TBR Approves Reduced Out-of-State Tuition for Graduate Students

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) has approved the expansion of the 250-R program – which was initially for undergraduate students only – to include graduate students beginning this fall.

This program offers reduced out-of-state tuition to graduate students who have a permanent address inside a county within a 250-mile radius of the University of Memphis main campus but do not currently qualify for the border county classification or other in-state residency classification. 

This opportunity represents a nearly 44 percent reduction in out-of-state tuition for eligible out-of-state graduate students who live outside border counties (DeSoto, Marshall, Tate and Tunica in Mississippi and Crittenden in Arkansas).

With about 1,000 doctoral and 3,000 master’s students, the UoM is the largest graduate school in the Mid-South. “Now that a graduate degree has become a necessity for success in the modern workplace, this sends a clear message to the best and brightest in the whole region that we are their destination of choice for securing a quality graduate education,” said Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal, interim dean of the Graduate School. “With our 116 diverse graduate programs, we are well positioned to serve all their needs.”

According to Dhaliwal, the Tennessee Council of Graduate Schools has found that the state produces only about 7,900 Tennesseans annually to fill current workforce demand for more than 10,000 graduate degree holders. Reduced tuition costs and job prospects should attract strong regional candidates to the UofM to help reverse workforce shortages in our metropolitan area.

The plan’s economic benefits to the Memphis region could be significant. Historically, 54 percent of UofM out-of-state graduates remain in the region after graduation. Every $1 million investment in graduate education provides an additional $893,000 in business revenue, an additional $1.2 million in personal income, 22 jobs and about $77,000 in state and local taxes.

2015 EdTech Showcase

The IDT department hosted an EdTech Showcase on June 18, 2015.  There were 168 registrants from three different states in the mid-south.  Area teachers showcased ways in which they have used technology in their classrooms to promote higher-order thinking, reflection, and creativity.  Presenters demonstrated apps like Kahoot, Diigo, Creative Book Builder, Notability, and many more. Though teachers had fun learning many different tools for technology integration, they were also challenged to think about how the specific tools can be used and connected back to learning.   They talked about things they could do differently in their school and classroom next year, and how they will be pursuing and sharing the ideas from the showcase.  Phillip Cummings invited the teachers to collaboratively take notes for the showcase using Goggle Docs.  Use the #idtmemphis hashtag to scroll through the tweets.  It was an exciting time full of learning and sharing of technology!

Collaborative Notes from 2015 EdTech Showcase. 

IDT’s First Annual Last Lecture

The IDT Program hosted its first annual Last Lecture. During the Last Lecture, graduating students shared their experience in the program. Six graduates; Betty Houston, Kim Treftz, Dorian Brown, Joe Sweeney, Laura Wolf, and Sharon Clark all volunteered to speak. Each graduate spent five minutes sharing their favorite memory, their most challenging moments, the most important thing they’ve learned, and some tips for those students yet to graduate. There were more than forty faculty, alumni, and students in attendance, and six people attending virtually. You may click the links below to see some of the Last Lecture notes and presentations. The IDT department also honored the 2014-2015 Outstanding MS and Doctoral students, Kim Pruitt and Tracy McAllister, at the event. Past graduates were also recognized.

 Kim Tref’s Presentation

Dorian Brown’s Presentation

Betty Houston’s Presentation

Joe Sweeney’s The Seven Stages of Dissertation


In conjunction with the Last Lecture presentation, the IDT Program hosted a retirement celebration in honor of Dr. Deborah Lowther. Alumni traveled from as far as Texas to shower Dr. Lowther with love and appreciation for all her contributions to IDT Memphis. The IDT GSA presented Dr. Lowther with a plaque and a gift as a token of their gratitude for her service. The IDT department presented Dr. Lowther with a digital scrapbook. The scrapbook will be printed into a hard copy memory album, and will include pictures from various IDT events over the years as well as farewell messages from all in attendance. It was a great evening spent laughing and reflecting. It was a terrific Last Lecture and we look forward to the many lectures to come.

