April 2020
 THE COLLEGE INSIDER
NEWS ABOUT FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
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COVID-19 UPDATES
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Stay informed of COVID-19 updates

ICYMI, here are a few updates from the College of Education:
  • The Education building is now closed; however, all essential services are being performed remotely.
  • In-person commencement and convocation ceremonies (including UAZ and all colleges) will not take place as previously planned. Please check commencement.arizona.edu for updates.

Many things are changing rapidly, so please continue to check the University of Arizona COVID-19 information page for the latest information. Campus Health remains open to students, but please call before you come in. For medical services, call 520-621-9202. For counseling and psych services (CAPS), call 520-621-3334. Learn more at health.arizona.edu . 
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UAWiFi drive-up connectivity

As of March 25, drive-up UAWiFi locations in Tucson and across Arizona have been established to provide a safe environment for access to the campus network.

For those who do not have adequate access to internet at their remote workspace or current learning location, these drive-up spots allow for access to the UAWiFi and Eduroam networks from the comfort of your vehicle. There are over 30 different lots available around the UA main campus, College of Applied Science and Technology , Oro Valley College of Veterinary Medicine , and the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension office . 
 
How do I access these free WiFi spots?
·        View the complete list of parking areas available
·        Be sure to remain in your vehicle while using the WiFi spot to ensure social distancing.
·        You will need your NetID to log into the UAWiFi or Eduroam network

Additionally, most public libraries offer free WiFi that can be accessed from the parking lot.  

Currently, the Tohono O’odham Community College library is closed, but organizers are currently looking into drive-up WiFi options for students who live in the Tohono O'odham Nation. 
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Fuel the response

This is a challenging time at  The University of Arizona  and throughout the world, but what inspires us is the desire among our Wildcat community to make a difference for students affected by COVID-19’s disruptions. Many students are experiencing financial hardship and are struggling to cover rent, utilities and other basic necessities. That is why we have the Arizona Student Emergency Fund . Help fuel the response for Arizona students by making a gift to this fund or to the  UA Campus Pantry .
Looking for ways to volunteer during this time of crisis?

In response to the challenges that closing schools and shifting to online instruction presents to teachers, children, and parents, the College of Education has received requests from people who want to know how they can help. The college has many strengths and resources that we can leverage across our own students, faculty, and staff.

We would like to find out what kind of interest there is in the college to volunteer online for students and teachers. If you think you might have between 1-3 hours per week to volunteer, please complete this quick survey . This survey is for information purposes only. Once we have determined a structure volunteering, Associate Professor Kristin Gunckel will contact you directly. Please complete the survey by EOD Wednesday, 4/1.

CONGRATULATIONS
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Adai Tefera elected secretary of AERA Division L

Congratulations to DPS Assistant Professor Adai Tefera on being elected secretary of Division L (Educational Policy and Politics) of the American Education Research Association . Division L stimulates informed and systematic analysis, research, evaluation, and debate about the education policy, including political, economic, legal, and fiscal issues. Tefera will serve in this role from 2021-2023.
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Alexis Dotson selected for Howard University Frederick Douglass Scholars Fellowship

Congratulations to Alexis Dotson, a counseling graduate student, on both being accepted to Howard University and being selected for the Frederick Douglass Doctoral Scholars Program . The program, similar to Arizona’s University Fellows , is awarded to new Ph.D. students and is designed to recruit academically talented students with an interest in college or university teaching.
EVENTS
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Cooper Campus Outreach Team moves forward with virtual spring events

In accordance with the University's response to the spread of COVID-19, Dean Bruce Johnson and Cooper Center for Environmental Learning Director Colin Waite have made the difficult decision to cancel all Cooper Center events and gatherings. Consequently, the Cooper Campus Outreach Team has canceled all campus events with exception for the following, which are postponed or moving to online formats:

Win $100 for watching True Cost online
The True Cost film screening was scheduled for April 16 and was intended to educate our campus community about sustainable clothing consumption. They’re encouraging people to instead watch the film online! They will provide instructions to access the film through University Library resources so you can watch the film on your own time between 4/9 and 4/16! Students who complete a short written response or post a video with answers to specific questions by April 16 may be one of five lucky winners of $100! Email coopercenteraz@gmail.com for more information.

