GRASSROOTS NETWORK TO MOBILIZE STATEWIDE ADVOCACY FOR PENN STATE
Penn State's state appropriation per student is the lowest in the Commonwealth -- lower than Pitt, lower than Temple, lower than all 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education, and lower than any other public institution in the Big Ten. Why? Good question. Want to do something about it? Come to town hall meetings to learn more about the Penn State Grassroots Network and how you can become an advocate for the University. Meetings are currently scheduled in Pittsburgh (April 2), Harrisburg (April 7), Philadelphia (April 15) and Wilkes-Barre (April 21). Richard DiEugenio, special assistant to the president for governmental affairs, will present "Appropriations Challenge -- A Legislative Perspective," followed by light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Penn State President Graham B. Spanier will be attending the town hall meetings in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. For more on the Penn State Grassroots Network, go to http://www.alumni.psu.edu/grassroots/

 

STUDENT IN ANTARCTICA ANSWERS PENN STATE NEWSWIRE READERS' QUESTIONS
If this winter's persistence has you frustrated, be glad you're not experiencing summer in Antarctica. While it might be easy to imagine penguins thriving in the Antarctic, it probably is much more difficult to fathom life in Antarctica for a fellow Nittany Lion. But Paul Thur loves life near the South Pole. While working for the U.S. Antarctic Program to help build a runway on the Ross Ice Shelf, he also is earning his certificate in geographic information systems through Penn State's World Campus. What is it like being at the bottom of the world? Newswire subscribers asked and Thur answered. To see the exclusive Q & A and learn more about Thur's experience in Antarctica, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/extra/2003/antarctica/

 

DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS CAN PRESERVE TREES DURING CONSTRUCTION
When planning a new subdivision or commercial development, building a single house, or even adding to an existing home, important native or historic trees can be preserved in the landscape without incurring major added costs, says a community forestry expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "In the past, builders and developers usually bulldozed a site and planted new trees to create a landscape," says Bill Elmendorf, assistant professor and urban and community forest program coordinator in the School of Forest Resources. "Although that still happens, many developers and builders are recognizing the value of preserving groves of trees, historic or unique individual trees and riparian areas." Elmendorf points out that preserving existing trees adds value to properties, makes new or existing homes more salable and allows sellers to ask a premium price. For the full story, visit http://aginfo.psu.edu/News/march03/trees.html

 

PENN STATE PART OF NSF STUDY ON BROADENING MISSION OF AMERICAN FACULTY
When it comes to churning out crack scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, no one does it better than the American research university. Now, Penn State will be collaborating with other Big Ten universities on a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) on developing a working laboratory to help graduate students and faculty develop teaching skills that match their skills in the lab. The University will help to test combinations of training programs and strategies to implement them, and will use a "bottom-up" approach in which it will identify a team of key faculty and administrators who will make a commitment to the new programs and strategies. Penn State members of the research team include Richard Cyr, professor of biology, Peter Jurs, professor of chemistry, Akhlesh Lakhtakia, professor of engineering science and mechanics, and Carol Colbeck, director of Penn State's Center for the Study of Higher Education and professor of higher education. For the full story, visit http://www.ed.psu.edu/news/cirtlgrant.asp