BI What's New Programs, Accreditations, & Initiatives

Black Issues in Higher Education, Dec 23, 1999

The intent is "to do everything we can to connect the School of Education to the teachers of Jackson and the state [of Mississippi] as a whole, "says Dr. Ivan Banks, a professor of curriculum and instruction at Jackson State University. That is why beginning this spring, the historically Black institution will offer Classroom Management EDCI 401 DL, a graduate level classroom management course that students can take live via television programming from their homes.

The course, which will be team taught by three JSU professors on Wednesday nights from 6-9 p.m., was developed to address the growing concern of teachers and others about discipline in the classroom. It will focus on teaching, developing and refining classroom management skills; heightening awareness of the legal and ethical implications of corrective discipline techniques; informing teachers of developmentally appropriate practices for dealing with problems among young children; and exploring alternative strategies for violent and out-of-control behavior.

The course will be offered through EdNet in conjunction with Wireless One Inc., a cable television service. EdNet is an educational program service that is the result of a partnership between the state's institutions of higher education, the Mississippi Department of Education and Mississippi ETV. However, to receive EdNet, students must be a subscriber to Wireless One.

For more information, contact Banks at (601) 968-2336.

Rice University and the Houston Area Urban League have established a scholarship program that will allow the private Texas institution to form closer ties with Urban League affiliates across the country.

The league will nominate outstanding students for annual $3,000 scholarships to Rice that will be funded by the university, Scholarship recipients will come from those students that earn admission. A total of 40 Urban League scholars at a time will eventually be funded through the program, with 10 in each graduating class. Nomination forms will be made available through Urban League affiliates and must be submitted to Rice by Dec. 1 of the student's senior year of high school. The application fee to Rice will be waived for all Urban League nominees.

For more information, contact the Houston Area Urban League at (713) 845-2501.

Carleton College in Minnesota will soon establish its own off-campus study program in the landlocked African country of Mall. In January, 19 students of French-language Professor Cherif Keita will travel to the West African country for a three-month stay.

The students will spend their initial days in the village of Nana-Kenieba, where they will receive instruction in Bamanan, as well as learn simple rules of etiquette. Then they go to the capital city of Bamako, where they will meet their host families and attend classes at the University of Mali.

All the students are proficient in French. They will be given Malian first names and adopt the clan names of their host families. This is to allow them to become full participants in Malian society, not simply observers.

The program's purpose, according to Keita, is to help the students realize their responsibility toward the African continent within the context of globalization.

All coursework will be taught in French and classes will range from studying the expression of social change through traditional and modern forms of literature, music, film and art to discussing various issues in Malian history and the process of political and economic change.

For more information, contact Keita at (507) 646-4433, or by e-mail at <ckeita@carleton.edu>.