NEWS IN BRIEF
Libraries open recreational reading area in Watson
KU Libraries celebrated the opening of a new recreational reading area in Watson Library with a reception May 10.The recreational reading collection offers 200 fiction and nonfiction best-sellers that patrons can check out for a three-week loan period. The collection and renovated area are paid for by the Parents' Campaign, a fundraising effort by KU Libraries and KU Endowment.
Office changes name to University Advising Center
The Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center has been renamed the University Advising Center. The change is part of an effort to better meet the individualized needs of all undergraduate students.The center will continue to serve students as they begin their academic careers through participation in new student orientation programs in addition to undeclared students at all levels. Upon declaration of major or acceptance into a program within the College or a school, students will be referred to their appropriate departments or schools for continued support.
KU raises more than $29,000 for Greensburg
The KU community has donated more than $29,000 to help the citizens of Greensburg recover from a devastating tornado that destroyed the town May 4, the KU Alumni Association and its Student Alumni Association have announced.In addition, KU Dining Services' "Dine to Donate" campaign raised $2,500 for Heart to Heart International's relief efforts in Greensburg, and the School of Engineering is offering full scholarships to any student from Greensburg High School for summer engineering camps at KU.
Symposium to focus on taking research to public
The Higuchi Biosciences Center is hosting a half-day symposium exploring the potential to move university-based research into the marketplace June 18 at the Adams Alumni Center. The symposium will begin with lunch and include a presentation by Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere.The afternoon will continue with presentations by David Wong, a scientist from UCLA, and Karen Studer-Rabeler, the associate director of new business development at the University of Michigan's Office of Technology Transfer. It will conclude with a discussion regarding resources that are available in Kansas to assist with the business development process.
‘White glove' Dole tour offered in Chinese
The Dole Institute of Politics will offer its first "white glove" tour of the Dole Archive in Mandarin Chinese at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 16. Reservations are required for the tour.
Info~Tech Brief to provide latest on KU technology
The Office of the Vice Provost for Information Services has launched a new communications tool called Info~Tech Brief. It is produced for KU faculty and staff and is designed to showcase innovative scholarly and administrative use of information and information technology at KU. It will also identify and describe emerging trends in information technology delivery in higher education and increase awareness of challenges in the information environment.Appearing periodically through the year, each issue will be available in downloadable and printable PDF formats on the Information Services Web site. To view the first issue and/or subscribe to receive notice of future issues, visit www.information services.ku.edu/guides.shtml.
University to compete for math, science grant
KU has been selected to compete for a National Math and Science Initiative grant.Launched on March 9 with a lead gift of $125 million from ExxonMobil, the National Math and Science Initiative is addressing the declining number of teachers qualified to effectively teach science, mathematics and computer sciences to K-12 students.
Two months ago, the initiative issued a request for proposals for the replication of UTeach, an effective science and mathematics teacher-training program established at the University of Texas-Austin. The initiative is now inviting applicants from 29 institutions of higher education to submit full proposals.
The first round of grants will be awarded in October when the initiative will make awards to 10 colleges and universities of up to $2.4 million each over five years for the replication of science and math teacher-training programs.



