Lori Smith-Watson ‘85, assistant director of undergraduate admissions and orientation, has been named UMBC’s Exempt Employee of the Quarter effective Wednesday, October 1, to Wednesday, December 31. She began her career at UMBC in 1986, working in the admissions department as an admissions counselor and was later promoted to her current position of assistant director.

Smith-Watson was nominated by Dale Bittinger, director of undergraduate admissions and orientation.

“As assistant director, Lori is primarily responsible for supervising the four admissions counselors, as well as the transfer coordinator, and overseeing the university’s undergraduate admissions recruitment travel,” Bittinger said. “Lori not only provides leadership and direction but also teaches those she supervises how to be professional.”

In her role as assistant director, Smith-Watson has been especially instrumental in providing recommendations for changes in terms of preparing for the PeopleSoft SA.

Bittinger said Smith-Watson is someone who “lives and breathes UMBC.” She still holds records for field hockey from when she was a student, met her husband at UMBC and volunteers with the alumni association in her free time.

Smith-Watson received her award Wednesday, October 1, at a staff meeting for undergraduate admissions and orientation staff.

Anthony (Tony) Jackson, plumber, has been named UMBC’s Non-Exempt Employee of the Quarter effective October 1 to December 31. Jackson began his career with the University System of Maryland in 1986 at Towson University. He transferred to UMBC in 1994 working as a maintenance mechanic in the Office of Residential Life and later in Facilities Management. Jackson completed plumbing school and an apprenticeship in May 2002 and in October 2002 began working in his current position of plumber. Last year, Jackson became a master plumber in the state of Maryland.

Jackson was nominated by Jackie Palmer, human resource associate in Facilities Management.

“Anthony is a 28-year state employee that is still a go-getter and motivator,” Palmer said. “He is normally seen on campus with a large smile and a hello. His people skills have given many people on campus the opportunity to meet and remember him.”

Jackson assisted in starting the volunteer list for overtime and has been a volunteer for the snow crew and other emergency situations for years. He also gives introductory instructions to the maintenance assistant of the Office of Residential Life about plumbing on campus. He is also a member of the Bargaining Committee, the Campus Staff Development Committee, the Facilities Staff Development Committee and has served on the Staff Award Committee.

Outside of UMBC, Jackson retired in 1999 with 21 years served from the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a Gunnery Sergeant.

Jackson is a recipient of the Employee of the Month award from several years ago. He serves as the vice president of the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He also teaches free martial arts in Baltimore city under the direction of Riley Hawkins.

Jackson received his award Thursday, September 25, at a surprise celebration.

J. Kevin Eckert, Erickson School, in McKnight’s
McKnight’s Long-Term Care & Assisted Living magazine profiled J. Kevin Eckert, dean of the Erickson School, in its August 1 issue. The magazine is considered a leading publication in the aging-services sector. Eckert “believes that the way the Erickson School is preparing future leaders in aging services and helping reinvent the way society views and responds to aging is also cause for optimism,” the story said.

http://www.mcknights.com/Student-of-the-world/article/113660/

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller’s latest column for the Baltimore Sun assessed the Democrats’ presidential election strategies for the West. “Led by Chairman Howard Dean, Democrats thirsty for victory picked Denver (for its convention) with the intent of converting (Colorado) and other portions of the West away from the Republican Party and into fertile, blue terrain,” Schaller wrote. The column, “How the West Will be Won,” ran August 26.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller26aug26,0,5818068.column

Schaller told the Los Angeles Times that the Democrats’ best strategy during the convention is to emphasize issues of most importance to Western voters. “Democrats can’t sell New York-style, Massachusetts-style union politics out there,” Schaller said. “They can sell a new environmentally conscious, pragmatic governing style.” The story, “Democrats Focus on Rocky Mountain West,” ran August 24 and also appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune August 25.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-west24-2008aug24,0,3399804.story

http://www.startribune.com/politics/27337529.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUbP:P:Q_V_MPQLa7PYDUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

The New Yorker cited Schaller’s book Whistling Past Dixie and its call on the Democrats to focus on successful strategies for the West. Schaller “argues that Democrats should give up on the South and focus on the West, partly because white Southerners, more than any other group, use social issues as a prism through which they view all other issues—and that attempts by Democrats to express some cultural affinity with these voters are rarely successful,” the magazine reported. The article, “The Code of the West,” appeared in the September 1 issue.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/09/01/080901fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all

