Monthly Archives: January 2008

Do WE value research?

Posted on January 31, 2008 by | 29 Comments

I ask this question because I feel our University Community needs to have an open discussion on the value we put on research. I have heard that EMU does value research, but if we use the measurement of the dollar – we fall very short of being able to say we value research.

Do we as a University Community feel research is a vital part of the educational experience? I do not think the answer is “look at the ‘Week of Excellence’” We need to look deeper.

I know the faculty and students value research, but does the BoR?

I leave the floor open to a hopefully lively discussion.

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Posted in Academics, Board of Regents, Budgets

A Lucky Escape?

Posted on January 29, 2008 by | 10 Comments

It seems one of our unsuccessful Police Chief candidates may have brought more controversy to campus rather than stemming the propensity to scandal that we already have had and are soon (I hope) to overcome:

“Police chief candidate no stranger to controversy“

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Posted in Security and Safety

Why does higher ed cost so much?

Posted on January 28, 2008 by | 2 Comments

Higher ed costs across the country go up faster than inflation. Why is that?

See http://insidehighered.com/views/2008/01/24/marthers  for some interesting commentary, especially regarding why the public views higher ed the way it does and consequences of the business model.

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Posted in Budgets

Safety and Security forums today and Thursday

Posted on January 28, 2008 by | Leave a comment

From Pam Young comes the following:

You are invited to attend Eastern Michigan University’s open forum about campus safety and security today, Jan. 28, 12:30 – 2 p.m., room 330 Student Center.

For those unable to attend today’s meeting, a second forum will be Thursday, Jan. 31, 5:30-7 p.m., room 310B, Student Center.

Don Loppnow, executive vice president for EMU, will lead a team of University representatives to provide updated information about safety and security, and answer questions.

I know this has been an on-going topic here for many, so I thought I’d pass along the announcement.

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Posted in Security and Safety

Pray Harrold on the Mend

Posted on January 25, 2008 by | 26 Comments

Oh, I just read the absolutely most fabulous headline of all.  Let’s cross all our fingers and toes and say pretty please to the legislators for making this important project come to fruition: 

“Governor backs EMU’s hopes for building renovations”

by Nathan Bomey | Ann Arbor Business Review

Gov. Jennifer Granholm today gave a boost to Eastern Michigan University’s hopes to complete extensive renovations to its biggest classroom building by recommending that the building be approved for upgrades.

Granholm’s 2008 executive budget recommendations for capital outlay projects includes EMU’s $57 million Pray-Harrold renovation proposal. The legislature still needs to approve the project.

The state government would dish out $44 million for the project, and the university would pick up the rest by issuing bonds funded by a 4 percent tuition increase enacted three years ago. …..

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Posted in Buildings and Grounds

AA NEWS editorial on EMU budget critique

Posted on January 24, 2008 by | 1 Comment

The Ann Arbor NEWS’s lead editorial yesterday (Monday Jan. 23), “Heartening signs from EMU budget critique” is quite good.  It’s based on the Budget Forum sponsored by Faculty Council a week ago, at which members of the EMU Faculty, presented a solid critique of the EMU budget.  (Maybe one of the quicker than me EMUTalk folks can post a link to it here?  I read newspapers in print.)    The editorial’s substance can be summarized in its subhead, “Faculty, administrators tackle issues civilly” and in the statement that “In general, the report stated that EMU uses a method of accounting that results in an overstatement of expenses. The report is also critical of the percentage spent on instruction compared to other areas, such as sports, and states that EU spends less on academics than do some of its peer institutions.”  Further, the editorial states that “the faculty raised some valid points in the report” and praises Provost and Executive VP Don Loppnow for his gracious reaction to hearing the report. I commend the AA NEWS for this editorial, and for the previous news article on the budget forum.    And now, may one of  many more talented than me folks link it here?    And I believe that the highly informative slides of the faculty presenters on the budget was already posted on this blog.  Well worth reading, if you’ve not already: Budgets are the means by which organizations set priorities.  

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Posted in Academics, Budgets, Buildings and Grounds, In the media...

EMU’s New Anti-SPAM System

Posted on January 24, 2008 by | 5 Comments

At the last meeting of the E-mail Selection Committee (yes we are meeting), we discussed the new anti-spam system EMU is using. Tonight (01/24/08) I received an email from ICT sharing some stats on the system performance. So I thought I share with all of you….

