The Scholarship of Teaching Office (SoTO) in FAU's Center for Teaching and Learning is soliciting proposals for Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) for the 2012-13 academic year.

FLCs are small communities consisting of 8-12 faculty and/or professional staff members who work to enhance teaching and learning at FAU. FLC participants come from all colleges and campuses of the university. Anyone who teaches at the university, or who directly supports teaching and learning in a professional role at the university, is eligible to participate. FLCs meet on a regular basis (usually once every two to three weeks) throughout the academic year and carry the expectation that participants will:
- Apply what they learn in concrete ways in their courses or in their support of courses
- Evaluate the impact of what they've implemented
- Share their results with other members of the FAU community.

For 2012-13, we are particularly interested in FLC proposals that focus on the following topics:
- The how's and why's of gauging teaching effectiveness and improving student learning (assessment)
- The how's and why's of including research- and inquiry-based pedagogies in upper division curricula (both honors and conventional programs and courses, supporting the University's Quality Enhancement Plan)
- Identifying and supporting the cognitive characteristics, knowledge and/or skills students need in order to be successful in their academic careers (student success).

Proposals on other topics will also be accepted. We especially encourage proposals from first-time leaders or individuals who are new to the FLC program. Examples of past and present FLCs can be found on the Center for Teaching and Learning web site at www.fau.edu/ctl/Faculty_Learning_Communities.php.

FLC leaders will receive a $2,500 stipend (co-leaders of an FLC will share this stipend). FLC participants will each receive a $1,000 stipend upon meeting the expectations of the FLC.

What we solicit now are proposals from individuals who wish to lead an FLC. (FLC leaders must be full-time faculty or staff.) You must commit to leading the FLC for two semesters -- Fall 2012 and Spring 2013.

FLC proposals should be submitted using the form which is posted on the FLC web site at www.fau.edu/ctl/Faculty_Learning_Communities.php.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 8. Please send your proposal by email attachment to Dr. Jennifer Peluso, Director for the Scholarship of Teaching Office, at jpeluso@fau.edu, or by campus mail to the Scholarship of Teaching Office on the Boca Raton campus, GS building room 214D. Feel free to contact SoTO at ext. 7-1033 if you wish to discuss possible ideas for an FLC.

A photographer is available one day per semester on the Boca Raton campus for official portrait photos of faculty and staff. There is no charge to the individual, however, please have only one portrait taken per academic year. Portraits are taken on a walk-in basis and should only take 3-5 minutes. For complete details including appropriate attire, location and times, visit www.fau.edu/marketing/mcs/portraitphoto.php.

The FAU Self-Service and Banner systems will be unavailable this Friday, Aug. 3 from 3 to 10 a.m. as the Banner system undergoes Phase II of the fiscal year-end processing. This will affect the following services:
- Banner Forms (INB) access & ePrint
- FAU Self-Service (including registration, transcripts, grades and payments)

Please inform students that the Fall 2012 Short-Term Advance application will be available to students on MyFAU beginning Aug. 3. Students can access the info by clicking on the Money Matters tab.

The Short-Term Advance is a University cash advance for purchasing textbooks or other unanticipated expenses. It also offers the flexibility to purchase books anywhere and to shop around for the best prices. Recently, the short-term advance limit was increased from $500 to $750. In addition, the non-refundable processing fee has been increased to $7.50.

For complete details, visit www.fau.edu/finaid/loans/stl.php.

Move-In Day for new residential students will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to noon on the Jupiter campus and Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Boca Raton campus. Volunteers are needed to direct new arrivals to the correct residence halls, unload and haul student gear as well as other duties It also offers faculty and staff a chance to welcome students and their families in an informal setting. If you would like to participate on either campus, contact Beverly Stewart at 561-297-3907 or stewart@fau.edu.

The 2012 Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, Sept. 29, in downtown West Palm Beach and will include a 5K run, a family-friendly walk (well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome) and -- as always -- lots of fun! For the second year in a row, FAU walkers will have a mascot -- 2-1/2-year-old Gavin Weiser, whose life was saved by open heart surgery at Miami Children's Hospital when he was a newborn baby. Gavin will be at the kick-off event with his mom and dad, Susanna Laurenti and Ed Weiser -- who are both FAU alumni -- and his proud grandma, Lynn Laurenti, who is co-chairing this year's FAU initiative to support the Heart Walk with Stacy Volnick. Gavin is full of energy and living proof of the incalculable value of heart research!

