Thank you, Chairman Sidlik.  Good afternoon, everyone.

The University has just concluded its annual Salute to Excellence Week, which honors successes of faculty, staff and students in a series of programs featuring excellence.  Distinguished faculty dedicating themselves to students and the learning process, staff committed to support the educational experience, and events recognizing and celebrating outstanding student academic achievement are all part of our commitment to “Education First.”  Two of the programs, the Graduate Research Fair and the Undergraduate Symposium, are events where students present research or creative activities completed with mentorship from faculty sponsors.  For example, this year’s 28^th Annual Undergraduate Symposium, the first of its kind in the nation, included 316 student presenters sponsored by 157 faculty mentors.   

The Second Annual Ethos Week, March 10-14, was kicked off with WJR’s Paul W. Smith broadcasting his show live from the College of Business.  The week included a series of speakers addressing ethics in business.  More than 400 people attended the closing luncheon event featuring nationally-syndicated columnist Bruce Weinstein, known as The Ethics Guy.

There are four other areas that I would like to update today: Safety and Security, Academic Excellence, Student Achievement, and Outreach and Engagement.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

EMU has initiated an emergency text messaging system for all students, faculty and staff.  In the event there is a University emergency, a short message would be sent via text message to anyone who registers a cell phone.  Since it was announced last week, there are already 1,522 individuals registered for the service.  There is no charge to register for the system and we encourage the entire university community to sign up for this important service.  

Gregory O’Dell, executive director of public safety, has been hosting safety and security forums for individual campus buildings.  These meetings give employees the opportunity to ask questions about safety issues.  The Department of Public Safety has added several officers to the force and also has a new Web site with initiatives, tips and daily updates. 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association named Kevin Miller, professor of music, Teacher of the Year for his more than 30 years of teaching music in higher education and public schools.

The American Society of Criminology’s Critical Criminology Division recently honored Gregg Barak, professor of criminology, with its lifetime achievement award.  The award recognizes outstanding contributions in research, teaching and service.

Ethan Lowenstein, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, received the Michigan Campus Compact Faculty/Staff Community Service-Learning Award for 2007.  He won the award for the project University Preparatory Academy/Eastern Michigan University Partnership to Create Community and Social Change.

EMU has won a $200,000 grant from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust to help establish a southeastern Michigan hub for place-based education.  Under the direction of Rebecca Martusewicz, professor of teacher education, the project will promote a culture of learning between schools and community groups focused on developing citizen stewards - students who can understand and respond to specific ecological needs in their communities.

John Boyless and Phil Cardon (School of Technology Studies) received a $138,000 grant from the Detroit Regional Chamber, Inc. to provide “Project Lead the Way” training to 21 teachers in metropolitan Detroit in support of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Workforce
Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative.  This initiative fosters the development of effective and efficient regional workforce systems that meet business needs.  EMU’s contribution is to better prepare teachers to prepare students for high-tech careers by certifying them to teach using Project Lead the Way curriculum.

EMU and Google, Inc. have partnered to create a program in which EMU College of Business students, under the direction of Professor Bud Gibson, are helping local nonprofit organizations improve their Web recognition via Google Grants.  Area nonprofits involved include Blight Busters of Detroit; Chelsea Center for the Arts; Dawn Farm; the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn and the Phoenix Ensemble of Ann Arbor.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan has awarded EMU a $167,000 grant for The Lose to Win and Shape-Up program, designed to improve health habits in the Ypsilanti public schools. Christine Karshin, associate professor of health education, will lead a team of faculty and students from lab sciences, dietetics, social work, physical education and health education, to implement the program.

Senator Debbie Stabenow visited the campus February 20 to help honor the University’s successful conclusion of the 2007-08 federal grant-writing campaign.  She announced that EMU had won four major federal earmark grants amounting to approximately $3.3 million.  In addition to the major earmark grants, EMU has been awarded more than 50 federal grants and contracts during the 2007-08 fiscal campaign.

