The Missouri S&T Study Abroad Advisory Committee awarded $25,000 in grant funds to assist in developing faculty-led short-term study abroad programs. The committee considered seven proposals and six faculty members were selected to receive funding. This funding will be used for travel or other costs associated with developing a faculty-led study abroad program. Grants of $5,000 were awarded for the following programs:

Due to the success of the Mentoring Monday program during the previous spring semester, Missouri S&T’s two colleges will continue the event 3-4 p.m. every Monday in Room 203 Computer Science Building, starting April 3. Faculty working on a proposal are encouraged to bring a one-page statement and meet with senior researchers committed to mentoring faculty. If you would like your proposal to be read and critiqued by the mentors, please bring six copies of your one-page statement.

Missouri S&T’s strategic plan is created by our campus community. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to review the latest recommendations and share your thoughts at http://progress.mst.edu/strategicplanrecommendations by Monday, April 3.

The Missouri S&T Observatory will open its doors at 10 p.m. Monday, April 3, to view Jupiter. The gain planet weighs one-thousandth that of the sun, but 2.5 times more than all the other Solar System planets combined. The observatory is located at 1550 N. Bishop Ave., next to S&T’s Stonehenge replica, north of McNutt Hall and west of St. Patrick’s Lane. The sky must be clear for observing.

The self-appraisal window in myPerformance is open for Missouri S&T full-time benefit-eligible employees and will close Friday, March 31. While the self-appraisal is optional, it is recommended and some supervisors require one. Following the self-appraisal period, managers will complete their phase of the appraisal process. Access myPerformance guides, tutorials, seminars and more at hr.mst.edu/development/myperformance.

The University of Missouri System is conducting a dependent eligibility verification. You must verify any dependents on your insurance plan by Friday, March 31. Visit the UM System website to access a web portal to submit your information or get more details.

Missouri S&T’s University Police have received reports of a scam targeting international students and staff in our campus community. The scam involves an email or letter on official-looking letterhead that appears to come the U.S. Department of State and mentions a green card from the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. View an example. The letter provides instructions to complete U.S. State Department documentation and send various amounts of money for an “immigrant visa” fee and an “affidavit of support” fee to the U.S. Embassy or the National Visa Center. The letter also instructs the recipient to contact the U.S. Immigration Foreign Post in Bangkok, Thailand. The sender will typically put a date on the letter that is soon, prompting immediate action from the victim.