People who volunteer to become team captains for their departments or divisions will automatically qualify to enter a drawing for a 7-night stay at a Caribbean resort (does not include airfare or food). To register as a team captain, please send an email giving your full name and your email address to Jennifer Mora at Jennifer.Mora@heart.org.

Click here to join a team at FAU.

The Blackboard Mobile Learn application is now available allowing faculty to manage Blackboard features and students to access information -- all from mobile devices. The app features announcements, discussions, media, roster, grades, tasks, journals, blogs and mobile tests and is available for the following devices: Android, BlackBerry, HP webOS, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. More information at www.fau.edu/oit/blackboard-mobile.php

Adjusted summer hours for the following Boca Raton campus eateries are available at www.dineoncampus.com/fau : Quiznos, Chick 'n' Grill, Wendy's, Jow Jing, Salsarita's, Outtakes (Student Union), JuiceBlendz, Starbucks, Einstein's and Coyote Jack's.

The Outtakes in Innovation Village, the College of Business and Glades Park Towers as well as the Centre Marketplace are closed for the summer.

The U.S. Student Fulbright Program for 2013-14 is now open. An information session will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 2 to 3:30 pm in General Classroom South (GS) 214B, Boca Raton campus. A video hook up with FAU Jupiter will be arranged (details soon). FAU students who will graduate with a bachelor's degree by summer 2013 or are a recent FAU graduate may apply for a year’s funding (up to $20,000) to study overseas or teach English overseas. The mandatory FAU campus deadline is Monday, Sept. 17, and the final Fulbright deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 1,800 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 155 countries worldwide. Fulbright U.S. Student alumni populate an entire range of professions and include ambassadors, members of Congress, judges, heads of corporations, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors, and teachers. Bose Corporation founder Amar Bose, actor John Lithgow, composer Philip Glass, opera singer Renee Fleming and economist Joseph Stiglitz are among notable former grantees. FAU has had a Fulbright winner in each of the last two years (for 2011-12 and for 2012-13).

Interested FAU students (especially seniors for the fall 2012 semester) are encouraged to read about the program and apply using the online submission process at http://us.fulbrightonline.org

FAU's student advisor for this Fulbright competiton is Dr. Catherine Meschievitz, who can be reached at 561-297-1039 or email at cmeschie@fau.edu.

When CB's dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group's bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen this dark comedy toward an ending that's both haunting and hopeful. Show dates are August 2, 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and August 5 at 1 p.m. in the Studio One Theatre. Tickets are $5 at www.fauevents.com.

The Jaffe Center for Book Arts will offer the Altered Books workshop on Saturday, Aug. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. The workshop will teach you to transform old books into works of art through the use of collage, paint, drawing, etc. -- limited only by your imagination. In this workshop, explore different ways and techniques of transforming a book into a work of art. This workshop is designed to appeal to artists and art lovers alike. Tuition: $95 general public / $90 FAU faculty & staff and students from other institutions / $85 FAU students. Information at http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/JaffeCenter/workshops/mary_larsen.php.

The Summer 2012 commencement ceremonies will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Degree candidates should report to the Live Oak Pavilion one hour before the beginning of their ceremony. The ceremonies will be webcast at www.fau.edu/webcast.

All ceremonies on Tuesday, Aug. 7
- 9 a.m.: The College of Business
- 1 p.m.: The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the College of Education and the College of Engineering and Computer Science
- 5 p.m.: The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the College for Design and Social Inquiry and the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing

Marilyn C. Link will be honored with the President's Distinguished Service Medallion at the 1 p.m. ceremony. Miss Link has been a staunch ally of FAU for many years as a leader of both the Harbor Branch Foundation and the Link Foundation, organizations that have played major roles in the development of FAU's internationally known ocean engineering and marine science programs. The Link Foundation is considered one of the University's founding organizations because of its early support of the Department of Ocean Engineering -- the first such academic department in the country. Miss Link continues to serve as a Principal of the Link Foundation, which funds annual awards and internships for FAU students.

Because of the need to accommodate all of the graduates and their guests, admission is by ticket only. The ceremonies are held in the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Center located in the Student Union on the Boca Raton campus. Boca Raton campus employees are reminded that traffic will be especially heavy on both days, particularly at the Glades Road entrance. Parking Lot 16, located directly in front of the Student Union, will be reserved for those attending the commencement ceremonies.

For complete information, visit www.fau.edu/registrar/gradinfo.php.

Harbor Branch's Ocean Science Lecture Series returns on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. at FAU Harbor Branch in Fort Pierce with "The Climate Change: Evidence It Is Happening in Florida and How Does This Effect Local Conservation" by Steve Traxler. Join Traxler, senior biologist at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, for an update on recent climate change studies in South Florida and how climate change will likely effect conservation efforts in our area. An opportunity to meet the speaker, appetizer buffet and cash bar follow the presentation. The lectures are open to the public, free of charge and reservations are not required. For more information, call (772) 242-2506.

On Thursday, Aug. 9, take an HBOI kayak adventure. Meet at the Ocean Discovery Center at 9:30 a.m. Return at 11:30 a.m. Lunch available. Spend a morning paddling on the Indina River Lagoon, enjoying the scenery and the more than 4,000 animal and plant species, including manatees, stingrays, sea turtles, sea horses, 700 species of fish and 310 species of birds. $40 pp includes kayak, instruction and professional guide along with a Harbor Branch scientist. Stay after and enjoy lunch at the Link Port Cafe on campus (great, inexpensive, fresh lunches and delicious dessert cookies). Call 772-242-2559 for information and reservations.

On Saturday, Aug. 18, take a bioluminescent kayak tour at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Dinner at Dixie Crossroads (on your own). Depart Cracker Barrel near junction of Route #60 and I-95 (the outlet mall of Vero Beach) at 4:30 p.m. Return around midnight. During the warm summer months the waters of the Indian River Lagoon come alive with bioluminescence. Tiny dinoflagellates make the water light up and speeding fish become underwater fireworks. Then, huge schools of flying mullet make your evening one you will never forget! $35 pp for kayak trip. Call 772-242-2559 for information and reservations.

On Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, from 1 to 1:45 p.m., FAU will host its sixth annual Freshman Convocation in the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium on the Boca Raton campus. The keynote speaker will be FAU's 2012 Distinguished Teacher of the Year, Dr. Deborah Louda. This is an especially important occasion, because research shows that first-time-in-college students who are formally welcomed to the university community have an increased likelihood of staying on track in their studies and graduating on time. The opening processional establishes the serious tone of the Convocation as faculty in academic regalia and staff in academic regalia or business attire march into the auditorium. The Convocation will begin promptly at 1 p.m. For more information please contact Diane Aragon at daragon@fau.edu or visit www.fau.edu/deanugstudies/freshmanconvocation/index.php.

FAU's Fifth Annual Fall Bonfire will take place on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m., adjacent to the northeast end of the Track and Field Complex near the intersection of West University and North University drives. Festivities will include a live performance by The Misfits! Food and beverages will be available for purchase at various food carts provided by Chartwells. This is an alcohol-free event, co-sponsored by Student Government and the Student Alumni Association.

ROAD CLOSURES: Starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23 roadways will be closed from North University Drive to the Dade Terrace Entrance of Lot 9. Traffic will be directed to the south side of University Drive until approximately 8:15 p.m. During the bonfire, there will be permanent road closure from the corner of North University Drive near the athletic fields at Lot 9 until approximately 10:30 p.m. There will be high student traffic in these areas, so please drive cautiously.

The four digital Living Room Theaters are located in the Culture and Society Building on the Boca Raton campus. Patrons can enjoy the European style cafe after 5 p.m. Show dates, times and ticket information can be found at http://fau.livingroomtheaters.com.

The OIT computer training schedule for August is now available online at www.fau.edu/oit/training/files/aug_12.pdf. We added some exciting new tools to Blackboard this summer and we're adding more just in time for fall! Come learn more about Course Themes, Automatic Regrading, Negative Marking, the new Text Editor, Banner Grade Submission, Bboogle, Blackboard Mobile, and updates to Collaborate. We also invite you to come to a session on Google Apps (known as "Owl Apps"), an easy way to collaborate in a secure online environment -- featuring tools for word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, forms, websites and more!

To register for classes, go to https://swise.fau.edu/training.

Get healthy with FAU YOGA! The first class is FREE and join any time. Fall semester classes start Aug. 14 and are ongoing through Dec. 7. Yoga exercises every muscle, nerve and gland in the body and releases stress and tension. Benefits include strength, flexibility, balance, increased energy and stress reduction. This class is appropriate for every body type and fitness level. Classes are sponsored by the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.

Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:10 to 1 p.m., in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Building, Room 115. The cost for faculty and staff is $70 for 8 classes, or $10 for 1 class. For full-time students, the cost is $40 for 8 classes, or $5 for 1 class. For community members, the cost is $80 for 8 classes, or $12 for 1 class.

