School of Social Sciences
and Behavioral Studies

Volume II, Issue I | Fall 2002 - Spring 2003

newsletter production staff: Linda Stine | D. Zizwe Poe

The Dean’s Corner

One of the highlights of the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies during the Fall ’02 academic semester has been the publication of the Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought, with an editorial board of noteworthy scholars such as Martin Kilson, the first African-American to receive full professorship at Harvard Univesrity in Political Science and a Lincoln University graduate; Molefi Asante, founder and former chair of the African-American Institute at Temple University; Bernard Anderson, the Whitney Young Endowed Chair of Management and Economics in the coveted Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; and Maghan Keita, Professor of History at Villanova University; along with Lincoln’s own in the names of Drs. Patricia Joseph, Robert Millette, and Ropo Sekoni.

Last, but certainly not least, is the inimitable Dr. Levi Nwachuku, Chair and Professor of History, who spearheaded the publication of the Journal as its co-editor and is the reason it happened. I invited him to be the editor of the Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought because of his stellar editing experience at the University of Michigan. He agreed and delivered the maiden issue of the Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought in September 2002.

The lead article by Martin Kilson, Professor of Political Science at Harvard University, has received outstanding reviews. Other authors of articles in the Journal are Drs. Zizwe Poe, Robert E. Millette and Levi Nwachuku. The two book reviews were done by Chieke Evans Ihejirika (Development as Freedom by Amartya Sen) and Ganga Ramdas (The Mystery of Capital: Why Capital Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else by Hernando DeSoto).

This year’s Brown Bag Lecture Series had as its first presenter Dr. Penelope Kinsey, Professor of Psychology. Her presentation, “The Senior Seminar: A Bridge to Success in Post Graduate School” was warmly received by both students and faculty. Most left saying, “Our Department needs to do this. We must get our students ready for graduate school research.”

The second presenter for the Brown Bag Lecture Series was Dr. Bernard Anderson, the Whitney M. Young Professor of Management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Anderson is past President of the Lincoln University Board of Trustees. The standing room only crowd of faculty and students at his Brown Bag Lecture enthusiastically received his presentation, “The Effect of Educational Attainment on Economic Status”.

The November Brown Bag Lecture Series presenter was Dr. Donald Bradt, Interim Chair and Assistant Professor of Political Science on the topic of “Inequality and Democracy in Latin America: A Comparative and International Perspective.”

The January Brown Bag Lecture will be provided by Dr. David T. Jervis, Visiting Associate Professor of Political Science on “Civic Education in Central Europe.”

Dr. Diana T. Slaughter-DeFoe, the Constance E. Clayton Endowed Chair in Urban Education at the University of Pennsylvania will present the February 26, 03 Brown Bag Lecture on “Our Children Too: An Overview of the Forthcoming History of the First Twenty-five Years of the Black Caucus of the Society for Research in Child Development.”

Both students and faculty have thoroughly enjoyed hearing these inspired presentations. Faculty and students from all Schools are invited to attend these Brown Bag Lectures.

Next, several of our School’s faculty have been listed in Who’s Who in American Teachers, 02 Edition. They are: Drs. Lennell Dade, Associate Professor of Psychology, Linda Childs-Leatherbury, Visiting Professor of Business and Economics, Levi Nwachuku, Chair and Professor of History and Judith A.W. Thomas, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies, who taught an 8:00 a.m. Ed. Psych. Class last semester.

