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Campus

MSU

Employees to nominate 'U' bosses for sensitivity leadership award

Sarah Mcevilly
July 9, 2003

For years Lori Strom received phone calls from MSU employees eager to complain or praise their supervisors.So two years ago Strom, a coordinator of the MSU child and family care resources, decided to create a way to reward bosses and supervisors across campus for their understanding, sensitivity and dedication to their employees with the annual MSU Supervisor Recognition Award."It was one of those light bulb moments," she said.

MSU

Board gives highest honor to 10 professors

The MSU Board of Trustees approved the designation of 10 MSU faculty members as university distinguished professors. The title is the highest honor a faculty member can receive at MSU.

MSU

Staff member selected to agricultural council

A staff member from MSU Extension has been selected for the Michigan Agricultural Electric Council. Roxanne Pillars, a dairy agent for MSU Extension, will sit on the 10-member council, which serves as a resource for farmers, veterinarians, Extension agents and Michigan agribusiness's.

MSU

Faculty member leaves 'U' to teach in Germany

A MSU faculty member will be leaving the green and white when she takes off for Berlin in September. Mei Zhuang, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, was named a Fulbright Senior Scholar and will live in Germany for 10 months, teaching and researching at the Technische Universitat Berlin. Her research will focus on developing computational aeroacoustics tools to be used in the noise prediction systems of turbofan engines.

MSU

Credit union creates study abroad fund

When religious studies senior Marie Shepherd took off for a study abroad program last summer, she figured she had enough cash to get by for the next six weeks. But after her Italian Language, Literature and Culture program in Florence, Italy, finished, Shepherd found her wallet empty. But a $2.5-million donation to the MSU Study Abroad program could help students such as Shepherd cover the cost of an education outside of East Lansing. The MSU Federal Credit Union donated the money for the MSUFCU Study Abroad Scholarship, which awards qualified students with $500 to $2,000 for any of the programs offered by MSU, said Inge Steglitz, assistant director of MSU Study Abroad. In the 2001-02 academic year 1,819 MSU students participated in study abroad programs, she said. "It ensures students from every part of the class can take an opportunity to study abroad," said Lou Anna Simon, MSU Interim President In April students participating in study abroad accompanied university officials to meet with the credit union board, Simon said. "We really sold this idea by taking the students," she said, adding they were able to give firsthand experience about how study abroad affected their college experience. Although there are several scholarships available through the program, Shepherd says she didn't apply for any because she was under the impression she would be able to afford her trip to Italy.

MSU

Board approves lighting project, building renovations

Construction and endowment projects were issues at the MSU Board of Trustees' last summer meeting. Although Trustee Colleen McNamara was the only trustee able to physically attend the Friday meeting, the other seven trustees chimed in their votes through a teleconferencing system.

MSU

Trustees to discuss upgrades

Installing energy-saving light fixtures, renovating the Physics-Astronomy Building and engineering a livestock research facility are some of the issues up for discussion at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Friday. About half of the university's fluorescent lights will be replaced with high efficient lighting if the board approves the project, said Bob Nestle, university engineer.

MSU

GEU members protest

Dawn Klemish
June 25, 2003

Dozens of Graduate Employees Union members picketed on Grand River Avenue on Tuesday to voice their discontent with MSU decision-makers. The demonstration, dubbed "Afternoon of Action," aimed to bring public awareness to the recent decision by the university to alter graduate student's titles from teaching assistants to instructors.

MSU

'U' computer program earns national award

What started out as a computer program for a physics class has spawned into an award-winning network with about 120 universities and high schools nationwide as members. LearningOnline Network with CAPA, or LON-CAPA, started in 1991 when a conversation between a couple of MSU faculty members sparked the idea for an interactive learning tool for the classroom.

MSU

'U' professor elected to prestigious academy

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has added another Spartan to its members list.Douglas Schemske , a distinguished professor of plant biology, was elected into the 216 member-strong academy.

MSU

Foreign studies receives $1.5M

Dawn Klemish
June 18, 2003

Three MSU international centers were awarded a $1.5-million grant to be used to further international studies.The MSU African Studies and Asian Studies centers, and the Center for Advanced Study of International Development and Women and International Development received the renewal grant in early June from the U.S.

MSU

STUINFO allows guest access

STUINFO isn't just for students. Since the launch of guest authorization to the student information online system, about 1,200 guests have logged on to view students' financial aid and billing information.

MSU

Students charged in connection with disturbances move to pretrial

MSU students charged in the March 28-30 disturbances waived their right to arraignment in Ingham County's Circuit Court Wednesday.Ian Bailey, Brian Balamucki, Daniel Callton, Kimberly Martin, Miguel Miranda and Tony Warren's rights to arraignments were waived by Judge James Giddings in the 30th Judicial Circuit Court.The disturbances the students were charged with followed the MSU men's basketball team March loss in the NCAA tournament.

MSU

'U' consultant receives award

Barbara Steidle is not used to being in the spotlight.As the university's consultant, she spends most of her time working behind the scenes making sure MSU runs smoothly.But on Tuesday, Steidle stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight to receive the 2003 Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award from the Michigan American Council on Education Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education."She's a woman pioneer at MSU and in the state," said Martha Tack, the state coordinator for the network.