The RU Mansfield Institute’s Fellowship for Activism and Community Engagement (FACE) program will support 15 endergraduate Fellows during the Spring 2025 semester. Applicants should have at least 45 earned credit hours, an interest in social justice, and at least a 2.0 GPA. Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend and 3 credits for this experiential, social justice-based, cohort Fellowship.
Eligibility
Open to all Roosevelt University undergraduate students in any discipline or college.
Students must have between 45 credit hours completed at the end of Fall semester.
GPA of at least a 2.0.
Have an interest in Social Justice.
Able to complete a 40-hour internship.
Be able to attend the course on Tuesday, 2:00pm to 4:30pm.
International students are welcome!
What Fellows Can Expect
Participate in a semester length, 3-credit cohort course.
Work in community-based organization (40 hours across the semester).
Receive a $1000 stipend, earn three credits toward fulfillment of the EXL, Social science and 300-level requirements.
Develop networks, friendships and community that center social justice.
Applicants will be notified of the selection by November 14, 2024.
Application
Applications for Spring 2025 Fellows will open on October 4th and close end of day on November 7th, 2024. Fellows will be notified by November 14th, 2024.
Today 10/7 and tomorrow 10/8, Dr. Heather Dalmage of the Sociology program at RU will be leading info sessions at RU’s Chicago Campus about a short-term study abroad trip for undergraduate and graduate students to South Africa in May 2025. This course, Global Race, is cross-listed as JMS 329, SOC 329, and ORGD 480.
Students can enroll in this sociology course for the Spring 2025 semester, complete course work in Chicago during the semester, and then travel with Profs. Dalmage and Anne-Marie Cusac to South Africa from May 11 – May 23. Interested students should come to one of these information sessions this week!
Roosevelt’s student environmental sustainability club RU Green meets *today* Mon 10/7 from 4:30-6pm in room WB 418 at the Chicago Campus.
All RU students are welcome and encouraged to attend!
RU Green’s Mission
RU Green strives to embody Roosevelt’s social justice mission by taking action at the university and around Chicago to help folks understand how various environmental issues can impact their lives. We want to show people how they personally can live in a more sustainable way, advocate for their government and major corporations to do better, and learn and educate themselves/others about the issues our planet and population faces.
RU Green understands the importance of centering any conversation about sustainability around Indigenous peoples, as well as Black, Brown, disabled, and low-income communities since they have been leaders of the climate justice movement, as well as are the most affected by injustices. Climate justice will not be possible without active work to undo the effects of environmental racism and marginalization.
The Department of Law, Society & Sustainability (LSS) @RooseveltU is hiring up to two undergraduate students to work as Sustainability Student Associates for the 2024-25 academic year. Information and application instructions for this position can be found on the RU Student Employment website. To apply, just login to the Handshake job posting system and upload your letter of interest, résumé, and writing sample (deadline extended to 9/13/24). These positions are funded by the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program as well as Testa Produce; FWS and non-FWS eligible students are therefore welcome to apply.
These 15 hour/week student positions support the mission, pedagogy, and service work of the Sustainability Studies (SUST) as well as other related programs in the LSS Dept at Roosevelt by
developing & supporting campus sustainability projects in consultation with the SUST program director; Dept of Law, Society & Sustainability faculty; Operations and Planning admin/staff; and the RU Green student organization;
providing logistical and communication support for sustainability-related activities, events, and projects, especially our ongoing efforts at strategic sustainability planning;
supporting student experiential learning, recruitment, retention, & career development efforts;
performing alumni and community outreach.
In 2024-25, up to two Student Associates will work under the direction of the LSS Dept Chair and SUST Program Director, Prof. Mike Bryson. Associates will utilize the RUSLab in AUD 526 as their home base at the Chicago Campus as well as perform some work remotely as needed. Both Federal Work-Study eligible and non-eligible students from any major are welcome to apply, but priority in hiring will be given to FWS students who are based in the programs of the new Department of Law, Society & Sustainability within the new College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences (formerly the College of Arts & Sciences).
The application deadline has been extended Friday 9/13/24. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be conducted starting the week of 9/3/24. Consequently, interested students should get their applications submitted ASAP and may contact Prof. Bryson in advance to indicate their intention to apply and ask questions about the position. A cover letter, updated résumé, and writing sample are required for the application.
