KAPPA OMICRON NU - SPOTLIGHT
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Kappa
Omicron Nu S P O T L I G H T Volume 2, No. 1 - © 2000. Executive Director and Editor: Dorothy I. Mitstifer. Board of Directors: Jan VanBuren, Karla Hughes, Sarah Shoffner, Barbara McFall, Gail McNinch, Wanda rummage, and amy Stoll - 1749 Hamilton Road, Suite 106, Okemos, MI 48864 · Telephone: (517) 351-8335 · E-mail: info@kon.org · Web site: www.kon.org |

New
2000 Board Members
Sarah Shoffner, Vice Chair/Finance - University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Student Board Members: Gail McNinch - Texas A&M University, Kingsville; Wanda Rummage - University of North Carolina, Greensboro; Amy Stoll - University of Missouri, Columbia.

2001
Conclave - August 2-5, 2000
Grosvenor Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando
Theme: Reflective Human Action—Integrating Academic &
Co-Curricular Goals
The Conclave is a biennial meeting of the Assembly of Delegates, the governing body of Kappa Omicron Nu, and a leadership development opportunity. The theme of the 2001 Kappa Omicron Nu Conclave, “Reflective Human Action: Integrating Academic and Co-Curricular Goals,” will be implemented through the workshops and the banquet address. Practical sessions on the application of Reflective Human Action to organizational and personal issues are planned for students and professionals. During the Assembly of Delegates Meeting, voting delegates will elect Student Board Members, consider business of Kappa Omicron Nu, and participate in a forum to determine priorities for the “ends” (to achieve the mission) of Kappa Omicron Nu.
Collaborative Initiatives
Undergraduate Research Community for the Human Sciences
Collaborating with Michigan State University, Kansas State University, and the University of Maryland—Eastern Shore, Kappa Omicron Nu will help initiate, and demonstrate a framework for, a nationwide research community for undergraduates in the Human Sciences. The first national undergraduate research conference will be organized in conjunction with the Leadership Conclave of Kappa Omicron Nu. At this first conference, and afterward, a formal invitation to participate in the project will be issued to other institutions with Human Sciences programs. One of the long-term goals is to embed undergraduate research within an increasing number of Human Sciences programs nationally.
FCS~ALC
Kappa Omicron Nu contracted to supply support services for the Family and Consumer Sciences ~ Administrative Leadership Council. This collaboration was undertaken because Kappa Omicron Nu shares the objectives of this group. The FCS~ALC announces “Leading by Design: Family and Consumer Sciences Emerging Administrators Workshop,” July 22-27, 2001 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. “Leading By Design” is planned to enhance the future viability of family and consumer sciences by preparing leaders for positions in Higher education administration for the next decade and beyond. Focusing on emerging administrators, this workshop will address competencies needed for assessing one’s attributes and skills for successfully administering higher education family and consumer sciences programs.
AAFCS Knowledge Base Conference
Kappa Omicron Nu partnered with AAFCS units, Council of Administrators of FCS, Board on Human Sciences, National Association of FCS Educators, and Phi Upsilon Omicron to discuss the body of knowledge that constitutes the field of study for FCS and distinguishes it from other professions.
Coordinating Council of Honor Societies
Collaboration began 20 years ago under the leadership of Grace Henderson (Omicron Nu), Doretta Hoffman (Phi Upsilon Omicron), and Mildred Dransfield (Kappa Omicron Phi).
Becoming a Learning Community
This initiative is directed toward creating the ideal conditions for meaningful learning in Kappa Omicron Nu. Peter Senge in The Fifth Discipline warned that many organizations have learning disabilities. Thus, evaluation of Kappa Omicron Nu as a learning community in collaboration with units will have a high priority in this effort of “becoming.”
New Initiatives
Leadership Academy Fellows
Ardyth Gillespie, Cornell University, will apply leadership
development and community building theory and practice to
community food systems.
Barbara McFall, Saybrook Institute, will concentrate
on personal resource systems.
Donna Pendergast, Queensland University of Technology
(Australia) will focus on “Beyond Brown.”
Sue McGregor, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax,
Canada, will explore the relationship of FCS and peace education.
KON’s Impact on the Future of Leadership Development
Thirty-five members participated in the AAFCS PreConference, which used scenario analysis to explore the above title.
Enhanced Web Site
The KON Web site offers six classifications of information: Membership, Leadership, Conclave, Publications, News & Events, and Summit. A Search function will aid visitors in finding information quickly.
