The Provost's Awards Lecture Series is intended to honor and showcase the recipients of the Provost's Awards and provide them an opportunity to present, share and discuss their work with the campus. Another goal of this series is to raise the level of academic and intellectual discourse among our colleagues, and to further enrich connections with others across the campus.

Date: Thursday, Sept. 16
Time: 3 to 3:50 p.m.
Location: All seminars will be on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 847 3006 4381
Passcode: 782585

Kenneth Froelich, Department of Music
“Teaching Creativity (and Other Tall Tales!)”
2020-2021 Excellence in Teaching

Join Dr. Kenneth Froelich as he discusses how he may (or may not!) encourage creativity in young music composition students. He will also discuss how the creative process is refined through project-based learning, how natural curiosity is cultivated as a tool for creation, and how imposter syndrome and self-doubt are handled as inevitable parts of the process. Punch and pie (maybe).

Upcoming Seminars

Date: Thursday, Oct. 14
Time: 3 - 4 p.m.
Location: All seminars will be on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 826 1423 5023
Passcode: 407739

Katie Dyer, Department of Child and Family Science
“Student Ratings of Instruction: Current Controversies and Future Directions”
2020-2021 Faculty Service

Student Ratings of Instruction are ubiquitous in the academy, used for the dual purposes of improving instruction and evaluating instructors. But the reliability and validity of student ratings have been questioned, and their continued use is widely challenged. Dr. Dyer will review the current state of scholarship on student ratings, and consider potential future directions.

AND

Tom Holyoke, Department of Political Science
“Ups and Downs but Staying In It: Perils and Pleasures of University Service and Why We Must Do It”
2020-2021 Faculty Service

University service is more than just a requirement for tenure and promotion. A lot more. Yet it seems that many faculty only want to do just enough to achieve tenure. This is a serious problem, but an understandable one. Many faculty do not want to engage in serious service work because it is difficult and sometimes has serious negative consequences. Yes, it can be difficult at times, and sometimes unpopular decisions must be made, but the alternatives for faculty and higher education are far worse. By reflecting on his own experiences with university service, Dr. Holyoke will highlight some of its pitfalls but also some of its most enjoyable moments, as well as the long-term sense of reward.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 18
Time: 3 - 4 p.m.
Location: All seminars will be on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 895 6862 6693
Passcode: 591468

Jennifer Randles, Department of Sociology
“Researching Diaper Dilemmas”
2020-2021 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Accomplishment

In this talk, Jennifer Randles will discuss her current research on diaper insecurity among California families and how this research inspired her teaching, service and advocacy.

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Frederick Peinado Nelson, Department of Liberal Studies
“Alex, I'll take Building a Program for $400: My Invitational Experience with the South Valley ITEP”
2020-2021 Innovation

Dr. Peinado Nelson will share his reflections on the work to establish the South Valley Integrated Teacher Education Program, the accelerated 2 year B.A. and teacher credential program at the Fresno State Visalia Campus. This program is collaborative and innovative, involving professionals from multiple community colleges, school districts, and faculty and staff at Fresno State, resulting in an efficient and transformative opportunity for students in the South Valley.