Inside Webster

For the first time, the opportunity to participate in the MBA Capstone Competition is being extended Webster-wide and all site directors are encouraged to promote the competition—and the $10,000 prize!—among their business faculty, students and alumni. In addition to the $10,000 prize, given by an anonymous corporate donor, $1,000 will be awarded to the instructor who sponsors the winning team.

The Capstone Simulation—a “virtual” business strategy simulation—has been successfully used for the past two years as part of the MBA Capstone Course, Business Policies and Strategies (BUSN 6200). During the course, students compete with each other running virtual $100 million companies in head-to-head competition. To be successful, students must integrate a number of critical business decisions using the business acumen acquired while pursuing their MBA degrees.

“We hope to have teams from all over the Webster system competing, including our international sites,” says Doug O’Bannon, Business Department chair and the person responsible for introducing the innovative concept at Webster. A team from Little Rock or Los Angeles could be competing with a team from London and China. “Webster China believes they’re going to win,” says O’Bannon.

Registration is online from Nov. 15, 2004 to Jan. 28, 2005. Competition begins Feb. 7 with the final rounds starting March 21. For more information or to register, go to http://business.webster.edu/capstone

Two New Members Join the SBT Leadership Team

Two people joined the leadership team in the School of Business & Technology this fall. Pat Masidonski was named associate dean, in the position formerly held by Maher Mishriki, while Renee Porter is the new director of Online Programs, which now accounts for more than 1,000 students.

As the former assistant dean and MBA program director with the Cook School of Business at St. Louis University, Masidonski says she has been keeping an eye on Webster for a long time. “At SLU, Webster was considered one of our biggest competitors for the evening MBA students,” she says. Masidonski was pleased to learn about a job opening with the business school that seemed to be a perfect fit for her. “And here I am!” she says. Akande agrees that Masidonski is the best person to be the School’s new associate dean. “She makes us better,” he says.

Porter, who recently completed a Ph.D. in educational studies at St. Louis University, also feels her new position is an ideal match for her interests and background. It seems fitting that she came across the ad for her position while checking Webster’s online job openings. Porter says the position’s initial appeal to her was the School of Business & Technology’s demonstrated commitment to online education.

Porter and Masidonski started working at Webster the same day and because of that, they have had similar experiences. “As far as the culture is concerned, it’s very welcome and open, and Pat and I have both been impressed,” Porter says. “I feel like part of a community.” Masidonski echoes Porter’s enthusiasm. “Webster is really a neat place to be because everybody is so inclusive, and the work ethic is so strong,” she says. “I think it’s just such a unique culture—from what I know, people seem to feel lucky to be here.”

The School of Business & Technology feels lucky to have these two new outstanding people on their team at this exciting and challenging time.

SBT Assessment and Consistency Program in Place

The School of Business & Technology is pursuing a number of new initiatives this academic year. “Our goal is to be measured, not by the numbers, but by the substance and quality of our programs,” says Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean.

One step toward the goal was to launch an assessment initiative this fall. “The focus of the assessment initiative is for the faculty to determine that the outcomes we have set collectively are verifiable, and to take corrective action in areas where we have fallen short,” Akande says.

At the Worldwide Director’s Meeting on Sept. 21, Akande outlined the steps to be taken this year to bring about program consistency. They include:

Akande says the assessment and consistency program will help put the School of Business & Technology in a position to pursue future accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide but until just recently, Webster did not meet the application criteria, mainly because of the University’s large number of adjunct faculty. Before March 2004, the AACSB required faculty to hold terminal degrees and for the majority to be full time. Akande says pursuing accreditation is a three- to five- year journey.

