The Record, Dec. 13, 2010, V19.12



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Transportation is planning for more traffic

by Leslie Lynn

The No. 1 complaint from graduating seniors is parking, according to Ron Malone, assistant vice president of events and transportation services. And entering freshmen, current sophomores and juniors, grad students, faculty, staff and many visitors can relate to the sentiment.

MTSU has been working for decades to address the problem, and since 2000, a three-phase Parking and Transportation Plan has been put into effect to improve the flow of traffic on campus and create more parking.

The university's master plan is to create a pedestrian-friendly, traffic-free environment in the core of the campus, traditionally the area surrounding the Keathley University Center. Other universities, such as the University of Tennessee-Knoxville or the University of Kentucky, are more pedestrian-focused and have fewer parking places than MTSU, so students there already are conditioned to expect to walk more on campus.

"The fact that MTSU has a large commuter population explains our wanting to park on campus,"; Malone said.

Noticeable changes already accomplished are the roundabout at the Rutherford Boulevard entrance, the addition of bus-only lanes and a parking lot off Rutherford Boulevard.

"The September 2009 construction of the roundabout was part of Phase 2 of the Parking and Transportation Plan, which began 10 years ago,"; Malone said. "Phase 3 construction will begin in the spring of 2011.";

One of the changes will be a new entrance to campus from Greenland Drive. Motorists will turn into the current driver-training lot and enter campus by way of a roundabout onto Blue Raider Drive. Malone said this new access route will be completed by Aug. 1, 2011.

MTSU Boulevard heading west into campus will be remodeled into a right-turn-only lane in front of the Business and Aerospace Building onto Founders Lane, which leads to Blue Raider Drive. This work, Malone said, will move traffic away from the core of campus.

Alumni Drive already has a designated bus-only lane, which is intended to prevent Raider Xpress shuttles getting caught up in campus traffic. More bus-only lanes will be added across campus by fall 2011 to help ensure a faster pick-up and delivery route for the Raider Xpress system, and a gate will be added beside Kirksey Old Main to allow only buses to travel on MTSU Boulevard next to the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. The reliability of bus travel is only as good as the flow of traffic, Malone noted, and the new infrastructure will be a big bonus.

MTSU has 500-plus acres, 26,000 students and 2,200-plus employees who potentially need a place to park, said Malone, making the campus similar to a metropolitan city. A 2004 American Community Survey reported that 54 percent of households in New York City do not own a car and rely on public transportation.

Malone said that MTSU's solution for our crowded "metro campus"; is for students to park in the Rutherford Boulevard lot and catch the bus.

Once all bus-only lanes and gates have been installed, he added, the shuttles should be able to travel an entire route in approximately six minutes, reducing students' wait times.

The planned parking garage should be in full use by fall 2011, he added, and it will serve more than just parking needs. It will provide access to a one-stop shop for admissions, financial aid, the bursar's office, campus tours and other services for students.

"My goal for our campus over the next five years is to eliminate the worry of finding a place to park, and the solution is to take advantage of our bus system that is improving each year,"; Malone said.


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Commencement '10: 1,750 ready to graduate on Dec. 18

from Staff Reports

A projected 1,750 degree candidates will graduate during the Fall 2010 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 18, at MTSU, officials announced.

Of that total, 1,466 candidates will receive undergraduate degrees, said Ann S. Reaves, assistant director for graduation in the MTSU Records Office. Two hundred eighty-four students will receive graduate degrees, including 213 master's degrees, 12 education-specialist degrees and five Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Two of the Ph.D. degrees will be posthumous awards.

The morning ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in Murphy Center with J. Stanley Rogers (B.S. '61), senior partner with the Rogers & Duncan law firm in Manchester, Tenn., delivering the commencement address.

Rogers received his Bachelor of Science degree from MTSU and a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University. He is admitted to practice law before the U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; U.S. Claims Court; and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has served as a member of the Lawyers Involved for Tennessee, the Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission, the Tennessee Judicial Evaluation Commission and the U.S. Circuit Judge Nominating Commission, Sixth Circuit.

Rogers served for six years in the Tennessee House of Representatives and was majority leader during the 88th and 89th general assemblies. He recently retired from the Tennessee Board of Regents after serving since 1994. Rogers and his wife, Pat, have three children.

