SUNY Potsdam

Reporter      No.1027      11/20/09   
 

There will not be an updated issue of The Reporter for the week of November 23 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The next issue will be December 4. Happy Thanksgiving.

CAMPUS NOTES

Open Office Hours for the President

The next series of open office hours for members of the campus community to meet with President Schwaller have been scheduled.  To make a 15-minute appointment during one of the following times, please contact Diane Brown by phone at x2100 or by e-mail at browndr:

Friday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Media Outreach Announcement

As of November 18 the Office of Public Affairs will be operating with a limited staff in the area of media relations.  We will be doing all we can to maintain the same level of media outreach during the next few months while we search to replace Media Relations Manager, Deidre Kelly, who is relocating to North Carolina to pursue new career opportunities.  The campus has deemed this position a critical piece in its emergency response service.

The  Office of Public Affairs would appreciate your support and patience during this time as we do all we can to promote and support the College news and events.  Contact relations@potsdam.edu with as much advance notice as possible in order to release information in an efficient and successful way.

Approval of Faculty Senate Resolution

The following proposal was approved by the Faculty Senate at their October 15, 2009 meeting, and is hereby endorsed by President Schwaller:

Resolution to maintain the Faculty Governance Hour on Thursdays, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. and to direct the Registrar to make the scheduling of conflicting classes impossible without approval from the appropriate Dean.

Scholastic Book Fair

NCMEP is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair at the Van Housen Hall Extension, SUNY Potsdam (corner of Watertown & Gouverneur), 2nd floor conference room, one floor above University Police. It will be held daily Monday, Nov. 30 through Thursday, Dec. 10, weekdays only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, Dec. 2 and Wednesday, Dec. 9, the Book Fair will feature a special Family Night.  Please bring the children, we'll be open until 6 p.m.

The Book Fair will offer specially priced books and educational products, including new releases, award-winning titles, children’s classics, adult books and current best sellers from more than one hundred authors.

There will also be daily drawings for scholastic best sellers. For further information, contact Vivian Tiernan at 315-267-2510 or e-mail tiernav@potsdam.edu.

State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) Update

After six weeks of the SEFA campaign, 52 employees have donated $11,675 for organizations in St. Lawrence County and nationwide.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed thus far.  If you would like to contribute, please call Diane at x2100 or e-mail her at browndr@potsdam.edu for a SEFA form.  Our campaign runs through December 4.

World AIDS Day

December 1, 2009 marks the 21st observance of World AIDS Day, an international event that recognizes the global impact of the epidemic.  This year’s theme is “Universal Access and Human Rights.”  To commemorate this event, the SUNY-Potsdam AIDS Education Group (PAEG) has invited Mr. Doug Weiss, a long-term HIV survivor and activist, to speak. Weiss has been conducting informational and interventional HIV awareness programs for more than twenty years.

Mr. Weiss’ talk will be given on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. in the College Theater.  This event is free and open to the public.  All are welcome.  From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 1, Peer AIDS Educators will be staffing a HIV-informational table in the lobby of the College Union.  For more information about this event, World AIDS Day or PAEG, please contact Dr. Patricia Whelehan, Professor of Anthropology and the Campus’ AIDS Education Coordinator, at whelehpe@potsdam.edu or x2048.

Message from Human Resources


W-2s (Wage and Tax Statement for 2009) will automatically be mailed from Albany to employee home addresses prior to February 1, 2010. Please take a moment to review your paycheck/direct deposit stub to ensure that your home address is correct. You may submit an address change via your secure menu page within the time and attendance system at http://hrweb.potsdam.edu/, or by calling Human Resources at x2093 and requesting a change of address form.

Submitting Proposals for Existing or New Courses Featuring Undergraduate Research Components

The Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant application for Fall 2009 Faculty Individual Curriculum Development Program awards is Monday, Dec. 7. Faculty interested in submitting a proposal to revise an existing course or design a new course that features an undergraduate research component should visit the Title III Web site at http://www.potsdam.edu/faculty/research/titleiii for additional information, including forms and funding levels, or contact Gerald L. Ratliff at x2107.

Open Session with Title III Grant Consultant Robert P. Marande

The campus community is cordially invited to attend an open session titled "Undergraduate Research that Promotes College and Community" with Title III grant consultant Robert P. Marande on Friday, Dec. 4, at noon in Stowell 211.

