Current Issue: Volume 27 - Number 13 - April 24, 2009
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Tuition to hold steady
Tuition will not increase at Missouri Southern State University for the 2009-2010, following a vote last Friday, April 17 by the MSSU Board of Governors. The agreement would be in accordance with a proposal made by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in January.
Under the agreement reached by Gov. Nixon and leaders of Missouri’s public four-year colleges and universities in late January, the higher education institutions will receive the same state appropriations for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 as they received in the current fiscal year.
In return, the institutions have pledged not to raise tuition or academic fees during the 2009-2010 school year.
Retirement Reception this afternoon
The Board of Governors and the |
Honoring Sallie L. Beard, Sandra A. Scorse DeTar, Mark W. Frerer, Annetta E. St. Clair, Virginia J. Laas, David E. Throop, Charline S. Lewis, Maryann Weber, William R. Livingston, Tran Van Thuong, Ann M. Marlowe, and Karolyn L. Yocum. |
Commencement Saturday, May 16
Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 16. Ceremonies will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. and at 12 noon.
Faculty in the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Technology are requested to attend the 9:30 a.m. Commencement Ceremony. Please report to Young Gymnasium by 9 a.m. and be robed and ready by 9:15 a.m.
Faculty in the School of Education and the School of Business are requested to attend the 12:00 noon Commencement Ceremony. Please report to Young Gymnasium by 11:30 a.m. and be robed and ready by 11:45 a.m.
Faculty may attend both exercises but are expected to attend one if they were not present at the December 2008 commencement ceremony. Faculty members unable to attend Commencement must send a memo to the Vice President for Academic Affairs requesting to be excused.
Following each ceremony, faculty are reminded to return rented academic regalia, preferably in the original plastic wrapper, to the back corner of Young Gymnasium. Return bins will be clearly marked.
The Bookstore will operate a satellite location in Leggett and Platt Athletic Center that day so their campus location will be closed. Remember: All regalia are due in the Bookstore no later than Friday, May 22.
Choral Society Spring Concert Sunday, May 3
The Choral Society Spring Concert will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 3 at the First Community Church, 15th and Connecticut in Joplin.
The concert is free of charge and open to the public.
Composed of 46 singers from three states, the ensemble is directed by Al Carnine, Music, with Eleanor McLemore serving as accompanist.
The concert covers Opera, Hollywood, and Broadway. Three famous opera choruses from composers Borodin, Gounod, and Verdi will be the opera offering. Hollywood will be represented by a medley of songs from the popular movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The featured work will delight all ages. It is the choral highlights from the new Broadway musical Poppins. It includes both the well-known songs from the movie as well as new selections added to the musical version.
“Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement” program today
Nationally-known law enforcement behavioral scientist Dr. Kevin Gilmartin will deliver the program “Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement” from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. today, Friday, April 24, in the Justice Center Auditorium at Missouri Southern State University.
The presentation is presented by Missouri Southern Criminal Justice Department and supported by the Joplin Police Department, Newton County Sheriff's Office, and Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Gilmartin spent 20 years working in law enforcement in Tucson, Arizona. He supervised the Hostage Negotiations Team and the Behavioral Sciences Unit. He is a former recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police-Parade Magazine, National Police Officer Citation Award for contributions during hostage negotiations. He consults with public safety and law enforcement agencies nationally in the U.S. and in Canada.
He is guest instructor at the FBI Academy’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Institute (LEEDS and EDI). He is an adjunct instructor at Cornell University’s New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, the University of Massachusetts Police Leadership Institute, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga., and Sam Houston State University’s Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.
He is retained as a consultant to several federal national critical incident response teams. He holds a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona and is a licensed psychologist in the State of Arizona.
This program is approved by the Missouri Department of Public Safety (POST).
For further information, contact Wayne Thomason, Criminal Justice, at (417) 625-9684.
Honors for The Chart
The Chart, the MSSU student newspaper, brought home 19 awards including first-place honors in investigative reporting, editorial cartooning, editorial/op-ed section, feature page and multimedia at the Missouri College Media Association Convention April 17-18 in St. Louis.
Brennan Stebbins captured first place in investigative reporting, Jessica Schreindl earned first-place honors in editorial cartooning and editorial op/ed section, and Colby Williams took top honors in the feature page and multimedia categories. Chart Director of Photography Glenn Landberg shared the multimedia win.
Students earning second-place honors were Schreindl for regular column, Landberg for feature photography and The Chart staff for page one design.
Third-place awards went to The Chart staff for editorial writing, Schreindl for regular column, Meagan Morrison for sports page, Becky Husky for feature writing and Rita Forbes for investigative reporting.
Honorable mentions went to Stebbins for sports writing, Alexandra Nicolas and Morrison for in-depth reporting, Landberg and Andrew Ford for story illustration and Morrison for sports page.
