Faculty Breakfast Series continues
The faculty breakfast series begun in 2013 as a collaboration between the divisions of Academic Affairs, Administration and Student Affairs continued with three breakfasts held in the first quarter of 2014, and one more scheduled before the end of the academic year. Faculty are provided a continental breakfast and the opportunity to learn about and discuss topics of campus-wide interest.
“The Future of the Residential University” was held Feb. 20, to address what Binghamton University will need to do to create an even richer learning environment for students and enhance its stature as an exceptional residential university in the changing landscape of higher education. Provost Donald Nieman, Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose, Professor of Anthropology Randall McGuire and student Sabrena Myers served on the panel, discussing campus initiatives to strengthen Binghamton University’s highly successful residential communities from student, faculty and senior leadership perspectives.
A focus on the active shooter scenario was the topic of the Wednesday, March 12 breakfast. Deputy Chief of Binghamton University Police Madeline Bay showed the “Shots Fired on Campus” video that included possible scenarios, then asked those present to think about how to use the knowledge they gained.
“Where you can possibly use this?” she asked.” It’s all about being aware. Ninety percent of what I teach is about using your brain and thinking about…’That’s a weird-looking person, maybe it’s time to pull out my cell phone and dial 911. Maybe it’s time to have University police next door while you’re having this meeting.’
“The 20-minute video is a tool for your tool box to give you options,” she said. “Your odds of finding yourself in this situation is similar to your chance of being struck by lightning, but how many of us would stand next to a light pole during a storm? Think about what you would do.”
Anyone interested in the video can contact Bay via e-mail.
The third breakfast of the semester was held in conjunction with Research Days. It featured three faculty members – Elizabeth Casteen, history; Matthew Johnson, psychology; and Gretchen Mahler, bioengineering – and three of their student researchers reflecting on doing research together.
Past breakfast topics have included an overview of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), admissions staff discussing the faculty role in recruiting the best and brightest students to Binghamton and the director of the Center for Learning and Teaching speaking about student-centered approaches to teaching.