Marande is Founding Dean of the College of Science and Technology at Bloomsburg University, and has spent more than twenty-five years as administrator, consultant, workshop leader and professor teaching astronomy, computer design, mathematical physics and research methods in the sciences. An active scholar with numerous publications and a multiple NSF grant recipient, Dean Marande has designed and implemented a number of distinguished undergraduate research programs at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, Bloomsburg University and the Penn State University System.

The open session is funded as part of the college's $1.6 million dollar Strengthening Institutions Grant from the U.S. Department of Education to promote undergraduate research across the curriculum. For additional information, please contact Gerald L. Ratliff, Title III Project Director, at ratlifgl@potsdam.edu or x2107.

Food Drive for the Potsdam Neighborhood Center

The Honor Student Organization is sponsoring a campus-wide food drive for the Potsdam Neighborhood Center this holiday season and we are looking for help.

There will be boxes in specified departments from now until December 3.

WARNING: This is a competition, so be sure you support your department. Rewards will be given to the departments that collect the most food within their category.

Please look for the food list posted on the flyers around campus or on the box and help support your local community.

Center for Undergraduate Research News

Kilmer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeships
During advising, please remember that Kilmer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeships will be available again in the spring semester. Kilmer Apprenticeships encourage faculty-student research collaboration and are awarded competitively.

Applications will be accepted through the end of this semester and will also be accepted through Wednesday, Jan. 27.  Students who are accepted will enroll in one to six credits of Kilmer Apprenticeship, either through a department's independent study course or INTD499. 

Students and the faculty who work with them, are each awarded $50 per credit for research support or professional development.  For more information and applications, please visit the Center for Undergraduate Research Web page www.potsdam.edu/cur or e-mail cur@potsdam.edu.

Instructional Evaluation Form Available

The SUNY Potsdam instructional evaluation form for student evaluation of teaching is available on the usual paper forms or through Blackboard.

In either venue, it is possible to add several questions of your choosing. If you are interested in sample optional questions, please indicate that when requesting the type of evaluation you are choosing. Responses to the Blackboard form are functionally equivalent to the paper forms: they will be made available to faculty members after grades are turned in to the Office of Registrar, are the property of the faculty member, and cannot be accessed by administrators without the faculty member's permission. They may be used as evidence of teaching effectiveness in reappointment and other personnel decisions.

To request paper forms, please use the following link http://www.potsdam.edu/about/administration/provost/evaluationrequest.cfm or contact Patty Stone in the Provost’s Office at x2108, by e-mail at stonepl@potsdam.edu.

To set up the Blackboard version, you may request evaluations by contacting Patty Stone at x2108 or by e-mail at stonepl@potsdam.edu.  Please indicate the course reference number (CRN #), course number and section number for each course you want on Blackboard.

SUNY Potsdam in the News

The following are selected headlines from local newspapers featuring SUNY Potsdam and its people.

Thursday, November 12, 2009
Watertown Daily Times:
"Honor Society Thanks Speaker" (photo)

Friday, November 13, 2009
Daily Courier Observer:
"Sumit Sponsor" (photo)
"Top Sponsor" (photo)
"Community Chorus, Ensemble Perform"
"Crane Wind"
"Brass Music"
"Holiday Candlelight  Concerts Will Be on WPBS"
"St. Pierre Performing Oboe Recital Nov. 21"

The Journal:
"Crane Wind"
"Brass Music"
"Community Chorus, Ensemble Perform"

Saturday, November 14, 2009
Daily Courier Observer:
"Golf Classic Breaks Record" (photo)
"SUNY Potsdam Basketball Teams Make Debut Sunday"

Watertown Daily Times:
"Doing "Social" Work at SUNY Potsdam" (photo)

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Advance News:
"Drive Goal Met"
"DeGroat Presents Lecture Tuesday"
"SUNY Potsdam Students Start Up New Business"
"SUNY Potsdam Winterim 2010 Now in Progress"
"Leadership Symposium Wednesday"

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Daily Courier Observer:
"Seventeen" Magazine Music Talk Set"
"Feminist's Letters to be Discussed"

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Watertown Daily Times:
"Whitton, Poirier lift Bears to victory over Golden Knights:
"Doing good a hard habit to break"

Daily Courier-Observer:
Clarkson Men, Potsdam Women Turn Back North Country Foes"
"Blood Drive"

North Country This Week:
"Potsdam student learn by doing"
"American Thanksgiving" Chorus concert Sunday"
"Pauline Roland letters"
"Music of "Seventeen"

Optional Retirement Reps on Campus

Dave Howe, a representative from TIAA-CREF, will be on campus on December 16. If anyone would like to meet with him, please call the Rochester office at 1-877-209-3144.

