Monday Missive
June 29, 2009

Anna Mazur-Mosiewicz
Matt Holcomb
Mei Chang
Oscar Ordonez
Jim Jones

Congratulations!
 
Travel to Kenya
Winnie Mucherah and I had a great time in Kenya with 12 undergraduate and graduate Ball State University students. We all learned so much about life in Kenya and were immersed in the culture.  Next week Penny will post a few photographs of our travels on our website.
 
On a related note we visited our little school Shivembe where we saw more improvements and presented money to the school to begin construction on expanding the kitchen for the lunch program. Thanks to all of you for your support in making this possible!
 
Personnel Update
We have hired Dawn Frazier (currently a doctoral student in Educational Psychology and soon to be a graduate of the program) to teach introductory statistics and educational psychology for us next year. Please welcome Dawn to the ranks of faculty when you see her.
 
Meeting with the New Dean of Teachers College – Dean Jacobson
Wednesday, July 1 will begin a new era in TC with Dean Jacobson taking over for Dean Weaver. I am in the process of creating a brief summary of our department for the new Dean and want to remind you to attend the required meeting with the new Dean Thursday, July 9 in TC 211B from 1:00-3:00pm.   
 
Budget Information
As we are all aware the state of Indiana has yet to pass a budget for next year.  As such, BSU does not have a budget for next year, although the new fiscal year starts Wednesday, July 1.  While this is unnerving I want to assure the department is in good shape.  As we discussed during our spring faculty meeting we likely will not have travel monies for next year and I encourage you to use your submit funds for this purpose.  I have also been asked when we might have contracts for next year and right now I just don't know.  I do know that you should not count on any type of raise or merit increase. When I learn anything new (of which there has been little to be learned since April) I will let you all know.
 
Fall Faculty Meetings
I know it is too early to even think of the new academic and I do not know how the new Dean will handle the start of the year meetings year, but I want to be sure you keep all day Friday, August 21st open.  Once I learn of the schedule for the college I will schedule our departmental luncheon and meeting.
 
I hope I have not forgotten anything, but if I have please let me know.
 
Lisa