October 2010 Archives

Episode 16 of our bi-weekly podcast, Liberal Arts Voices, features two first year students in the College of the Liberal Arts: Cathy Rogers and Michael Kramer, as well as CLA adviser Karen Sones. In this episode, the group discusses what the transitional experience is like for students new to Penn State and to the College of the Liberal Arts.

Although this is the first year at Penn State for both Cathy and Michael, they come from very different backgrounds. Michael is a traditional first year freshman from rural Pennsylvania. Cathy is an adult student returning to school after retiring from the United States Military. Both Cathy and Michael talk about how their previous experiences helped them to get to this point in their lives. They talk about why they chose to study at Penn State and more specifically in the Liberal Arts. The students also share stories about their recent transitions to life at Penn State. They discuss some of the difficulties they experienced in making this kind of transition, including learning how to navigate the UP campus and managing their time between academics and extracurricular activities.

Sociology and Crime, Law, and Justice Adviser Karen Sones also talks about how advisers can help first year and transfer students work through this period of transition. She mentions some of the most common issues that new students face when they arrive on campus and gives some helpful pointers. First year, transfer, and current Liberal Arts undergraduates should make sure to make use of the College's new Undergraduate Studies website. Here students will find a variety of resources pertaining to academics, advising, enrichment opportunities, and more.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 16

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

I'm actually not a huge Rolling Stones fan, but the words popped into my head, so I went with it. I'm John Dolan, and I have the honor of taking on a brand new role here in the College of the Liberal Arts as the Director of Digital Media and Pedagogy. This is a shared position between the College and Penn State's Education Technology Services, whose primary mission is to provide leadership and support in the appropriate use of technology for teaching, learning, and research.

My role here serves several purposes. I will be working closely with Associate Dean Chris Long and the LAUS office to coordinate and direct the effective use of technology for teaching, research and student engagement. I will also be working with our faculty, departments, institutes and staff to better understand the impact of technology on the liberal arts and to help the College adopt and implement pedagogical strategies that take full advantage of the affordances new technologies offer. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that the College is positioned to play a leading role in the creative and effective use of technology in education.

Though I am new to the College of the Liberal Arts, I am not new to Penn State. In fact, I am originally from State College, and returned to Happy Valley in 2002 after being away for about 13 years. During those years, I lived in Washington, D.C., Nashville and Atlanta, and then Washington D.C. again, before returning with my wife and two sons to be closer to my family. I received my B.A. in Advertising from Penn State and my M.B.A. from Vanderbilt, with an emphasis in marketing. I am currently in the "ABD" stage of my doctoral work in Penn State's College of Education, with an emphasis in human resource/organization development. The topic of my dissertation is the use of social media in the workplace. In addition, I am an adjunct instructor of public relations for the College of Communications.

I've been working in the technology space for many years. I was a product manager for several years with Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (now called Washington Post Media), where I was responsible for the management of several online classified advertising products. This was in the heyday of the web economy, and I got to see the swell of excitement and then the crash back to reality.  Before coming to Penn State, I was an online general manager for two Knight Ridder (now McClatchy) newspaper properties as well. I have also worked at BellSouth (now AT&T), AT&T (still AT&T, sort of) and The Washington Post newspaper. I come to the College from Penn State Outreach, where I was the assistant director of Continuing and Professional Education (now called Penn State Business Solutions). (Are you getting the sense that my departure from organizations seems to lead to upheaval, mergers and name changes? Me, too.)

I have been an avid producer and user of social media tools for several years now-- podcasts, vodcasts, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google Docs, Flickr, etc. and am looking into even more in the future. To commemorate my new role, I have started a new blog, called "Walking in LA", which chronicles some of my thoughts and observations about the use of social and digital media in education. I am also the co-host of a podcast called "The U Report", which profiles Penn State faculty, staff and students to try to make this huge university seem a little bit smaller. This can be found on iTunesU and via Facebook, Twitter and our blog. I also incorporate social media into the course I teach, and will experiment this spring with the new "groups" feature on Facebook to see if that will be a viable source for communication and collaboration in my class.