The Chart took third place among mid-sized colleges and universities in the best overall newspaper category and the sweepstakes competition (most awards/highest placing in categories).
The Chart has gained a commitment from Luke Taylor, a finalist for the Missouri College Journalist of the Year award. Taylor is transferring from Crowder College, a nearby two-year community college.
Crowder's paper,The Sentry, was named best community college newspaper in Missouri for the second straight year. Several other members of The Sentry staff are considering Missouri Southern to finish their bachelor’s degrees according to T.R. Hanrahan, Communications.
Alumni Association's Outstanding Graduate
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Lauren Bates has been named “Outstanding Graduate” by the Missouri Southern Alumni Association.
Bates, who grew up in Salem, Mo., is a senior Marketing and Management major with an English minor. She will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.
Lee Elliff Pound, Alumni Affairs, says the Outstanding Graduates are selected on the basis of superior involvement and leadership on campus and community, high academic achievements, and respect of fellow students and faculty.
Bates was recruited by Missouri Southern to come to the university on an athletic scholarship to play college volleyball. She chose MSSU because of its competitive volleyball program and its membership in the MIAA. She was a part of a 2006 team that went to national championships.
In October of 2007, Lauren was chosen by MSSU students as Homecoming Queen. She reigned over the "Let the Good Times Roar" festivities, rode in the Homecoming Parade and was introduced at the Homecoming football game.
She is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honor Society, International Poets Society, Missouri Southern Student Senate, DEX, the Pre-Law Club and the International Business Club. She received a 2004-06 Patrons scholarship and won an International Scholarship to study in Italy. She has assisted with the Special Olympics and helped at the Souls' Harbor Mission.
For more about Lauren, visit http://www.mssu.edu/news/2009/outstanding_grad_spring09.html.
Newsmakers features Hall of Fame Winners
The most recent recipients of the Regional Media Hall of Fame Awards will be featured in a Newsmakers interview program, airing before the St. Louis Cardinals baseball telecast this Sunday afternoon, at 12:30 p.m.
The awards were presented last week to Dave Berry of Community Publishers, Inc. and Danny Thomas of KOAM-TV. During the interview, both reflect upon their media careers and the changing nature of the newspaper and broadcast industries.
The program will air on KGCS other times in the future, and will also air on KOAM-TV and KOZJ-TV later this spring. Newsmakers may be seen on KGCS-TV, over-the-air on digital channel 22, Cable One channel 7, Mediacom channel 77 and Suddenlink cable systems airing programming from Missouri Southern.
Honors Convocation April 29
The Annual Honors Convocation at Missouri Southern will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 in Taylor Performing Arts Center at MSSU.
Students will be recognized as outstanding in their academic departments.
Students receiving special awards of recognition, in addition to Outstanding Graduate Awards, will be introduced. Graduates from the Honors Program and Alpha Chi members will also be recognized.
Following the ceremony the students and their families will attend a reception in the lobby of Taylor Performing Arts Center.
A list of students to be honored is available at http://www.mssu.edu/news/2009/honors_convocation-09spring.html.
MSSU Debaters place fourth in nation
Missouri Southern’s Speech and Debate Squad took part in the April 16-20 National Forensics Association (NFA) Championships at Missouri State University in Springfield.
MSSU finished with the fourth place team sweepstakes trophy representing a 4th place finish in the nation.
Western Kentucky placed first followed by Creighton, U.S. Air Force Academy, Missouri Southern, and Lafayette University.
At the tournament in Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, Whitney Hart, senior Political Science/Communication major from Lamar, Rayce Lashley, freshman Speech Communication major from Carthage, and Kyle Buzzard, sophomore undeclared major from Lamar, qualified for the championship bracket rounds.
Lashley lost in the round of 32 and Buzzard lost in the round of 16. Whitney Hart went all the way to the “elite eight” before falling to the eventual national LD champion from Creighton University.
“Whitney Hart finished her four year debate career with a stellar senior year,” says Kelly Larson, Forensics. “She was in the final round of five tournaments and won three tourney titles. She set a standard of excellence for MSSU debate,” he adds.
Contemporary Foreign Film Series offering tonight
The final feature film for the spring 2009 season of the Contemporary Foreign Film Series will be shown at approximately 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, April 24, in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall.
The film is Tell No one (France/Belgium, 2006; 125 minutes), directed by Guillaume Canet.
In the film, a doctor (Francois Cluzet) who has struggled to put his life back together after the murder of his wife by a serial killer suddenly finds himself implicated in the murder of two people and the object of mysterious surveillance.
This acclaimed thriller also features a performance by Kristin Scott Thomas and was described by Sir Michael Caine as the best film he had seen in the BBC's Film 2007 program.