The morning commencement ceremony will honor graduates in the College of Graduate Studies, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, College of Education and College of Media and Entertainment.

The afternoon ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. in Murphy Center with State Sen. Randy McNally, R-5th District, addressing the graduates.

McNally is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Memphis State University. He attended the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy and held the position of hospital pharmacist from 1978 to 2010 at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

McNally has served in both the Senate (95th-106th general assemblies) and House (91st—94th) of the Tennessee Legislature. He has chaired the Finance, Ways and Means Committee and the Education Committee and also assumed leadership roles on the Council on Pensions and Insurance, the Education Oversight Committee, the TennCare Oversight Committee and the Governor's Methamphetamine Task Force.

The afternoon ceremony will celebrate graduates from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and the University College.

Graduation information—including maps and driving directions to Murphy Center, instructions on watching the ceremonies via streaming video on commencement day, cap-and-gown information and how to order a DVD of the ceremonies—is available online at www.mtsunews.com by clicking on the "Graduation Info"; link or by visiting http://bit.ly/MTGradInfo .

Graduation @ a glance


Who: 1,750 graduates* (1,466 undergraduates, 284 graduate students)
What: Fall Commencement ceremonies
When: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18
Where: Murphy Center, MTSU
Speakers:
  • 9 a.m.: Alumnus J. Stanley Rogers, senior partner, Rogers & Duncan Law Firm, Manchester, Tenn.
  • 1 p.m.: State Sen. Randy McNally, R-5th District, Oak Ridge.

For more info, go to http://bit.ly/MTGradInfo .

*Approximate number as of Dec. 6, 2010.



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Volleyball team takes SBC crowns

from MT Athletic Communications

The Middle Tennessee volleyball team brought home Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships and earned their fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament before falling to Louisville Dec. 3.

The loss was the team's first since Oct. 15, ending the season with a 29-6 record. The effort makes them only the second Middle Tennessee team to accomplish dual Sun Belt wins, and their record is the third best in school history.

"I think we had a good game plan, but we just couldn't execute it today,"; head coach Matt Peck said of the 3-0 match (22-25, 21-25, 17-25) at Holloway Gymnasium on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

"Stacy (Oladinni) had an outstanding match. We needed to make more plays tonight, and we couldn't.";

Oladinni led the Blue Raiders with a season-high 13 kills on the night and hit at a .478 clip. Maria Szivos was second with seven kills, and Izabela Kozon tallied six.

Morgan Peterson and Angela Peyton split time at setter, recording 18 and 13 assists, respectively.

Kozon anchored the defense with 10 digs, and Szivos was second with eight. Brynne Henderson was third with seven.

As a team, MT was outhit by the Cardinals .293 to .158 and out-blocked 11.0 to 3.0.

Middle Tennessee dropped the first set 22-25, marking the first time that the Blue Raiders have lost an opening set since a trip to North Texas on Oct. 29.

Louisville raced out to an early 6-1 advantage, forcing a timeout, and Middle Tennessee responded with seven of the next eight points, culminating with a Kozon ace to grab a slim 8-7 edge.

The lead held temporarily, but the Cardinals ultimately took back the lead at 14-13. Louisville weathered a strong comeback effort and never trailed down the stretch.

The Cardinals won the second set 25-21 to hand Middle Tennessee their second 0-2 deficit of the season.

Once again, the Cardinals grabbed an early edge, going up 3-9 out of the gate. However, the Blue Raiders slowly inched back, then utilized a four-point run to go up 15-13.

However, the lead did last, and Louisville ran off 10 of the next 12 points to grab an insurmountable 23-17 advantage.

The third set played out in similar fashion, and Louisville secured the first sweep of Middle Tennessee this season with a 25-17 victory.

Middle Tennessee and Louisville swapped leads for much of the early part of the set. After an Oladinni kill evened up the set at 15, Louisville hit another run, scoring on five of the next six serves to grab a 20-16 advantage.

"It's the fifth year in a row for us. I think that's quite an accomplishment,"; Peck said of the NCAA trip.

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In Brief: New show 'Out of the Blue'

MTSU has launched "Out of the Blue,"; a new monthly television program that is a joint effort of the Office of News & Media Relations, the Department of Audio/Visual Services and the College of Media and Entertainment. It replaces "MT Record,"; the long-running TV-magazine program. Please see page 4 for airtimes and dates, or watch it online via www.mtsunews.com .

