[268] WGNS program features canine companion, ‘Studio M,’ College Goal Tenn.

MTSU staff and students shared information on a variety of campus happenings, including a furry friend who helps students deal with finals, a new approach to teaching journalism students and a January event on campus to help prospective students get started with applying for college.

The details were shared during the Dec. 21 “Action Line” program with veteran host Bart Walker. The live program was broadcast on FM 100.5, 101.9 and AM 1450 from the WGNS studio in downtown Murfreesboro. If you missed it, you can listen to a podcast of the show here.

Guests included:

MTSU student Leah Chism and Canyon the Therapy Dog discussed Canyon’s return to the James E. Walker Library at semester’s end to help students decompress from studying for their final exams. The compassionate canine, a purebred Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, is becoming an institutionalized part of a bigger library emphasis on easing exam stress, partnering with MTSU Health Promotions in compiling anti-stress care packages.

See a video from Canyon’s visit last year here.

Val Hoeppner, director of the Center for Innovation in Media in the MTSU College of Media and Entertainment, discussed “Studio M,” a new teaching project that takes a “training hospital” approach to properly train the journalists of the future. Studio M — which stands for media, mobile, millennials and MTSU — will allow students to be immersed in tracking millennials and issues that affect them, especially in the lead up to the 2016 election.

MTSU One Stop staffer Becca Seul, coordinator of withdrawals and support programs, discussed the upcoming “College Goal Tennessee” event to be hosted at MTSU.

MTSU and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation are partnering to offer College Goal Tennessee at MTSU, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 9, in the south lobby of the Business and Aerospace Building at MTSU. Event organizers use these sessions to assist prospective students and their parents or guardians in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form and to share financial aid resources, how to apply and much more. To register, go to www.mtsu.edu/goal.

Students, faculty and staff who are interested in guesting on WGNS to promote their MTSU-related activities should contact Jimmy Hart, director of news and media relations, at 615-898-5131 or via email at jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu.