Today’s News from the University of Kansas
From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu
Headlines
KU leading project to boost social, academic supports for students learning at school or home
LAWRENCE — As schools start to reopen, University of Kansas researchers and partners are leading a project to continue building supports to meet students’ academic, behavioral and social-emotional well-being needs and making the resources available to everyone in the school community, including parents teaching at home.
LAWRENCE — Juan Felipe Herrera, the first Mexican American to be named the U.S. Poet Laureate, will give a talk this week for the Hall Center for the Humanities. “An Evening with Juan Felipe Herrera” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, and will be livestreamed via the new Hall Center Crowdcast page at www.crowdcast.io/hallcenter.
Law school names new class of Dean’s Fellows to mentor incoming law students
LAWRENCE — Thirteen students at the University of Kansas School of Law have been chosen as Dean’s Fellows for the 2020-21 academic year. The Dean’s Fellows are a group of second- and third-year law students selected to mentor first-year peers. Fellows include Kansas students from Kansas City, Manhattan, Olathe, Overland Park, Topeka, WaKeeney and Wichita.
School of Engineering will host virtual career fair
LAWRENCE — The KU School of Engineering is hosting a virtual Engineering & Computing Career Fair for employers and students to easily connect from any location. The event, which will include more than 100 employers, will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16. The Engineering Career Center is utilizing the Career Fair Plus platform for video-based interactions.
Full stories below.
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Contact: Mike Krings, KU News Service, 785-864-8860, [email protected], @MikeKrings
KU leading project to boost social, academic supports for students learning at school or home
LAWRENCE — The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every corner of society but perhaps affected none more profoundly than education. Schools were forced to close their doors, parents became teachers, and students transitioned to all-online instruction.
Now, as schools start to reopen, University of Kansas researchers and partners are leading a project to continue building supports to meet students’ academic, behavioral and social-emotional well-being needs and making the resources available to everyone in the school community, including parents teaching at home.
Last year, researchers began Project ENHANCE, funded by a $3.9 million grant from the Institute for Education Sciences to design an “enhanced” Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered Model of Prevention, known as Ci3T. Now, the team is taking data from lessons learned from partners implementing Ci3T, building more tools to support students’ educational needs based on those findings and making them available to everyone in their school communities whether they’ve gone back to school, are teaching remotely or using a hybrid approach.
“The good news is we’re thriving, despite what’s happening with the COVID-19 pandemic. This project is providing on-demand resources and materials for schools, teachers, students and parents,” said Kathleen Lynne Lane, Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Education at KU and principal investigator of the project. “We say this coming school year has the opportunity to be a better new normal with educators and families partnering to meet students’ multiple needs.”
Ci3T practices have been shown by research to be effective in identifying individual students who may need additional supports and providing individualized responses to supplement Tier 1 efforts for all students, which in turn help boost academic achievement. Tools and interventions that have already proven effective are available for schools and parents at http://www.ci3t.org. Project ENHANCE, and a partner project, Project SCREEN, are working with schools in Washington, Kansas, Vermont, Arizona and Missouri to gauge what schools need, build new tools and test their effectiveness. Those enhanced resources that are shown to be successful will also be made available to the public.
When the pandemic hit last spring, researchers pivoted to conducting remote interviews, surveys and focus groups with schools. They have committed to continuing to work remotely with schools for the next two years to adhere to safety guidelines. However, all tools developed thus far are designed to be effective in person, remotely or in a hybrid setting.
“We don’t compromise on supporting academics, and we’re still committed to students’ social and emotional well-being. We’re supporting the work the schools, students and families were doing before in a remote setting,” Lane said.
The researchers are providing professional education to partner schools remotely, teaching them how to implement Ci3T, its tools, screenings and offering technical support as well. The team conducted surveys, interviews and focus groups with teachers and administrators in partner school districts to determine their individual needs. The tools then built are shared with teachers, administrators, students and families through the Ci3T site.
Project ENHANCE has since provided tools on how to identify students’ academic, behavioral and social needs, how to provide lessons on social expectations such as responsibility, showing respect for others, giving best effort and setting expectations through all aspects of a school day. The tools are available in a variety of formats, including educational guides, brief videos and infographics, all available in English and Spanish.
While the tools being built for educators are being tested and will be made available to any interested school in the future, the resources for families are available now. Lane said the research team made a concerted effort to support parents as they navigate home, work and their child’s schooling. Of course, teachers have encountered numerous challenges during the pandemic, and Project ENHANCE has created supports for teachers working from home and including tips to help ensure their professional and emotional well-being.
