AWARENESS OF LEADERSHIP STYLE HELPS MANAGERS
Business managers who are well aware of their leadership styles are more likely to succeed at their jobs than their peers, but they don’t necessarily command the greatest loyalty from subordinates, according to a Penn State researcher who studied the issue of 360-degree feedback. John J. Sosik, associate professor of management and organization at Penn State Great Valley Graduate School, surveyed 83 managers at an information technology-consulting firm, along with three each of their subordinates and their supervisors, to see how the perceptions of each compared with the others’. He found that self-aware managers who rated themselves on charismatic leadership on a similar level as subordinates tended to get the best marks from supervisors when stacked up against managers termed as “over-estimators” and “under-estimators.” The study will appear in the December issue of the journal, Group and Organization Management. For the full story by David Jwanier, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/manageremotionintel.html.
DAVENPORTS GIVE $3 MILLION TO SCIENCE, BUSINESS
Penn State alumni Ronald R. and Judith Loftin Davenport, of Pittsburgh, have committed a total of $3 million to endow one faculty chair in the Eberly College of Science and another in The Smeal College of Business Administration. Ronald Davenport is chairman and chief executive officer of Sheridan Broadcasting Corp., a radio network with more than 300 affiliates in 39 states and the largest African/American-owned communications network in the United States. Judith Davenport is a dentist and co-founder and director of Sheridan Broadcasting Corp. The Smeal College chair will be established in the area of marketing or finance, and the Eberly College chair in the area of biological science. “Ron and Judith’s gift is noteworthy for several reasons, including the impact it will have in two distinctive areas within the University and the fact that it is the largest gift ever made by a minority couple or individual in the history of Penn State,” said Penn State President Graham Spanier. For the full story by Laura Stocker, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/davenportgift.html.
PENN STATE HOSTS HIGHER EDUCATION TECH FORUM
Penn State recently hosted the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) TechForum 2001, an annual opportunity for participants from large research universities to explore complex information technology services and infrastructure management issues from both a technical and managerial perspective. The forum included session topics on wireless planning and management, providing 24/7 services, Windows 2000 migration, Web portals, helpdesk management systems, network security and copyright issues. The CIC is a consortium of Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago that focuses on enhancing institutional events through cooperative activities. For the full story by Heather Herzog, visit http://cac.psu.edu/news/techforum.html. To learn more about the CIC, visit http://www.cic.uiuc.edu/index.html.
BOSTON POPS BRINGING SEASONAL FAVORITES TO CAMPUS
Conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra will bring Boston’s favorite holiday tradition to Penn State with a performance Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus. This evening will feature the Boston Pops’ own arrangements of seasonal favorites with traditional carols sung by the Cape Cod-based chorus Gloriae Dei Cantores. Ticket are $39.50 and $49.50 for reserved seats and go on sale Saturday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center, Eisenhower Auditorium, selected Uni-Mart ticket outlets and Commonwealth Campus ticket outlets, or charge by phone at (800) 863-3336, locally at (814) 865-5555, or at http://www.bjc.psu.edu. A limited amount of VIP table seating is also available at $89.50. A holiday buffet can also be ordered to compliment the VIP seating. For more information, call (814) 865-5555.
PENN COLLEGE ENROLLMENT UP BY MORE THAN 4 PERCENT
The number of students attending the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport has risen by more than 4 percent this fall, resulting in the highest enrollment ever recorded at the institution, an affiliate of Penn State. Based on third-week enrollment figures, there are 5,538 students attending the College, an increase of 215 (4.1 percent) from last year. “We are pleased with the enrollment increase because it confirms Penn College is providing the academic programs that students desire and Pennsylvania’s workforce demands,” said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. “The steady nature of the growth ensures the College will be able to maintain its mission and continue to offer personalized attention to students.” Students from 31 states are attending Penn College this fall, and out-of-state students now account for 5.8 percent of the student population. For the full story, visit http://www.pct.edu/pctoday/news/students/enrollment1001.htm.