BIOGRAPHER EXAMINES LIFE OF HO CHI MINH
A Penn State historian has written a major biography on Ho Chi Minh, one of the most important, prominent, and controversial political leaders of the 20th century, yet to many contemporary observers, he remains a shadowy figure. "Ho Chi Minh: A Life" is the culmination of over two decades of extensive research carried out in five languages by Dr. William Duiker, the Liberal Arts Professor Emeritus of East Asian Studies. "Ho Chi Minh: A Life" is published by Hyperion Books. In this portrait of a man who went from a tiny village to a place on the world stage alongside the key players of our time: Joseph Stalin, Sun Yat-sen, Harry Truman, Nikita Krushchev, Mao Zedong, and Lyndon Johnson. For more on this story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/hochiminh.html
BITS HELPS BOOST TECHNOLOGY SKILLS FOR STAFF
Building Information Technology Skills … and Beyond, affectionately known as BITS, is a new Web-based teaching and learning system to help Penn State faculty and staff boost their information technology skills. According to John Harwood, director of educational technology services and a primary BITS architect, BITS is a low-cost way departments can offer professional development for staff at any level, anywhere and at any time. "Providing development opportunities is a challenge in an organization as large and distributed as Penn State," says Billie Willits, assistant vice president for human resources. Learning preferences, varying schedules, skills and workload often limit such opportunities. For the full story by Heather Hertzog see tomorrow’s Intercom at http://www.psu.edu/ur/INTERCOM. To learn more about BITS, go to http://wbt.cac.psu.edu/bits/
RETAIL ONLINE SALES DEPARTMENTS BETTER PREPARED
Retailers are expecting more online sales this holiday season. It’s estimated that Americans will spend more than $600 million purchasing toys and children’s videos online this year. Many companies had logistical nightmares last year, but many are reshaping their ordering and delivery departments to avoid those disasters, says William L. Grenoble, executive director and senior research associate for the Center for Logistics Research; and Douglas J. Thomas, assistant professor of business logistics and operations management. This year, Thomas notes that companies are simulating four to six times the normal amount of online sales to make sure they are prepared. For more, go to http://www.smeal.psu.edu
LISTEN TO WPSU FOR UNIVERSITY PARK WEATHER DELAYS
Predictions of winter weather vary widely this year, but there is no reason to be confused when it finally comes. WPSU-FM, Penn State’s Public Radio Station, will have the official word. "Severe winter weather could mean class and office delays or cancellations. Now that WPSU is well-established as our winter weather message center, we can make one call to WPSU and know that we are getting the message out to nearly all employees and students at one time," says Thomas Harmon, director of University Police. WPSU-FM -- 91.5 in State College, Bellefonte, Lock Haven and surrounding areas; and 90.1 in the northern counties. WPSU is on the Web at http://www.wpsu.psu.edu and is a good alternative for those who live outside the WPSU listening area. The official weather word will also be available on the emergency number at (814) 865-4000. For a complete list of WPSU station frequencies, go to http://www.wpsu.psu.edu/about.html. For more on the story go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/winterweather.html
BIOLOGIST TO STUDY URBANIZATION, PARASITIC DISEASES
Joseph Kiesecker, professor of biology, has been awarded a $2.09 million grant over five years as principle investigator for a project to study how humans and urbanization impact wetlands and what that impact means in terms of disease for amphibians. The study is part of a joint program conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and has support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Kiesecker’s proposal was accepted for its interesting look at the influence of physical and chemical changes on wetlands. It has the potential to determine what 'sentinel indicators' of changes in environment that might eventually influence human health. For the full story, go to http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Kiesecker11-2000.htm
'TIS THE SEASON TO AVOID STRESS
The holiday season brings about a great deal of hustle and bustle--the shopping, the traveling, the visiting, the decorating, baking, celebrations, parties, plays, crafts. For many families the routine is even more stressed by the fact that the childcare center is closed, school is on hold and the kids are home. "Accept that ‘tis the season’ and the family will be busier than usual, your children will be home all day, and plan for it" says Linda Duerr, director of the Child Development Laboratory in the College of Health and Human Development. She advises that families treat this time as a gift and do things together. For tips to help you through the holidays, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/holidaystress.html
PENN COLLEGE JOINS TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania College of Technology has joined the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania, a nonprofit association in Central Pennsylvania. The Harrisburg-based TCCP members include technology industries as well as high schools, colleges, economic and business-development associations, and government agencies. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the College to expand its ties with the technology community," said Penn College President Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour. For more, go to http://www.pct.edu
GREAT VALLEY MBA PROGRAM IS PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
The Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies MBA Program received an award for Educational Program of the Year at the 2000 Enterprise Awards ceremony in Philadelphia. The award was presented to Bill and Ellen Foster-Curtis by the Eastern Technology Council. Penn State was chosen earlier as a finalist along with the University of Pennsylvania's Executive Master's in Technology Management and Temple University's Fox School of Management. For information on Great Valley go to http://www.gv.psu.edu/