The Smart Living signature area wants to develop research networks to stimulate smart living research and to be poised for action when calls for grant proposals are announced. A smart living research networking session will be held 2:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, in Room 216 McNutt Hall. If you would like to be a presenter, please submit 1-2 PowerPoint slides to Nancy Stone at nstone@mst.edu by Monday, Sept. 18.  If you cannot attend the whole two hour period, please note what time you can attend.

Do you know of a student who needs extra support to succeed in college? Group counseling provides students a way to get help they need, learn about themselves and their relationships, and develop new skills. Simply put, counseling groups work: individuals discover they aren’t alone, can give and get help, can receive practical suggestions for everyday life situations, can explore issues that might be tough to talk about outside of a confidential setting and can learn to cope. The counseling, disability services and student wellness staff offers groups focused on emotional issues, ADHD, Asperger’s, recovery concerns, test anxiety, PTSD, social anxiety, grief and the challenges of graduate school. For a complete list, please visit counsel.mst.edu.

The counseling, disability services and student wellness (CDSW) staff recognizes National Recovery Month in September to highlight the value of peer support by educating, mentoring and helping others. Missouri S&T has a collegiate recovery program, Miners for Recovery, which is a supportive group that provides an opportunity to explore behaviors and ideas for change in a safe setting to avoid future consequences related to drugs and alcohol.

National Suicide Prevention week is observed this week, Sept. 11-16. Everyone on campus can play a role in protecting their friends, family members and colleagues from suicide. Everyone can take simple action steps to be there for someone who is struggling or in crisis. Start today by taking the online Ask Listen Refer training at http://www.asklistenrefer.org/mst. Contact counseling, disability services and student wellness for information regarding suicide prevention on campus. Throughout Suicide Prevention Week, look for more specific steps you can take to help the people in your life. Get more details at http://counsel.mst.edu.

Weight Watchers meetings are held at noon on Tuesdays in Room 202 of the Curtis Laws Wilson Library. To remain on campus, at least six new paying members are needed by Tuesday, Sept. 12. All are welcome, including students, faculty, staff, family and friends. Join for a 12-week session at $156 or three monthly payments of $52 each. For more information, please contact Peg Wilson, manager of network services, at peggy@mst.edu.

Save 25 percent on Miner clothing, gifts and gear 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the store or online at thesandtstore.com until midnight Friday, Sept. 8. The next Joe Friday sale will be Oct. 20.

Pavers are being repaired near Toomey Hall today (Wednesday, Sept. 6) and tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 7. Please proceed cautiously around this area. For more information, contact Mike Bassett, facilities operations supervisor, at 467-0261.

Nicholai Buechter, a sophomore in biological sciences, died Aug. 29. Visitation will be held 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at Miller Funeral Home in Washington, Missouri. The funeral home is located at 1206 Jefferson Street in Washington. Interment will be private. Memorial donations are appreciated to Gateway Off-Road Cyclists, 5673 Wrenwyck Place, Weldon Spring, MO 63304.

Dr. Yinfa Ma, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of chemistry and associate dean for research and external relations in the College of Arts, Sciences and Business, became director of the newly renamed Center for Biomedical Research at Missouri S&T today (Friday, Sept. 1).

The time has been changed for the event, “Career Paths for Non-Tenure Track Faculty: Is There a Future for an NTT?” on Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the Meramec-Gasconade Room of the Havener Center. It will now be held 3:30-5 p.m. instead of 3-4:30 p.m. as previously scheduled. Reserve your spot.