Rick Wolf, a representative from VALIC, will be on campus on December 10. If you would like to meet with him, please send him an e-mail Rick.Wolf@VALIC.com.

Employee Assistance Program

The SUNY Potsdam Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has two EAP Coordinators, Toby White, at x3434 and Ada Santaferra, at x2229. Both are available to discuss personal concerns and make appropriate referrals. You may contact Toby or Ada at the numbers listed above, or you may call the Statewide EAP in Albany at 1-800-822-0244. EAP is a confidential referral service available to all campus employees, retirees and their families.

OFF CAMPUS

Faculty Access to Computing Technology COCID Funding Available

SUNY Faculty Access to Computing Technology (FACT), operating under the auspices of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, takes great pleasure in announcing its continued sponsorship of Conferences on Computing in the Disciplines (COCID).

The FACT Council is currently accepting proposals for COCIDs to take place in the Summer/Fall 2010 and Spring 2011.

For detailed COCID submission guidelines and for information on submitting proposals, please visit the FACT Web site at http://www.fact.suny.edu/cocids.html.

Submission Deadline is March 1, 2010.

CALENDAR

November

Faculty and Staff Excellence

Carleen Graham, (Crane), has been named Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research following a campus search. The appointment is part of the U.S. Department of Education's $1.6 million dollar Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant Award to SUNY Potsdam to promote undergraduate research across the curriculum. Graham will assume director responsibilities on December 14 and work with a campus advisory board to plan a series of program activities for the spring 2010 semester.

Maria Hepel (chemistry) has been asked to serve as a reviewer on the National Science Foundation merit review proposals panel.  She has written reviews for twelve proposals and participated in Chemistry’s Major Research Instrumentation review panel reviewing 50 proposals on November 2 to November 3 at NSF in Washington, D.C.

PACES NEWS

PACES Holiday Buffet
Scheduled for December 9, from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in Thatcher Hall. Tickets are limited and will be on sale until December 3.

Soup
New England Fish “Chowda”

Salad
Beet & Carrot Salad
Panzanella
Edamame Salad

Entrees
Braised Beef Short Ribs
Applewood Smoked Ham
Butternut Squash Ravioli w/Sage Cream

Accompaniments
Fingerling Potatoes w/ Fresh Herbs & Parmesan
Spicy Broccolini

Dessert
Will make you stand up and yell, “You! Dessert! Get In My Belly.”

Holiday Break Hours

Lehman Dining Center
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 8 p.m.
Reopens Sunday, Nov. 29, 4 p.m.

Fifth World Grill
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24 6 p.m.
Reopens Sunday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m.

Chips Deli
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24 7 p.m.
Reopens Sunday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m.

Tomassito’s/Firehouse/Saguaro      
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m.
Reopens Sunday, Nov. 29, 3 p.m.

Blue Plate Diner/Meds          
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m.

Cookies, Cream & Co.           
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 5 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, noon

Crane Snack Bar              
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 7:15 a.m.

Dexter's Café              
Closes Friday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m.

Minerva’s Café             
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 7:45 a.m.

Becky's Place              
Closes Wednesday, Nov. 25, 3 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 7:30 a.m.

Becky's Café              
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 7:30 a.m.

College Store
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 4:30 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m.

Union Market
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 4:30 p.m.
Reopens Sunday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.

PACES Business Office
Closes Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2 p.m.
Reopens Monday, Nov. 30, 8 a.m.

College Store

November 23
20 percent off Holiday Shop

Annual Clearance sale starts Monday, November 30.  Great deals.