Contact Kristine Lee at 561-297-0159 or klee26@fau.edu for additional information.

The Financial and Estate Planning in Retirement Program, offered by the College of Business Executive Education has the answers you need to actively take control of your financial future. A three-day educational seminar, the Financial and Estate Planning in Retirement Program will not only educate you in all areas of personal finance but also provide you with a personalized financial plan to organize your resources and help you understand the decisions you need to make to meet your financial objectives. You will also have the opportunity to invite a guest or your spouse, FREE of charge, to attend with you!

Sessions are offered through November on the Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses. Learn more and register at www.business.fau.edu/retirementplan.

The North County Art Association will present the artwork of 19 local resident artists in a special exhibition titled "Tropical Sunsets." The exhibit is part of FAU Jupiter's Art in the Atrium series. The SR Atrium is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The free exhibition runs June 4 through August 10 in the Student Resource (SR) building. For more information, call 561-799-8105.

Domestic Duality, a free exhibition of self-portraits by Patricia Gutierrez runs Friday, May 25, through Friday, Aug. 10, at the FAU Jupiter Library Gallery. The exhibition is a series of computer manipulated, staged self-portraits that show a woman hiding behind a facade that does not really exist. Patricia Schnall Gutierrez, the artist, has dedicated her work to examining women's roles throughout her career. The exhibition can be viewed during library hours, which are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information, call 561-799-8530 or visit www.library.fau.edu/npb/npb.htm.

Whether you call them pop-up books or moveable books, there's no doubt that books with elements that pop up, slide, twirl and change before your eyes are just plain fun. And fun is the general idea behind this great collection of books recently given to FAU Libraries by Arthur J. Williams. The Arthur J. Williams Pop-Up Collection is comprised of 425 pop-up and moveable books, and the collection has found a perfect home at FAU Libraries' Jaffe Center for Book Arts, where it is permanently housed, enabling students and researchers an opportunity to study the mechanics of pop-ups. The exhibition is displayed in the Jaffe Center for Book Arts and throughout the rest of the Wimberly Library on the Boca Raton campus.

For more information, including additional events and workshops, visit www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/JaffeCenter/workshops/index.php.

Clinical Research Studies at FAU's College of Medicine is conducting a clinical research trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an investigational medication for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. There is no cost to participate and eligible participants will receive payment for time and travel. If you or someone you know is suffering from Alzheimer's, call 561-297-0164 to learn more.

The Language Development Lab, under the direction of Professor Erika Hoff, is conducting a federally funded study of early monolingual and bilingual development. We are looking for 24- to 30-month-old children who are learning Spanish at home and at least one parent was born in a Spanish-speaking country. For participating, you will receive $150 in gift cards and your child will get a gift and a t-shirt. With your permission, we will contact you again every 6 months until your child is 5 years old. We will pay for your time at each visit. If you complete this study through the age of 5 years, you will receive a total of $1,000 in gift cards.

We are also looking for 24- to 30-month-old children who are learning only English at home. For participating, you will receive $50 in gift cards and your child will get a gift and a t-shirt. With your permission, we will contact you again every 6 months until your child is 5 years old. We will pay you for your time at each visit. If you complete the study through the age of 5 years you will receive a total of $400 in gift cards. We plan to study children's language development from 2 years and 6 months to 5 years.

The purpose of these studies is to gain a better understanding of how language develops during this period. We will come to your home or you can come to our playroom on the Davie campus of Florida Atlantic University or to our office on the Boca Raton campus -- whichever is easier for you. If you are interested in this study, email langdevlab@fau.edu. You may also call 954-236-1142 or check out psy.fau.edu/~hoff/LangDevLab/index.htm for more information.

The Communication Disorders Clinic is located on the 4th floor of the College of Education building on the Boca Raton campus and provides speech, language and hearing diagnostic and therapy services -- including accent reduction therapy -- to children and adults. Services are available Monday through Friday during every semester on a space-available basis. Appointments for diagnostic or treatment services may be made by calling Maria at 561-297-2258. Payment can now be made by VISA or MasterCard.

The clinic offers Stroke Support and a Stuttering Support groups, each meeting once a month. Interested parties should contact the clinic for details. FAU faculty and staff members and their families receive a 50 percent discount for all services. Full-time FAU students receive a 50 percent discount for evaluations and then are charged $10 per treatment session.

The Communication Disorders Clinic is operated by FAU's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. For more information on clinic services, visit www.coe.fau.edu/csd/clinic.htm.