March 4, 2008 issue
News Briefs

By Ron Podell

• Biology Program Review seeks campus comment
• The Dangers of Wikipedia
• Sit-Down Saturdays
• Student Gold Medallion Award nominations sought
• Faculty and Tutor Appreciation Day Awards
• Women's Association scholarships available
• Porter Chair on campus this month
• Flexible Spending Account deadline for 2007
• Explore Eastern set for April 5
• Spring/summer financial aid applications available
• Summer housing positions available

 

The following are news briefs about important activities and events happening at Eastern Michigan University.

BIOLOGY PROGRAM REVIEW: Eastern Michigan University's Biology Department has completed its program review for 2007-2008 and now invites feedback and input from the campus community.

• Biology Program Review seeks campus comment: The biology department, one of the Integrated Program Review and Continuous Improvement Cycle's test departments, has completed its program reviews for 2007-2008 and now invites the campus community to provide input and feedback to complete the review process. All interested faculty and staff are invited to review and comment on the biology program reviews electronically, via the REPORTS tab on my.emich, through March 5. Instructions for accessing and commenting on the reviews can be obtained by clicking the following link: How to Access the Campus Comment Module. Further questions should be directed to Dondi Goerlitz, 487-0169, or by e-mail at dgoerlitz@emich.edu.

• The Dangers of Wikipedia: Andrew Keen presents "The Dangers of Wikipedia," Thursday, March 6, 7 p.m., Ballroom A, Student Center. Keen, author of "The Cult of the Amatuer: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture," will discuss the anachronism of an open-source knowledge system in which there is an absence of central intellectual authorities. Marshall Poe, who has published several articles on Wikipedia, will provide a response. For more information, call Camous Life, 487-3045.

• Sit-Down Saturdays: Sit-Down Saturdays provide an opportunity for graduate students and transfer students (new undergraduates are welcome, too) to talk directly to an admissions counselor about admission and enrollment at EMU. The normal application fee will be waived for all students who apply for admission during Sit-Down Saturdays, which are scheduled March 8, 15 and 29, 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Welcome Center, second floor, EMU Student Center. Everyone who enrolls also will be entered into a drawing for three free credit hours for fall term 2008. For questions, call 1-800-GO-TO-EMU or visit www.emich.edu/admissions.

PURE GOLD: Student Gold Medallion Award winners and nominees gather after the 2007 awards ceremony. Student Gold Medallion Award nominations are sought for this year's event.

• Student Gold Medallion Award nominations sought: The Student Gold Medallion Awards, celebrating excellence in leadership and service by student organizations and their advisers at EMU, seeks nominations under an array of awards categories. Nominations are simple to submit online. The deadline is Monday, March 10. Read more about the award categories and how to submit nominations by going to www.emich.edu/goldmedallion. For more information, please contact the Division of Student Affairs, 487-2390.

• Faculty and Tutor Appreciation Day Awards: Holman Learning Center is now accepting nominations for the 2007-2008 Faculty and Tutor Appreciation Day, scheduled March 31. The deadline for nominations is noon, Friday, March 14. This program will recognize and reward faculty, lecturers, HLC tutors and Supplemental Instruction leaders who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and learning strategies. For more information or to nominate someone, go to http://tlc.emich.edu/programs/facultytutor.html or call 487-2133.

• Women's Association Scholarships available: Find out about scholarship opportunities available for women at www.emich.edu/public/wassoc/scholarships.html. The deadline to apply is March 14. For more information, e-mail Kathlyn Parker at kparker@emich.edu. For fall 2008 and winter 2009 opportunities, please go to the above link.

Noguera

• Porter Chair on campus this month: Pedro Noguera, a professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University, will be on campus March 13-14. Noguera is one of three urban educators who is serving, in a speaker series format, as the John W. Porter Chair in Urban Education. During his visit, Noguera will present, "The Schools We Need: The Limits and Possibilities of Using Education to Transform Impoverished Communities," Thursday, March 13, 7:30-9 p.m, room 203, Porter Building. A reception and book signing will follow from 9-9:30 p.m. The 2007-2008 Porter Chair Lecture and Symposium Series is sponsored by EMU's College of Education. Thsi lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Michele Rich, 487-7120, extension 2501; or e-mail her at mrich1@emich.edu

• Flexible Spending Account deadline for 2007: The 2007 Flexible Spending Account calendar year for medical and dependent care expenses ended Dec. 31, 2007. Any receipts for claim expenses incurred as of Dec. 31, 2007, must be submitted for reimbursement by March 31, 2008. This date is set by IRS regulations. No claims for the previous year can be submitted beyond this date. Reimbursement forms are available on the Human Resources Web site under HR Forms or in the Benefits Office, 140 McKenny Hall. If you have any questions about eligible expenses, call Ceridian Benefits Services, (877) 799-8820, or go to their Web site at www.ceridian-benefits.com. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. It is urgent that anyone who submits receipts by fax needs to make sure that a confirmation of the fax is received. Make sure you keep copies of all receipts when submitted by mail. The fax number for submission of receipts is 888-342-5111. Double check the Web site to make sure the receipts have been received and are being processed. Because of the increased calls, you may experience delays in getting to customer service.

• Explore Eastern set for April 5: Eastern Michigan University's Explore Eastern is a great way for high school students, transfer students and graduate students to learn about EMU and how an EMU education can launch the path to their future. The next Explore Eastern is scheduled Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The day starts at the Student Center and includes meeting with faculty, program presentations from deans, campus tours and information about housing, dining, financial aid, scholarships and much more. To register for Explore Eastern, go to http://www.emich.edu/admissions/register/eereg.html

• Spring/summer financial aid applications available: If you have filed a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2007-08, the 2008 Spring/Summer financial aid applications are now available. They are available at Service EMU, 268 Student Center; and the Office of Financial Aid, 403 Pierce Hall. The form can be downloaded at http://emich.edu/finaid/onlineforms/0708/0708onlineforms.html. For questions, call the Financial Aid Office, 487-0455.

• Summer housing positions available: The EMU Upward Bound Program seeks applicants for peer adviser positions for the 2008 Summer Academy. Responsible, reliable, energetic and creative individuals are needed to provide programming support and supervision. The positions offer salary, room and board, and the opportunity to chaperone field trips. Education majors are encouraged to apply. Applications are available in the Upward Bound office, room B-4, Goddard Hall. For more information, go to http://www.upwardbound.emich.edu/index.html