Alpha Phi Sigma Honors Society reactivated

Alpha Phi Sigma is the national honor society for criminology and criminal justice students, and the FSU Chapter, Alpha Xi, has recently been reactivated. The mission of Alpha Phi Sigma is to “promote critical thinking, rigorous scholarship, and life-long learning…[and] to elevate the ethical standards of criminal justice professionals” with the purpose of promoting academic excellence and developing leadership skills in students while serving the community. To join, students must be a criminology and criminal justice major or minor (4 courses completed), with an overall FSU GPA of 3.2 and a major/minor GPA of 3.2. For more information, contact Yolday Diaz, Alpha Phi Sigma president, pres_alphaphisigma@yahoo.com.

Electronic monitoring possible alternative to prison

Increasing growth in the U.S. prison population over the past three decades has been unprecedented in the country's history, resulting in 2.4 million offenders in jails and prisons in 2007. The cost to taxpayers for adult and juvenile corrections in 2009 will reach approximately $50.3 billion, more than triple the 1986 cost of $15.6 billion. Consequently, lawmakers and policymakers are seeking alternative means of controlling offenders without jeopardizing public safety. One promising approach to reducing correctional costs is diverting offenders from prison through the use of some type of community supervision with the use of electronic monitoring (EM). Although EM has been around for more than 20 years, the latest technology uses GPS, allowing probation officers to constantly track offenders using satellites. The technology costs 20% less than prison, and the offender pays for some or all of his or her EM supervision.

Associate Professor Bill Bales, Dean Tom Blomberg, and Research Center Director Karen Mann are currently evaluating the use of electronic monitoring. Their study, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, will determine if EM is an effective control mechanism, how EM affects offenders and law enforcement officers, and whether it is a cost effective correctional strategy. During a recent interview, Bales discussed the current study. Read more »

Answers to your most common advising questions

When should I meet with an advisor?
You may meet with an advisor as often as needed. At least once a semester is highly recommended for all students.

When can I declare my second major?
You may meet with an advisor in the area of your second major as early as you want to. You may formally declare a second major when you are officially declared an upper division criminology student, which occurs after you have earned 52 total hours, have at least one-third of your liberal studies coursework completed, and have met the CLAST requirements.

I have a hold on my registration, what should I do?
Meet with your advisor to discuss the hold and review what must be done to have it removed.

I have a MAP hold, what does that mean?
It means that you haven't met all the MAP milestones / requirements for your major. You must meet with your academic advisor to discuss the hold.

Is it true that if I took debate in high school I don't have to take speech?
You must contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies to have this reviewed. They are located in the University Center, Room. 3400, 644-2451.

What is a DIS?
DIS stands for Directed Individual Study, and may be taken for 1-4 credit hours in a given semester and is repeatable for a maximum of 12 credit hours. It is credit that counts toward major requirements and is earned by working with a faculty member and writing a research paper. You must determine your area of interest and meet with a faculty member to see if he / she is agreeable to working with you on your research topic.

When must I do a grad check?
By the time you earn 100 hours you must submit a request for a grad check to the Registrar's Office and to your major. Grad checks in Criminology and Criminal Justice may be requested online.

Is getting a grad check the same as applying to graduate?
No! It's not the same. You must apply to graduate within two weeks of the semester in which you intend to graduate. You may do this through your Blackboard account, or in person in the Registrar's Office.

Have other questions? Make an appointment with your advisor.

In addition to assisting students with course schedules, academic advisors work with students on a myriad of issues such as connecting students with campus-wide resources, student organizations, career related opportunities, potential second majors and minor interests, and much more. Advisors ensure students are staying on MAP track, maintaining good academic standing, completing their liberal studies coursework and major coursework, and following major, College, and University policies. When students fall below the minimum 2.0, advisors work with them to improve study skills and time management. We want you to be aware of opportunities within the major such as internships, honors in the major, the BS to MS Program, directed individual study, and scholarships. Students Services helps you persist and graduate. Make an appointment to take advantage of all the services we have to offer.

