Provost and Executive Vice President candidate Lloyd Chesnut says he wants to see research grow at CMU during the second of five open forums.

Chesnut, vice president for research and development and professor of biological sciences at the University of Montana-Missoula, presented his views of and visions for CMU Wednesday in the Bovee University Center Lake Superior and Lake Michigan rooms with nearly 25 faculty and staff members attending.

No students were present.

In five to 10 years, Chesnut said he would like to see two to three more doctorate programs added to CMU, external funding at $40 million and more diversity.

“I enjoy touching all areas of campus and working with all people,” Chesnut said.

Chesnut discussed his experience in developing a university to become more research focused.

“A university must prioritize its Ph.D. programs so they can grow. When I started at Montana, there were nine programs and we will be adding our 15th soon. This was possible because we focus our programs and growing on things we can do and do well,” he said.

Chesnut also spoke on the issue of promoting scholarly growth and development with the faculty.

“To be successful you must be multifaceted and look at the vision and strategic plans of the university, and make sure resources are being put in the right programs and incentives are being given,” Chesnut said.

A question from the crowd about state budget cuts gave Chesnut the chance to discuss his experience.

“I have had a lot of experience dealing with budget cuts. We are going through one now,” Chesnut said.

Chesnut said he did not know the ins and the outs of CMU’s particular concerns with the budget, but said he was familiar with state cuts and budget cuts in general.

Focusing on research could help during times of budget cuts because funds could come from another party besides students and the Legislature.

“Sponsoring research gives us a third player when it comes to budget cuts,” said Academic Senate chairman Jim Scott, provost search committee chairman.

Chesnut said he sees a lot of excitement and potential on campus. He spoke of his experience in large-scale fund-raising campaigns at different universities, and discussed his experience in dealing with and setting up cooperative programs within certain industries.

“I have experience in doing things that match the strategic plan of the university,” Chesnut said.

Scott, business information systems professor, said Chesnut is qualified for the position.

“Chesnut comes to us with very high references,” he said.

After the last open forum, the 12-member search committee will put together feedback and form a working list of strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, which will be given to University President Michael Rao, who makes the final decision.

The next forum takes place at 8:45 a.m. today in the UC Auditorium with David Stocum, dean of the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue. The fourth forum will take place at 1 p.m. Monday in the UC Maroon and Gold rooms with Ali Malekzadeh, dean of Herberger College of Business at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota. Open forums will conclude at 10 a.m. Thursday in the UC Auditorium with Derek Hodgson, vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Participants in Isabella County’s Christmas Outreach Program started their Christmas giving Tuesday.

The program involving Toys for Tots — the collection of toys and other items for underprivileged families — began more than 20 years ago with members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, 320 S. Bradley St.

The program since has evolved into a community project encompassing many volunteers and sponsors.

“The program has become more community-oriented in the past years, growing to include churches, schools and social groups,” said Sue Hand, Immanuel Lutheran Church administrator.

The Christmas Outreach of Isabella County is in collaboration with the local Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Program, and expects to serve almost 1,000 households during the 2002 Christmas season.

“We have already begun to receive donations, but we will officially start collection on Dec. 3,” said Gwinn junior Karen Paris, Christmas Outreach staff administrator.

People who wish to donate items can do so now until Thursday at the old Post Office, 208 E. Illinois and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the same location.

Needed items include children’s clothing, adult winter outer clothing, boots of all sizes, sweatshirts, sweaters, new toys, infant wear, adult clothing, bed linens and towels, jeans of all sizes, mittens, hats and books.

Monetary donations also can be made at Isabella Bank and Trust locations, payable to Christmas Outreach.

Many volunteers are still needed to sort and distribute items.

“Anyone can volunteer in the community,” Paris said. “We already have about 50 volunteers signed up, but I will take up to 300.”

People interested in volunteering can call Immanuel Lutheran Church at (989) 773-4204.

CMU students looking for networking opportunities, internship information and help on their résumés had to go no further than the Alpha Kappa Psi Career Day.

“The fair is organized to help students get internships and jobs, and allow them the opportunity to network,” said Davison junior Jen Franta, Career Day co-chairwoman.

More than 80 company representatives gathered in Finch Fieldhouse Wednesday, providing information to guests, while attempting to recruit future graduates.

Josh Carlson, Wells Fargo financial recruiter, said his company attended the career fair because it is looking to hire management trainees.

“We’ve had success in the past. About 95 percent of our employees have come from career fairs,” Carlson said.

Kmart representative Jeff Ambrosia agreed.

“In the past, we have been very successful at meeting people and setting up interviews. This experience also gives us the chance to start developing relationships,” he said.

Besides serving to help companies build relationships, the fair also helped many students.

“I am looking for full-time employment after graduation and the career fair is a great way for me to network,” said Paul Brieger, Almont senior.

Heather Hutchins, Mount Pleasant senior, said she was looking for full time employment at the fair.

“This was a great opportunity to get my résumé out and get my face known,” she said.

Imran Ahmed, Bangladesh junior, said he attended the career day because he heard it would be a good experience.

