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CampusMemo

Volume 52, Number 18   December 20, 2004         

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Announcements
CampusMemo
returns Jan. 24

This is the final CampusMemo of the semester. The next edition of CampusMemo will be published Monday, Jan. 24. Items are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Submit items to pubnews@sfsu.edu

CET workshops:
register by Jan. 5

Registration for the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching's January workshops has been extended to Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005. Weeklong workshops include online teaching with Blackboard, creating an instructional Web site, and working with digital images. One-shot workshops include classroom assessment techniques, using portfolios, facilitating large classes and protecting computers from viruses and spyware.

For the complete schedule and registration, visit: http://cet.sfsu.edu/winter

For details, contact CET at cetregis@sfsu.edu or ext. 5-3537.

Human subjects committee needs help
SFSU's Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS) is looking for a community member and/or a nonscientist member to serve on the committee, starting in February 2005.

Community members cannot be currently affiliated with the University, nor can they be family members of anyone currently connected with the University. Community members frequently are retired faculty or staff, clergy or members of local service organizations.

A nonscientist member's primary interests and responsibilities must be in a nonscientific field, such as literature, art or music. Staff members are also eligible to be the nonscientist member.

The committee cannot meet without the nonscientist in attendance, so it is also looking for an alternate to serve as a back up should the committee member be unable to attend.

To volunteer or recommend a person for the position, contact CPHS at protocol@sfsu.edu or ext. 8-1093.


Know students doing great research?

The CSU's 19th annual Student Research Competition provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to show off their outstanding research projects, papers or creative activities. SFSU students have done very well in this competition in past years. Faculty should encourage students to apply. Applications are due Monday, Feb. 21, 2005, for the campus competition which will take place Feb. 28 - March 4.

The University will provide travel funds for campus winners to compete in the CSU systemwide competition to be held April 29-30 at CSU Sacramento.

Students may enter the competition in any one of the following areas: behavioral and social sciences; biological and agricultural sciences; business, economics and public administration; creative arts and design; education; engineering and computer science; health, nutrition and clinical sciences; humanities and letters; and physical and mathematical sciences.

Student registration forms and application guidelines may be accessed on the Graduate Studies Web site: www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy

For details, contact Darlene Yee at dyee@sfsu.edu or Lisa Hoskins at lhoskins@sfsu.edu

Forgivable loan program
Applications for the 2005/06 CSU-Forgivable Loan/Doctoral Incentive Program are now available in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development, room 451 of the Administration building.

The program seeks to increase the pool of individuals with the qualifications, motivation and skills to teach the diverse student body in the CSU. It provides loans of up to $10,000 per year, up to a total of $30,000 to doctoral students.

The loan will be cancelled (forgiven) at a rate of 20 percent for each year of service as a full-time instructional faculty member in the CSU rendered after completion of the Ph.D. In the event a student does not obtain a faculty position with the CSU, the loan is due for repayment at an interest rate and time line comparable to other graduate student loans. Last year the rate was 5 percent.

Applications are due Friday, Feb.11, 2005.

SF State News home

News
University Advancement VP Jim Collier retires
Photo of Jim CollierAfter serving the University for more than eight years, Jim Collier, vice president for university advancement, has decided to retire, effective the end of this month.

Collier, who joined SFSU in 1996, organized and presided over SFSU's first-ever University advancement effort. Under his leadership, University Advancement, which now comprises development, government relations, and public affairs and publications, has doubled in size, as well as grown in stature. Collier's efforts have helped build and strengthen the University's reputation, improve upon campus services and enhance teaching and research at SFSU.

"Jim brought us the kind of professional expertise and deep knowledge of the field that we had never before had," said SFSU President Robert A. Corrigan. "He built a true Advancement operation, and, as an unexpected part of his portfolio, guided us through real estate and construction acquisitions and projects that have expanded and reshaped this campus."

The vice president retires following a record-breaking year in private giving. SFSU reported $17.3 million for 2003-04. The University endowment has grown from $6 million to more than $20 million during his tenure. During the past eight years, three endowed chair positions were established, including the first $1 million-endowed chair, The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Chair in Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility, and SFSU received the largest private individual gift in its history.

Collier led the successful launch of SFSU Magazine, the University's twice-yearly, award-winning publication for alumni, donors, friends and the campus community.

Serving the institution well beyond his advancement role, Collier also was the executive director of the San Francisco State University Foundation, which played a key role in bringing the Village at Centennial Square into being and in acquiring 180 housing units adjacent to campus, rented to faculty and staff at below-market rates.

Prior to SFSU, Collier served for 15 years as vice president for university relations at University of Washington.


In memoriam: Beverly Kees
Photo of Beverly KeesBeverly Kees, a lecturer of journalism known nationally for her work as a reporter, editor and advocate of newsroom diversity, died Dec. 10 when she was hit by a truck while crossing the street near her home. She was 63.