Schaller told ABC News that a Democratic presidential victory will come by winning pivotal independents in Mountain States. “Whoever can grab the greater share of the attention of the Colorado independents is probably going to win the state’s nine electoral votes,” Schaller said. The story, “Democrats Court West’s Independents,” aired on World News Tonight August 25.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Conventions/story?id=5650766&page=1

UMBC in U.S.News & World Report
UMBC was named an “Up-and-Coming” campus in the latest U.S.News & World Report America’s Best Colleges Guide. UMBC is among the top five national universities recognized as innovators, with George Mason, Clemson, University of Southern California and Arizona State University. The Baltimore Sun and Washington Post reported UMBC’s selection to the list August 22 and August 23, respectively.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.rankings22aug22,0,2269862.story

UMBC in the Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun profiled freshman move-in day at UMBC, interviewing faculty mentor Karin Readel, a senior lecturer in the geography and environmental systems department, freshmen Ziggy Pyzik and Seth Behrick and President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III. Freshman Blake Hubble was pictured. The story, “Orderly Chaos at UMBC,” ran August 24.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.move24aug24,0,6396194.story

Read President Hrabowski's Convocation address here: www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/welcome/convocation2008.html.

Visit www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/welcome/stateofuniv2008.html to read the State of the University Address.

Ready, Set, Learn about the New Student Administration (SA) System

You’ve heard about Student Administration (SA), but do you know how it will impact you or how you will use it?

The Admissions Module of Student Implementation is scheduled to be deployed in early October. Coinciding with this implementation is the implementation of the new Document Imaging Application called ImageNow. Both SA Admissions and ImageNow will provide improved functionality to the Academic Departments to review student application data, including supporting documentation. What you see, and how it is displayed, is dependent on two factors; are you involved with undergraduate or graduate admissions, and what is your role in the department?

To prepare you for this implementation, the SA Training Team has been busy developing several learning events:

• Lunch & Learn Series
• GPD/GPC Training

The events are designed to introduce the academic departments to the new Application Summary tool to replace OVR, and to introduce the Graduate Program Directors and Graduate Program Coordinators to SADI (Student Administration Document Imaging). Training for each respective role will begin in September, and will be presented in a Lunch & Learn demonstration and/or a hands-on training class. A list of planned events for the SA Admissions and Document Imaging implementation follows, and can also be found on the SA website at www.umbc.edu/sa.

Lunch & Learn Series

Beginning in September, the following Lunch & Learn events are planned for faculty and staff in academic departments, though it is open to any staff member who is interested in learning more about how SA Admissions will impact the campus.

September 8 – Using the Undergraduate Application Summary
September 9 – Student Administration and the Graduate School
September 17 – Using the Undergraduate Application Summary
September 23 – Student Administration and the Graduate School
September 25 – Using the Undergraduate Application Summary

GPD/GPC Training

Graduate Program Directors and Graduate Program Coordinators are encouraged to attend the SADI Graduate Department Admissions Processing course offered on the following dates in September & October. This hands-on course will provide you with the foundation required to effectively use the Graduate Application Summary:

September 25
October 2
October 9
October 14
October 21
October 29

Additional dates are available through February 2008.

You can register for all available classes at www.umbc.edu/training.

Please go to www.umbc.edu/sa to learn more about the role based training plans, specific course descriptions and additional details on the SA implementation.

Warren Belasco, American Studies, in the Washington Post
Warren Belasco, professor of American studies and a noted writer and pioneer in the field of food studies, was featured in an August 20 Washington Post article entitled “Field Studies.” The piece focused on how increased interest in organic farming and environmental sustainability has driven a nearly 50 percent spike in food-related college programs and courses over the past six years.

Belasco’s forthcoming book, Food: The Key Concepts (Berg Publishers), was mentioned as one of several food studies books available to meet the growing demand.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081900599.html

Keri Burneston ‘99, Duff Goldman ’97, Tim Nohe, Visual Arts, in Baltimore Magazine
A Baltimore Magazine profile of the performance art group Fluid Movement featured several UMBC alumni as current or past members. The troupe was the brainchild of Keri Burneston ’99, visual and performing arts.

Tim Nohe, associate professor of visual arts, was quoted in the article describing Burneston’s creative style as “a crazy sparkle aesthetic. Her take is, if something isn’t completely fabulous, throw more glitter at it,” Nohe said. Goldman ’97, philosophy and history, is a former member but is now better known for the “Ace of Cakes” Food Network reality show documenting his custom cake business.

