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Allen Schofield, minister of Christian Campus Fellowship, and his wife, Chrissy, were recently in a serious motorcycle accident. A medical fund has been set up to help. Allen is in a Columbia hospital with neck and back injuries. (Chrissy had a concussion but seems to be recovering fine.) Updates on Allen's condition and information about the fund are available online.
The Springfield News-Leader is spreading the word about UMR's Career Opportunities Center:
UMR was recently cited by the Princeton Review as having one of the top 20 job placement programs among all universities in the nation.
Read the full story.
Missouri State scored on six of its nine first half possessions to build a huge lead and went on to beat UMR 62-17 Thursday night at Plaster Field. Read the full story.
The geology and geophysics program at UMR recently announced the 2007 winners of several new student awards. The winners are as follows:
Outstanding Geology and Geophysics Graduate Scholar (publications, presentations and grades -- Stacy Story
Outstanding Geology and Geophysics Graduate Teaching Assistant (based on student evaluations) -- Helen Carrie Bender
Geology and Geophysics Graduate Student Award for Service (service to program, department, university and professional organizations) -- Janet Raymer
Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Student Award for Service (service to program, department, university and professional organizations) -- Thomas Jerris and Kyle Rybacki
Each award comes with a plaque and $500. The awards will be formally presented to winners on Oct. 18.
Alpha Theta Omega Christian Sorority and Alpha Omega Theta Christian Fraternity invite you to $2 Chicken and Waffle Movie Night. The event will be held from 8-10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the SBC Cultural Center. Admission to the movie is free. A plate of chicken and waffles is $2. In honor of football season, the movie is "Remember the Titans." For more information, call 816-217-3799.
Effective Jan. 1, 2008, the medical insurance administrator for the University of Missouri Medical Choice Plus POS Program will become Coventry Health Care. The following information is listed on the human resource services website under benefits:
Rolla/Area Coventry Provider Directory
Additional information will be sent out periodically via email by UM Faculty and Staff Benefits regarding the transition to Coventry and the upcoming enrollment and change period. Sessions will be held on campus during the enrollment and change period and a representative from Coventry should be here to answer questions.
For a limited time, UMR employees may share the GM Supplier Discount with two friends or family members. For more information, contact Donna Shelton at donnas@umr.edu.
You are invited to the UMR-Missouri State football game and tailgate party Thursday, Aug. 30. The tailgate party, hosted by the MSM-UMR Springfield Section, starts at 5:30 p.m. at BearFest Village, which is located just south of Plaster Sports Complex near the corner of Grand and National Avenue in Springfield. Park in lot 18, 24 or 38. Look for the tent with UMR signage. The game starts at 7 p.m. Tickets will be disbursed during the tailgate pary to those who pay in advance. The cost is $12 per person and includes admission to the game. Make checks payable to Kem Reed, agent, 4795 W. Farm Road 94, Springfield, MO, 65803, or RSVP as soon as possible to 417-833-8663, kem.reed@cityutilities.net.
After rallying from a 21-point deficit to draw even with Truman State in its season opener, UMR couldn't hold off the Bulldogs on a fourth down play early in the fourth quarter and then saw a last-ditch effort come up five yards short. Read the full story and catch up on the rest of the sports action online.
More than 150 new students (of the 300 eligible) have joined the UMR Honors Academy for Fall 2007. These Honors Academy students will participate in the new and improved 2007-2008 New Student Honors Seminar Series, which includes social events, distinguished speakers and contests, an etiquette dinner, a formal gala, and a trip for some to the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Denver, Colo. Perhaps the best part of the Honors Academy is that students lead the growth, suggesting speakers, contests and events, and in doing so they help to forge a thriving, intellectually curious, and sociable learning community.
