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Advisor Needed
WritersINC, our student literary magazine, is in need of an advisor. The Media Board would like to invite all full-time faculty and staff to apply. The position is a three year term. The responsibilities include:
- advising and assisting the student editor concerning staffing, budgets, publication specifications and appropriateness of materials for publication.
- serving as an ex-officio member of the USC Upstate Student Media Board.
Compensation is negotiable (release time in the Spring semester or an equivalent stipend in monthly supplements are options). If interested, please send a letter of intent to Astrid Rosario in Smith 405 by Friday, April 27, 2007. The Media Board will interview candidates on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 (Reading Day).
Women of Achievement Committee Seeks Award Nominees
Many leaders of some of the most progressive women’s organizations on the USC Upstate campus are starting a new tradition in honoring the faculty, staff, and student women on the USC-Upstate campus. The women we will be honoring include: women who are inspiring and work to create a diverse, stable, and friendly environment. On Friday, April 27 at 12:00 p.m., a luncheon will be held to honor these individuals by awarding ten faculty and staff and ten students based on community involvement, academia background, campus involvement, and other qualifications. In this process, faculty and staff members are to nominate the students. In reverse, the students will nominate the faculty and staff members. Please have your nomination forms in by Friday, April 13 at 5:00 p.m. either by email to April Moore, or sent to the Student Life Office CLC 225. If you have any questions or concerns, please call April Moore ext. 5196.
Foundations of Excellence
Research has long indicated that new students who are successfully integrated into college are much more likely to succeed. Many colleges, therefore, work especially hard to create a first-rate experience for new students. For nearly a year, the University of South Carolina Upstate has been participating in a national higher education project known as “Foundations of Excellence ® in the First College Year.” Foundations of Excellence® in the First College Year is a year-long, comprehensive guided self-study and improvement process for the first year of college. It engages participants in debate, research, analysis, and improvement planning. The process focuses the institution - its policies, practices, and programs - rather than on the characteristics of entering students or student-level outcomes.
Leading the University in this endeavor are Cindy Jennings, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Dr. Warren Carson, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“The work of the task force is centered on assessing levels of institutional achievement of specific performance indicators developed for each Dimension,” said Jennings. “Responses require local knowledge, task force deliberations and professional judgment, and supporting evidence.”
Unlike other self studies, task force members from across the campus use local expertise and multiple forms of evidence to guide intellectually substantive and collegial discussions about the campus's level of excellence in the first year.
The project steering committee will utilize assessment data of performance indicators for the projects’ nine dimensions to formulate the final project report and action plan. The dimensions include: philosophy, organization, learning, faculty, transitions, all students, diversity, roles and purposes, and improvement. John Gardner, executive director of the Policy Center on the First Year of College, was on campus recently to meet and work with the dimension committees and the project task force as they are completing initial drafts of their reports based upon data collected and analyzed during this academic year. The group is working closely with Betsy Barefoot, co-director and senior scholar of the Policy Center, in preparing and revising committee reports. In addition, the work of the project has been facilitated by regular and frequent consultation with other Policy Center staff members and is framed within the project’s technical platform FoTEc.
The final Foundations of Excellence report is expected to be completed by the end of July and will be made available to the campus community. For more details, contact Cindy Jennings at ext. 5470 or Dr. Warren Carson at ext. 5634. Additional information about the Policy Center on the First Year of College and this project can be found at www.fyfoundations.org.
Saturday’s Easter Egg Hunt was a fun success! Thanks to all who came out and enjoyed themselves on the Quad. And special thanks to the Staff Council for organizing the event. Look for photos in next week’s Week in Pictures
Health Education Complex
It’s still a pile of dirt, but at least something is happening on the site that will become the Health Education Complex
Greek Week 2007
Training Opportunities
For a complete description of all of the Spring 2007 technology training courses listed below, click here.