This film will be shown as part of a Missouri Southern Continuing Education Class. The cost of the class is $10 per person per semester and those interested may register before the film tonight. For further information about this film series, please contact Bill Kumbier, English, at kumbier-w@mssu.edu or Nick Kyle at kyle-n@mssu.edu.
Enrollment for Law Enforcement Academy begins
Registration for the 600-Hour State Certified Basic Law Enforcement Academy at MSSU is now underway.
The Academy will begin August 24, 2009. It meets Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and on several Saturdays during the semester.
Upon successful completion of the Law Enforcement Academy, the Missouri Department of Public Safety will certify eligible students as Peace Officers in the state of Missouri.
Those taking part receive training in Missouri criminal statutes, constitutional law, criminal investigation, patrol techniques, defense tactics training, physical training, firearms training and other skills and abilities deemed necessary by the state for Missouri law enforcement officers.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Those interested in enrolling should contact Matt Cowdin, Criminal Justice, by calling (417) 625-9519 or e-mailing cowdin-m@.mssu.edu.
Relay for Life
MSSU’s Relay for Life Team is getting ready for the American Cancer Association’s Webb City Relay for Life. This event will take place in Jack King Park (at the Praying Hands) from noon - midnight on Saturday, May 30. This year’s theme recognizes the 25th anniversary of this event. Booths will be decorated remembering a TV show or movie within the last 25 years. The Lion King - Join the Pride! is the theme of the MSSU booth.
If you would like to help during this event, please contact Lora Burch, Career Services, at 625-3138. And even if you aren't volunteers, you can help by bringing your family to the event. There will be food, games, bouncy toys, entertainment, and much more. The team is selling tickets for numerous items:
- All-You-Can-Eat Flapjack Breakfast at Applebee’s, 2825 E. 32nd - Saturday, April 25, 7 - 9 a.m. $5 per person. Juice, coffee, and tea are included.
- Luminaries: Can be decorated in honor of a loved one who has died of cancer and placed around the walking trail at event - $5 each.
- Stars: Displayed at booth during event in memory of someone who has died of cancer - $1 each.
- Moons: Displayed at booth during event in honor of someone who has or is battling cancer - $1 each.
- Pork Package Raffle: Full grown adult pig plus processing ($300+ value).
- La-Z-Boy Relay Recliner Raffle: Custom made for this event.
- KitchenAid Appliance Raffle: Includes 325 watt 5 qt. 10 speed KitchenAid stand mixer with attachments, a set of 3 mixing bowls, plus multiple other kitchen utensils (+$400 value).
All raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and winner does NOT need to be present to win. To purchase items, contact either Lora at 3138 or Judy at 3167.
Focus on job search skills
Career Services is planning to set up a table in various buildings around campus during the next few weeks to help students with their job search skills. We will be in the lobby of Plaster Hall in front of Cornell Auditorium on Tuesday, April 28 from 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Lora Burch, Career Services, says students can stop by with questions about their resumes or any other job search topic they may have.
Boots to Books
The "Boots to Books" Open House for U.S. Veterans will take place from 3 – 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19 in Anderson Justice Center Auditorium
The open house is designed to inform Veterans of educational and financial aid benefits available at Missouri Southern and other educational institutions in the state.
Campus departments, including Financial Aid; Admissions; Career Services; Advising, Counseling and Testing Services; Disability Services and others will be represented to discuss how they can help Veterans return to the classroom. Representatives from Veterans programs also will be available to provide information.
For information, contact veterans@mssu.edu or the Admissions Office at (417) 625.9378 or (417) 781-MSSU or (866) 818-MSSU (6778). The Web site http://www.gibill.va.gov/ -offers information about various education services available to Veterans.
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88.7KXMS highlights two new Web features
The first of new “Join the Pride” radio campaign spots is now posted on the 88.7KXMS homepage. Click anywhere on the relevant box to hear Darci Price tell you why she joined the pride.
If you know students who might like to share why they “joined the pride,” have them contact KXMS by e-mail so that we may add more testimonials to the on-air rotation and the web site audio list. The address is kxms@mssu.edu.
KXMS is now posting a “DateBook Quiz of the Day” on the homepage. Test your knowledge on (or just guess) which musical birthday/death entry is described in our daily quiz question. Winners will receive self-satisfaction.
Both of these items can be viewed at http://www.mssu.edu/kxms/ according to Jeff Skibbe, KXMS.
Symphonic Band and Wind Ensembles to perform May 5
A semester-capping performance by two great ensembles is planned for early May.
The MSSU Symphonic Band Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5 in Taylor Performing Arts Center.
The ensembles will perform the music of Sousa, Mackey, Romeyn, Jager, Balmages,Stamp, Verdi, Gillingham, and Press. The concert is a collection of music loosely organized with the theme of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." The final piece is entitled "Wedding Dance" by Jacques Press.
No RSVP or tickets are necessary. The performance is free and open to the public. Everyone is invited.
