ACADEMIC INTEGRITY A FUNDAMENTAL VALUE
Academic integrity is at the heart of all of the University’s endeavors and over the past year, steps have been taken to establish a stronger climate of academic integrity at Penn State. “During the 2000-2001 academic year, the University launched a new approach to invigorate high expectations for personal and academic integrity,” John Cahir, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, told the Board of Trustees yesterday (Sept. 20). The findings of a University Faculty Senate-Provost’s Commission on Academic Integrity led to a new academic integrity policy, adopted by the Faculty Senate, that gives the faculty in each of the University’s academic colleges a major role in dealing with academic dishonesty. Cahir said the new policy has safeguards for students, including a process for dealing with more serious cases and settling disputes in the form of college-based academic integrity committees in each college. For the full story by Amy Neil, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot20sept01integrity.html.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEWS GROWTH
Stressing the college’s unifying theme of diversity and creativity, College of Arts and Architecture Dean Richard Durst informed the Penn State Board of Trustees at its meeting yesterday (Sept. 20) that the college is expanding as it enhances the education of many students in a technologically advanced environment. “We are on a steady growth curve – one we intend to continue – as we carefully analyze our size and faculty workload,” said Durst. The college is recognized as a leader among other arts and architecture programs at universities nationwide, with various sources ranking its digital photography program among the top three nationally; musical theatre, top five nationally; graphic design, top five nationally; landscape architecture, top three nationally; art education, top 10 nationally; and the MFA in Theatre in the top 15 nationally. For the full story by Allison Kessler, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot20sept01durst.html.
PEACE MESSAGE COMES FROM GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS
A new message of peace is circulating around New York City – on t-shirts, postcards and posters – and it’s the product of a few motivated Penn State students who simply wanted to make a difference. Graphic design majors Mark Elias, Tom Klimek, and Brian McCall – all fifth-year seniors – joined the nation in shock and disgust in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks. Their gut reactions? Do something and do it quickly. “We’re not doctors, so we couldn’t help out that way,” Klimek said. “Since we’re designers, we thought we’d try to inspire people through our talent.” When they got together last Tuesday evening, a new image was born. Their design is a replication of the Manhattan skyline. The buildings’ silhouettes are in blue; where the river runs, red and white stripes flow; and where the twin towers once stood are two fingers, forming a peace sign. The wording is plain and simple – We will Resurrect Peace. For the full story by Allison Kessler, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/peaceimage.html.
NATIONAL BALLET OF CHINA CANCELS PERFORMANCE
A performance scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29, by the National Ballet of China at Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium has been cancelled. The Chinese government will not authorize international travel for the company at this time, according to Susan Stockton, director of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State. Ticket holders for the cancelled event have two options – obtain a refund by returning their tickets no later than Friday, Oct. 5, to the Arts Ticket Center at Eisenhower Auditorium, or apply the dollar value of their National Ballet of China tickets toward the purchase of tickets to any of the other 28 events in the Center for the Performing Arts 2001-2002 season. The Arts Ticket Center will contact patrons to explain their options. For more information, call (814) 863-0255. Outside the local calling area, phone (800) ARTS-TIX. The center is on-line at http://www.cpa.psu.edu.
HUDDLE WITH THE FACULTY TO SHARE VIETNAM STORIES
In a presentation on “Flying ‘Feet Dry’ over North Vietnam: One Short Story from America’s Longest War,” Penn State military historian Carol Reardon will share stories of the men and their mission from the Navy Intruder Squadron VA-75 in Vietnam in 1972 for this week’s “Huddle with the Faculty” before the Penn State-Wisconsin football game. The presentation will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Nittany Lion Inn in the lower level Faculty Staff Room, and is free and open to the public. Reardon is an associate professor of history and director of graduate studies for the Department of History, and a scholar-in-residence of the Penn State Civil War Era Center. For information on this or other Alumni Education programs, contact: Mary Jane Stout at (814) 865-LION (5466) or mailto:mvs4@psu.edu.
SPANIER DELIVERS STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS
Penn State President Graham B. Spanier focused on some significant changes in the landscape of higher education--particularly the role of information technology--in his seventh annual State of the University address this afternoon. He addressed the challenges those changes pose and reviewed Penn State’s efforts in this area, and also highlighted accomplishments at the University over the past year. To view the entire text of the president’s remarks, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/GSpanier/sou/sou2001.html.