November 30
College Store Surprise Sale

Lehman Dining Center
November 24
Lehman, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Pre Turkey Day Warm Up Dinner

November 25 – November 28
Units Close for break

NACAS Conference
Gloria Arno and Abby Lee attended the NACAS Conference in November and received professional training through the Disney Institute. Established in 1969, NACAS is a nonprofit higher education association serving auxiliary services and student support services professionals at over 900 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.  NACAS provides extensive networking opportunities, professional development programs and timely professional publications that help foster the continued growth and enhancement of the auxiliary services and student support services profession in higher education.

NACAS is a volunteer-driven association, governed by an elected board of directors, representing the best in college and university administrative leadership, whose decisions chart both the short-term course and strategic goals of the Association.

New Meal Plans Announced for 2009-10
For a complete listing and description of meal plans, visit

http://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/dining/MealPlans/0910residents.cfm

VACANCIES

Communications and Government Relations Coordinator

SUNY Potsdam is seeking applications for a Communications and Government Relations Coordinator.  The successful candidate will be responsible for a variety of writing, editing and publishing assignments and coordinating communications of various campus offices. 

The coordinator will work closely with the directors of marketing, creative services and Web communications to advance the image of SUNY Potsdam to all audiences including, but not limited to: local, national and international media outlets, campus and SUNY system administration, alumni, students (both current and future), staff, elected officials at all levels of government, as well as peer institutions through traditional and non-traditional communications and media outlets. 

Act as a liaison between the College and local, state, and federal elected offices to ensure open lines of communication and consultation.  Work closely with the Office of College Advancement to assist in securing competitive and non-competitive funding for various projects and programs, and will work directly with the College president and his office to coordinate advocacy efforts on behalf of SUNY Potsdam.  Advise and update the President and his Cabinet on matters regarding lobbying, legislative activity, and funding opportunities on a local, state, and federal level. 

Required qualifications:  Bachelor’s degree and exceptional writing and verbal communication skills.  Preferred qualifications:  Background in journalism, politics or public relations as well as experience in the use of new information technologies, social media outlets and alternative communications outlets. 

Expected start date is January 25, 2010.  Application review begins immediately.  For further information and/or to apply for this posting, go to employment.potsdam.edu.

Secondary English Education Faculty Position

SUNY Potsdam invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position in the Secondary English Education Program.  

Required qualifications:  Doctorate in Secondary English Education or related field from an accredited institution; teaching certificate in secondary English; experience working with teacher candidates, public school faculty, administrators, and parents; and at least five years of full-time teaching English at middle/junior high or high school levels.   Experience in teaching English education courses at the college level; knowledge of current theory, research, and practice in teaching ELA; experience in meeting the diverse learning needs of students; sponsorship and/or supervision of pre-service teacher candidates; and involvement in professional organizations and professional development activities.  Experience working with NCATE/NCTE Standards and performance-based assessments.  Preference will be given to candidates with experience working with diverse populations.  

For further details and/or to apply, go to employment.potsdam.edu.  

RESEARCH

Institutional Review Board

The SUNY Potsdam Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and approves all research activity involving the use of human subjects or activities involving data collection from, or related to, human subjects. State and federal laws require that all projects involving human subjects be reviewed.

Please allow adequate time for your proposal to be reviewed prior to the intended start date of the project. The board requires sufficient time to review the proposal and to suggest any revisions prior to project approval by the institutional official. Please use the following as a guide for submission of proposals:

Fall 2009 Meeting Schedule

An electronic copy of the application should be submitted to the chair, Maureen McCarthy, at mccartma@potsdam.edu. In addition, the signed cover page with original signature(s) should be mailed to Maureen McCarthy, Dunn Hall 100C.

If you are unsure whether the research you plan to conduct should be submitted for IRB review or if have any questions about the IRB process, please contact McCarthy at x2919 or by e-mail at mccartma@potsdam.edu.

The research proposal “Comp101 Local Research,” submitted by Jennifer Mitchell, Department of English and Communication, has been reviewed by the Institutional Review Board. It has been determined that the use of human subjects in that research meets the criteria of exempt research on October 30, 2009. This exemption is applicable for a period of one year.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Meetings

The SUNY Potsdam IACUC reviews any use of live animals in research, teaching, service or display by faculty, staff or students affiliated with SUNY Potsdam, regardless of where the activity occurs and of the activities funding source.