“On behalf of the IDT Graduate Student Association, we present this token that symbolizes the legacy you have blessed us with. The doves represent knowledge and love in equal measure, for your scholarship and teaching has always been grounded in your compassion. The flowers represent the fruits of your labor that will continue to bloom and grow in the lives of your students. We are grateful for the service that you have given us and will strive to honor you as we continue on our journeys. We love you and will miss your presence on campus, but we will carry you with us always. Thank you.”

Summer Opportunities with IDT Memphis

See the following information for a few opportunities to extend your learning this summer. First of all, we are offering our EdTech Summer Showcase as an extension of the T3 Workshops offered during the school year. This will be an excellent chance to gain new perspectives on technology integration from educators just like you! Secondly, we are offering a number of educational technology courses online this summer. See the information and links below to learn more.

EdTech SUMMER SHOWCASE (T3Memphis.org)

Join us on Thursday, June 19th, for the EdTech Summer Showcase at the University of Memphis. This event will be hosted by the Instructional Design and Technology program and will feature outstanding Mid-South teachers demonstrating ways that they effectively integrate technology and learning. Each presenter will spend 5-minutes showcasing their innovative use of technology followed by 5-minutes of Q&A with the audience. Discussion groups and reflection time will also be incorporated in this experience. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to gain new ideas for your classroom.

This event is free-of-charge and open to all educators; however, seating is limited so register early.

We look forward to your participation in this outstanding professional development opportunity!

EdTech Summer Showcase 2014* (FREE event)
June 19th, 2014
9:00-12:00 (breakfast served at 8:30)
IDT Studio, (Ball Hall 320)
University of Memphis
Register Here

*Attendees will receive a certificate of completion from the IDT program. These certificates may be added to your portfolio as an indicator of professional growth. Some schools and districts accept these as CEU credit.

SPECIAL TOPIC SEMINAR

IDT 7078: Making Thinking Visible with Technology (MTVT)

This is an online graduate course offered at the University of Memphis. It is based on the research and teaching framework from Project Zero at Harvard University. In this course, you will have an opportunity to: investigate the principles of Visible Thinking; explore strategies for making students’ thinking visible; consider how innovative technologies can elicit evidence of student understanding; and design lessons and instructional materials that enable students to make their thinking visible.

To learn more about the IDT 7078 course, download the flyer here.

EdTech COURSES

Other online courses* offered this summer include:

  • IDT 7061: Technology Integration in the Classroom
  • IDT 7062: Introduction to Computer-Based Instruction
  • IDT 7063: Seminar in Instructional Computing
  • IDT 7064: School Change and the Internet

*Completing all four of these courses also qualifies you for a Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Memphis.

To view descriptions for these courses, view the IDT course descriptions, or contact the program coordinator Dr. Carmen Weaver at carmen.weaver@memphis.edu for more information.

University of Memphis Educational Psychology Colloquium


Dr. Carmen Weaver
will be the invited speaker at the University of Memphis Educational Psychology Colloquium this Friday, February 21, from 5pm to 6pm in Ball Hall room 205. The title of her presentation is Changing Focus, Changing Teaching: A Look at Professional Development for Technology Integration. This presentation is part of the Spring

Colloquia and is open to all students to attend.

Educational Psychology Colloquia Spring 2014
(All meetings will be held in Ball Hall 205 from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm)

February 7, 2014
Ashley Payne & Crystal White
“Perfectionism and Ethnic Identity in University Students: The Role of Stereotype Threat Navigating Student Research in a University Setting”

February 21, 2014
Dr. Carmen Weaver, Instructional Design and Technology Program
“Changing Focus, Changing Teaching: A Look at Professional Development for Technology Integration”

March 7, 2014
Dr. Katherine Hendrix, Department of Communication
“Building Credibility in the U.S. Post-Secondary Classroom: Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) of Color and Non-Native English Speaking GTAs”

March 21, 2014
Dr. Luvell Anderson, Department of Philosophy
“The Philosophy of Race”

April 4, 2014
Dr. Susan Neely-Barnes, Department of Social Work
“Transition to Adulthood for Youth with Disabilities in a Fragmented Service System”

April 18, 2014
Dr. Mitsunori Misawa, Department of Leadership
“Troubling Intersections of Social Justice and Educational Research: An Examination of Positionality and Subjectivity on Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in Post-Secondary Education”