SBTDC Workshops offered
The MSSU Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) offers a variety of valuable workshops each semester and during the summer for the public, small businesses, and MSSU Employees. Listed below are the remaining workshops being offered for spring.
Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint 2007
4/27/2009
Date: April 27 (Monday) & April 28 (Tuesday),
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Plaster Hall, Room 323
Payment in advance: $95
This workshop will teach you how to use Microsoft Office’s graphic presentation software package, PowerPoint, to make quality presentations. Learn the basics on making presentations using this versatile graphic presentation software.
The Basics of Writing a Business Plan
4/28/2009
Date: April 28 (Tuesday), 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Plaster Hall, Room 109
Payment in advance: $20
This workshop will focus on the necessary elements of a business plan. Practical examples and forms will be used to help participants develop a useful business plan. Learn how the business plan elements can serve to filter out poor ideas and how it can serve as a “selling” tool. Discover how the business plan can facilitate implementation of a new business strategy.
Effective Customer Service Tips & Techniques
4/29/2009
Date: April 29 (Wednesday) 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Plaster Hall, Room 109
Payment in advance: $20
It costs about five times as much money to bring in a new customer, than to keep an existing one. Most of the time, patrons depart because of small oversights, misunderstandings, poor communication, and lack of attention to customer service. This workshop is designed to teach effective customer service tips and techniques that will help you improve your company’s profitability. It’s not about you; it’s about the customer.
Building a Balanced Scorecard
5/7/2009
Date: May 7 (Thursday), 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Plaster Hall, Room 102
Payment in advance: $50
Each business has a unique path to success. The Balanced Scorecard is a measurement and management system that can channel the energies, abilities and specific knowledge held by people throughout the company towards achieving long-term strategic goals. It allows a company to measure its performance in critical areas that are key to its success. The steps to developing a Balanced Scorecard force a company to clarify its strategy and key success factors.
Starting a Small Business: The First Steps
5/8/2009
Date: May 8 (Friday), 1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Plaster Hall, Room 102
Payment in advance: $20
This introductory workshop will provide you with an overview of the critical first steps associated with starting a business. It is designed specifically for those who are thinking about starting a business. Participants will have an opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses, learn about the importance of planning, discuss legal and regulatory requirements, and identify sources of financing. Each participant will receive a Start-up manual. This workshop will be offered several times during the semester.
The summer schedule of Workshops is already listed at the Workshops link on the web site: www.mssutraining.com.
In order to continue to help out with the current budget crunch, the following workshops will be offered to MSSU Employees free of charge for the remainder of the year:
1. Investing Ideas for Small Business Owners: How to Analyze a Mutual Fund
2. Understanding Financial Statements
3. Marketing: Think Before You Spend
4. The Basics of Writing a Business Plan
5. Effective Customer Service Tips & Techniques
6. Starting a Small Business: The First Steps
Also, MSSU Employees receive a 30% discount for any of the Microsoft Office Computer Workshops. Those with questions are invited to call (417) 625-3128.
Carolyn Hale, Communications, took her Advanced Intercultural class to the Joplin Genealogy Society on April 21. The class is working on Ancestry/Culture papers. This Sunday, Carolyn and 25 students from her Introduction to Intercultural Communication class will visit the Japanese Stroll Garden within Nathaniel Greene Park in Springfield.
Ruth Smith, Financial Aid, asks for donations from all departments to help fill the "goody bags" for the Veterans Open House on May 19. Pens, pencils, magnets, cups, etc. will be accepted. For pickup, call her at ext. 3011 or Denise Vigil, Financial Aid, at ext 3159.
Kelly Wilson, Advising, Counseling, and Testing Services, will appear on KSN's Good Morning Four States program on Thursday, May 7. She will discuss Southern's efforts to provide services to returning military Veterans including the Boots to Books open house (see details above).
Dave Throop, Budget & Operations, has announced his retirement as of May 1. A cake and punch reception will be held from 2 - 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 in the hallway just outside the Purchasing Office in Hearnes Hall.
CLASSIFIED
For Sale: Kenmore Washer & Dryer, 7 yrs old. Large Capacity - Works Great! Call Debbie at 625-9559 or e-mail at howerton-d@mssu.edu.
Found: Blue and white Icon Motorsports riding jacket with #9 on sleeve. Found on Duquesne Road south of Hughes Stadium. Call 625-9506 or e-mail smith-se@mssu.edu.
Situation Wanted: Student looking for work thru May 15. Available afternoons for yardwork (use your equipment), raking, mowing, lifting, etc. References upon request. Call (417) 529-8107.
For Sale: T1860G Kubota lawn tractor, 18 HP liquid cooled gas engine, 60" mower deck, power steering, hydrostat transmission, 343 hours, $2,200. Call (417) 540-3424 or (417) 659-5425.
