The Reporter, July 1998

The Reporter is a publication produced by Western Carolina University featuring news, events, and campus community updates for faculty and staff. The publication began in August of 1970 and continues digitally today. Click on the link in the “Related Materials” field to access recent issues.The Reporter News for the Faculty and Staff of Western Carolina University July 30, 1998 Cullowhee, North Carolina Abdul Turay Appointed Research and Graduate Studies Dean at WCU Abdul M. Turay, former dean of graduate studies and research at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, is the new dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Western. Turay, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in the West African nation of Sierra Leone, arrived in Cullowhee July 1. Steve Yurkovich, professor of geology, has been serving as acting dean for the past year. Professor of economics and dean of graduate studies and research at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville since 1995, Turay was previously chair and professor of economics at Radford University from 1991 until 1995. He was an administra­tor and a professor of economics and international trade at Mississippi State University from 1978-1989, serving as acting head of the department of finance and economics, and assistant to the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in addition to his teaching duties. Turay earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1972, his master's degree in economics from Atlanta Univer­sity in 1973, and his doctorate in economics from the University of Oklahoma in 1978. Assessing Oral Communication Skills: Students Learn to Speak Freely and Fearlessly At first glance, Patti Cutspec . wouldn't appear the warrior. Yet the communication and theatre arts assistant professor leads a fierce charge in the battle against what many Americans list as their worst fear: speaking in public. And she's winning. A comprehensive assessment program that Cutspec has developed addresses the anxieties of WCU students faced with completing the General Education oral communication requirement and places them in sections according to their needs. Upon arriving for orientation, students are asked to rate the level of their own apprehension toward a variety of typical communication situations, such as participating in meetings, discussions, and even informal conversations, and, more specifically, toward preparing and delivering a speech. Next, students are placed in small groups and asked to reach consensus on an exercise adminis­tered and evaluated by a trained student assessor, who is almost always a communication or education upperclassman. And, finally, in a feature of the assessment process unique to Western's program, parents are asked to rate how skillfully their sons or daughters practice "communication behaviors" such as eye contact, gesturing, listening, and speaking. The resulting data are then analyzed and used to direct students to any of five different "branches" growing out of the existing oral communication classes, says Cutspec. Instructors Student assessors evaluate group dynamics during orientation. Inset: Dr. Patti Cutspec, director of Oral Communication Competence, at left, shown with student assessors Jenifer Pressley, Carmela Brooks, and Tasha Turner. also receive the results of the assessment process, allowing them to shape course content according to their students' diagnosed difficulties in communicating. Students who are identified as "reticent communicators" are steered toward either regular or honors sections taught by Cutspec and Suzon Hawley, which incorporate more concentrated attention to overcoming shyness, developing social skills, and participating in a group. "More than anything, the assess­ment program has proved to be an effective way of keeping students from falling through cracks due to fears that we can help them overcome," says Cutspec. The program, now in its fourth year, has been so effective that word is spreading, and schools from across the country contact her regularly for information. Through two offshoots of the assessment program- Project Speak and Project Gift— Cutspec and her student volunteers venture into grades K-12 in public and private schools to help teachers become aware of how to build more opportunities for training and exposure in communication skills. Also gratifying, Cutspec says, are the numbers of students from the dedicated army of assessors she selects and supervises each year who have begun to present their own research and who have gone on to graduate-level work in communication. But what speaks most eloquently of the program's success, according to Cutspec, are the letters and cards of thanks she and other instructors receive from students who have conquered their phobias and now find themselves able to speak more freely. Outside