The New Student Honors Seminar Series features special lectures lead by faculty and includes presentations from students as well. In addition to regularly scheduled annual events like the welcome reception, etiquette dinner, and sessions on research, teaching, and learning, the exciting fall schedule includes:
-- “Listen to Me Ye Scurvy Dogs,” by Dr. Diana Ahmad in recognition of International Talk Like a Pirate Day
-- "Backpacker Magazine Continental Divide Mapping Adventure," by UMR students Michelle Marincel and Brian Payne
-- The Salem Witch Trials Special Lecture, by Dr. Larry Gragg, just in time for Halloween; and a report from UMR students presenting their honors coursework at the national conference
To learn more about the UMR Honors Academy and the UMR New Student Honors Seminar visit: http://campus.mst.edu/ugs/honors.htm .
Community partnerships serve as the foundation for UMR's Service Learning Program. Effective partnerships offer opportunities for UMR students and the community to share resources and learn from each other. Recently, four community agencies signed Academic Service Learning Partnership Agreements with UMR. Those agencies are:
1. Phelps County Community Partnership
2. Phelps County Regional Medical Center
3. Ozark Rivers Chapter Audubon Society
4. Boys & Girls Town of Missouri
The service learning program will have a significant benefit for both UMR students and the community. In addition to enhancing student learning, the program will help the university build community partnerships and will provide our community partners with beneficial outcomes. The program will encourage life-long civic participation, improve students’ skills in the work place and enhance personal and professional development.
The university recently established a set of Guidelines for Academic Service Learning Courses at UMR. These guidelines are available online . The guidelines were established to help faculty identify courses through which service learning can be incorporated.
For more information about the UMR’s Service Learning Program, contact the office of undergraduate studies at 341-7276, visit http://ugs.mst.edu/servicelearning.html or email gillman@umr.edu.
Restructuring efforts on campus have made the office of undergraduate studies at UMR a busy place with the start of a new semester. Academic departments, programs and centers that previously reported to deans’ offices are now reporting to vice provosts like Dr. Harvest Collier in the office of undergraduate studies. The changes officially took place over the summer when UMR Chancellor John F. Carney III’s restructuring plan went into effect.
The following now report to Collier, vice provost for undergraduate studies: the freshman engineering program, the physical education department, the South Central Regional Professional Development Center, the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center, the teacher education program, the undergraduate advising office (undecided undergraduates) and the Writing Center.
The office of undergraduate studies is also newly responsible for undergraduate academic forms and paperwork (previously signed by the deans), non-degree-specific courses and undecided student recruiting.
Collier’s office, which was previously known as the office of undergraduate and graduate studies, will continue to oversee the following: the academic alert system, the Center for Educational Research and Teaching Innovation, faculty awards and recognitions, first year experience, Hit the Ground Running, the Honor’s Academy, learning communities, Learning Enhancement Across Disciplines, new faculty programs, the re-accreditation self study, the Residential College, undergraduate student scholarships and opportunities, second year experience, the service learning program, the Speech Communication Center, UMR’s Retention Committee, the undergraduate research program and the Voyager Learning Community.
In addition to the office of undergraduate studies, there are two new vice provost offices on campus. Dr. Robert Schwartz is UMR’s first vice provost for academic affairs. Dr. Venkata Allada is UMR’s first vice provost for graduate studies.
UMR’s research centers and institutes report to the office of sponsored programs, which is headed by Dr. K. Krishnamurthy, vice provost for research. All of UMR’s vice provosts -- Collier, Schwartz, Allada and Krishnamurthy -- report to UMR Provost Warren K. Wray.
For your convenience, the office of graduate studies is announcing the following responsibilities and assignments that went into effect Monday, August 20.
Roberta Cox will process files for students whose last names begin with A-L and all UMR/UMSL Physics co-op program students.
Vicki Hudgins will process files for students whose last names begin with M-Z, all certificates and Fort Leonard Wood program students.
Vicki Gibbons will process admissions and first time registration for distance education students.
For questions regarding general office operations or Dr. Allada's calendar, please contact Barbara Palmer at bpalmer@umr.edu .
