July 2004

Coming This Fall…to a Computer Terminal Near You: Connections!

Maria Hall Dining Facility Nears Completion

Coping with E-Mail Spam

Golfing with the Gorlok

Kampus Kudos

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Employees of the Month

Service Anniversaries

New Employees

Condolences

Coming This Fall…to a Computer Terminal Near You: Connections!

With a single sign-on, Connections will provide a potpourri of Web-based services

While personal announcements, campus announcements and calendar sections will be permanent fixtures, the rest of the page can be customized to include the content each individual user wants to see. One option is daily headlines from a host of syndicated news sources, including The New York Times, CNN and Wired News. Other feature choices include Today’s Weather, Word of the Day and many others.

For a PDF file that gives an overview of the Connections' features, click here.

Connections’ calendar can be linked to other users and devices; the Courses and Groups feature can provide a home page for information sharing within a group.

Other IT News

• The University’s new Web site is scheduled to debut in January 2005.
  Larry Haffner, vice president, Information Technology, says the graphic design work is complete, and the information architecture is still under construction. Two pieces remain: 1) the huge job of converting existing web pages, and 2) setting up the content management system which manages the Web site.
• Until the new Web site is up and running, departments and campuses should continue to work with Pete McEwen, Web site director, to maintain existing Web pages. New projects will continue to be on hold until the new content management system is in place.
• Construction has been completed on the server and operations room located on the ground floor of Webster Hall, providing the University with back-up systems available to keep key operations—critical networks and the telephone system— running during a power outage.

Maria Hall Dining Facility Nears Completion

Construction on the dining area is continuing, and completion is expected about the time classes begin in August. “It’s going to be more than a restaurant-style experience,” says Reba Snavely, associate vice president, Administration. “It’s going to be a fantastic restaurant!” Diners can sit at tables of four or eight or at booths and banquettes, located along the exterior walls, with full seating for approximately 200 people.

Coping with E-Mail Spam

It’s not quite a health epidemic, but you know spam has become a major concern when the United Nations gets involved. Last week, the telecom agency of that global organization announced the rather lofty goal of reducing junk e-mail worldwide within the next two years by standardizing anti-spam legislation in countries around the world.

Anyone who uses e-mail can understand the spirit of the U.N.’s pursuit. Spam is now said to take up 85 percent of all e-mail traffic, though the constant effort of Internet service providers and anti-spam software means a much smaller percentage of what gets to your inbox is actually spam. But no product or method can block all spam, and purveyors of spam are always adapting new tactics to get around the latest spam-blocking methods.

Use the Help Desk. University faculty and staff use a wide variety of e-mail clients, so it’s best to contact the Help Desk, ext. 5995, or send an on-line work order located on the University’s Technology Resources page http://www.webster.edu/technology/ for help in setting up filters.

Other Resources

Tips on setting up filters in various e-mail clients

An article on setting up SpamAssassin for Outlook

The SpamAssassin Web site

To read an article by Pete McEwen, Web site director, with detailed information about spam filters and some how-to tips on how to manage it, click here.

Back to Headlines

---

Golfing with the Gorlok

FROM ROBYN GAETA, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS WORK-STUDY STUDENT

Ryan Barke, Andrew Laue, the Gorlok (AKA baseball coach Marty Hunsacker), Niel DeVasto and Luigi Scire at the Players Club

Players at Webster’s 10th Annual Gorlok Open on May 24 enjoyed beautiful weather and the company of a furry, gold critter who resembles a cross between the lion from The Wizard of Oz and a Saint Bernard with horns, better known as Webster’s athletic mascot, The Gorlok.

The tournament, sponsored by PARIC and held at the Players Club At St. Louis in Eureka, combined fun, exercise and philanthropy for the 128 golfers on more than 30 teams who participated. “It was our most successful tournament in about eight years,” said Tom Hart, director of Athletics and head golf coach. “The weather cooperated well.”

Although there were no holes-in-one or broken records, the tournament broke new ground in terms of fund raising, bringing in a total of $17,000, which is $3,700 more than last year, to benefit Webster’s athletic program.

The winning team, who shot a 57, consisted of Greg Marecek of KFNS Radio, Brian McClain, owner of Webster Groves RealtyNET, and State Farm Insurance agents John Layton and Tom Richardson. This is the second Gorlok Open Marecek has won. “We are very supportive of Webster Groves and Webster University,” he said.

Back to Headlines

---

Editor’s Note: Each issue of Inside Webster includes 10 Kampus Kudo listings, which appear in the publication in the order they are received by the Office of University Communications. If your information is not in this issue, it will appear in a future issue.

O. Ray Angle, director, Career Services, accepted the position of president-elect of the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers. Angle will serve a three-year term as president-elect, president and past-president.

Patricia Kelley, adjunct professor, Fort Smith Metropolitan Campus, recently published the book “Hiring Right: A Business Blueprint for Lower Turnover and Higher Profits.”

Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean, School of Business & Technology, published “Finding Success from Within” in the Jan. 1, 2004, issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Bill Barrett, chair, Electronic and Photographic Media, published photographs of Dorothy Day and Mother Theresa in Rosalie Riegle’s, “Dorothy Day: Portraits by Those Who Knew Her.” Published by Orbis Books, the book includes a first of its kind portrait of Dorothy Day.

Ed Bishop, adjunct professor, Communications and Journalism, published “In Defense of Corrigan & Journalism Review” in the Dec. 19, 2003, edition of the Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Don Conway-Long, assistant professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences, received the 2003 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. Long was one of the 109 teachers from all ranks of education in the St. Louis area to receive the award presented by Emerson, a St. Louis-based company.

