The IRS recently announced an increase in the amount of additional federal income tax that employers must withhold from wages paid to non-resident aliens. The additional dollar amount of tax withheld from each paycheck is $33 for monthly employees and $15 for a biweekly employee. These amounts are in addition to general tax withholding requirements. This revised tax withholding took effect Jan. 1 and is documented in new IRS Publication 15. For more information, contact the Payroll Office at (814) 865-7621.
America's newcomers will be the topic of the next edition of "To the Best of My Knowledge," President Graham B. Spanier's monthly radio call-in show airing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, on WPSU-FM (91.5, 106.7, 95.1, 90.1, 100.9 and 104.7).
Joining Spanier to discuss contemporary trends in immigration to the United States and their impact on the future of the country will be Gordon De Jong, distinguished professor of sociology and demography; Frank Sherry, executive director of The National Immigration Forum; and Ira Mehlman, California media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
Listeners with opinions about whether Americans are doing enough to ease the transition of new immigrants and whether new immigrants are doing enough to fit into American life are encouraged to join the discussion by calling (800) 543-8242 during the one-hour broadcast. Internet users worldwide will be able to link to sound and pictures from the program at http://www.psu.edu/ur/tech/tech.html; and they will be able to contact the president during the program via e-mail to response@psu.edu.
"To the Best of My Knowledge" is a series designed to explore topics of national and local interest and to allow listeners a chance to communicate directly with Penn State's president. Future shows are planned for March 28, April 25, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 24, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19.
The American Red Cross will conduct several blood drives on the University Park campus during the month of February. Dates of the drives follow:
n Feb. 1, 2 and 3: HUB Alumni Hall, 10 a.m.-4p.m. each day;
n Feb. 7: Housing and Food Services Building, call Connie at 237-2713 to schedule an appointment;
n Feb. 11: Hammond Building, Kunkle Lounge, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.;
n Feb. 11: Materials Research Laboratory, call Joanne at 865-2896 to schedule;
n Feb. 14: Applied Research Laboratory, call Yvonne at 865-6373 to schedule;
n Feb. 15: Rider Building area, call Karen at 863-4501 to schedule; and
n Feb. 23: HUB Alumni Hall, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
For additional schedule information, call Connie Schroeder, Red Cross Blood Services campus coordinator, 237-2713, or e-mail ccblood@vicon.net. Individuals may safely donate blood every 56 days. To confirm donor eligibility, call the regional Red Cross at 1-800-54-BLOOD, extension 2797.
Nominations are being sought for the annual Rosemary Schraer Mentor Award, sponsored by the Commission for Women. The award, created in memory of Rosemary Schraer, former associate provost for Penn State, honors a current University employee who has excelled in helping others to recognize and achieve their potential professionally and personally.
Nominations are due by Monday, Jan. 24, and should be returned to Robin Anderson, 401 Old Main, University Park, Pa. 16802. Nomination forms are available on the Web at http://www.lions.psu.edu/cfw/. For more information, call the Commission for Women office at (814) 863-7696.
The Commission for Women is hosting a faculty reception from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at University Park to provide female faculty members with an opportunity to meet their colleagues and network. The event, which will feature light refreshments and a cash bar, is being held for assistant, associate and full professors throughout the Penn State system. For more information, e-mail Rita Williams at rcw3@psu.edu.
The College of the Liberal Arts and the College of Communications are seeking applications for the Katey Lehman Creative Writing Awards in poetry, fiction and nonfiction/journalism. The competition is open to all Penn State undergraduates, regardless of curriculum or campus, who have at least sophomore standing and will be in residence during the spring 2000 semester. Winners of the $750 prize awarded in each category will be announced March 15. Application forms are available from the Department of English, 103 Burrowes Building, University Park, Pa. 16802 or online at http://www.psu.edu/dept/english/Programs/ugradhbk/kateyapp.html. Entrants may submit no more than four poems, one short story or one nonfiction/journalism article in each category.
Health Matters, the series of health-related programs offered each semester at University Park by the Office of Human Resources, has a new registration system. Because of the change to the new system, confirmation letters that are generally sent out to those planning to attend have not been sent. Soon an e-mail confirmation system will be available, as well as a campus mail confirmation letter, if requested.
Those who have registered for classes during this changeover period should consider themselves enrolled pending payment, if applicable. Anyone with concerns about their registration status, should call Health Matters at (814) 865-3085.
Pattee Library and Paterno Library now offer a limited photocopy service. To use, patrons collect materials to be copied, fill out a form and leave the materials at any of the subject libraries' reference desks, or at the reference desk in 105 Pattee Library. Materials should be copied in two working days, Monday through Friday. Patrons may either pick up their copies or have them mailed via campus mail. The University Libraries will bill patrons who use the service.
Questions about the photocopying service or related fees should be directed to Amy Paster, head of the Life Sciences Library, (814) 865-3708 or alp@psulias.psu.edu.
The Food lab needs normal-weight women, ages 19-45, to participate in a study this spring. This study consists of eating breakfast (9 a.m.) and lunch (1 p.m.) in our lab one day a week for seven weeks. You will also be asked to stay in the lab from 10:45 am until after lunch on testing days. If interested, call Fan at (814) 863-8482.
Penn State Mailing Services ask faculty and staff to refrain from having personal mail and packages delivered to campus office addresses. This appears to be a growing problem, especially the delivery of packages and catalogs. University policy prohibits the use of Mailing Services and campus mailroom staff for the receipt and delivery of personal items.
Some employees on campus apparently have begun making personal group purchases from vendors that will deliver only to business addresses, and have those items delivered to the campus.
Bulky personal items quickly overwhelm the standard mail-sorting routine as well as the bins in campus mail delivery trucks. Additionally, facilities coordinators who oversee building mailrooms note that receiving and delivering personal packages and mail often involves considerable time for mailroom employees.
Faculty and staff cooperation will assist Mailing Services and building mailroom staff in processing departmental mail in a timely and cost-effective manner.