Dean Blomberg testifies to U.S. legislative subcommittees

Dean and Sheldon L. Messinger Professor of Criminology Tom Blomberg recently provided expert testimony to the U.S House of Representatives Joint Hearing of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee and the Crime Subcommittee on Lost Educational Opportunities for Kids in Juvenile and Other Non-Traditional Settings. Blomberg was asked to testify because of his long history of research in juvenile justice education facilities in Florida and across the country. He testified that there is a huge opportunity for policies to be created that support effective and accountable education for incarcerated and at-risk youth that will result in tremendous cost savings to the public and will enable the rescue of troubled youth.

Read the legislative handout »

Criminology professors ranked among best in country for level of grants

In this era of increased accountability and tightened budgets within higher education, it is essential that programs and colleges demonstrate their quality and success. One indicator of the quality and success of a program or college is its faculty and their research, which can be measured through grant dollars received. In a recent study, “Rainmakers: The Most Successful Criminal Justice Scholars and Departments in Research Grant Acquisition” (Mustaine, Tewksbury, 2009) in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, three faculty from the FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice were ranked among the top ten for being awarded grant funding.

The study looked at criminology and criminal justice faculty across the country and the amount and type of grants they received, focusing specifically on the dollar amount, number of grants, and type of grants. Among 147 faculty who received a minimum of $250,000 in grant funding and were the principal/co-principal investigator during 1997-2007, Criminology and Criminal Justice Dean and Sheldon L. Messinger Professor of Criminology Tom Blomberg ranked in the top 10 scholars with the highest dollar amount of grants, with his individual grants totaling $20, 331, 000. In the highest dollar amount in grant funding received at the state agency level, Blomberg heads the list and is joined by Professors Gordon Waldo and Dan Maier Katkin. Blomberg is also at the top of the list in the highest dollar amount in local grants received. Read more »

Newly elected student body president and Criminology major Rob Jakubik offers advice: make a plan, be inquisitive, get involved, work hard.

What has your experience as an undergraduate student in Criminology and Criminal Justice been like?
It has been nothing short of amazing. I was immediately struck by the friendliness and professionalism of all the criminology faculty and students I met. The program is very comprehensive, and there is a good variety of class topics. I never have a problem finding something I'm interested in learning about.

How does being a crim major connect with your role as student body president?
Most people wouldn't necessarily think that my job as student body president is related to criminology, but they have similarities. Criminology is very inquisitive and investigative in nature; its students have to reach beyond the normal scope of thought. As student body president, I have to conduct research that considers all aspects of how various issues will affect students. I don't approach decision making as if I already know the answers.

Mark your calendar.

Join us on Facebook "FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice" to receive information about upcoming dates and events.

April 24	Last day of classes.
April 27–May 1	Final exam week.
May 1	Semester ends. Commencement, Civic Center, 7:30 p.m.
May 2	Residence halls close, noon. Commencement, Civic Center, 9 a.m., 2 p.m.
May 6	Grades available online.
May 11–Aug 7	Summer Session A
May 11–June 19	Summer Session B
June 29–Aug 7	Summer Session C
June 15–Aug 7	Summer Session D
May 11–July 2	Summer Session F
July 3	University holiday. No classes.
Aug 12	Summer grades available.
Aug 19	Residence halls open for Fall 2009.
Aug 24	Classes begin.
Aug 27	Last day of drop/add with fee adjustment.
Sept 7	Labor Day. No classes.
Sept 11	Last day to file for Fall 2009 graduation.
Sept 28	Spring 2010 registration guides available.
Oct 12	Spring 2010 registration begins.
Oct 30	Homecoming. No classes after 1:10 p.m.
Nov 2	Official thesis/dissertation manuscript approval deadline.
Nov 26–27	Thanksgiving. No classes.
Dec 4	Last day of classes.
Dec 7–11	Exam week.
Dec 16	Grades available online.

Dates are subject to change. Please refer to Registrar's Web site http://registrar.fsu.edu/dir_class/fall/acad_cal.htm or check the College's calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Freshmen/Sophomore Advisors: slmahler@admin.fsu.edu bshuford@admin.fsu.edu
Junior/Senior Advisors: coakley@fsu.edu jwaters@fsu.edu
Scholarship Information: bmccarthy@fsu.edu