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College of Education Announcements

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  • Seminar/Webinar: Sparking Interest in Smart Grid Stuff

    The Trustworthy Cyber Infrastructure for the Power Grid (TCIPG) research project is sponsoring a seminar/webinar on Friday, February 6, 2015 at 1PM. Jana Sebestik, Assistant Director of STEM Curriculum Design, University of Illinois, will present "Sparking Interest in Smart Grid Stuff." Local participants can attend at teh NCSA Auditorium. Webcast details and archives will be posted online at: http://tcipg.org/events/seminars/2015-Feb-6.

    Abstract: Securing a smarter grid of the future involves an engaged and informed society. Join us for a showcase on how TCIPG sparks interest in the smart grid – at all ages and levels of engagement – and the impact of these efforts on smart grid awareness, education, research, and workforce development. Discover outreach tools, resources, and training programs that empower YOU to increase awareness, educate stakeholders, and actively contribute to smart grid security and resiliency. We will also highlight plans for our 2015 Summer School program.

    Biography: Jana Sebestik is the Assistant Director for STEM Curriculum Design in the Office for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (MSTE) in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She coordinates TCIPG education efforts to develop a variety of educational opportunities designed to engage learners of all ages. She is the author of the 4-H SET curriculum “The Power of the Wind.” She taught in the Urbana School District for 34 years before coming to MSTE.

    Contact: Cheri Soliday, csoliday@illinois.edu

     

  • Senator Dick Durbin to Speak at UI on Investment in Innovation and Research

    Senator Dick Durbin will speak Aug. 11 on campus about the creation of a more reliable funding stream for investment in research to preserve America's role as a global leader in innovation and discovery.

  • Send your own greeting to 'thy happy children of the future'

    Students, faculty, and staff may send an electronic greeting to the Illinois family of the future via a time capsule to be placed inside the Alma Mater sculpture when it returns to campus. In the spirit of the inscription on the sculpture's base, "To thy happy children of the future those of the past send greetings," the campus is soliciting messages, which may be submitted by filling out a form at https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/1698640. Submissions will be considered for inclusion on a data file to be placed in the time capsule, which may not be opened for more than 100 years.

    The deadline for submissions is midnight, March 30.

  • Senior 100 Honorary Program

    The Illinois Student Alumni Ambassadors present: Senior 100 Honorary! Senior 100 Honorary is a program that strives to reconize the top 100 seniors graduating this spring as measured by academics as well as other achievement and invlvement in the Illinois campus community.  Learning and personal growth goes beyond the classroom here at Illinois and your acheivements and successes deserve to be recognized. Visit http://illinisaa.com/senior-100-app to apply or nominate a senior.

  • Sensitivity Reading Panel poster

    Sensitivity Reading Panel

    Join the Center for Children's Books for a virtual panel discussion of youth literature and sensitivity reading, the practice of evaluating manuscripts for bias, inclusivity, and authenticity.

    Panelist speakers will include Professor Sarah Park Dahlen and School of Information Science doctoral students Jessie Maimone and Lettycia Terrones. 

  • EIA Logo

    Seven Colleges & Universities Named as 2019 Excellence in Assessment Designees

    The Excellence in Assessment (EIA) Designation—the first national initiative of its kind—recognizes colleges and universities that successfully integrate assessment practices across the institution, provide evidence of student learning outcomes to stakeholders, and utilize assessment results to guide institutional decision-making and improve student performance. Seven new institutions have joined three prior classes for a grand total of 23 designees to date.

  • Several Education Faculty to be Honored at Campus' Celebrating Excellence Event

    In the Celebrating Academic Excellence event on February 23, the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs will honor fourteen College of Education faculty, among others on campus, for their academic achievements during the 2020 and 2021 calendar years.

  • 2021 Diversity & Social Justice Awards

    Several Individuals Honored with 2021 Diversity & Social Justice Education Awards

    In their 9th Annual awards ceremony, held virtually, the Office of Inclusion & Intercultural Relations named various Education at Illinois students, faculty, staff, and alumni as leaders in diversity education and social justice.

  • Shaping Pathways from Community College to Medical School

    A new paper co-written by OCCRL Director Lorenzo Baber addresses how pathways to medical school can be more supportive for students who get their start at community colleges. The study specifically centers on the academic advisors and counselors who collaborate with “pre-health” community college students.

  • Short-term education assistant wanted

    Illinois Public Media seeks a graduate student in the College of Education to create and present a digital enrichment activity to fourth grade social studies students during their classroom field trips to WILL in late March through mid-May, 2016.

