| Aug. 24, 2009 | Vol. 17, No. 1 |
WestConn News
PRESS CONFERENCE
On Monday, Aug. 24, the Danbury Public Library, WestConn and the Danbury Public Schools will conduct a press conference at 11 a.m. in the Ruth A. Haas Library to announce the launch of the second annual "One Book, One Community" (OBOC), an effort to encourage everyone in Danbury to read the same book this fall. Although many communities across the U.S. sponsor similar reading programs, this project is one of the few where a city, public school system and university have formed a partnership to coordinate a community-wide reading initiative. The event will be free and the public is invited. For more information, call x78486.
PLANETARIUM SHOW AND TELESCOPE VIEWING
On Tuesday, Aug. 25, WestConn will host a 6:30 p.m. planetarium show, "400 Years of Telescopes," followed by telescope viewing of the moon, summer sky and Jupiter from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Westside Observatory and Planetarium. The event will be free and open to the public. For more information, call x78672.
Opening Meeting
The opening meeting for the fall semester will be held on Thursday, Aug. 27, in Ives Concert Hall at 3:30 p.m.
PLANETARIUM SHOW AND TELESCOPE VIEWING
On Thursday, Aug. 27, WestConn will host a 6:30 p.m. planetarium show, "400 Years of Telescopes," followed by telescope viewing of the moon, summer sky and Jupiter from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Westside Observatory and Planetarium. The event will be free and open to the public. For more information, call x78672.
WELCOME WEEK
WestConn will host "Welcome Week" for new and returning students from Friday, Aug. 28, through Saturday, Sept. 5, at various locations on the Midtown campus. Part of the university's orientation program, "Welcome Week" provides incoming students and their families with a set of shared experiences, setting the tone for student academic success and personal growth while facilitating the transition to university life. For more information, call x78215.
ENTERING THE GATES CEREMONY
On Friday, Aug. 28, WestConn will hold its traditional "Entering the Gates" ceremony at 1:30 p.m. through the gates on the university's Midtown campus. Faculty, staff, and new and returning students will take the ceremonial walk through the gates to signify the start of another school year. The event will be free and the public is invited. For more information, call x79700.
MANHATTAN STRING QUARTET CONCERT
On Friday, Aug. 28, the renowned Manhattan String Quartet will perform at 6:30 p.m. at the Ives Concert Park. Tickets will be $20 for adults, $15 for children and $10 for senior citizens and children, and can be purchased at x78499 or wcsu.edu/tickets. Seating will be limited.
Late Night Coffeehouse
On Friday, Aug. 28, a late night coffeehouse will be held in Alumni Hall from 10 p.m. to midnight. The featured act is singer/songwriter Natalie Gelman. This event is free and open to WestConn students, staff and faculty. Beginning Sept. 3, weekly Thursday night coffeehouses will be held in Alumni Hall at 8 p.m. during the fall semester. For more information, call x79700.
LECTURE
On Thursday, Sept. 3, humorist, Hartford Courant columnist and University of Connecticut Professor of English and Feminist Theory Gina Barreca will speak at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Theater. Barreca's latest book is "It's Not That I'm Bitter or How I Learned to Stop Worrying about Panty Lines and Conquer the World." The talk will be free and the public is invited. For more information, call x78839.
DANCE TEAM AUDITIONS
The WCSU Dance team will hold a workshop and auditions. The workshop will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and the auditions will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13. Both events will be at a campus location to be determined. In order to audition, dancers must be WestConn students and attend both the workshop and the auditions. For more information, visit wcsudanceteam.com or send an e-mail to wcsudanceteam@gmail.com.
STEVEN NEUWIRTH LECTURE
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, WestConn will honor the life and scholarship of the late Professor of English Dr. Steven D. Neuwirth with a film screening of "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" and discussion at 7 p.m. in Ives Concert Hall. Abigail Disney, founder and president of the Daphne Foundation, a progressive, social change organization that makes grants to grassroots, community-based organizations, will be the featured speaker. Neuwirth was a specialist in Early American literature and American history, and made significant contributions to academic program development at WestConn from the 1980s until his retirement in 2003. This lecture in his memory will be free and the public is invited. For more information, call x78486.
PLANETARIUM SHOW AND TELESCOPE VIEWING
On Saturday, Sept. 12, WestConn will host a 6:30 p.m. planetarium show, "Summer Skies," followed by telescope viewing of the summer sky, Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Westside Observatory and Planetarium. The event will be free and open to the public. For more information, call x78672.
