Submit items to Campus Currents - Top

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.

Welcome to Black Hills State University  - Top  

• Roger Two Crow, custodial worker, facilities services

BHSU long-term enrollment trend remains positive - Top  

The South Dakota Board of Regents this week released enrollment figures for the six state universities.

Enrollment growth at Black Hills State, the state’s third largest university, has been steady over the past several years.

This year’s enrollment of 3,836 students is 232 short of last year’s all-time high at 4,068 but ranks as the second highest enrollment in the past five years with a 11.3 percent increase since 1997.

 “This year’s enrollment fits well into a pattern of consistent enrollment growth over the past five years,” said BHSU President Thomas Flickema. “Of course we would like to have a record enrollment every year but that’s not realistic. The growth pattern over time is what counts and we believe we are on the right track.”   

The BH enrollment dean Steve Ochsner 

says freshmen numbers are strong this fall with over 1,000 new students (freshmen and transfers) on campus. He said the university is continuing to recruit quality students and has tightened admissions requirements over the past several years. In addition to growth in headcount numbers, the full-time equivalency (FTE) number continues to improve with 100 additional full-time students enrolled as compared to FTE numbers in 1997.

Overall the state system gained 1,268 students this year, a 4.6 percent increase over last year.

Pearce and Ewing publish article  - Top  

“Technology Enlivens a Spanish Class” by Dr. Kristi Pearce, associate professor in the College of Education, and Sherry Ewing, Spearfish High School Spanish teacher, was published in the Sept. 2001 issue of Learning and Leading with Technology.

This action-research project was completed as the culminary activity for Ewing to achieve the master's of science degree in curriculum and instruction under the guidance of Pearce.

The research captures the impact on student learning when using a variety of software programs to teach foreign language.  As a result of coursework for the MSCI degree, Ewing investigated the educational literature

regarding the integration of technology into teaching and learning to prepare a proposal for the Spearfish School District to re-allocate funds for textbooks to purchase 12 computers with full audio capabilities, Spanish alphabet keyboards, Spanish curriculum software, and internet access as well as five printers.  The results of the classroom research project provided evidence that this decision was a definite benefit for the high school students.  Results of the study reflect the students learned more language skills at a higher cognitive level than previous classes using the traditional textbook approach to teach foreign language.

Pearce joined the BHSU College of Education faculty in 1991. She has an Ed.D., from the University of South Dakota in educational psychology and counseling.

Regional computer science faculty to meet at BHSU  - Top  

Local faculty presenting at the conference include Laura Turner, assistant professor of education, and Jean Johnson, assistant professor of technology.  The keynote address for the conference will be by Tim McCabe of Gateway.  The sessions will be

Turner	Johnson

For more information contact Johnson at 642-6818.

BHSU students visit Spain  - Top  

Ten Black Hills State University students spent six weeks in Granada, Spain, this past summer in an intensive program studying language, culture, and art history at Centro Granadi’ de Espanol. They received six semester hours of credit and lived either with Spanish families or in apartments shared with Spanish university students. Dr. Peggy Buckwalter, assistant professor of Spanish at BHSU, coordinated the visit. BHSU students attending classes this fall who participated in the summer institute were, left, Megan Christopher, Rapid City; Sara Wasmoen, Spearfish; and Dawn Christopher, Rapid City. Back row, left, Ben Bryce, Worland, Wyo.; Sara DeGroot, Black Hawk; Kristina Brewer, Rapid City; and Anne Srarstad, Rapid City. Current BH students not pictured are Deana Nelson, Spearfish; Rachel Christensen, Spearfish; and Katie Jobyen, Rapid City.

Library coffee shop is now open - Top  

Items available include espresso, cappuccino, latte`, mocha, house coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, Italian soda, and assorted juices.

Postal Pete tip

The USPS has established Aviation Mail Security regulations pertaining to personal domestic or international mail that weighs over 16 ounces.

1. The mail must be brought to the BHSU Mail Service window.

2. Return address is required in the upper left corner of envelope or parcel.

3. A photo ID may be required.

Minutes of the faculty senate meeting on Sept. 19, 2001 - Top

The faculty senate met Sept. 19, 2001. Present: Dan Durbin, president, Margaret Lewis, David Wolff, Steve Babbitt, vice president, Vincent King, James Hesson, Darlene Swartz for Rena-Faye Norby, Colleen Kirby, Monty Robinson, secretary, and Fred Heidrich.

Steve Babbitt called the meeting to order. An approval of the agenda was entertained and passed.

There were no minutes from the organizational meeting from Sept. 5^th  in which officers were selected. John Glover was elected president from which he has recently resigned. Steve Babbitt was elected vice president and Monty Robinson was elected secretary.

The election of officers for a new president was initiated with a motion from David Wolff nominating Dan Durbin. It was approved unanimously. Thank you Dan.

It was next moved and seconded to accept the recommendation from the appointments committee for new members on the university curriculum committee, (Charles Follette, Christine 

Shearer-Cremean, David Calhoon and Susan Wessel), general education committee, (Barb Chrisman, Jan Golliher, Sandee Schamber, Steve Anderson, Ahrar Ahmad and Penny DeJong), and safety committee (Verona Beguin).

In other business Steve Babbitt read a letter from Monty Robinson regarding the position and purpose of the faculty senate. Discussion followed with questions and opinions from the group. Several ideas including improved communications with the administration and how to make serving on the faculty senate and its committees more desirable were voiced. It was determined that more discussion was necessary in order to address these issues.

Additionally, it was determined to have each faculty senate member bring issues, concerns and ideas that the general faculty have for the faculty senate to address this year.

A motion to adjourn was entertained, passed. Next meeting is Oct. 3^rd.

Faculty research funds available - Top  

It is anticipated that successful applicants will request support for faculty release time, research equipment, travel to research sites or research support for the production of creative work. Preference is given to new applicants, particularly in the areas of education, business, social 

The applicants are encouraged to contact the committee members for advice prior to completing their proposals. The members are John Alsup, Steve Anderson, Lyle Cook, Tom Cox, Abdollah Farrokhi, chair; Jim Hess, Kathleen Parrow, Shane Sarver, and Rob Schurrer. 

Grant opportunities announced - Top  

Below are the program materials received Sept. 27-Oct.10 in the grants office, Woodburn 218. For copies of the information, contact our office at 642-6627 or e-mail requests to us at grants@bhsu.edu.  Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union bulletin board near the information desk.

• The Japan Foundation.  Programs available in the United States 2002-2003.  Nov. 1 deadline:  Visiting professorship, staff expansion grant, research/professional conference.  Dec. 1 deadline:  arts and exchange of persons programs, Japanese studies programs.