Art: Winning Sculptures Installed Two works chosen as winning entries in the 1998-99 Outdoor Sculpture Competition have been installed on campus. *Listening Benches," a work by Nitin Jayaswal, shown above, proves an inviting addition to the A.K. Hinds University Center grounds, while "Turitella," by Anne Alexander, (see calendar photo) lends a playful presence to the Killian courtyard. These works will be joined by two others yet to be placed fo r the sixth annual showing of the Outdoor Sculpture Competition winners. Staff Spotlight Water Plant Operator Receives Top Regional Award WCU •Robert Caruso, vice chancellor (Student Affairs), co-presented "Leadership 21: Preparing Student Leaders for the 21st Century" at the Association of College and University Housing Officers- International Annual Conference in Charlotte in July. •Bruce Frazier, a two-time Emmy Award-winning composer and music engineer with extensive credits in the motion picture, television, and music industries, has been selected as the new Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor in Commercial and Electronic Music. Frazier is the first professor selected through a $1 million endowed professorship created in 1996 with a gift from Irwin and Carol Belk of Charlotte and matching funds from the state. The professorship is designed to benefit students seeking training in electronic and commercial music composition, arrangement, production, and design. Frazier holds the bachelor's and master's degrees, both in music, from East Carolina University and the doctorate from the University of Southern California. •Robert Gurevich, director (Office of International Programs and Services), has been appointed to the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Governor's School. •John Ritchie, director (Counsel­ing and Psychological Services), was named Administrator of the Year by the Association of Educational Office Personnel. Audrey Cox, assistant (Chancellor Emeritus Office), was named Educational Office Professional of the Year. The two top awards were presented at the association's annual Bosses' Day Celebration recently. •Yvonne N. Saddler, retired assistant professor (Communication Disorders), received the Honors of the Association award at the annual convention of the North Carolina Speech, Hearing, and Language Association recently in Charlotte. The award, the highest honor bestowed by the association, recognizes "consistent, distinguished contributions to the association or to the communication disorders profession." In acknowledgement of Saddler's many contributions and long service to WCU, the Yvonne N. Saddler Service Award was established this year to recognize contributions by students in the communication disorders field. •John Slater, assistant professor (Communication and Theatre Arts), will participate in C-SPAN's Summer 1998 Seminar for Professors in Washington, D.C., August 6-7. Professors from thirty-five colleges and universities across the country and from a variety of disciplines will participate. The seminar will focus on creative ways to use C-SPAN's public affairs programming in the classroom and in research. Participants were selected through a competitive application process open to all of the 4,900 college faculty members of "C-SPAN in the Classroom," the cable network's free national membership service for educators. •Gary Smith, director (Environ­mental Health Program), received a $50,000 contract from the U.S. Public Health Service to conduct a workshop in Las Vegas, Nev., for faculty members in environmental health/science from universities and colleges across the country. The workshop, conducted by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council, which Smith chairs, drew faculty from over thirty-five universities and colleges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry provided funding for the workshop. As chief operator and supervisor of WCU's water plant, Fayne Aldridge makes certain that the campus and surrounding community have safe drinking water. Water drawn from the nearby Tuckaseigee River is treated, run through a conventional water treatment plant, and pumped into the system for consumption. Aldridge and other water plant workers constantly monitor the water to ensure its quality. When school is in full session, Aldridge said, the water plant draws about 686,000 gallons a day from the Tuckaseigee. Every gallon is treated and tested, a job that requires technical skill and constant vigilance. Aldridge has seen much change and growth in his almost thirty years at WCU, both in the university and surrounding area. Despite the growth, Aldridge said he has noted a marked improvement in the quality of water from the Tuckaseigee River. "The river is much cleaner now," he said. "We used to have a lot of problems with people straight-piping sewage into the river or with sewage leaking into the