In 2003, the College of Arts and Sciences established the Teaching Scholars Initiative to encourage and support the scholarship of teaching by fostering communication among faculty about teaching. Last year's colloquium attracted more than 130 instructors, inspiring other colleges to join with A&S to improve instruction, including the colleges of Engineering, Fine Arts and Geosciences.

This year, the second annual colloquium of the Teaching Scholars Initiative will take place on Friday, January 28 beginning at 1:00 p.m. The inaugural Teacher Scholar Award for A&S and for Geosciences will be announced and Oklahoma Secretary of State M. Susan Savage will be the keynote speaker.

This year's colloquium includes a panel discussion on "What Constitutes Good Teaching - How Do You Know It When You See It?", with Provost Nancy Mergler, Interim Honors College Dean Robert Griswold, and University College Dean Doug Gaffin, after which two break-out sessions will address different facets of teaching. Following the break-out sessions, Savage will give the keynote address titled, "Higher Education in the State of Oklahoma." A reception will follow.

Those interested in attending are asked to register online at the TSI Web site.

Seen and Heard:

A&S scholarship applications are due to the Dean's office by Feb. 11. Follow the instructions on the scholarship page to get money for education.

The Department of Communication is hosting their 16th annual conference Making Connections: The 2005 Sooner Communication Conference on Interpersonal Communication and Influence on February 25-26, 2005 at the Norman campus of the University of Oklahoma. Registration will soon be available online. Click here for more information.

The Next Step. This guide to planning a career for life after college is available at department advisors offices, Academic Services in Ellison Hall and at the Dean's Office.

Do It In 4! Get Going, Get Out and Get On with Your Life. An online guide to getting out of college in a timely manner. Lots of great links to help plan financially and academically for a great degree.

Looking for past stories? Check out our list of index pages from the past.