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NEWS IN BRIEF

Length for J-1 visiting scholars extended

The maximum program length for J-1 Visiting Scholar Program professors and researchers has been extended from three years to five years. New scholars coming to KU in the future can use the time extension, and scholars currently working at KU (visiting professors, visiting post doctoral researchers) can now have their programs extended to five years if they have their departments' support. Extensions beyond five years will not be granted by immigration.

It will be necessary to coordinate with the Visiting International Scholars office to arrange a J-1 program period that meets the needs of the hosting unit and the scholar. For more information on the program, contact Malika Lyon, coordinator, Visiting International Scholars Office of International Programs, at malika@ku.edu or 864-6161.

Group creates postdoc training manual

The vice provost for research convened a work group comprised of KU faculty, staff and postdoctoral researchers to develop a postdoctoral training manual, clarify policies and provide recommendations for postdoctoral training on the Lawrence campus. Draft versions of the manual and the summary of recommendations are available for review at www.vpresearch.ku.edu/depts/training/postdoc/postdoc_work_group.shtml.

The group will hold open forums at 4 p.m. April 16 in Simons Auditorium, Simons Research Laboratories, and at noon April 19 at the Big 12 Room in the Kansas Union. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to John Augusto, research training coordinator, at jaugusto@ku.edu. A final copy of the manual and recommendations will be made available to the vice provost for research at the end of the spring semester.

KU Public Management Center secures award

The Association for Continuing Higher Education has presented a distinguished noncredit program award to the KU Public Management Center at the association's recent Region 8 conference in Manhattan. "Basic Supervisory Training" was developed by Jonathan Morris, an instructor at the KU center, and was recognized as original and innovative.

Two other programs received honorable mentions at the conference. "Teaching About East Asia," EALC/HIST 747, received an honorable mention as a distinguished credit program, and the KU Aerospace Short Courses garnered an honorable mention as a distinguished noncredit program.

Nominees sought for Women of Distinction

The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center is seeking nominations for outstanding women to be featured in next year's Women of Distinction calendar. Any female student, staff, faculty or alumna who has made contributions to the campus or community may be nominated. The calendar will be distributed at the beginning of the fall 2007 semester.

To nominate an individual, fill out a nomination, available at the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, 400 Kansas Union. The deadline for nominations is April 20.

For more information, contact the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, 864-3552 or etwrc@ku.edu. 

Black faculty and staff banquet set for April 14

The 14th annual Black Faculty and Staff Council Awards Banquet is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 14 at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union.

Amber Reagan-Kendrick, dean of student and community services at Donnelly College, will be the guest speaker.

The Black Faculty and Staff Council is a forum for addressing important issues which affect black employees at KU, a resource for the development of black faculty and staff members and a resource for the development and retention of black students at KU.

Green to speak as part of Langston Hughes series

Michael Green, professor of law at Texas Wesleyan University, will present his lecture "African-American Workers and the Need for Collective Approaches to Dispute Resolution in 2007" as part of the Langston Hughes lecture series on April 19. The lecture, which is open to the public, will be held at 4 p.m. at the Jayhawk Room in the Kansas Union.

NASA Kansas makes three grants available

The NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium has announced three requests for grant proposals available to KU researchers.

The requests address NASA science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce development interests, with funding opportunities for:

  • Student research experiences — $89,000 combined grant funds
  • University design teams — $50,000 combined grant funds
  • Teacher in-service workshops — $24,000 combined grant funds

The proposals are limited in length and due April 16. Researchers may contact Richard Hale, associate professor of aerospace engineering, at 864-2949 or rhale@ku.edu or may directly contact Scott Miller, NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium director, at (316) 978-6334 or scott.miller@wichita.edu with any questions.

NOTABLE ALUMS

KU grad Molly T. Laflin was recently named president of the American Academy of Health Behavior. She is the first female president of the organization. Laflin was student body vice president and earned a bachelor's in public relations from KU. She is now a professor at Bowling Green State University.