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Neighbors near and far





LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER—MTSU has been the destination of choice for local, national and international neighbors this fall as guests arrived bearing gifts, sharing knowledge and admiring the university's opportunities for students. Above, Harvard-MIT stem-cell researcher Ali Khademhosseini of Boston explains "Microengineered Hydrogels for Stem Cell Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration"; to an audience of more than 100 students, faculty and administrators during a Nov. 19 seminar for the Molecular Biosciences Ph.D. Program. In the second photo, Khademhosseini, left, visits with MTSU Vice Provost Mike Allen, who also serves as dean of the College of Graduate Studies, after the talk.

Above, at left, Mike Vaughn, president of CFM China and director of government services for Smyrna-based Corporate Flight Management, joins Geng Xue Song, vice president of operations for China Flying Dragon Aviation, at a NexSim air traffic control simulation console during the National Conference on General Aviation Trends in China Dec. 1. Attendees toured the MTSU Aerospace Department's NASA Focus Lab in the Business and Aerospace building during the two-day event, which featured seminars on airspace management, regional airline development and other topics.

And below, State Farm Insurance officials visited MTSU Nov. 30 to present a check for $22,000 to the MTSU Foundation, another generous gift from the "good neighbor"; company to the university. Shown before the presentation are, from left, Jeff Shay, State Farm vice president of operations; Nick Perlick, MTSU director of development; Joe Bales, vice president for development and university relations; and Leslie Eatherly, public-affairs assistant at State Farm. State Farm's donation will be used to support four outstanding MTSU programs: the annual Invention Convention, the Science Olympiad Regional Tournament, the State Farm Insurance Scholarship for Excellence in Actuarial Science and the State Farm Award for Professional Promise for Jones College of Business faculty members.

center photo by J. Intintoli, MTSU Photographic Services; other photos by News & Media Relations


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Student Support Services lands 5-year federal grant

by Sydney Hester

For many people enrolled at MTSU, the stress of life as a student can be both confusing and overwhelming. MTSU's Student Support Services does its best to curb the uneasiness and help many students find their way to graduation.

SSS recently received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education of $255,505 for 2010-11 and continuing through 2015—a total amount of almost $1.3 million. Seventy percent of the programs applying for the grant received one, based on a combination of written proposals and prior experience. But MTSU still soared above the competition, scoring 112 out of 115 possible points.

Student Support Services provides aid for first-generation college students, income-eligible students and those registered with MTSU's Disabled Student Services. The program currently serves 175 students, and SSS Director Crickett Pimentel said that gaining support from the federal government will strengthen the program's reach and impact.

"Once students are in our program, they stay in our program until they graduate, so we get to know our students really well over five or six years during their time at MTSU,"; Pimentel said. "We stress academics but also emphasize financial education and literacy, student accountability and healthy balances in school and life.";

With a focus on academic success and graduation, Student Support Services counselors such as Susan Johnson and Erin Conroy help coordinate and offer tutoring and other assistance to make sure students maintain their grades and retain their scholarships. Through financial-aid education, literacy programs and workshops, the program strives to keep students in class and out of debt. Pimentel said the DOE grant will help continue the program in place and bring new opportunities.

For more information about Student Support Services, visit its website.


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Housing program focuses on 1st-generation college life

by S. Binetou Soumaré

This fall, the Generation Next: Living Learning Community program offered nearly 50 first-generation students from area counties help in a new and potentially intimidating environment.

Generation Next is one of 10 living-learning community programs offered by Housing and Residential Life. It is supported by a $118,000 grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents, as well as MTSU matching funds, to be dispersed over a three-year period.

Dr. Laurie Witherow, director of the Academic Support Center, is the coordinator of the newly launched project, which aims to help students make the transition into university life both academically and socially.

"We've built a program that we know will support students so they can be a success,"; Witherow said. "I enjoy knowing that it can completely change the way a student experiences MTSU.";

Erin Rehberg, an adjunct instructor of dance in the Department of Speech and Theatre, serves as an on-site faculty adviser and University Studies instructor for the students. She said a common concern for many students is "the transition from bigger-fish, small-pond high school to a much larger setting.";

The relationship between the adviser and students is essential to the program's "community"; focus. Rehberg lives in Jim Cummings Hall, allowing her to be present at all hours of the day to offer support to students. The mentoring services provided by an on-site volunteer tutoring center also help Generation Next students become more engaged in campus life.