“We wanted all of our supports to be readily available for both teachers and families. We’re finding out what people need, then building resources and will have them available for anyone who needs them,” Lane said. “But we wanted family resources to be available to anyone now, as so many families are seeking ways to A) create a schedule and B) set clear expectations to maintain positive learning environments while their children are accessing educational opportunities remotely or in a hybrid context. The whole system is set up to support everyone in a school, including parents and the community.”
Aspects of Ci3T have already been used in schools in many states and are being explored outside the United States with new requests to use the resources. The grant, administered by KU’s Life Span Institute, partners Lane and KU researchers with co-principal investigators Wendy Peia Oakes of Arizona State University, Sandra Chafouleas of the University of Connecticut, Amy Briesch of Northeastern University, David Royer of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Eric Common, University of Michigan-Flint.
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Contact: Eliott Reeder, Hall Center for the Humanities, 785-864-4798, [email protected], @KUHallCenter
LAWRENCE — Juan Felipe Herrera, the first Mexican American to be named the U.S. Poet Laureate, will give a talk this week for the Hall Center for the Humanities.
“An Evening with Juan Felipe Herrera” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, and will be livestreamed via the new Hall Center Crowdcast page at www.crowdcast.io/hallcenter.
In a statement announcing Herrera as the U.S. Poet Laureate in 2015, Librarian of Congress James Billington said Herrara’s poems “champion voices, traditions and histories, as well as a cultural perspective” that illuminate our larger American identity. Herrera grew up in California as the son of migrant farmers, which, he has commented, strongly shaped much of his work. A Washington Post article recounts that “as a child, Herrera learned to love poetry by singing about the Mexican Revolution with his mother, a migrant farmworker in California. Inspired by her spirit, he has spent his life crossing borders, erasing boundaries and expanding the American chorus.”
Herrera is the author of over two dozen books, including collections of poetry, prose, short stories, young adult novels and picture books for children, including “Every Day We Get More Illegal” (2020); “Notes of the Assemblage” (2015); “Senegal Taxi” (2013); “Half of the World in Light: New and Selected Poems” (2008), a recipient of the PEN/Beyond Margins Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award; “187 Reasons Mexicanos Can’t Cross The Border: Undocuments 1971-2007” (2007); and “Crashboomlove: A Novel in Verse” (1999), which received the Americas Award. In 2014, he released the nonfiction work “Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes,” which showcases 20 Hispanic and Latino American men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the arts, politics, science, humanitarianism and athletics. His book “Jabberwalking” (2018) is a children’s book focused on turning your wonder at the world around you into weird, wild, incandescent poetry.
This series of events is co-sponsored by the KU Center for Migration Research.
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Contact: Ashley Golledge, School of Law, [email protected], @kulawschool
Law school names new class of Dean’s Fellows to mentor incoming law students
LAWRENCE — Thirteen students at the University of Kansas School of Law have been chosen as Dean’s Fellows for the 2020-21 academic year.
The Dean’s Fellows are a group of second- and third-year law students selected to mentor first-year peers. Fellows offer academic support and guidance, serving as resources for students navigating the transition to law school. Fellows are selected through an application and interview process that considers their academic performance, campus and community involvement, and rapport with classmates.
“The Dean’s Fellows serve as mentors for first-year law students to help them navigate the transition to law school and the challenges that pop up. We work to foster an inclusive community and connect students to a variety of resources, whether they be academic, social or personal,” said Cori Moffett, head Dean’s Fellow. “This year Dean’s Fellows are more important than ever because it is so difficult to form a coherent community for students that have never met each other. We have an incredible group that is committed to helping 1Ls through the unique challenges of this year and celebrating the victories.”
The program is administered by the KU Law Office of Admissions. The 2020-21 Dean’s Fellows are listed below.
Olivia Black is a second-year law student from Wichita. Black earned a bachelor’s degree in health science with an emphasis in health administration from Wichita State University. She is the vice president of the Black Law Students Association, a member of Women in Law and a research assistant for Lumen Mulligan, Earl B. Shurtz Research Professor of Law. She is interested in business law, corporate law and health care compliance and regulations. Black graduated from Wichita East High School and is the daughter of Shonna Black and the late Michael Black.
Zack Combs is a third-year law student from Lexington, Kentucky. Combs earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Kansas State University. He is the president of the 3L class, vice president of International Law Society and a member of the Hispanic American Law Students Association. He graduated from Trinity Academy in Wichita and is the son of Charlotte and David Combs.