- Getting Started: Online Course Development Basics, April 25 – May 18
- Moving the Laboratory Online, April 18 - 27
- Dynamic Collaboration, Discussion and Facilitation Practices, May 23 – June 1
Planning and Organizational Development has the following seminars coming up. It is important to reserve your spot early by contacting Jeanette Reeves.
- Workshop: Intermediate Word
Friday, April 20 … 9:00 a. m. – 4:00 p.m. (with one hour lunch break) … Rampey Center
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- Purchasing and DEV Training
Thursday, April 12 … 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. … Rampey
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Tuesday, April 17 … 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. … Rampey
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- Webinar: Building Great Places to Work
Thursday, April 19 … 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. … Rampey
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Academic Reminders
Please let students know about this opportunity to travel to Quebec, Canada this summer. The application deadline has been extended to Wednesday, April 11. Students who do not have passports but who would like to apply must allow 10 weeks for passport processing or 3-4 weeks (and an extra fee) for expedited processing. In order to qualify for the trip, students must have a 2.5 GPA and 60-90 credit hours. An application, personal essay and one recommendation from a professor are also required. Please see the attached flyer for further details.
Activities and Events
Graduating Seniors in Visual Arts Reception
Tuesday, April 10… 7 – 8 p.m. … University Gallery
A public reception will be held to honor the 2007 Graduating Seniors in Visual Arts. The reception will be held in the University Gallery and HPAC lobby where the students will have examples of their undergraduate research projects on exhibition.
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2007 Seniors Exhibition
April 10-30 … University Gallery
USC Upstate Visual Arts Seniors will present their exhibition of undergraduate research in the University Gallery this month, starting April 10 and ending April 30. The five seniors completing their BFA Art, Emphasis Graphic Design degree are Mollie Brown, Amanda Cox, J Caleb Clark, Paloma Castillo and Calvin Armatige They will exhibit works in drawing, illustration, painting, printmaking, photography, product design, and graphic design and many items will be for sale. For more information contact Jane Nodine, Gallery Director at ext. 5838.
So, You Think You’re A Tough Guy Huh? Find Out How Tough You Are.
Wednesday, April 11 … 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. … CLC 2 nd Floor Lobby
What does today’s masculinity look like and how does that impact men in relationships? What is consent and what is assault? Do men and women use the same language? Trying to understand the dynamics of masculinity in relationships can be challenging and confusing for both men and women. Counseling Services will be sponsoring an information table that will focus on masculinity, preventing sexual assault in relationships and what men can do to stop violence against women. Handouts will be available while the Tough Guise video runs concurrently. Please encourage students to stop by the table, pick up information or talk with a counselor. Here’s the event flyer.
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Date and Location Change!
Women In … Series: Feminist Ethics and Animal Treatment
Wednesday, April 11 … 12:15 p.m. … HPAC 122
As part of the Center for Women’s Studies and Programs’ celebration of the ASPCA’s National Prevention-of-Animal-Cruelty Month, Dr. Flynn (sociology) will present current feminist ethical theory on the connection between the treatment of animals and the treatment of women in contemporary U.S. culture.
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Bake Sale
Thursday, April 12 … 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. … CLC 1st Floor Lobby
University Police is sponsoring a bake sale to help support disabled children through the Special Olympics.
Career Expo Week
Monday, April 9 – Friday, April 13 … CLC (Various Locations)
All students and recent alumni are invited to attend the Career Expo days of their choice to learn about employment opportunities and help them gain insight on professions through panel discussions and networking with recent alumni and other professionals working in those fields. Everyone that wishes to attend is asked to dress professionally and bring copies of their resumes. More information is available on the Career Center web site.
Open House for Die Deutsche Schule Spartanburg
Saturday, April 14 … 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. … Mary Black School of Nursing
The German School Spartanburg (Die Deutsche Schule Spartanburg) is a Saturday school for children and adults who wish to learn the German language and the cultural heritage of German speaking countries. An Open House will be held on Saturday, April 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 12 Noon in the Mary Black School of Nursing at the University of South Carolina Upstate for prospective students ages four through adult.