Undergraduates and graduate students interested in mathematics and statistics will have a forum to share research ideas this fall from noon to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays in Room G5 of the Rolla building. Topics to be discussed in these student research seminars include differential geometry, trends in university-level math education, independence proofs and finite model theory. The first speaker (Aug. 27 and Aug. 29) is Malgorzata Marciniak, a graduate student in mathematics. Marciniak will discuss differential geometry. The seminars are open to the general public. For more information, including information about possible seminar course credit or independent study course credit, contact Dr. Matt Insall, associate professor of mathematics, at 341-4901 or insall@umr.edu.
A silent auction of Project X vehicles is taking place on the second floor of the Havener Center through 4:30 p.m. today (Friday, Aug. 24). All proceeds go to Phelps County Community Partnership. For more information, contact Patty Frisbee at 341-7045 or pfrisbee@umr.edu .
Although we had extremely hot weather for the 2007 Opening Week, it turned out very well, thanks to the cooperative efforts of the many faculty, staff and students who participated. New Student Programs would like to sincerely thank you for your involvement and dedication to our students. We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you in 2008.
Approximately 20 vendors who will be participating in the eProcurement initiative will be on campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, in St. Pat's Ballroom B of the Havener Center. This vendor fair will acquaint UMR faculty and staff with products, pricing and services that will be available to all UM campuses in the near future.
Everyone involved in purchasing items for the university is encouraged to drop by. There will be door prizes and promotional items as give-aways.
Come out to support UMR's soccer teams against Ashland University this Friday, August 24. The women start at 5 p.m. at the UMR Soccer Field and the men's game starts at 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Ann Miller will be a keynote speaker at REDTEAM2007 Aug. 29 in Washington, D.C. REDTEAM2007 is sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories and is an international conference devoted to network security.
Student Diversity Programs is planning a farewell reception for J.P. Fransaw from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, in the Carver-Turner Room of the Havener Center. Fransaw is pursuing a career in financial planning with Northwestern Mutual.
UMR will open its 2007 football season Saturday and fans coming to the 6:30 p.m. game at Allgood-Bailey Stadium will have a pair of additional things to look forward to besides the football game. The first 300 fans in attendance wearing UMR apparel to the game against Truman State will receive a rally towel, courtesy of UMR Corporate Club sponsor Taco Bell, which is the game sponsor for Saturday’s contest. In addition, there will be a fireworks display at the stadium during the halftime intermission. The fireworks will be put on by the UMR department of rock mechanics and explosives engineering and sponsored by the UMR Corporate Club.
Tickets for the game are $8 for reserved seats and $5 for general admission. UMR students will receive free admission with a valid student I.D. Season tickets for the 2007 season are also on sale in the UMR athletics office.
More sports (including Volleyball news) is available online.
From today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Aug. 22):
If you think the broiling Midwestern heat makes your job unbearable, imagine spending the summer months the way Ashton Gronewold spends them: bailing hay.
Read the full story here.
From today's St. Lake Tribune (Aug. 22):
"It's a significant change in terms of pillars or no pillars or robbing the pillars," said Jerry Tien, a mining engineering professor at the University of Missouri-Rolla. "Bob Murray may have been more aggressive based on his experience in the east which may not be applicable here."
Read the full story here.
The academic dates and deadlines calendar for Fall 2007 is on the web. Questions should be directed to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@umr.edu.
Gregory Bozeka, athletic trainer, intercollegiate athletics
Melissa Weldon, custodian, building services
Kristy Giacomelli, senior clerk, registrar's office
Kim Holston, senior secretary, RPDC
Tiffany Kay King, athletic trainer, intercollegiate athletics
Rhea Ann Matthews, communication arts consultant, RPDC
Summer Nicole Young, technical editor, Writing Center
KY-3 in Springfield recently interviewed mine safety expert Dr. Jerry Tien and UMR Mine Rescue Team member Adam Kresler for a story related to the mining tragedy in Utah. The story is available online.
The UMR Miners For A Cure Relay Team has three baskets up for auction. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
-- $200 Value "Sea Mist and Coconut Spa Basket" includes a one night stay at Comfort Suites in Rolla, four Centre passes, one Panera gift certificate, one Sunnywall gift certificate and several spa products (Selling for $125).