Don Corrigan, professor, Communications and Journalism, published “Christian Identity Movement Needs More Press Scrutiny” in the December 2003 issue of the St. Louis Journalism Review.

Tena Hart, director, Legal Studies, History, Politics and International Relations, presented, “Using the Hypothetical Case Method to Teach the Theory and Practice of Product Liability Litigation,” to the American Association for Paralegal Education-Pacific Region Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. The presentation was intended to facilitate the teaching of product liability law by providing each student with his/her own hypothetical product upon which to build a case and see it through all stages of litigation.

Robert Hunt, adjunct professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, published “Going to the Movies” in the Jan. 8, 2004, edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The article provides a brief history of movie houses in St. Louis, comparing the advantages of the old versus the new.

Bill Porter, adjunct professor, Audio Production, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to Webster University and the Audio Engineering Society (AES). The award was presented by Jon Jory, chair of Webster University’s student section of the AES.

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

Employees of the Month

July 2004 Spotlight Award

FROM ROBYN GAETA, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS WORK-STUDY STUDENT

Kris Andracsek, academic coordinator, Business Department, and Sandra Chamberlin, director, Lakeland Metropolitan Campus, share the Employee Spotlight Award honors for July.

Kris Andracsek started as a work-study student in the Business and Management Department in 1988 and has been with Webster full-time for 12 years. Kris says that her job is very exciting due to the constant change. “What I like most about my job is that every nine weeks is different,” Kris says. “New students, different issues; nothing is the same.”

Kris’ nominator says that Kris has consistently provided exceptional work. “She has always been a person who has accepted challenges and been able to provide good results,” her nominator says. “She has done so much for Webster University that it’s hard to list everything.”

Kris chose a day off with pay as her prize.

Sandra Chamberlin began working for Webster in November 1998 and has held several positions, including academic advisor and adjunct professor. Sandra said that one of the most enjoyable aspects of her job is talking about Webster to the public. “I never thought I was a salesperson, but I’ve found if I believe in what I’m selling and can see how it will benefit the other party, I love it!” she says. Sandra also enjoys working with the other Webster campuses in her region. “Although we only get to be together about once a term, we’re a close group and really like working together,” she says.

Sandra gives her team credit for her receiving this award. “They are a wonderful group— very professional—and we work well together,” she says.

Sandra’s nominator believes that she directly contributed to the Lakeland campus’s record high enrollments last term, in spite of the fact that she suffered a broken leg and subsequent surgeries late last year. “Despite her circumstances and her inability to be physically available on campus, Sandra made every effort to be available by phone or e-mail to the staff and faculty whenever anyone needed her input,” her nominator says.

Sandra 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!

Service Anniversaries

The University extends its appreciation to the following individuals who have ably served the institution for many years:

June 2004

Gary Ford, visiting assistant professor, School of Communications, 15 years

James Tucker, community relations coordinator, Kansas City Metropolitan Campus, 15 years

Janet Kourik, associate professor, Math and Computer Science, 10 years

James Wolz, service clerk, Media Center, 10 years

Tracy Bowen, assistant director, Rolla Metropolitan Campus, five years

Jennifer Gammage, editor, Marketing, five years

Marty Hunsucker, coordinator, Athletics, five years

Terri Jones, assistant director, User Services, five years

Brooke Morgan, director, Whiteman AFB, five years

Patrick Rishe, associate professor, School of Business & Technology, five years

Ruth Sprous, department associate, Orlando Metropolitan Campus, five years

July 2004

Charlie Beech, associate vice president, Geneva, 30 years

Michelle Alex, supervisor, Fort Sam Houston, 20 years

Vicki Vogt, database programmer/analyst, Administrative Computing Services, 20 years

Diane Conrad, database programmer/analyst, Administrative Computing Services, 15 years

Dan Duggan, director, Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, 10 years

Luis Dantan, office manager, Irvine Metropolitan Campus, five years

Debbie Grimes, department assistant, Charleston Metropolitan Campus, five years

Christine Keller, coordinator, Philosophy, five years

Candida Martinez, representative, Colorado Springs Metropolitan Campus, five years

Ana Ojeda-Dayton, department associate, Northwest Plaza Campus, five years

Reba Snavely, associate vice president, Administration, five years

New Employees

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

Kathleen Bonine, director, Fort Irwin Campus, 760-386-7989 or speed dial #6 096, replaces Susan Stoker.

Tyann Cherry, department associate, Business, ext. 8600, replaces Rosita Ismail.

Brenda Glass, representative, Fort Leavenworth, 913-682-1922 or speed dial #6 107, replaces Kimberly Lander.

Dane Graham, development director, Vienna.

Robert Harry, general clerk, Lackland Air Force Base, 210-674-0014 or speed dial #6 078, replaces Shanetta Cross.

Kelly Howell, lab assistant, Little Rock Air Force Base, 501-988-5331 or speed dial #6 011, replaces Joel Walker.

Shane Jones, coordinator, Information Technology.

William Simmons, lab assistant, Fayetteville Metropolitan Campus, 479-571-1511, ext. 10 or speed dial #6 010, replaces Zachary Mason.

Timothy Snyder, course developer, Business, replaces Eric Patton.

Nikki Trotter, secretary, Space Coast Metropolitan Campus, 321-449-4500 or speed dial #6 008, replaces Dayse Laslo.

Rachel Wilcoxson, representative, Little Rock Metropolitan Campus, 501-375-1511 or speed dial #6 064, replaces Michelle Dixon.

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