Generation Next offers its own intramural sports program and hosted a Thanksgiving dinner. There have been discussions of partnering with a local elementary school to do volunteer work. The program's budget includes funds for a variety of additional programs.

"You can give someone all of the necessary materials, but unless he or she is willing to receive it and use it, it's not going to be effective,"; Witherow said, adding that she tells students that the key to success in the program, and at college, is involvement.


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Pleas nominations sought

Nominations for the 2011 John Pleas Faculty Award should be submitted by Wednesday, Dec. 15.

The John Pleas Faculty Award, established in 1997 to honor retired psychology professor Dr. John Pleas, is presented annually to a minority faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service. The formal presentation ceremony is a major facet of African-American History Month.

Nominees should have completed at least five years of service at MTSU and have a record of outstanding service. Candidates also must have three letters of support.

An electronic copy of each candidate's curriculum vitae/resume' and the justification for nomination should be submitted to Dr. Dwight Patterson, the 2010 Pleas Award recipient, at dpatters@mtsu.edu. For more information, contact Patterson by email or by calling 615-904-8252.


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Make reservations now for free pre-retirement seminar

The Rutherford County Retired Teachers Association is sponsoring a free Pre-Retirement Seminar for educators on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. at North Boulevard Church of Christ, 1112 N. Rutherford Blvd.

Participants must make reservations before Friday, Jan. 14, to ensure that they receive needed seminar materials in time to attend the event. Reservations may be made by sending an email to Sarag49@aol.com; organizers ask that participants leave a name, school and telephone number for any necessary pre-seminar contact.

Ron Pendergrass, associate executive director of the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association, will return to the 2011 event to present information on retirement options. Any educator who will retire under the state retirement plan, regardless of membership in the Tennessee Education Association, will learn information beneficial in making decisions about retirement at the seminar, organizers said.

Seminar participants should enter the church on the building's north side via the side door marked "Fellowship Kitchen."; Organizers will serve light refreshments between 3:30 and 4 p.m., and the seminar will begin promptly at 4 p.m.

For more information about the free seminar, contact Sara Ann Gannon at Sarag49@aol.com.


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Blue Raiders head for bowl game

from MT Athletic Communications

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are going to their third bowl game in five years and making back-to-back trips for the first time in the FBS era.

Middle Tennessee received the official invitation on Dec. 5 to represent the Sun Belt Conference in the 12th annual GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6.

The game against Mid-American Champion Miami of Ohio will be played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., at 7 p.m. Central before a nationwide television audience on ESPN. This is the first meeting between the schools and will be MTSU's fourth televised game this season.

"We are thrilled to extend our season in Mobile and appreciate the invitation by the GoDaddy.com Bowl,"; said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "It is a great bowl for our players and fans, and we can't wait to get there.";

Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1-888-YES-MTSU or logging on to www.goblueraiders.com . Tickets are $45 and include an official "Blueout"; T-Shirt.


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Men's tennis announces 2011 spring schedule

from MT Athletic Communications

The Middle Tennessee men's tennis program will play eight home matches during the 2010-11 season, including three to open play, as announced Dec. 2 by head coach Jimmy Borendame.

The Blue Raiders will open the season on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. against UT-Chattanooga. Then on Sunday, Jan. 23, the team will play host toTennessee Tech at noon. Both matches will be played at the indoor courts at Nashboro Village in Nashville.

Middle Tennessee will then face Morehead State at Nashboro Village on Saturday, Jan. 29, before embarking on a seven-match road swing.

"I am looking forward to the spring season after all of the hard work the team put in during the fall. We open the season at home, which is nice. We also have a number of home matches during the season, which is good for our fans as well as tennis fans in the community to come see us play and show their support,"; Borendame said.

The team will begin the swing at Northwestern on Friday, Feb. 4, and the following day, they'll play at Northern Illinois. The Blue Raiders will then face a pair of Ivy League teams before heading back to Tennessee for a matchup with East Tennessee State in Johnson City on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Middle Tennessee will have about 12 days to prepare for the HEB Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas, March 4-5. The Blue Raiders will stay in town a couple of extra days for a match with Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Monday, March 7.