Social media tools are sometimes described as "disruptive technology", a term that is credited to Harvard professor Clayton Christensen from an article he wrote in 1995. Disruptive technology is an interesting term, as it connotes some sort of out-of-control software program wreaking havoc in the workplace, turning desks upside down and spilling boxes of paperclips and folders all over the floor. However, what I believe it to mean is that it's the development of technology tools that improve (fill in the blank). It is disruptive because it is shaking up what was being done previously, not because it is passing notes in class. Any innovation, whether technology-based or not, could be considered disruptive to what was the state-of-the-art previously. It was said at the Educause conference I just attended last week that at one point in our history, a disruptive piece of technology in the classroom was this:

Which of these tools will we still see in classrooms 100 years from now? I couldn't venture to say, but I am excited to be part of the journey.

I can be contacted via email at dolan@psu.edu, via Twitter @dolanatpsu, by phone at 814-867-4412, or in my office in 100 Sparks. 100 Sparks doesn't yet have a number or my name on it, but it's next to 101 Sparks and has a Lion Shrine stained glass hanging in the window, so you can't miss it.  

I would love to meet you, either in person or virtually, and talk, Tweet or exchange posts with you about your perspectives on the use of digital and social media within the College.  I'm thrilled to be here.  

If I had a dollar every time I heard, "What am I going to do with this degree?" I would be a rich woman!

You know the old saying...

The graduate with a science degree asks, "Why does it work?"

The graduate with an engineering degree asks, "How does it work?"

The graduate with an accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?"

The graduate with a liberal arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?"

You must admit that some of you had to explain to your parents why you wanted to pursue a degree in the liberal arts. The genesis of such stereotypical perspectives regarding liberal arts majors can be partially attributed to the computer generation and the industrial revolutions that have dominated our country's short history. But as liberal arts students you know that such stereotypes are unfounded. In fact, a liberal arts degree is more valuable today than ever before. In response to this shifting economic dilemma, many corporations have become less hierarchical and require employees who have developed a wide array of knowledge, rather than ones who specialize in one specific area. Who better is equipped then you!  Liberal Arts students gain a unique education that enables them to think critically and to become ethical leaders and global citizens.
 
You don't just learn facts--liberal arts students apply what they learn, test theories, consider multiple perspectives, and put knowledge into action. As noted in the Wall Street Journal (Sept 13, 2010), The Pennsylvania State University was ranked number 1 in their survey regarding company recruiters. The article stated graduates of top public universities are often among the most prepared and well-rounded academically. Companies have found they fit well into their corporate cultures and over time have the best track record in their firms.

That being said you need to take the appropriate steps NOW so that at the end of your academic journey you have asked the right questions that will help point yourself in the right direction. Here are some to think about...

Where do you look for information about different careers?  Career Services! They have entire programs focusing on how to write a resume; interview techniques; suggestions about majors and internships; and drop in counseling.
 
Where do you look for information about different careers, companies, and jobs?  Did you know that Career Services has a fall and spring career fair? Career Services has a page dedicated to finding a job and how to develop the necessary skills to clarify your career goals; identify your job target; and plan and organize your job search.  

How can I prepare myself to compete for entry level jobs?  It is never too early to do internships. I encourage you to try to obtain an internship every summer. The majority of them are unpaid, however you need to focus on what you will gain during the internship - networking, references, knowledge of the area you wish to work in (non-profit, business, government, local). Use your available time wisely and make an effort to increase your exposure to career fields of interest through job shadowing, internships, volunteer positions, or work experiences during academic and summer breaks. Consult the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies Internship website to start your search.
 
Does performance matter? It helps! Look at your academic coursework to ensure that you are maximizing the array of academic and career options available to you at Penn State. The quality of your involvement within an organization is more valuable than the number of organizations in which you are involved. Seek opportunities for leadership within an organization (i.e. become an officer or take on a position that demands responsibility), find something you care enough about to make a difference, look for opportunities to volunteer in the community.