-- $175 Value "Avon Spa Basket" includes a one night stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Rolla, two Centre Passes, one Panera gift certificate, Avon products, candles and a few spa items (Selling for $100).
-- $100 Value "Purple Spa Basket" includes a Tara Day Spa 30-minute swedish massage, lavender lotions, one Applebee's Gift Certificate, a two-week pass to Curves and a candle (Selling for $60).
Anyone interesting in purchasing a gift basket should contact the team captain, Melissa Folsom, at mfolsom@umr.edu or 341-7276.
The inaugural season of volleyball at UMR is right around the corner and fans will get their first opportunity to see the team Monday night (Aug. 20) when the Lady Miners will hold their Silver and Gold intrasquad scrimmage at the Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building.
The scrimmage will start at 7 p.m. and will be free of charge to the public. The team will also be available for autographs following the event. The full story is here .
The UMR Lady Miner Volleyball Team is looking for one or two individuals to be the voice of Lady Miner Volleyball at all 12 home games this fall. If you are interested contact Heather Roberts, assistant volleyball coach, at 341-4721 or hroberts@umr.edu . Or contact or John Kean, UMR sports information director at 341-4140 or jkean@umr.edu .
UMR IT will be distributing critical security updates via the SUS servers on all IT-supported Macintosh OS X machines with a campus-standard install on Tuesday, Aug. 21. These updates will improve the security of the Apple Macintosh OS X operating system.
Customers who use IT-installed computers (faculty, staff, CLC computers, etc.) may be prompted to reboot their computers shortly after 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday. The affected computers will automatically reboot themselves if no one is logged in. This is virtually identical to the process IT uses to install Windows XP and Vista updates.
For more information, contact the UMR IT Help Desk at 341-HELP or submit an online Help Request at https://help.mst.edu.
UMR IT will be distributing critical security updates via the SUS servers on all IT-supported Windows XP machines with a campus-standard install on Monday, August 20. These updates will improve the security of the Windows XP operating system and Microsoft Office 2002 and 2003.
Customers who use IT-installed computers (faculty, staff, CLC computers, etc.) may be prompted to reboot their computers starting 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug 21. Customers with administrative privileges may be prompted before 3 p.m. The affected computers will automatically reboot themselves if no one is logged in.
Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7) will NOT be installed as a part of this update. IE 7 is not yet compatible with a number of Web applications commonly used on the UMR campus, including PeopleSoft and Documentum Web Publisher. IE 7 will not be installed on campus-standard machines until after UMR IT determines that IE 7 is compatible with current campus Web applications.
For more information, contact the UMR IT Help Desk at 341-HELP or submit an online Help Request .
The Fall UMR Faculty, Staff and Retiree Golf League will begin play at 4:45 P.M. .Tuesday, Aug. 28., and any prospective golf players are invited to join in. This is a great way to network with follow employees/retirees even if you're just beginning the game. If you would like to register for league please send the following information to
mrichard@umr.edu : What do you typically shoot on the 6th hole at the UMR Golf Course? What is your average score, for nine holes, at the UMR Golf Course?
League members must be employees or former employees of UMR, or spouses of same. If interested, or you have questions about the league, contact Mary Jo Richards.
The 2007-2008 undergraduate and graduate catalogs are now available on the web . Printed copies will be distributed to the departments in mid September. Questions should be directed to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@umr.edu.
Chancellor Carney will host his annual Ice Cream Social from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, under the tent by the Havener Center. The entire campus community is invited.
UMR's women's soccer team will be raising funds with a car wash from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, in the parking lot of Kroger's. For more information, call 341-7032.
News on other UMR teams is available here.
The Student Design & Experiential Learning Center invites you to a reception to celebrate the national champion Human-Powered Vehicle Team from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, in St. Pat's Ballroom A of the Havener Center. Meet the team and have some hors d'oeuvres and refreshments.