• The proposed Pre-Law Curriculum has been officially approved by the Educational Policies Committee and will be presented at the December 2002 faculty meeting.
• Two of Lincoln University’s students are presently matriculating at the Villanova School of Law on a full tuition scholarship. They are Alicia B. Coleman, Political Science major, 02 graduate and Michael Henderson, Biology and Philosophy majors, also a 02 graduate.
• Twenty-one of twenty-one “completers” of the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies’ Education Department successfully negotiated the PRAXIS Examination. Congratulations to Dr. Martin Drew, Director of Student Teaching and Dr. Helen Oliver, Chair and Associate Professor of Education for their stellar efforts.
• A special congratulations to Dr. Delroy Louden on receiving the following grants:
  - Department of Defense – Consolidating Peer Health Education for HIV/STI Prevention in the Nigerian Military - $299,033
  - National Institutes of Health – Extramural Associates Research Development Award (EARDA) - $248,400

WELCOME NEW FACULTY

The new full-time faculty in the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies are:

• Elaine Hatala, Visiting Instructor, HPER
• Dr. David T. Jervis, Visiting Associate Professor, Political Science
• Dr. Helen T. Oliver, Chair and Associate Professor of Education

Chantal Lewis, Immediate Past President of the Forensic Society and Valedictorian of the Class of 2002, is presently matriculating at Howard University in the School of Medicine.

We look forward to the Spring semester and wish the faculty and students continued success in all of their endeavors.

Judith A.W. Thomas, Dean
School of Social Sciences and
Behavioral Studies

HIGHLIGHTS:

Sociology Prof Continues Japan Research
Dr. Anthony DiFilippo, Professor, Sociology and Anthropology

During the summer, M.E. Sharpe (Armonk, New York and London, England) published Dr. Anthony DiFilippo’s most recent book The Challenges of the U-S. Japan Military Arrangement: Competing Security Transitions in a Changing International Environment.

In June 2002, Foreign Policy in Focus: A Think Tank without Walls published his Global Affairs Commentary, “Bush’s Nuclear Weapons Policy: Where the Rule of Law Doesn’t Matter.” This article also appears on the websites of four other organizations: the Richmond (VA) Peace Education Center, Cephas Ministry’s International Social Pulse and Global Politics, the Dissident Voice News Service, and the Tokyo Physicians for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (in Japanese).

This summer Dr. DiFilippo conducted interviews in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Hiroshima, Japan, with representatives from six major civil society groups that make up the core of Japan’s anti-nuclear weapons movement. He will present the preliminary results from these interviews and related research on the Japanese government’s position on nuclear disarmament in a paper entitled “The Politics of Japanese Nuclear Disarmament Initiatives: Where Government Policies and Civil Society Converge and Diverge.” This paper will be presented on February 27, 2003, in Portland, Oregon, at the International Studies Association annual conference.
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Dissertation Prize for History Professor
Dr. Todd Herring, Assistant Professor, History

Dr. Herring attended the Fifth Biennial Historic Natchez Conference in Natchez, Mississippi, an event sponsored by the Historic Natchez Foundation along with the University of California at Northridge. At the February 2002 conference, Dr. Herring presented a paper entitled, “A Community in Fear: Black Resistance and White Response in Frontier Natchez.” The paper elucidates the extensive degree to which African slaves revolted against the system of slavery. It also discusses the violent response that their resistance evoked from white settlers in the Old Southwest. His conclusion further supports the assertion of esteemed historian Dr. John Hope Franklin, who suggests that resistance among slaves was far more commonplace than once thought. Steven Lawson, a senior majoring in history here at Lincoln, also attended the conference. His picture ended up on the front page of the Natchez Democrat, the local newspaper, which featured an article about the conference.

Dr. Herring’s dissertation manuscript received the Riley prize awarded by the Mississippi Historical Association for the best dissertation in the field of Mississippi history. The title of the 400-page manuscript is Natchez, 1795-1830: Life and Death on the Slavery Frontier.
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Certificate of Scholarly Advancement presented by: ANKH, A Scientific Institute
Dr. D. Zizwe Poe, Assistant Professor, History

Dr. Poe attended the 14th Annual Cheikh Anta Diop Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an event sponsored by the ANKH organization. At the October 2002 conference, Dr. Poe was a keynote presenter and presented a multimedia presentation entitled, “Advancing Theory with New Technological Options for African Liberation & Unity.” The paper advanced a categorization of campuses that illuminated their variety of postures toward the development of collective African agency. It also addressed the methodological problems facing the approaches of African Area Studies and Black Studies during this era of ‘war of terrorism’. An evaluation technique was recommended to the scholars present enabling to ascertain the direction of fiscal support for efforts aimed at solidifying research in the area of Africalogy. A multidimensional Pan-African paradigm was appended to Afrocentric theory in an effort to expand its breadth and depth. Five students attended the conference from Lincoln University.