How do you network? Start now by meeting and building a relationship with your academic adviser to learn about majors, academic options, course content, and requirements. This is just the start of learning how to network. Also, it is very important to establish a relationship with faculty to learn about academic programs and related opportunities to build skills in and outside of the classroom. Remember your faculty members are passionate about the same things you are passionate about! I challenge you to get to know at least one of your faculty members every semester.  

So embrace your decision for selecting Liberal Arts because you are the future leaders, creators, and developers of our future!  I know you are destined for great things.

This is the last special episode of Liberal Arts Voices for the fall 2010 semester featuring this year's Penn State Laureate, poet and Professor of English and Womens' Studies, Robin Becker. Throughout the year, Liberal Arts Voices will be collaborating with Penn State Live to cover the poems and work of Professor Becker.

In this podcast Professor Becker joins Dean Long; CLA Enrichment Coordinator and PSU English alum, Ashley Tarbet; English major Natalie Kovak; and English grad student William Woolfit to discuss Professor Becker's poem "The Poconos."  You can read the full version of "The Poconos" on Penn State Live.

The group discusses a variety of themes in the poem including: the legacy of Native American tribes in Pennsylvania; the individual's transition from childhood to adulthood; and notions of identity and autonomy. Professor Becker also spends some time sharing how she makes formal decisions in her poems. For instance, she talks about how the shorter lines in this poem affect its structure and the way it is read.

We invite you to respond to this poem or to the question that Professor asks at the conclusion of her poem:  Do you recall a time when your desire to "fit in" competed with your desire to maintain or exhibit your individuality? If so, what choices did you make and why?

Liberal Arts Voices: Robin Becker's "The Poconos"

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

To watch a video of Professor Becker reading this poem or to read the actual poem, visit Penn State Live.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

Our first round of Eco-Rep programs was a success! For the month of September, our theme was reducing energy use for entertainment. All twenty of us Eco-Reps were divided into groups according to our residence halls and split up to do activities involving our halls. The Eco-Rep program is designed for Freshman students so it applies to East Halls only. My group included Pinchot and Sproul halls and we held 'Eco-Rep Hangman'. This involved drawing polar bears on a noose, winning prizes, and best of all, Free Pizza! Our next program for the month of October focuses on this month's theme of reducing lighting by 25%. The program is...(drumroll please)...Pumpkin Decorating Contest! A prize will be awarded for the pumpkin with the best message about reducing electricity consumption. The decorating will take place in the Johnston and Findlay commons on Saturday, October 23 from 3PM-5PM. All of the different Eco-Rep groups are going to come together to help make it a success and we will be equipped with costumes! 

In episode 15 of our bi-weekly podcast, Liberal Arts Voices, International Politics major Nicole Zinni and CLA Study Abroad Coordinator Dr. Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor join the program to discuss education abroad.

Nicole talks about her experience studying abroad last spring in Istanbul, Turkey. She mentions some of the challenges of studying abroad: adjusting to a new culture, eating new foods, learning a new language. But Nicole reflects on how the challenging aspects of studying abroad also often help to make the experience rewarding. She is thankful that she was open to a variety of new experiences because in return she gained a more global perspective and a greater sense of independence. Nicole also takes some time to mention how blogging about her education abroad program gave her the opportunity to further reflect on her experiences and to share them with others. Make sure to check out Nicole's blog for more details about her trip to Turkey.

Dr. Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor points out a variety of helpful resources liberal arts undergraduates should consult as they think about studying abroad. She points out that the "Education Abroad" section of the LAUS website has recently been redesigned to provide the most pertinent resources for CLA undergrads. In addition, make sure to check our LAUS Announcements blog for upcoming Education Abroad Info Sessions. You can also visit our "The Education Abroad Experience" blog to hear from your fellow undergrads currently studying abroad.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 15

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

The National Research Council has released an assessment of German Ph.D. programs in the United States. Of 29 ranked programs, Penn State's German Ph.D. program is ranked tenth for overall quality. We tied for first in the professional development of graduate students. All of our graduate students receive extensive training and support in research, teaching and writing, areas crucial to professional success. Our faculty ranked third in the number of grants received. Funding agencies give grants to faculty only for high quality research. Grants also provide excellent research opportunities for our students.  The NRC also rated our Ph.D. program in the top 10 in such important categories as job placement and faculty research productivity.  To view the complete rankings of German Ph.D. programs, visit the PhDs.org website.

