Outlook / the University of Maryland, College Park (1999)

UPUfl'^W-^ 1

Outlook

The University of

Faculty and Staff Weekly Newspaper

Volume 14Nuniber 15 December 14^1999

Contributing to a
Bright Future,

page 4

BOLD

VISION
BRIGHT
FUTURE

UNIVERSITY <»
MARYLAND

Norman "Boomer" Esiason

Boomer's Back: Former Terp
Returns to Inspire Grads

Former University of Maryland quarterback Norman
"Boomer" Esiason makes his return to campus Dec. 23. The
NFL broadcaster will address graduates during Winter
Commencement at Cole Field House.

Esiason, who led theTerps under Bobby Ross to an ACC
title in 1983 and
set 17 school
offensive
records, current-
ly sits in the
"Monday Night
Football" broad-
cast booth along-
side Al Michaels.
He spent 14
years in the NFL
with the
Cincinnati
Bengals, Arizona
Cardinals and
New York Jets.
Now one of
Maryland's most
recognizable
sports stars is
returning to
where it all
began. Til put

myself back into those same seats again," says Esiason. "I
was also a winter graduate." He graduated in 1984 with a
degree in general studies.

Speaking at Cole Field House will not be his first visit to
campus since leaving Byrd Stadium for the NFL draft.
Esiason has kept close ties with the university ever since.
He visited campus most recently when the resurgent Terps
football team played Clemson this fell. He also regularly

attends basket-
ball games, and
has been known
to plug the uni-
versity whenever
the opportunity
presents itself in
his weekly foot-
ball broadcasts.
The football star
is a household
name when it
comes to sports,
but he is also a
businessman,
philanthropist
and author. He
co-authored two
books: "Toss," a detective story about a young quarterback
phenom, and "A Boy Named Boomer," a children's book.

Although "Toss" was praised as a mystery for adults, he
says he is most proud of die kid's book. In it he relates a
story about his father, who recently passed away, playing
football with him in the backyard. His father, who was his
biggest mentor, told him to "love the ball." "That football
was one of those plastic yellow things with the holes in

Continued on page 3

"No one in my English

classes probably

would've thought I

would make it this far."

— Boomer Esiason

Lucent Technologies and University Expand
Collaboration in New Technology Development

Lucent Technologies and the University of
Maryland recently announced a memorandum
of understanding that expands their strategic
relationship, which includes research collabora-
tion, e-business development and the applica-
tion of Lucent information
technology in the living
and learning environment
on campus. The agreement
proposes three new initia-
tives.

First, Lucent will design
and equip a "digital resi-
dence hall" at the universi-
ty to serve students select-
ed for the Hinman
Campus Entrepreneurship
Opportunities Program,
This facility will become a
showcase for advanced
Lucent communications
solutions including multi-
media messaging, video-
conferencing and high-
speed w ireless voice and
data networking. Students

will use these applications as they build and run
their own businesses. Lucent will develop an
area within the campus' Office of Information
Technology to showcase these advanced capa-
bilities for the entire university community as
well as Lucent's customer base.

Second, Lucent will become an anchor tenant

"We are very excited

about this opportunity to

deepen our relationship

with an innovation leader

like the University of

Maryland."

— Bill O'Shea,

Lucent Enterprise Network

in the university-proposed new Technology
Park, to be developed in proximity to campus,
Lucent will house about 100 associates and staff
in the facility when it is completed in two years.
Third, Lucent and the university will collabo-
rate on c-business initia-
tives that will serve the
University of Maryland as
well as the State of
Maryland's eMaryland pro-
gram, which is a project to
create the most advanced
e-business environment in
the United States. In addi-
tion to development and
testing, these initiatives
will expose select univer-
sity students to leading-
edge e-business tools.
"The University of
Maryland is a leader in the
development and applica-
tion of information tech-
nologies," says President
Dan Mote. "Its influence is
particularly felt in the
exploding digital economy of the nation's capi-
tal region, which is rapidly becoming the center
of the global Web-based economy. Lucent
Technologies and its research engine, Bell
Laboratories, are at the forefront of the develop-

Conttnued on page 6

Exempt Pay Program Implementation Draws Near

The implementation of the University
System of Maryland (LISM) Exempt Pay
Program cleared its final hurdle on Dec. 3
when the Board of Regents approved the ten
exempt Pay Program policies. The policies are
effective Jan. 2, 2000, with the exception of
the Policy on Pay Administration, which has
an effective date of Feb. 27, 2000.

The USM exempt Pay Program, with its
flexible policies that enable each campus to
be competitive in its own labor market and
with comparable peer institutions, will create
an important framework for the flagship insti-
tution as it strives to recruit and retain an
exempt workforce that reflects its culture of
excellence and rewards contributions in pur-
suit of strategic goals. The program combines
the university's approximately 1 ,400 regular
associate staff, academic administrators and
classified-exempt employees into one unified
category of employment called exempt.