BRUNCH CRUISE
On Sunday, Sept. 13, WestConn will host a "Cruise Around the Big Apple" aboard World Yacht, New York's premier dining cruise line. The yacht will depart at 11 a.m. from the Pier at 81 West 41st St. in New York. The cost is $89 per person for the cruise or $109 for the cruise plus transportation to the pier, and discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, call x78290.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Meeting
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee will meet in the Student Center, Room 228, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15. If you would like to submit a protocol, please send the original and 9 copies, at least 2 weeks in advance of the meeting date, to the Office of Grant Programs in Warner Hall 321. The link to the required on-line training program can be found on the ERes page under Grant Programs and then to IACUC. For questions, please contact Dr. Karen Crouse at x79061.
GRANT SEMINARS – ADVANCE YOUR RESEARCH AGENDA
The Grants Office will host seminars in Warner Hall, Room 315 from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays during the fall semester. Bring your lunch! Beverages and dessert will be provided. If you have questions, please contact Martha Palanzo at x78944. The seminars are as listed below:
- Sept. 16: Introduction to Sponsored Programs and Research at WCSU
- Sept. 30: Looking for Government Support for Your Project
- Oct. 14: Looking for Foundation Funding
- Oct. 28: Establishing a Need for Your Project-The “So What” Factor
- Nov. 11: Tools for Establishing an Accurate Project Timeline—What Can You Realistically Achieve During the Project Period?
- Dec. 9: Writing, Assembling and Reviewing Your CSU Research Grant
Institutional Review Board (IRB) 2009-10 Meeting Schedule
The Institutional Review Board will meet on Wednesdays in the Student Center, Room 228, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on the following days: Aug. 26 (CANCELLED), Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 27, 2010, Feb. 17, March 17, April 21, and May 19. If you would like to submit a proposal, please send the original proposal plus 12 copies of the proposal, at least 2 weeks in advance of the meeting date, to the Office of Grant Programs in Warner Hall 321. IRB forms and the link to the required on-line training programs for protection of human subjects can be found on the ERes page under “Institutional Review Board.” For questions, please contact Dr. Shane Murphy at x79398.
POLITICAL SCIENCE LECTURE
On Thursday, Sept. 17, Tom Zarecki, former general manager of WestConn's WXCI, will discuss satellite and terrestrial radio and digital communications from 5:25 to 6:25 p.m., during a political science class in Room 209 of Berkshire Hall. The discussion will be free and open to the public. It is one of several scheduled during the semester for the World Governments, Economies and Cultures course taught by Adjunct Instructor Scott Benjamin. For more information, call (860) 210-2146, ext. 129, or send an e-mail to benjamins@wcsu.edu.
TELESCOPE VIEWING:
On Thursday, Sept. 17, WestConn will host a telescope viewing of the summer sky, Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., at the Westside Observatory and Planetarium. The event will be free and open to the public. For more information, call x78672.
GOLDEN CIRCLE LUNCHEON
On Friday, Sept. 18 , the annual Golden Circle Luncheon to honor WestConn alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago will be at noon in Warner Hall. The cost is $35 per person. For more information, call the Alumni Office at x78290.
IVES FAMILY FAIR
On Sunday, Sept. 20, the Ives Authority, under the auspices of the City of Danbury and in partnership with WestConn, will host "The Ives Family Fair," a daylong family event at Ives Concert Park. Gates will open at 2 p.m. This free, multicultural celebration of the arts salutes the diversity and rich history of the Greater Danbury area. Festivities will feature local performers such as the Philippine Cultural Group, Salsa Dancers, Sons of Portugal Folklore Dance Group, Ecuadorian Folk Dancers, Middle Eastern Belly Dancers and Polynesian Dancers, cultural drummers, a Marriachi band and the rousing Irish Mighty Ploughboys. There will be children's entertainment and strolling Civil War re-enactors. The day will culminate with a performance by the Ives Festival Orchestra. For more information, call x79227 or visit ivesconcertpark.com.
POLITICAL SCIENCE LECTURE
On Thursday, Sept. 24, U.S. Senate candidate Merrick Alpert will discuss federal climate change legislation from 5:25 to 6:25 p.m. during a political science class in Room 209 of Berkshire Hall. The discussion will be free and open to the public. It is one of several scheduled during the semester for the World Governments, Economies and Cultures course taught by Adjunct Instructor Scott Benjamin. For more information, call (860) 210-2146, ext. 129, or send an e-mail to benjamins@wcsu.edu.