Visit the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures website for more information. You can also find an

Penn State's Political Science department earned a place among the top political science departments in the National Research Council's nation-wide review of graduate programs published on September 28, 2010. According to the NRC and www.phds.org, out of 105 graduate programs in political science, Penn State ranked #5 using the NRC's "S" scale. On the alternative "R" scale, the program was ranked #22. The NRC's S index applied survey-based weights to 20 program characteristics measuring accomplishments in faculty research and student training, while the R ranking incorporated reputational data into a regression-based ranking model.  

Joining Penn State in the top five programs on the "S" scale were Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Michigan, and New York University. Penn State's political science department also scored in the top 10% of the 105 Political Science programs on faculty publication rate, citation counts, and median time to degree, reflecting the department's accomplishments in these key areas. The full NRC report is available at http://www.nap.edu/rdp and details on rankings can be found at http://graduate-school.phds.org/.

Just-released National Research Council assessments of graduate program quality rank the Penn State Sociology Department No. 3 of 118 programs nationally on the overall summary ranking, based on the NRC's 20-factor objective S-method and the 5th percentile criteria.

Penn State is tied with Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania and trailing only Princeton in the overall quality of sociology graduate program ranking. Penn State is the top-ranked public university sociology graduate program in the country.

The Penn State Sociology Department is ranked second in the discipline on the NRC's "research activity" dimension (average number of publication, citations, and grants per faculty). The Sociology Department is particularly pleased to be ranked at the top in research productivity, as the components of this dimension were identified as the most salient indicators of program quality by all sociology discipline faculty participants in the NRC evaluation.

Confirming the department's strong commitment to the training and mentoring of the next generation of scholars, the NRC ranked Penn State's Sociology Department particularly highly -- No. 3 across all sociology programs -- on the dimension of "student support and outcomes."

Looking back on a 14-year (and still progressing) career at the US EPA while planning for a Happy Valley visit with current students on October 13 (more on that later), a poignant moment is recalled: the day I found a postcard from my favorite PSU professor in the mailbox of my new Washington, DC apartment.

"Andrew," it said with exasperation, "You went out to change the world and ended up in the belly of the beast!"

Needless to say, my exuberance over securing a job at the Environmental Protection Agency was appropriately humbled.

And yet, now - so many years removed from that postcard and my activist days at Penn State - do I feel like my ideals have been... devoured?

Truthfully?

Sort of.

And: not really.

Contrary to what I believed at PSU (I'm unstoppable!), what I wished for as a young graduate (revolution!), and what I worked for during an ill-fated job in California (power to the people - now!), I've come to understand that - except in rare circumstances - change is incremental.

And maybe the most suitable place to implement that gradual change is from within the very "beast" that all too often squelches it (which is the impression many folks have of the federal government).

So, here I am at the EPA, where I work daily on climate change - the mother of all environmental problems.  My job is to provide assistance to local governments and schools, private companies and nonprofits, and common joes from all over the mid-Atlantic.  I help them with efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, lessen their "carbon footprints" and design environmental programs to engage and motivate the broader public.

On the horizon remains the vision of the world as I would like it to be, and from time to time in my day-to-day work, I gaze up to make sure that I'm getting closer to it.

And I am.

I may not be on the path I imagined for myself when I left Penn State with my Political Science degree (member of the revolutionary vanguard... folk hero...etc.), but I'm still heading in the right direction.  Changing the world in small, bite-size chunks; one email, one conference call and one meeting at a time...

How about you?

What are your goals?  What paths do you hope to follow to reach them?

Come share some thoughts with my colleagues and me on October 13 at 6:00pm in 103 Career Services Building.

 

Written by Student Body President Christian Ragland.

