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| Season Events Calendar |
The 2007-2008 academic year represents a significant milestone for the Department of Special Education as it celebrates five decades of contributions to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. The Department takes great pride in the achievements of its faculty and students throughout their careers as leaders in public education, field research, and policy development. Collectively, they have helped shape public policy and practice that has improved the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities.
The focus of this year-long celebration will be on the future. Faculty and students have identified topics that address issues of significance and challenges that loom on the horizon. Lectures and professional development opportunities are planned to encourage dialogue on current issues. Exhibits and a special series of events, including opportunities for reflection and sharing of memories, will document the Department’s evolution. Students and alumni are encouraged to attend these anniversary events.
THE DEPARTMENT’S COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS
The University of Kansas has one of the most comprehensive special education programs in the country. These programs are designed to prepare students for leadership roles as teachers, administrators, policy makers, teacher educators, and field researchers. The Department’s culture encourages and supports students working with faculty in cutting edge research and development related to effective education in the field of disabilities. Collaboration with many research units, such as the Center for Research on Learning, Beach Center on Disability, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Schiefelbusch Life Span Institute, and Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, facilitates interdisciplinary learning in the masters and doctoral programs.
The University of Kansas is known internationally for innovative special education practices, field research, and contributions to disability public policy. Ongoing work with campus units, field partners, families, U.S. and international universities, and public agencies has created synergy around issues of common concern. Through these relationships new ideas emerge and solutions are sought. Many of the Department’s contributions are evident in the following areas:
The Department has been ranked among the top graduate programs in the country since the 1970s. Currently U.S. News and World Report places the University of Kansas as the top public special education graduate program in the 2008 annual edition of “ America’s Best Graduate Schools.”
Departmental research and dissemination activities have influenced effective classroom practice in areas such as academic and behavioral interventions, school to adult life transition, self determination, and technology in teacher education.
The Department has influenced major legislative initiatives and national and international public policy related to disabilities and school reform. These efforts have helped change public perceptions about the potential contributions of children and adults with disabilities.
Click on Season Events Calendar heading to download a copy of the calendar.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
| The Edward L. Meyen Distinguished Lecture : The Supply Side Economics of Education Research Dr. Russ Whitehurst, Director, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education Location: Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Memorial Union Time: 7:00 p.m. - Reception following in Malott Room |
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Transforming education into an evidence-based field requires a supply of rigorous and relevant research from the research community and the demand for such research from practitioners and policymakers. Both the supply of and demand for rigorous and relevant research have historically been weak. Dr. Whitehurst will discuss steps the Institute of Education Sciences has taken to create a market for research of the type needed by practitioners and policymakers in advance of their knowing they need it.
OCTOBER 16, 2007
University of Kansas Professionals for Disabilities KUPD Student Series:
Getting Started and Staying on Track: Insights and Experiences on Becoming a New Professor
Guest speakers: Dr. Yvonne Bui (University of San Francisco), Dr. Michael Faggella-Luby (University of Connecticut), and Dr. Karrie Shogren (University of Texas)
Location: 150 Joseph R. Pearson Hall
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Part one |
Part two |
NOVEMBER 29, 2007
| 50th Anniversary Invited Lecture: Accountability and Performance: When Educational Quality Speaks, Educational Equality Answers H. George Frederickson, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, University of Kansas Location: Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Memorial Union Time: 7:00 p.m. – Reception following in Malott Room |
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Public education has always been about educational achievement on one hand and educational opportunity on the other. In the name of accountability, the public wants, indeed demands, both achievement and opportunity. Educational accountability, in the era of No Child Left Behind, has mostly to do with measuring educational quality; but the results indicate that what is really being measured is the lack of educational equality. Provided here is a hard copy of Dr. Frederickson's lecture. Dr. Frederickson invites readers to dialogue with him at GFRED@ku.edu.
FEBRUARY 11, 2008
| 50th Anniversary Invited Lecture: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Drugs, Genes and Vaccines Dr. C. Russell Middaugh, Takeru and Aya Higuchi, Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas Location: Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Memorial Union Time: 7:00 p.m. – Reception following in Malott Room |
Along with public health measures and antibiotics, vaccines are the major success story of modern medical science with diseases such as smallpox and polio essentially completely eliminated from the planet. For a variety of reasons, both scientific and social, however, for many years new vaccines were rarely seen. During the last few years this has dramatically changed. The potential impact of recent and nascent vaccines, especially in the developing world, is expected to be very significant. In this talk, the scientific developments responsible for this progress and the complex series of social and ethical considerations that have arisen as a consequence will be critically explored. Dr. Middaugh's Power Point presentation (159 MB) can be downloaded from http://www2.ku.edu/~kumedpro/SPED/AreWeSoftMachinesA.ppt.
MARCH 14, 2008
University of Kansas Professionals for Disabilities Student Series:
Research to Practice
Dr. Steve Graham, Professor and Currey Ingram Chair in Special Education, Vanderbilt University
Location: Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Memorial Union
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Student Conference. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to join us as we learn more about Dr. Graham’s most recent research and as he provides insight on the role of KU in helping him to develop into the researcher and leader he is today. Following Dr. Graham’s keynote presentation, student researchers from across the University and state will be sharing their research.
APRIL 4, 2008 (CEC - Boston) and MAY 2, 2008 (Lawrence Campus)
50th Anniversary Reception at Council for Exceptional Children
Location: Sheraton Boston Hotel, Back Bay Ballroom B, Boston, Massachusetts
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a brief presentation at 6:00 p.m.
Alumni, long-time friends of the Department, and significant contributors to the field are invited to celebrate the Department’s 50th anniversary during a reception at the CEC Annual Convention in Boston. The Department will honor Dr. Richard Whelan, University of Kansas Distinguished Professor Emeritus, as the 2008 recipient of the University of Kansas Department of Special Education Field Leadership Award. (Award Announcement Letter)
A reception for Dr. Whelan also will be held on the Lawrence KU campus on May 2nd at 2:00 p.m. in 247Joseph R Pearson Hall. At that time a book of letters will be presented to Dr. Whelan. We encourage you to submit a letter, note, or card for inclusion in this gift. Please email or send your message to: Kelly Scott, University of Kansas, Department of Special Education, 521 JRP, 1122 W. Campus Rd., Lawrence, KS 66045-3101 (specialeduadm@ku.edu; 785/864-0556).
50th Anniversary Professional Development Day
Location: University of Kansas Memorial Union
Time: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
As the culminating event in this year-long celebration, the Department of Special Education will host a unique professional day for teachers and administrators focused on enhancing teaching effectiveness through research and collaboration. This energizing day will be filled with presentations, practical demonstrations, and informal round-table discussions with KU faculty, graduate students and alumni, as well as collaborating administrators and teachers from Kansas schools involved in making research-based practices "make sense."
Participants can register at the conference to earn Continuing Education Credits!
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER...
Click here to view the Professional Development Day program.
Complete and fax the registration form to attend
this exciting professional development event!
50TH ANNIVERSARY
COMMEMORATIVE EXHIBITS
Several exhibits have been planned to commemorate the Department’s 50th anniversary. These will include a specially commissioned seal and medallion, a faculty compsdilation of significant work, and an oral history of the Department.
In addition, alumni and current students are encouraged to submit anecdotes and personal stories for a digital reflection journal.
The events and celebrations of the Department’s 50th anniversary year will be chronicled in a video production to be available on DVD in Spring 2008.