BEST Program Challenges High School Students

“I want this course to challenge you in a way you have never been challenged before, which will help you be ahead of the game,” Benjamin Akande, dean, School of Business & Technology, said to the first class of students attending the BEST (Business Education Scholarship Team) Program. The program is targeted to minority and or economically disadvantaged high school students in the St. Louis region who have expressed an interest in pursuing a business degree in college. It is designed to provide college-level experience and help build skills. The nine-week, two-credit-hour course got underway on Sept. 7, with a welcome and overview from Dean Akande, who sought and received the $20,000 funding for the course from the Regional Business Council and Ernst & Young. Akande is also the professor of record.

The BEST program is one of two University programs initiated this year that reach out to minority students who have an interest in attending college, but lack the direction to do so. The Collegiate Outreach Recruitment and Exposure Program (CORE), launched in January, focuses on assisting minority college-bound students who need assistance with the critical aspects of college admission. A $50,000 grant from Monsanto provided the funding for the CORE program.

At the first BEST class, Akande introduced Deborah Dey, vice president, Student and Enrollment Management, and Ted Hoef, associate vice president and dean of students, who shared their thoughts about the college experience in general, and Webster University, in particular. The class consists of 10 students, who were accompanied by their parents on the first night of class. Some had difficulty getting to the class on time, due to parking and maneuvering through a new environment—all part of the experience, according to their mentors. “You’ve already learned the first thing about college,” Dey said, jokingly. “There is no place to park!” On a more positive note, she added, “You are going to be part of a very vital institution that’s moving and changing and responding to the world every day.”

Hoef said that he was the first in his family to graduate from college and that the support of his family was a very important factor in the fact that he did so. He said he was very proud that his 87-year-old mother was able to see him receive his Ph.D. earlier this year. Hoef told the students that the secret to college success is for them to be actively engaged in their education. He stressed that learning to balance social life and class work is key. “Students who get socially involved on campus, in student organizations, clubs or working, are more likely to succeed,” he added.

Historic Barrage of Hurricanes Pounds Webster’s Southeast Campuses

BY DOMINIK JANSKY, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Several Webster campuses in the Southeastern U.S. were cleaning up at the end of September after the most costly hurricane season on record damaged facilities and postponed classes. Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne struck Florida in the span of two months—the first time four hurricanes hit one U.S. state in a single season since 1886. The subsequent tornados and downpours continued up into Georgia and the Carolinas.

Several South Carolina campuses escaped with only high winds and heavy rainfall, while the Georgia campuses at Fort Stewart and Moody Air Force Base postponed classes Sept. 27 due to tornados spawned by Jeanne. By far the most serious effects occurred in Florida campuses, where Frances and Jeanne hit almost the exact same spot on the east coast in a two-week period, and where evacuations and damage from Charley, Frances and Jeanne postponed classes at the Jacksonville, Lakeland, Merritt Island, Ocala, Orlando, Palm Bay, Patrick Air Force Base and Sarasota campuses.

“We had a double-whammy,” says Ron Stewart, director, Patrick AFB, which is on the barrier islands by Cape Canaveral, Fla. While Frances damaged a roof and a storage facility at Patrick, Jeanne tore the roof off and soaked floors and chairs, rendering classrooms useless until perhaps the end of the calendar year. “We’re scrounging for classroom space,” Stewart says. “We’ve moved some classes to Merritt Island, and we even moved one to a dental clinic. But people on the base have been a big help.”

The nearby Merritt Island campus suffered little physical damage, says John Rice, regional director. “Thankfully, all we lost was power,” Rice says, but many people weren’t as lucky with their homes. Rice says campus director Mandy Cosat had about $10,000 of damage to her house from Frances. “It’s been very tough for people,” Rice continued. “You’re not only threatened with wind and rain, but you’re threatened with the loss of food, gas, electric and access to supplies. And people have to worry about their homes, because that’s all you have.”

Debra Yannotti, director, Palm Bay, was working to find alternate class and office space after Jeanne drenched the campus facilities on the weekend and kept employees from returning. When they arrived at their offices on Thursday, Sept. 30, they found extensive water damage. “All the rugs are soaked,” Yannotti says. Nonetheless, the Palm Bay campus was able to resume classes a week after they were first postponed due to the incoming storm.

