Burrow published the essay, "Contract Grading: A More Equitable COVID-19 Grading Practice Worth Keeping," in the American Journal of Education Forum.

The essay details her self-study about revisions to her grading practices during COVID-19. It was inspired by ideas presented during Dr. Amber Wagnon's presentation on "feedback" during the 2018 Center for Teaching and Learning's Faculty Learning Circle, as well as a Drs. Nick Long and Brittney Falahola's "Standards Based Grading" presentation.

Burrow completed the research for her essay while enrolled in Dr. Jason McIntosh's ENGL 5380 creative writing course, as part of her Lumberjack Education Assistance Program experience.

Do you know an SFA employee who deserves recognition? If so, nominate them as a Leading Lumberjack.

We want to acknowledge Lumberjacks who have made a difference on or off campus.

Access the nomination form to recognize an SFA employee.

The Center for Career and Professional Development will host the Career and Internship Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. today in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to invite students from all majors to this event, which will be the last career fair of the fall semester. A list of participating employers can be viewed on the fair's info page on Handshake.

Students will need to bring their student ID for check-in and copies of their résumé to distribute to employers. Professional dress is encouraged. For professional attire, students may stop by the Career Closet, located in Room 3.302 of the student center.

For more information, contact the CCPD at (936) 468-3305 or ccpd@sfasu.edu.

The Office of International Programs will present Global Gateway to Pakistan at 3 p.m. today in the Ferguson Building, Room 375.

Three SFA international exchange students will give an informative and entertaining presentation on their home country.

Everyone is welcome to attend either in person or via Zoom (passcode may be required).

Meeting ID: 956 0007 6069

Passcode: 337033

Jacks Give Back is working with the Family Crisis Center of East Texas to host a donation drive for homeless and women's shelters in the Nacogdoches area. Donations will be accepted through Oct. 29.

Members are asking for toiletry items, first aid supplies and items for cold weather, including blankets, socks, gloves, etc. Donations can be brought to the Big Event office in Room 3.204 of the Baker Pattillo Student Center. Jacks Give Back also has created a donation drive Amazon wishlist. Those wishing to ship Amazon purchases directly to campus should enter 222 Vista Drive, Baker Pattillo Student Center Suite 3.105 as the address.

Once the drive closes, all donations will be delivered to the Family Crisis Center for distribution. For information, contact Natalia Hernandez at hernandenn@jacks.sfasu.edu.

Coordinators of SFA's graduate athletic training program will host a virtual open house at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Faculty and staff are asked to encourage all students interested in sports medicine or athletic training who want to learn more about the master's degree in athletic training to attend. The invitation and Zoom link can be found in the Events section of Handshake, or access the Zoom directly.

Meeting ID: 947 6923 8852

Passcode: 021867

Qui Qarre, an author and award-winning poet from Nairobi, Kenya, will serve as guest poet and judge during “Esperanza’s Night Out,” beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at the Stone Fort Museum.

Qarre, who is among the leading spoken word women poets in Kenya, is the author of two anthologies, “Tears of the Pen” and “Broken Vase.” She won the Slam Africa Women’s Poetry Competition in 2016. In 2017, she represented Kenya at the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Dallas, where she ranked No. 29 among 96. She later competed in the Women of the Bayou City Poetry Slam in Houston, where she scored 27.5 out of 30 for her overall performance.

“I first heard Qui perform in Houston,” said Dr. Flora Farago, SFA associate professor in the School of Human Sciences. “She has performed across the U.S. and Africa. Having her visit Nacogdoches and participate in this event is a real treasure. It will help the audience get a taste of ‘poetical activism,’ which is the merging of poetry, art and a call to action for social justice and reflection.”

Contestants can register at the museum on the day of the event for the poetry slam. More information about guidelines and cash prizes is available by contacting the museum at (936) 468-2408 or by downloading the poetry guidelines.

The Axe Handle, SFA's one-stop shop for students' and parents' needs, had a busy September.

On average, the Axe Handle answered more than 108 calls per day, with a question/answer success rate of 88%. Jack the chatbot engaged in more than 1,370 conversations.

To see more, view September's full report.

SFA's University Police Department received a $38,849 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to create a citizen’s police academy.

“The purpose of the academy is to provide insight into the responsibilities of a university police department and the measures it takes to help prevent, deter and respond to criminal and noncriminal activities,” said John Fields, chief of SFA’s UPD. “The program is designed to enhance communication and create long-term, meaningful partnerships with students, staff, faculty and supporters of the institution.”

Each academy will take place one day a week for eight weeks. The first academy is slated to start in mid-to-late January, and others will be offered throughout each semester. At the conclusion of the academy, an awards ceremony will be held to celebrate participants.