Dr. Poe was also invited to and participated in the Hiphop Education Roundtable at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusettes. Participation was selective and based on significant participation within the Hiphop community. The Hiphop Archive at the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute sponsored the event. At the September 2002 event, Dr. Poe presented a paper entitled, “The History and Activities of the Temple of Hiphop Which Led to the Hiphop International Declaration of Peace”. The presentation discussed the societal factors that informed the development of the customs and traditions of the Hip Hop phenomenon. The presentation was capped with a tightly edited video presentation of the spectacular peace gathering, which took place at the United Nations in August 2001 (one month before the notorious 9-11 tragedy)

PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS

Lincoln faculty members, over the past year, have contributed substantially to scholarship in the field of Social and Behavioral Science. Following is a list of the publications and/or conference presentations reported since the last issue of Social Affairs. Congratulations to all on these impressive achievements!
__________
Dr. Emmanuel Babatunde (Sociology and Anthropology)

Has had three research articles accepted for publication: “Religion and Food: A Comparative Study of Sotho-Tswana and Yoruba Nutritional Practices” Sociological Review, and “Yoruba Families” International Encyclopedia of Families (Macmillan), and “Cultural Models for Behavior Modification of the Youth: A Comparative Study of the Amish, the Yoruba and Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints” Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought.

In addition to his publications, Dr. Babatunde presented a paper on “Education for Critical Thinking and Character Formation for Leadership: The Uxbridge Model” to the Mid Atlantic Regional Council Honors Conference at the University of PA.

__________
Dr. James L. DeBoy and Dr. Sally Wagner (HPER)

Co-presented a paper entitled “Assessment of Student Learning in Health Science: Assuring Actual Outcomes Coincide with Desired Outcomes” at the Wellness 2002 Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: March 17-20, 2002.
__________
Dr. Martin Drew (Education)

Authored A Chronology of African American Families of Southeastern Sussex County, Delaware. Dr. Drew’s book is on reserve at Langston-Hughes Memorial Library. An additional book entitled Code Switching is currently in publication.
__________
Dr. Terrance Johnson (Sociology and Anthropology)

Dr. Johnson reports five recent publications: “The Pitfalls of Police Budgeting” Police Forum, “Police Ethics: The Corruption of Noble Cause” Global Virtue Ethics Review, “Comparative State Police Services” Police Forum, “Justifying Miranda One Last Time” The Justice Professional, and “ A Critical Addition to the Law Enforcement Arsenal” Sheriff. He also presented “The Future of Policing: A Strategic Management Initiative” at the National Criminal Justice Conference.
__________
Dr. Lenetta Lee (Education)

Dr. Lee’s dissertation entitled African American Images in Children’s Literature is being converted into a textbook for publication during the 2002-03 academic year for Mellen Press.
__________
Dr. Penelope Kinsey and Dr. DelRoy Louden (Psychology)

Co-authored an article on Adolescents and Drug Use for IRETA, Fall, 01. Dr. Louden, additionally, spearheaded a book entitled Personality Assessment and Culture, which is presently being edited.
__________
Dr. Zoran Milovanovich (Sociology and Anthropology)

Presented a paper on “Comparative Recidivism Rates” at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
__________
Dr. Helen Oliver (Education)

Dr. Oliver is providing a chapter titled, From Montserrat to the United States: My Journey in the book titled, Foreign-Born African Americans: Silenced Voices in the Discourse on Race(Obiakor, Festus E and Grant, Patrick, Eds. 2002).