Kees, a Minneapolis native and San Francisco resident, taught courses on diversity issues, ethics and the history of journalism. She was scheduled to teach an editing class in spring 2005.

"Beverly had a sunny aspect to her. Her smile would light up a room when she entered," said John Burks, chair and professor of journalism. "What I've heard from lots of students is she was demanding. She was always willing to help out, do as much coaching as it takes, and devote the extra time."

Journalism Professor Erna Smith, a friend and colleague, said Kees's death is a major loss for the journalism community on campus and throughout the country.

"She was a person of enormous integrity, both personal and professional," Smith said. "She absolutely loved what journalism could do at its best."

Before coming to SFSU, Kees was senior projects manager for the Freedom Forum, a national foundation that promotes journalism education and development. She was also an editor and program director at the Freedom Forum Pacific Coast Center, until it closed in 2000. She was executive editor of the Fresno Bee from 1988 to 1993 and also worked for the Minneapolis Star, Minneapolis Tribune, Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota and Post-Tribune in Gary, Ind.

Kees recently served as president of the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and is co-author of "Nothing Sacred: Journalism, Politics and Public Trust in a Tell-All Age.''

She is survived by a brother, three step-siblings and several nieces and nephews.

Donations may be sent to: The Beverly Kees Fund for Journalism, c/o Sigma Delti Chi Foundation, 3909 North Meridian St., Indianapolis, Ind. 46208.


People on Campus
Photo of Craig Abaya"My wife calls me 'the man with five careers,'" says Craig Abaya, director of Digital Media and Entertainment Programs at the College of Extended Learning (www.cel.sfsu.edu). As an award-winning songwriter, singer, musician, producer, filmmaker, Web designer and performing arts photographer, his work spans the worlds that make San Francisco one of the liveliest cities on the planet.

All of Abaya's talents come into play at his SFSU gig in which he creates and develops the digital recording, video and Web design courses offered at CEL...

Read the entire profile: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/fall04/dec20people.htm


Academic Senate Action

At its Dec. 14 meeting the Academic Senate:

  • Approved the discontinuance of the NEXA minor and bachelor of art in liberal studies concentration;
  • Approved a resolution in recognition of the SFSU Bookstore's 50th anniversary;
  • Approved a new interdisciplinary minor in Modern Greek Studies;
  • Approved a proposal for a New Digital Media Production Certificate through the College of Extended Learning;
  • Approved a revision to the master of science degree in recreation.

Read the full Academic Senate meeting report: www.sfsu.edu/~senate/

 

STAR of the Month

December STAR of the Month: Erin Rodriguez
Photo of Erin RodriguezErin Rodriguez, office coordinator for the Political Science Department and Urban Studies Program, practices what she preaches. In her work, she has tried to help faculty and students find the resources they need to do things on their own.

"I have really enjoyed being of service to the students, empowering them to take control of their own education and pointing them to resources," she said. "I'm a firm believer in the saying, 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.'"

In the spirit of that Chinese proverb, Rodriguez will be leaving the University at the end of this year to launch a limousine service with her husband.

Her enthusiastic, entrepreneurial spirit will be missed as it became very valuable during a time of intense transition.

Rodriguez was hired just over a year ago at the same time Gerard Heather, professor of political science, took on the position as chair of the department. The previous office coordinator left unexpectedly, and Rodriguez, who had been employed as a work-study student, stepped into the vacated role.

"Erin took over the position of office manager for Political Science and Urban Studies at a time when the University was facing a budgetary shortfall and political science was experiencing the greatest increase in students, both undergraduate and graduate, in the past two decades," Heather said. "Moreover, we had just hired five new faculty, all of whom were learning the myriad procedures of establishing retention files, applying for grants and assigned-time awards. The office traffic was continuous and the paperwork immense. She brought an instant professionalism and competence as well as a reassuring demeanor to the chaotic environment. Her charm and good manners, coupled with her professional work ethic, brought stability and her dedication was evident for all to see."

Amita Shastri, current chair of political science, agrees.

"She is very creative and is always thinking of how she can improve the environment in which she and others in the department are working," Shastri said. "For instance, she has put in a lot of time and effort, on her own initiative, to reorganize the department office and student resource room to make them more welcoming and functional spaces."

Rodriguez plans to finish an undergraduate degree in political science this spring. She will also be busy launching her new business. She and her husband Nelson have been working to restore three Cadillacs from the '40s and '60s, and will launch their service in January.

A resident of the Mission District, Rodriguez also serves as a deacon select of the St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church.

Nominate a staff STAR: www.sfsu.edu/~news/star/starform.htm

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CampusMemo provides news, information and on-campus events listings to the faculty and staff of SFSU.

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Last modified December 20, 2004, by the Office of Public Affairs & Publications