University Newsletter, Home Page

Many will agree that Eastern Illinois University is not a large university. That didn't seem to matter, however, when the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded David Raybin a grant for more than $116,000, thereby enabling the veteran English professor the opportunity to represent the university abroad. He and his wife, Susanna Fein (a professor of English at Kent State University), plan to team-teach a four-week summer seminar in London and Canterbury, England, beginning June 22.

The seminar, titled "Chaucer's Canterbury Tales," will be geared toward teachers of grades K through 12. Fifteen individuals, representing schools from across the U.S., have enrolled, having been chosen from among more than 75 applicants.

See here for the full story.

The EIU event calendar located on the homepage will be re-launched in early August. Please do not post events occurring after Aug. 10 to the current calendar if you want them listed on the new EIU event calendar. Any events posted after the transition date will not be transferred to the new calendar. You will need to enter those again after the new system is in place. Watch the EIU University Newsletter in the coming weeks for a link to the new EIU calendar system. Please note that if you use the current calendar solution on a departmental Web site, this transition will NOT IMMEDIATELY impact you. If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Gibson at 581-7990.

Charles "Buzz" Buzzard understands the importance of looking to the past to fully appreciate the present. That's why Buzzard, the youngest of four sons of Eastern Illinois University's second sitting president, Robert G. Buzzard, was proud to present EIU with a scrapbook that his late father compiled about his life and times.

"Charles has given us something very meaningful to our university and very valuable to our history," said EIU President Bill Perry.

See here for the full story.

Meetings/Events

Due to an overwhelming response, an additional class for the 2008 Kids' Cooking Academy is being offered for kids ages 9 to 11. This class will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 17, 18 and 19 and June 24, 25 and 26 in Klehm Hall, Room 1411.

A $75 registration fee will include a cookbook, apron, culinary kit, cooking lessons, etiquette tips, nutrition education and a certificate of completion, along with a graduation reception/tea.

For information or to register for the academy, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5116 or e-mail dehighland@eiu.edu.

Do you wish that you could take a journey back through time and visit, listen to and converse with Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, and Mary Todd Lincoln?

Well-known emeritus history professor B.F. (Mac) McClerren and his wife, Dorothy, will portray Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, both in looks and character, at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12, during the EIU Annuitants Association meeting at the Neal Welcome Center. "President Lincoln" will reminisce about his years in Springfield, meeting Mary Todd, the Lincoln/Douglas debates and the Civil War years -- all presented with a balance of Lincoln stories, poetry and speeches. He will also introduce "Mary," who will share her stories of girlhood, marriage, the couple's children, and the war years. The McClerrens have made this presentation to civic and educational organizations throughout the country, have been on TV and in newspapers, and have received awards and praises for their realistic portrayals of the Lincolns. Campus and community are invited.

"Health Assessment of the Aging" will be taught by Dr. Gary Mikel, M.D., from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, at the Newman Center. The course fee is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

The Academy of Lifetime Learning is a learning community that provides noncredit classes to retirement-aged individuals. For information, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5114.

The New Employee Orientation Program for faculty and staff will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 5, in the Booth Library Conference Room (Room 4440). The program is designed to acquaint new employees with EIU and show how each plays an important role in furthering the “I am EIU” philosophy. The program identifies the various guidelines that determine how we operate, and provides presentations that will help participants in their daily responsibilities (such as computer usage, probation and life after, and development opportunities). A campus tour and lunch are included. The program is designed for the new employee; however, anyone interested is welcome to attend. Reserve your seat by registering here. Contact Julie Benedict, Training and Development, 581-8415 or jabenedict@eiu.edu for information. Visit this Web site to view the planned agenda.

"Nourishing the Body and Soul" will be taught by Karla Kennedy-Hagan, Ph.D., from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Newman Center. The course fee is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

The Academy of Lifetime Learning is a learning community that provides noncredit classes to retirement-aged individuals. For information, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5114.

Items from the Robert Guy Buzzard Collection are on display in the University Archives of Booth Library through May 31. The exhibit is in conjunction with a visit to campus by Charles “Buzz” Buzzard, the youngest of President Buzzard’s four sons. During his visit to campus, "Buzz" Buzzard presented more of his father’s memorabilia to the University Archives. The new donation is a scrapbook of photographs, documents, letters and other items collected by the former president throughout his lifetime.

On display are items from previous donations, including academic regalia, Buzzard’s doctoral dissertation, books on weaving and goblet collecting (President Buzzard’s hobbies), samples of Buzzard’s weaving technique, various plaques, certificates, and letters to his family. Dr. Buzzard served as Eastern’s second president from 1933-1956.

