Forum Series

Dr. Kyle Stedman, Administrator

The Rockford University Forum Series presents speakers and performers in a variety of disciplines who have achieved success locally, nationally and even internationally. The Series’ central programming focus is geared toward students. Lectures and performances are concerned with intellectual, social, and cultural matters of general interest to deepen and broaden students’ education while also providing a shared experience for Rockford University students. Presenters in the Series also interact with students in classes, informal conversations, and over meals. The Forum Committee, comprised of faculty and student representatives, selects the events. Suggestions for programs are accepted from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others. Attempts are made to design the Series with various constituencies in mind.

All-University Requirement

The purpose of the Forum Series is to augment student learning by presenting new ideas, global issues, artistic endeavors, and community activism to extend education beyond the classroom. Events offer students opportunities for reflection and contemplation on what they see and experience as a way to understand a world larger than themselves.

All full-time undergraduate students are required to attend a minimum of two Forum Series events each semester. (Exceptions: student teachers and participants in off-campus programs such as Washington Semester or Regent’s College and students in the University’s BSMS program.) Tickets are necessary for attendance at all Forum events. Student tickets are free with a Rockford University ID card; one free ticket per student. Tickets must be obtained at or from the Rockford University Box Office, located in Clark Arts Center. Most Forum events are free for everyone attending, and everyone needs a ticket. In order to receive credit for attendance, students need to get a Forum attendance card once they enter the event venue and fill it out. Be sure to bring a pen to fill out the card. When the event concludes, students hand in completed Forum cards to a Committee member on their way out of the venue. Cards are processed to give students their credit.

Forum Credit Regulations

• Forum attendance cards can only be obtained from the Forum Committee member(s) inside the door of the event (not from other faculty, staff or student workers, etc.) who will be wearing a badge to identify her/himself. Only one card will be given to each student.
• No Forum cards will be distributed after any event has begun.
• No cards will be accepted until the end of the performance—including any question and answer period—or the end of an academic procession. Students are expected to remain seated until the entire event has concluded.
• Only one card will be collected from each student. Information should be printed on the cards, except for student signatures. If cards cannot be easily read, attendance cannot be recorded accurately.
• Use of cell phones and electronic devices or other inappropriate behavior during any Forum event could result in the loss of Forum credit at the discretion of the Forum Committee.
• If a student reduces their course load below 12 credits during the semester, they are still required to complete the Forum requirement. The only exception is if a student withdraws or medically withdraws from all coursework for the semester.
• Students who fail to fulfill the Forum requirement by the end of any semester will receive an “F” for that semester.
• Failure to complete the Forum Series requirement bars a student from the dean’s list or distinguished scholars list and from receiving a degree.
• Students unable to attend two Forum events during a semester can complete the requirement by submitting an essay to the Forum Committee for each of the missing Forum events based on event recordings available in the library. These events must be from the semester failed and only from an event a student did not attend.

Make-up Essay Submission Guidelines

Electronic copies of the forum essays must be submitted to the Forum email (Forum@rockford.edu) by the established due date, which will be posted on the portal every semester. The Forum Committee will only accept and pass essays that meet the following minimum requirements:

1. A minimum of two full pages, double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman or similar font, 1” margins, word processed.
2. It must be based on viewing or listening to a recording of a Forum event that the student did not attend from the semester in which the “F” was received. The recordings are available in the Howard Colman Library and are for in-library use only.
3. The heading of the essay must include the following: student’s full name, the semester being made up and the name of the event/speaker listened to or watched.
4. The essay must clearly show the student has listened to or viewed the entire recording. In the essays, the committee is looking for: not just a simple summary, but evidence of critical thought, explanation, reflection, and comment upon content/meaning/message of the Forum event.
5. The essay must display correct grammar including sentence structure, subject/verb agreement, clear pronouns, correct punctuation, etc. It should be clearly and concisely worded and well-organized. Students should proofread their essay(s) for correct spelling/word choice (remember, spell check cannot catch the difference between “there” and “their,” for example); no use of contractions, slang or conversational tone; avoid passive voice; etc.

The Forum Committee decides whether an essay is acceptable or unacceptable. If the essay is not accepted, it must be rewritten and resubmitted (by a deadline set by the Committee) in order to remove the failed Forum grade.