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

Hesson article published - Top

Dr. James Hesson had an article published in The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (Jan. 1999).

The journal is published by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. The article appeared in the issues section of the journal under the title "Should physical education classes return to teaching males and females separately?"

Meyers will be featured in state magazine - Top

Scott Howard, an adjunct faculty in the English department, conducted an interview with Kent Meyers which will be published in the spring issue of The South Dakota Review.

In the interview, Meyers discusses his novel, essays, and short stories, and their bases in the land and culture of the Midwest. The South Dakota Review has also accepted one of Meyers' short stories, "Gate G-16," to be published in the same issue in which the interview appears.

Regents approve general-education requirements - Top

The South Dakota Board of Regents approved recommendations for the system general-education requirements at its regular business meeting last week on the campus of the University of South Dakota.

The recommendations came from the System Leadership Team that was formed in June consisting of two members from each university, two student representatives, and a representative from the Board of Regents staff. Executive Director Dr. Robert T. Tad Perry said, "The members of this team should be commended for the time and commitment they put forth in order to ensure graduates of South Dakota public universities are well prepared for the workplace which is to greet them."

The System General Education requirements include seven goals and a total of 30 hours. Board of Regents Senior Administrator Dr. Lesta Turchen explains, "The approach taken in developing the requirements was to define the goals of the requirements, then build the curriculum to support each goal."

The seven goals and credit requirements are:

1. Students will write effectively and responsibly and understand and interpret the written expression of others. (six credit hours English)
2. Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through speaking and listening (three credit hours speech)
3. Students will understand the structures and possibilities of the human community through study of the social sciences (six credit hours social sciences in two disciplines)
4. Students will understand and appreciate the human experience through arts and humanities. (six credit hours arts and humanities in two disciplines or in a sequence of foreign language courses.)
5. Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning. (three credit hours mathematics)
6. Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world. (six credit hours natural sciences)
7. Students will understand and be sensitive to cultural diversity so that they are prepared to live and work in an international and multicultural environment. (six credit hours that provide a global and/or cultural diversity perspective.)

The system requirements will be effective for entering students in fall 1999.

"The regents felt that it was time for a review of the general education core. Part of the decision came from the belief that the core was becoming too broad. Another factor that contributed to the core review was a focus group of South Dakota employers initiated by the regents to identify areas where graduates needed further preparation. In this ever-changing economy we must keep abreast of employer needs and keep our curriculum current in order to meet those needs," said Regent President James O. Hansen.

The adoption of the recommendations made for the system requirements completes phase one of the general-education review. Phase two, the institutional requirements, is projected to be addressed in university recommendations to the regents by January 2000.

Upward Bound students travel to Washington, D.C. - Top

Irini Iron Hawk, Eagle Butte, Paige Miller, Ft. Pierre, and Monique Runnels, Mobridge, all participants of the BHSU Upward Bound Program, will travel to our nation's capital to participate in the presidential classroom scholars program, America's premier civic education program. The program is Feb. 20-27. Denny Gayton, Selfridge, N.D., another Upward Bound participant at BHSU, will attend presidential classroom the following week.

Joining hundreds of high school students from across the country and abroad, these Upward Bound Students will take part in seminars presented by leaders representing each branch of government, the military, media and lobbying organizations. Students are also scheduled for a private tour of the White House, appointments with their senators' and representatives' offices and a visit to a foreign embassy.

Small-group workshops will focus on issues such as media, immigration and juvenile justice. Discussion and debate will be balanced with visits to Washington's monuments and Smithsonian museums, and an evening of political satire with "The Capital Steps" and a commencement celebration.

Since 1969, Presidential Classroom has provided more than 78,000 of America's finest students with unprecedented access to Washington's halls of power and the people shaping public policy. Alumni have gone on to be leaders in their own communities and many, like U.S. Representative Chet Edwards, Texas, and U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli, New Jersey, have returned to Washington as public servants.

Presidential Classroom also offers the business, labor and public policy program, the science, technology and public policy program and, for international students, the Future World Leaders Summit.

To participate, students must be juniors or seniors in high school, hold a “B” average or higher or rank in the top 25 percent of their class, and show commitment to community or school involvement through participation in co-curricular activities.

FDIC representative will interview on campus - Top

A representative of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will be on the Black Hills State University campus March 26 to interview candidates for bank examiner openings.

The representative will also be available to discuss this opportunity at the job fair in Rapid City March 25.

Business, finance, accounting, economics and marketing majors are invited to explore this career option. For more information and to schedule interviews, contact BHSU career services at 642-6277 or stop by Student Union room 124.

Obtain approval before beginning research projects with humans or animals - Top

Any faculty member or student utilizing human subjects in research projects or animals in research or teaching activities must obtain approval from the animal care and human subjects committee before beginning the project or activity.