Sign up your 14- to 18-year-old high school student for Camp E3 -- Energizing Emerging Entrepreneurs, a two-and-one-half-day camp in Effingham sponsored by EIU's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The dates are June 16 through 18. The camp will be held at Lake Sara and the Effingham Country Club in Effingham. Jack Shultz of Agracel, Mike Yaeger with Mid-America Motorworks and teen entrepreneur David Orr of Fruper.com, along with other entrepreneurs, will teach teens the essentials of putting together a business pitch that includes techniques for thinking outside the box, determining the feasibility of an idea, marketing, budgeting and management to get a venture off the ground. With the help of EIU MBA and business students, a group of four teens will create and present business pitches to local entrepreneurs to compete for a $400 cash prize. The registration fee of $69 includes one dinner, two lunches and a T-shirt. You don't want to miss this fun, hands-on learning experience. Call Jeanne Dau or Jennifer at 581-2913 to sign-up or be sent a brochure.

Julie Sterling will be retiring on May 30. Please join us in wishing her health, fun and excitement as she leaves Eastern Illinois University. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, in Klehm Hall, Room 1418. We look forward to seeing you there.

Gardening with Grandkids is a super hands-on, make-it-and-take-it workshop! Interact with your grandparents with loads of fun activities: create a bejeweled stepping stone for the garden, plant an upside-down tomato with an herb/salad garden on top of it, construct a topiary and paint a pot to hold it, snack on garden yummies and much more!

This course will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on June 9 and 10 at the 4-H Extension Center at the Coles County Fairgrounds. Registration is limited to children in grades one through five with their grandparents. The cost of the program is $10, plus a $20 materials fee.

For information and/or to register, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5116, dehighland@eiu.edu.

The Summer Creative Writing Camp for high school students is an intensive five-day adventure in writing fiction and poetry; it will be held this summer (June 23 through 27) on the EIU campus. The camp will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

During the week, campers will have writing exercise sessions and free time to write two complete short stories, several poems and an outline and beginning chapter of a novel. Campers will spend time with talented college-level writers-in-training, hear about their experiences and get great ideas for launching creative writing projects. Campers will also receive individual guidance from Letitia Moffitt, a professor of creative writing, literature and composition in EIU's English department.

The cost of the camp is $95. For information and/or to register for the camp, contact the School of Continuing Education, 581-5116 or dehighland@eiu.edu.

Join us for two fantastic weeks of science study on campus this summer! AmoebaMania is a two-week day camp for kids ages nine to 13, who are passionate about the study of science and nature. Sessions will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. June 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 (consecutive Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).

During the camp, we will do hands-on projects in a real science lab with microscopes and petri dishes, viewing and studying cells, organelles and protozoae. We will investigate simple biological processes like photosynthesis, grow our own edible organelles, and study what happens to single-celled organisms that are exposed to isopropyl alcohol. We will even record our own electrocardiograms (ECGs) using a simulation computer.

This two-week camp provides general preparation for sixth grade- and junior high-level science labs, and is perfect for kids with a passion for chemistry, biology or general science subjects.

The program registration fee is $35. The program will be led by Nida Sehweil-Elmuti, an instructor for EIU's Department of Biological Sciences. For information and/or to register, contact the School of Continuing Education, 581-5116 or dehighland@eiu.edu.

Learn and experience the benefits of yoga and meditation from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, in the Student Recreation Center. Activities will take place under the direction of Suhrit Dey, mathematics and computer science, who will be assisted by his wife. Medical science has now proven that yogas and meditation are quite beneficial for health. The body gets more energy and the mind releases stressful thoughts, giving a person a better quality of life.

In this class, some simple postures of yoga will be taught, and a simple technique of meditation will be discussed. All participants will be requested to do some of these yogas. The Deys have taught yoga and meditation for many years all around the world.

Please register here. Contact Julie Benedict, 581-8415 or jabenedict@eiu.edu for information.

The following exhibits are currently on display at Booth Library:

National Poetry Month: Celebrate Illinois Poets. To celebrate national poetry month, this display will highlight some of Illinois’ most gifted poets. An iPod will be connected to the exhibit so that people can stop and listen to poems read by their authors. Reference Hallway through May 30.