    Approximately 20-30 total hours at $20/hr.  Submit resume with references and cover letter to kranich@illinois.edu by 2/1/16.  See attached job description.

  • Should Testing be Abolished?

    In the first of four panel discussions this spring, experts from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction will discuss pressing issues of education today and into the future.  The first panel will discuss: current uses and abuses of standardized testing in the U.S.; effects of testing on diverse populations; teacher accountability and the new NCLB legislation; and international and national comparisons.  The panel of experts will include Sarah Lubienski, Sarah McCarthey, and Patrick Smith.  A discussion moderated by William Trent will follow the panelists’ presentations.  Please join us for this panel discussion on Friday, January 29, from 12:00 to 1:00 in room 22 Education.  Light lunch will be provided.    

  • Sign Up for Researcher Background Checks for Spring 2019 - School Researchers ONLY

    Accurate Biometrics will visit the College of Education, Room 333, on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 between 10 a.m. and noon to administer fingerprint criminal background checks.

    This on-site background check is available to school researchers ONLY. Students in teacher education programs needing background checks for the Council on Teacher Education (CoTE) must make individual appointments at the Accurate Biometrics location of their choice.

    To sign up and for additional information, click here

  • Sign Up for Researcher Background Checks for Spring 2020 - School Researchers ONLY

    Accurate Biometrics will visit the College of Education, Room 333, on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 between 10 a.m. and noon to administer fingerprint criminal background checks.

    This on-site background check is available to school researchers ONLY. Students in teacher education programs needing background checks for the Council on Teacher Education (CoTE) must make individual appointments at the Accurate Biometrics location of their choice.

    To sign up, login at https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/7780830 

  • Sign Up for Spring 2019 EPS Courses with Dr. Bernice M. Barnett

    Sign up for Spring 2019 EPS 420 & EPS 421/HDFS424/AFRO 421 Courses!

    Professor Bernice M. Barnett (bmbarnet@illinois.edu)

    Two Sociological Foundations in Education Courses:

    (1) EPS 420 Sociology of Education, Tuesday, 1-2:50 p.m., Education Building, Room 323

    4-Hours Credit EPS 420 Graduate Section A: crn #33100

    3-Hours Credit EPS 420 Undergraduate Section B: crn #64898

    Description: EPS 420 is a sociological examination of education and schooling in society, including major sociological theories, concepts, assumptions, questions, research, and ongoing and current issues and debates related to education and schooling and race, gender, and class diversity in educational achievement. One of the highlights is a focus on the impact of social movements of the 1960s on education and schooling. 

    (2) EPS 421 Racial & Ethnic Families Diversity, Tuesday, 10-11:50 a.m., Education Building, Room 323

    4-Hours Credit EPS 421 Graduate section A: crn #68790

    3-Hours Credit EPS 421 Undergraduate section B: crn #68791

    Description: EPS 421/ (HDFS 424 & AFRO 421) is a sociological examination of racial and ethnic diversity of families across and within racial ethnic groups in the U.S. and the basis of family diversity in various regions of the world. One of the highlights of the course is a focus on sociologist Gerhard Lenski's "The  Religious Factor." Topics of the class include the significance of diverse religions among ethnic families, religion’s impact on education and schooling and the politics, economy, and religion as a basis of  family ethnic cultural diversity, competition, and conflict in the U.S. and world.

    ************

    4-Hours Credit HDFS 424 Graduate section A: crn #68794

    3-Hours Credit HDFS 424 Undergraduate section B: crn #68795

    ************

    4-Hours Credit AFRO 421 Graduate section A: crn #68792

    3-Hours Credit AFRO 421 Undergraduate section B: crn #68793

  • Sixth Annual BeeBlitz

    Join us (virtually) on Saturday, June 27, 2020, for the sixth annual BeeBlitz, taking place during National Pollinator Week! All residents of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio are invited to canvas their backyards and neighborhoods for bees, snap some pics, and upload them to BeeSpotter on Saturday, June 27.

  • Small College with a Big Heart

    Education at Illinois faculty, staff, and students welcomed the Class of 2020 to the family in enthusiastic orange and blue style in the courtyard of the Education building on August 19. Our newest “great minds” were buzzing with excitement (and possibly a little sugar) as they met their fellow classmates, checked out student groups and volunteer opportunities like SOAR, and heard from Interim Dean James Anderson and Associate Dean for Academic Programs Chris Span.

  • SOAR After-school Program for Latina/o Children Now Recruiting Tutors for Spring 2019

    SOAR serves Latina/o emergent bilinguals grades 2-5 in a Dual Language setting at a local school. Every semester, we recruit around 120-150 university students to help provide reading and homework support for these children.