river from inadequate septic systems." With no industrial pollution above the university and strict laws preventing raw sewage from entering the river, Aldridge said the only pollution in the river now is from agricultural runoff—usually more notable after heavy rains. The agricultural pollution, however, is insignificant, he said. "We're really very fortunate to have such good quality water." Aldridge recently was recognized for his professional contributions, both at WCU and on a regional level. The North Carolina Rural Water Association presented Aldridge the annual J.A. Younts Award as the top water plant operator in his region. The award comes at a timely juncture in Aldridge's career. He plans to retire in August. July 30,1998 • The Reporter WCU Calendar "Turitellaby Anne Alexander July 30—August 21, 1998 Look for regular updates on the university's web site at www.wcu.edu/cal.html Continuing Education/ Summer School Offering a variety of classes, profes­sional development opportunities, and educational enhancement programs. For complete information, check WCU Calendar of Events on the web or call 227-7397. Computer Center Help Client Services hours—Monday- Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., closed weekends. (227-7284) Library Hours Through Friday, August 7: Mondays to Thursdays, 8 a.m.-midnight; Fridays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 2-10 p.m. (227-7306) Fitness Center Hours Through Friday, August 7: Monday- Friday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9. Call for break schedule. (227-7069) Golf Driving Range (WCU Track) Open to the public. Summer Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (293-3514) Thursday, July 30 Symposium—Ulster-American Heritage, examining relationships developing out of historical emigration links among England, Scotland, Ireland, and North America. MHC sponsored. Prior registration required. Registration information 227-7397. Conference information 227-7129. August Tuesday, August 4 Council of Deans Retreat. 8:30 a.m.-noon. (227-7495) Wednesday, August 5 Western Open Golf Tournament/ Preseason Social. Sponsored by Alumni Association and Catamount Club. Waynesville Country Club Inn. (227-7377 for fees and registration) Friday, August 7 Summer Commencement. 7 p.m., RRAC. (227-7222) Wednesday, August 12 Orientation for New Faculty. 8-4:30 p.m. Beginning at MHC. (227-7495) Thursday, August 13 Reception, General Faculty Meeting. 8:30-10:30 a.m., RH. (227-7495) Deans' Meeting with Department Heads. 14 p.m. (227-7495) Friday, August 14 College Faculty Meetings. 8:30- 10 a.m. (227-7495) Departmental Faculty Meetings. 10:30 a.m.-noon. (227-7495) Computer Training for New Faculty. 1:30-4:30 p.m. (227-7495) Faculty Senate Meeting. 1:30-3 p.m., Room 104, Killian. (227-7495) Sunday, August 16 Residence halls open for all students. (227-7303) Freshman Summer Orientation. Through Tuesday, August 18. RRAC. (227-7234) Monday, August 17 Registration in Asheville. 3-6 p.m., Karpen Hall, UNC-A campus. (227-7423 or 828-251-6642) Transfer Student Orientation. (227-7234) Tuesday, August 18 Registration for new freshmen and transfers only. 9-11 a.m., RRAC. (227-7234) « New graduate student orientation. 9:30 a.m.-noon, RRAC. (227-7234) Registration for new, readmitted, and continuing students. 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., RRAC. (227-7232) Drop-Add. 1-4 p.m., RRAC. (227-7232) Wednesday, August 19 Freshman Convocation. 4 p.m., RRAC. (227-7495) Valley Ballyhoo. A welcome back celebration featuring music, food, games, and more. Free. 5-9 p.m. Cookout beginning at 5 p.m. $5.75 adults, $2.50 children 6 and under, WCU students may use meal cards. UC lawn (rain location: UC). (227-7234) Thursday, August 20 All classes begin. Friday, August 21 New Faculty Orientation. Hunter Library Classroom. (227-7495) Now showing Exhibitions: "George Hildrew: paintings"—Through August 7. Chelsea Gallery, UC. (227-7206) "Aspects of Representation: Nine Painters"—Through August 6.9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m., weekdays. Belk Gallery, BB. (227-7210) "Going Places"—Current rotating exhibition and slide show on travel and tourism in Western North Carolina. Featured through August: "Migration of the Scotch-Irish People," slide show on history of early Appalachian settlers from Ulster to Pennsylvania, the Shenandoah Valley, and Western North Carolina. Free. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., weekdays, MHC. Note: Permanent exhibition, "Migration of the Scotch-Irish People," closed temporarily. (227-7129) Key: HA - Hoey Auditorium; HFR - H.F. Robinson Administration Building; HS/CF - Hennon Stadium/Childress Field; MHC - Mountain Heritage Center; NSA - Natural Sciences Auditorium; RRAC - Ramsey Regional Activity Center; RH - Recital Hall, Coulter Building; BB - Belk Building; UC - A.K. Hinds University Center. Submissions: Send news items and calendar notices to WCU Calendar, 1601 Ramsey Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723 or e-mail to calendar.wcu.edu Submit items for the electronic bulletin board on campus (cable channel 39) and for the university's calendar on the World Wide Web at least one week prior to the event. The Reporter • J uly 30,1998 wcu • Summer commencement exercises are set for Friday, August 7, at 7 p.m., in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Bruce B. Henderson (Psychology), recipient of the UNC Board of Governors' Award for Excellence in Teaching, will deliver the primary address for the exercises, during which more than 300 students are expected to receive undergradu­ate and graduate degrees. Chancellor John W. Bardo will preside over the ceremony and deliver the charge to the graduates. Richard J. Collings, vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over the presentation of degrees. Faculty marshals for summer commencement are Karen Lunnen (chief), LeVon Wilson (vice chief), Mark Honegger, Kathy Ivey and Katie Ray. The Master of Physical Therapy degree will be awarded to some thirty members of the program's inaugural class during the exercises. A pinning ceremony and reception for the graduating MPT students are planned for Friday afternoon in the University. Call 227-7070 for more information. • The North Carolina Personal Care Plan (PCP) will no longer be available as of October 1 to current plan members in the western part of North Carolina. This change is part of a statewide reduction of HMO services by PCP, according to Human Resources Director Kathy Wong. At present, the program, administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is offered to employees who live or work in sixty-two counties in the state, but this number will be reduced to twenty-nine counties on October 1. Plan members should receive notification in writing of the change by PCP at their home addresses. Health insurance coverage through the North Carolina Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan remains the only other available option at the present time. PCP members may elect to enroll in that plan by completing the necessary forms during the upcoming annual enrollment period. This year's enrollment period begins August 3 and continues through September 4. Change in coverage is effective October 1. Enrollment forms may be obtained from the Office of Human Resources. • WCU's Industrial and Engineering Technology program was recently awarded a $9,349 grant by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers' Education Foundation. The grant money will be used to purchase new programmable logic controllers for the department's automation laboratory, said Associate Professor Aaron Ball. The new equipment will boost the department's capability for advanced networking and high speed scanning and communication. "Students will be provided an opportunity to work with state-of-the-art industrial equipment and enhance their theoretical know­ledge of manufacturing systems," Ball said. "Western will now have one of the most advanced automation laboratories in the region." • WCU's graduate program in Communication Disorders has received national accreditation in speech-language pathology. The master of science degree program received eight-year accreditation from the Council on Academic Accredita­tion of the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association. Accreditation runs from August 1, 1998, through September 30,2005. "Our program has been outstanding for a long time," said Billy Ogletree, head of the Department of Human Services. "Eight-year continued accreditation by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associa­tion is just external verification of what we know to be true." The Communication Disorders program prepares speech-language pathologists in the prevention, evaluation and management of human communication and its disorders through relevant academic experiences, clinical work and research opportunities. The Reporter is published by the Office of Public Information. Mail faculty/staff notes, events, notices, and changes of address to Rebecca Caldwell, The Reporter; 1601 Ramsey Center, or send them via e-mail to PUBLICATIONS REPORTER.WCU.EDU 1,600 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $299.15, or $0.14 per copy. Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Institution. This is a special summer edition of The Reporter. Please continue to send story ideas, notes on accomplishments, and event information for possible publication later and for inclusion on the WCU Calendar of Events on the web or on the closed-circuit Campus Bulletin Board. The Reporter Office of Public Information Publications Unit 1601 Ramsey Center Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CULLOWHEE, N.C. PERMIT NO. 1 July 30,1998 • T he Reporte