The writing sample should be at least 1000 words and demonstrate your writing & research skills (this may be a paper submitted for a college class). Topic related to sustainability and/or the environment is recommended, but not required. This should be something that exemplifies your *best* writing for a general and/or academic audience, but not be overly technical.
Please note your FWS eligibility status in your cover letter. Applicants should explain their interest in advancing campus sustainability as well as highlight their prior knowledge about and/or skills in relevant sustainability issues and practices (e.g., recycling, gardening, event planning, data analysis, student outreach, etc.)
Priority Majors: Criminal Justice, Economics, English, International Studies, Paralegal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Social Justice Studies, Sociology, and Sustainability Studies. Students from other majors will also be considered.
Required Skills/Knowledge: Knowledge of and interest in sustainability; strong writing/editing skills; effective communication skills; dependability, strong work ethic, and ability to work independently.
Please email Prof. Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for questions about the position or application process.
Welcome to a new semester! Here is some important info for you about purchasing textbooks for your Fall 2024 classes.
Laker Book Bundle
Last year Roosevelt initiated a program meant to potentially save you money on your textbooks for your classes. The program is called “Laker Book Bundle” and all of you are automatically enrolled.
The way this works is that you will be charged $22.50 per credit hour you are enrolled this semester. For instance, 12 credit hours will cost you $270.00 for the semester.
You will receive rental books for all of your enrolled classes through the bookstore and then these must be returned by the last day of finals (which is Sat., December 14, 2024, but I’d go with Friday the 13th just to be safe).
If you want to stay in the program, you don’t need to do anything and your account will automatically be charged the designated amount on September 11, 2024.
Do the math for your book costs!
The purpose of this program is to streamline the book renting process and to save you money. For many of you, the Laker Book Bundle will be a good deal and will save you money as intended — some textbooks can be very expensive! However, depending on your class schedule and your textbook requirements, there is a chance that the Laker Book Bundle price could be more than the outright total for your books for the semester.
Two things to consider about cost:
Rent or Buy: Do you want to buy some of your books to keep, or do you want to rent all of your textbooks? Laker Book Bundle is only for rentals, though you have the option of buying your book(s) for an additional charge.
Total Cost: Add up the cost of your required books for the semester and compare against the Laker Book Bundle price. You can find the required textbooks for all of your courses through the University Bookstore website.
Opting out:
If you decide to opt out of the Laker Book Bundle program, you can do so at roosevelt.edu/lakerbookbundle and follow the prompts. Make sure you keep these important deadlines in mind!
The deadline to opt out is September 10, 2024
If you don’t opt out your account will be charged automatically on September 11, 2024
If you have any questions about this, let me know and I’ll try to track down answers for you! Your best bet, though, is to contact the RU bookstore first.
Faculty Learning Fridays @RooseveltU are back for the Fall 2024 semester! Sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Learning Commons, and the Library, Faculty Learning Fridays is a monthly informal workshop series for RU instructors to explore challenges, insights, and practical strategies related to teaching, learning, mentorship, and more, drawing on the expertise of our RU community.
All instructors—full-time, part-time, and staff—are invited, and workshop topics and leaders rotate from month to month. A central goal of this series is to help instructors develop and implement effective practices in their work with students, in an interactive, participatory, and structured workshop format.
Friday, September 6, 9:00-10:00am Topic: Dis/ability Inclusion: Reflecting on Dr. Charnessa Warren’s 2024 Faculty Conference presentation Led by: Ellen O’Brien, Director of Student Learning and Access, RU Learning Commons; Nicole Yoon, Disability Services Specialist; and Natasha Robinson, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator
Friday, October 4, 9:00-10:00am Topic: Copyright, Fair Use, and Access to Scholarly Material Led by: Robin Hofstetter, Director of Libraries
Friday, November 1, 9:00-10:00am Topic: What’s New in Title IX Led by: Natasha Robinson, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator
Friday, December 6, 9:00-10:00am Topic: An Update from RU’s AI Working Group Led by: Michael Blancato, Director of Undergraduate Writing, and RU AI Working Group members
All RU students, faculty, admin, and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend the teaching presentations this Wed 7/10 and Th 7/11 by candidates for the Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice faculty position in the Dept of Law, Society, & Sustainability (LSS). Both sessions will take place in person at the Chicago Campus as well as on Zoom. After each presentation there will be a substantial amount of time for Q & A with the audience.