Students from the School of Family and Consumer Sciences are bringing attention to the importance of nutrition through an exhibit on display in Marvin Foyer through May 30. Highlighted below are the themes they will rotate in their display cases:
• Learn about the signs, symptoms and etiology of prostate cancer, as well as nutritional tips to help prevent prostate cancer.
• Sharpen your knowledge on the importance of physical activity, adequate hydration and healthy summertime food.
• High blood pressure affects 65 million Americans, so learn how dietary and lifestyle modifications can help reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure.
• Are you too busy to make healthy food choices? If so, glean some simple tips for healthy alternatives for eating on the run.
• Explore various options and good drink choices to staying hydrated.
• Portion distortion is ramped. Learn what a normal portion size is, how portion sizes have increased over the past 20 years, and how to portion-size your meals.
• If you are a breakfast skipper, learn why you might want to change your ways and make time for breakfast. Consider “Breaking-the-Fast” and starting your day off right with good nutrition!

An exhibit to celebrate Asian Heritage Month will be on display in the South Lobby through May 30.

Jazz Blossoms. Allen Lanham of Booth Library was the recipient of a grant in the amount of $4,000 from the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois for the project “Popular Expressions of the Arts–Jazz Performance.” The grant provided funding for adding many new jazz DVDs and CDs to the library’s collection. As part of the exhibit, reviews written by EIU’s jazz students will be on display. In addition, the display will showcase famous jazz musicians overtime. West Reference Hallway through June 30.

“Women of Valor: Women in World War II,” located in Marvin Foyer. Women served many different roles in World War II. Although women were excluded from combat positions, many served in direct support positions of military efforts. Curators Jeff Boshart and Dan Crews have established this exhibit as a tribute to all the valorous women who served our country during this war. The exhibit, which is scheduled to travel to other local libraries, includes books, memorabilia, uniforms and pictures. Through May 30.

Children ages six to 13 are invited to attend the 2008 Kids' Cooking Academy for a two-week cooking extravaganza!

The program will meet for two consecutive weeks (June 17, 18 and 19, and June 24, 25 and 26) in Klehm Hall, Room 1411. Classes will be divided by age level, with children ages six to eight meeting from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; children ages nine to 11, from noon to 2 p.m.; and children ages 12 to 14, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

A $75 registration fee will include a cookbook, apron, culinary kit, cooking lessons, etiquette tips, nutrition education and a certificate of completion, along with a graduation reception/tea.

For information or to register for the academy, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5116 or email dehighland@eiu.edu.

The EIU Department of Art, the School of Continuing Education and the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs will present Summer 2008 Art School for High School Students July 6 through 12. The art school will be held on the EIU campus, and will feature four areas of concentration including pastels, wildly wonderful watercolors, on the street where you live -- drawing cityscapes, and sculpture. The cost of the camp is $424 for the week, which includes all instruction, lodging, meals, recreational activities and materials. For information and/or to register, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5116.

An exhibit to honor the late Dr. Daniel E. Marvin Jr. is currently on display at Booth Library. Dr. Marvin, who passed away Monday, April 21, 2008, served as Eastern's fifth president from 1977 to 1983. In 2002, the EIU Board of Trustees approved the naming of Booth Library’s north foyer in honor of the former university president. In commemoration of his dedicated service, this area of the library is now known as the Daniel E. Marvin Foyer.

While at Eastern, Dr. Marvin took a leadership interest in developing the Tarble Arts Center, the WEIU public television station and the Gateway Athletic Conference. He believed in education and will be remembered for his love of students and teaching. He will also be remembered for his strong beliefs in giving and serving. The display includes various pictures, newspaper articles and speeches he wrote, and is located in the Marvin Foyer.

"Taste of Italy" will be taught by Masimo Coppetti from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, in Klehm Hall, Room 1418. The course fee is $15, plus $10 materials fee, for members, or $20, plus $10 materials fee, for nonmembers.

The Academy of Lifetime Learning is a learning community that provides noncredit classes to retirement-aged individuals. For information, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5114.

“The View From Here to There: The Aesthetics of Travel in the Rural Midwest” is on exhibition April 19 through June 22 at the Tarble Arts Center. Using art and artifacts, the exhibition examines the landscape of mobility c. 1820-1960 by focusing on major corridors through central Illinois, including the National Road, the IC Railroad and Interstate 57. The exhibition was developed by the 2007-08 historical administration graduate students, working with co-curators Nora Pat Small (history) and Kit Morice (Tarble Arts), and designer Rick V. Riccio (history). This project is funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly.

