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As if a full moon were not enough to bring out the lunatic in many of us, Wednesday, October 27 marks the final lunar eclipse of 2004, and the ISU Planetarium is hosting a viewing of this spectacular event. Officials from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center contend, “This could be an excellent opportunity for budding astronomers and students to test their observing skills . . .[Lunar eclipses] help cultivate interest in science and astronomy in children and provide a unique learning opportunity for families, students, and teachers.”
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Dr. Patrice Olsen,
Dr. Bob Broad, and
Dr. Saad El-Zanati | The College of Arts and Sciences Teaching Award Committee has announced this year's Outstanding College Teachers: Dr. Bob Broad, Associate Professor of English; Dr. Saad El-Zanati, Professor of Mathematics; and Dr. Patrice Olsen, Assistant Professor of History. Each year the committee selects one winner from each of the College's three divisions: humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Winners of the award are eligible to be nominated in future years for the Outstanding University Teacher Award. According to Professor Nancy Lind, chair of the Teaching Award Committee, "The Teaching Awards Committee had an exceptionally difficult job this year because we have never had so many qualified candidates for the awards. Even those who were not selected for a College award should be exceptionally proud of their accomplishments. I wish we could have given an award to each applicant."
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Dean Olson with members
of Phi Sigma Honor Society | Dean Olson served as guest speaker at the Fall meeting of the Beta Lambda chapter of Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society on Monday, October 18. An honor society open to graduate and undergraduate students, Phi Sigma’s primary goal is to promote research activity in biological sciences. The students had a chance to meet with the dean and discuss such topics as how GA stipends compare with those in competing universities; how to promote graduate programs in the Biology department; the potential to house the entire Biological Sciences group in one building; and strategies for strengthening the national reputation of the Department of Biological Sciences through its research programs.
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Dr. Thomas Simon and
Dr. Jim Swindler with
Philosophy alum Col. Denise Vowell | Government officials, high school and university teachers, pharmaceutical CEOs—these are just a few of the guests the College of Arts and Sciences lined-up for its Alumni Day lectures, seminars, and class visits. On October 22, faculty and students greeted 14 distinguished alumni for a day of community gathering, learning, and reminiscing. "These distinguished alums of the College are all leaders in their respective areas and have much wisdom to share with us," said Dean Olson. "We are proud of them and of how well they have represented the College over the years."
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From left, Dorothy Witte,
Vice President Susan Kern,
and Dean Gary Olson | This week the College initiated the CAS Departmental Fundraising Award, an annual award of $1,000 to the department that conducts the best overall fundraising effort each year. The award was created as a partnership between the College and University Advancement. Dean Olson was seeking a way to get departments more involved in fundraising, and Dr. Susan Kern, Vice President for University Advancement, was willing to fund the award as an incentive. "In an age when state support of higher education is plummeting, we desperately need the assistance of private donors—friends who are sympathetic to our mission and who are willing and able to support our work,” said Dean Olson. The purpose of the award is to generate enthusiasm and reward initiative in fundraising at the departmental level as the College works to improve external outreach and decrease its dependence on state funding. “I am grateful to Vice President Kern for this vote of confidence in our College," said Olson.
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Dean Gary Olson and
Dean Cheryl Elzy | The College formalized a new partnership with Milner Library this week that will assist in attacting top quality faculty to the University. Beginning this year, Milner Library will provide $500 in start-up costs for monographs that support a newly hired tenure-track faculty member's teaching and research. The partnership with the library will greatly enhance the library's holdings and will also assist CAS faculty in their professional projects. "Milner Library Dean Cheryl Elzy deserves all the credit for this arrangement," commented Dean Olson. "She and her staff have gone out of their way to support the faculty and the academic enterprise."
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