After the extended time away from home court, the Blue Raiders will play at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center on Friday, March 11, against Ball State; Murray State on Monday, March 14; and Austin Peay on Wednesday, March 23. Middle Tennessee then heads to Atlanta for a match with Georgia State on Sunday, March 27, before returning home to play DePaul.

The Blue Raiders will play host to the Sun Belt Shootout April 2-3 in their final home date of the season.

For more schedule details, visit www.goblueraiders.com .


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2011 baseball season includes home games with Vandy, UT, WKU

from MT Athletic Communications

The Middle Tennessee baseball program will play 29 home games during the 2011 season, head coach Steve Peterson announced Dec. 1.

The Blue Raiders will play seven of their first eight games at Reese Smith Jr. Field, beginning with a three-game series with Portland Feb. 18-20.

"We have our traditional opponents, and then we have some new ones this year. The University of Portland is one; we've never played them and they had a very good team last year. I know our fans aren't familiar with them, but they were coming into this area looking for games and we were able to schedule them,"; Peterson said. "It will be a good opening start, and then we have Tennessee Tech ... and Jacksonville State.";

After playing most of its games at home to begin the year, Middle Tennessee will travel to Rustin, La., for a three-game series with Louisiana Tech March 4-6 before midweek games on the road with Belmont (March 8) and Kentucky (March 9). It is the first time since 1996 that Middle Tennessee has played Kentucky, and the Blue Raiders won that meeting 11-2.

"We haven't played Louisiana Tech since joining the league in 2001. We worked a home and home out, where we go there this year and they come to us in 2012,"; Peterson said. "I know it has been a while since we played Kentucky, and it was just a spot in the schedule where I needed a game and they needed a game.";

Middle Tennessee will play a two-game series with Southern Illinois March 15-16 at Smith Field before hitting the road again for eight straight games, including the opening of Sun Belt conference play.

With the departure of New Orleans from the Sun Belt Conference, the league's coaches decided to play an extra conference series instead of adding another nonconference weekend. Therefore, each team will play their in-state or closest geographic conference opponent in two three-game series during the season. For Middle Tennessee, that opponent is rival Western Kentucky. The Blue Raiders will open Sun Belt Conference action with the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green March 18-20. The team also will conclude the season with Western Kentucky at home May 19-21.

"I am looking forward to it. It's a very competitive schedule that we have year in and year out, and it also depends on the product we put on the field as well,"; Peterson said.

For more details on the schedule, visit www.goblueraiders.com .


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Muraca hired for women's tennis

from MT Athletic Communications

Middle Tennessee head women's tennis coach Melissa Schaub has announced the hiring of Mariana Muraca as assistant coach for the 2010-11 season.

"I am very excited about bringing someone with Mariana's background on board,"; Schaub said. "She was a tremendous player in college, has a strong work ethic and will help elevate our program to new heights.";

Muraca, a native of Brazil, has spent the majority of the last seven years in Iowa, first as a student-athlete at Northern Iowa and then as a volunteer coach at Iowa State. She played at Northern Iowa from 2003 to 2007 and was named a three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete. She also received Scholar Athlete recognition twice from the Missouri Valley Conference.

She ranks third in Panthers' history with a .698 career singles winning percentage after posting a 65-28 ledger. Her .788 winning percentage in 2004-05 ranks sixth in school history after a 26-7 record. The 65 triumphs rank seventh in UNI history, while the 26 victories as a sophomore place her in a tie for seventh on the all-time list.

"I am excited about this opportunity,"; said Muraca. "Everyone on the team and staff are great to work with. I cannot wait for spring to get her and see great things happening.";

Muraca worked as a student volunteer coach in 2007-08 while finishing her bachelor's degrees at UNI in exercise science and sport psychology with a minor in coaching. She then completed her master's degree in sport psychology in 2010. She was a graduate assistant for the Panthers' women's team from 2008 to 2010 while attending graduate school.

Upon finishing her graduate course work, she took a position as the tennis pro at the Ames Racquet Club and was a volunteer coach with the Iowa State Cyclones' women's team before coming to Murfreesboro.