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Eighth Annual International Soccer Tournament
Sunday, April 15 …10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. … Soccer Field
The tournament is jointly sponsored by the Center for International Studies and the German American Club of the Carolinas. In years past, participating teams included Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, France, El Salvador, South Africa, Vietnam and Ukraine. To be held at the Youth County Soccer Field. Anyone interested in forming a team must contact Kathryn McLaughlin.
“The Personal is Political at Upstate!” is Unveiled
Coming Up …
Annual Student Print and Art Sale
Thursday, April 19 … 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. … HPAC Lobby
15% of sales will go to the VA Student Scholarship Fund and the balance to the artists. For further information, contact Jane Nodine.
Webinar: Building Great Places to Work
Thursday, April 19 … 3:00 p.m. … Rampey Center
Each year, various publications and companies name the country’s best places to work. Nearly every industry, with the exception of higher education, appears regularly on these lists. During this Webinar, explore themes, traits and practices found in the “nation’s best employers” and how these characteristics can help institutions of higher education create a better campus culture that not only enhances student learning, but also results in higher employee retention, productivity and simply having a lot more fun. Presenter: Scott Cawood, president, ModernThink LLC. RSVP to Jeanette Reeves.
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The Eternity Portfolio And Planned Giving Are Topics For USC Upstate’s Nonprofit Friday Focus
Friday, April 20 … 12:00 p.m. … Mary Black Foundation, 349 East Main Street, Suite 100, downtown Spartanburg.
What would happen if we gave our “giving portfolio” the same attention as our retirement portfolio, saw planned giving as a form of investment, and viewed the vision of the kingdom of God as the ultimate long-term investment? USC Upstate’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership will host a discussion of these questions, led by certified financial planner Joe E. Hines, Jr. and Janet Yusi, gift planning representative with Miracle Hill Ministries, at the monthly nonprofit information noon lunch series “Friday Focus.” For the full story …
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Shoestring Players to Present: Nunsense
April 19-22 … Humanities and Performing Arts Center
The entire cast of Nunsense is comprised of USC Upstate students. Nunsense begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for the eighth grade production of “Grease.” Here we meet Reverend Mother Regina, a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is a wannabe ballerina; and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head.
April 19 at 8:15 p.m. Add this event to my Outlook Calendar April 20 at 8:15 p.m. Add this event to my Outlook Calendar April 21 at 8:15 p.m. Add this event to my Outlook Calendar April 22 at 3:15 p.m. Add this event to my Outlook Calendar
Your Blood is Needed
Monday, April 30 … 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. … CLC
Blood donations are at a critical level! Consider donating blood to help save a life.
Community Events
Meet Wikipedia’s Founder
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, will present “Free Knowledge for Free Minds” at the Twichell Auditorium at Converse College on Tuesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. His discussion will focus on the world of peer-reviewed, open content internet media and the founding of Wikipedia. Admission is free and open to the public. Sponsored by Spartanburg County Public Libraries and Converse College.
March of Dimes
USC Upstate is partnering this year with the March of Dimes in the “Walk America” event on Saturday, April 28 at Barnet Park at 9:00 a.m. Click on the link provided to make a financial contribution and to sign up to be on the Upstate “Spartan” walk team. Our campus goal is $1000……please become a part of our team and walk for March of Dimes and USC Upstate.
Right Column
Healthy Upstate Carolina
What does 65 pounds of sugar have to do with you? This is the amount of sugar consumed if a person drinks only one can of soda a day for one year. Visualize over 16 four-pound bags of sugar stacked up. Add to this the amount of sugar commonly consumed from other food sources. The amount is staggering! We all know drinking too much soda is not good for our health, but few of us consistently choose a healthier alternative. Next time you buy a soda from the vending machine, a store or in a restaurant, think about how many teaspoons of sugar you’re consuming in one drink*!