The book showcases stories about immigrant minorities from Africa and the Caribbean and allows them to tell their unique stories about the precarious situations in which they find themselves. One part of the book focuses on African voices and the other on writers from the Caribbean. The major goal is to increase the positive voices of foreign-born African Americans in socio-cultural and political discourse in America.

Dr. Oliver is also working on an article entitled: “Travelers from other Homelands” which she hopes to complete in the spring. She is collaborating on an edited book of the same title.

__________
Dr. Levi Nwachuku ( History)

Co-edits the Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought, the inaugural issue of which appeared this fall. He also has an article in the journal entitled, “Nnamdi Azikwe and Lincoln University:  An Analysis of a Symbiotic Relationship”.

He has also been contracted by Sage Publications to provide an entry in their upcoming Encyclopedia of Black Studies on “The 1850 Compromise”. Additionally, an invitation has been extended to Dr. Poe and him, to co-author a chapter in another Sage Publications work entitled, Handbook of Black Studies. In that book, the two scholars will present a history entitled, “Black Studies at Predominantly Black Colleges: State of the Discipline in HBCUs”.
__________
Dr. Daryl Zizwe Poe (History)

Has signed a contract with Routledge to publish his dissertation in their 2003 African Studies Series. The title of his book is, Kwame Nkrumah and Pan-Africanism: 1945-1966.

He also has had two articles published in scholarly journals: The Journal of Black Studies (JBS) and the Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought. The article in the JBS is entitled, “The Construction of an Africalogical Method to Examine Nkrumahism’s Contribution to Pan-African Agency”, (31:6 [July 2001] pp. 729-745). The article in the Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought is entitled, “Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, a Lincoln University Alumnus: His Profound Impact on Pan-African Agency,” (1:1 [Fall 2002] pp. 37-56).

Dr. Poe has also been contracted by Sage Publications to provide the following entries in their upcoming Encyclopedia of Black Studies: “African Consciencism”, “All-African People’s Revolutionary Party”, “Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party”, and “The Revolutionary Action Movement”. Additionally, Drs. Poe and Nwachuku will co-author a chapter on the history of Black Studies at HBCUs in Sage Publications’ Handbook of Black Studies.

__________
Dr. Linda Stine (Master of Human Services Program)

Wrote Classroom Resources for Instructors Using Foundations First, published by Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002.
__________
Dr. Judith A.W. Thomas (Dean)

Presented two papers at the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education’s Conference, February 02 on “Minority Student Retention Factors on HBCU Campuses” and “The Effect of Black Male/Female Relationships in the New Millennium on Academic Achievement.”

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Special congratulations to the following members of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Dr. William K. Dadson (Economics and Business Administration) directed and managed students in the Free Enterprise Team to the regional championship for the third time. Congratulations to both coach and team members!

Mr. Cyrus Jones (Athletic Director) coached the Men’s Outdoor Track team to a second-place finish at the NCAA Division III Nationals in February 2002. Coach Jones was named Honorary Referee at the prestigious Penn Relays in April, 02.

Dr. Robert Millette, Professor, Sociology and Anthropology was the featured
speaker at Midwestern State University in Texas for the 8th Annual Awards Banquet for the Caribbean Students Organization

Dean Judith Thomas was the recipient of the W.E.B. DuBois Community Award for Excellence at the “Salute to Excellence: A Tribute to the Talented Tenth” sponsored by the Office of the President and the Multicultural and Minority Student Affairs Committee, February 2002 at the Harrisburg Marriott Hotel.

IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM:
INNOVATIONS WITHIN SSBS

The Economics and Business Administration department, chaired by Dr. William K. Dadson, has introduced new MYSAP software. Dr. Oswald Richards designed a new Enterprise Resource Planning with SAP R/3 course to support the integrated curriculum requirements of the SAP Program. Dr. Richards also created several other new courses: Personal Financial Planning, Principles of Investment, Real Estate, Risk Management and Insurance.

