Painting with my Little Sister
Big Brother, Big Sister
Monthly Archives: February 2012
Reason #61 to Get Golden
Study Abroad Guest Blog
Arriving in Oxford
Grace W., one of our University Ambassadors, is studying abroad at Worcester College at Oxford this semester. Grace is a junior at TU, double-majoring in Biochemistry and Philosophy. Here is a peek at Grace’s blog from across the pond:
We took the bus up from London and arrived in Oxford around lunchtime. We were escorted around to our different rooms to drop off our things and then hurried to lunch where the four of us who came through IFSA Butler met another visiting student named Victoria. Lunch was Thai curry, there seems to be a universal British agreement to make up for the lack of interest in their own traditional foods by adopting those of various different ethnicities. Afterwards, we did the necessary paperwork and forms. It doesn’t seem to matter what University you go to, everyone has the system of having to register online but not being able to get online until after you register… More interestingly, we went on a quick tour of Worcester (pronounced Wooster or even Woosta) and the surrounding area in Oxford. Worcester was founded as a Benedictine house of study in the 15th century, and was closed when the Church of England separated and all of the monasteries were closed. In the 18th century it was re-founded by a man from Worcestershire for which it was named. Here is some more information if anyone is interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_College,_Oxford. The effect is a very interesting mix of old buildings and older buildings (most say old and new, but being from Texas, 18th century seems quite old to me as well). One doesn’t expect to see 15th century cottages on the same quad as rather palatial 18thcentury buildings, but the effect is quite intriguing. The lake and the gardens were the prettiest part. I can’t wait till it gets just a little bit warmer and I can go running around the lake! Here are a few pictures:
Front Entrance
Benedictine Cottages
Courtyard
Traditional Staircase
Thanks, Grace! The pictures are beautiful! We will check in with you periodically and publish some of your blog posts here so our prospectives students can follow you on your adventures abroad. Have a great semester.
Tuesday with Tulsa: MIS Faculty Member
Today’s Tuesday with Tulsa blog post was written by Dr. Lori Leonard, Associate Professor of MIS at The University of Tulsa. We asked her to tell us about the Management Information Systems program at TU. Here’s what she had to say…
I am often asked about the MIS program and why it is less heard of than other business programs such as accounting and finance. My answer generally is, “when people hear the word computers, they immediately think of computer science.” MIS is business-based, where as computer science is not. If you like technology and business, read on to learn more about what an MIS degree can do for you.
What is the value of a Management Information Systems (MIS) degree? MIS involves designing information systems that make the business run better and developing technological solutions that match the business needs. That means that a fundamental understanding of business is needed along with considering the value of computer technology. MIS is difficult to outsource because the MIS professional has to be present to interact with other business units on a daily basis in order to ensure the technology is working for them. Since all businesses use technology, every industry needs MIS majors, which means many job opportunities! MIS is a great major because it allows movement into different job functions as you progress through your career as well.
Why join the MIS program at TU? The MIS program enjoys small classes with a few, dedicated faculty. The program has approximately 45 majors which means that class sizes are anywhere between 10 and 20. The MIS professors know each student’s name and care about the success of the students. Students also are able to interact with the same peers in projects throughout their MIS courses. That translates into a lot of individualized attention and hands-on interaction!
Do MIS students find internships and full-time employment? Typically, there is 100% placement in MIS positions. That is because there is a shortage of MIS students versus MIS positions. This is good news for a prospective MIS student! Not only is placement high but the average starting salary is $55,000, with some starting salaries being in the high-$60s. Starting MIS jobs typically fall into one of three categories: (1) designing technology solutions for businesses whose core business in not technology, (2) consulting with different clients to develop and deploy solutions, or (3) providing technical sales and service support. There are also internship opportunities. While internships are not required for the MIS degree, many students are employed in paid summer internships that can translate into full-time positions upon completion.
How can I find out more about the MIS degree program? The MIS faculty are always glad to discuss how MIS can fit in your future. Call, write, or stop by anytime! Dr. Lori Leonard, lori-leonard@utulsa.edu, (918) 631-2787, Helmerich Hall, Room 313.
Reason #26 to Get Golden
Guest Lecture Series
The TU Office of Multicultural Affairs is sponsoring a lecture tonight in ACAC as part of their 2011-2012 Series on Race and Privilege. Here are the details…
Reason #37 to Get Golden
Presidential Lecture Series
Will’s popular twice-weekly column for The Washington Post syndicate reaches nearly 500 newspapers throughout the United States and Europe and he appears regularly on ABC’s This Week.
The lecture is open to the public; no registration, tickets or reservations are required!
So TU, Think You Can Dance?
What an amazing weekend!
This weekend, I got to see one of the best performances that I’ve ever seen at TU! On Friday and Saturday night, TU hosted a dance competition called “So TU, Think You Can Dance?” The production was based on the famous TV show “So You Think You Can Dance?” which made it all the more fun. The original auditions for the competition were in October, and dozens of people tried out from all areas of the school–all different majors, interests, styles of dance, etc. The directors and choreographers of the show cut it down to about 30 if you include understudies, and then selected the top ten from those 30 to dance solos at the performance.
The performances featured 21 dances including the soloists, and the styles ranged from contemporary to tap, ballet, jazz, and hip hop. There were some pieces choreographed by faculty, some by students, and even one that was choreographed by a professional dance company in New York City who sent a dancer down to TU to teach it to our dancers! The new Lorton Performing Arts Center was sold out, and there were even 100 people that had tickets that had to be turned away because the number of people present was above fire code. It was incredible! The energy of the audience was insane, and you could feel it emanating from the dancers as well. They were so incredible to watch–no one had any idea that we had so much talent right here on our own campus!
My pledge sisters and I--two of whom danced in the show--after the performance!
I had five sorority sisters that were in the performance–three of which were in the top ten–so it was especially fun for me to watch them completely in their element. All of them have danced their entire lives, but they have never had an opportunity such as this one to showcase their dancing to their friends, much less the entire campus. I felt so blessed to be able to share that moment with them as a member of the audience, and I was astounded again and again as each dancer performed. There were numbers that made me cry and numbers that made me smile. I was such a mess of emotions by the end of the night that I couldn’t even keep it together! Seeing my sisters jump off of the stage at the end of the show and run into the huge group of girls from my sorority that had come to watch was one of the most amazing moments I’ve had at TU so far. All of the dancers did an absolutely incredible job, and I am so glad that I was able to see such an amazing production before I graduated. On top of the amazing dances, the show brought in professionals and professors alike to serve as judges. The principal dancer of the Tulsa Ballet was even a judge! The judges selected the top 5 dancers, and then the audience got to text in votes for the winner. There was a different winner each night, so it kept the entire campus on its toes. It was such an amazing weekend, and I hope that they make this production a yearly event so that I can come see it again when I’m in law school next year!
It is amazing to me that even as a senior with four years at TU under my belt, I can make these amazing memories each and every day. No matter how monotonous life gets, TU always keeps it interesting, and for that I am truly thankful. I was just thinking today how much Tulsa has become my home, and how by the time I’ve graduated law school I’ll have lived here for almost a third of my life. It has truly become a part of me, and I’m not sure that I’ll be ready to leave when the time comes. I love this city, I love this campus, and I am so grateful for the blessings that I have experienced as a result of being here. I’ll definitely be a Golden Hurricane for life. Go TU!
I’m Still Here
HAHA!!! And the fire alarms went off for unknown reasons in Oliphant last semester. The fire department was all too calm…
More to come after my test. Wish me luck!
