Dr. Lance Haynes, chair of arts, languages, and philosophy since 2010, will step down from that role effective Jan. 1, 2016. He will remain on the faculty in a teaching and research capacity and will continue to coordinate the multidisciplinary studies program. Haynes, who is also a professor of speech and media studies, joined the faculty as an assistant professor in 1984. “I’ve enjoyed serving as chair but I’m looking forward to reinventing myself as a professor once again,” Haynes says.

Graduate studies will host its “Graduate Family Halloween Party” 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Puck. All students and families are invited to enjoy games, food and more.

Healthy for Life is offering flu shot clinics on campus to faculty, staff, dependents (12 years and older, accompanied by an adult), and retirees who are enrolled in a University of Missouri medical plan, which will be covered by insurance. For all other faculty and staff, flu shots are $20 cash or check. Flu shot clinics will be open in October and November on the campus. Check out http://umurl.us/fluvax for the schedule; no appointment necessary.

Special Olympics Missouri, in partnership with Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity at Missouri S&T, will host a “Cops and Miners” paintball tournament Saturday, Nov. 7, at Paintball Preserve, located at 12285 County Road 5280 in Rolla. Form a team of five to compete against area law enforcement agencies in a two-game elimination tournament. There are only 25 team slots available, so act fast.

Olsson Associates will present an overview of its Joplin projects after the 2011 tornado at noon Thursday, Oct. 29, in Room 305 Norwood Hall. Join career opportunities and employer relations (COER) in attending the event. Lunch will be provided. Students should bring their student I.D.

Study abroad program development funding is now available to S&T faculty. Missouri S&T has joined the Institute for International Education’s “Generation Study Abroad” Initiative, and is committed to doubling the number of S&T students who receive academic credit as part of a study abroad program. To help reach this goal, faculty members are invited to submit a proposal for funding to assist in designing a new study abroad course or program to be offered to S&T students. Grants in the amount of $5,000 each are available to help offset the costs associated with the development of such a program, and will be made available to faculty as a one-time transfer of funds. Four grants will be awarded this year. The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, Nov. 15.

The campus community is encouraged to attend an open forum to learn more about the university’s tobacco-free campus initiative and to provide input on the process.

A senior design team in engineering management and systems engineering is conducting a faculty survey to help improve Joe’SS. Take the survey online at surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=dIU8Zwknisi4RNwPHaIYyQ_3D_3D. For more information about the survey, email William Oaker.

Missouri S&T’s Solar House Design Team earned fifth place at the 2015 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in Irvine, California. Missouri S&T’s Nest Home was one of fourteen entries. See the full results online.