PLANETARIUM SHOW AND TELESCOPE VIEWING
On Saturday, Sept. 26, WestConn will host a 6:30 p.m. planetarium show, "Summer Skies," followed by telescope viewing of the first-quarter moon, summer sky and Jupiter, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Westside Observatory and Planetarium. The event will be free and open to the public. For more information, call x78672.
Fall Semester Mass Schedule
During the fall semester, Mass will be held on Sundays at 5 p.m. in Alumni Hall and on Monday through Thursday in the Newman Center at noon. Mass will not be held Labor Day or during Thanksgiving recess. For further information, please contact the Newman Center at (203) 744-5846.
If you plan to attend an event and would like to request disability accommodations, please contact the organizer as listed in the event listing.
WestConn Report is published online for the WestConn community by University Publications & Design (UP&D) biweekly during the academic year. The first issue of each semester is also printed and mailed to all members of the WCSU community. Each issue is archived on the WCSU Web site.
Editorial & Design Staff:
Irene Sherlock, associate director, UP&D
Jane Walsh, university assistant, UP&D
Deadlines:
Content deadline is Thursday at noon prior to the Monday publication date. All efforts are made to include content that is supplied, however, all submissions are subject to a strict editing process. Additionally, where and when available, photos and print/Web marketing materials created for an event will be available as either a link (in the case of a Web page) or download (in the case of print materials).
Contacting us:
The editorial staff of the WestConn Report can be contacted most efficiently via e-mail. Please send to westconn_report@wcsu.edu. You may also send content via inter-campus mail addressed to “WestConn Report / UP&D – Old Main 202”. Please allow sufficient time. Please do not call the office and leave a voice message with your request.
At-A-Glance
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Mark Your Calendars
Oct7 |
Author Talk and Book Signing: Dr. Richard Frank, author of Fighting Cancer with Knowledge and Hope. Warner Hall, 5 p.m. RSVP required – call x76556 |
Oct15 |
Science-at-Night Program: Author Talk and Book Signing: Pamela Spiro Wagner and Carolyn Spiro, MD, authors of Divided Minds. Science Building, Room 125, 7 p.m. |
Oct16 |
CSU International Education Conference, WCSU Midtown campus |
FYI
Deadlines for Faculty Development Funds
Deadlines for applications for the 2009-10 Faculty Development Funds are listed below. The application can be found in the Faculty Handbook on the WCSU Web site under Faculty and Staff, (click on Faculty Handbook, then click on View Table of Forms). Make sure to include a "WCSU Request for Professional Travel Worksheet" with your application. Late applications will not be accepted. Please contact Russell Hirshfield, chair of the Faculty Development and Recognition Committee, if you have any questions.
- Sept. 11, 2009 is the deadline for activity from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2009
- Dec. 4, 2009 is the deadline for activity from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2010
- Feb. 5, 2010 is the deadline for activity from March 1 to May 31, 2010
- April 23, 2010 is the deadline for activity from June 1 to Sept. 30, 2010
WCSU RETIREES
The following people have retired from WCSU, for the period ending June 30, 2009:
Maureen Alviti, Aram Aslanian, Gale Bienvenue, Winston Blake, Walter Boelke, Jim Bucko, Linda Carpenter, Joe Cillizza, Paul Collins, Tony Cunha, Gloria Folan, Loretta Gentile, Bill Hawkins, Rolf Johnson, Cheryl Lynch, Debbie Maffeo, Hugh McCarney, Tom Millard, Elaine Miller, Howard Russock, Bob Simpson, Maryellen Smith, Ah-Mei Tompsett, Dick Van Houten, John Wallace, Fred Zarnowski
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, DR. LINDA RINKER
Faculty members who wish to apply for sabbatical leave for 2010-11 shall submit seven (7) copies of all application materials to the Academic Leave Committee, c/o Mike Palica, assistant to the director of fiscal affairs, UH 222, no later than Sept. 28, by 4:30 p.m. Please contact Mike Palica at x78892 if you have any questions. Also, no later than Sept. 28, submit one copy of the application to the appropriate departmental leave committee and one copy to the appropriate dean, director, or supervisor. Details of the application procedures are found in the Faculty Handbook, or can be obtained from Terry Buzaid (x78275).
