New College of Business Building Breaking Ground Sept. 5
You are invited to attend the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Michael E. Stephens College of Business building. This event will be held Thursday, Sept. 5, at 3:30 p.m. in the Morgan Hall parking lot.
UM Hosts Alabama Conference of Theatre Fall Summit
Dozens of theatre educators from across the state gathered at the University on Saturday, Aug. 24, as they sought out ways to make theatre and arts education more inclusive and diverse statewide.
UM hosted the Alabama Conference of Theatre fall summit at Reynolds Hall throughout the day, and participants took part in several events aimed at strengthening Alabama’s theatre education programs. Read more about this event.
Doug Jones Hosts Education Roundtable at UM
U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, hosted an education roundtable in Anna Irvin Dining Hall on Aug. 24. The event featured a seven-member panel of education experts, including UM College of Education and Human Development Dean Dr. Courtney Bentley, as they discussed strategies and challenges related to increasing Alabama’s teacher workforce.
“We’ve got some amazing people on this panel who are the boots on the ground for solving this issue. Thank each of you for what you do to elevate the children of Alabama,” Jones said. “To solve this issue, we’ve got to have good, qualified people and give them the tools to make them successful and keep them in the teaching profession.”
Falcons Lead GSC on 2018-2019 ADA Academic Achievement Awards
The University of Montevallo Athletic department had 83 student-athletes recognized by the Division II Athletic Directors Association for the 2018-2019 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards.
The ADA in total set a record in recognizing 11,660 student-athletes from around the country who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, have attended a minimum of two years of college-level work and have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during their last academic year.
Montevallo boasted the most student-athletes of any Gulf South Conference school featured in the awards. The GSC, in total, featured 390 student-athletes on the Academic Achievement Awards.
Montevallo Connection Meetings
Please mark your calendars and join Montevallo Connection for its upcoming meetings where you will hear updates and needs from our local principals and teachers at Montevallo Elementary School, Montevallo Middle School and Montevallo High School. This is a great opportunity for your department or your class to determine where you can collaborate and help local students. Meetings for this academic year are scheduled for:
- Wednesday, Sept. 11, Montevallo Elementary School, 4 to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 6, Montevallo Middle School, 4 to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, Montevallo High School, 4 to 5 p.m.
ValloCycle Glow Ride
The next ValloCycle Glow Ride is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10. Join us for a leisurely, 45-minute night ride around Montevallo. Our journey takes us through the town and off the main roads (no one is left behind). We ride after dark, so decorate your bike with lights. If you need to borrow a free bike, email vallocycle@gmail.com.
Please plan to meet in front of UMOM (University of Montevallo on Main Street) at 6:30 p.m. We will ride at 7 p.m. and end with socializing at Frios — our treat.
Interdisciplinary Studies Update
We regret to inform the UM community that as of Aug. 1, the interdisciplinary studies (IDS) major has been officially closed by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education due to a lack of sufficient and sustained enrollment in the major. While no new students will be admitted to the IDS program, a detailed “teach-out” plan has been put in place for the students who were IDS majors before the closure to be able to finish out their degrees.
We encourage current UM students who are interested in cross-disciplinary studies to look closely at the wide array of possible combinations of UM’s major and minor programs. Several of UM’s minors offer an interdisciplinary approach to various subjects and can be constructively combined with a traditional major to add a new dimension to your chosen field of study. If you have any questions regarding the IDS major closure, please contact Dr. Steve Forrester at forrestersb@montevallo.edu or 205-665-6439.
UM Green Fund Call for Proposals
Did you know that the University of Montevallo was the first college in Alabama to have a green fund? The UM Green Fund is a pool of money used to provide grants for campus projects that improve sustainability, decrease our ecological footprint and educate the University and local communities about sustainable practices, environmental issues and caring for the planet. The Green Fund has $30,000 available! Any member of the UM community, including students and student groups, can write a Green Fund grant proposal.
