The Future of Graduate Education and Research at Northern Michigan University

1
The Future of Graduate Education and Research at
Northern Michigan University
Application for Dean of Graduate Studies and
Research

• By
• Louise M. Bourgault, Ph.D.
• Professor
• Department of Communication and Performance
  Studies (CAPS)

2
Qualifications

• Ph.D. Mass Communications (1980). Ohio
  University, Athens, Ohio. Minors African
  Studies Anthropology. Title of dissertation An
  Ethnographic Study of the 'Praise the Lord
  Club'.
• M.A. Radio-Television (1972). Ohio University,
  Athens, Ohio. Seminars on Film Making (France),
  on U.N. Programs, (Switzerland).
  
• B.S. Television-Radio (1971). Syracuse
  University, New York. Minor French (Semester
  abroad Poitiers, France).

3
Career Summary
Teaching in Europe
University education and teaching
Media research and consulting, project
administration, teaching
4
University Level Teaching Experience

• Northern Michigan University (CAPS)
• 1984-2004 20 years taught 20 different
  courses.
  
• Assistant Professor. 1984-1987.
• Associate Professor. 1987-1991.
• Professor. 1991-2004.
• Other Institutions
• Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
• Assistant Professor. 1980-1982.
• University of Delaware
• Visiting Guest Lecturer. 1979-1980.
• Ohio University
• Graduate Teaching Assistant. 1976-1979.

5
Research and Teaching Interests

• Research Fields
• AIDS Communication. Edutainment/Participatory
  Communication. Popular Performance and Social
  Change.
  
• Training Media Professionals in Developing
  Countries/New Democracies Mass Media in Africa.
  
• Teaching Interests
• International / Global / Inter-Cultural
  Communication
  
• Mass Media Effects Mass Media Society
• Religious Discourse the Mass Media
• Media Writing
• African Cultural Studies.

6
Record of Scholarship and Ongoing Professional
Accomplishments
Mass Media in Sub-Saharan Africa, Indiana
University Press, 1995.
Playing for Life Performance in Africa in the
Age of AIDS Carolina Academic Press, 2003.

PLUS CD. Text in NMU course
Winner of the 1996 Choice Book Award, American
Library Association
7
Scholarly Output

• 25 scholarly articles, in peer-reviewed
  international journals as book chapters.
  
• 30 written presentations at national and
  international conferences/university forums.
  
• 10 externally supported invitations to present
  research.
  
• Producer of numerous audio-visual materials.
• Producer/organizer of creative productions.

8
Long-Term African Experience
countries visited
9
Short Term Media Consulting
10
Foreign Languages

• FRENCH fluent written spoken
• SPANISH some written spoken
• HAUSA some spoken
• BAMBARA some spoken.

11
Invitations to Present Research

• Vancouver, Canada. The Earth Project A Gathering
  of Social Activists.
  
• Accra, Ghana. Consultation on Media and
  Religion.
  
• Paris, France. Institut Francais de Presse.
• Vienna, Austria. Afro-Asiatisches Institut.
• Princeton, N.J. Conference on Womens Song.
• Champaign-Urbana, Il. Conference on African
  Media.
  
• Columbus, Ohio. Program of African Studies
  (twice).
  
• Minneapolis, MN. Dept. of Afro-American Studies
• Gainsville, Florida. Program of African Studies.

12
Grants and Awards 1984-2004

• Fulbright Scholar Award (1) External
• King-Chavez-Parks Fund Grant (1) External
  Internal
  
• Peter White Scholar Grant (1) Internal
• Distinguished Faculty Award (1) Internal
• Faculty Merit Award (3) Internal
• Faculty Research Grants (5) Internal
• Faculty Research Pilot Grant (1) Internal
• Curriculum Development Grant (1) Internal
• Internationalization Grants (2) Internal
• Teacher-Scholar Award (1) Internal
• Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Grant (1) Internal
• Special Projects Grants (2) Internal
• Arts and Sciences Special Funding Grants
  (Multiple)

13
Major Scholarly Achievements

• Sabbatical Research (I) 1992-1993.
• To write Mass Media in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Peter White Scholar Award 1994.
• To complete Mass Media in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Sabbatical Research (II) 1999-2000.
• South Africa and Mali Research Playing for
  Life Performance in Africa in the Age of AIDS.
  
• Fulbright Regional Research Grant 2003.
• To conduct AIDS-related research in Mali.

14
Multi-Media Productions

• Videotape AIDS and the Arts in Africa (2001).
• CD to Accompany Textbook Playing for Life
  Performance in Africa in the Age of AIDS (2003).
  