“I am looking for an internship in (information technology) and heard the career day would be the best place to start,” he said.

Many students, including Shelby Twp. senior Mike Ardelean, thought the experience was worthwhile.

“It was good to have an opportunity to learn about each of the companies and find out what each is about,” he said.

Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed professional business fraternity, organizes and sponsors Career Day each semester.

“Besides helping students, this is also good for our fraternity because it gets our name out as doing something positive,” Franta said.

The Carlin Alumni House open house was the first stop for many CMU alumni en route to homecoming festivities.

“Events such as this give alumni the opportunity to sign the alumni book, look at pictures, take a look around the house and see what has changed since their last visit,” said Tiffany Trotter, Alumni Relations Office administrative assistant.

“People stop in and get an updated map of campus, and we are here to provide them with updated information about new buildings, campus improvements and other changes.”

Alumnus Ken Wolven, Clarkston resident, said he always stops at the Carlin Alumni House when he is in town, and said a lot of things have changed.

“I remember when this was the president’s house,” Wolven said. “I am also very impressed with the improvements to the (Charles V. Park) Library, the athletic complexes and especially the music department.”

While some visitors talked about how things have changed, some just wanted to know what activities were scheduled for the weekend.

“Many people just stop in to say hello and ask what things are planned for the weekend,” Trotter said.

In addition to answering questions and providing campus information, the alumni house provided refreshments for all visitors.
]]> http://www.cm-life.com/2002/10/14/graduatesreturnhometocarlinalumnihouse/feed/ 0 http://www.cm-life.com/2002/10/11/goldambassadorsannouncedtonight/ http://www.cm-life.com/2002/10/11/goldambassadorsannouncedtonight/#comments Fri, 11 Oct 2002 00:00:00 +0000 Adele IceCentral Michigan Life >Homecoming]]> http://www.cm-life.com/2002/10/11/goldambassadorsannouncedtonight/ Greg Burghardt

Two students will receive the title of Homecoming Gold Ambassador at 7 p.m. tonight at Rose Ponds during the 2002 Homecoming Pep Rally.

“It is an honor to be nominated and named as an ambassador. The entire process, from the application to the interview, is very professional,” said Homecoming Co-chairwoman Lynn Hutchinson, Houghton Lake junior.

The process began last spring, when all registered student organizations were sent a letter requesting the nomination of one male and one female.

“Roughly 70 applications were turned in, reviewed and scored by a committee, and narrowed down to 10 males and 10 females,” Hutchinson said.

This group of 20 went on to participate in an interview process with four judges, where the final cut was made to five males and five females.

The five female Homecoming Gold Ambassador finalists are: Kim Cerrini, Macomb senior, sponsored by Panhellenic Council; Marcella Corp, Harrison senior, sponsored by the Student Recreation Association; Natalie Ebig, Saginaw senior, sponsored by Campus Girls Scouts; Kari Pardoe, Marshall senior, sponsored by Phi Sigma Sigma social sorority; and Sarah Roberts, Rockford junior, sponsored by National Residence Hall Honorary.

The five male finalists are: Mike Adams, St. Joseph senior, sponsored by the Saxe/Herrig Hall Council; Alan Bremerkamp, St. Clair senior, sponsored by the Order of Omega Greek Leadership Society; Adam Ebnit, Ithaca senior, sponsored by Program Board; Jason Grifka, Sterling Heights senior, sponsored by the Student Government Association; and Michael Love, Mount Pleasant senior, sponsored by Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity.

“I enjoyed the entire process. It was a great opportunity for me, and a great way for the entire university to become involved and participate in the selection of its representatives,” Adams said.

These 10 finalists were put up to a student vote on Tuesday and Wednesday, when votes were calculated and added to the two scores each participant received during the application and interview process.

“The scores from the three-part selection process of application, interview and student vote are added together to arrive at the male and female Gold Ambassador,” Hutchinson said.

The Gold Ambassadors will represent CMU for the 2002-03 academic year.

“When you are an ambassador, people see you as having an impact and these people see you as representing CMU,” Hutchinson said.

Roberts expressed the same sentiment.

“Being named an ambassador sets you apart from the crowd. It is the form of ultimate recognition for people who do extraordinary thing on campus and it recognizes those people and where their hearts are,” she said.

Ebig said her experience at CMU is the basis for her recognition.

“This opportunity is a culmination of the service and leadership I have provided in my years at CMU, and is a chance to share my senior year with the rest of campus,” Ebig said.

Besides receiving the title of Gold Ambassador, the winners will accept a scholarship in memory of former Director of Student Life Glenn L. Starner.

Amy Gaughan was shocked when she read Friday’s issue of Central Michigan Life, but it wasn’t because of any news stories.

Chris Voakes, Macomb Community College student, asked the Sterling Heights senior to marry him via an ad in the newspaper.

Voakes then traveled to Mount Pleasant for the big day. He and Gaughan went to Island Park’s softball field, where he showed her the paper.

“When I saw the ad, I was so shocked. I looked at the paper, looked at him, and was trying to figure out what was going on,” she said.

