Volume 55, Number 16   December 3, 2007         

Institute for Civic and Community Engagement seeks director
A campus-based search is underway for the director of the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. Members of the search committee have been selected. They include:

• Karen Lovaas, associate professor of communication studies
• Andy Johnson, comptroller, Institute for Civic and Community Engagement
• Hamid Khani, professor of broadcast and electronic communication arts
• Rebecca Toporek, assistant professor of counseling
• One student appointee to be named by Associated Students

The position description, application process and application deadline will be announced shortly. For more information, contact the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at ext. 8-2571.

Candidate presentations
The campus community is invited to the following presentations by candidates who are interviewing for the Director of the Office of International Programs, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and the Dean of the College of Creative Arts:

Director of the Office of International Programs

• Christine Andresen, associate director of the Office of International Education at Willamette University; Dec. 3 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in HSS 366.

Dean of Undergraduate Studies

• C.G. "Tino" Mendez, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at New Mexico Highlands University; Dec. 3 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in ADM 460.
• Gail Evans, associate dean for undergraduate studies at San Jose State University; Dec. 7 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in ADM 460.
• Elise Wormuth, associate dean of the College of Humanities at SF State; Dec. 10 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in ADM 460.
• Dean Saitta, professor in the department of anthropology and president of the faculty senate at the University of Denver; Dec. 13 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in ADM 460.

Receptions for each candidate for Dean of Undergraduate Studies will be held immediately following each presentation.

Dean of the College of Creative Arts

• Carol Richardson, professor, School of Music, and assisting associate dean for research and planning, University of Michigan; Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. in Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building.
• James Moy, dean and chair, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong; Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. in CA 146.
• Michael Hood, dean, College of Fine Arts, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. in CA 146.
• Jonathan Estrin, executive vice president, American Film Institute; Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. in Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building.

Receptions for each candidate for Dean of the College of Creative Arts will be held immediately following each presentation in the Casablanca Room, Creative Arts building.

News from the Academic Senate
At the Nov. 28 meeting of the Academic Senate:

• Linda Buckley, associate vice president for Academic Planning and Educational Effectiveness, reported on the findings of the University Task Force on Assessment of CUSP II Goal 3, Post-Baccalaureate Education. Buckley said that graduate enrollments are recovering and that graduation rates, particularly among students from underrepresented groups, are improving.
• The Senate approved changes to the liberal studies bachelor of arts degree, which called for replacing six units of electives with a specific gateway course (LS 300) and capstone course (LS 690).
• The Senate debated a proposal to charge a continuing enrollment fee to graduate students who have completed their culminating experience courses but have not finished their thesis or creative work. The proposal will be discussed at the Dec. 11 meeting.
• Elise Wormuth, associate dean of humanities and acting coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum/Writing in the Disciplines, and Robert Cherny, interim dean of undergraduate studies, reported on the progress of the Committee for Written English Proficiency in preparing an outcomes statement and course criteria for the required upper-division writing courses that will replace JEPET/ENG 414 by Fall 2010. Departments are encouraged to send representatives to a colloquium on the new requirement on Jan. 23. For more information, contact Elise Wormuth at earthman@sfsu.edu
• The Senate voted to endorse the American Association of University Professors' (AAUP) statement on Professional Ethics.

For more information, visit the Academic Senate Web site at www.sfsu.edu/~senate

This week's Insiders include Professor of Special Education Stanley Goldberg, who read his essay on a tour with National Public Radio; and Associate Professor of Cinema Jenny Kwok Wah Lau and Assistant Professor of Cinema Weimin Zhang, who were selected to document the 2008 Olympics.

Read Insiders:
www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/fall07/dec3insiders.htm

This week in Newsmakers: Assistant Professor of International Relations Andrei Tsygankov comments on Vladimir’s Putin’s political potential; Professor of Gerontology Brian de Vries offers insights about the oldest generation of the LGBT community; Cinema Professor James Kitses defends the film "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; and Assistant Professor of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Dina Ibrahim comments on President Bush’s peace talks in the Middle East.

Read Newsmakers: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/fall07/dec3news.htm

Lois P. Flynne, professor emerita of social science, died in an automobile accident on Sept. 8. She was 73 years old.

Read more about her life and work at In Memoriam:
www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/fall07/dec3memoriam.htm

Monday
"Science on TV" with Timothy Ferris
Popular science writer Timothy Ferris will be on campus as a guest of the Physics and Astronomy Department. His talk, "Presenting Science on TV," begins at 4 p.m. in SCI 210. Books by Ferris include the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Coming of Age in the Milky Way," "Seeing in the Dark" and "The Red Limit." He wrote and narrated the television specials: "The Creation of the Universe," "Life Beyond Earth" and "Seeing in the Dark." Ferris also produced the Voyager phonograph record, an artifact of human civilization containing music, sounds of Earth and encoded photographs launched aboard the Voyager interstellar spacecraft.