The Middle Tennessee women's tennis team will begin its spring 2011 dual-match slate in late January.


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TECTA offers training in childhood ed

from Staff Reports

Free orientation courses for people working in monitored early-childhood education programs, offered by the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance, are getting under way for spring and summer at MTSU.

TECTA orientation is the gateway to eligibility for financial assistance for college course work leading to a degree in early-childhood education or related fields. It's recognized by the Tennessee Department of Human Services as a way to satisfy annual training-hour requirements.

Participants must complete the 30 hours to receive a TECTA Orientation Certificate.

Students who complete the 30 clock hours and continue to work with young children become eligible for tuition assistance for academic coursework leading to a degree in early-childhood education at various levels—associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral.

There are five types of orientation programs: school-age, infant/ toddler, family, school-based and administrative. The MTSU TECTA site is part of a statewide grant and serves Rutherford and 16 counties in the south central area of Tennessee.

The TECTA Family Child Care Orientation course in Rutherford County includes information on caring for up to 15 children six weeks to 3 years old. Sessions begin on Saturday, March 26, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and follow on April 2, May 14, June 4 and June 11. The registration deadline is Tuesday, March 1.

The TECTA Center-Based Orientation course in Rutherford County, which emphasizes work with children ages 2 1/2 to 5, will meet on Thursday nights from 6 to 9 beginning on April 14. Subsequent sessions are set for April 21 and 28; May 5, 12 and 26; and June 2, 9, 16 and 23. That registration deadline also is March 1.

The 10-week TECTA Administrator Orientation in Rutherford County course will meet every Tuesday beginning Jan. 25. The focus of this orientation program is on how to run an early-childhood program, managing staff, etc., and the registration deadline is Thursday, Jan. 6.

TECTA is funded through a contract with the DHS and Tennessee State University's Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences.

For more information about these courses or to register for them, call 615-898-5603 or visit the MTSU TECTA website at www.mtsu.edu/~tecta .


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Nontraditional Student Week shows 'growth'

by S. Binetou Soumaré

The June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students and the organization Older Wiser Learners co-sponsored Nontraditional Student Week Nov. 1-5 to recognize the students who comprise a growing percentage of MTSU's student population.

Early in the week, students were invited to pick up free T-shirts with a logo designed by a student committee. The illustration on the front was a circular link of hands symbolizing unity.

Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, added to the celebration by presenting a program about nontraditional careers. On Nov. 4, the organizations provided turkey, ham and tea for a potluck-style dinner. Participants were encouraged to bring various side dishes, providing yet another opportunity to integrate both traditional and nontraditional students.

Terri Johnson, director of the June Anderson Center, acknowledged that there are no specific criteria for a nontraditional student. Status may be determined by age, marital status, parenthood and/or other factors, so a nontraditional student "may be anyone with adult responsibilities beyond college,"; Johnson said.

"It [Nontraditional Student Week] is a good way to bring recognition to a population students tend to forget about,"; Johnson said, "Nontraditional students are real and actively involved on campus.";

Miguel Llanes, an agribusiness major, is a nontraditional student who encourages getting involved.

"I encourage all students to find time to mentor someone. … You'll learn the personal rewards are most gratifying,"; Llanes said, "And stay busy. The more on your plate, the better you'll execute.";

Nontraditional Student Week had the largest turnout its sponsors have seen in years.

"I think the events were really wonderful and showed room for potential growth,"; Johnson said. "The interaction between new people meeting and interacting with nontraditional students meant that we were reaching out to people.";


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Journalism needs practicum opportunities


The MTSU School of Journalism needs your help to offer its students expanded practicum opportunities for spring 2011 and beyond. These students' areas of study include:
  • advertising;
  • journalism;
  • public relations; and
  • visual communications.
Their successful degree completion either requires or recommends an off-campus internship or on-campus practicum experience for course credit. Pay is optional.

Due to transportation or other mobility challenges, including lack of schedule time to travel and work elsewhere, some students must pursue this experience on campus. If your department or office is interested in hosting a practicum student for five to 15 hours weekly, please contact Brandt Conner, practicum coordinator and faculty adviser, at 615-898-2876 or bconner@mtsu.edu.