EMU recently received $2.2 million from the trust of renowned sculptor and potter Jean Noble Parsons.  The estate gift is the largest of its kind in EMU history. EMU will use the gift to establish the Jean Noble Parsons Center for the Study of Art and Science near Traverse City and Interlochen.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Students Robin Miller and Jess Klein have won Michigan Campus Compact Outstanding Community Impact Awards, which will be presented April 5 at the Outstanding Student Service Awards Celebration in Lansing.  Both students have been involved with the Department of Diversity and Community Involvement through VISION and the Women's Center respectively, along with other organizations on campus.

Student Lauren Allmayer will receive the Michigan Campus Compact Commitment to Service Award, for community involvement or service experience.  Lauren has been active with Diversity and Community Involvement/VISION, especially through the Alternative Breaks program. 

Former cross country and track student-athlete Daniel J. McClory made a $1,000,000 donation to the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs.  This is the largest financial gift ever for the Department of Athletics.  McClory, a native of Royal Oak, Michigan, earned his bachelor's degree in English Language from EMU in 1981 and followed that up with a master's in Language and International Trade in 1982.  His wife, Florentina, is also an EMU graduate.

Senior swimmer Madeleine Pilchard closed out her Eastern Michigan University career in style, setting three varsity records at the NCAA Championship meet at Ohio State University. Pilchard, a senior from Marietta, Georgia, had her best finish in the 200 freestyle, finishing 11th.  A three-time Mid-American Conference Swimmer of the Year, she was also the only female athlete from a MAC school to compete at the national NCAA competition. 

The Eastern Michigan University men’s track and field team won its 12th Mid-American Conference title and third in a row at Bob Parks Track in Bowen Field House.  The Eagles accumulated 207 points in the two-day meet to outdistance the second place finisher, the University of Akron, by 83 points, setting a new MAC meet record for the largest margin of victory.  Head coach Brad Fairchild was named the Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career.

Eastern Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the 11^th Annual Midwest Regional Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization conference February 15.  This group is the local chapter of the National Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, which aids students of all majors in learning the aspects of starting their own business.  The conference also featured the EMU Business Plan Competition, where high school, university and community college students competed for cash prizes totaling more than $4,000 for the best business plans.

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

The University’s marketing campaign continues.  WWJ will debut a new weekday feature April 7 called “Education Minute,” which is produced in cooperation with EMU.  Each day’s program will feature topics of interest to parents that will enrich their child’s education and help prepare them for college and success.  EMU was chosen for its premier College of Education and its faculty expertise in early child development and academic preparation.  Segments on math, technology, writing and reading, science, and learning beyond the wall will air four times a day, Monday through Friday.

The Education Committee of the Eastern Leaders Group is working with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District to develop a web site featuring innovative and collaborative programs between the three K-12 school districts of Ypsilanti, Lincoln and Willow Run, and EMU, Washtenaw Community College and the business community.

Lisa Lauterbach, director of EMU’s Counseling Center, joined more than 500 volunteer counselors from across the country who traveled to Northern Illinois University to be available to students as they returned to their classrooms February 25-26 for the first time after the tragic shooting.

Christie Cadmus, EMU’s Jumpstart site director, received high praise from James Borishade, executive director for Jumpstart’s regional office, during his recent annual site visit.  Based on the success of EMU’s program, Jumpstart, a national early education organization that helps improve readiness for school for at-risk children, has asked to increase the number of AmeriCorps slots at EMU next year.  This would provide opportunities for more students to earn $1,000 education awards through the program. 

Eastern Michigan University, the Detroit Pistons, The Ann Arbor News and MLive.com are sponsoring the “Education First Merit Scholarship Essay Contest” for high school juniors and seniors, and transfer students.  To enter, eligible students must attend EMU’s Explore Eastern Open House April 5.

The Career Services Center sponsored two highly successful job fairs during the past month.  The 41st Michigan Collegiate Job Fair attracted 165 employers and more than 1,000 candidates.  The sixth annual Call to Serve Government Career Fair had approximately 30 federal and state agencies represented, and more than 350 EMU students in attendance.

Finally, the Third Annual EMU Day in Lansing is scheduled May 6.  Participants will meet with various lawmakers to educate them about EMU and to build relationships between the legislators and the University.  Last year’s event had more than 100 EMU representatives meet with 80 state lawmakers.  This is an excellent opportunity to help our legislators learn more about Eastern Michigan and our commitment to education.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my remarks.  Thank you.