Application guidelines are available by request. Contact Dr. Susan Caplow for more information. All proposals are due by Tuesday, Oct. 1.
A drop-in proposal workshop will be held Friday, Sept. 13, between 1 and 4 p.m. in the Tower. Bring your ideas and we’ll answer questions, brainstorm ideas and help you strengthen your proposal before you submit.
TRIO Student Support Services
TRIO Student Support Services is a comprehensive academic support program designed to increase the retention and graduation rates for income-eligible, first generation college students and students with disabilities. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, TRIO SSS helps students develop the academic mindset and motivation necessary to be successful at UM as well as in their future professional endeavors. In addition to individual tutoring, we provide various workshops that address academic, personal, social and professional issues. Most importantly, we provide consistent and ongoing support throughout the students’ time at UM.
We are currently recruiting for the 2019-2020 academic year. As the fall semester gets underway, please consider having our TRIO SSS staff visit your classes to inform them about our services and resources. If you are interested, contact Dr. Denise Myers at rmyers1@montevallo.edu or 206-665-6094 with the class, day and time you would like one of our staff to visit and if you have a preference for a presentation at the beginning or the end of the class period. We expect that the presentation will not take more than 10 minutes.
TRIO SSS participants consistently achieve a high rate of academic success by taking full advantage of the program’s resources, support and advocacy, as demonstrated with the following statistics from 2018-2019:
- 87% of students have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- 36% of students have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- 91% of students are in good academic standing.
- 37 students graduated Spring 2019.
- Six students enrolled in graduate school programs Fall 2019.
- 24 students are receiving UM scholarships in the 2019-2020 academic year.
- 55% four-year graduation rate. (2015 freshman cohort)
Grad School Informational Session
An information session for grad school will be held Monday, Sept. 16, at 3:30 p.m. in Comer 100. Topics to be covered include the application process, steps to take before applying, taking the GRE/MAT, asking for letters of recommendation and researching programs. This session will be facilitated by Dr. Stacey Ayotte.
Student Leaders Needed for Sustainability Committee
We are looking for students who want to help UM set and meet sustainability goals. Positions are open to students in any major and any year in school. Student terms on the committee are a one-year commitment.
The sustainability committee has five overarching goals:
- Oversee and promote current campus sustainability initiatives.
- Recommend and promote ways for the University to become more energy-efficient.
- Implement plans for long-term sustainability.
- Facilitate integration of academic initiatives with campus sustainability activities and plans.
- Select the projects that will be financed by the Green Fund.
If you know a student who may be interested in this opportunity, please have them contact Dr. Susan Caplow with their name, major, school year and a brief, one-paragraph explanation of why they are interested in serving on this committee. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Food Trucks on Campus
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3, a few food trucks are scheduled to be on campus throughout the fall semester.
City Bowls 2 — every first and third Tuesday of the month
Mustard Seed Food Company (vegan/vegetarian) — every Wednesday
Food trucks can be found outside Anna Irvin Dining Hall between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the scheduled days listed above.
Chamber Music Recital
Members of the Magnolia Trio, including Dr. Lori Ardovino, clarinet, Patty Pilon, cello, and Dr. Laurie Middaugh, piano, will perform pieces by Bach, Mendelssohn and Beethoven on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in LeBaron Recital Hall.
2019-2020 Parking Permit Registration
For instructions on how to register your vehicle for a 2019-2020 parking permit, please visit this page. Should you have any questions or concerns, contact the University Police Department at 205-666-6155. If you have already registered for a 2019-2020 permit, or you are an employee who has a permit, you may disregard this notice.
September Professional Photo Days
University Marketing & Communications is pleased to offer Professional Photo Days. Each month, the University photographer will have two designated mornings available for professional headshots. Anyone on campus is welcome to participate (faculty, staff or students). There is no charge. This month’s Professional Photo Days are Thursday, Sept. 5, and Friday, Sept. 6, from 8 to 11 a.m. Please contact Alyssa Green to reserve a time slot.
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