What can the College of the Liberal Arts do for you?  I say that the College of Liberal Arts can do everything for you and will certainly lay a great foundation geared towards your success.

I like to think of myself as one of the many success stories that come from the College of the Liberal Arts. Coming into my last and senior year, I am blessed to be able to say that I hold the position of the Penn State Student Body President. Now I could not have gotten to this point without some help. Besides my faith and the support of my family, the College of the Liberal Arts has played a key role in the development of my leadership skills which allowed me to get elected Student Body President.

To start from the beginning, when I first came to Penn State, I came here with a passion to lead people to better things and better environments. I didn't care if my leadership would be in the realms of student government, community development, or the federal government; I just knew that I was passionate about leading people to the next levels of their lives. So I quickly realized that my home for the next four years would be in the College of the Liberal Arts as a Political Science and Sociology candidate.  At the same time, I also got involved with student government as well because I saw student government as a foundation builder to the next level of leadership in my life. Now how does this all have to do with me winning my election? The opportunities afforded to me by the College of the Liberal Arts were by far some of the main keys to my success. The Political Science and Sociology classes that I took helped me understand academically the role of passionate leaders in our society and the history of those leaders who came before me. The many internships provided by the College helped me gain the experience needed to become a credible leader. The alumni who continue to give back to the college have paved the way for me to be able to follow in their footsteps. So in essence, becoming Student Body President was quite easy now that I think about it, because the College of the Liberal Arts continuously prepared me for the role.

So again, what can the College of the Liberal Arts do for you? The real question is what can't our College do for you? The diversity of academic disciplines, people, and real experiences in the College of the Liberal Arts is what I believe to be the heart of the College. Now in essence, it is up to us students to continue the legacy of the College of the Liberal Arts. I do not know about you, but I plan to continue to make the College more prestigious and promising by becoming an expert and a leader with the tools that the College of the Liberal Arts afforded me.

For the Glory,

Christian Dupree Ragland
Student Body President

This is the fourth of several special episodes of Liberal Arts Voices featuring this year's Penn State Laureate, poet and Professor of English and Womens' Studies, Robin Becker. Throughout the fall semester, Liberal Arts Voices will be collaborating with Penn State Live to cover the poems and work of Professor Becker.

In this podcast Professor Becker joins Dean Long; CLA Enrichment Coordinator and PSU English alum, Ashley Tarbet; English major Natalie Kovak; and English grad student William Woolfit to discuss Professor Becker's poem "The Round Barn."  You can read the full version of "The Round Barn" on Penn State Live.

Professor Becker begins by describing how she became fascinated by the history of round cultural structures like barns. She talks about her interest in examining how these shapes might also be interpreted as religious symbols. The group mentions several examples of iconic round structures, like Frank Lloyd Wright's Kentuck Knob or the Neff Barn in PA. They go on to discuss the shapes, imagery, and symbolism at work in "The Round Barn" and what these themes might reveal.

We invite you to respond to this poem or to the question that Professor Becker asks at the conclusion of her poem: What buildings or monuments or homes strike you as especially original? How do they pressure or expand community standards?

Liberal Arts Voices: Robin Becker's "The Round Barn"

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

To watch a video of Professor Becker reading this poem or to read the actual poem, visit Penn State Live.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices. 

Many of you may be reaching the middle of the semester and wondering what you should do next. You may have your sights set on next semester and are not sure how to plan. You may also have questions about some of the things that happen at this time during the fall, such as "Why am I getting these reports from my professor? What do they mean?" Below are some things that you can expect or should do midway through the semester:

1.  Mid-Semester Reports - If you receive a mid-semester report, follow the instructions the instructor sent and meet with the faculty member for additional assistance. They can provide significant guidance at a critical point in the semester. This is also an excellent opportunity to review your most recent exam and make sure you understand the material. Also schedule a meeting with your adviser to discuss utilizing additional PSU resources

2.  To Drop or Not to Drop? Is it OK to drop down to only 12 credits? At this point, as long as you have late drop credits, you can late drop a course. However, is this in your best interest? In many cases, it is not a good idea to drop a course. This is especially true if you will have fewer than 12 credits, which could possibly affect your financial aid and health insurance. If you are considering a late drop and have questions, please consult with your adviser.