Promotion & Tenure
I am pleased to announce the following faculty members have been granted promotion and/or tenure. They are:
Tenure awarded effective Spring 2009: Xiaomei Gong
Promotion to Associate Professor effective academic year 2009-10: Daniel Barrett, Ming Ling Chuang, Donald Gagnon, Xiaomei Gong, Robyn Housemann, Samuel Lightwood, Theodora Pinou, Joshua Rosenthal, Stacey Alba Skar
Promotion to Professor effective academic year 2009-10: Daryle Brown, Karen Burke, John Coleman, James Donegan, Martha May, Margaret Murray, Shouhua Qi, Catherine Rice, Stephen Wagener
Tenure effective academic year 2009-10:
Patrice Boily, Karen Burke, Edward Duncanson, Robyn Housemann, Samuel Lightwood, Pamela McDaniel, Michael Nolan, Stacey Alba Skar, David Skora
On behalf of the university community, I extend sincere congratulations.
Sabbatic leaves
Fall 2009: Rick Bassett, James Donegan, Nicholas Gallucci, James Scrimgeour, Laurie Weinstein
Spring 2010: Alice Chance, Marsha Daria, Robin Flanagan, Russell Hirshfield, Olowole Owoye, James Scrimgeour, Paula Secondo, Cigdem Usekes
The 2009-10 Academic Calendar is available online at wcsu.edu/newsevents/currentacadcal.asp.
The Faculty Handbook is currently being updated. As soon as it is online, an email announcement will go out to the university community.
DEC rosters will be mailed to all chairpersons and spokespersons separately.
Please note that Faculty Rosters and Committee Rosters will be emailed to you. Please contact Academic Affairs at x78275 if you are not online and wish to receive a hard copy.
Also note that the Academic Planning Calendar is online at wcsu.edu/newsevents/acad.asp
faculty recognition ceremony 2009
The Faculty Development and Recognition Committee (FDRC) in conjunction with the Office of the Provost, is pleased to announce that the annual Faculty Recognition Ceremony (FRC) will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. in Warner Hall. At this event, faculty accomplishments for the time period covering June 1, 2008 – May 31, 2009 will be recognized. The Faculty Recognition application for this year’s ceremony can be found via a link on the wcsu.edu Web site. Please note that applications will be accepted only electronically. Where supporting documentation of an activity is requested, it should be submitted as an attachment to the electronically submitted application. This year’s ceremony will include the third annual “WCSU Teaching Excellence Award.” Please see the link to the Provost’s announcement for the criteria and nomination process for this award. Details concerning the format of the FRC can be found through a link at wcsu.edu as well. This event is free and open to WCSU faculty and staff only. The deadline for submissions is 9 a.m. on Oct. 26. Please make every effort to be included in this important event.
–Russell Hirshfield, Chair, Faculty Development and Recognition Committee
Hancock student leadership program applications
The Hancock Student Leadership Program is requesting applications for the 2009-10 cohort. The deadline for on-line applications is midnight on Oct. 5. The program is designed to foster and acknowledge excellence in student leadership, and it provides students with training, mentoring, networking, a certificate of completion and numerous other benefits. Please encourage student leaders from all across campus to apply for this worthwhile program. For more information please visit wcsu.edu/hslp or contact Walter Bernstein at x78600 or Averell Manes at x78452.
Promotion and Tenure Committee announcement
As in the past, the University Promotion and Tenure Committee will hold four information sessions during the fall 2009 semester. The dates are as follows:
- Monday, Aug. 24, Westside Campus Center 212/214, 2 to 3 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 25, Westside Campus Center 212/214, 2 to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 26, Midtown Campus Student Center 201A, 2 to 3 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 27, Midtown Campus Student Center 201A, 2 to 3 p.m.
All members of the full-time AAUP faculty are invited to attend. These sessions are particularly useful to those who will be candidates for promotion or tenure in 2009-10 or in the near future, to DEC members, to department chairs, and to new members of the faculty.
Vijay Nair, Chair, Promotion and Tenure Committee
Faculty Dining Room Fall Hours
Beginning Monday, Aug. 31, the Danbury Room (Faculty Dining) will open at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. The Food Court, located in the lower level of the Student Center, will openmat 7:30 a.m. with a wide array of breakfast items. As a way to welcome you to the Food Court, present your faculty or staff ID and receive a free 12 oz. cup of coffee or tea during the first week of classes.
If you have any questions, please contact Josef Quirinale, General Manager for Sodexo Dining Services or Paul M. Simon.