Christian DeShazo is a second-year law student from Farmington, Missouri. DeShazo earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a student intern for the Paul E. Wilson Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies and a member of OUTLaws and Allies. DeShazo is the son of Debbie and Steve Lawson.
Karen Fritts is a third-year law student from Olathe. She earned a bachelor’s degree in personal financial planning from Kansas State University. Fritts is the chief justice of the Moot Court Council. Fritts was a finalist in the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition and won the first-place award for Best Overall Advocates. Fritts graduated from Olathe East High School and is the daughter of Bev and Jim Edwards.
Marisol Garcia is a third-year law student from Wichita. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Kansas State University. Garcia is the president of the law school’s First Generation Professionals organization. She is also a member of both OUTLaws & Allies and the Hispanic American Law Students Association. She graduated from Northeast Magnet High School and is the daughter of Martina and Baltazar Garcia.
Jared Jevons is a third-year law student from Manhattan. Jevons graduated with a bachelor’s degree in general geology from KU. Before coming to law school, he served as a naval officer for 11 years. He is editor-in-chief of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy and president of the Military Law Society. He graduated from Manhattan High School and is the son of Virginia and Keith Jevons.
Zachary Kelsay is a third-year law student from Independence, Missouri. He earned degrees in history and global & international studies from KU. Kelsay is a part of the Legal Education Accelerated Degree program. Kelsay was a finalist in the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition and won the first-place award for Best Overall Advocates. He is a staff articles editor for the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy and chief justice of the Student Senate Court of Appeals. He graduated from Blue Springs South High School and is the son of Beth Trosper and Brian Kelsay.
Cori Moffett, a third-year law student from Kansas City, is this year’s head Dean’s Fellow. Moffett earned degrees in both history and international studies from Kansas State University. She is a member of First Generation Professionals, Public Interest Law Society and the Moody Bluebooks. Last year, she was the vice president of Women in Law. Moffett is also a research assistant for Raj Bhala, Brenneisen Distinguished Professor of Law, and works at the front desk in the law library. She graduated from Blue Valley Northwest High School and is the daughter of Marcey Moffett.
Riley Nickel is a third-year law student from Topeka. Nickel earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Kansas State University. He is the managing editor for the Kansas Law Review, a legal intern for the Mediation Clinic and a member of the KU student chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He graduated from Seaman High School and is the son of Denise and Joel Nickel.
Abe Pfannenstiel is a third-year law student from WaKeeney. Pfannenstiel earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fort Hays State University. He is a member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council, St. Thomas More Society, Black Law Students Association and First Generation Professionals. He graduated from Trego Community High School and is the son of Donnell and Dale Pfannenstiel.
Grace Quinlan is a second-year law student from Kansas City, Kansas. Quinlan earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Colorado State University. She is a staff editor for the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy and a member of Women in Law. She graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and is the daughter of Elizabeth Lawrence and Timothy Quinlan.
Blake Saffels is a third-year law student from Overland Park. He earned degrees in accounting and finance from KU. Saffels is the treasurer for the KU Midwest Innocence Project Student Organization, the business manager for the Kansas Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Council. He graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School and is the son of Susan and James Saffels.
Dahnika Short is a second-year law student from Topeka. Short earned a bachelor’s degree in life sciences from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from KU. She is a staff editor for the Kansas Law Review and a member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council. Short is also involved with the Public Interest Law Society, Federal Bar Association and Women in Law. She graduated from Hayden High School and is the daughter of Kathy Cheatham and Dave Sachs.
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Contact: Cody Howard, School of Engineering, 785-864-2936, [email protected], @kuengineering
School of Engineering will host virtual career fair
LAWRENCE — The KU School of Engineering is hosting a virtual Engineering & Computing Career Fair for employers and students to easily connect from any location. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.
The Engineering Career Center is utilizing the Career Fair Plus platform for video-based interactions that offers a “Skip the Line” feature. Students will be able to reserve a spot ahead of time with a company and thus avoid waiting in line to speak with recruiters. Employers can have multiple recruiters host short video meetings with students, preview the candidate profiles/resumes to make more efficient use of time during the Career Fair and host a walk-up line during the fair.
More than 100 employers are participating in the fair. The full list is available here.
This career fair focuses on opportunities that are in engineering, computing or closely related fields. More information and an employer registration link are available from the Engineering Career Center website.
The Engineering & Computing Career Fair provides an opportunity for students and employers to virtually connect and discuss intern, part-time or full-time positions. For more information, contact [email protected].
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