NEWS IN BRIEF
KU, Blue Dog Caucus help land new research money
Recently, Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., and co-chair of the House Blue Dog Caucus, visited with higher education government relations officials from the Association of American Universities. The Blue Dog Caucus is comprised of 49 moderate-to-conservative Democrats interested in controlling government spending. Moore accepted the invitation from Chancellor Robert Hemenway. AAU sought out Moore to discuss the benefits to the nation and economy through increases in federal funding for research and economic development. Keith Yehle, director of federal relations at KU, joined his AAU counterparts in Washington, D.C., for Moore's comments. A few weeks later, the House and Senate approved a supplemental appropriations bill providing $400 million in new research funding to be used for competitive grants by groups such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, NASA and the Department of Energy. The bill was signed into law by the president.KU seeks volunteers to staff booth at state fair
KU is seeking volunteers to staff the university's booth at the Kansas State Fair and will pay for lodging and food for those who sign up for two or more shifts. The fair is slated for Sept. 5-14 in Hutchinson.Volunteers are being asked to sign up for two four-hour shifts at the booth. The shifts can be done in one day, or spread over two. KU will pay for lodging for those who take two or more shifts and will provide a food coupon for all volunteers. For those who sign up for three shifts, KU will provide lodging and a per diem food allowance of $8.50 per quarter day.
All employees who volunteer will receive free admission to the fair, a KU hat and polo shirt. Volunteers need to arrange their own transportation, and travel reimbursement is up to individual units. Time away from office must also be cleared with supervisors.
Volunteers will answer questions about KU, visit with interested potential students and families and hand out free items.
An e-mail seeking volunteers was sent to employees July 9. To sign up, fill out the attached form and e-mail it to Phil Wilke at pwilke@ku.edu or fax it to 864-5278. Be sure to include date and times of interest. For questions, call 864-5016.
University buys supplies for pandemic flu response
As part of ongoing preparations for a possible pandemic flu outbreak, KU has made a bulk purchase of gloves and surgical masks. The supplies would be used to protect individuals who come into contact with a large number of people in their work. Student Health Services, the Department of Student Housing, Public Safety Office, Facilities Operations, Department of Environmental and Health Safety, Counseling and Psychological Services and KU Dining Services would use the supplies in a pandemic flu outbreak.Mike Russell, director of environmental health and safety, is working with the units to train employees on proper use of the supplies. If a pandemic flu outbreak were to occur, refresher training would be held for employees.
Black Faculty, Staff Council presents awards
The Black Faculty and Staff Council honored several students, faculty and staff for outstanding achievement at a ceremony this spring. Hobart Jackson, president of the council and associate professor of architecture and urban planning, presented the awards. Pamela Scott, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, received the Recognition of Student Scholars Award. Susan E. King, associate professor of health, sport and exercise science, was the winner of the BFSC Hobart Jackson Service Award for outstanding service toward African and African-American students and faculty.Student Sylvia Yimer was presented the BFSC Joyce Jeltz Achievement Award, and five students were presented BFSC Student Achievement Awards.
Biological Sciences split into three separate units
The Division of Biological Sciences has reorganized into three separate units, effective at the beginning of the 2009 fiscal year. The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Department of Molecular Biosciences and the Undergraduate Biology Program are now three individual units within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The change will not lead to any relocations and to few changes for faculty, staff and students. The departmental and program administrative offices will remain on the second floor of Haworth Hall. The Undergraduate Biology Program will continue to serve undergraduate students majoring in the two departments, and graduate students will follow the same procedures as before in pursuing graduate studies in either department. The change was made to provide a more efficient administrative structure.Center for Technology Commercialization opens
The combination of the Lawrence campus and Medical Center technology transfer offices announced in April officially took effect July 1. Jim Baxendale is director of the new bi-campus organization, the KU Center for Technology Commercialization (KUCTC). Joining him on both campuses are licensing associates Aswini Betha, Ann Spitz and Christopher Zein, as well as licensing assistant Barb Starrett and licensing administrator Elaine Spielbusch.More information about KUCTC is available at its new website www.ctc.ku.edu. The first issue of the KUCTC Newsletter also appeared July 1 and is available at http://www.ctc.ku.edu/news/newsletters.shtml.
Legislature approves $5 million for cancer center
For the third consecutive year, the Kansas Legislature approved a $5 million appropriation for the KU Cancer Center in its efforts toward achieving NCI designation.Music study earns research funding
Martin Bergee, professor of music education and music therapy, was principal investigator for a music education research proposal that recently earned full funding from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. The study, titled "Galvanizing Factors of Communities Chosen to be One of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education," is part of the foundation's Sounds of Learning Phase V initiative.Joining Bergee on the project is Christopher Johnson, professor of music education and music therapy and associate dean for research and graduate studies at the School of Fine Arts, and Becky Eason, associate director of KU's Institute for Educational Research and Public Service. The research team received $87,746 in funding.
The study's purpose is to compare communities that maintain and promote high-quality music programs to communities that do not. The research will be conducted by analyzing local communities through demographics, surveys and interviews.
The team hopes to have the final report to the National Association of Music Merchants by fall 2009.
Shank, Docking elected to lead Board of Regents
The Kansas Board of Regents has elected a new chair and vice chair. On June 12, the nine-member board elected Donna Shank of Liberal as chair and Jill Docking of Wichita as vice chair -- marking the second time in the board's 83-year history that two women have been selected to serve in the top two positions simultaneously.Shank and Docking will serve one-year terms.
Email Page
Print Page