September 20, 2006

ANNUAL STAFF MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT MICHAEL K. and SUZAN YOUNG
Monday, Oct. 2, 9-10 a.m. Saltair Room, Olpin Union

Take a Break!
Employee Appreciation Day is Sept. 28

Batting Cage - Bingo - Climbing Wall - Employee Talent Show -
Football Field Goal Kick - Hooked on Books - Karaoke - Massages -
Meet Swoop - Soccer Kick

Nearly 4,000 U employees are expected to attend the third annual Employee Appreciation Day on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium’s Olympic Cauldron Park. There will be plenty of give-aways and the first 100 employees to show up will receive a pair of football tickets. Remaining tickets will be distributed randomly throughout the day. Other prizes include tickets to Six Flags, ski passes to Deer Valley, and a football autographed by the U football team. You will need to show your UCard, indicating that you are faculty or staff, to get in. Students who are also employees should bring the event balloon postcard they received in the mail along with their UCard. This event is for U employees only (please, no families). For more information, shuttle schedule, or change in location due to bad weather, visit www.utah.edu/employeeday or call Mary Ann Call at 581-8365.

Utah Supreme Court Decides Against The U

On Friday, Sept. 8, the Utah Supreme Court, in a 4-1 decision, ruled that banning guns on campus violates state law. While the U’s original policy banning guns remains in place, enforcement of the policy has been temporarily suspended. President Young issued the following update on the U’s firearms policy to students, faculty, and staff on September 19, 2006.

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

I am writing to update you on the status of our pursuit of a resolution of the legal and political issues surrounding weapons on campus. After a careful review of last week’s Utah Supreme Court decision, and following extensive discussions with members of the university community, our Board of Trustees, and public officials, we have decided on the following course of action:

Working with the Utah Attorney General’s office, we are requesting a stay in our federal action pending the outcome of discussions with state leaders on a possible legislative accommodation to address our commitment to maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and patients. The University’s policy prohibiting firearms on campus applies to faculty, staff and students, but not to campus visitors. We have agreed, with the Attorney General’s office, to temporarily suspend enforcement of our policy regarding firearms on campus and modify our practices to comply with state law.

Given this decision, let me inform you of current provisions in state law that continue to apply to the University related to the possession and use of firearms:

1. Utah law prohibits weapons on school property, including college campuses, except for firearms that are in the possession of a concealed weapons permit holder. Other narrow exceptions apply, such as guns carried by law enforcement officials.

2. In Utah, a person must be 21 years old to obtain a concealed weapons permit.

3. Firearms held pursuant to a concealed weapons permit must remain concealed—unless the individual is using the firearm to prevent death or serious bodily injury to himself or a third person, or to prevent a forcible felony, according to Utah law. The Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Identification informs concealed weapons permit holders, “If you pull a firearm on someone or even display the weapon, then it must be in self defense or it is not justified.”

4. University policy prohibits physical or verbal threats, harassment, intimidation or other disruptive behavior in the workplace and academic environment. [PPM 2-76 http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/2/2-76.htm]

5. It is a crime to draw or exhibit a firearm in an angry or threatening manner, or to discharge a firearm within 600 feet of a house, dwelling, or building.

6. It is a crime to carry a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, even if the person has a valid concealed weapons permit.

7. Utah law prohibits concealed weapons in “secure areas,” including secure hearing rooms at universities. The University regularly holds hearings in a secure hearing room where campus police provide security and use a metal detector to ensure that no weapons are brought into the hearing.

It is also important to remember that University police officers are available to respond to any situation in which an individual feels threatened on campus.

I realize that this issue is of great concern to many members of the campus community and assure you that the administration is committed to pursuing the most effective resolution of this issue to ensure the safety and well-being of our faculty, staff, students, and patients.

Michael K. Young
President

To read the court’s opinion, visit www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/UnivofUtah090806.pdf. For more information, contact the U’s public relations office at 585-9244 or 581-5180.