    Tutoring is scheduled for TWR from 2:00-3:15 p.m. Illinois students are paired with the same child for the semester and may choose to volunteer more than one day per week. Spanish-speaking skills are not necessary in order to participate.

    Please contact Maria Lang at mglang2@illinois.edu or at 956-535-1459 for more information.

  • SOAR after-school program now recruiting tutors for Fall 17

    SOAR: Student Opportunities for After-School Resources is a partnership between the University of Illinois and the International Prep Academy (IPA) in Champaign. The program provides after-school enrichment for Latina/o bilingual youth. Children in grades 2-5 benefit from tutoring in reading and homework followed by social activities. 

    Tutoring is scheduled for TWR from 2:00-3:15, with time for reading, homework assistance, and social activities with the children. Illinois students are paired with the same child for the semester and may choose to volunteer more than one day per week. Spanish-speaking skills are not necessary in order to participate. Tutors will need to complete a background check through the Champaign School District the third week of classes. 

    U of I students who would like to tutor with SOAR need to commit by September 11.

  • SOAR after-school program now recruiting tutors for Spring 2017

    SOAR tutoring is scheduled for TWR from 2:00-3:15, with time for reading, homework assistance, and social activities with the children. Illinois students are paired with the same child for the semester and may choose to volunteer more than one day per week. Spanish-speaking skills are not necessary in order to participate. Tutors will need to complete a background check through the Champaign School District the third week of classes. The SOAR program coordinator will provide the clearance form for the tutors. This opportunity is especially interesting to Illinois students who want to gain cross-cultural awareness and relationship skills.

  • SOAR afterschool program recruiting volunteer tutors for Fall 2018

    SOAR: Student Opportunities for After-School Resources is a partnership between the University of Illinois and the International Prep Academy (IPA) in Champaign. The program provides afterschool enrichment for Latina/o bilingual youth.

    SOAR tutoring is scheduled for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2 to 3:15 p.m., with time for reading, homework assistance, and social activities with the children. Illinois students are paired with the same child for the semester and may choose to volunteer more than one day per week. Spanish-speaking skills are not necessary to participate. Students who would like to tutor with SOAR need to commit by September 11.

  • SOAR after-school program recruiting volunteer tutors for Spring 2018

    SOAR: Student Opportunities for After-School Resources

    1605 W. Kirby Ave.
    Champaign, IL (International Prep Academy) 

    Primary Contact: María Lang, Program Coordinator
    Email: mglang2@illinois.edu Ph. 956-535-1459 

    SOAR: Student Opportunities for After-School Resources is a partnership between the University of Illinois and the International Prep Academy (IPA) in Champaign. The program provides after-school enrichment for Latina/o bilingual youth. Children in grades 2-5 benefit from tutoring in reading and homework followed by social activities. The program is part of a growing national trend for dual language instruction in schools. Instruction in two languages has value for both emergent bilinguals and those fluent in English. The goal of dual language instruction is to promote positive cross-cultural understanding, bilingualism and biliteracy at a time when knowledge of language and culture confers power. SOAR is one of several programs available through the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities. The Center is an outreach arm in the College of Education. 

    Opportunities for U of I students include:

    One-to-One Tutoring. SOAR tutoring is scheduled for TWR from 2:00-3:15, with time for reading, homework assistance, and social activities with the children. Illinois students are paired with the same child for the semester and may choose to volunteer more than one day per week. Spanish-speaking skills are not necessary in order to participate. Tutors will need to complete a background check through the Champaign School District the third week of classes. The SOAR program coordinator will provide the clearance form for the tutors. This opportunity is especially interesting to Illinois students who want to gain cross-cultural awareness and relationship skills.

    U of I students who would like to tutor with SOAR need to commit by January 29.

  • Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library Survey

    We want to know what you think!

    Help us understand how you are using Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) so we can assist you better!

    Below is a link to a survey about SSHEL.  The link is active from April 6th to April 17th.

    https://uiuc.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cUYm4W6l1AI2IUl

    If you have any questions, please contact JJ Pionke at pionke@illinois.edu or Nancy O’Brien at npobrien@illinois.edu

    Thank you for taking the time to fill this out!

    SSHEL Library

  • Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library Survey

    Have your voice heard!

    Help us understand how you are using Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) so we can assist you better!

    Below is a link to a survey about SSHEL.  The link is active until April 17th.  The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

    https://uiuc.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cUYm4W6l1AI2IUl

    If you have any questions, please contact JJ Pionke at pionke@illinois.edu or Nancy O’Brien at npobrien@illinois.edu

    Thank you for taking the time to fill this out!