The story, “Shiny, Happy People,” appears in the August issue.

http://baltimoremag.com/article.asp?t=1&m=1&c=30&s=611&ai=72840

Mark Alice Durant, Visual Arts, in the Baltimore Sun
Mark Alice Durant, professor of visual arts at UMBC and curator of the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), was quoted in an August 21 Baltimore Sun story, “A Monument to the Past,” on the BMA’s new self-guided tour podcast highlighting 14 of the city’s statues or monuments. According to the article, “The podcast features the voices of local artists, historians, authors and curators discussing the significance and history” of the works.
“Our history is really 'our histories,’” Durant said. “Baltimore residents' conceptions of what is worthy of being remembered becomes more scattered. We don't have the same kind of reverence.”

www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bal-li.arts21aug21,0,2341151.story

Bill Thomas, The Erickson School, in the Baltimore Sun
Bill Thomas, professor at The Erickson School, was quoted in an August 20 Baltimore Sun article, “Age a Source of Comedy Fodder,” examining the creeping ageism in the 2008 presidential campaign as late-night TV comics, blogs and Web sites continue to poke fun at Sen. John McCain’s age.

Thomas described the jokes as alarming, but not surprising. “Voters can ask questions and be critical of his positions and his candidacy, but to dismiss him out-of-hand because he's 71, soon to be 72, that's not acceptable,” said Thomas.

www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/custom/today/bal-ageism0820,0,3417427.story

Vanderlei Martins, Physics, in the News
Vanderlei Martins, associate professor of physics, was in the news this week thanks to a study he co-authored that shed light on a problem that has long puzzled weather and climate researchers: how aerosols (the tiny particles that make up soot, smoke, ocean spray and dust) impact cloud formation, rainfall and climate change.

Martins co-authored a study published in the August 15 issue of the journal Science and the story was covered by media across the world including MarketWatch.com and Mangalorean.com of India.

www.umbc.edu/window/amazon_clouds.html

Two UMBC Women’s Lacrosse Players Named to IWLCA Academic Honor Roll
Juniors Kara Dorr and Ashley Lancer were selected to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division-I Academic Honor Roll, the organization announced last week.

www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/wlacrosse/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=4180

To: The UMBC Community

Fr: Facilities Management

Re: Parking Lot Closures

In the next week, several campus parking lots will be closed for maintenance and repairs (weather permitting):

Monday, August 18th & Tuesday, August 19th
Parking Lot #9 and #9A will be closed to all vehicle traffic for lot maintenance.
During the 18th & 19th all parking traffic from #9 & #9A will be diverted to Lot #8B.

Wednesday, August 20th
Parking Lot #8A & #8B will be closed to all vehicle traffic for lot maintenance.
During the 20th all parking traffic from Lot #8A & #8B will be diverted to Lot #9.

Wednesday, August 20th
Stadium Parking Lot will be closed to all vehicle traffic for lot maintenance.
During the 20th all parking traffic from the Stadium Lot will be diverted to Giffen Hill Lot or Lot #17.

Thursday, August 21st & Friday, August 22nd
Parking Lot #22 will be closed to all vehicle traffic for lot maintenance.
During the 21st & 22nd all parking traffic from Lot #22 will be diverted to Hilltop Road.

Sunday, August 24th
Curbs and crosswalks on Administration Drive will be painted. A road closure will not be required; however, traffic will be reduced to one lane and parking along Administration Drive will be prohibited. Parking in the Administration Drive Garage will remain open.

Vehicles not removed by 7 a.m. of the day of closure will be ticketed and/or towed.

We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Work Control at ext. 5-2550.

Judah Ronch, The Erickson School, in The Washington Post
Judah Ronch, professor of practice at The Erickson School, was quoted in an August 12, Washington Post article examining the rise in brain fitness software aimed at elders. Games with titles like “Brain Age” and “Mind Fit” are big business, and claim to help stave off cognitive problems associated with aging such as Alzheimer’s. But in many cases, the marketing seems to have outpaced the science.
"Is there any evidence that they're any better [at staving off dementia than exercise or social engagement]?” said Ronch. “No. But because of the commercial potential, people are beating that horse and hoping it comes in."