The HPER department, chaired by Dr. James L. DeBoy continues to play a leadership role in Lincoln’s assessment efforts. They have revised the Health Science Exit Area Examination and the Study Guide for students sitting for Oral Examination. They administered “assessments of learner outcomes” (knowledge probes, informal feedback on teaching, and “muddiest points”) in three selected HPR courses. Additionally, HPER faculty agreed to adopt the proposed Criteria/Checklist for judging and grading written communication in all HPER courses.

Emphasizing the History department’s commitment to excellence, Dr. Todd Herring organized and advised the Phi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society in History.

Keeping in mind the need to educate students’ body and spirit as well as the mind, HPER faculty were active outside of the classroom as well as in. Yvonne Hilton accompanied members of her 20G class (Leisure and Play) to the University of Delaware where they completed an all day “high ropes adventure” program. Building on the success of last year’s aerobic sessions run by Coach Cyrus Jones, in which more than 100 students participated, the HPER department is implementing a “Walk the Walk” program for this academic year. All Lincoln faculty, staff and students are invited to come down to the gym at noon and walk the fitness trail or, in inclement weather, walk laps around the gym. The goal for the year is 1000 miles walked; HPER will be sending out twice-monthly updates showing the total mileage for each group.

Dr. Penelope Kinsey (Psychology) reports that she has infused a Power Point component within her courses in order to prepare her students for professional presentational styles. She also requires all of her students to review research articles on the web using EBSCOHost. Dr. Zoran Milovanovich, (Sociology and Anthropology) has developed a website devoted to Lincoln’s Criminal Justice Program. Dr. Milovanovich has also created an interactive Internet syllabus for the course Criminal Law I. The syllabus includes a complete set of lecture notes that serve as online instructional material. (For an additional look at technology in the classroom, see the article on page 8 by Dr. Linda Leatherbury.)

A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE

Taking seriously their responsibility to share skills and knowledge, faculty from the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies continue to play leadership roles both within the university and in the community.

Mr. Michael Davis (Education) coordinates the Praxis Examination Center at Lincoln University.

President of the New Castle County Chapter of Delaware State University, Dr. Martin Drew (Education recently served as a member of the Search Committee for the President of Delaware State University.

Dr. Patricia Joseph (Sociology and Anthropology) chairs the Advisory Board to the Department of Children Youth and Families in Chester County, where she is also member of the Chester County Women’s Commission.

Additionally, Dr. Patricia Joseph is participating in the role of “Local Ethnographer” as part of a major research project funded by the Department of Labor. This five-year study (2000-2005) is designed to assist in the evaluation the Youth Opportunity (YO) grant. She is conducting research in the Philadelphia area, one of 36 communities across the nation funded to develop programs to attack the problem of persistent unemployment and underemployment among youth in high-poverty urban and rural areas. Under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), $250,000 million has been earmarked to implement the entire grant. Dr. Joseph is most excited about the opportunity that has been provided to engage Human Service undergraduate students in this substantive research project. 

Dr. Penelope Kinsey ( Psychology) was elected faculty representative to the Board of Trustees where she served as Vice Chair of the Business Affairs Committee and member of the Educational Policies Committee through spring 2002. She also served on the Southern Chester County/Jenners Pond Board of Directors.

Dr. Lennell Dade (Psychology) has been elected to succeed Dr. Kinsey as faculty representative for the upcoming academic year.

Dr. Lenetta Lee (Education), founder of the Erin Forbes Charter School, is now presiding over its second year of successful operation.

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Favor (Psychology) on passing the Maryland Licensure Examination and becoming licensed as a psychologist in Maryland.

Dr. Delroy Louden (Psychology) has been active as a consultant with the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. He has received additional funding for the research on AIDS that he and Dean Chikwem are conducting in Nigeria, and was co-chair for the Primary Care Tract 2 and Abstract Reviewer for the U.S. Conference on AIDS.

Dr. Ganga Ramdas (Economics and Business Administration) directed the 2002 Summer Transportation Institute at Lincoln.

