Everything Nac

For the third year in a row, Stephen F. Austin State University has been named a College of Distinction for supporting undergraduate experiences grounded in a philosophy of well-rounded, individualized engagement, with graduates entering the workforce ready to adapt in an ever-changing society.

Already honored in 2020 and 2021 for its high-impact approach to education, SFA has again been recognized for impactful business, education, nursing and engineering programs, as well as honors for military support, career development, and equity and inclusion.

The Colleges of Distinction selection process comprises a sequence of in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools, accepting only those that adhere to the four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. These principles are all informed by the ways institutions enable students to have a fulfilling, individualized college experience both inside and outside the classroom.

“When we focus all of our attention on how schools stack up against one another, we lose track of what really matters: the students themselves,” said Wes Creel, founder of Colleges of Distinction. “Every student has individual needs and their own environment in which they’re most likely to thrive. We want to extend our praise to the schools that prioritize and cater to students’ goals.”

The equity and inclusion recognition is given to universities that provide noteworthy support to underserved students. SFA’s recognition, according to the university’s Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Michara DeLaney-Fields, was in part a result of the adoption of SFA’s diversity and inclusion statement approved by the Board of Regents in 2021. She also credits the creation of the Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program offered to faculty, staff and students through the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

“The equity and inclusion recognition from Colleges of Distinction means that we are positively affecting relationships with the administration, faculty, staff and, most of all, the students,” DeLaney-Fields said. “Engagement and education are paramount. We are here to ensure everyone has a positive educational experience in an inclusive and welcoming environment. However, that cannot be accomplished without each stakeholder’s commitment and the SFA community’s support. When you add it all together, you can see that we are succeeding.”

The career development recognition is given to institutions who have proven to meet the demands of the ever-changing job market while also preparing students to do the same. This is accomplished through ample career preparation resources, like résumé, cover letter and interview assistance, among others.

SFA’s Center for Career and Professional Development has accomplished this and more by integrating services and a career development framework into the student experience.

“This recognition is an acknowledgement that, as a center, we continue to place the necessary emphasis on all phases of our students’ career development,” said Brent McLemore, CCPD director. “From their first days with us to their graduation and beyond, we are providing services that help them find both support and success on their professional journeys.”

Since 2000, the Colleges of Distinction website and guidebook have honored schools throughout the U.S. for excellence in undergraduate-focused higher education. The schools in the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through a focus on the undergraduate experience. The website and guidebooks provide dynamic college profiles, customized tools and resources for students, parents and high school counselors.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s James I. Perkins College of Education was awarded a grant to create literacy-focused learning modules for teacher candidates that are meant to enhance their ability to teach reading once they enter the field.

Awarded by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation in partnership with Deans for Impact, the grant program also includes Sam Houston State University and Texas A&M University-Texarkana. SFA’s grant representatives are Ronda McClain, lecturer; Dr. Lauren Burrow, associate professor; and Dr. Adam Akerson, associate professor, all of the Department of Education Studies.

“We are excited to partner with other universities in East Texas to support the preparation of preservice teachers,” McClain said. “Equipping the next generation of early childhood educators to deliver effective literacy instruction using research-based, pedagogically sound methods is the goal of this project.”

With the grant funds, SFA representatives intend to create learning modules that can be used within a standard college course to train teacher candidates in the use of phonics rather than whole word methods when teaching children how to read. SFA and its partners were chosen because the program is aimed primarily at increasing literacy rates in rural communities, a specialty of all three universities.

Issued in the face of falling literacy rates triggered in part by the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the grant includes stipends for participating faculty members. During the pilot phase, pre- and post-testing data will be used to fine-tune the program, with the hope that the full pilot can be implemented by spring 2023.

“It is our hope this effort will provide intentional, systematic support to preservice teachers who are hired for early childhood classroom positions in the rural East Texas area within the next few years,” McClain said.

Learn more about SFA’s education degree programs at sfasu.edu/coe.

If a parent visits Stephen F. Austin State University’s campus and needs to occupy their child while filling out forms, meeting with university officials or touring facilities, they’ll have a bit of help from the James I. Perkins College of Education.

Dr. Heather Olson Beal, professor in the Department of Education Studies, had her students create 45 book-based activity kits that are available on the first floor of the Steen Library next to the front desk.

Created with assistance from research librarian Tina Oswald, the kits include things like coloring sheets, word games and scissors for cutouts. Also included in each kit is a QR code that links to ​fun digital activities for children. Appropriate for children ages 2 to 12 years old, each kit is associated with a specific book in the campus curriculum library.

“Partnering with the library on this project enabled my students to have a real-life, hands-on learning experience,” Beal said. “We hope children who visit our campus with their families will enjoy spending a few minutes with a book while in the library and will have fun taking the kits home to continue engaging with the book topics afterward.”

For now, the kits are in use on a pilot basis. If they gain traction in the coming months, however, Beal’s students will make more. The kits are part of a larger family-friendly initiative Beal is working on with SFA’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The traditional fine arts camps focusing on art, music and theatre are once again drawing potential future Lumberjacks to the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University this summer and boosting the local economy.

From band and other music camps, to the annual Art Academy, to theatre camps, the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts provides summer training and inspiration for aspiring artists of all genres. And when many of those young artists visit the SFA campus for a camp, so do their parents, siblings and grandparents, often attending end-of-camp performances and exhibitions.

For generations of band students, SFA continues to be home for a week in June with the School of Music’s high school and middle school band camps and the drum major camp.

“The summer music camps have been an integral part of our music program for decades, starting with the band camp in 1956,” said Dr. Nathan Nabb, director of the School of Music. “We’ve hosted many thousands of students since that time, and now we are proud to offer camps for young musicians in all areas: band, choir, orchestra, and piano.”

Other music camps include strings camp June 26 through July 2; small school and large school choir camps July 10 through 16; Piano in the Pines camp July 24 through 29. Concerts are held at the conclusion of music camps.

The Art Academy is under way for its two-week session for younger students, and a new, week-long session for older students is planned for late June. Classes for elementary students conclude June 17, and an exhibition of student work will be at 4 p.m. that day in the art building off Wilson Drive. The secondary level art academy is June 27 through July 1, and an exhibition of all secondary student artworks will be at 3 p.m. Friday, July 1.

“Enrollment for our Secondary School Art Academy has exceeded expectations in the first year that we are offering it,” said Chris Talbot, director of the School of Art. “We look forward to having young prospective college art students in our academy this summer and seeing the artwork they produce.”

The School of Theatre will host its annual High School Summer Theatre Workshop July 10 through 23 featuring the study of acting, voice, movement, musical theatre and scene and costume design and construction, along with stage management, sound and lighting design. The Junior Jacks theatre camp for younger students is Monday through Friday, July 25 through Aug. 5. Performances are held at the conclusion of theatre camps.

“We are excited to be back for our 54th annual high school theatre workshop,” said Cleo House Jr., director of the School of Theatre and Dance. “Students are going to get the opportunity to work in a variety of styles of theatre, commune with like-minded artists and enjoy a beautiful time in the Piney Woods. The leadership staff this summer are all former campers, and they are excited to be able to welcome the students back to our summer theatre workshop.”

For more information about fine arts camps at SFA, visit finearts.sfasu.edu.