From ICT:

The system was brought online on January 4, 2008. Between that date and tonight (01/24/08), the system has:

1. Rejected more than 86,000,000 messages from known spammers using reputation database technology. The reputation database collects data about e-mail messages from around the globe (billions each day) to identify spammers. Once a spammer is added to the reputation database, messages from that known spammer are then rejected from our system. The database is constantly updated from the vendor that provided the system.

2. Rejected more than 235,400 messages with bad recipient addresses. These are messages that are addressed to EMU e-mail addresses that do not exist.

3. Marked more than 1,700,000 messages as SPAM. These messages did not come from known spammers, but the message body included some set of characteristics that are typically associated with SPAM messages.

4. Removed 232 messages found to be infected with a virus.

5.Delivered more than 2,900,000 messages to EMU mailboxes that the system believed to be legitimate e-mail.

In summary, in less than a month, EMU has received almost 92,000,000 e-mail messages. Of which, more than 93% were rejected because they were coming from e-mail systems that are reputed spammers.

92M e-mail messages calculates out to be upwards of 3,500 e-mail messages for every student, faculty and staff member on campus this term.

I share this information to help clarify the scope/scale of e-mail today. I’m hopeful that all of you have noticed a very significant reduction in SPAM coming into your mailboxes over the past three weeks.

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I would just like to say that ICT should get some credit for working very hard to stop spam! Lets give credit where credit is due.

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Posted in EMU Technology

Trying to soothe gradzilla beasts

Posted on January 24, 2008 by | 1 Comment

There was a nice “other voices” piece in yesterday’s AAN written by EMU professor (and administrator? I know she was at one point) Denise M. Tanguay called “U-M commencement at EMU offers seniors unique experience.” It’s exceedingly polite; for example:

While I can understand the disappointment of students who cannot hold their graduation ceremony in the Big House, I invite you to enjoy your ceremony with your families at EMU, a sister institution that has many faculty and staff members who graduated from U-M. We are really one big academic community in the Ypsi/Ann Arbor area – some families have a couple of children at U-M and a couple at EMU. Instead of feeling bad about missing out on the Big House experience, why not relish the fact that you are likely to be the one class that has a “Michigan Difference” graduation experience – and do so gracefully.

I think it’s a classy article and I commend Tanguay for writing it, but I somehow predict more outcry from the folks on the other side of the tracks er, US 23.

Which reminds me: I haven’t heard much about the status of the U of M graduation as of late. Are they still coming over here, or did they figure something out?

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Posted in EMU Images, In the media..., Student Life

Another light lost

Posted on January 23, 2008 by | 3 Comments

steve-tasky.jpg

EMU has lost another bright light. Steven Tasky, a witty, energetic and social service focused recent Alum, took his own life 1/20/08.  I have known Steve for over four years, and am still reeling from the shock.  He was the kind of person that could light up a room 30 seconds before he entered.  Steve was pure magic – the proverbial life of the party,who made sure everyone was comfortable and having a great time.  Everyone was a friend and family member. He was very active in Greek Life, Campus Life and Community Service. His dream was to work for the Make A Wish Foundation. He was passionate about serving youngsters with disabilities, and was determined to bring joy and laughter to their lives. 

I have lost count of how many Alternative Breaks (offered through EMU’s Vision office) he participated in, and helped him raise funds to attend an International Alternative Break in South America.  Anywhere he traveled, he brought unconditional love, laughter and compassion.

I wish I could have done something ..anything ..to have prevented this tragedy. As a recent grad in Michigan’s economy, finding work is difficult. He felt that he would forever be stuck working at a tire store instead of living his dream of helping others.  For all the light he brought to the world, he lost hope in the future.

Please keep Steven and his family in your thoughts and prayers.  Visitation is scheduled Thursday, January 24, 2-9 p.m. at Voran Funeral Home, 23750 Goddard Road, Taylor. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 25, 11 a.m. at Gilead Baptist Church, 12501
Telegraph Road, Taylor. A family hour will precede the funeral from 10-11 a.m. at the church.

Donations to the Make A Wish Foundation are encouraged and appreciated.

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Posted in Student Life

“Last Lecture” series starts on January 30 with Dennis Patrick

Posted on January 23, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Another email I received yesterday announced the “Last Lecture Series” this winter term, which will kick off on January 30 (at 7:00 p.m.) with a talk from Dennis Patrick, Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts. This email just came to faculty in my department, but it seems to me that the main audience for this is students. After all, they get Learning Beyond the Classroom credit for going to this.

They probably won’t be inviting me to do this. I would be more inclined to lead my “last online class,” or facilitate a series of “last small group exercises.”

Anyway, there’s a web site talking about the series here. Check it out.

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Posted in Academics, Faculty Life, Student Life