Wed 7/10 at 10:30-11:45am – Dr. Anne Kirkner: “Care as Control: The Intersection of Violence Against Women & the State,” WB 1214 & Zoom (https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/94813812788). Dr. Kirkner’s curriculum vitae is available here (pdf).
Th 7/11 at 11:15am-12:30pm – Dr. Faraneh Shamserad: “Measures of Variability,” WB 609 & Zoom (https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/93248609914). Dr. Shamserad’s curriculum vitae is available here (pdf).
Hope to see you there!
For questions or more information, please contact Prof. Mike Bryson, Chair of the LSS Dept (mbryson@roosevelt.edu), and/or Prof. LaDonna Long, Director of Criminal Justice and Assoc Chair of the LSS Dept (llong@roosevelt.edu) in the College of Humanities, Education, & Social Science.
In celebration of Earth Week, here is some good news! At the last RU Senate meeting of the 2023-24 academic year on 19 April 2024, the Strategic Sustainability Plan for 2024-29 and accompanying Resolution were endorsed by a unanimous vote of the Senate membership. These documents are now under consideration by the university’s executive leadership.
Resolution for the University Senate at its 4/19/24 Meeting (pdf)
Thanks to everyone in the campus community over the past two years who participated in workshops, completed surveys, attended events and presentations, provided feedback in writing or at meetings, and otherwise supported and encouraged this effort — especially the students who worked on the Sustainability Strategic Planning Team that began as a group EXL project in SUST 350 Service & Sustainability last Fall 2022 semester. Your contributions and continued support are greatly appreciated!
Text of the Sustainability Resolution
Whereas sustainability is a defining issue in our age of climate change, biodiversity loss, toxic pollution, resource inequity, political instability, and environmental injustice;
Whereas colleges and universities play a critical role in advancing knowledge, developing solutions, educating citizens, and demonstrating leadership for a more just and sustainable world;
Whereas the three pillars of sustainability — ecology, economy, and equity — are congruent with Roosevelt’s historic mission of advancing social justice;
Whereas in 2010, Roosevelt committed to greening its campus operations, launched new academic programs, developed university-community partnerships, and assumed leadership among local higher ed institutions in its efforts to advance sustainable development on campus and within the Chicago region;
Whereas in 2015, Roosevelt adopted its first Strategic Sustainability Plan for 2015-20, with the full endorsement of the Senate, the President’s Executive Council, and the Board of Trustees;
Whereas in 2020 said Plan expired, necessitating the development of a new Plan with input from the entire RU community that takes stock of our progress, identifies areas of improvement, and prioritizes actions to create a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship across every facet of our operations;
Whereas the work we do transforming our University into a truly sustainable institution will reduce our ecological footprint, strengthen our financial resilience, raise our academic reputation, attract and retain more students, improve our working and learning environments, and inspire alumni and potential donors;
Therefore, be it Resolved that the University Senate endorse Roosevelt’s new Strategic Sustainability Plan for 2024-29 and forward its recommendations to our Executive Leadership.
Passed unanimously the RU Senate on 19 Apr 2024
Useful Resources for Campus Sustainability Planning
Important Earth Week Update — Voting Period Extended! This Th 4/25 is the LAST DAY for RU students to vote on the Mental Health Referendum (ending at midnight) and the SGA needs 400 or so votes (yes or no, just total votes cast) for the referendum tally to count. About 120 more votes are needed by the end of Thursday 4/25!
Message from Roosevelt’s Student Government Association:
Dear RU students — The Student Government Association (SGA) would like to inform you about an important re-vote of the upcoming Mental Health Referendum and Student Government Executive Board election for fall 2024!
SGA is proposing a referendum to introduce a $150 per semester fee aimed at expanding face-to-face mental health and physical support services on campus. This fee will be used exclusively to bolster existing mental healthresources and create a more comprehensive and accessible support system for all students.
To vote please seeLaker Connect — this link takes you to a page where this is a link for voting on this referendum.
Voting Yesfor this referendum will create a new in-person counseling center at Roosevelt University for the Fall 2024 semester. This includes up to 12 counseling sessions (in-person or virtual) with the same mental healthprovider and expanding services (in the future) to include physical healthservices on campus. This will include increasing counseling fees from $27 a semester to $150 for full in-person counseling services per semester.
Voting Noon this referendum will mean no new counseling services, and the current mental health resources will remain the same including TimelyCare. This means that your counseling fees will remain at $27 with only digital resources.