HOMECOMING 2006
Crimson Fever Hits Campus

When fall hits the air and temperatures drop, Homecoming can’t be far off. This year’s weeklong celebration will kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 23 and culminate Saturday, Sept. 30 when Utah plays Boise State in Rice-Eccles Stadium at 1 p.m. Look for the traditional activities of house decorating, Songfest, a pep rally on Stilwell Field at Fort Douglas, and the Alumni Association’s 5K Run, Walk, Stroll. The golf tournament, on Friday, Sept. 29, has been moved to Bonneville Golf Course with proceeds from the $100-per-player fees going to scholarships. The Homecoming Scholarship Scramble is open to the first 120 entrants. For a complete schedule of Homecoming events, visit www.alumni.utah.edu/homecoming.

Tightening Our Belts

Higher education student enrollment is falling and that has the Board of Regents taking a hard look at recruitment and retention. The future looks a bit bleak. Population estimates project stagnant growth in the next decade for 18- to 24-year-olds in Utah. On top of that, Utah colleges are losing about half of the students who enroll in college directly out of high school. Utah's system of nine public colleges and universities have already had a taste of the future with an overall enrollment loss of nearly four percent. Some schools like the College of Eastern Utah and Utah Valley State College saw losses of 10 percent or more.

Rich Kendell, Utah commissioner of higher education, says state leaders need to take a hard look at minority enrollment as one opportunity to beef up the numbers. According to U of U research, only 13 percent of Hispanic college-age residents attend college in Utah, compared to 39 percent of white college-age residents. Efforts are underway to examine how to attract more minorities to college and concrete suggestions and possible legislation could be prepared by fall.

Kendell also hopes recruitment efforts can bolster the falling number of Utah women who obtain a college degree. The percentage of women in Utah with a bachelor's degree or higher fell from ninth place in the nation in 1940 to 25th place today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Kendell hopes tapping into minority and female populations can help keep the higher education numbers up during the lean years ahead.

~Taken from an article in the Deseret Morning News, July 26, 2006 by Erin Stewart.

FYI Mystery Photo Contest!
What is it? Where is it?

Photo by Remi Barron

Send your answer (be specific!) to FYI@ucomm.utah.edu by noon on Thursday, Sept. 21 for a chance to win two tickets to the Utah vs. Texas Christian University (TCU) football game on October 5.

The winner will be randomly selected from the pool of those submitting the correct answer. The winner will be listed in the next FYI News due out Oct. 4.

Thanks to the Athletics Department for providing the prize!

This contest is open to U of U faculty and staff only.

Taking a Close Look
U Scheduled for Accreditation Review

The University will host a 13-member evaluation team on campus Oct. 9-11 as part of its reaffirmation of accreditation with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The evaluation reviews and evaluates periodically the performance, integrity, and quality of educational institutions in the NWCCU region. The process takes place every 10 years. David Chapman, dean of the Graduate School and the U’s accreditation liaison officer, states that, “these decadal accreditation visits are an opportunity for the university to show that we are doing our job. Through accreditation, we demonstrate our accountability to our students, our peer academic institutions, and the public.” In preparation for the site visit, an institutional self-study has been completed and is available for review at www.obia.utah.edu/2006Accred/index.php. During the site visit, the evaluation team, which is composed of experienced educators from institutions within the NWCCU region, will review college and departmental self-study documents and exhibits and conduct interviews across campus. Their report will be presented to the NWCCU in December.

Applause Please!

• CHRIS EISENBERG, known for his strong ties to the community, commitment to the nonprofit sector, and fundraising expertise, has joined the Utah Museum of Natural History as its capital campaign director. Eisenberg, former station manager at KCPW public radio, will work with museum staff over the next several years to complete a comprehensive fundraising campaign to raise approximately $35 million of the $65 million needed to build the state's new natural history museum. The new museum is scheduled to be built on University land located south of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum. Read the full press release at http://unews.utah.edu/p/?r=090706-1.

