May 20, 2003

End-of-Year Celebration

Take This Book and Shelf It

News from the Ozarks

SARS Update

Eden-Webster Library Hours through June

Did You Know?

Featured Coach

Kampus Kudos

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Employees of the Month

New Employees

Summer Schedule

End-of-Year Celebration

The University honored its own at the annual Faculty-Staff Breakfast on Monday, May 12. With construction continuing outdoors on the quad, this year the breakfast was held indoors in Grant Gymnasium, which was packed.

In addition to honoring those who have worked at the University for many years as well as those who recently retired, the University singled out Dick Bauer, chief projectionist and house manager of the Winifred Moore Auditorium as Staff Member of the Year. Dick was honored for "his efforts to please his coworkers at the University as well as thousands of St. Louis film/music/theatre patrons. … Dick is known throughout the country by film distributors as an ‘expert’ projectionist. As a result of this designation and their confidence in Dick’s expertise, distributors have given the Webster Film Series rare archival prints that other venues only dream about."

On the faculty, Tracey McCarthy, assistant professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences, received the Wilma and Roswell Messing, Jr. Faculty Award to support a summer research project in Europe where she will compare child welfare and juvenile justice policies and procedures in England, France and Germany. Tracey will use her findings to internationalize her course offerings. Don Conway-Long, assistant professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Scott Jensen, associate professor, Communications and Journalism; Bill Porter, adjunct professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, and recording engineer; and Adelina Silva, adjunct professor, San Antonio region, and vice chancellor of student and community program development at Alamo Community College District, all received William T. Kemper awards for excellence in teaching.

In his review of the year, President Meyers listed among the top accomplishments:

• The close of The New Tradition Campaign, which surpassed its original $30 million goal and raised $44 million.
  
  
• The opening of the University’s 100th campus at WingHaven in St. Charles County, near St. Louis, and in Chengdu, China.
  
  
• The enrollment of the University’s 100,000th alumnus.
  
  

President Meyers also distributed numerous presidential citations for extraordinary contributions to University life.

The biggest round of applause was saved for the Facilities Operations crew who enabled the University to have a successful commencement despite severe weather that included thunderstorms and tornado warnings.

Take This Book and Shelf It

The first 600 people to sign up for the book chain receive a T-shirt with this great-looking graphic.

The Emerson Library opens its doors on Tuesday, July 1. To mark the transition to a two-library system, the University will use an old academic tradition and form a brigade to move the last of the books at the Eden-Webster Library to their new home, a distance of about 1,800 feet.

The human book chain will link up on Monday, June 30, at 11:00 a.m., winding its way from Eden's Luhr Library to the new Emerson Library. The first 600 people to sign up for the book passing will receive a free "Books Move People, People Move Books" T-shirt, a boxed lunch, St. Louis’ famous Ted Drewes frozen custard, a bookmark and a sneak preview of the new library. An estimated 600 volunteers will be needed to pass the last of the books in the "Z" section to the new library. Volunteers from the University and the community must pre-register by contacting Special Events Coordinators Jen Gerhardt, ext. 7916, or Nancy Higgins, ext. 6959.

News from the Ozarks

FROM LAURA WARD, DIRECTOR, OZARKS REGIONAL CAMPUS

(From left to right) Lacey Smith, community relations coordinator and academic advisor, Jonna Tarr, cancer survivor and health management services alum, Heather Whiteid M.B.A. student and Laura Ward, director, Ozarks Regional Campus, raised $2500 for the Relay for Life.

The Ozarks Regional Campus participated in the Relay for Life in Springfield, Mo., May 2–3. The five-member team, including two cancer survivors, raised more than $2500. The event raised over $500,000 overall.

SARS Update

The outbreak of SARS has led several colleges and universities to cancel overseas programs or discourage students from some Asian countries from studying on their campuses this summer. Webster has taken a more moderate approach.

Joe Stimpfl, director of the Center for International Education, says, "Webster University is always concerned about the safety and health of its students and staff, both in the United States and at its campus sites throughout the world. Our campus directors abroad are constantly monitoring all matters that may affect the health and safety of students and staff, and advising world headquarters in Saint Louis about such matters. We are always prepared to respond to any crisis and are constantly reviewing the options for our students in such a crisis. Issues of war, terrorism and disease are certainly of great concern to the entire Webster University administration. We have always monitored and will continue to monitor any issue, incident or situation that poses a threat to the health and safety of our students and staff."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "does not recommend canceling or postponing classes, meetings or other gatherings that will include persons traveling to the United States from areas with SARS." Furthermore, the CDC "does not recommend quarantine of persons arriving from areas with SARS."

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Eden-Webster Library Hours through June

MAY 19 - 23 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.

