Travel with Undergraduate Students - My Students' First Day at the SSCA Conference!

Readers,


Last night, I had the pleasure of dining with a good friend, Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason. She is a communication professor from Southern University New Orleans and we always try to schedule our meals together to talk about the conference and about our journey on the tenure track. This year, we had dinner at a restaurant that was not too far from our conference hotel. We had a great time talking about our institutions, our students, and our families. In addition, this was a great time for me to mentally prepare myself for my students' arrival at the conference. 


The students arrived early on Thursday morning and we had lunch at this wonderful restaurant down the street from our conference hotel. Before arriving at lunch, I took them to the Peabody hotel and they loved the ducks!


After lunch, we arrived back to the conference hotel and the students checked in and received their newcomers and undergraduate honors ribbons for their name badges. Some of the students decided to attend PR sessions and other students attended the communication studies sessions (i.e. - gender communication and environmental communication).

After the conference sessions, we met downstairs to attend the conference reception.  The students were excited about this networking opportunity and they spoke with several institutions about graduate school and job opportunities (conference planning, etc.)

I am very excited about their presentations tomorrow! Through this trip, one of the students was able to fly for the first time! I was really excited about this opportunity for this student and the rest of the students on the trip!


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Traveling with Undergraduate Students - The Pre-Trip Meeting and Checklist

Readers,

Before each trip, I like to meet with the students about their trip and their presentation (this is from my student services days). I thought that this information might be beneficial for those of you who travel with undergraduate students.

Subject Line - PRINT THIS SHEET. THIS IS IMPORTANT!

SSCA Conference - Little Rock, AR (A FEW REMINDERS/ANNOUNCEMENTS)

We are EXCITED about OUR TRIP!

DRS. HOWARD & EDWARDS' EXPECTATIONS

- Represent Tarleton well! Do not do ANYTHING to embarrass Dr. Edwards OR TSU.

- Take advantage of the networking and connections available at this conference. This is GREAT way to make graduate school and/or job connections with students and faculty.

- Dr. Howard wants you to attend the sessions and ASK QUESTIONS!

TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT:

- You are encouraged to carpool from Stephenville.

- You need to leave Stephenville by 6:00 a.m. on Thursday.

DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL

- You will leave on Thursday, March 24th at [time] and you will arrive back in DFW on Saturday, March 26th at [time] p.m.

- You are encouraged to park in the [Name of Parking Lot].

- If you are late, you will have to pay a $150 change fee.

CARRY-ON FYIs:

- DO NOT CHECK IN YOUR BAGGAGE

- 3 oz. of liquid or less (unless you have medicine) and place the liquid in a quart-size zip lock bag.

- Bring a camera.

- Bring meal money.

- Do not pack any bottled water, but you are encouraged to bring a refillable bottle (to fill in the airport).

- Dress professionally: Church Attire (3 days worth)

AIRLINE TICKETS:

- Print your ticket BEFORE arriving at DFW. This will make the check-in process MUCH easier.

- Bring a driver's license (make sure the name on your driver's license is the SAME as your airline ticket).

- If you have an AA account, please add this reservation to your account.

PASSENGER SCREENING:

- This process should take 15-20 minutes.

ARRANGEMENTS:

- Our hotel is the Double-Tree Little Rock - 424 W Markham St., Little Rock - [Phone Number for Hotel]

- We have two rooms (one male and one female).

YOUR PRESENTATION:

- 8-10 Minute Presentation (one person) - Thank ALL of your group members from last semester AND Dr. Edwards :)

- Talk about: Purpose, Research Questions, Intercultural Comm. Competence Theory, Methodology, SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME ON the RESULTS, Conclusions, Implications, and Suggestions...

- Question and Answer (at the end of the presentation) - Each member from the group will have a chance to answer questions.

- Bring THREE COPIES of your paper. If anyone asks you for a copy of your paper, tell them that the paper is under review and it should be published very soon. Get their e-mail address.

MY CONTACT INFORMATION: [My cell phone number]

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Traveling with Undergraduate Students - Preparing a Schedule (Subject Line - PRINT THIS E-MAIL)

Readers,

While gathering contact and emergency information for the SSCA conference, I also have to create a schedule when I travel with undergraduate students. 

Here is the schedule that I sent to the students and my department head with the subject line - PRINT THIS E-MAIL: SSCA Conference - Little Rock, AR (IMPORTANT INFORMATION)

Outstanding Student Leaders,

Here is a schedule for the conference!

Thursday - March 24th
Check-In to Hotel :)
12:30 p.m. - Meet for Lunch in the Lobby
2:00 p.m. - Pick a Session
6:30 p.m. - Welcome Reception @ Salon D
7:00 p.m. - Meet for Dinner in the Lobby
*Attend at least 3 conference sessions a day! :)

Friday - March 25th
8:00 a.m./9:00 a.m. - SSCA Breakfast Meeting
10:15 a.m. - Pick a Session
12:00 p.m. - Meet for Lunch in the Lobby
1:15 p.m. - Practicing for our Session (Meet in Lobby)
2:45 p.m. - OUR SESSION!!! :)
5:45 p.m. - Pick a Session (I am going to "Take this Job and Shove It" - Robinson 102)
7:00 p.m. - Meet for Dinner in the Lobby
*Attend at least 3 conference sessions a day! :)

Saturday - March 26th
8:00 a.m./9:00 a.m. - Undergraduate Honors Conference Breakfast - (Salon D)
9:30 a.m. - Pick a Session
11:00 a.m. - Pick a Session
12:30 p.m. - Meet for Lunch in the Lobby
2:30 p.m. - Pick a Session
4:30 p.m. - Depart for the Airport
7:05 p.m. - Depart from Little Rock Regional (LIT)
8:20 p.m. - Arrive back to DFW Terminal  B

I hope you enjoy your trip! Represent Tarleton well!

Sincerely,

Dr. Edwards

I just thought that this schedule might help faculty/staff visiting the website!

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Traveling With Undergraduate Students - Preparing for the Southern States Communication Association Conference

Readers,


This week I am very excited about the Southern States Communication Association Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas! This year's conference is going to be amazing because I am presenting two papers, serving on a panels, and chairing a paper session. Aside from my busy schedule, I am also bringing seven undergraduate students who have been invited to present their research as part of the Undergraduate Honors Conference. 


As a result of the conference later this week, I have to prepare my online and face-to-face classes for their virtual assignments on Wednesday and Friday. My interpersonal and organizational communication courses are working on their research papers by distributing their survey and fine tuning their data analysis section via Google Docs. My two online speech courses are working on their informative speeches and updating their outlines on Google Docs. Google Docs enables me to view their progress on their assignment and to help the students along the way via my netbook or iPad.


Communication...it is not just the subject that I teach, but it is the daily life that I live!


Have a great week!

Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.