Ms. Jean White-Butler (Education) is a member of the Delaware Governor’s Council for Exceptional Citizens. She has been appointed a team leader for the MASTAP grant for training science and math teachers and looks forward to heading the Special Needs Student Instruction Team.

And finally, leading by example, Dr. Judith A.W. Thomas (Dean) has represented Lincoln across the Commonwealth, delivering keynote speeches at Eastern College on January 2002 (Topic: “How Multiculturalism Works on Campuses in the Third Millennium”) and at the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference held at Lincoln in April 2002, and presenting the Commencement Address at the Harrisburg Academy, June 2002

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING:
Technology as Part of Pedagogy
by Dr. Linda Leatherbury (Economics and Business Administration)

There is no denying the magnitude of the role that computers and technology have come to play in our everyday lives. The exact role they should play in academia, however, is still unclear.

Some educators remain skeptical of the benefit derived from using technology in the classroom. Others, if they were to be honest, feel as though they may eventually be replaced by the computers or worry, at least, that their value is being diminished by the use of computers On the other hand there are those who can’t imagine teaching, let alone researching, without the use of the computer. In recent times, the specific role of the Internet in the classroom has become the main focus of discussion when referring to computer’s role in academia.

Irrespective of where you fall in this ongoing debate, the truth is technology is a part of our pedagogy in this new millennium. Exactly how we choose to use it is really up to us.

In the fall of this year I incorporated WebCTinto my curriculum. Well, pedagogy would probably be a better word than curriculum. I have used the different modules that WebCT offers to change the way I facilitate my students’ learning. Let me give you a couple of examples.

First, students in all four of my classes took an online, self-grading, learning style assessment. Only they could see the results, unless they chose to e-mail them to me, which most of them did. Web CT allowed me to administer this assessment quickly, efficiently and without using my classroom time.

Another module I have used extensively is on-line discussions. Students were quite comfortable using this module. They began immediately using the discussion tool and e-mail to plan study groups. In addition to these two modules, I have used the quiz module of WebCT. As an educator, I find that this has helped facilitate the students’ learning. They typically have five days to complete the weekly quiz, which is only worth one point of their grade. WebCT makes it easy for me to build quizzes with feedback comments.

WebCT also allows me to publish information on the Web for my students speedily. I would say this is what I like most about WebCT. Although materials posted are limited to the WebCT server, the ease with which I can upload files has helped expedite the transfer of information between me and my students.
The truth is technology is not going to go away, and as educators we can use it in many ways to enhance our students’ learning. Some of my students are visual learners and the use of the Web enhances their understanding of difficult concepts. Others of my students suffer from test anxiety and taking a quiz online in private at their own speed works really well for them. Regardless of which side of the debate an educator finds her- or himself on, I am convinced that technology offers valuable and exciting opportunities to help us teach better and help our students learn better.

(Ed. note: Dr. Leatherbury and Dr. Zizwe Poe (History) are serving as WebCT mentors during the 2002-2003 year. They are available Monday and Thursday afternoons between 1:00 and 4:00 in the Faculty Development Lab to help faculty with any WebCT questions or problems.)

Congratulations to HPER majors Tamara Mitchell (’02) on her acceptance into the Physical Therapy Program at Thomas Jefferson University and Oluwatoyin Akintoye (’00) who is enrolled in the Health Administration &  Health Services master’s degree program at George Washington University.