For information and application forms, contact the committee chair, Doug Wessel, at USB 9032, phone 6514, or in SW210.

Summer and fall student teachers must attend orientation meeting - Top

The office of field experience in the College of Education reminds students who are planning to student teach during the summer and fall of 1999 must attend one of the following registration/orientation meetings:

• Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union conference rooms 2 and 3.
• Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 3:30 p.m. in south end of the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union multi-purpose room
• Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 a.m. in south end of the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union multi-purpose room

Applicants should bring a copy of their current BHSU transcript, updated status sheet and pens and pencils. Potential student teachers should check their BHSU catalog to make sure they meet all requirements.

For additional information contact the office of field experience at 642-6642.

On-line writing courses offered by the bureau of personnel - Top

The bureau of personnel training program is offering two online writing courses this spring.

BOP offers driving and first-aid courses - Top

The South Dakota department of transportation through the bureau of personnel is offering the following courses at the Rapid City Howard Johnson.

Contact Becky Bruce at 6549 or Anita Haeder at 6545 to register. These courses are free. However, travel costs will be charged to the requesting department.

• March 16, 1999 - Defensive Driving - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• March 17, 1999 - First Aid with CPR - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• March 18, 1999 - Back Injury Prevention - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• April 20, 1999 - CPR - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Juggler will perform at Black Hills State - Top

Mark Nizer, a juggler, will perform Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union multipurpose room.

Nizer, described as the juggler your mother warned you about, has appeared on has several television shows including the Arsenio Hall show, Caroline's Comedy Hour, MTV, Comic Strip Live. He was named the 1998 Comedy Entertainer of the Year by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities and was the winner of the 1998 International Juggling Championships.

Mark's 20 years on stage has taken his one-man show to thousands of venues around the world, including three times at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. His invention of the Laser Diablo merges juggling, light and technology. Imagine four lasers being juggled at 1,000 rpm, with the spinning laser beams dancing just above the audience and you'll see why Performance Magazine called his show "nothing less than brilliant."

Combining original comedy, world class juggling, movement, music and technology has made Nizer's performance unique. Whether it's five ping-pong balls being thrown 20 feet in the air using only his mouth; or juggling a burning propane tank, a running electric carving knife and a 16-pound bowling ball, you'll never know what is possible until you see for yourself.

This performance is sponsored by the University Programming Team and is open to the public at no charge.

Instructional improvement committee is receiving applications - Top

The instructional improvement committee is ready to receive applications for course releases for the 1999-2000 school year.

Course releases are available to any full-time faculty member with the approval of his/her dean and department chair. Course releases will be for one semester during the regular academic year. Consideration will be given for summer stipends for faculty unable to apply for a course release for the regular academic year because of documented departmental staffing problems.

Course releases may be granted to:

• design a new course which will be infused with technology or offered through the internet;
• redesign an existing course so that it is infused with technology or offered for internet delivery;
• design a new course or redesign an existing course to be presented collaboratively with other BHSU faculty;
• significantly redesign an existing course; or design a new course.

Proposals for course releases will be reviewed by the instructional improvement committee in February so that the recommendations may be made and approved by April. Proposals should be submitted to the grants and special projects office in Woodburn 220, by the last Friday in January, and will consist of a proposal following the specified format. A copy of the guidelines and proposal format are available from the grants office web page or by contacting your dean or department chair for a hard copy. Ten copies of the proposal are needed so that each member of the IIC can review it. Proposal writers may be requested to make an oral presentation to the committee in support of a proposal.

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. The faculty research committee will review applications Feb. 4.

Proposals are due Feb. 1. 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. Education, social science and humanities proposals are encouraged. 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 USB 9550.

Grants opportunities announced - Top

Below are the program materials received Jan. 19-22 in the grants office, Woodburn 220. For copies of the information, contact our office at 642-6627 or e-mail requests to us at . Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union bulletin board near the information desk.

• NSF. Biocomplexity: phase I research on the functional interrelationships between microorganisms and biological, chemical, geological, physical and social sciences. Preposals due March 15. Full proposals due June 15. NSF 99-60.
• NASA. Research opportunities in space science 1999.
• Dept. of Education. Application for new grants under the individuals with disabilities education act (IDEA). Various deadlines. CFDA 84.324.

This week at Black Hills State - Top

• Tuesday, Feb. 2
  Poetry reading sponsored by Up Team Fine Arts Committee, David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union Market Place, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m
• Thursday, Feb. 4
  Green and Gold meeting, Cedar House Restaurant, noon
• Friday, Feb. 5
  Women's Basketball vs. University of Sioux Falls, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 6 p.m.
  Men's Basketball vs. University of Sioux Falls, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 6
  Pre-game tip off social, Stadium Sports Grill, 4-5:30 p.m.
  Women's basketball vs. Dordt, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 6 p.m.
  Men's basketball vs. Dordt, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 8 p.m.