In the past, the team has captured six first-place titles at its East Coast Challenge, but the West Coast championship has been elusive until this year. In the spring of 2007, they took first place in both competitions, which makes them bona fide national champions.
Three UMR researchers recently talked to The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer about the future of bridges in the wake of the Minneapolis collapse. The researchers participating in the program included Dr. John Myers, interim director of the national University Transportation Center at UMR; Dr. Genda Chen, interim director of the Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies at UMR; and Dr. Lokesh Dharani, Curators' Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UMR. Watch the story and read a transcript online.
Edward Weldon, custodian, building services
Lin Ihler, custodian, physical facilities
Sherry Wagnon, senior clerk, registrar's office
Deborah Sickler, senior secretary, Intelligent Systems Center
KiDahn Jones, admissions representative, office of admissions
Todd Hartman, systems support analyst, information technology
Beginning Monday, Aug. 13, contractors will begin work on a campus lighting retrofit project, upgrading fixtures in several campus buildings to more efficient fluorescent lamps and ballasts. The upgrade is expected to result in an annual electrical savings of more than 2,000,000 kilowatt hours.
Physical facilities will notify departments of the work to be done in their assigned spaces to minimize the disruption and incovenience caused by the work, which is expected to be completed in approximately two months.
Initial work next week will involve classrooms and teaching labs. Once the contractor determines a work plan, departments will be notified of the estimated schedule in their area.
Buildings to be upgraded are: Basic Engineering, Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose, Bureau of Mines #2, Castleman Hall, Computer Science, Engineering Management, ERL, Fulton Hall, General Services, Harris Hall, Historic Bureau of Mines, McNutt Hall, Norwood Hall, Parker Hall, Physics, Recreation and Intramural Center, Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center, Schrenk Hall, Student Design Competition Center and the temporary research facility.
For more information contact Bill Gillis or Jim Packard in physical facilities at 341-4252.
University Police and Parking Lot Operationsare now located in G-10 Campus Support Facility. If you need directions, call 341-4111.
New transfer students will be on campus Wednesday, Aug. 15, for Transfer Advising and Registration Day. The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Carver Turner Room of the Havener Center. Contact the admissions transfer office at 341-7255 for more information.
UMR experts have been fielding media calls related to the bridge collapse in Minnesota all week. Stories quoting UMR researchers have appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Springrfield News-Leader, the Columbia Tribune and on Fox News. Also, watch for a special announcement about a story featuring UMR researchers that will appear soon on PBS.
Dan Cernusca, instructional design specialist, distance and continuing education
Russell Dunn, custodian, building services
Ross Gubrud, psychologist, counseling and academic support
Melissa Hill, manager, desktop support, information technology
Ramona Huskey, custodian, building services
Mary McWhorter, custodian, building services
David Eugene Wielm, custodian, physical facilities
Kittie Robertson, former UMR university advancement staff member, died Thursday, Aug. 2. Visitation is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Main St. in Rolla. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Ozark Actors Theatre, where Ms. Robertson served as executive director. Services are under the direction of Null and Son Funeral Home. Call 364-1200 for more information.
Customers will be unable to login to Blackboard during the upgrading process.
This process will ensure that Blackboard will be available and ready for the upcoming semester for students, faculty and staff. Any course content or other materials that are already within the Blackboard system will be unaffected by the upgrading process.
For more information, please contact the UMR IT Help Desk at 573-341-HELP or submit an online Help Request at https://help.mst.edu.
Congratulations to the newly elected Staff Council members. They will begin their term September 2007.
Secretarial/Clerical
Administrative/Prof
Technical/Paraprof
Crafts/Services
Mark your calendar for the Phelps County 2007 Relay for Life Event. Join "Miners for a Cure" and the other Phelps County Relay teams from 6 p.m. Aug. 11 to 6 a.m. Aug. 12 at the Lion’s Club Park, Highway 63 South in Rolla. Food, friends and fellowship: celebrate survivors, remember those lost, and fund the fight against cancer. Additional info is available at: www.acsevents.org/phelps.relay.