TRUSTEES OK $360.75 MILLION APPROPRIATION REQUEST
Penn State is seeking a 4.25 percent base state appropriation increase for the 2002-2003 academic year. In addition, the University is asking for a $12 million increase for special appropriations to support information sciences and technology, agricultural research and cooperative extension, the College of Medicine, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s workforce development. The Board of Trustees today (Sept. 21) approved the request for $360,753,000, a $25.94 million increase over the 2001-2002 state appropriation. “Penn State is the institution of choice for the plurality of the Commonwealth’s most talented students, and a major contributor to workforce development,” according to a report on the state appropriation request. “Penn State is the principal engine of research and technology transfer in Pennsylvania and the major source of university outreach. One in every two Pennsylvania households has someone participating in Penn State programs.” For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot21sept01approp.html
TRUSTEES APPROVE 2002-2003 CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST
Penn State’s Board of Trustees today (Sept. 21) authorized the University to request $100.13 million for capital budget projects from the state legislature for the fiscal year 2002-2003. This includes a total of $91.1 million for construction projects and $9.03 million for original equipment. The bulk of the construction funding request is $71.1 million in projects that were previously authorized by the legislature but were in jeopardy of lapsing due to sunset provisions in the authorization bill. “The capital budget request is an integral component of Penn State’s capital planning process and consists of those projects for which Penn State is seeking authorization for funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Penn State President Graham Spanier in his remarks to the Board. Once authorized, the second step in the process is the release of funds, which is tied to the University’s overall five-year capital plan. For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot21sept01budget.html
PENN STATE TRUSTEES APPROVE PROPERTY SALES
Penn State’s Board of Trustees today (Sept. 21) approved the sale of one off-campus University-owned property to a charitable organization, and of another to a pair of Centre County men. The University will sell 40.7 acres in Patton Township to the Second Mile, former Penn State football defensive coach Jerry Sandusky’s non-profit group for prevention, early intervention and community-based programs for Pennsylvania youth. The mission of Second Mile is to challenge young people to achieve their potential as individuals and community members by providing opportunities for them to develop positive life skills and self-esteem. The other property, a 15.6-acre parcel in Ferguson Township and State College Borough, will be sold to David L. Nevins and Thomas F. Songer II, of Centre County for $1.65 million. For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/botsept01opp.html
FLEXIBILITY, PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO WORK/LIFE PROGRAMS
Flexibility and partnerships are the common threads that run through Penn State’s endeavors to assist faculty, staff and students achieve a better balance between the conflicting demands of professional and personal pursuits, the University’s human resources chief told the Board of Trustees today (Sept. 21). “We need flexibility in order to address the needs of our diverse population, and we need to create and maintain partnerships in order to reduce bureaucracy and expenses,” said Billie Willits, assistant vice president for human resources, during a report on child care and other polices that support employees’ work and personal life. “Although child care is a very important component of any Work/Life program, additional programming is necessary in order to address the multitude of situations that can arise in a university community.” Willits outlined the various programs and policies that provide support in a variety of forms such as procedural, monetary, time, emotional and/or informational to Penn State employees. For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot21sept01child.html
FOOTBALL GAME TO HONOR VICTIMS OF TRAGEDY
Several special ceremonies to honor America and the victims of last week's tragedies are planned for Saturday's Penn State-Wisconsin football game. Kickoff is 12:10 p.m. in Beaver Stadium. Prior to kickoff, there will be a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tragedies which occurred on September 11. There will then be a special video presentation honoring America, followed by the singing of God Bless America. Vocalist Terri Dowdy, a Penn State graduate and State College resident, will lead the crowd in singing God Bless America, as played by the Penn State Blue Band.
After the Penn State and Wisconsin teams have taken the field, the Blue Band will play the Star Spangled Banner and members of Penn State's ROTC will unfurl a large flag on the field. After the national anthem, members of the Nittany Lion and Badger squads will meet and shake hands at midfield as a show of support for our nation before returning to their benches for the game. At halftime, the Blue Band will perform several patriotic songs. The Wisconsin band also will play during the pre-game and halftime festivities.
For more information on Penn State sports go to http://www.GoPSUsports.com.