Please allow adequate time for your proposal to be reviewed prior to the intended start date of the project. The committee requires sufficient time to review the proposal and to suggest any revisions prior to project approval by the institutional official.

If you are unsure whether the project you plan to conduct should be submitted to the IACUC or have questions about the approval process, please contact Steve Marqusee, chair of the IACUC, at x3186 or by e-mail at marqussj@potsdam.edu.

Researchers are reminded that state and federal laws require that all projects involving animal subjects be reviewed. Application forms are available in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Researchers may contact Kathy LaMay at x3121 or by e-mail at lamaykm@potsdam.edu for application materials.

Title III Undergraduate Research Programs for 2009-2010

SUNY Potsdam is the recipient of a five-year, $1.6 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant Award from the U.S. Department of Education to promote undergraduate research across-the-curriculum, enhance faculty professional development related to undergraduate research and support student/faculty participation at regional and national conferences. For additional information, please contact Gerald L. Ratliff, Title III project director at ratlifgl@potsdam.edu, or Julie Ellingsen at ellingmj@potsdam.edu, Title III administrative assistant. The following campus award program applications are available at http://www.potsdam.edu/faculty/research/titleiii/index.cfm.
                           

Faculty Professional Development

The goal of the faculty development travel program is to provide professional enrichment opportunities for faculty to attend regional/national association meetings or conferences to cultivate instructional skills or teaching techniques related to undergraduate research. 

Application deadlines: February 26.

Faculty Curriculum Development

The goal of the faculty curriculum development program is to integrate undergraduate research into an individual course that will have significant impact on a substantial number of students. The curricular proposal may focus on plans to revise an existing course or design a new course that introduces and promotes active research opportunities for undergraduate students. 

Application deadlines:  December 7 and April 2.

Student/Faculty Travel

The goal of the student/faculty undergraduate travel program is to increase the current number of students/faculty engaged in collaborative projects of high quality whose preliminary research results are competitively presented at regional or national conferences. 

Application deadlines:  February 15 and March 29.

Department Curriculum Development

The goal of the department curriculum development program is to permanently incorporate additional or new undergraduate research opportunities in at least three required or elective courses in the academic and/or minor degree-granting curricula. The curricular proposal may focus on plans to revise existing programs and courses or design new courses that promote active research opportunities for undergraduate students. 

Application deadlines: March 22.

Research and Creative Endeavors Program for 2009-2010

The Research and Creative Endeavors Program is designed to provide faculty with seed money to pursue a research or scholarly project and eventually seek and attract external funding for their work.   As in the past, in making awards, the Committee will especially emphasize projects that have the potential to encourage new faculty, women and minorities; to support research and creative endeavors across the disciplines; and to attract external resources.  The maximum award per project is $1,000.  Generally, this program does not provide funding for conference travel, computer equipment and general office expenses.

DEADLINES:  April 7, 2010

Grant Development Program 2009-2010

This program will provide awards of up to $1,500 to full-time faculty or professional staff to pursue the development of new proposals for submission to external funding agencies.  All successful applicants will be required to submit a full proposal (with a budget of at least $50,000/yr.) to an external sponsor within one year from the time of award.  It is expected that those interested will have identified a potential sponsor and contacted that sponsor to discuss funding possibilities.  The application form requires a description of the proposed project and a project time line that incorporates the applicant’s plans for meeting the grant submission deadline.  Allowable budget items include travel, supplies, books, duplicating, telephone, etc.

DEADLINE:  Open.

Grant Writing Initiative (GWI)

The Research and Sponsored Programs Office will make up to 6 awards of $250 each to faculty and professional staff who develop and submit viable proposals to external funding agencies during 2009-2010.  All grant proposals submitted through the Research and Sponsored Programs Office (excluding continuation and fellowship applications) will automatically be eligible.

Awards will be made based on the following considerations:

•quality of proposal

•match between proposal and sponsor (likelihood of success)

•institutional support of proposal

Up to three awards will be made in November 2009 for proposals submitted up to October 31, 2009.

Up to three awards will be made in June 2010 for proposals submitted up to May 31, 2010.

In affirming its commitment to equal opportunity for all individuals, SUNY Potsdam actively seeks faculty, staff and students without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or veteran status.