Professional Development

The lack of effective communication is often the number one complaint among employees and managers alike. Effective communication takes a lot of thought and effort. Come join us for the workshop, Effective Communication, from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 29, in the Arcola/Tuscola Room, MLK Jr. Union, as we explore why we have so much trouble giving or following simple instructions. We will examine how to design messages to be more effective and how to minimize errors or confusion blamed on poor communication. Reserve your seat by registering here. Contact Julie Benedict, Training and Development, at 581-8415, jabenedict@eiu.edu for more information.

Booth Library will present a series of free workshops during the summer semester, with individual titles to be announced in later newsletters. To preview the list of workshops or to sign up online, click the Library Workshop link in the right column of this newsletter or the following direct link found here.

Human Resources

Medical and dependent care assistance plans (Flexible Spending Accounts) require re-enrollment each fiscal year. By enrolling in a Flexible Spending Account, you can reduce your taxable income by setting aside funds for eligible medical or dependent care expenses.

You can reduce your taxable income and begin saving for your retirement years by enrolling in a Voluntary Tax-Deferred Retirement Program. The university makes tax-deferral programs available under Section 403(b) and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code. You may enroll in these plans anytime; changes can be made throughout the year. It is never too early to begin saving for your future. For more information on these plans, please visit our Web site here, or contact the Benefits Services office at 581-5825 to assist you in setting up a plan and contribution schedule that will meet your needs.

With increased work activities on the internet, your cookie tray may be overflowing. To improve your Banner and self-serve functions, delete internet cookies regularly. You can find this option in Internet Options under the Tools bar.

When you do not receive your regular pay over the summer academic break, you will be directly billed by CMS for your insurance premiums. Also, if you are enrolled in a tax-deferred savings plan (403b or Deferred Compensation), you may want to adjust your deduction during the academic break.

Employment Opportunities

Graphic Design Instructor, Art Department

Faculty Development is hiring a graduate assistant for the upcoming academic year (Fall 2008 through Spring 2009). Graduate assistantships provide a monthly stipend in exchange for duties performed in research, teaching and service. The successful candidate will also receive a tuition waiver scholarship; this scholarship waives tuition only, not fees.

A graduate assistant in the Faculty Development office will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the Faculty Development Web site, research on topics related to professional and faculty development, and general support for campus-wide services of Faculty Development. Requirements: (1) Admission to EIU; (2) Enrollment in degree-seeking program; (3) Completed and submitted application to the Graduate School for a graduate assistantship; (4) Resume; (5) Technical expertise/willingness to learn Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Adobe Acrobat Suite, Microsoft Office Suite; (6) Demonstrated ability to conduct research; and (7) three references.

Submit letter of application; resume; and names, addresses and phone numbers of at least three references to Mildred M. Pearson, Director, Faculty Development, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920; 217-581-7051. Electronic submission (facdev@eiu.edu) is acceptable. Review begins immediately, and continues until position is filled. For information, please see here.

Assistant to the Dean for Student Academic Services, College of Sciences

Learning Disabilities Specialist, Disability Services

Assistant Athletic Trainer, Intercollegiate Athletics

Coordinator of Equipment and Stadium Facilities, Intercollegiate Athletics

Research and Creative Activity

Bailey K. Young, history, chaired the panel Early Medieval Europe III: Pilgrimage and Peity at the 43rd annual International Conference on Medieval Studies (Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo) May 8 through 11, 2008.

Charles G. Eberly, professor of counseling and student development, has an article, "Bystander Intervention: From Small Steps to Large," included in the 2008 National Hazing Prevention Week Resource Guide published by HazingPrevention.org, Aurora, Colo. The guide will be distributed to campus fraternity and sorority leaders across the country in September 2008.

Scott A.G.M. Crawford, kinesiology and sports studies, had an "Issues" column published in the May/June 2008 issue of the Journal of Physical Education Recreation and Dance. The title was "Have Playgrounds Become Boring?"

Scott A.G.M. Crawford, kinesiology and sports studies, had two essays that appeared in "Milestone Documents in American History: Exploring the Primary Sources That Shaped America," edited by Paul Finkelman and published by the Schlager Group. The pieces were "Dwight D. Eisehhower's Order of the Day -- 1944," Volume 3: 1888-1955 (pp. 1462-1470), and "Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell Address -- 1961," Volume 4: 1956-2003 (pp. 1660-1672).

Miscellaneous

Chick-fil-A and the Charleston Market in the Food Court will continue to serve breakfast this summer from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Last week, Adobe released a security bulletin concerning critical security vulnerabilities discovered in all versions of Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat prior to 8.1.2. These vulnerabilities can cause application crashes and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of an affected computer. Adobe recommends the immediate update of Acrobat and Reader applications to 8.1.2. Anyone running Adobe Acrobat 7 is also vulnerable and should update to version 7.1.0. Please note that this problem affects both the Windows and Macintosh versions of Adobe products. If you require assistance with upgrading your Adobe products, please contact the Help Desk at 581-HELP.