• TED WILSON has been tapped to direct the new Barbara L. and Norman C. Tanner Center for Nonviolent Human Rights advocacy. The new center is under the umbrella of the College of Social and Behavioral Science and will focus on advocacy issues at the interpersonal, community, and global levels through the education and participation of students, faculty, staff, and the greater community. Wilson is former Salt Lake City mayor and former director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics and will be serve as chief fundraiser. GEORGE CHENEY, U professor of communication and director of the undergraduate minor in Peace and Conflict Studies, will serve as the academic director of the new center. Read the full press release at http://unews.utah.edu/p/?r=091206-4.

• EDWARD R. “TED” McALEER has been selected as the first executive director of the Utah Science Technology and Research Economic Development Initiative (USTAR). McAleer was selected from 19 applicants through a vote of the USTAR Governing Authority and will receive a salary of $106,200, the maximum under the law that established USTAR. McAleer, who lives in Park City, is director of technology venture development at the U and has an executive background in several companies.
~From information in the Deseret Morning News, September 15, 2006.

For additional awards and recognitions of U of U faculty and staff, visit http://unews.utah.edu/?action=recognizingU.

Upcoming on Campus...

• Leave your car at home!
By foot, bike, TRAX, or bus—everyone on campus is encouraged to use alternative transportation to get to campus on Friday, Sept. 22—World Car-Free Day. Each year on this date, World Car-Free Day is celebrated by over 100 million people in 1,500 cities around the world. The event is a vital tool in the larger day-to-day, year-to-year process of reducing auto dependence in cities. Locally, the event, supported by the U of U in partnership with UTA, is part of a month long “Curb Your Car” campaign that runs during the month of September. For more information, visit www.utarideshare.com and click on “Curb Your Car Month.”

• Alert from UDOT
Espeically for employees from Davis County northward
I-15 Lane Gain at the Beck Street NB on-ramp
Due to the bottleneck during peak hours, the I-15 northbound (NB) Beck Street on-ramp to the I-215 interchange in North Salt Lake is being widened from three to four lanes. From now through late November, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly, Sunday through Friday, various lane closures on NB I-15 will occur. Some daytime closures will be necessary when paving operations begin. Motorists are urged to slow down in the construction area. UDOT crews will alert motorists of restrictions and suggest alternate routes. For more information, contact Marty at 971-0302 or marty@frontlinepublic.com, or visit www.udot.utah.gov.

• Allies for Equity: New Lecture Series presents "Black Boy"
Monday, Sept. 25, 1-3 p.m., Marriott Center for Dance (free)
“Black Boy” is a stage adaptation of writer Richard Wright’s iconoclastic best-selling autobiography published in 1945. His journey from childhood innocence to adulthood in the Jim Crow South is told through the issues—family, race, injustice, civil rights, faith, and violence—which still resonate in today’s cultural dialogue. “Black Boy” will be performed by Charles Holt who created and produced this critically acclaimed one-man show. This program is the first in a new annual diversity and social justice lecture series sponsored by the School of Social Work student group, Voices of Diversity (VOD). VOD created the lecture series to provide a way for students to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that face diverse populations. Throughout this academic year, six programs will include panel discussions, guest speakers, videos, and group discussions of history from the perspective of the marginalized members of our society. For more information, contact Irene Ota at 581-8913.

• Frederick W. Reynolds Lecture:
From Maya to MEChistA: Ancient Roots of Contemporary Issues Among Latinas/os
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 7-9 p.m., Dumke Auditorium, UMFA (free)
In honor of its 100-year anniversary, Continuing Education is reviving the Frederick William Reynolds Lecture. Established in 1936, the lecture was originally developed for faculty members to give public presentations on timely subjects. In this 56th year, Theresa Martinez, assistant vice president for academic outreach, will present “From Maya to MEChistA: Ancient Roots of Contemporary Issues Among Latinas/os.” From the ancient Maya to their cousins the Mexica, to the contemporary Pachuco and Cholo, Martinez will explore the common threads of conquest and exploitation that have influenced the Latino/a experience in the southwestern United States. The lecture begins at 8 p.m. with a reception preceding at 7 p.m. For more information, contact April Cordova at 581-7973 or acordova@aoce.utah.edu.