  
• Concert, DVD, Videotape, and Website for
  OneWorldBeat project, NMU (2004).
  
• AIDS arts website (in development).

15
Multi-Media Productions
16
Multi-Media Productions CD to accompany text book
, Playing for Life Performance in Africa in the
Age of AIDS
45 audio and video clips illustrating African
performances described in the book.
NMU students involved in production
17
Fund-Raising Activities
NMU students involved in production
OneWorldBeat benefit concert, raised 3,500 for
HIV African Children! Academic Service Learning
Project for BC 420. Involved several student
organizations including (NAE), (MACS),The
Northwind, Radio X, Vox.
18
Fundraising for Campus Events

• Eager Artists. Raised 13,000 to bring 8 South
  African Performers to NMU, 2000.
  
• Dr. Gilbert Doho. Raised funds to bring
  Cameroonian scholar to campus to conduct Spring
  Break Workshop, 2001.
  
• Ms. Peggy Pettitt. Won King-Chavez-Parks Award
  to bring NYC-based performer to NMU, 2003.

19
Creative Output and Productions

• Organized Theatre for Social Change workshop by
  Dr. G. Doho, that led to creation and performance
  of the AIDS play Phambili, 2001.
  
• Helped organize and promote World AIDS Day
  commemorations 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.
  
• Brought NYC performer Ms. Peggy Pettitt who
  presented One Woman Show, 2003.

20
Significant Administrative Experience

• Chair of Internationalization Task Force
  Curriculum for the 21st Century (2004-05).
  
• Academic Director of the Michigan Consortium for
  Study Abroad (MCSA) in Vienna, Austria. (1996).
  
• Acting Director of the Office of International
  Affairs (1990).
  
• Chief Executive Officer for the Liberian Rural
  Communications Network (1988-89).

21
Scholarly Reviewing

• Reviewed articles and manuscripts for several
  academic journals and presses.
  
• External reviewer for promotion and tenure
  documents for faculty seeking advancement at
  other universities.
  
• Member of the editorial board of Global Culture
  and Communication, a new journal based in London
  in the United Kingdom.

22
Leadership at NMU

• Internationalization Task Force Curriculum for
  the 21st Century (2004-05). CHAIR
  
• Graduate Programs Committee SECRETARY
• Faculty Review Committee CHAIR
• International Education Policy Committee CHAIR
• Search Committee, College of Arts and Sciences,
  Associate Dean Search Committee CHAIR
  
• Faculty Grants Committee
• Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee
• Committee on Elections and Committees
• Presidents Council (2000-01) (as Distinguished
  Faculty)
  
• CAPS Sub-area Head of Broadcasting since 1996.
• Served in every departmental service position in
  CAPS chaired/served as secretary a number of
  times.

23
Experience with Graduate Education -External

• Taught MA level students at the University of
  Natal-Durban, South Africa.
  
• Taught MA and Ph.D. level students at the French
  Press Institute, University of Paris (Sorbonne).
  
• Served as Doctoral Dissertation Reader for the
  University of Natal-Durban, South Africa.
  

24
Graduate Education Experience at NMU

• Assisted Students with individually created
  graduate programs at NMU.
  
• Regularly teach four 400-level courses that offer
  graduate credit.
  
• Created two 400-level courses for graduate
  credit.
  
• Member of graduate faculty since 1984.
• Member (Secretary) of Graduate Programs Committee
  2000-2002.

25
Graduate Education Relevant Skills

• PhD-level training in statistics, and in a range
  of quantitative and qualitative methodologies
  that underlie research across a range of
  disciplines.
• PhD-level training as a quantitative social
  scientist, and in ethnographic/critical cultural
  schools of scholarship.
  
• Expertise in action research methodologies for
  research on AIDS communication.
  
• A general understanding of the needs of the
  laboratory sciences at the graduate level at NMU.

26
Other Administrative Skills

• Specialist knowledge of media for instructional
  and publicity purposes.
  
• Broad familiarity with web usage for instruction
  and publicity.
  
• Broad knowledge experience of NMU campus
  Student Affairs, Student Activities,
  Administration, Academic Programs, and all media
  outlets.
• Ability and ease with fund-raising.
• Knowledge of International Affairs, diversity
  issues Language Skills.
  

27
Plans for the Future of Graduate Education and
Research at NMU
28
Graduate Programs at NMU Review of Past Practice

• Review existing graduate programs.
• Examine programs currently on hold due to
  financial considerations.
  
• Reconvene Graduate Program Directors Committee.
• Grow enrollment /increase retention.
• Enhance budget for the Graduate School.
• Review Graduate Teaching Assistant stipends.