Webster employees dealt with the aftermath of the storms at home as well as the office: Three Palm Bay employees were among the 2.5 million Florida residents without power from Jeanne, and Patrick AFB department associate Arita Cook, who lives in Palm Bay, lost power for two weeks after Frances and then again after Jeanne.

Further inland, the north Orlando campuses suffered power outages, in addition to cancellations due to evacuations. According to Karen Buchan, community relations coordinator at South Orlando, that campus suffered severe roof damage. “We’re trying to return to some sense of normalcy,” Buchan says.

But despite the hardships from this remarkable hurricane season—which doesn’t end until Nov. 30—Webster employees throughout the affected campuses were grateful things hadn’t been worse.

“You have to sit back and count your blessings,” Stewart says from his humid office at Patrick AFB, where the air conditioning had failed and the outside temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. “Other people in this area are much worse off.”

“We’ve all had damage,” Palm Bay’s Yannotti says. “But everyone’s OK, and that’s a blessing in itself.”

Help Desk is One Year Old

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Starting out with one full-time and one part-time worker, the Help Desk now has two full-time and three part-time employees and 13 work-study students, which means someone is there to help—seven days a week.

In September, the Help Desk handled an average number of 55 calls per day, with 84 the highest number received in one day. Also during that month, the entire IT department received 903 work orders—350 of which were entered by the Help Desk.

Kristi Evans, Help Desk coordinator, says that one of the most common complaints recently has been slow e-mail. Plans to install a new University e-mail server are already in place. “Hopefully that will alleviate some of it,” Evans says. People also have had problems with viruses, spyware, adware and spam, but Evans says a good deal of it is controlled. “We do catch a lot of spam and viruses on the back server that users never see,” she says.

The Help Desk recommends calling them at ext. 5995 before downloading any programs to your computer. “Your machines are loaded with what you need,” Evans says. “If you need something else, put in a work order and we’ll come download it for you. People get what they ask for 99 percent of the time.” Evans encourages faculty and staff to call the Help Desk for any need. “It’s faster to get help if you just call the Help Desk,” she says.

In addition to installing programs onto computers, the Help Desk offers free, non-credit workshops for students, faculty and staff.

Repertory Theatre Ticket Policy

Webster University faculty and staff can purchase up to four tickets, in any section, at half price, for the first 11 performances of any Repertory Theatre production. Tickets should be purchased at the box office in the Loretto-Hilton Center, and a current Webster I.D. must be shown at time of purchase. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for another play or different seats. For more information, call the Repertory Theatre Box Office at 968-4925.

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.

Darryl Thibault, faculty mentor, Security Management, published “Harnessed military technology presents options—and questions—for parents” in the May 12, 2004 edition of the San Diego Source. The article was the first in a two-part series addressing non-custodial child abductions.

Cathi Nolde, assistant director, and Michele Franzen, service clerk, Financial Aid, traveled to the Memphis Campus over the summer to give a presentation on financial aid as well as hands-on CARS training.

Will Soll, reference librarian, Library, performed as a featured musician at the Machacek Coffee House in association with the St. Louis Public Library. Soll presented a concert featuring music inspired by troubadours, children’s books, poets, storytellers and novelists.

Karl Kindt, adjunct professor, Math and Computer Science, was a featured speaker in the St. Louis Public Library’s lecture series on the 1904 World’s Fair. Kindt recently gave two presentations on the fair, titled “A Child Tells About the 1904 Fair: Things that Amazed (and Still Amaze) Children of All Ages,” and “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Photographs and News Clippings from the Fair.”

Stephan Zimmermann, adjunct professor, Little Rock Metropolitan Campus, Ark., published his first novel, The Sonja Factor. The novel, set at the end of the Cold War, is a romantic mystery that provides a glimpse at life in Eastern Europe before the Berlin Wall came down.