• Banned Books Week—Sept. 23–30
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou—The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier—Captain Underpants series, by Dav Pilkey...these are just some of the books periodically removed from shelves at libraries and bookstores nationwide due to public pressure over the past 20 years. In celebration of Banned Books Week, Sept. 23-20, the Campus Store will showcase these titles and others by Stephen King, Judy Blume, and J. K. Rowling. Stop in and check out the black boxes hiding books people didn’t want you to see!

• Fall bulb and native plant sale
Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 at Red Butte Garden
Fall is the best time to plant spring-flowering bulbs and Red Butte Garden offers varieties that are fragrant, pest-resistant, and great for forcing. They also have native plants. Staff will help you select the right plants for your garden. Proceeds benefit the horticulture and education programs at the garden. Regular admission applies; members are free. For more information, visit www.redbuttegarden.org.

Important Deadlines

• Founders Day 2007—Call for nominations
Due Friday, Sept. 29, 2006
To commemorate the founding of the U in 1850, the Alumni Association each year honors four alumni and one non-alumnus/a who have distinguished themselves professionally and individually. Recipients are acknowledged at the annual Founders Day celebration which will be held on March 6, 2007. Call Tricia at 585-9012 for more information or visit www.alumni.utah.edu to obtain a nomination form.

• University Teaching Grants
Due Friday, Sept. 29, 2006
University Teaching Grants are awarded to individual faculty members or University programs wishing to undertake projects that will enhance teaching or curricular development. The grants will provide up to $3,000 for individual projects and additional funding may be requested for group projects. For complete information and proposal instructions, visit http://www.admin.utah.edu/teachingcommittee/index.html. For more information, contact Laura King at 581-8661.

• Distinguished Professor—Call for nominations
Due Friday, Oct. 20, 2006
Nominations are now open for the rank of Distinguished Professor. Nominations from all parts of campus are strongly encouraged, and all faculty members are encouraged to notify other faculty members of this call.

The rank of distinguished professor is reserved for selected individuals whose achievements exemplify the highest goals of scholarship as demonstrated by recognition accorded to them from peers with national and international stature, and whose record includes evidence of a high dedication to teaching as demonstrated by recognition accorded to them by students and/or colleagues.
~ Policy and Procedures 9-2

For a nomination form or more information, visit www.admin.utah.edu/academic or call 581-5057. Nominations are due no later than Friday, Oct. 20 by
5 p.m. and should be sent to: Distinguished Professor Nominations, Office of the Sr. Vice President for Academic affairs, 205 Park Building.

Scuttlebutt

• …From THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
The Big Roundup: Time for a Western States Primary?
The Center for Public Policy is hosting a symposium to discuss the idea of holding a Presidential Primary Election in the West in 2007. Western states are often overlooked by presidential candidates because of low population counts, so banding together increases the chances that they will be taken more seriously. The symposium, which is by invitation only, will bring together leaders and policy makers from Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada to discuss the idea. For more information, visit www.westernpolicynetwork.org.

• …From HUMAN RESOURCES
New-Staff Orientation Now Online
Employee orientation for new campus staff is going to an online format effective Oct. 1. It is critical that the PAN forms for new employees be completed no later than the Wednesday prior to the employee’s first day of work. The new employee will be assigned modules for four classes: Benefits, Safety, Anti-discrimination/Sexual harassment, and New Employee Resources. New employees will use their University ID number (uNID) and Campus Information System (CIS) password to access the modules. The system and modules are located at http://www.hr.utah.edu/LMS. If you have questions, please contact your HR Service Team (Generalist and Representative). To find your service team, go to www.hr.utah.edu/contact/search.