The article, “Is It Really Smart to Teach Old Brains New Tricks?” is online at
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/11/ST2008081101079.html?hpid=topnews

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller’s latest column for the Baltimore Sun focused on the need for Democratic Party unity behind presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama. Schaller pointed out that many supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton may disrupt the Democratic National Convention in Denver and argued that both Sen. Clinton and her husband should do more to heal party rifts as the general election is just 100 days away.

The column, “Clinton, backers should put a stop to party disunity,” is online at:
www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller12aug12,0,3393226.column.

Schaller also hosted an Aug. 11 Salon political roundtable in which two prominent journalists and a Bush-Cheney campaign official discussed why Obama is not faring better in polls against presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain.

“Why isn’t Obama crushing McCain?” is online at:
www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/08/11/obama/

Each year, at the start of the fall semester, the UMBC community comes together to welcome colleagues and students back to campus, celebrate our achievements, and launch the academic year. Please join us at the Fall Opening Meeting beginning at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, August 21 in the University Center Ballroom. Following the meeting, we will have the opportunity to socialize during a light-fare, buffet lunch, which will conclude by 1:30 p.m.

We will hear from two of our incoming undergraduate and graduate students. The program also will include remarks by the Provost and the President’s annual State of the University Address.

So that as many people as possible may attend, release time for staff will be granted from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All campus offices will remain open, and services will continue to be offered. Supervisors should work with staff members to arrange for staffing coverage.

Convocation - August 26
RAC, 3:30 p.m.
Convocation is the formal, ceremonial assembly of the members of the academic community. This traditional ceremony is observed at UMBC and at colleges and universities throughout the world. At UMBC, it marks the beginning of the new academic year. UMBC's convocation features a special welcome to new students and their families, and the ceremony concludes with all of the new students putting on their UMBC pins for the first time, signaling that they are formally and officially members of the UMBC community.

With Vice President for Student Affairs Nancy Young's permission, University Health Services will be closed to patients on Tuesday, August 19, so our staff and providers can attend mandatory certifications and trainings. From 1 to 5 p.m. we will be open to accept immunization records, take phone messages, etc., but will not be able to see patients since all providers will be in their trainings.

In the event of a medical emergency on campus, please call campus police at ext. 5-5555 on campus, or 911. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at ext. 5-3751 prior to that date.

Thank you for your understanding.

Jennifer K. Lepus
Director, UHS

bwtech@umbc in the Baltimore Business Journal
Baltimore’s RMF Engineering plans to move into a new office building at bwtech@umbc Research Park Corporation. As the first tenant in a new building at the research park, RMF plans to work with the College of Engineering and Information Technology in developing a curriculum, consulting with faculty and providing guest lecturers for certain engineering classes. The story, “UMBC Lures Tenant for Growing Research Park,” ran on Aug. 5.

http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/08/04/daily19.html?b=1217908800^1680036&surround=etf

Melissa Bernero ’09, Adrienne Hawkins ’09 on WYPR-88.1 FM
The Governor’s Summer Internship Program, coordinated by the Shriver Center, has positioned roughly 25 college students to present and debate public policy initiatives before Gov. O’Malley on Aug. 8. Melissa Bernero ’09 and Adrienne Hawkins ’09 were guests on Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast, where they discussed the public policy initiatives they are drafting with the supervision of state leaders and Roy Meyers, professor of political science. The interview aired Aug. 4 on WYPR-88.1 FM.

www.wypr.org/MD_MORNING.html

Dennis Coates, Economics, in the Baltimore Sun
In an opinion column for the Baltimore Sun, Dennis Coates, professor of economics, questioned the potential positive economic benefit that a new indoor sports and entertainment arena would bring to Baltimore’s west side. “Even if the proposed facility would do all the things that the proponents claim, it cannot be concluded that the use of public funds in such an endeavor is good public policy. Before writing the check for the arena, sensible and effective policy would consider the benefits to the city and state, and even the west side of Baltimore, of using the money in alternative ways,” Coates wrote. The column, “A Worthy Endeavor?” appeared on Aug. 6.

www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.arena06aug06,0,1497188.story

UMBC in the News
The Princeton Review ranked UMBC second on its “Most Diverse Student Body” list. The Baltimore Business Journal noted the distinction in its coverage of The Princeton Review annual rankings guide, The Best 368 Colleges: 2009 Edition. The story, “Maryland Colleges Get High and Low Marks on Princeton Review Study,” ran on Aug. 1.

www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/07/28/daily36.html?f=et52&ana=e_du

“Dot Earth,” The New York Times blog on the environment and natural resources, cited a blog developed by UMBC researchers with their partners at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The UMBC blog reports results of data processed from satellite ozone-monitoring instruments. Daily images of sulfur dioxide “hot spot” regions around the world, including Beijing, site of the 2008 Summer Olympics, are also posted and available at http://so2.umbc.edu/omi. The item appeared on Aug. 6.