    SSHEL Library

  • Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library Winter Break Hours

    The Library will have significantly reduced hours during winter break. The Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) will be open regular Fall semester hours through the end of finals, closing on Friday December 20 at 6:00pm. We will be closed December 21 through January 1. On January 2 & 3, and January 6 through January 17, SSHEL will be open 8:30am-5pm Monday through Friday. The Library is closed on weekends during winter break. Spring semester hours resume on Tuesday, January 21. If you need Library materials or services for your research or studies, please plan ahead.

  • Social Sciences Symposium and Workshop

    Dear Educators,

    Please see these two events shared with us by Illinois Humanities, the state affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

    Regards, 

    The EU Center at Illinois

  • SOPS 5th Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium

    We are the board of the Society of Postdoctoral Scholars (SOPS).  Currently, we are organizing our 5th Annual Postdoctoral Symposium, which will take place on February 6th, 2015.  We came by the College of Education office earlier this week to drop off a couple of flyers for the bulletin boards, and we were told to contact individual departments for distributing the symposium information through the listserv.  Could you please help us forward the announcement below to postdocs, graduate students, and faculty through the departmental mailing list?  Please feel free to contact us should you have additional comments or questions!  Thank you very much in advance!

    The registration for the 5th Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium is now open!  The event will be held at the Beckman Institute on February 6th, 2015, and is open to all disciplines. The deadline for abstract submission and registration is January 16th, 2015. Audience will get to vote for outstanding presentations, and the chosen talk and poster finalists will be awarded cash prizes.  Several travel awards will also be provided for out-of-town presenters. Graduate student posters are also welcome!

    January 16th, 2015. Audience will get to vote for outstanding presentations, and the chosen talk and poster finalists will be awarded cash prizes.  Several travel awards will also be provided for out-of-town presenters. Graduate student posters are also welcome!

    Please help us spread the word about this symposium not only to the fellow researchers on campus, but also to the scholars beyond its boundaries! For more information and to register, please visit our website.

     

    SOPS Organizing Committee

    http://sops.beckman.illinois.edu

  • Spanish learners and Spanish heritage/native speakers needed for language study

    Noelia Sánchez-Walker is a graduate student in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Illinois and works under the supervision of Professor Silvina Montrul. As part of his doctoral dissertation, he is investigating comprehension of Spanish sentences by Spanish speakers. For this purpose, he is recruiting second language learners of Spanish, native Speakers of Spanish who grew up in the U.S., and native speakers of Spanish from Spanish speaking countries to participate in research.

    The experiment lasts approximately 60 to 90 minutes. In exchange for research participants' time they will receive $10 per hour. Participation in his research will allow Sánchez-Walker to gain further understanding of factors that influence native and non-native Spanish speakers when they read or hear Spanish sentences, which in turn may help Spanish instructors develop more effective teaching methods.

    Those who are interested in participating can email Sánchez-Walker at sanche21@illinois.edu, and he will be in touch to set a time and date to meet in the Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism Lab (SLAB) at the Foreign Language Building (FLB).

  • Christopher Span

    Span Named Dean of Graduate School of Education at Rutgers

    Span received his Ph.D. from Illinois in 2001 and was a member of the faculty since 2003. He will begin his role as dean on July 1, 2024.

  • Michelle Sands

    Special Education Alumna Michelle Sands Wins 2022 CEC-DR Student Research Award

    Congratulations to Department of Special Education alumna Michelle Sands for her Council for Exceptional Children Student Research Award in Mixed Methods Design.

  • Special Education alumna named dean at Cal State Long Beach

    Shireen Pavri, Ph.D. ’99 Spec.Ed., has been named dean of the college of education at Cal State Long Beach.

  • Hedda Meadan-Kaplansky

    Special Education Department Head Transition

    Our sincere gratitude and appreciation go out to Professor Micki Ostrosky for her many years of service as head of the Department of Special Education. While Dr. Ostrosky is stepping down from this role, she will remain committed to her outstanding scholarship within the department.

    Following an internal search, and with the recommendation of the Special Education faculty, Dean Jim Anderson has announced that Dr. Hedda Meadan-Kaplansky has accepted the offer to serve as Head of the Department of Special Education beginning July 16, 2021.

  • Special Education Department Seeking PhD Students for Five Programs

    Four new awards this fall from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) make for five projects that the Special Education department is currently recruiting doctoral students to particpate in starting Fall 2020.

