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Volume 6 |
August 2, 2004
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No. 2
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HOME | CAMPUS PEOPLE | CALENDAR | ABOUT THE BULLETIN | PAST BULLETINS
Dial, Oxendine buildings back in business in August
Faculty and staff will return to the Adolph L. Dial Humanities Building beginning Monday, August 2, and to the Herbert G. Oxendine Building on Monday, August 9, according to the Office of Facilities Planning and Maintenance.
Some items, in classrooms and offices on the first floor of the Dial
Building, are already in place. The move of all faculty and staff will
take about a week to complete. The move into Oxendine Science Building
will take longer.
It’s been a little over a year but the Oxendine Science Building is nearing completion of its historic $17 million renovations and addition. The largest construction project in the history of the University will be dedicated August 25 at 10 a.m.
“Final inspection and occupancy are scheduled for August 5,” said David Girardot, assistant vice chancellor for Facilities Planning and Maintenance. “Our contractor said the project is on schedule.”
Workers will be in the building for some time after the August 5 turnover date making small fixes, mostly at night and on weekends, Girardot said.
“They are getting in a lot of new equipment in Oxendine Science, and it’s going to be an extremely busy place,” Girardot said. “I would not go over there unless it was important business.”
“We will be moving in right up to the start of classes,” he said.
The modular labs, classrooms and offices will be removed from campus sometime in the fall with two office units, Sirius and Mimosa, remaining behind for an indefinite period.
Four new department chairs named at UNCP
The College of Arts and Sciences at UNC Pembroke named four new department
chairs, according to an announcement by Dean Thomas J. Leach.
Dr. Paul Flowers in the Department of Chemistry and Physics, Dr. Jamie Litty in Mass Communications, Dr. Janita Byars in Music and Dr. Sherry Edwards in Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice began duties on July 1.
“I am very pleased with the new chairs we have appointed in the College of Arts and Sciences,” Dean Leach said. “They are excellent teachers, productive scholars and capable administrators. I look forward to working with them to continue the tradition of excellence in their departments.”
Department chairs are appointed for renewable three-year terms. Dr. Edwards will serve one year on an interim basis.
FLOWERS IS CHEMISTRY CHAIR
Dr. Flowers succeeds Dr. Jose D’Arruda, who served as department
chair of chemistry and physics for 23 years. Dr. Flowers said Dr. D’Arruda
has been a very supportive chair and a great model.
“I am hoping to continue to strengthen our program and to improve the quality and preparation of our graduates,” Dr. Flowers said. “I am comforted by the fact that Dr. D’Arruda will still be with us.”
Dr. Flowers was the recipient of the 2002 UNC Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence and was instrumental in obtaining approval for the chemistry program of the American Chemical Society. Active in research, he recently was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to conduct undergraduate research in environmental testing.
Priorities for the near future include promoting more undergraduate research and adding two new tracks – environmental and pre-pharmacy. An interdepartmental Bachelor of Science in biotechnology is in the planning stages, along with several other biotechnology projects.
“There are some exciting research programs in the works,” Dr. Flowers said. “We have always been an active department in obtaining outside funding for a variety of programs, including undergraduate research. I hope this trend will continue into the future.”
LITTY TO LEAD MASS COMM
Dr. Jamie Litty served as interim chair for Mass Communications in 2003-04,
so her appointment is for two years. She joined the faculty in 2001 and
teaches broadcasting.
Dr. Litty worked 10 years in public radio and television, and she taught for10 years. She served as the faculty conciliator for undergraduate grade appeals and serves on the Lab Fee Committee.
Dr. Litty is a member of the advisory board for “Many Voices, One Message: Stop Tobacco Addiction,” an initiative of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs and the UNC Center. She chairs the Community Access Channel Committee for Laurinburg-Scotland County.
In her year as interim chair, Dr. Litty spearheaded the department’s total curriculum revision and wrapped up the department’s five-year plan, which calls for new faculty hires to teach and research the social, economic, and technical aspects of “New Media.” She supervised expenditures from nearly $190,000 in one-time budget allocations to complete the digital conversion of the department’s academic labs and WNCP-TV. Litty says that essentially the department is expanding its offerings of hands-on experiences and other professional preparations for both students and faculty.
“The faculty have greatly enhanced students’ learning experiences here by designing new courses and by integrating state-of-the-art technology into the media laboratories, so that our curriculum reflects contemporary production practices and genres—Online Journalism is a great example. Together we will continue to expose students to the latest thinking and trends in broadcasting, journalism, and public relations.”
“Our challenges are the same as mass communication departments’ nationwide: to satisfy the demands of enrollment growth and to keep pace with innovations in the production, distribution, and reception of media content. Nationally, undergraduate enrollment in mass communication shows a pattern of steady annual growth. UNCP’s own data from recent years suggests that enrollment in our department will outpace overall university figures.” According to Litty, the number of juniors and seniors who have declared a mass communication major has increased 65% since Fall of 2000. The Journalism concentration alone has tripled its majors since Fall 2001.
Litty says the department intends to take advantage of the availability and affordability of the Internet for new opportunities in student publishing and broadcasting. They are also increasing their collaborations with external non-profit organizations and campus partners by shepherding audiovisual productions, public communication campaigns, and other field projects into new capstone courses, new student organizations, and other appropriate venues for service learning.
BYARS TO DIRECT MUSIC
Dr. Janita Byars succeeds Dr. George Walter, who served as chair of
the Music Department for nine years. A clarinetist, she is director
of
the Master of Arts in Music Education program.
