AGLS Award presented to Champlain

NEWS: Earlier this month, the Association for General and Liberal Studies (AGLS) honored Champlain College with the 2010 Exemplary Program Award. This award recognizes institutions that improve learning through collaborative efforts to gather results, use the results to develop systematic learning improvement projects, and then verify those improvements.

In presenting the award, AGLS wrote: "The Champlain College application appealed to the judges because it describes an information literacy assessment program built on a collaborative relationship between faculty and librarians described as 'a partnership for learning.' The partnership grew out of an effort to define information literacy outcomes and find assessment methods that faculty would support. The effort resulted in embedded student assessments across the curriculum and support for an e-portfolio initiative that allows for assessment of students’ skills developed through the completion of the four-year Core curriculum. Administrative support, professional development, and the commitment of both teaching librarians and faculty have led to demonstrated improvement of information literacy skills."

The award was accepted on behalf of the college by Betsy Beaulieu, Dean of the Core Division, Janet Cottrell, Director of the Library, and Michelle Miller, Senior Associate Provost, at the AGLS National Conference held October 6-9, 2010 in Austin, TX.

DISPLAY: October Birthdays and Anniversaries

October is a great month! Many famous people were born in October and many events happened in the month of October. We have put a display together celebrating the birth of two great Presidents: John Adams and Teddy Roosevelt. Educator John Dewey, born in Burlington, Vermont was also born in October. The United Nations celebrates its 65th Anniversary this year. October is also the month that the Cuban Missile Crisis took place. Come and explore the great books we have on these people and events. Happy October!

EVENT: Harry Potter's World--Improv Mystery Theater

Improv Mystery Theater
Thursday, October 14, 6-8 pm
Miller Information Commons
Directed by: Eric Ronis

During this Impov Mystery theater event, actors will portray characters from the Harry Potter universe and guide audience members through this treasure hunt/haunted house/murder mystery mash up! Thirty minute long mystery tours leaving on the half hour.

EVENT: Harry Potter's World Brown Bag Talk at noon

Harry Potter-esque Brown Bag Talk 4
Thursday October 7, 12-1:30 pm, Alumni Auditorium
Hosted by: Steve Wehmeyer

“My Daemon can beat up your Patronus!” -- Visions of the magical “Second Self” in Western fantasy literature, art, mythology, and folklore.

This presentation explores the deep cultural roots of one of the most compelling concepts in recent fantasy literature – J.K, Rowling’s protective Patronuses and Phillip Pullman’s shape-shifting animal Daemons have their origins in ancient Western mythic traditions like that of the Roman Genius, the Greek Daimon, the Icelandic Fylgja, and the Anglo-Scottish Fetch. Through a multi-media presentation, we’ll examine some of these lesser known traditions which modern fantasy authors have mined for inspiration, and explore some of the reasons this idea of a “Double Self” continues to fascinate and intrigue us.

This presentation, while intended to appeal to a wide general audience, is particularly suited as a compliment to the questions being raised in COR 110 – “Concepts of the Self.”

Display: Constantly Connected

A new book display is up at the front desk of the library examining the internet and how it relates to ourselves and society. Check one out today!

Event: "Mandrakes, Nightshades, and More"

Mandrakes, Nightshades, and More
Wednesday, September 29, 7-9 pm, Morgan Room

Speaker: Katharine Anderson

Experience first-hand (minus screaming mandrakes), Harry's Herbology class as Katharine Anderson traces the science behind the folklore of nightshades that include the botany and chemistry that account for the family's notorious reputation.

Katharine is an ethnobotanist and cultural geographer who teaches in the Environmental Program at UVM. As an undergraduate botany major at UVM, she became fascinated with the stories of human interactions with the plant world. Her dissertation became a book titled Nature, Culture and Big Old Trees. At UVM she teaches Ethnobotany, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and Religion and Ecology. Four years ago she taught a seminar called Mandrakes, Magic and Medicine, which led to her being part of the Harry Potter's World events.

Event: "Re-connecting to Magic"

Re-connecting to Magic
Wednesday, September 22, 7-9 pm Morgan Room Speaker: Ivan McBeth
Ivan McBeth discovered early on in life that magic is a state we were all born into, a state of wonder and grace. He is excited to give a talk about this awesome mystery that exists, at the same time, inside us all, and all around us. After the talk he will conduct a ceremony to reconnect the children of the world with the magical realms that are their birthright. You are invited to help Ivan make this happen.
Ivan is the founder and head teacher of the Green Mountain Druid Order, a school of magic based in Worcester, Vermont. He builds stone circles such as the 'Earth Clock' in Oakledge Park, Burlington, and is the author of a book called The Crystal Journey. He plays the dijereedoo, throws a mean boomerang, and wears silly hats.