Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, spoke at the Rotunda yesterday about solving the fundamental issues plaguing our current campaign system. Forbes, a presidential candidate in the 1996 and 2000 elections, spoke to an audience of 100 students, faculty and Charlottesville residents.
The Escort Service is driving into 2001 with a tentative list of improvements, including scheduling regular stops at Clemons Library, the service's most popular pick-up spot. Growing demand and complaints from University students prompted Student Council to put forth several initiatives to improve the service. The goal is to "improve the efficiency of Escort Service [by working] in conjunction with the University Police Department," Council President Joe Bilby said. Other Student Council proposals include raising pay for the students who ride along with the police officers and adding more vans to cut down on waiting time, Bilby said. Council hopes these proposals will help alleviate complaints from students regarding extended wait times.
University students trying to find a major might want to consider the nursing profession. There is a shortage of nurses within the University Health System, resulting in the creation of new incentives for those who choose the occupation. According to Marlene Bond, chief clinical officer for the University Health System, the University has a 10 percent vacancy rate among its nursing staff. "There is always a turnover because a large percentage of our nurses are either going to school or have a spouse at school," Bond said.
The online Course Offering Directory - the Bible of many University students - might undergo its own reformation. The Faculty Senate has proposed an addition to the online version of the COD: a search engine to help students find courses by subject rather than by department only. "We want to leave the directory as it is, but create a system to cross-reference the courses," Faculty Senate Chairwoman Patricia Werhane said.
As the 21st century takes flight with a global, interconnected world, the University hopes to increase participation in its study abroad program over the next 20 years to meet the changing atmosphere of our society. Currently less than 20 percent of University students study abroad as compared to 40-60 percent of students at peer institutions, said William Quandt, vice provost for international affairs. "We want students to get outside of their familiar environment and see the world through a different lens," Quandt said. The study-abroad initiative is part of the Virginia 2020 program, launched in March 1998.
In a unanimous decision Sunday, the Board of Directors at Susquehanna University elected L. Jay Lemons as the new president of Susquehanna.
A violent explosion rocked the University's Highway Research Council Building Sunday afternoon, causing a wall to crumble and possible structural damage. As of yesterday, the cause of the explosion remained unclear. The Edgemont Road building, although property of the University, is leased to the Virginia Department of Transportation and lies just off Alderman Road.
Several University professors are picking up extra funding for innovative projects. The National Science Foundation announced five University professors have received more than $3 million in grants through the Information and Technology Research Program. Although over 1,400 people applied, only 62 awards over $500,000 were given (including University professors Kevin Sullivan and Jorg Liebeherr) and 148 were less than $500,000 (including University professors Ronald Williams, Barry Johnson and Kevin Skadron). "This record of achievement puts us in an elite class of departments nationally," said recipient Kevin Sullivan, assistant professor of computer science. "This is an amazing yield for U.Va.," echoed recipient Kevin Skadron, also an assistant professor of computer science.
Outstanding students looking for some money to do original research will be in luck this year, since the Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards will increase in both the number of recipients and the amount of money awarded this year. The number of recipients will grow from 25 to 40, said Faculty Senate Scholarship Chairman Bill Kehoe.