Holiday Party: 
December 16, 2002 
Wyncote Golf Club 
Lunch Buffet  | 12:00 noon  

Integrating SAP R/3 Into The Business Curriculum:
The Human Resources
Management Initiative
By Dr. Oswald H. Richards

What is SAP R/3? SAP is an acronym for a German company, Systeme, Anwendungen, Produckte in der Datenverarbeitung (Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing). R/3 is a client-server suite of real-time software application modules that integrate multiple business processes such as financial accounting, human resources, manufacturing, production operations, treasury management, supply-chain management and others. In industry circles, this integration of discrete disciplines is defined as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions. Over 300 universities (MIT, Drexel, University of Pennsylvania, University of Delaware), many of the largest corporations (Daimler-Chrysler, IBM), and several nonprofit organizations (State of Pennsylvania) use the R/3 applications to run their businesses. This Fall 2002, the Economics and Business Administration department began to infuse SAP R/3 into several courses, namely, Human Resources Management, Principles of Accounting and Quantitative Methods I. This article briefly describes the infusion of SAP R/3 into the Human Resources Management (HRM) course.

HRM is a discipline that combines many sub-specialties. Traditional HRM textbooks, however, distinguish several macro-level tasks that HR practitioners perform: the analysis and design of work; planning and execution of employee recruitment, selection, acquisition/hiring and placement; training, performance management, employee development, retention and separation; and pay structure decisions, recognizing employee contributions with pay, and employee benefits. The HRM module is perhaps the most comprehensive and critical application in the SAP R/3 software suite. So the challenge was to 1) identify and extrapolate those SAP R/3 HRM sub-elements that would be mandatory content requirements for an HRM course and 2) correlate those SAP R/3 HRM sub-elements with the macro-level topics in the HRM assigned text. To accomplish these objectives, four hands-on, student laboratory exercises were developed with the assistance of Central Michigan University, which is one of the original SAP University Alliance members. A fifth laboratory exercise was created to help students understand the relationship between Human Resources Management and other organizational entities, or lines of businesses, within a corporation.

Generally, the advantages of using SAP R/3 in an academic environment are multidimensional. First, it must be understood that in its curricular design, the Economics and Business Administration department will not be teaching SAP R/3. SAP R/3 will be integrated into existing courses so that the software application can be used as an instructional business tool to reinforce conceptual knowledge of subject content. Second, SAP R/3 will expose students to a holistic view of a business enterprise that is aligned around a common set of integrated tools. The emphasis is on teaching students conceptually and practically to understand how a singular, integrated ERP system can synergistically handle the discrete needs of organizational departments in a corporation to efficiently and effectively improve operational and financial processes and production capacities. The technology will amplify students’ skills by permitting them to approach their laboratory assignments with the same tools and access to information available to practitioners in the world beyond the classroom. Third, faculty will benefit from the use of a package of technically sophisticated instructional business tools that will enhance teaching and pedagogy. SAP R/3 should motivate faculty to rethink their curricula, replacing didactics with an integrative, interdisciplinary approach.

Exposure to SAP R/3 applications will equip students with the knowledge and skills to transition into the for-profit and nonprofit world that places a premium on technological creativity and innovation. As a transformative and enabling technology, knowledge and application of SAP R/3 will position Lincoln into a class of technologically innovative higher educational institutions whose graduates are highly sought and employable in business, industry, and nonprofit institutions.

Following is a delineation of the potential benefits of SAP R/3 curricular integration to the Lincoln community:

Students

• Exposure to a holistic view of a business enterprise aligned around a common set of business tools.
• Reinforcement of conceptual knowledge of subject-content in an interdisciplinary and practical construct.
• Development of an awareness and understanding of the synergies and interdependencies that exist among discrete organizational disciplines and departments.
• Building up of skill-set and knowledge of business informational tools used by practitioners in the domestic and global industries.
• Knowledge technologies for marketability to domestic and global enterprises

Faculty

• Infusion of state-of-the art business information management technology into the curriculum.
• Implementation of an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to the delivery of business instruction.
• Focused approached to curricular reengineering and enhancement in response to a dynamic business, industry and nonprofit environment.
• Acquisition of E-business/commerce, B2B (business to business), B2C (business to customer), C2C (customer to customer) information technologies for knowledge transfer and substitution, and enhanced technology skills.
• Uniform pedagogical business information technology platform.