Voakes got down on one knee, read a poem he wrote and asked Gaughan to marry him.

Gaughan’s response was, “Of course I’ll marry you.”

“Amy was in complete shock, she had know idea I had this planned, or even that I was going to propose,” Voakes said.

Voakes chose a CM Life ad for the proposal because he wanted to be unique.

“Since CM Life is the major paper read by Central Michigan University students, I knew a lot of people would see it, and I thought this would be a good way to be different and creative,” Voakes said.

Gaughan agreed.

“I thought this was an adorable way to propose. It was so original and cute, and Chris is just romantic like that,” she said.

Voakes said he had to plan carefully to pull off the proposal.

“My biggest concern was that one of her friends would see the ad before I could show it to her. So, I unplugged Amy’s phone Friday morning,” he said.

The couple began dating 13 months ago after meeting when they played together on a summer softball team in Clinton Township.

“Chris and I always talk about how we met, so proposing on the softball field was such a great idea. I loved it,” Gaughan said.

The wedding will take place in June 2004, after they graduate. Gaughan will finish her degree in elementary education at CMU and hopes to teach art or first or second grade, while Voakes plans on a technical management career.

CMU physician assistant students want to cure local children’s fear of doctors.

Physician assistant students provided three “Teddy Bear Clinics” Monday morning at CMU Head Start in Wightman Hall, Bright Starts Enrichment Program, 1510 W. High St. and Sacred Heart Academy, 302 S. Kinney Ave., to remedy this.

Children brought their favorite stuffed toy to the clinic for a check-up by five students in CMU’s physicians assistant program.

The students set up four stations for the children to visit, including vision; blood pressure and pulse; eyes, nose and throat; and height and weight.

Sixteen children from CMU Head Start visited each station with their stuffed toys. After the toys were given their check-ups, the children took a turn.

Corinne, 3, brought her stuffed bunny Kelly for a check-up. Corinne said at first she was afraid of the doctor, but not anymore. She, like most of the children, admitted the scary part of any check-up is the shot.

Sammy, 3, brought his favorite toy, Buzz Lightyear, for a check-up and after seeing how easy it was for Buzz, decided it would be OK to have a check-up himself.

“The clinic lets children get used to the medical profession. A lot of children are afraid of the doctor, and this is a way to get them more comfortable with medical providers and to have fun in the process,” said Ziomara Hidalgo, Flint graduate student.

Kevin Warner, Houghton Lake graduate student, agreed with Hidalgo. He said the clinic provides a way to make children happy and excited about visiting the doctor.

Hidalgo explained that the clinics also are useful to the 35 physician assistant students participating.

“The clinic allows us to use the skills we are learning in classes, while allowing us a way to interact with children. A lot of us have never worked with children before, and the clinic helps us learn how to successfully communicate with them,” she said.

The “Teddy Bear Clinic” is in honor of annual Physician Assistant Day on Oct. 6.

Hidalgo said that in the weeks leading up to the day, physician assistants host community projects. In addition to the clinics, the physician assistant students provided free blood pressure screenings for adults at Meijer, 1015 Pickard St. Monday.

The 2002 MEAP scores showed that fourth-graders exceeded the state average in meeting or exceeding the state standard in mathematics by more than 4.5 percent.

Mount Pleasant School District’s fifth-graders who met or exceeded the state standard in science scored 9 percent higher than the state average.

Eighth-graders in the district exceeded the state average of students meeting or exceeding state standards in science by 2 percent and by 13 percent in mathematics.

Mount Pleasant School District Assistant Superintendent Tammy Holder explained that the curriculum for each grade is designed around state standards and uses the standards as a benchmark and guide.

“We look at the results of the MEAP and pinpoint specific areas of improvement,” Holder said. “Such as if we need different teaching materials or a different strategy.”

Terry Stanton, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Treasury, said the MEAP exam is used to provide educators with a level of comparison to how well students are learning curriculum required by the state.

“It is important to remember that teachers do not teach to the test, but rather, the MEAP tests what students have learned relative to standard curriculum. The scores provide the school district with the ability to see how students rank and to be aware of areas to concentrate on,” Stanton said.

State Treasurer Douglas Roberts is pleased with the state scores.

“More than 64 percent of Michigan fourth-graders either met or exceeded Michigan standards for mathematics, while nearly 54 percent of eighth graders scored at those levels,” Roberts said. “The new science scores are even more encouraging, with better than 73 percent of fifth grade students achieving level one or level two scores and two of every three eighth graders either meeting or exceeding state standards.”

Performance standards are based on new scores established and approved by groups of Michigan educators and community members. Because the 2002 tests are new, direct comparison to previous test scores cannot be made, but the new tests in math and science do provide a baseline data for score comparisons in math and science in coming years, according to information provided by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

The new MEAP elementary and middle school mathematics and science tests now report student results across four levels of performance. These levels from highest to lowest are: level 1 — exceeded Michigan standards; level 2 — met Michigan standards; level 3 — at basic level; and level 4 — apprentice.

Certifications of Recognition are provided to students who either meet or exceed state standards.