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Deadline is Jan. 28 for events in 2011-12 planner

It's time again to plan for next year's campus events! Submit your special-event dates to the Office of New Student and Family Programs by Friday, Jan. 28, to ensure that they're included in the 2011-12 Blue Raider Planner and Handbook.

Submissions are needed by the end of January to meet publishing deadlines and turn around the planner in time for CUSTOMS events, organizers said.

MTSU freshmen receive a Blue Raider Planner and Handbook when they attend CUSTOMS. Copies also can be purchased at Philips Bookstore.

For more information, contact Gina Poff at ghpoff@mtsu.edu or Ilene Hale at ihale@mtsu.edu or 615-898-2454. Please share this information with student organizations so they can submit their events for inclusion in the planner, too.


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Events Around Campus: Annual employee reception planned for Dec. 16


MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and First Lady Liz McPhee have issued an open invitation to all university employees for their annual holiday reception on Thursday, Dec. 16.

The reception is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m., but departments are being encouraged to choose a visiting time to make the event flow more smoothly for everyone.

Departments beginning with the letters A to E may choose to attend between 1 and 2 p.m. Letters F to P can visit between 2 and 3 p.m., and departments beginning with the letters Q to Z may choose to stop by between 3 and 4 p.m.

Employees are asked to bring canned goods to share locally with community neighbors who are less fortunate.


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Faculty/Staff Update


Elections

Lucinda Poole Cockrell (Center for Popular Music) was elected president of the Society of Tennessee Archivists at the STA annual meeting held Nov.12 on the MTSU campus.

Passages

Charles "Wildcat"; Butler (athletics), 75, passed away Nov. 28. Coach Butler, the son of the late Carlos Fred and Laura Butler, attended Bethel Murfreesboro. He is survived by his wife, Mary Young Butler; children Rick (Debbie) Butler and John (Nikki) Butler of Murfreesboro, Mary Lynn (Danny) Andrepont of Baton Rouge, La. and Walter Young Jr. and Charles (Wendy) Young of Seattle, Wash.; grandchildren Brittany, Chuck, Chelsea, Luke, Mary Kate, William, Finley and Quinten; brothers Billy Butler of Gordonsville, Bobby and James Butler of Hartsville and Harold Butler of Gallatin; a sister, Bonnie Woodard of Hartsville; and numerous nieces and nephews. Coach Butler began his 33-year football-coaching career at Hendersonville High School, and in 1966, he came to MTSU to coach until 1972. He then led football teams at Colorado State University, Michigan State, Bowling Green State, Memphis State and Louisiana State as well as the USFL's Oklahoma Outlaws and the San Antonio Gunslingers. Coach Butler returned to MTSU in March 1987, serving as an assistant coach for the Blue Raiders until he retired from the university in May 1994. He then began his own company, C & M Enterprises Inc., and served as a residential contractor and developer for 14 years.


Presentations

Assistant Professor Leon Alligood (journalism) presented programs on multimedia storytelling and news writing at the annual meeting of the Tennessee High School Press Association Nov. 22 at Lipscomb University in Nashville.

Dr. Hugh Berryman (anthropology, Forensic Institute for Research and Education) presented "A Study in Gunshot Trauma to Bone"; at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y., on Nov. 5 as part of its Dialogues in Forensic Science: Trauma I conference series.

Dr. Yang-Soo Kim (speech and theatre) presented "Communication Competence and Psychological Adaptation Among Young Korean Immigrants (1.5ers) in the U.S."; at the National Communication Association Convention Nov. 14-17 in San Francisco. The work was selected as the Top Session Paper of the conference and also received a small monetary award.

Publications

Drs. Mark Anshel (health and human performance) and Toto Sutarso (Information Technology Division) have published their study, "Conceptualizing Maladaptive Sport Perfectionism as a Function of Gender,"; in the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology (December 2010, Vol. 4, pp. 263-281).

Anshel and Drs. Minsoo Kang (health and human performance) and Tom Brinthaupt (psychology) have published their study, "The Disconnected Values Model Improves Mental Well-Being and Fitness in an Employee Wellness Program,"; in the journal Behavioral Medicine (2010, Vol. 36, pp. 113-122).

Brinthaupt and Drs. Cindy Adams and Dianna Rust (University College) have published a paper, "Evolution of a peer review and evaluation program for online course development,"; in the 2011 To Improve the Academy: Resources for Faculty, Instructional and Organizational Development (Vol. 29, pp. 173-186), an annual publication of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education.