Distance Learning
The first Kappa Omicron Nu computer mediated distance learning program was initiated Winter 1998. “Board Orientation in the Policy Mode” provided the mechanism for training new board members in the Kappa Omicron Nu governance system. “Self-Managed Mentoring” is the first on-line course available on the KON Web site. There are several options for using the course: (a) Knowledge - Read the text to learn about mentoring, especially self-managed mentoring. The "e-lectures" are identified by a symbol; (b) Experiential Knowledge - Read the text and select several exercises that increase your competence in selected areas; (c) Self-Managed Life Change - Read the text and complete the whole series of exercises in order to make a major difference in your life; and (d) Life Change Facilitated by Telementoring or E-mail Mentoring - Enhance the process with a mentor selected by you, or contact Kappa Omicron Nu to supply a mentor (there may be a cost).
An on-line Interactive Futuring Session offered participation in the initiative to discuss “KON’s Impact on the Future of Leadership Development.
“Reflective Human Action,” now in production, will serve the KON leadership development priority. Look for this course in Winter 2000.
On-line Publications
The first KON on-line publication is Volume 11, Number
1 of Kappa Omicron Nu
FORUM: Advanced Information Infrastructures—Realizing
their Potential. This publication was provided in hard-copy
format as well.
“Leadership 101” and “Leadership 102” are short educational
programs geared to organizational leadership.
Award Recipients
Scholar
Program– Forty-five
grants to chapter scholars
Master’s
Omicron
Nu/Eileen C. Maddex Fellowship
Stephanie C. Blum, University of Utah
Doctoral
Kappa
Omicron Phi/Gladys Gary Vaughn Fellowship
Barbara S. McFall, Saybrook Graduate School/Research Center
Omicron Nu Research Fellowship
Astrid M. Inniss, Auburn University
Grants
Kappa Omicron Nu/National Alumni Chapter Grant
Barbara S. McFall, Saybrook Graduate School/Research Center
“Designing Person-Environment Fit as an Empowerment Strategy”
KON’s Impact
on the Future of Leadership Development
Thirty-five stipends for participation
2001-2002 Awards
Master’s
Fellowship
Eileen C. Maddex Fellowship—$2,000 awarded annually from an endowment in the Omicron Nu Fellowship Fund in honor of her contributions as Omicron Nu Executive Director.
National Alumni Fellowship--$2,000
Awarded by the National alumni Chapter.
Doctoral
Fellowships
Hettie Margaret Anthony Fellowship—$2,000 awarded for doctoral study from the Kappa Omicron Phi Fellowship Fund in honor of her as founder of Kappa Omicron Phi at Northwest Missouri State University.
Omicron Nu Research Fellowship—$2,000 awarded annually for doctoral research from the Omicron Nu Fellowship Fund.
Matching Conclave Scholarships for Advisers
$4,000 – awarded biennially for attendance at Conclave. Sixteen awards at $250 will recognize and encourage advisers, strengthen the chapter network, and promote the mission of Kappa Omicron Nu.
Research/Project
Grants
One or more grants are awarded annually that meet the criteria of the Kappa Omicron Nu research agenda. Cross-specialization and integrative research is the research priority for the honor society. Multi-year proposals will be considered.
National Alumni Chapter Grant—$1,000 awarded annually as a project of the National Alumni Chapter.
New Initiatives Grant—$3,000--awarded annually from the Kappa Omicron Nu New Initiatives Fund.
National
Grants to Chapters
Scholar Program—Variable Grants--awards will be based on the prior year’s total initiates according to the following schedule once each biennium: 1-10, $150; 11-30, $250; 31-50, $350; 51 up, $500. In order to be eligible for this program, each chapter shall file a document describing the criteria for awarding local scholar grants.
Publications in 1999-2000
Kappa
Omicron Nu Dialogue - three issues: focus on FCS in Higher
Education: An Open Summit on the Future, making a learning
community, comprehensive leadership competencies, learning
community partnerships, KON governance, Knowledge Base Conference,
and undergraduate research community for the human sciences.
Kappa
Omicron Nu FORUM - two issues involving the following
themes: “Advanced Information Infrastructures” and “Legacies.”
Call for Papers
Service
Learning: Its Opportunity and Promise
Deadline: August 31, 2000
Guest Editor – Julia R. Miller
Objectives: Describe service learning as a value-added curriculum strategy; Explain how service learning implements Boyer’s notion of the scholarship of integration and service; Propose models for how service learning can be used to create learning communities in higher education; Present models for using the knowledge base and research in addressing societal problems through service learning; Explore service learning as a vehicle for research; Explore service learning as a means of implementing problem-based strategies in the learning process; Describe service learning as a tool for professional development and preparation of the next generation of professionals; and Discuss how partnerships and collaborations can be created with industry, business, government, and communities to develop service learning programs.
Legacies
for the Future
Continuing theme without specific deadlines.
Guest Editor Sharon Nickols is seeking manuscripts for the fourth volume.
Objectives: Record the accomplishments of leaders in FCS/Human Sciences and all of its specializations, draw implications about the legacy of past leaders, and inspire professionals to make contributions.