A newsletter for students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends
April 28, 2017
‘The imminent autumn of our new content’ “Open educational resources” coming to UMES
UMES students who register this fall for a select number of general education classes offered by the university’s Department of English and Modern Languages can expect to spend less on traditional textbooks. That’s the objective of Courtney Harned (pictured left) and Bonni Miller, who are tapping into an emerging grassroots movement known as “open educational resources” to revamp outlines for a half-dozen courses. Miller and Harned conservatively project a successful transition could collectively save hundreds of UMES students upwards of $150,000. “Textbooks are a significant expense for our students,” Harned said. “I see it in my classroom all the time.” Harned and Miller each received a $2,500 grant from the William
E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation to underwrite a project to identify and compile online sources that their UMES faculty colleagues can then use crafting lesson plans. “These are all materials that have been vetted,” Harned said. “The level of transparency,” Miller noted, “creates confidence in the quality of the material.” Use of open education resources will give UMES instructors the flexibility to customize a syllabus for a prerequisite course with multiple sections. One professor might like using fiction while a colleague may prefer teaching current events using news-gathering sites and periodicals. UMES students in those courses will nonetheless be expected to meet basic objectives and outcomes established by the state of Maryland. RESOURCES / continued on page 4
Confronting opioid addiction and abuse UMES to host free strategy clinic April 29
Lower Delmarva residents who know someone struggling with opioid use can get answers to their questions Saturday, April 29 at a free information-exchange clinic sponsored by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Students in UMES’ School of Pharmacy and Health Professions have organized workshops and training in the use of a rapid antidote to help an overdose victim. Those completing the 30-to-40 minute hands-on Students in UMES’ School of Pharmacy and Health Professions instruction will receive free Narcan™ nasal spray to administer in an who organized the event, from left, are: (seated) Onyinyechi Mgbenka, Marcus Mog, Tolani Adebanjo, (standing) Mabele Madiba, opioid rescue.
INSIDE
OPIOID / continued on page 6
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UMES Student Recognized by Community Commencement Speaker Announced
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Exemplary Faculty SGA Elects Officers
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Oketoun Akangbe, Scott Baker, Alexis Smith and Shelby Holstein.
Students Study Abroad Ecuadorian Mayor Visits
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Community Garden Social Media Inspires
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Hawk Track Highlights
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Marketing Award Graduation Retention Toby Foyeh Performs
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Calendar of Events