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Tag: Chancellor Brian McCall

Talking Higher Education: With Rep. Chris Turner, Chancellor Brian McCall, and Chancellor James Milliken

As a student at Sam Houston State University and a LEAP Ambassador, I am always interested in the goings-on in higher education, and I had the chance to learn up-close-and-personal with Representative Chris Turner’s FB Live program.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Texas State University System, Chancellor Brian McCall, Representative Chris Turner, Chancellor James Milliken

His guests were two Chancellors: Brian McCall (TSUS) and James Milliken (UTS).  It’s always a pleasure to hear from Dr. McCall, who has been a big supporter of LEAP’s Austin Internship Program.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Chancellor Brian McCall, SHAIP, Sam Houston Austin Internship Program, Center for Law Engagement And Politics

Turner, who is the Chair of the Higher Ed Committee in the Texas House (and who housed one of LEAP’s interns in the Spring of 2019), kicked off the meeting by allowing Chancellor McCall to introduce SHSU’s new president.  McCall gave effusive praise for the leadership of President Hoyt, and he then welcomed President Alisa White, whom he described as a “remarkable individual.”  She will begin on August 10, and we are grateful to be students at a time when we have had a chance to experience the leadership of President Hoyt…

SHSU, Academic Success Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Kat Talks, President Dana Hoyt

…and the chance to welcome President White to our friendly University.

The Chancellors had a chance to highlight some of their most impressive programs.  Chancellor McCall, for example, announced that TSUS had recently implemented a program  at three of their Universities (SHSU, Lamar, and Texas State) that will provide tuition-free education for students whose families make less than $65,000 per year.  Amazingly, that is more than 90 percent of the system’s freshmen students.

At the UT System, Chancellor Milliken has a similar program, noting that this is an important part of an adage that guides him: “Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not.”  Both systems, by offering affordable education to less-fortunate students, help equal the opportunity playing field.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Texas State University System, Chancellor Brian McCall, Representative Chris Turner, Chancellor James Milliken

The big topic, of course, was the impact that COVID has had on the TSUS and UT systems.  Both Systems discussed pride in their faculty for shifting to online so quickly in the spring (editor’s note: “Thank you, thank you very much.) and noted that their summer enrollment is actually up, a reflection, one hopes, of students’ satisfaction with their education.

Both Chancellors expressed pride in their students’ resilience, as well.  McCall noted that some students did homework in University parking lots to get onto wi-fi systems, having exhausted their own data plans.

While touting the technological advances available today, both Chancellors expressed a desire–assuming it’s safe, of course–to get back to in-person learning.  Many class types (such as labs), research activities, and student socialization are not conducive for on-line learning, and both, while lauding the value of online enhancements to the learning process, seem intent on keeping in-person learning the predominant delivery system, safety permitting, for the time being, especially for undergraduates.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Texas State University System, Chancellor Brian McCall, Representative Chris Turner, Chancellor James Milliken

Of course, to return to an in-person teaching environment, alterations to the learning environment will be necessary.  While it will differ by the institution, some discussions of steps that could be taken to mitigate risk include:

  • Reduced class sizes, held in larger class rooms
  • Signage directing students as a means of avoiding crowds and bottlenecks
  • Movement of large classes online
  • Alternating from class period to class period online and in-person (so only half the class is in the room at any one time)
  • Mask wearing
  • Limiting out-of-class interaction

Of course, even these tools are contingent on the COVID infection rates not getting significantly worse.

Both also made a strong case for tuition revenue bonds to create and expand facilities for their systems.  Chancellor McCall, in particular, highlighted the space deficit that the TSUS institutions faced.  And both Chancellors pointed out that higher-education funding was one of the near sure-fire ways of increasing productivity–and revenue–down the road.  As Chancellor Milliken said, “almost everything that is positive goes up with higher-education attainment levels.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Texas State University System, Chancellor Brian McCall, Representative Chris Turner, Chancellor James Milliken

And on that optimistic note, Representative Turner closed the program, thanking the Chancellors for their leadership and wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. (And reminded folks to “wear a mask and stay home as much as possible!”)SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Texas State University System, Chancellor Brian McCall, Representative Chris Turner, Chancellor James Milliken

 

Author mikeyawnPosted on July 1, 2020July 1, 2020Format AsideCategories Civic EngagementTags Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Chancellor Brian McCall, Chancellor James Milliken, LEAP Center, Representative Chris Turner, SHSU, Texas State University SystemLeave a comment on Talking Higher Education: With Rep. Chris Turner, Chancellor Brian McCall, and Chancellor James Milliken

Celebrating General Sam’s Birthday: 2019 Version

Not many people have a celebration party for their 226th birthday but, then again, not many people led the life that General Sam Houston did.  So, armed with some serious school pride, approximately 150 people–a mix of SHSU alumni, legislators, legislative staffers, and University administrators–set out for Austin in late February to honor General Sam.

Prior to the official celebration, a busload of SHSU alumni and administrators  visited the Capitol building and distributed SHSU memorabilia and information to legislators.  For them, the celebration was an opportunity to relax, while continuing to spread the word about the good things the University was doing.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday

For the LEAP Ambassadors, it was an opportunity to assist the President’s Office with the event…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday

while also giving them a chance to catch up with the Ambassadors who are interning in Austin.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday

While the event was mostly come and go, President Hoyt did speak briefly…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday, Dana Hoyt

…updating people on the many accomplishments of the University over the past year, and also recognizing Representative Will Metcalf, Representative Trent Ashby, and Senator Brandon Creighton for their assistance in establishing the SHSU School of Osteopathic Medicine.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday
SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday
SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday
SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday

Mostly, it was an opportunity for people to enjoy themselves and discuss their shared experiences with SHSU.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday, Commissioner Gary Fickes

It was also an opportunity for the Sam Houston Austin Interns to see the President and meet alumni.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday

Currently, SHSU has 11 interns working in or near the Capitol, and that number has grown over the past decade.  In addition, a growing number of SHSU alums are working in the legislature.  Many of these staffers were former interns, making the Sam Houston Birthday Celebration a reunion of sorts.  Indeed, a photo with a sampling of current and past Austin Interns and Chancellor McCall, Vice-Chancellor Cunningham, and President Hoyt illustrated the growing presence that SHSU has in Austin.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday, Dana Hoyt, Chancellor Brian McCall, Vice-Chancellor Sean Cunningham

Over the years, Criminal Justice majors have been a large part of the Sam Houston Austin Intern Program, but that was especially true this year, and the Birthday Celebration afforded the CJ contingent a nice chance to meet their Dean, Dr. Phillip Lyons.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday, Dr. Phillip Lyons

Special thanks go to those interns who brought their supervisors and introduced them around…

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…and to all the alumni who came to support SHSU and General Sam Houston, on his 226th Birthday!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Sam Houston Birthday

Author mikeyawnPosted on March 6, 2019March 6, 2019Format AsideCategories Civic Engagement, Fun, Politics, TravelTags Austin Texas, Chancellor Brian McCall, Commissioner Gary Fickes, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, President Dana Hoyt, Rissie Owens, Sam Houston Birthday, SHSU, Vice Chancellor Sean CunninghamLeave a comment on Celebrating General Sam’s Birthday: 2019 Version

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