29
Graduate Programs at NMU Capacity Building

• Explore the development of new graduate degree
  programs.
  
• Explore new partnerships/mentorships with local
  and regional business and industry.
  
• Explore cooperative agreements with universities
  so as to offer joint programs to funnel MA/MS
  students into doctoral programs.
  

30
Graduate Programs at NMU Capacity Building
through Internationalization

• Internationalize the graduate student body
  through recruitment.
  
• Support internationalization of curricula
  together with faculty teaching in NMU graduate
  programs.
  
• Explore opportunities for graduate program
  partnerships with international universities
  including web courses delivery systems.
  
• Explore opportunities to bring in guest
  international graduate/undergraduate faculty.
  

31
Graduate Programs at NMUImprove Visibility

• Use NMUs Public Television to create programs
  featuring undergraduate and graduate student
  activities and their research.
  
• Foster the creation of a graduate student
  organization with an intellectual and a social
  function.
  
• Feature research at NMU on the graduate webpage.

32
Facilitate Educational Programs Related to
Graduate Study

• Re-establish NMU as a GRE testing site.
• Organize GRE test preparation workshops for
  campus educators and undergraduate students.
  
• Develop orientation sessions for new graduate
  teaching assistants and new faculty.
  

33
Faculty Scholarship Capacity Building

• Institute an advisory committee for faculty
  scholarship.
  
• Explore new funding for faculty scholarship.
• Support faculty integration of graduate and
  undergraduate students in research projects.
  
• Support faculty in developing grant-writing
  skills.
  

34
Faculty ScholarshipIncrease Visibility

• Institute Excellence in Scholarship Award for
  faculty.
  
• Showcase faculty research through seminars and
  programming on WNMU-TV / distance learning
  facilities/ www.
  
• Reorganize School of Graduate Studies website to
  feature current faculty research, publications,
  and presentations.

35
Faculty ScholarshipIncrease Visibility

• Revive scholar breakfast/luncheon to honor
  scholarship at NMU.

• Peter White Award Winner
• Faculty Grant Winners
• External Grant Winners
• Research and Creative Project Sabbaticals
• Sabbatical Winners

36
Student ScholarshipCapacity Building

• Explore new funding sources for student
  scholarship at NMU.
  
• Tie some student scholarship funding to
  internationalization mission.
  
• Tie some student scholarship funding to superior
  edge mission, i.e., service learning/internships.
  

37
Student ScholarshipCapacity Building

• Improve NMU research environment to encourage
  faculty to involve undergraduates in their
  research.

• Freshmen Fellows
• Superior Edge Programs
• Mentorships
• Internships and Practica
• Student Leader Fellowship Program

38
Student ScholarshipIncrease Visibility

• Increase visibility of the Celebration of Student
  Creativity and Research using Public TV, cable,
  and other media.
  
• Encourage faculty to integrate the Celebration of
  Student Creativity and Research into course
  syllabi.

39
Student ScholarshipIncrease Visibility

• Increase funding for student research
  presentations at conferences.
  
• Use Public Television to provide an outlet for
  student research and creative projects.
  
• Feature student scholarship and creative projects
  on the graduate college website with direct link
  to NMU webpage.

40
Student Scholarship Celebration of Student
Creativity and Research

• Use Public Television to broadcast a series on
  the Celebration of Student Creativity and
  Research.
  
• Provide an award for the best Masters Degree
  Thesis/Creative Writing Project.
  
• Provide an award for the best graduate file paper
  project.

41
Intellectual Life of the NMU Community

• Institute research seminar series featuring
  NMU researchers.

• Peter White Scholar projects.
• Faculty Grant Projects.
• Sabbatical research projects.
• Outside-funded projects.

42
Intellectual Life of the NMU Community

• Institute an NMU Distinguished Lecture Series
  series for prominent outside speakers.
  
• Create a Scholar in Residence program for
  visiting professors.
  
• Coordinate internationalization efforts with
  speaker series / scholar in residence.
  
• Secure rights to televise speakers / scholars
  brought to campus.

43
Summary I Graduate Programs

• Inject vitality into existing School of Graduate
  Studies infrastructure and programs, by reviewing
  past practice and consulting with graduate
  faculty and students.
• Build capacity of School of Graduate Studies
  through cooperative agreements,
  internationalization, and using technology.

44
Summary II Scholarship

• Increase scholarship at NMU through capacity
  building for faculty, graduate students, and
  undergraduates.
  
• Increase visibility of scholarship at NMU though
  use of WNMU-TV, other media, and NMU/Graduate
  School web page.