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Western Michigan University’s College of Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with 51������x, is launching a new webinar series surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. "College of Arts and Sciences Research Webinar Series: COVID-19 Pandemic Research at 51������" is focused on the various research projects that the college's faculty are working on to better understand the long-term effects of the current global pandemic.

The University’s Office of Research and Innovation has recently awarded five grants for research related to the pandemic. These projects cover a range of fields of study, from religion to the future of higher learning.

Totaling $31,620, the grants are funded by the Meader Presidential Endowment – a fund specifically designated for promoting excellence at 51������. The projects selected have a broad impact, are collaborative in nature and began immediately in a remote capacity. In addition to those working through the Meader grant, many other faculty in the college are conducting research into the global pandemic as well.

COVID-19 pandemic research at 51������

Four webinars will take place in the 2020-21 academic year surrounding research related to the pandemic from arts and sciences faculty. All presentations will be available online at the start time of each webinar on 51������'s College of Arts and Sciences . Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy, vice president for research and innovation, will be the moderator for the webinars.

Fall 2020

“Factors motivating the timing of COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders by U.S. Governors”
Dr. Matthew Mingus, professor of public administration
Thursday, Oct. 15 at noon |

There are numerous factors to explain when governors decide to issue shelter-in-place orders at the onset of COVID-19 in the United States. Administrative capacity explanations and even the urban-rural divide do little to explain when orders were issued whereas state-level political party control provides a very strong explanation. In this webinar, Mingus will look at the story of American federalism in action, for better or for worse. Co-authors of this research are Dr. J. Kevin Corder, professor of political science, and graduate student Daria Blinova.

“Moderators of social isolation and mental health outcomes during COVID-19”
Dr. Brooke Smith, assistant professor of psychology, and Alex Twohy, graduate student in psychology
Thursday, Nov. 12 at noon |

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on human activity worldwide, in part due to many governments issuing stay-at-home orders and limiting the types of social interactions in which citizens can engage in. Implications for promoting mental health and buffering against the harmful effects of social isolation during the pandemic and beyond will be discussed during this webinar.

Spring 2021

“Pandemic response and religion in the United States”
Dr. Stephen Covell, chair and professor of comparative religion, and Dr. Diane Riggs, faculty specialist II of comparative religion
Thursday, Feb. 18 at noon |

Religious organizations have been on the front line of local and national responses to the pandemic. These organizations have been involved in activities from organizing food drives to protesting stay-at-home orders. This initial study will lay the groundwork for further research at 51������ and nationally on religious responses to pandemics. In this webinar, Covell and Riggs will discuss the implications COVID-19 has had on religious organizations and the responses these organizations have taken.

“The COVID-19 crisis, accreditation and the future of higher learning”
Dr. James Cousins, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and master faculty specialist of history, and Wessam Abdelaziz, teaching assistant in Arabic
Wednesday, April 14 at noon |

The rapid move to online instruction is likely to have significant downstream effects, not only for educational environments but to standards of instruction. Major and minor accrediting bodies are now considering how their models will bend or be remade to accommodate new instructional realities. In this webinar, Cousins will discuss the findings of a rigorous year-long study into the implications of the COVID-19 crisis on accrediting bodies and, more generally, how these impacts will influence higher education for years to come.

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