Food Chain for Thought: Eat Low, Save Energy (online)
The free seminar scheduled for Thursday, March 26, from 5 - 6:15 p.m. will be viewable online at nutrition.arizona.edu . Speakers include Tara Doyle, Makenzie Jackson, and Megan Gutierrez from the Cooper Campus Outreach Team.

Desert Pollinator Party and Tortoise Re-Homing (postponed)
The Desert Pollinator Party and Tortoise Re-Homing event previously scheduled for April 25 is postponed until spring 2021. Check out  coopercenter.arizona.edu/uarizona-outreach  or @cooper_center on Instagram for information and resources about local pollinators, tortoises, and gardens.
Upward Bound brings families together to plan for college

In February, Upward Bound hosted a family college planning event to provide individualized help to each UB family. The day included a sample lecture from Spanish and Portuguese Professor Melissa Fitch , Metropolitan Education Commission Executive Director Arlene Benavides, Pueblo High School College and Career Coordinator Roberto Cruze, and UAZ Director of Early Academic Outreach Rudy McCormick . Participants, ranging from freshmen to seniors in high school, and their families left with a plan of action to plan for college.
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FACULTY PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
The benefits of partner work in the classroom

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications recently accepted a manuscript from Assistant Professor Jonathan Tullis . In the manuscript, entitled Why does peer instruction benefit student learning? , Tullis and Indiana University Professor Rob Goldstone demonstrate that working on a problem with a partner generates new knowledge, above and beyond the individual student's input.
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Vanessa Perry delivers virtual workshop for University of Macerata, Italy colleagues

Assistant Professor of Practice Vanessa Perry was invited to present at the 2020 Unimc for Inclusion Conference hosted by the University of Macerata, Italy , which was scheduled to take place March 25-27, 2020. In lieu of the conference, which is postponed to October 2020, Perry and her colleagues are hosting online workshops to continue their work of educating others about disability and inclusion. This past Saturday, March 28, Perry gave an online workshop called Teaching self-determination and self-advocacy to transition age youth with disabilities to her University of Macerata colleagues. This allowed viewers a preview of her October 2020 workshop.
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Mayra Isabel Calvillo with family
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Name : Mayra Isabel Calvillo
Major : Elementary Education
Minor : Spanish
Expected graduation : May 2020
Hometown : Rio Rico, AZ
Favorite animal : Dogs, specifically my dogs!


What led you to the University of Arizona College of Education? OR What led you to study elementary education in the College of Education?
Being born and raised only 40 minutes south of Tucson, I always knew The University of Arizona was where I wanted to go. When I was graduating from high school, I realized that I did not want to leave the classroom, and that was because I was meant to lead my own classroom. The COE gave me the opportunity to fulfill my life-long dream of becoming an educator while combining my passion for the Spanish language to become a bilingual school teacher.

What have you learned in the College of Education that's made a difference to you?
Something I have learned throughout my time at the COE is that education and teaching is a lot more complex than you may think. Not every student comes from the same background and not every student learns the same way. However, this provides teachers the opportunity to learn from their students just as much as students learn from their teachers.

Tell us about something you're involved with in the College of Education (or at the university) and how it's impacted your life.
Even though I have always been involved on campus through jobs or organizations, one of the greatest opportunities I’ve had is to be a part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) , specifically the AWARDSS Program (Access, Wellness, and Relational Determinants of School Success). Through this program, I was able to take graduate prep courses, which aided me in conducting a small-scale research study back in my hometown. Through the program, I conduct a study on the effects of English language immersion classes on bilingual border town students. Not only was I able to gain real experience of what research is like in education, but it also guided me on figuring out what I would like to do down the road in graduate school.

What are your post-graduation plans as of now?
Come August, my partner and I will move to Boston and I will start the process of becoming a licensed teacher in the state of Massachusetts. I hope to teach in Boston Public Schools for a couple of years and then move on to obtaining my master’s degree and eventually a Ph.D. in education. However, for now, I’m enjoying the last of my time in Arizona in my fifth-grade classroom!

What advice do you have for students just getting started in the college?
Some advice I have for students who are just starting college is to take advantage of all the opportunities that may come their way. Sometimes the best things come from the most unlikely of places.