MAY 24 (SATURDAY) CLOSED

MAY 25 (SUNDAY) CLOSED

MAY 26 (MONDAY)
(MEMORIAL DAY) CLOSED

MAY 27–JUNE 30
MONDAY–THURSDAY 8 00A.M. -10:00 P.M.
FRIDAY 8:00 A.M. -6:00 P.M.
SATURDAY 10:00 A.M. -6:00 P.M.
SUNDAY 2:00 P.M. -6:00 P.M.

Did You Know?

New Law Loosens Online Copyright Restrictions

FROM THE MARCH 28, 2003, ONLINE CHRONICLE

In November, President Bush signed into law a bill that aims to help faculty members … by loosening the restrictions on using copyrighted works in online education. The bill, the Technology Education and Copyright Harmonization Act, amended copyright law to permit professors, under certain circumstances, to use some of the same copyrighted works in online courses that they have used in traditional ones, free of charge and without having to ask permission first. Congress approved the measure with support from both colleges and copyright owners.

But few faculty members around the country are taking advantage of the new law, known as the Teach Act. Faculty members and administrators say it is too complex and too vague about the conditions under which they can put copyrighted works online.

Indeed, confusion over the new law has entire institutions applying the brakes. For example, North Carolina State University and Pennsylvania State University are not putting any new copyrighted content in online courses until questions about the law’s provisions are resolved. …

What the Law Allows
The act permits nonprofit, accredited institutions of higher education to place online the full texts of "nondramatic" written works, such as news articles and poetry, as well as portions of "dramatic" works, such as plays and movies. As long as the materials are being used for courses, the institutions need not get the copyright holders’ permission or pay royalties. …

But as the saying goes, certain restrictions apply—more than a few, in fact. The law requires that institutions develop written copyright policies before they can put more copyrighted material online. Professors and relevant staff members must be educated about copyright law. Students have to be given proper notice that the material is protected by copyright. The copyrighted material can appear online only for the length of time that it is needed for the course. Only students enrolled in the course can have access to the material. (Supplemental material transmitted online as part of traditional classroom courses is covered by other parts of copyright law.)

One of the law’s most problematic requirements is that instructors make "reasonable" efforts to prevent students’ disseminating the audio or video clips to others. …

Searching for Definitions
A key issue for many institutions is that the Teach Act doesn’t define "reasonable." Some experts believe that using password protection should suffice. Some college administrators think institutions will have to invest in technology that can track what students do with the copyrighted material after they download it—technology that may not exist yet.

The reasonable-efforts requirement poses a tough choice for colleges, says Jim Neal, vice president for information services at Columbia University. If colleges must wait for the development of technologies that limit what students can do with audio and video clips, he says, it could be years before the institutions can take advantage of the Teach Act. But if officials mistakenly assume that current technology is good enough, they could be subject to lawsuits by copyright owners.

John Vaughn, executive vice president of the Association of American Universities, says some college officials are too concerned about liability. He says an institution isn’t going to be liable as long as its officials can show that they made reasonable efforts to protect the material, like using passwords—which most online courses already do. "They don't have to guarantee success," he says.

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Featured Coach

The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) has named Tom Hart, director of Athletics and head golf coach, the conference’s Golf Coach of the Year. The Gorloks had an outstanding season, winning three tournaments and placing in the top ten of all their tournaments. Tom received the honor in late April after the team won the SLIAC tournament at Tanglewood Golf Course. Webster finished the tournament with a score of 907, which ties the SLIAC record. The team shot a 295 on the second day of competition, which was a new SLIAC single-round record.

In a related development, Webster University recently clinched the SLIAC All Sports Award for the fourth consecutive year. The Gorloks have won the trophy four times out of the five years it has been awarded. Tom says, "Athletics at Webster has made significant improvements on and off the field. Capturing the award for the fourth straight year is a credit to the student athletes, coaches and staff members who work quite hard to uphold a quickly developing tradition of academic and athletic success."

Dave Hilditch, adjunct professor, Philosophy, appeared on a KWMU radio program, "I’ll be the Ethicist." In addition he participated in a public panel discussion called "You Be the Jury. Can Our Courts Deal Successfully with Insanity? The Yates Case."

Rebecca Ormond, assistant professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, had her film, Jungle Gym, presented at the Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival in Muskogee, Okla., where it was nominated for Best Experimental Short and Best Soundtrack (by Steve Schenkel, professor, Music). Jungle Gym was also shown at the Arizona International Film Festival, in Tucson, where Ormond spoke on a panel about narrative filmmakers and was heard on the local public radio station. The film was also presented at the Ladyfest Texas Film Festival in Austin, Texas, the Ladyfest Outwest Festival, in Denver, and the Valleyfest Independent Film Festival in Knoxville, Tenn.