Dr. Shirley Farris Jones (history, retired) has published The Un-Civil War in Middle Tennessee, a compilation of newspaper columns she wrote about the war and her ancestors' roles in it, to help raise funds for the Rutherford County Historical Society.

Vincent Windrow (Intercultural and Diversity Affairs Center) has published an article, ";Procrastination A Fox Trap,"; in the Fall 2010 edition of Teachers of Color magazine.

Seminars

Drs. Jeffrey Walck and Siti Hidayati (biology) were invited by the government of South Korea to give seminars at the Korean National Arboretum in October. They also participated in discussions for a collaborative research project to establish an Asia-wide ex situ seed-bank facility for plant conservation. Please see the photo below.

SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE—MTSU biology professors Jeff Walck and Siti Hidayati, center left and right, pose with their son, Edwin, and South Korean colleagues Dr. Jae-hyeun Kim, Ms. Ji Suk Lee and Dr. Ki Cheol Lee at the Korean National Arboretum in the Gwangneung forest in Gyeonggi province. The South Korean government invited the professors to present seminars at the facility in October.

photo submitted


Get noticed in The Record!

Submit Campus Calendar items, Faculty/Staff Updates and other news to gfann@mtsu.edu by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, for the first 2011 edition of The Record, Jan. 17. Deadline for submitting items for the Jan. 31 edition of The Record is 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19. Have a safe and wonderful winter break. Thanks for another great year!

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Campus Calendar, Dec. 13, 2010-Jan. 16, 2011

Please note: Event dates, times and locations may change after press time. Please verify specifics when making plans.

TV Schedule: "MTSU Out of the Blue";
Cable Channel 9: Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m., 5 p.m.
NewsChannel 5+ (Comcast 250): Sundays, 1:30 p.m.
Visit www.mtsunews.com for other cable-outlet airtimes or www.youtube.com/mtsunews for a complete show archive.

Radio Schedule: "MTSU On the Record";
8 a.m. Sundays, WMOT 89.5-FM
Podcasts available anytime at www.mtsunews.com .

Sports @ Home
Dec. 21: Men's Basketball vs. Vanderbilt, 8 p.m.
Dec. 29: Men's Basketball vs. TSU, 8 p.m.
Jan. 5: Women's Basketball vs. North Texas, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6: Men's Basketball vs. North Texas, 7 p.m.
Jan. 12: Women's Basketball vs. Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13: Men's Basketball vs. Florida Atlantic, 7 p. m.
For information, visit www.goblueraiders.com .

Tuesday, Dec. 14
Tornado Siren Test Date

(no action needed)
12:20 p.m., campuswide
For information, contact: 615-898-2424.

Thursday, Dec. 16
Annual Holiday Reception for MTSU Employees

1-4 p.m., President's Home
Please bring a canned food item for the needy.
For information, email kedgar@mtsu.edu or contact: 615-898-5825.

Military Science Fall 2010 Commissioning Ceremony
1 p.m., Keathley University Center Theater
For information, contact: 615-898-2470.

Dec. 18-19
"The Nutcracker,"; performed by Dance Theatre of Tennessee

2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Tucker Theatre
Admission: $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and students; group rates available
For information, visit www.dancetheatretn.org or contact: 615-391-5500.

Saturday, Dec. 18
Fall 2010 Commencement

9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Murphy Center
For information, visit http://bit.ly/MTGradInfo or contact: 615-898-2919.

Dec. 24-Jan. 2
Winter Holidays

University closed.

Monday, Jan. 3, 2011
University Offices Reopen


Wednesday, Jan. 12
Tornado Siren Test Date

(no action needed)
11:15 a.m., campuswide
For information, contact: 615-898-2424.

Thursday, Jan. 13
Spring 2011 Classes Begin


Retired Faculty/Staff Coffee
9:30 a.m., Foundation House
For information, contact: 615-898-2922.

Get noticed in The Record!

Submit Campus Calendar items and other news to gfann@mtsu.edu by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, for the first 2011 edition of The Record, Jan. 17. Deadline for submitting items for the Jan. 31 edition of The Record is 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19. Thanks for another great year!

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