The Campus Currents is distributed every Friday. If you would like to include an item in the newsletter send it to Campus Currents, Unit 9512 or by e-mail to Campus Currents. Deadline is Thursday at 8 a.m.

Friday after Thanksgiving is a holiday for employees - Top

The day after Thanksgiving - Friday, Nov. 26 - has been designated as administrative leave for employees of Black Hills State University.

Farrokhi chairs national research committee - Top

Dr. Abdollah Farrokhi, professor of mass communication at Black Hills State University, will chair the College Media Advisers research committee for a two-year term during 2000-2001.

Dr. Farrokhi attended the National College Media Advisers convention in Atlanta, Ga., in October. He offered a presentation entitled “Conducting Newspaper Research Surveys.”

In total, over 2,800 students and faculty members attended the convention in Atlanta. The convention sponsored and overlooked 350 different educational sessions for the participants.

In addition to his own presentation, Farrokhi is responsible for reviewing faculty manuscripts submitted to the CMA and then recommends the successful proposals for publication in the College Media Review (CMR) quarterly journal. The successful applicants chosen will be offered sessions to present their research proposals at the next CMA convention. As a committee chair, Farrokhi also becomes a member of the CMA advisory council. The council will plan and offer educational sessions for next year's convention in Washington, D.C. Previously, Farrokhi chaired the CMA diversity committee for a four-year term.

Stock market game receives grant money - Top

A $1,000 donation from Securities Industry Association (SIA) Central States District to Black Hills State University will continue to help offset the subscription costs for teachers and advisors participating in the South Dakota Stock Market Simulation Game (SD SMSG).

Don Altmyer, SD SMSG coordinator and assistant professor of business at BHSU said, “The grant will furnish teachers advising the teams with a free 15-week subscription to the Wall Street Journal. This subscription is received and displayed in the classroom for the students to use to track their stocks and to locate current business news which may impact a certain stock or industry.”

William C. Perlitz, a member of the executive committee of SIA, said, "The Stock Market Game is moving into the next millennium with new technology and enthusiasm and the Central States District of the SIA is proud to assist in expanding the program within your state."

According to Altmyer there are currently 187 teams consisting of 969 students from 28 schools in South Dakota from fifth grade through college participating in the stock market simulation game.

SIA Central States District provided a $1,000 grant last fall as well as $2,300 last summer to expand the stock market game by helping fund teacher training workshops at sites in Spearfish, Vermilion, and Pierre.

Summer science workshop for teachers carries over to classroom learning - Top

An intensive four-day summer workshop for local elementary teachers was a `blast' and now students in the classroom are reaping the benefits of `BLAHST,' an acronym for the `Black Hills Science Teaching Project' to Prepare K-8 Teachers for the New Millennium.

The summer workshop taught by Dr. Charles Lamb, lead scientist for BLAHST and associate professor of biology at BHSU, took the teachers through a review of scientific inquiry with a focus on central themes in biology, current trends, environmental education, research and curriculum implementation.

Military vets present POW/MIA flag to university - Top

Military veterans at Black Hills State University presented a POW/MIA flag to the university Nov. 6 during halftime of the men's basketball game.

Dr. Larry Tentinger, assistant professor of physical education, and several other veterans were responsible for the flag presentation to President Tom Flickema and athletic director Dave Little.

The 5- by 8-foot flag is given in recognition of Veteran's Day. The flag was purchased by John Hazucha, a Vietnam veteran, and donated to BHSU.

State health and physical education convention held at BHSU - Top

The South Dakota Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, (SDAHPERD) holds its fall convention Thursday through Saturday at the Black Hills State University Young Center.

Students to perform The Diviners - Top

The Black Hills State University theater department will present James Leonard Jr's “The Diviners,” which will be performed Dec. 2, 3, and 4 at 8 p.m. in Woodburn Auditorium.