Barry Hufker, associate professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, recorded the Royal School of Church Music choral ensemble at the Saint Louis Cathedral Basilica and the Grace Episcopal Church in Kirkwood.

Debbie Psihountas, assistant professor, Business, was elected to the national board of directors for the Academy of Financial Services for a two-year term. The organization has over 400 members worldwide. In addition to holding annual meetings, the organization publishes the Financial Services Review, a quarterly journal showcasing the latest in theoretical and empirical research in personal finance management.

Carol Nelson, director, Memphis Naval Support Activity, Tenn., is acting as literary agent for Alexis Shabazz Fentress, who just published the book, From Islamic Slave Girl to Preacher Woman.

Sarah Cormack, adjunct faculty, Art, Vienna, recently published The Space of Death in Roman Asia Minor (Phoibos Verlag Vienna). The book deals with monumental tomb architecture of the Roman Imperial period in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

Mag. Michael Schneider, adjunct faculty, Art, Vienna, worked with Japanese artist Seiichiro Miida on a series of prints entitled, “Joint Research and Development,” which were exhibited at the Schloss-Galerie Landeck in the Tirol, Austria and also in Japan.

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

St. Louis Calendar Highlights

Guest Speaker – Molly Ivins
Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?

Molly Ivins

The nationally syndicated political columnist, three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and best-selling author of “Shrub: The Short by Happy Political Life of George W. Bush,” and “Bushwhacked: Life in George W. Bush’s America” will speak on Monday Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Loretto-Hilton Center. Admission is free to the public. A book signing will follow the speech and copies of Ivins’ books will be available for purchase.
For more information, call 968-6959 or check the St. Louis Events Calendar located on the University’s Web site at www.webster.edu

“Meet Me In St. Louis” Homecoming 2004 Highlights

Trivia Challenge
Patrick Murphy, executive producer, KETC Channel 9, will emcee trivia teams of six to 10 players. A jackpot goes to the table with the highest score and there will also be prizes for best table theme. Refreshments will be served or players can bring their own. The games begin Friday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m., in the University Center Grant Gymnasium.

Tickets are $10 per person; $5 for students.

Jazz Concert With Ptah Williams ’96
The Ptah Williams Trio will perform the first annual concert featuring distinguished alumnus as part of this year’s Homecoming. Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in Music from Webster in 1996. The concert will be on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m., in the Winifred Moore Auditorium.

Admission is $5 for the general public; free to Webster alumni, students, faculty and staff.

For more information on numerous other Homecoming 2004 activities and events, go to: www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/WBS/eventscalendar.html

Employees of the Month

October 2004 Spotlight Award

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

A.J. Arnold, maintenance technician, Facilities Operations, and Robin Robinson, office manager, Space Coast Metropolitan Campus, share the Employee Spotlight Award honors for October.

A.J. has been working at Webster since February, but in that short time, he seems to have fit right into the University community. “His customer service skills make faculty, staff and students on this campus feel comfortable in their living and working environments,” says A.J.’s nominator. The nominator also praises A.J. for his excellent technical skills. “A.J. has a great attitude and is positive and enthusiastic about the work he does,” the nominator says.

A.J. says he was surprised and honored to win the award. He comes from a maintenance background, where he was required to do a little bit of everything. “At Webster, I was hired for a specific job, but there’s still variety,” he says. “I’m happy that Webster is recognizing people—I didn’t know I’d done anything to win an award.”

Robin Robinson has been with Webster for two years, starting out as a financial aid advisor until her promotion to office manager in January of this year. Robin’s nominator says she is “the type of employee any campus would love to have.” Robin is described as a lifesaver during a recent period of staff turnover when it was necessary for her to take on additional duties along with her regular responsibilities. The nominator adds, “Robin has hired and trained an outstanding support staff and has streamlined processes to create a more efficiently run campus,”

Robin says what she enjoys most about her job is working with her co-workers and the students. She says she was surprised and happy to win the award. “It made me feel appreciated,” Robin says. “I was really appreciative that my boss recognized that I was working hard, and that I was recognized for my time.”