3. Study, study, study. If you are struggling in your classes, reflect on how you are studying. Are you studying with your music on or in a busy restaurant where there are a lot of people? Or, are you studying in the library, where you can concentrate on what you are trying to learn? Are you utilizing all of the services the University provides, such as the services provided through Penn State Learning?

4. Utilize the GPA predictor on eLion. Use the grades you currently have. This should give you a good baseline as to what your GPA will be at the end of the semester.

5. Brainstorm possible internships. This is a good time to start investigating possible internships for next semester. Many internship opportunities are posted on the LAUS Announcements Blog and your adviser can make appropriate referrals about internship opportunities that are specific to your academic department.

6. Thinking about studying abroad? You should start looking into study abroad opportunities on the Education Abroad Website. The Deadline for applying for next fall abroad experiences is January 20, 2011 and the deadline for a summer abroad experience is February 1, 2011.

7. Time to meet with your adviser! Most students meet with their adviser at least once a semester to discuss course selection for the upcoming term and also discuss long-term planning and career goals. Please keep in mind that your adviser's calendar may fill quickly, so schedule an appointment several weeks in advance of your scheduling date.

8. And lastly, it is a time to stay healthy. You are rapidly approaching the end of the semester. You need to make sure you eat right, sleep well and take appropriate measures to stop the spreading of germs. You need to stay healthy to be ready for the end of the semester 'crunch'. Take advantage of the services offered by University Health Services!

Penn State's Department of Communication Arts & Sciences was highly ranked by the National Research Council (NRC) in its nation-wide review of Ph.D. granting programs. Out of 83 PhD programs - with emphases spanning speech communication, communication science, telecommunications, and mass communication - Communication Arts & Sciences ranked 4th on an index of reputational excellence, and 2nd among communication PhD programs that offer training in both social science and rhetoric. Using an index that applied survey-based weights to 20 program characteristics, Communication Arts & Sciences ranked 10th overall. The Department also ranked 7th among comparable programs for the level of support provided to its graduate students. To view the complete rankings of Ph.D. programs in Communication, go to phds.org.

Visit the Communication Arts & Sciences blog to see the original announcement.

Penn State's philosophy department has been highly ranked by the National Research Council (NRC) in its long-awaited national review of PhD granting universities. Out of 90 PhD granting philosophy departments in the United States, Penn State is ranked between 6 and 15 in terms of overall quality using survey-based weights that evaluated departments' faculty, students, and program as a whole (the "S" ranking). As calculated by the independent site phds.org, that makes us #11 overall and the top-ranked non-analytic philosophy program in the United States. The department was also ranked #1 nationally in terms of the highest percentage of women on its faculty (46%). To access the NRC data and rank philosophy departments based on a variety of categories via phds.org, click here.

Though my summer internship gave me a lot of interesting experience and insight into the work that goes on in academia, one thing it did not bring me was credits, as I would have to pay for a summer term to get those.  I was hoping, however, that if I did a good job with my research internship over the summer, I would get offered a position with the Center for American Literary Studies (CALS) here at Penn State, of which Hester Blum was the director at the time.  Luckily, this worked out perfectly for me, and I became the undergraduate intern for CALS last year when I came back for the school year. 

My internship with CALS last year pretty much amounted to completing one big project per semester.  Fall semester, I researched the other English departments in the Big Ten, looking specifically for those researching and teaching in American lit to compare with our program and boost funding.  Spring semester was a busy time for CALS, as the C-19 conference (a conference about 19th century American literature) was coming in May. To contribute to this, I compiled the conference program detailing the events of the weekend to make the conference run more smoothly. I really enjoyed my time with CALS this past year and working with Hester from summer to spring. I kept my internship with CALS for this school year as well, and the new director Sean Goudie and I have already gotten started on some new projects for this year, which I look forward to continuing as the year progresses.  One such project is working with the Centre County Libraries on their Centre County Reads program, to which I am very excited to contribute.