy these photos.

Three pictures: US Senate Train. Ann Ewbank on the US Senate Train. Photo from Montana: Sun's Out, Tongue's Out.

Take good care,

 Ann Dutton Ewbank's signature 

Dr. Ann Ewbank

From the Advising Office

Montana State University Library. WiFi hotspot lending program. Our goal is to reduce access barriers for high need MSU students. Are you struggling to access your courses due to unreliable Internet? Are you running low on your data plan every month? The MSU Library can help! Students can now borrow the Internet! Complete a referral form online and a librarian will be in touch! guides.lib.montana.edu/hotspots#referral.

  • The Education Advising Center is currently offering remote advising only.
    • Phone or Webex Appointments: M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, as available. You can schedule appointments at www.montana.edu/education/advising/calendars.html.
    • And, as always, you can contact us via email or phone. We’re available to respond during normal business hours (M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm).
  • All Monday Minutes are archived and available for your reference.
  • Make sure to check the MSU COVID-19 webpage frequently as university and system-wide updates are available all in one place.

Work and Volunteer Opportunities

  • The kidsLINK After-School Program is looking for support staff to operate programs at schools around the Gallatin Valley. See the attached job description for more information. Pays $15-$17/hour.
  • The Montana Science Olympiad will be held virtually in early April and is looking for volunteers to write test questions, score events, and serve as online hosts/facilitators. See the attachment for more information on the kind of help that's needed and how you can sign up.
  • Dr. Sarah Pennington is looking for education majors to participate in a study about perceptions of reading. See the attached flyer or contact Dr. Pennington (sarah.pennington2@montana.edu) for more information. You can participate by visiting http://bit.ly/definereading.
  • The MSU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is looking for Teaching Assistants to help run lab sections. Must be a junior in a science teaching field to apply. Interested students should contact Doreen Brown (doreen.brown@montana.edu). 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources

From Assistant Dean Dr. Kayte Kaminski:
 
  • Mark your calendars for our first EHHD Diversity Dialogue with Dr. Jody Bartz! She will lead a one-hour discussion on disability rights on Friday, January 22nd at 1pm via Webex. Jody asks that you please review this TED Talkand this video content in advance. 
  • Also scheduled for spring is a workshop on Microaggressions on March 4th from 12-2pm. Join us for these and more that we’ll be rolling out throughout the semester! 

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

  • Congratulations to our Spring 2021 Student Teaching Scholarship Winners!
    • College of EHHD Student Teaching scholarship – Sarah Thies and Breanna Berrington
    • Cory and Diane Knapp Pulfrey Rural – Sierra Osborne and Katrina Feddes
    • Hoyt Family Rural Student Teaching – Scott Bymaster
    • Jesse and Ruth Long Education – Hannah Sheldon
    • Vonda and David Mason – Julia Scalley
    • Montana Rural Education Association – Anna Fake

Take care,

David Reese
Academic Advisor
Department of Education
Montana State University