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:

October 2004

Karen Freeman, coordinator, Academic Advising and Student Development, School of Business & Technology, 30 years

Richard St. Clair, regional academic director, Kansas City Metropolitan Campus, 25 years

New Employees

Danny Yahav-Brown, visiting artist, Art, ext. 7171, replaces Miruna Dragan.

Jahara Davis, service clerk, Northwest Plaza, ext. 5955, replaces Leona Mills.

Jennifer Hunt, department assistant, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., 660-563-2006 or speed dial #6 094, replaces Sherry Howard.

Marcy Katz, secretary, Albuquerque Metropolitan Campus, N.M., 505-255-3645 or speed dial #6 035

Kevin Mabie, men’s and women’s head swimming coach, Athletics, ext. 7547

Walter Mackey, lab assistant, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., 573-329-6777 or #6 014

Mary Malesevich, men’s and women’s head tennis coach, Athletics, ext. 7659

Deborah Marshall, department associate, Los Angeles AFB, Calif., 310-297-4955 or speed dail #6 105, replaces Tania Dow.

Gerald McVey, general clerk, Memphis Naval Support Activity, Tenn., 901-873-1531 or speed dial #6 086

Pauletta Newett, coordinator, User Services, ext. 8613, replaces Jocelyn Clemens.

Jay M. Perry, development officer, annual fund, Development, ext. 7161, replaces Elizabeth M. White.

Cecile A. Smith, general clerk, Greenville Metropolitan Campus, N.C., 864-676-9002 or speed dial #6 098, replaces Carolyn Barnard.

Derrick L. Wright, supervisor, Public Safety, ext. 6900, replaces Donald Meyer.

News From the School of Business and Technology:

Important Notice for Campus Directors, Business Faculty: Capstone Competition for MBA Alumni and Students

Two New Members Join the SBT Leadership Team

SBT Assessment and Consistency Program in Place

BEST Program Challenges High School Students

Historic Barrage of Hurricanes Pounds Webster’s Southeast Campuses

Help Desk is One Year Old

Repertory Theatre Ticket Policy

Kampus Kudos

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Employees of the Month

Service Anniversaries

New Employees

Condolences

News From the School of Business and Technology

Important Notice for Campus Directors, Business Faculty: Capstone Competition for MBA Alumni and Students

Two New Members Join the SBT Leadership Team

SBT Assessment and Consistency Program in Place

BEST Program Challenges High School Students

Historic Barrage of Hurricanes Pounds Webster’s Southeast Campuses

BY DOMINIK JANSKY, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Help Desk is One Year Old

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Repertory Theatre Ticket Policy

St. Louis Calendar Highlights

Guest Speaker – Molly Ivins
Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?

“Meet Me In St. Louis” Homecoming 2004 Highlights

Employees of the Month

October 2004 Spotlight Award

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Service Anniversaries

October 2004

New Employees

Condolences

News From the School of Business and Technology

Important Notice for Campus Directors, Business Faculty: Capstone Competition for MBA Alumni and Students

Two New Members Join the SBT Leadership Team

SBT Assessment and Consistency Program in Place

BEST Program Challenges High School Students

Historic Barrage of Hurricanes Pounds Webster’s Southeast Campuses

BY DOMINIK JANSKY, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Help Desk is One Year Old

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Repertory Theatre Ticket Policy

St. Louis Calendar Highlights

Guest Speaker – Molly Ivins Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?

“Meet Me In St. Louis” Homecoming 2004 Highlights

Employees of the Month

October 2004 Spotlight Award

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Service Anniversaries

October 2004

New Employees

Condolences

Guest Speaker – Molly Ivins
Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?