This April is #RUEarthMonth2024, and there are lots of ways to go green here at Roosevelt. Whether you’re on or off campus — from attending talks and webinars by invited speakers to hearing presentations by current students to joining in the student org RU Green’s activities and community service work — you can participate in and contribute to the sustainability of our campus community.
SUST 395 Internship Presentations: As part of the annual Roosevelt Student Research & Inquiry Symposium, three Sustainability Internship students completing SUST 395 internships this spring 2024 semester at the Field Museum’s botany department (Daniel Dodinval and Kenny Koster) and the Southeast Environmental Task Force (Kristina Gillespie) gave oral presentations last Th 4/11 to the RU community on their research projects and community engagement activities. Check out the Zoom recording of their talks here!
All Week 4/15-19 — Student Mental Health Referendum Vote: All students have the chance to vote on a Mental Health Referendum for the RU student body. Below is an infographic about the issue and referendum. SGA is holding a Referendum Info Session on Zoom on Tu 4/16 at 2pm.
Mon 4/15 5-6pm — Earth Month Clean-Up with RU Green & the Black Student Union: Come join RU Green & BSU for a service project in recognition of Earth Month. We will be beautifying the area surrounding our campus by picking up trash. All supplies will be provided. Meet in WB Lobby by 5pm. RSVP and event details here on Laker Connect.
Tues 4/16 12:30-1:45pm — SUST 210/250 Sustainability Teach-In Presentations: Join the students of SUST 210 Sustainable Future and SUST 250 The Sustainable University as three student teams present their projects on vital sustainability issues of the day (food, consumption, and waste). Attend live in WB 616 or virtually by Zoom. Email Prof. Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for more info.
Tues 4/16 2pm — Virtual Tour of the MWRD’s Famous “Deep Tunnel”: one and all are invited to attend a free live virtual tour of the Chicago region’s water infrastructure and history on Tuesday, April 16 at 2 p.m. Travel back in time to early Chicago to see how we reversed the Chicago River and developed wastewater treatment technology. Go behind the scenes and under water to see how we transform the water you use every day; descend 300 feet into the deep tunnel system, and watch our electrofishing crew at work sampling fish on the Chicago River. See goats and sheep at work maintaining native prairie landscaping! (Yes, you read that right.) To register, click here.
Thur 4/18 12:30-1:45pm — SUST 210/250 Sustainability Teach-In Presentations: Join the students of SUST 210 Sustainable Future and SUST 250 The Sustainable University as four student teams present their projects on vital sustainability issues of the day (athletics, energy, transportation, and water). Attend live in WB 616 or virtually by Zoom. Email Prof. Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for more info.
Thur 4/18 & Sun 4/21 — WeDigBio Citizen Science at the Field Museum: Be a part of a global effort to digitize centuries of data about life on Earth! Organisms may include ferns, fungi, mosses, lichens, insects, and mammals. Participants will have an opportunity to meet scientists and join in behind-the-scenes tours or talks about the significance of the scientific collections. WeDigBio will be held in-person at the Field Museum on 4/18 and 4/21, from 9:30am to 1pm. For more info and to register for this event, please click here.
Fri 4/19 after Senate 12-4pm –Green-up / Clean-up Event: Immediately following University Senate, RU faculty and staff are invited to connect, collaborate and clean out office spaces. Details are forthcoming about special services and activities, but wear your Roosevelt green, grab some coffee and a snack and get ready for some spring cleaning! Details here on Inside RU.
Sat 4/20 thru Mon 4/22 — Earth Day Service Opportunities & Events throughout Chicago, sponsored by the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) and other organizations. Check out the many events listed here by C3 as well as these by the Cook County Forest Preserves. Help clean up parklands, restore natural areas, and meet conservation-minded and nature loving sustainability nerds from across the city. Fun and rewarding in a deeply spiritual and dirt-under-your-nails kind of way!
Wed 4/24 6-7pm CST — RU Students Explore the “Democracy of Place”: Join RU students as they engage other students from across the US in an online discussion about the present and future state of democracy. Led by students of the Resilience Studies Consortium, this interactive conversation will explore the importance of place, public spaces, sustainability, community resilience, and more. Zoom link: https://western.zoom.us/j/92506664532
Not enough stuff to choose from? Keep checking this page and the SUST @ RU blog for more updates about great Earth Month 2024 events and activities. And don’t forget to get outside!