Roman history exhibit -- final week
The Museum Studies Program's exhibit "Strength and Honor: The World of The Roman Soldier" is on display in HUM 510. The exhibit explores the soldier's view of military life during the Roman Empire. The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 7. Admission is free and faculty are invited to bring their classes. In addition, the department is raising funds for scholarships by selling ancient Roman cookbooks, Roman history books, exhibit T-shirts, cards and more. For information, visit www.sfsu.edu/~museumst

Developmental psychology brown bag meeting
Students, faculty and staff are invited to bring their lunch to the weekly Developmental Psychology Brown Bag meeting featuring a new speaker and topic each week. Associate Professor of Psychology Avi-Ben Zeev will present a topic to be announced at noon in EP 503.

Tuesday
Holiday Crafts Fair
SF State faculty and staff are invited to shop for handcrafted wares at the Second Annual SF State Employee Holiday Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the first and second floor lobbies of the Administration building. Ornaments, jewelry, soaps, candles, note cards, cookies, candy and other items -- all made by SF State employees -- will be sold. The SF State Handbell Choir will perform and add to the holiday mood. For more information, visit http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~tliming

Bookstore holiday party
The SFSU Bookstore invites the campus community to its annual holiday reception from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The store will offer discounts on most merchandise (not including computer hardware), as well as catered snacks and beverages. Wine glasses and goody bags will be distributed to the first 300 attendees. For more information, contact Rob Strong at ext. 8-7372 or strong@sfsubookstore.com

Stillwell Student Art Show (through Saturday)
This juried exhibition of new student work in video, photography, textiles, metal arts, ceramics, sculpture and printmaking runs through Dec. 11 in the Fine Arts Gallery, FA 238. The exhibition includes the annual display of works by Leo D. Stillwell Jr., a post-World War II watercolor and oil painter. For more information, call ext. 8-6535 or visit http://gallery.sfsu.edu

Turnitin workshop
The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development is offering a Turnitin workshop, led by Amy Love, lecturer in English, from 3 to 4 p.m. in BH 229. The workshop will focus on how to use Turnitin as a teaching aid, including setting up Turnitin assignments and instructing students in its use. The pedagogy of plagiarism will also be covered. No prior experience with online learning is required. To register, visit http://power.sfsu.edu/index, call ext. 8-6456 or e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu

Wednesday
China Rising and the World -- final lecture
In the final segment of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences' free public lecture series, "China Rising and the World," Yenbo Wu, associate vice president of international education, will present "Challenges and Opportunities Facing China in the 21st Century." For more information visit http://bss.sfsu.edu or call ext. 5-2402.

Thursday
New Moves Dance Showcase (through Saturday)
The New Moves Dance Showcase, under the leadership of Professor Albirda Rose, features performances of original student choreography and diverse dance genres including lyrical jazz, modern, Afro-modern and hip-hop/urban fusion. The preview performance is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in the McKenna Theatre, Creative Arts building. The showcase continues Dec. 7 - 8 at 8 p.m., also in the McKenna Theatre. For information, call ext 8-1431 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events

Women studies lecture series
Sunaina Maira, associate professor of Asian American studies at the University of California, Davis presents "Citizenship and Empire: South Asian Muslim Immigrant Youth After 9/11." The talk is part of a weekly series of lectures held each Thursday through Dec. 13. For the complete schedule, visit www.sfsu.edu/~woms or contact Assistant Professor of Women Studies Kasturi Ray at ext. 8-3128 or kasturiray@yahoo.com

George Oppen Memorial Lecture
The Poetry Center presents the 22nd annual George Oppen Memorial Lecture, presented by Michael Palmer, a San Francisco poet deemed by The Village Voice as "the most influential avant-gardist working." Palmer will read at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Center, 1187 Franklin St. For details, visit www.sfsu.edu/~poetry

Coming Up
Morrison Artists Series: Alexander String Quartet
The Alexander String Quartet, the University's quartet-in-residence, will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, as part of the Morrison Artists Series at McKenna Theatre, Creative Arts building. The Quartet will perform Mozart's Divertimento, K. 136, Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 9 and Franz Schubert's String Quartet in D minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden." For more information, visit www.morrisonseries.org or call ext. 8-1358.

Candlelight Concert
The annual Candlelight Concert features the SF State Chamber Singers and University Chorus performing amid the glow of candles. At 8 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15, the Chamber Singers, conducted by Professor Joshua Habermann, will perform chants of many spiritual traditions, new music from Australia and Scandinavia, and music for double chorus. The University Chorus, conducted by David Xiques, will perform Gerald Finzi’s "Magnificat." The concert takes place at Most Holy Redeemer Parish, 100 Diamond St. (at 18th St.), San Francisco. For more information, call ext. 8-1431 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events

For more upcoming events, see the University Calendar

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Last modified Dec. 3, 2007 by University Communications.