Sources: Wichita.edu, marshallbrain.com, msnbc.com, diabetes.org.
Staff Spotlight
Charisse Krieger
Front Desk Coordinator, UC Greenville
She holds things together at the front desk in Greenville by day, and performs in plays, including the Shoestring Players production of Picnic in 2006, by night! She loves old and new movies, reading autobiographies and spending time with her family. This native of Pasadena, Ca. has been employed at USC Upstate for over a year, and she enjoys the work environment and helping the students.
Alumni Spotlight
Dheeaba Donghrer
If you watched CSI – Las Vegas last week on Thursday night, you would have seen USC Upstate alumnus Dheeaba Donghrer playing Champ Landley. Donghrer credits USC Upstate theater professor Jim Cox with helping him to discover his true ambition to make a living as an actor in the acting classes he took back in 1996/1997. Donghrer spent seven years in Atlanta and the past two years in Los Angeles building his resume as an actor. Here’s some additional information about his screen credits http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1962503/.
Take me out to the ball game …
The USC Upstate Alumni Association is hosting a night at the Greenville Drive Baseball Park on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6.50 per person and transportation from USC Upstate is available for $15 per person. Everyone is welcome to sit in our section, but reservations and payment are required prior to the event. Please contact the alumni office or 864-503-5277 for further information or to make your reservations. Add this event to my Outlook Calendar.
Keep in touch!
The Advancement Office maintains a database for alumni, friends and corporations of the University. If you have news about one of the constituent groups (employment changes, marriages, new addresses), please e-mail alumni@uscupstate.edu with information.
Athletics
Saturday Night Fever
USC Upstate Athletics will hold its 14 th Annual Athletics Benefit Auction – “Saturday Night Fever” – on Sat., April 28 in the Hodge Center. The retro 70’s theme will be topped off with disco lighting and your favorite 70’s music. Enjoy wonderful food and beverage, great music, and terrific auction items. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased in advance. Please call ext. 5144 for more information.
Faculty & Staff Briefs
Assistant professor Marius Valdes and his wife Beth welcomed their first child, Emma Caroline, into the world on March 27 at 3:32. She weighed six pounds and 12 ounces. She likes to sleep all day and cry all night. Marius is very happy but tired these days.
USC Upstate police officer Clinton Mickles became a grandfather for the first time last Sunday evening. His daughter Brittany gave birth to a beautiful six pound, one ounce baby girl named Annisty (pronounced “Honesty”) Jasmine.
Condolences
The University’s condolences are extended to Stephen Howard (Facilities Management - Landscape Technician) and his family on the death of his mother Kay Howard of Spartanburg last Wednesday. The funeral was held Saturday.
Employment Opportunities
APPLICATION PROCESS: Visit www.uscupstate.edu/jobs for additional information and online application submission instructions.
STAFF/ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS:
Director of Disability Services & ADA Coordinator
(State Title: Program Coordinator II)
Student Affairs
Requisition No. 043120
Online applications accepted until position is filled.
Athletic Field Supervisor
(State Title: Building/Grounds Supervisor I)
Facilities Management
Requisition No. 043116
Online applications accepted through Monday, April 9, 2007
Assistant Media Relations Director
HUMAN RESOURCES REMINDERS
HR has two important memos regarding pay schedules during summer school: 2007 Summer School Pay Schedule
2007 Faculty Summer School Pay Schedule
Miscellaneous
2007 Faculty/Staff Telephone Directory The 2007 Faculty/Staff Telephone Directory is now available for you to download and/or obtain from Printing Services. Visit the Printing Services web site to place your order. Each directory costs $3.09 and will be charged to the ordering department. Please note that all information in the directory is available online, and the online information is updated continuously throughout the year. University Communications encourages the use of the online directory primarily to conserve paper and printing costs, but also to reduce the number of internal calls to the switchboard operator.
Download the directory here. This is a large file and will take several seconds to download. Please note that as updates are made online, the directory you download will reflect the changes.