Lincoln University

• Opportunities for strategic alliances and collaborative partnerships with business, industry and nonprofits.
• A student marketing and recruitment tool for Economics & Business Administration, Computer Science and other departments.
• Potential funding opportunities/sources through strategic partnerships with business, industry and nonprofits.
• Identification as a cutting-edge and technologically innovative university
• Strategic/curricular partnerships with similarly configured and innovative higher education institutions (the Pennsylvania State universities, such as Cheyney, will integrating SAP into their curriculum).
• Potential University Alliance hosting opportunity and partnership with SAP.
  
  (Note: This the first of a series of occasional articles on SAP R/3 curricular integration)

Reaching Behind the Protective Façade

Ellen Smith, Visiting Professor of Education

In South Carolina, where I did my doctoral research, there is a great need to reach about one-third of the population, which has apparently given up on formal education. “Just give me my diploma and let me get out of here. I need to make money!” This was their cry. More often than not, they saw a lot of easy money (or so they thought) flowing on the “streets”! It flowed right into the drug dealers’ pocket. Why should anyone tie themselves up with the drudgery of school, when the golden life was available right down on the corner.

I taught in an alternative high school, where the students came to stay out of jail; to try once more for a diploma; to just get in a place away from Mom, Dad, or Step-dad, or from teachers, principals and truant officers.

The former superintendent of the school had designed a program to see how a rise in self esteem would correlate with developing success. He published this program in 1990. I followed as a teacher and applied bibliotherapy principles to some of the assignments of the program.

My study was ethnographical; no statistical prediction can be made. Essays were written by students about how a book character could solve a social or personality problem. An interactive journal was written between the teacher and the student. They became so involved in what they were learning about themselves that they became more free in self expression. They were totally comfortable with themselves when they and the teacher were the only audience. They lowered an obvious façade, and they grew stronger and more confident. In addition, I learned a very effective stategy for getting to know a student more deeply.

(Dr. Smith’s dissertation, The Impact of a Bibliotherapeutic Experience, was published in 1998 by the University of South Carolina Press.)

The Heart of a Teacher

By Ellen Smith, Visiting Professor of Education

It’s hard at times
The pressures are great;
The teacher sighs,
Graded papers are late!
The deadlines come due,
The meetings are rife,
Sometimes it all seems
To be stress and strife.

Then you think about the child
Who waits and looks
Up to you; and who
MUST read the books!
Each works so hard;
Each wants to learn;
Each depends on you;
Each needs a turn!
Each becomes a part of your life
With the effort you put forth in the tries!
Each worms its way to your heart
When the light flicks up in those eyes!
The life and the warmth that you get
Makes the children the very thing
For which a teacher gives all;
And which makes the teacher’s heart sing.

And for this melody we stay
No matter how weary we feel;
We walk with the child all the way
Giving meaning to a life that is real!

Lincoln announces NASA Grant 

A search is being conducted to find a Director for the NASA Goddard Space Center MASTAP Continuing Education Teacher Resource Center. For further information interested parties should check with the University’s Office of Human Resources and Dr. Richard M. O’Daniel, the Principal Investigator for the grant. 

We are seeking faculty and student assistance to recruit graduate students for the M.ED Biology and Mathematics programs. Tuition Stipends of up to $6,000 a year are available. Interested parties should contact the admissions office or Dr. Richard M. O’Daniel. 

Lincoln faculty are invited to attend the WebCT Training workshops sponsored by the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP)Grant.  Stipends of $100 are available for participating faculty to attend each workshop. Interested parties should contact Dr. Mazharul Huq, the Director of the MSEIP Training Institute, or Dr. Richard M. O’Daniel, the MSEIP PI for further information. 

MSEIP Student Training Stipends of up to $1,000 per school year are available for Departments and faculty to use students to assist them with developing web based tutorials, course materials or WEBCT courses.  

Faculty interested in obtaining a $1,000 stipend to develop and adopt a WEBCT course should also contact Dr. Huq for obtaining technical assistance under the MSEIP grant. Science Math and technology courses will be given first priority.