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/what-will-cure-chinas-sulfurous-skies/?ex=1218686400&en=712c58e7949ee4fc&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Women’s Lacrosse Assistant Kelly Berger Competes with Team USA at Prague Cup
Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach Kelly Berger was a member of the U.S. National Team that won the Prague Cup at the end of June.

www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/wlacrosse/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=4171

Robert Deluty Publishes a New Book
Robert Deluty, associate dean of the Graduate School, has published his 17th book of poetry, titled Ripples to the Horizon. In his review of the book, Richard M. Berlin, editor of Poets on Prozac: Mental Illness, Treatment and the Creative Process, writes that "Deluty demonstrates once again that he is both a master poet and a brilliant observer of human behavior. Like a gifted naturalist, Deluty captures our every nuance with accuracy,
warmth, compassion, and humor."

Ripples to the Horizon, as well as all of Deluty's other books, are on sale at the UMBC Bookstore.

August 7, 2008

To: The UMBC Community

Fr: Facilities Management

Re: Poplar Avenue Road Closure (8/9)

In our continuing efforts to maintain and improve the campus, Facilities Management has scheduled a road closure for Poplar Avenue on Saturday, August 9, beginning at 7 a.m. and continuing until 5 p.m. This closure is necessary for sealing and restriping the roadway.

Cars parked in this area must be removed before 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 9. Cars that are not moved will be towed.

Poplar Avenue will be blocked and closed at the following intersections:

-Hilltop Circle and Poplar Avenue

-Center Road and Poplar Avenue

-Park Road and Poplar Avenue

Every effort will be made to complete this work as quickly as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Work Control at ext. 5-2550.

Parking permits for the upcoming academic year go on sale August 12, 2008. The faculty/staff parking permit annual cost in FY2009 will be $260.

The new permits may be displayed immediately. Permits are enforced year round. UMBC Parking Rules and Regulations are posted at www.umbc.edu/parking. For additional information, contact Parking Services by calling ext. 5-2551 or e-mailing parking@umbc.edu.
.
GATE CARD HOLDERS
Gate card holders will continue to use their current gate card with their new gated faculty/staff permit. DO NOT TURN IN YOUR GATE CARD.

PERMITS PURCHASED THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTION
Faculty and staff already enrolled in the payroll deduction program will not need to complete new forms. Anyone wishing to terminate their participation in the payroll deduction program due to termination, payment in full at the cashier, or a new parking location, must submit a cancellation form to Parking Services. Parking Services will handle the distribution of permits and gate cards for employees participating in the payroll deduction program. Permits and gate cards for eligible employees actively enrolled in the payroll deduction program during the past year will be delivered to the employee’s department by August 25, 2008.

Payroll deduction will begin with checks dated September 5, 2008 and continue through checks dated May 29, 2009. The bi-weekly payroll deduction will be $13 for permit and $17 for gated permit and gate card.

New participants in the payroll deduction program must complete payroll deduction forms and obtain their permits and gate cards (if applicable) from Parking Services. Eligible employees who wish to initiate participation in the payroll deduction program must register no later than August 25, 2008. Payroll deduction forms will be accepted for new employees only within two weeks of their hire date from August 26, 2008 to February 24, 2009. Anyone purchasing a parking permit after February 24, 2009 will be required to pay by cash, check, or credit card only. For additional information regarding the parking payroll deduction program, contact Parking Services at ext. 5-2551.

PERMITS PURCHASED BY CASH, CHECK OR CREDIT CARD
Faculty and staff paying by cash, check or credit card may purchase a permit at the Cashier’s Office (3rd Floor, Administration Building) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. beginning August 12, 2008. However, permits purchased through the payroll deduction program will not be available at the Cashier’s Office.

Faculty and staff who have outstanding debts to UMBC will be required to satisfy them before they can purchase new parking permits/gate cards. The replacement cost for lost/stolen/misplaced permits and/or gate cards is $25.00. All replacement requests must be submitted to Parking Services and an authorization letter will be provided to obtain a replacement at the Cashier’s Office. Refunds will not be issued for parking permit fees.