World leaders and ocean advocates will gather Oct. 5-6 in Valparaiso, Chile, to share in a common commitment to protect the oceans. As part of the United States delegation, Dr. Daniel Oerther, the John A. and Susan Mathes Chair of Environmental Engineering at Missouri S&T, will help launch the Caribbean Ocean Assets Sustainability faciliTy (COAST).

By July 1, 2016, Missouri S&T intends to join more than 1,000 other colleges and universities in the U.S. by becoming a tobacco-free campus. “The research is clear that tobacco use constitutes a significant health hazard,” says Dr. Cheryl B. Schrader, Missouri S&T’s chancellor. “As a university, we recognize our responsibility to promote a healthy environment to protect the current and future health of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. We also recognize the need for a smooth transition to a tobacco-free environment, which is why we are waiting until next July to fully implement the change.”

With the new academic year under way, Faculty First Fridays will resume on Friday, Sept. 4. These informal lunches provide an opportunity to network and share ideas with your faculty colleagues and university administration. The brown-bag lunch will be held noon-1 p.m. in the Kinyon-Koeppel Grand Hall of Hasselmann Alumni House, located at 1100 N. Pine St. Participants should bring their own lunch, and the chancellor’s office will provide drinks (iced tea, water, coffee) and desserts.

Custodians are the workers in the background or behind the scenes who strive to provide a safe, healthy, clean and wholesome educational environment for the students, faculty and staff of Missouri S&T. On Friday, Oct. 2, please take a moment to let them know their efforts are appreciated. If you are a custodial worker, happy Custodial Workers Day.

Benefits-eligible employees should start considering their options for the Annual Enrollment period, which is Oct. 19-30. Town hall meetings and one-on-ones are now available to help you educate yourself on the choices available to you.

The Testing Center has relocated to Room G-10 Norwood Hall and all faculty and staff requiring Testing Center services, such as exam drop-off or pick-ups, should check there first. If someone is not available in Room G-10 Norwood Hall, please check in G-11 Norwood Hall. The Testing Center hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fridays. All exams must be finished and picked up or delivered by closing time unless prior arrangements have been made.

James L. Spehr will present “An Unexpected Career” as the seventh annual O’Keefe Lecture at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in Room 204 McNutt Hall. Spehr, who earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in metallurgical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1964 and 1969, respectively, spent his entire professional career at McDonnell Douglas Corp., eventually rising to vice president of major aerospace programs.