Dishing Out Love to Donors This Week

There are many different types of people who support Utah State monetarily: alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and more. We love every group for the unique ways in which they affect USU’s success:

• As alumni, you give back by donating time, money or experiences to our university and its students. In addition, you give Utah State a good name by using the marketable skills and knowledge you developed while in school at your workplaces and in your homes.

• Faculty and staff have dedicated their careers to teaching our students and providing opportunities for them to succeed. They've spent countless hours preparing and producing quality curriculum and programs for students.

• Students can give back through the True Blue pledge. More importantly, USU would not be the great institution it is without hardworking, devoted students who use their ingenuity and intent to acquire well-earned degrees.

• Parents support their students as they learn and grow at USU. They can support systems like the Merrill-Cazier Library, which serves as a valuable learning environment for every student on campus.

We recognize that many Alumni fit into several of these categories. Because of your unfailing support of this institution, we would like to say thank you, once again.

The relocation of the Block A was made possible by USU donors

This week, February 25-27, is Love-A-Donor week. Every day we thank a different group of our supporters:

      

February 25th - Celebrate Faculty and Staff - Send words of love and appreciation to faculty members who go above and beyond the call of duty! The Student Alumni Association will also be giving a small gift to these wonderful individuals. 

February 26th - Celebrate Alumni - Say thank-you to those who have come before! On this day, the alumni population will receive a powerful video via email from our student population saying thank you for the generosity of all our giving alumni.

February 27th - Celebrate Students - Many students give of their time, talents and treasures to USU. On this day, the Student Alumni Association will recognize all of those types of donors. If you have given the True Blue Pledge stop by the Alumni House from 11 – 1 PM for your swag, “A” license plate waiver, (if you have not already done so) and a cookie! If you haven't participated in the pledge, please stop by if you'd like to become “True Blue” yourself.

You are also invited to participate in a campus-wide social media competition during Love-A-Donor week. During the week, we encourage you to post pictures of yourself thanking a donor. You could write a note to a professor who donates, cook dinner for an Aggie alumni family member, or do the dishes for your roommate who has given the true blue pledge. Show your appreciation however you would like.

Be creative, and use the hashtag #usugivesback. At the end of the week, Alumni Association staff will examine the entries and the winning photo will be recognized on many Utah State University social media channels. The winner will also receive one use of the David B. Haight Alumni Center, free of charge.

Whichever group you're a part of, know that we love and appreciate you. Thank you!

USU's Joyce Kinkead is Utah's 2013 Carnegie Professor of the Year

Article Courtesy of Utah State Today

Utah State University professor Joyce Kinkead is the 2013 Utah Carnegie Professor of the Year. She was honored in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14 and is the university's 13th faculty member to receive the prestigious educational honor.

A Utah State University professor of English known for her connection to students and the promotion of undergraduate research has been named the 2013 Carnegie Professor of the Year for the state of Utah. Joyce Kinkead, who has taught at USU for 31 years, was presented the award during a ceremony Nov. 14 in Washington D.C. One of 300 professors nominated nationwide, Kinkead is among just 30 others given the award and is the 13th honoree from USU.

“I’m lucky 13 in 2013,” Kinkead quipped.

But all levity aside, winning the Carnegie is a high professional honor for Kinkead who, as dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences in the early 1990s, became aware of the national award and helped start the Aggie tradition of winning. USU’s first winner was classics professor Fran Titchener in 1995. The award salutes the most outstanding undergraduate educators in the country — those who excel in teaching and who positively influence the lives and careers of students. The award is the only national program that recognizes excellence in undergraduate teaching. USU boasts more Carnegie winners than any other post-high-school institution in Utah.

During her long career at USU, Kinkead’s work has always been student centric as she has worked diligently to find new and better ways to teach writing and English. An early skeptic of online courses, Kinkead is now one of the biggest boosters on campus for online education, especially in writing. After she taught an online course in young adult literature, she discovered that it was an effective teaching tool to engage future teachers. When asked to offer a Teaching Writing class online, she balked but finally agreed.

“I was skeptical so I thought I should actually try teaching the course,” Kinkead said. “I found that online courses are almost all writing, and I believe a student becomes a better writer by writing a lot. In an online course, every interaction I have with my students is written, and I am communicating with them 24 hours a day. I love it. I’m not limited to three hours in classroom, and I can respond to my students right away. That focused feedback makes them better writers.”