Leonard's startling and imaginative work was an American College Theatre Festival Award winner in its original production. The play takes place in a simpler time and place – rural Zion, Ind., during the depression of the 1930s. It brings together a disturbed young man and an itinerant preacher disenchanted with the hollowness of pious religiosity. Both men struggle with events from their past, until the inner turmoil of one life is fused with the childhood trauma of the other in the play's climax.

Weather information and school closing now available by phone - Top

With the advent of winter storms and the possibility of changes in the school class schedule, Black Hills State University students can now phone (605) 642-6059 for updated information.

Watch for snow and ice hazards - Top

Recent winter weather has brought the typical snow and cold problems. Facilities Services will continue to remove snow, sand sidewalks and roads, and use chemical melters to reduce slip and fall hazards as much as possible. It is important for individuals to recognize the hazards of slippery walks and roadways. There are several things that can be done to reduce the risk of falling when slippery conditions exist.

Minutes of the October faculty senate meeting - Top

Members present: Tim Steckline, Charles Lamb, Barb Chrisman, Steve Babbitt, Don Chastain, Tom Hills, Rena Faye Norby, Rob Schurrer, Dan Peterson (proxy vote for Tim Martinez). Student: Scott Biggin

Minutes of the October CSA council meeting - Top

The CSA Council met Oct. 12 at the Pangburn dining room. Members present were Colleen Gustafson, Marilyn Luscombe, Corinne Hansen, Becky Dovre, Deatta Chapel, Gloria Spitler, Paulette Palladino and state CSA representative Fred Nelson. Not present were Candy Huddleston, Ellen Boyd, Susan Hemmingson, Margaret Kleinsasser and Jim Holter. Myron Sullivan attended as a guest.

Grants opportunities announced - Top

Below are the program materials received Oct. 28-Nov. 10 in the grants office in Woodburn 220. For copies of the information, contact our office at 642-6627 or e-mail requests to us at <grants@mystic.bhsu.edu >. Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union bulletin board near the information desk.

Funds available through instructional improvement committee - Top

The instructional improvement committee (IIC) encourages, through monetary grants, the application of existing knowledge to specific teaching situations to improve the quality of instruction at BHSU.

Any full-time faculty member, full-time adjunct faculty or other full-time staff member engaged in student instruction may apply for grant funds administered by the committee. Grant funding will normally be available up to a maximum of $1,000 per project. Priority will be given to projects that will have a broad-based, visible, continuing impact on instruction across faculty members and/or disciplines. Funds are available for development of materials and methods to improve teaching and learning, equipment to enhance teaching and learning, travel to conferences or workshops which enhance teaching and learning, and bringing consulting lecturers and teaching specialists to campus to offer presentations to and/or with faculty and teaching-support staff at BHSU. Faculty members who apply for grants to support travel to a conference or workshop are limited to receiving no more than one grant every three years.

Proposals for grant funding will be reviewed by the IIC on a monthly basis. The deadline for submission will be the last Friday of each month; a decision will be made as soon as practical on each proposal. Ten copies of the proposals should be submitted to the Grants and Special Projects Office, W220, or to the chair of the committee, Sharon Strand. Proposals will consist of proposal and budget outlines following the specified format available at the grants and special projects web page.

Faculty-research committee has funds available - Top

The faculty-research committee has funds available for the current fiscal year. Write a short (about three-page) proposal. Proposal forms are available at the academic affairs office. Proposals are due Nov. 26.

It is anticipated that successful applicants will request support for faculty release time, research equipment, travel to research sites, research support for the production of creative work. Preference is given to new applicants particularly in the areas of education, business, social sciences and humanities. Two three-hour release times are available for fall 2000 and spring of 2001.

Funds for two three-hour release times are available for the spring and fall 1999 semesters. You can apply now. The research committee will not provide salary. The committee may approve payment to student or non-student research assistants. Mail ten copies of your proposal to unit 9550.

New Faculty Profile
by Dawn Taggart, media relations student intern

Dr. Larry Cozort

"The most important computer in the room is my brain, and that's what I hope adds value (to the classroom)," said Dr. Larry Cozort, assistant professor of accounting at Black Hills State.