More information about the academy is available at sfasu.edu/upd or by calling (936) 468-2608.

SFA's Organization of Athletic Training Students and Chi Tau Epsilon dance honor society are holding the second annual Move and Groove 5K at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 6 in Pecan Park.

The entry fee is $15 for SFA students and $20 for the general public. Money raised from the 5K will cover race expenses and support the professional development and socialization efforts of SFA's dance and athletic training students. There will be prizes for top finishers.

A stretch and warmup session will start 7 a.m. with the race beginning at 7:30 a.m. The route does not leave Pecan Park.

To preregister and receive an event T-shirt, fill out the event registration Qualtrics form. If you selected Venmo as your method of payment, Venmo your registration fee to @chitauepsilon-omicronchapter. If you selected to pay by check, make your check payable to OATS (Organization of Athletic Training Students) and deliver to the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science office, located in the HPE Complex, Room 204.

SFA's Office of Multicultural Affairs will host a Native American Heritage Month Celebration beginning at noon Nov. 10 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Plaza.

“It is important for us to celebrate and educate ourselves about various cultures in the world, and it is specifically important for us to celebrate every demographic represented on SFA’s campus,” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director.

The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in viewing virtually can do so on OMA’s Instagram page, @omasfa1991. During the event, OMA representatives will be available to provide resources regarding Native American Heritage Month. Participants also can partake in raffles.

For more information about OMA or to see a list of events, visit sfasu.edu/oma.

The Campus Recreation Department and SFA Alumni Association will host the 10th annual Homecoming 5K Run/Walk at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 28 on campus.

The event brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members to raise money for SFA scholarships. The 5K race includes timing, a custom performance shirt and medals awarded to the top winners of each category.

The event also will offer an untimed one-mile run/walk option, and a shirt can be purchased. If you are unable to attend in person, you can still participate with the virtual runner option, which includes a mailed performance shirt.

For more information or to register, visit the event's webpage.

The Campus Recreation Department will host a flu shot clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Student Recreation Center gym. M&S Pharmacy staff members will be on site to provide flu shots to faculty, staff and students.

Participants are asked to bring a prepared registration form and prescription card, or make the on-site registration process faster by emailing the prepared registration form to waguespaja@sfasu.edu.

Nacogdoches Rotary's Meet the Jacks is planned for 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Loddie Naymola Baketball Performance Center.

The event will feature keynote speaker Gary Blair, former Ladyjack head coach and current head coach at Texas A&M University.

Proceeds benefit the SFA Athletics Summer School Fund. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the event's webpage.

The Percussion Ensemble from Northwestern State University will present a preview performance of their 2021 Percussive Arts Society International Convention New Literature Showcase Concert when the ensemble performs at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in Cole Concert Hall.

For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The School of Music will present “A Mid-Century Chamber Music Faculty Recital” as its fall Coleidoscope concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in Cole Concert Hall.

The Coleidoscope concert is part of a faculty chamber music series dedicated to performing music with various, often less standard, combinations of instruments and explores a variety of genres and repertoire, according to Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, professor of violin at SFA.

“This October, we are happy to present an exciting and eclectic group of pieces, all written between the post WWII years of 1947 and 1950,” Dalmas said. “‘Coleidoscope’ is a play on words, referencing the different colors of the musical kaleidoscope, and as a tribute to our dear patrons, the late Ed and Gwen Cole.”

SFA's Symphony Orchestra will present Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” when the student ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, in Cole Concert Hall.

“The Prokofiev is a huge work and exciting for the orchestra and the audience,” said Dr. Gregory Grabowski, director of orchestral activities at SFA and the Symphony Orchestra’s conductor. “Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a hugely popular piece, especially the opening Montagues and Capulets movement, which was even performed by bands like Emerson, Lake and Palmer.”

The concert will be rebroadcast on the SFA Symphony Orchestra YouTube channel Nov. 3.

SFA's School of Art and The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will host several events as part of the Día de Los Muertos Fiesta from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 in downtown Nacogdoches.

Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a two-day holiday that honors family members and loved ones who have died. The tradition originated in Mexico and is celebrated throughout Latin America. The Día de Los Muertos Fiesta has been an annual event in Nacogdoches for almost a decade.

SFA students, faculty and staff will lead workshops and presentations throughout the event.

As if art didn’t take enough talent and dedication, some artists are willingly seeking out the world’s most delicate mediums, like brittle, dry leaves.

We don’t know how she does it, but Spanish artist Laura Dalla Vecchia’s bird embroidery work is amazing in its intricacy, precision and colors.

Enter an embroidered world of wonder by viewing a collection of her work.