2016 JanTerm in Rome
Rolling into another Jan Term

Welcome to 2016! The new year has kicked off with the usual flurry of activity for Jan Term, with 897 students enrolled in nine travel Jan terms and 32 campus courses. Europe, Asia, South America, Latin America and Hawaii are destinations, but as the ’Roo Nation knows, Jan Terms on campus are adventurous as well. In addition to those enrolled in structured courses, 100 of our students are engaged in CSOC (Career Study Off Campus) in pursuit of experiential learning.

This year’s offerings represent some variation from the past. Professor Wayne Crannell and several alumni are producing the musical Cabaret (more in the story below). College archivist Justin Banks, along with Shannon Teichmann, Abell Library’s coordinator of electronic services, are teaching a course on book binding and creating one’s own book. Two career-focused courses—one for freshman/sophomores and a second one for upper classmen—focus on skills for success in the workplace.

Three courses incorporate a significant digital media focus and many more are integrating digital pedagogy into the curriculum. Jan Term provides an exciting opportunity for faculty to experiment with new forms of pedagogy—an added value of the 2014 Mellon Foundation grant to increase use of digital technology in the humanities. New technologies are facilitated by the College’s Digital Pedagogy Designer, Morris Pelzel. (For more on this exciting program and the College’s strategic emphasis on Liberal Arts in the digital era, see the Summer 2015 issue of the Austin College Magazine.)

We’ll share some of the students’ photos in coming weeks. In addition, check our Austin College Facebook page for Jan Term posts.

Curious about the full list of this year’s courses? More can be found on our website. 
Set design still in progress.
Come hear the music play…..

If you’d like another look into Jan Term activity, 2016’s session offers a unique opportunity to see a “final product.” The Austin College music department, with the assistance of a number of theatre alumni, is staging a student production of the musical Cabaret in Ida Green Theatre. Performances are January 29-30 and February 5-6 at 7:30 p.m.; and February 6 at 2:30 p.m.

With Dr. Wayne Crannell as musical director, a number of talented alumni are providing technical expertise, including Marc Daniel ’81 and Casey McClellan '79 as co-producers, McClellan as director, Julie Johnson '81 (assistant director, acting & dialogue coach, costumes), Megan Cardwell-Wilson '04 (choreography), Jeff Ridenour '11 (set design), and Jeff Mabray '96 (lighting design), along with AC faculty member Dan Pucul ’06, technical director.

Alumni will be on-site in Sherman during the month of January in a "production-as-instruction" mode. Many of you know one or more of these talented alumni, each of whom has impressive post-AC theatre careers. Several members of the music faculty are participating as well.

Alumni and friends are cordially invited to attend the performances. Tickets are available at the door 30 minutes before each performance; ticket prices are $15 for the public and no charge with an Austin College ID. Additionally, you can lend financial support to assist underwriting production costs (primarily those typical expenses like sets, costumes, lights, etc.). The fundraising goal is modest, and any excess funds will help support the scholarship established in memory of the late Andy Williams, long-time technical director of the AC Theatre Department. Any donation of $50 or more will get you a pair of tickets at the door! You can make your gift online; on the "Designation" drop down, select "Cabaret Production - Jan Term."

We really appreciate your support, and hope to continue a long tradition of visiting artists. See you at Cabaret!
We love to celebrate the achievements of the Austin College family! This month, we are proud to announce several highlights.

Congratulations to Dr. Jacqueline Moore, Austin College professor of history, named the 2015 Texas Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Award winners were selected from a pool of nearly 400 nominees. Judges selected the winners based on four criteria: impact on and involvement with undergraduate students; scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contributions to undergraduate education in the institution, community, and profession; and support from colleagues and current and former students. Moore joined the Austin College history faculty in 1994 and was named professor of history in 2007; she also was active in development of the Asian studies program.

The Austin College women's soccer team was one of 83 colleges in the nation to be recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a recipient of the Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award, the organization has announced. The NSCAA Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award is given to teams across all levels, including all NCAA divisions, the NAIA, and the junior college ranks, that exhibit fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the laws of the game, as reflected by the number of yellow caution cards or red ejection cards they are shown by referees throughout the season. Austin College was honored with the NSCAA Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Gold Award, given to teams with a percentage of cards ranging from 1-10%. The 'Roos were the only Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference team to earn this award for the 2015 season.

The Austin College Phi Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega national coeducational service organization received the Chapter of Excellence Award—Gold Level this fall. This national distinction is awarded to chapters in recognition of outstanding work in demonstrating the pillars of leadership, friendship, and service. Gold Level recognition indicates the group has gone above and beyond the requirements for the award, explained chapter president Ganesh Maniam ’17, adding that the awards committee considered the chapter exemplary of what it means to be a service fraternity. More information about the chapter’s activities can be found in our website’s College Wide News.

Great job, ’Roo Nation!
Happening on Campus in January
  • Austin College will host the twelfth annual Grayson County Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Breakfast on Monday, January 18 at 7:15 a.m. in Mabee Hall, Wright Campus Center. Keynote speaker is Dr. Michael Sorrell, 34th President of Paul Quinn College in Dallas. The public is welcome; tickets are $15 per person, payable at the door.
  • Winter sports continue! Athletic team schedules are available at on the official website of Austin College Athletics.
  • Jan Serve is Wednesday, January 20. The Service Station sponsors this annual event, engaging students in service around the local communities.
  • Grace Presbytery Senior High Youth Connection (SHY-C) will be on campus January 29-31.
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