  • Special Education grad student selected as Research Live! finalist

    Jamie Pearson, a graduate student in the Department of Special Education, was selected as a finalist at the 2016 Research Live! competition at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The event is sponsored by the Graduate College at Illinois.

  • Special Education Graduate Student Association Hosts Spring 2022 Disability Film Festival

    The College of Education's Special Education Graduate Student Association invites you to celebrate March as Disability Awareness Month. Please join us for the Spring 2022 Disability Film Festival. This event will feature two movies and discussions with the filmmakers on two subsequent nights. Register today to be sent links to view the films, free of charge.

  • Special Education head, student receive DEC awards

    Micki Ostrosky, head of the Department of Special Education, received the Division for Early Childhood Award for Mentoring. Jenna Weglarz-Ward, a Special Education doctoral student, joined Ostrosky as a DEC honoree, earning the J. David Sexton Student Award.

  • Special Education Professor Emeritus Bob Henderson Passes Away

    It is with much sadness that we report the recent passing of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Bob Henderson. He died peacefully in his sleep at age 94. As one of the true pioneers in the field of Special Education, he will be missed greatly. More information to come in the near future as plans are made to honor and remember Dr. Henderson.

  • Special Education's Amy Santos Named to the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention

    Governor J.B. Pritzker has appointed professor Rosa Milagros (Amy) Santos to the statewide Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention. Congratulations to Dr. Santos on this honor.

  • Special Education scholar receives IES grant

    Hedda Meadan-Kaplansky, an associate professor in the Department of Special Education, is a principal investigator in a new federally funded research project that will involve developing and testing an app designed for parents with young children with disabilities and challenging behaviors, which can place stressful demands on families.

  • Special Education scholar receives NSF funding

    Maya Israel, an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education, is the principal investigator of a research project funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation for $599,829. Cinda Heeren, a senior lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, and George Reese, director of the Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education, will be co-principal investigators on the project.

  • Special Education scholars receive Zelinger Research Award

    Dr. Meghan Burke and doctoral student Cheug eun Lee are the recipients of the annual 2016-2017 Marissa Zelinger Research Award. The award is generously funded by Phillip C. and Beverly Goldstick in honor of their granddaughter, Marissa Zelinger, who was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a disorder that affects communication.

  • Special Education seeking full-time lecturer

    The Department of Special Education is seeking a full-time (nine-month) lecturer to function as a University Practicum Supervisor in the Learning and Behavior Specialist I (LBSI) Initial Special Education Teacher Preparation Program. The successful applicant will work closely with LBSI teacher candidates and cooperating teachers in practicum placements.

    Learn more at https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/1336773/college-of-education-lecturer-special-education-f1700015-/.

  • Special Education's Magen Rooney-Kron Wins 2019 AAIDD Research Interest Network Scholarship

    Magen Rooney-Kron, doctoral student in the Department of Special Education, has won a 2019 Research Interest Network Scholarship from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).

  • Associate professor Meghan Burke

    Special Education's Meghan Burke Named University Scholar

    Join us in congratulating Associate Professor Meghan Burke on being selected by the University of Illinois System as a 2020-21 University Scholar.

  • Special Education's Nikki Adams Named to ECPC/DEC Leadership Cohort

    Nikki Adams, doctoral student in the Department of Special Education, has been accepted to the Early Childhood Personnel Center and Division for Early Childhood 2020 Early Childhood Intervention Leadership Cohort.

  • Special Education's Todd Lash Awarded Equity Fellowship from Computer Science Teacher's Association

    Special Education doctoral student Todd Lash has been named one of ten fellows in the CSTA's inaugural Equity Fellowship program, made possible in partnership with Microsoft and Pluralsight One.

  • Adele Miller

    Special Education Student Named IHSI Community Academic Scholar

    The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute, with support from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion has named 17 scholars to the cohort to work on projects that will address diverse community needs.

  • SPED Alumni Receive Prestigious CEC Awards

    Stacy McGuire and Courtney O'Grady recently received awards from the Division for Research of the Council for Exceptional Children.

  • SPED Doctoral Student James Lee Wins Research Award from CEC

    Congratulations to Special Education doctoral student James Lee, who is the recipient of the 2020 John Umbreit Doctoral Research Award (JUDRA) from the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD) division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

  • Jessica Hardy and Catherine Corr

    SPED Faculty Awarded New $1.2M OSEP Grant

    Assistant professors Catherine Corr and Jessica Hardy are leading a project that has received significant funding from the Office of Special Education Programs.

  • Shana Calhoun

    SPED Graduate Featured for Supporting Students in Need

    Shana Calhoun, '21 SPED, teaches Special Education at Rantoul Township High School.