During the month of April 2008, Booth Library acquired and cataloged 2,886 new print titles. A list of these titles may be reached here, or start on Booth's home page, click on Books, Videos and More, and choose the New Title List link from that page. The list is arranged by location within the library, and titles are listed by call number within each location. Please contact Karen Whisler, head of Collection Development, at 581-7551 or klwhisler@eiu.edu if you have any questions.

As of June 1, the Office of Judicial Affairs will be the Office of Student Standards. As you are updating publications for your office, it would be appreciated if you would change the office title if it is mentioned in any documents, Web sites, etc. Additionally, it is asked that if you have any copies of the Code of Conduct, publications and/or forms from the office that you return them to Judicial Affairs prior to June 1. Replacement documents will be available after the name transition has been completed.

Please be aware that supervisors must contact the ITS Help Desk at itshelp@eiu.edu to notify ITS of any staff members or student workers who are leaving your area so their access to Banner and other administrative technologies can be revoked. Please be sure to include a termination date and a Banner E-number.

The Writing Center will officially open for the summer on Wednesday, May 14! We’ll be open through July 16. Our summer hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. We’ll be closed on Fridays. Send your students over to Coleman Hall, Room 3110. They can also call (581-5929) to make an appointment. Let me know if you would like someone to come in to your class and talk about the services the Writing Center provides. Orientations take about 10 minutes -- you can even walk your class over to the center. Let me know how we can be of help to you. I can be reached at 581-5614, or you can e-mail me at dmmarkelis@eiu.edu.

WebCT CE8 accounts are now available for all registered summer courses. Faculty still have the option to use the current version, WebCT 4.1, or move ahead and start using WebCT CE8 for their summer courses. The log-in and resources for both versions can be accessed here. Starting in August 2008, only WebCT CE8 will be supported for use at EIU. If you have questions, please contact CATS at 581-8396 or ITS at 581-7625.

ITS and CATS have been working diligently to bring the newest version of WebCT to the EIU campus. Most likely, you have seen announcements and newsletters on campus referring to the new version, WebCT CE6. In an effort to deliver new levels of stability and quality, WebCT recently released an upgrade and changed the name to version 8 to match the version number of Blackboard. This new release is needed to solve a number of back-end issues. The User Interface is no different in version 8 when compared to version 6. This is a name change only for the user. EIU will now refer to the newest version as WebCT CE8 in our literature and training. We apologize for any confusion. If you have questions, please contact CATS at 581-8396 or ITS at 581-7625.

Especially for Students

The 2009-2010 Jacob K. Javits Fellowship competition will open in August 2008. The competition is for funding covering most expenses associated with up to 48 months of full-time study leading to the completion of a terminal master’s or doctoral degree in selected fields within the arts, humanities and social sciences. Please encourage talented students, who intend on pursuing terminal degrees beginning Fall 2009 and have unmet financial need, to contact Sara Schmidt, Honors Adviser/Jacob K. Javits Contact, at 581-8369 or smschmidt@eiu.edu, no later than June 18.

Applications are now being accepted for the Florence Kaplan Foundation Scholarship which is awarded to a female student who is committed to her Jewish faith. The recipient must demonstrate she is engaged in her faith community, has a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and will be attending Eastern Illinois University full-time (12 semester hours). Preference is given to applicants with financial need.

The scholarship is payable fall semester. For an application, contact Alisa Wohltman at the EIU Foundation, 860 W. Lincoln Ave, Charleston, IL 61920; 866-581-3313; ajwohltman@eiu.edu. Applications are due May 30.

Beginning May 12, 2008, students will be asked to verify their address each time they enter the PAWS registration system. Verifying your address will help to ensure that you receive important university communications.

Family health plans typically terminate dependent coverage upon graduation. If you are covered under the EIU Student Health Insurance Plan for Spring 2008 semester, you are eligible to purchase an “extension of coverage.” Spring semester coverage ends at midnight June 8, and for $87.45, you can extend your coverage until midnight Aug. 20, 2008.

If you previously waived the Student Health Insurance fee and now will be dropped from your parents’ plan due to graduation, you can reinstate your coverage for the remainder of the current spring semester by paying $109.95. By reinstating Spring 2008 semester coverage, you will become eligible to purchase the “extension of coverage.”

For complete information, contact the Student Health Insurance office at 581-5290.

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