Another signature of Kinkead’s innovative approach is her focus on undergraduate research. At a research institution like USU, graduate research, especially in the sciences, often overshadows the work of undergraduates, especially students in the humanities. But Kinkead has worked hard to develop programs and methodologies for promoting undergraduate research that encourages students to pursue research and publishing options.

“The goal is to bring students into the profession,” she said. “We should be looking at undergraduates as pre-professional members of the club. One of the reasons we are well known for undergraduate research is that undergraduates can contribute something significant to the profession, and USU faculty members believe that.”

Kinkead herself is a prolific scholar-researcher having published 11 books, several focusing on developing undergraduate research programs. A new book, Farm: A Multi-Modal Reader, coauthored with Evelyn Funda and Lynne McNeill, appears in 2014, and should be of especial interest to land-grant universities. She’s just wrapping up a 13th book on research methods on writing studies, and has two more books on her writing agenda.

“Joyce is an innovative researcher who links research about teaching to the actual activity,” said John Allen, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “And she has consistently done so for over a decade. We are very fortunate to have her in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. To have her recognized for the quality of her teaching is indicative of the quality of teachers we have in our college.”

Kinkead came to USU in 1982 for an interview for a job that, at the time, she admits she didn’t think she was going to take.

“I was an assistant professor in Kansas,” she said. “I came to interview as the potential director of the writing center here. I liked my job and I wasn’t really interested, but then I saw the valley and the mountains. I loved it. I took the job that they offered me on the spot.”

More than 30 years later, she continues to identify with USU’s mission, which as a land-grant college, stresses open access to education. Raised on a farm in Missouri, she is passionate about helping students find educational paths that they may not know about.

“I want students to have opportunities that I didn’t have,” she said. “I am a daughter of a farmer, and this is the kind of institution that was made for someone like me.”

Her connection to students is evidenced not only in the Carnegie award but also by the fact that some spaces in the campus library are dedicated to her. At the library’s entrance, a photographic display features several students, along with personal stories of their involvement in research, scholarship and creative activities that helped them achieve their goals. This wall, honoring Joyce’s commitment to undergraduate research, was unveiled as she stepped aside from directing undergraduate research to return full-time to the faculty. On an upper floor, the Kinkead Honors Study Area is a tribute to her many accomplishments on behalf of undergraduate education. On yet another floor, plaques denote student winners of scholarships and fellowships such as the Rhodes, Barry M. Goldwater and Marshall.

“These student awards are the result of her steadfast devotion to undergraduates and their success,” said USU President Stan Albrecht.

But Kinkead eschews such accolades, characteristically returning her focus to USU students.

“I have learned a lot from my students,” she said. “They’ve been very good teachers for me.”

Past USU Carnegie Professors of the Year include these outstanding faculty members: Michael Christiansen, music (2012); Jim Cangelosi, mathematics and statistics (2011); Laurie McNeill, civil and environmental engineering (2010); David Peak, physics (2009); Lyle McNeal, animal science (2007); Bonnie Glass-Coffin, anthropology (2004); Jan Sojka, physics (2002); David Lancy, anthropology (2001); Mark Damen, history (1998); Sonia Manuel-Dupont, English (1997); Ted Alsop, geography and earth resources (1996); and Frances Titchener, history (1995).

Kinkead teaches in the Department of English in the College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences at USU.

What Kinkead’s students and colleagues say (select comments from the numerous nomination letters):
        
“Although Joyce has been selfless in answering the call to serve the university over the years, she turned down my recent request to return to an administrative role in Old Main, saying that she’d always believed the best job on campus was that of a professor. Frankly, she has always been a faculty member at heart. Deriving great pleasure in her work as a teacher and mentor, Joyce’s commitment to undergraduates is unbounded.” — USU President Stan Albrecht

“Joyce is an innovative researcher who links research about teaching to the actual activity. And she has consistently done so for many years. We are very fortunate to have her in the college, and to have her recognized for the quality of her teaching is indicative of the quality of teachers we have in our college.” — John Allen, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

“Joyce is a thought leader in the field of undergraduate research. It is hard to imagine anyone in the field who has more influence on a national scale than Joyce; her books and articles will influence the field for many years to come.”  — Dr. Janice DeCosmo, chair of CUR’s Undergraduate Research Program Directors and associate dean at the University of Washington

