Monday, October 11, 2023
OSU professor receives OSU Sponsored Programs Service Lauren King Staff Reporter
During the first Oklahoma State
University Sponsored Programs Conference on Sept. 19, Jamie Westmoreland, associate director of sponsored programs in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, received the 2023 OSU Sponsored Programs Service Award.
The Division of the OSU Vice President for Research hosted the conference, and the theme was “Celebrating Sponsored Programs,” which emphasized professional development for OSU employees who are sponsored programs specialists.
The OSU Sponsored Programs Service Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates outstanding dedication, commitment and contributions in the field of sponsored programs. A panel of evaluators decided that Westmoreland contained all of these values. See Professor on 7
School choice proposal for Texas advances on party-line vote by state Senate panel Talia Richman and Robert T. Garrett The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas — A proposal to give students education savings accounts, which could be used to pay for private school, advanced on a party-line vote from a Texas state Senate panel on Tuesday. Senate Education Committee members voted 10-3 for the special session’s priority bill after hours of testimony from parents, advocates and teachers. The bill, which now goes to the full Senate, would give parents $8,000 to use on a child’s private school tuition or other education-related expenses, such as uniforms or textbooks. Conroe Republican Sen. Brandon Creighton, chair of the Senate education committee, outlined to other committee members his proposal, which is similar to one he
rolled out in the regular session. “There can be harmony between lifting up our public schools like never before ... and also making sure that moms and dads across this state, if they don’t find what they need, and they need other options, that they have a chance to apply to a program that will give them those options,” Creighton said. However, many public school advocates oppose any voucherlike effort, noting that private schools don’t have to accept every student, including those with disabilities, and aren’t held to the same accountability or transparency standards. Meanwhile, the cost of private education is often more expensive than $8,000. “The issue for me is that we’re creating a framework within this bill to allow for our limited tax dollars to be set aside to help subsidize private education, without any guarantees all of our constituents will be treated equally,” state Sen. José Menéndez, a San Antonio Democrat, said. See School on 6
File photo Togetherall allows students to lean on one another for mental health help rather than a counselor.
OSU sheds light on World Mental Health Day, highlights two new mental health resources Bella Casey News and Lifestyle Assistant Editor
the day is out of the question, and mental health resources feel out of reach. With Togetherall and BetterHelp, OSU’s newest mental health resources, students can seek mental health help Almost half of students anywhere, any time of day, reported feeling extremely with anyone. lonely in the past 12 months “Togetherall is a safe and according to the 2020 National anonymous online community College Health Assessment. At OSU, students are not where you can share what’s on your mind,” said Macy alone. Stokes, Coordinator for Health Some students spend Education for the Department all day on campus, at work or studying at the library. Attend- of Wellness. “The service is ing a counseling session during free to all students in the OSU
system and allows you to get support, take control and feel better— all in a way that is most comfortable to you.” Students can visit the Togetherall website at okla.st/ togetherall to register to join a community where students can anonymously share their experiences and talk with others in similar situations. Conversations are moderated by trained professionals. Togetherall’s journal feature allows students to document their thoughts and feelings and identify and track their goals. See Resources on 5
Courtesy of Creative Commons A proposal to give students education savings accounts, which could be used to pay for private school, advanced on a party-line vote from a Texas state Senate panel on Tuesday.