Cozort believes that technology in moderation is okay, but he doesn't let it dominate his classroom. He uses computer components in his teaching methodology but doesn't overly rely on it. In fact, he is concerned higher education might be introducing too much technology without the prerequisite testing mechanisms in place to determine its effectiveness. He cited distance learning as an area that needs to be tested before we jump on the technology band wagon.

"If we're not careful, technology might be injected to the point where we don't recognize what we had before,” he said. “We've had a higher education model that has been successful and is unique to the United States. I do have some concerns ... for example, distance learning, internet delivery, even multimedia devices in the classroom; excessive computer assignments will change the model to its detriment."

Cozort, a 23-year teaching veteran, is Black Hills State University's newest professor of accounting. It was the location, the climate with its seasonal changes and the less populated wide open spaces that caught his interest.

The Lebanon, Mo., native has six academic degrees in his professional background. In 1969 he earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, before joining the United States Navy. In 1975 he earned a doctor of jurisprudence degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. He then continued his studies in business earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Nashville and a master's of business administration from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn. Cozort completed a doctor of philosophy in business administration degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va., in 1985. His most recent academic accomplishment is a master's of law degree in taxation from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, completed in 1992.

Before joining the BHSU faculty, Cozort was employed as an assistant professor of accounting at Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Ga., from 1995 to 1999. From 1989 to 1995 he was assistant professor of accounting for Central Missouri State University

in Warrensburg, Mo., and from 1984 to 1989 he was an assistant professor of accounting for Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Cozort says he chose the accounting field after first heading toward law. With more experience and additional maturity, he was able to finally narrow his career choice to teaching and accounting.

“I saw accounting as a good profession with a lot of good opportunities, a variety of jobs and the mobility that goes with those opportunities. It was a pragmatic choice,” he said.

Explaining his teaching style he said, “I'm fairly animated. I bring as much energy to it as I can. It's important to show some energy and I think I do that. You also have to be pretty well organized ... and tell them (students) what you expect.”

The 52-year old professor says he plans to continuing teaching.

“At my age I enjoy what I do and I've had an acceptable level of success.”

The accounting professor enjoys playing golf in his leisure time, and he also plays several musical instruments, including: piano, banjo, fiddle, guitar, and harmonica. He and his wife also home school their two children and they are what comes to mind when he considers his legacy.

Submit items to Campus Currents

Friday after Thanksgiving is a holiday for employees - Top

Farrokhi chairs national research committee - Top

Stock market game receives grant money - Top

Summer science workshop for teachers carries over to classroom learning - Top

Military vets present POW/MIA flag to university - Top

State health and physical education convention held at BHSU - Top

Students to perform The Diviners - Top

Weather information and school closing now available by phone - Top

Watch for snow and ice hazards - Top

Minutes of the October faculty senate meeting - Top

Minutes of the October CSA council meeting - Top

Grants opportunities announced - Top

Funds available through instructional improvement committee - Top

Faculty-research committee has funds available - Top

New Faculty Profile
by Dawn Taggart, media relations student intern

Dr. Larry Cozort

This week at BHSU - Top

Campus calendar

Submit items to Campus Currents

Friday after Thanksgiving is a holiday for employees - Top

Farrokhi chairs national research committee - Top

Stock market game receives grant money - Top

Summer science workshop for teachers carries over to classroom learning - Top

Military vets present POW/MIA flag to university - Top

State health and physical education convention held at BHSU - Top

Students to perform The Diviners - Top

Weather information and school closing now available by phone - Top

Watch for snow and ice hazards - Top

Minutes of the October faculty senate meeting - Top

Minutes of the October CSA council meeting - Top

Grants opportunities announced - Top

Funds available through instructional improvement committee - Top

Faculty-research committee has funds available - Top

New Faculty Profile by Dawn Taggart, media relations student intern

Dr. Larry Cozort

This week at BHSU - Top

Campus calendar

New Faculty Profile
by Dawn Taggart, media relations student intern