Wade C. Ferguson, adjunct professor, Business, Charleston Metro Campus, authored "Carolinas-Virginia Salaries Weather the Economic Storms in the Post 9-ll Regional Business Climate," which appeared in the Southern Purchaser (January 2003).

Norman Lambert, adjunct professor, English, has been elected to be an associate fellow by the Society for Technical Communication. He was formally recognized at the STC annual conference banquet in Dallas.

Robert Goss, assistant professor, Religious Studies, is the author of Queering Christ: Beyond Jesus Acted Up (Pilgrim Press, 2002), which has been nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in the category of "spirituality." This is a juried award, which represents excellence in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered publishing.

Phyllis Wilkinson, associate professor and chair, Learning and Communication Arts, presented "Redefining Comprehension and Community: Teachers Reading with Heart and Mind," at the International Reading Association (IRA) convention. She and Nancy Johnson, assistant professor, Learning and Communication Arts, submitted a research grant proposal, "The Role of Intermediate Students’ Self-Generated Questions in Making Connections and Comprehending," to IRA. Wilkinson is a member of the executive board of the Missouri State Council-IRA.

Judith Ortiz, adjunct professor, Health Management, Orlando Metro Campus, received a Ph.D. in public affairs from the University of Central Florida. She researched the financial and economic issues of health services administration.

Ted Hoef, dean of Student Affairs, presented the keynote address, "Marketing with Soul," at a marketing seminar sponsored by the Association of College Unions International. He also presented the closing session on developing marketing plans.

Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Drums! Drums! Drums! And more . . .

The Community Music School presents a concert of percussion ensembles at the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall on Sunday, June 1, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Admission is free. The Community Music School is located at the corner of Delmar and Trinity in the University City Loop.

For more information on St. Louis events, check the online calendar.

Employees of the Month

May 2003

FROM MARIANNE KIRK, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

May’s Employee of the Month Spotlight shines on Laurie Smith, working supervisor, University Copy Center, and Connie Milner, department associate, Memphis Naval Support Activity.

Laurie Smith’s nominator applauds her for being meticulous and for the timely manner in which she completes orders. Laurie has made many improvements in the Copy Center during her two and a half years on the job. The Copy Center obtained new equipment to offer the University more services. "Many projects that the University had to outsource in the past can now be done on campus, saving students, faculty and staff time and money," her nominator says. "We are lucky to have someone with her work ethic and imaginative solutions to the many aspects of her job."

Laurie says she enjoys her job and the people she works with. "Our job is to run the copy and mail centers smoothly and efficiently and that happens with the help of a great team for support."

Laurie chose a day of with pay as her prize.

Connie Milner was hired the day Memphis Naval Support Activity opened, on January 7, 2002. According to her nominator, Connie has proven to be a "an exceptional employee … always someone I can depend on to stay strong and get the job done, even if includes arriving early to work and working late." The site staff consists of two employees who handle enrollments of 150. "Our enrollments are very high and our office is always busy." In spite of this, Connie never complains and "greets each day with a smile." In addition to her job duties, Connie also attends undergraduate classes and is a single mother involved in her children’s lives.

Connie says she is very excited about winning the Employee Spotlight Award. She says what she enjoys most about her job is working with her colleagues to help the faculty and students." She adds, "Working for Webster has allotted me a great deal of professional and personal growth. I am blessed to have this job and thankful for it daily. Working for a good institution with good people is a good thing!"

Connie chose a day off with pay as her prize.

Employees everywhere are eligible for the monthly Employee Spotlight Award. Using the nomination form is easy!

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New Employees

A warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:

Derrick Florian, general clerk, Mail Center, ext. 7420, replaces Sharon Howard.

Tamara G. Gegg-LaPlume, assistant director for career development, Career Center, ext. 6982, replaces Michelle Luraschi.

Kristin Wann Gorang, community relations coordinator, Salt Lake City, Utah, Metro Campus, 801-908-8044 or speed dial #6 118, replaces Richard Ramoutar.

Valerie Jean Parker, development officer for prospect management and research development, Development, ext. 5945, replaces Ryan Elliott who has assumed another department position.

Kimberly Christine Sander, representative, Human Resources, ext. 7782.

Jonathan C. Schlereth, supervisor of online programs, School of Business and Technology, ext. 8601.

Margaret Zarinelli, nurse, Health Services, ext. 6922, replaces Jennifer Mullersman.

To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.

This is the last issue of Inside Webster for the 2002–03 academic year. The next issue of the newsletter will appear on June 3; again, on July 2 and August 5. Have a great summer!