“Dr. Kinkead is the best teacher I’ve ever had! She is student friendly, treats us with great respect and has the best diplomatic skills of anyone I’ve ever met. She is kind, approachable and a pleasure to learn from. She is the archetype that all teachers should follow: in content and character. She took the brave leap for teaching English classes online. She is on the cutting edge of advanced learning, and her willingness to use all available options to improve the learning of her students is unmatched.” — Kevin Turner

“Dr. Kinkead is the most reliable professor I know. She responds to my emailed questions within minutes and is always available to meet one-on-one whenever a new challenge arises. She has gone out of her way to write letters of recommendation and review essays for internship applications.” — Karen Neilson, Goldwater Scholar Honorable Mention, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2013

A reception, hosted by the office of Executive Vice President and Provost, will be held in Kinkead’s honor Dec. 3 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Haight Alumni Center on USU’s Logan campus.

A complete list of USU’s Carnegie Professors, along with biographical information, can be seen online.


Writer: Jeremy Pugh, senior communications specialist, CHaSS, 435-797-0267,
jeremy.pugh@usu.edu

What not to overlook when evaluating colleges

Choosing where to further their education after high school is one of the biggest decisions your child will make in life, which is why it is important to look closely at each college or university they are interested in attending.

While the decision is ultimately a personal one, here are a few suggestions of things you and your son or daughter may want to consider in the evaluation process.

Student/faculty ratio

One common adjustment for incoming students is the change in class sizes. Some college courses have larger populations than many rural towns across the country. The proportion of students to faculty in a classroom is often seen as a reflection of the intimacy of the educational experience. While there may be some truth to this theory, it is important to realize that the student/faculty ratio can also be easily misinterpreted.  The concept of smaller class sizes equaling a better educational experience may seem logical to some, others disagree, arguing that the quality of a student’s classroom experience can be attributed more to the individual professor and the student, rather than classroom population.  

Which camp of thought you side with is entirely your decision, but should you find yourself supporting the former theory (smaller class sizes equals a better educational experience) than you will want to investigate the student/faculty ratio of the schools your child wishes to attend.

Sticker price

What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear “college expenses”? For many, the answer is tuition. Tuition is undoubtedly the greatest expense of obtaining a higher education, but it is certainly not the only one. Student fees, text books, housing, meal plans and more all add to the total “sticker price” of your college experience.  

There is no lack of online resources when it comes to researching universities with the greatest value. Utah State University has been included on the lists of many different prominent publications. In fact, USU recently found itself on Forbes’ list for Best Value Colleges of 2012. Take a look and see where we rank.

Financial aid opportunities

It’s no secret that higher education is expensive, which is why it’s important to find out what type of financial aid is available at the colleges in which you’re interested. In addition to federal aid, many institutions will have their own scholarship opportunities. Be sure to do your research and find out which of those scholarships may apply to your son or daughter. For more information on where to find options to help pay for their education, take a look at our financial aid blog post.

Clubs and activities

Your college experience wasn’t all about text books and classrooms, and your child’s shouldn’t be either. It’s important to get involved in different ways around campus. Joining clubs, organizations or intramural activities are some of the best ways to do just that. Their college experience will be far more positive, meaningful and fulfilling if they attach themselves to something they enjoy or believe in passionately. Take the time to see if the schools you’re investigating offer the extracurricular options you’re looking for in a university.

Location

Location. Location. Location. You’ve probably heard it far too many times, but there is truth behind the value of a good location. While the definition of a “good location” is almost entirely subjective, it does make a difference where a person goes to school. Do they have an affinity for the outdoors? Would they prefer a fast-paced city with a vibrant night life, or a quieter area with a strong sense of community?

After all, your kid is going to spend four or more years of their life there. It helps if they connect with the city in which they live during that time.

If you’re wondering how to find out more about college towns and whether they fit the lifestyle of your child, livability.com is a good place to start. Follow the link to see which locations they ranked as the top ten college towns in the country.

Alumni network

Alumni support is a vital element to any institution of higher education. A strong network of alumni can have a tremendous impact on the value of your child’s education and overall college experience. For example, alumni who are actively involved with their alma mater are more likely to engage with current students in mentoring programs, provide career opportunities, develop professional relationships with students and faculty, donate to university programs and projects that will affect your child and return to campus to share their professional experiences and advice with students.

Bottom line: when it comes to selecting a college, there are a lot of factors involved. Far more than what was covered in this list. Each decision is a personal one, and thankfully, there are a number of resources at your fingertips today that allow you to research and compare multiple schools at once. So be sure to decide what you’re looking for and take advantage of them.