• …From KUED
KUED Joins Homeland Security Efforts
KUED is one of 20 public broadcasting stations participating in a program of the Department of Homeland Security and the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) to use new technologies that will help safety officials better communicate with the public during an emergency. The new system will improve public alerts during times of national crisis through the use of local public television’s digital networks. When fully operational, alerts will be sent to officials, first responders, and the public through broadcast and cable television, broadcast and satellite radio, and other wireless networks, including cell phones and PDAs. Two successful testing phases with participants from broadcast, cable television, and wireless industries have been completed.

• …From THE INTEGRATED ENERGY SOLUTIONS PROGRAM
U Saves Energy
Now in its third year, the Integrated Energy Solutions program, in collaboration with faculty and staff, has reduced campus utility expenses by more than $2M without generating a single comfort complaint. Although impressive, those savings still don’t cover the legislated budgetary shortfall. Stop by the Integrated Energy Solutions booth at Employee Appreciation Day to learn what you can do to help the U continue to save. Send your ideas, suggestions, or questions to Bianca Shama at bianca.shama@fm.utah.edu.

• …From THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING
Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation Approved
The College of Architecture + Planning has received approval for a new interdisciplinary graduate certificate in historic preservation. Hosts for the program are architecture, urban planning, history, and public administration. The program will focus on historic preservation in the western United States in the twenty-first century with an overall goal of advancing appropriate historic preservation practices nationwide.

Bulletin Board

• Know Your U—History 101
During the war years 1941-45, the University served as a site for several U.S. Army training programs. In April 1942, the Field House was transformed into a dormitory for 1,200 men—500 double bunks, 105 wash basins, and 40 showers were installed. Where the other 200 slept is a mystery! The Field House became known affectionately as the “Big Bedroom.” Meals were provided in the cafeteria, located in the Park Building, using many volunteers including the President’s wife, sorority members, faculty wives, and mothers of servicemen.
~Courtesy, Paul Mogren, Marriott Library

• Road Closure
On Saturday, Sept. 23, the road at 1480 East 100 South, east of the Mines Building, will close to become the staging area for the new Sutton Geology and Geophysics Building. All parking lots and buildings will be accessible from the campus entrance at the intersection of 100 South and Wolcott Street (at the traffic light). A newly-widened roadway will provide access from this entrance to the visitor parking lot north of the Park Building.

• Favorite places to eat off-campus
Thanks to our FYI readers who wrote in to tell us their favorite places to eat off campus. Walkable favorites include Aristo’s, The Broiler, Big Ed’s, B&D Burger, and The Pie. Favorites requiring transit include Trio, Faustina, Red Butte Cafe, The Avenues Bakery and Bistro, and Hires—Now tell us where you like to eat on campus. Send to FYI@ucomm.utah.edu.

• Study participants wanted
Participants are needed for an IRB-approved study investigating how social support from pets and friends affects one’s ability to cope with stress. If you have had a dog and a same-sex best friend (not romantic partner) for at least two years, you are eligible. Participants will be compensated for their time. For more information, contact Rebecca Campo at rebecca.campo@psych.utah.edu or visit www.psych.utah.edu/petstudy

• Autumn Equinox
Summer officially ends for those of us living in the northern hemisphere on Friday, Sept. 22 at 10:03 p.m. MDT. At that moment, the sun will glide southward across the celestial equator (an imaginary line in space directly above Earth’s equator), an event known as the autumn equinox. This is the day when the periods of daylight and dark are nearly equal, and the sun rises due east and sets due west.

During the summer, the sun rises north of due east and is high in the sky by the time we are driving to work. But now as we approach the autumn equinox, the sun moves up in the sky to be due East exactly during the morning commute time. You may have noticed the resulting difficulty with visibility when driving to campus in the early morning since many of our roads run due east and west. The sun is rising one minute later each day, and after the equinox it will rise south of due East, so in another month, the sun will not interfere as much with the morning commute (even with the change back to Mountain Standard Time at the end of October).

~Thanks to Patrick Wiggins and Physics Professor Dave Kieda for this information.

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