“With the support and collaboration of the entire music faculty, the new master’s program has had a very successful beginning,” she said. “This program meets the needs of the area for highly qualified teachers and provides students with the kind of personal attention for which UNCP is so well-known.”
Dr. Byars began her career performing for five years with the American Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski. Her career in education includes teaching in the South Bronx and administering an arts program with 220 teachers in 60 schools in Rochester, N.Y.
Dr. Byars continues to perform and gave a recent recital that featured a world premiere of a work written by her son, Christopher, for clarinet, string quartet, double bass and percussion. She will give a recital at UNCP’s Moore Hall on January 24, 2005.
“My mission is to facilitate the academic success of our students,” Dr. Byars said. “My goal is to link students with the vision that I have of them as college graduates.”
EDWARDS IS INTERIM IN SOCIOLOGY
Dr. Sherry Edwards joined the faculty in 1998 and teaches in the social
work program. She has published in areas of teaching techniques, technology
and distance education. The majority of Dr. Edwards’ current grant
work deals with Native American health disparities and HIV/AIDS projects.
She served on the Curriculum, Faculty Evaluation Review Subcommittee, Faculty Development and Welfare committees and currently serves on the Task Force on Teaching Excellence. She is also actively involved with the issue of domestic violence and serves on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Family Violence Center.
One of the largest departments on campus, Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice added several new faculty members over the past year and two new minors - gender studies (interdisciplinary) and international sociology. The department recently entered into a regional cooperative program in social gerontology with UNC Wilmington and Fayetteville State University. For the first time this year, the social work program sponsored a HIV/AIDS symposium in recognition of World AIDS Day.
“My vision is to continue to create an environment in which students can become good citizens,” Dr. Edwards said. “Not only do we have the goal of providing vocational training for our students, but also to help mold their civic and moral roles in an increasingly complex and pluralistic society.
“One of our main objectives over this next year is to develop best practices for assessing student learning,” she said.
Marilyn Blackburn is Employee of the Quarter
Assistant Registrar Marilyn Blackburn was named Employee of the Quarter
during a surprise reception in her honor on July 23.
A 24 1/2-year University employee, Blackburn earned a reserved parking space, her name on a plaque, a framed certificate and gift certificates from eight local eateries.
Despite the fact that the Office of the Registrar has claimed its second consecutive Employee of the Quarter, Registrar Sara Brackin said no master plan is at work.
“This was totally unplanned,” Brackin said. Staff Council Chair Tony Chavis backed her up.
“Marilyn had nominations from all over campus,” Chavis said.
Blackburn worked in the offices of Alumni and Development, Admissions, Continuing Education, University Computing and Information Services, Academic Affairs and Registrar.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Blackburn said. “I left the University for two years, and I couldn’t wait to get back.”
Brackin said Blackburn is the consummate professional.
“Marilyn is a real professional, who makes good decisions and is a good problem solver,” Brackin said. “This is a big job that she has blossomed into.”
Dr. Bryant joins McIntyre’s Advisory Committee
Congressman Mike McIntyre appointed Dr. Alfred Bryant (Education) to
his Education Advisory Committee.
Congressman McIntyre's 7th District Education Advisory Committee helps keep him informed on the critical issues facing the education system.
Dr. Bryant said he appreciated the opportunity to serve on the committee.
“I am honored to be appointed to Congressman McIntyre's 7th District
Education Advisory Committee,” Dr. Bryant said. “This will
be important work for me, the University, the education community, as
well as Congressman McIntyre. It gives me a great opportunity to be involved
in improving educational opportunities for all citizens of North Carolina.”
The committee consists of a cross section of the Southeastern North
Carolina community who have an interest in education. Congressman McIntyre
welcomed Dr. Bryant to the committee.
“The 7th District Education Advisory Committee welcomes Dr. Alfred Bryant,” Rep. McIntyre said. “We look forward to working with him and utilizing his knowledge and experience as we look for solutions to the challenges facing our higher education system.”
Biotech project on display in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A University contingent presented details of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Partnerships for Innovation grant project, entitled “Building Innovative Opportunities in Southeast North Carolina,” at the 10th annual “Coalition for NSF” exhibition and reception on Capitol Hill on June 22.
Project Bio as it appeared in Washington D.C. From left: RCC President Chrestman, Dr. Mandjiny, Sylvia Pate and Dr. Roger Brown. |
The delegation consisted of Dr. Roger Brown (Academic Affairs), Dr. Siva Mandjiny (Chemistry) and Regional Center Director Sylvia Pate along with Dr. Charles Chrestman, president of Robeson Community College.
All members of Congress were invited. At least four of North Carolina's representatives, including District Seven U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre, met with UNCP’s representatives during the event.
The University’s exhibit was on the NSF-funded biotechnology initiative
that seeks to build a bioprocessing facility at
COMtech. The grant is for a little more than $324,000 and is part of
a $600,000 three-year grant.
The purpose of this annual exhibition is to give lawmakers a glimpse of the important work being conducted at institutions around the country as a direct result of funding provided by Congress to the NSF. The National Science Foundation is the only
From left: Dr. Chrestman, Sylvia Pate, Congressman McIntyre and Dr. Brown |
federal agency whose primary mission is investing in basic research and the improvement of science, mathematics and engineering education. The NSF serves as an important catalyst for many scientific breakthroughs and their award of two grants to UNCP in the last six months illustrates the advances the University is making in these disciplines.
The exhibition included 30 displays featuring computer demonstrations, videos, posters and educational materials about NSF-supported research and education projects. Law makers and their staff had a chance to speak directly with scientists, mathematicians, engineers, educators and students currently involved in NSF research projects.
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