Prior to implementation, all exempt posi-
tions will be placed into one of five broad
"bands" (see chart, page 6), that will reflect
each job's relative value to a market bench-
mark or within the university's organizational
structure. Though there will be no salary
adjustments as a result of exempt Pay

Program implementation, pay administration
procedures will promote internal equity
through provisions that will permit depart-
ments to pay employees relative to the mar-
ket value of their jobs, and their contributions
to the university. The market data being uti-
lized for initial slotting is comprised of a vari-
ety of independent compensation surveys.
The survey data will be refreshed annually for
salary administration purposes. Market salary
adjustments that departments identify as nec-
essary should be executed through (he annu-
al salary setting process.

Detailed procedures on all aspects of
salary administration are currently being
developed and will be distributed to the cam-
pus prior to the Feb. 27, 2000 implementa-
tion. These procedures will establish the
guidelines for salary adjustments pertaining to
changes in duties, promotions, acting capaci-
ty, lateral transfers and demotions, and the
identification of market salary ranges for set-
ting starting salaries for new hires.

Between now and early February 2000, the
compensation professionals from the
Personnel Services Department will be meet-

Continued an page 6

2 Outlook December 14, 1999

Estate Planning and Elder Law

Louis Ulman, a practicing attorney specializing in estate
planning and elder and corporate law, is the featured speaker
at the Investor's Group meeting at noon, Wednesday, Dec. 15,
in Room 4137 McKeldin Library. Ulman, a graduate of
Dickinson College and American University's Washington
College of Law, will discuss estate planning and answer
questions,

Ulman hosts a radio
program on WRC AM 570
on progressive planning
and also writes a column
for The Columbia
Business Monthly. He is
a frequent lecturer on
business, estate, financial
and asset protection plan-
ning and serves on the
board of directors of
the International
Association for
Financial Planning, ^
Maryland chapter.

Ulman is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association
and the Howard County Bar Association as well as the
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

The Investor's Group, co-sponsored by Friends of the
Libraries and the Office of Continuing and Extended
Education, is open to all. The group, numbering more than
300 faculty, staff, students and community friends, is interest-
ed in broadening its knowledge on financial issues.

The next meeting of the Investor's Group is scheduled for
Jan. 19.

Do Your Part to Prepare for Y2K Glitches

In addition to all the computer software and
hardware issues you liave been dealing with to
prepare for the Year 2000, Facilities Management
is asking for your assistance in preparing universi-
ty buildings and your spaces for other problems
that may occur. Facilities Management has taken
all appropriate steps to ensure that mission criti-
cal building systems are compliant and ready.

Tlie most likely problem that may occur, how-
ever, will be short duration (1-3 hours) electrical
outages. Since our heating systems rely on elec-
tricity, we ask that you take steps to help us con-
serve heat in buildings.

Frior to leaving for the holiday break, please:

• Securely close and lock all windows and doors.

• Check all infrequently entered spaces (storage
rooms, etc.) to be sure that they are closed.

• Check all windows within the stairwells. Verify
that they are closed and locked.

• Shut off and disconnect all non-critical equip-
ment. This includes electrical appliances, comput-
ers, water, gas and steam connections.

• Set thermostats between 60 degrees and 65
degrees Fahrenheit. Report any cold areas (less
than 40 degrees Fah re illicit) to Work Control
(405-2222).

• Consider covering computers and other materi-
als that could be damaged by water with plastic
drop cloths or trash bags.

• Post emergency notification information on
your laboratory doors or on hazard warning plac-
ards (See Environmental Safety Web site for
these).

If you must leave equipment in operation:

• Monitor weather conditions.

* If there are power outages in the area, there is a
high probability that the university is experienc-
ing power outages also.

* Back up all files on the computer.

* Turn off all the computer equipment.

* Pull all plugs where possible.

• If an ongoing experiment or other situation
makes it impossible to turn off IT equipment
please inform your supervisor.

• Facilities Management will begin to winterize
buildings by shutting off and draining water-filled
pipes when inside building temperatures
approach 32 degrees Fahrenheit if we believe
there is potential for freeze ruptures and flooding
damage. Most buildings cannot be heated without
electric pumps to circulate steam and hot water.
Tliis includes water, steam, fire protection and
heating pipes.

• You ;irc responsible to secure any experiments
that require water and make alternate arrange-
ments to provide hydration for your animals.
Facilities Management will be concentrating on
protecting all buildings from freeze damage and
will not be able to respond to specific research or
animal needs.

Facilities Management will have a limited staff
on duty on Dec. 3 1 and New Year's Day to moni-
tor for problems and respond as necessary. Direct
calls for information to Work Control (405-2222)
or to UMPD (405-3555).

letter to the editor

...

Dear Editor,

The Hermanos of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda
Fraternity, Inc., are having a Christmas toy drive from Dec. 6-23.
We are asking for any assistance and help in order to collect toys
for needy and less fortunate children this Christmas.

Christmas is a wonderful holiday to celebrate, but. unfortu-
nately, many children do not have the opportunity to enjoy
Christmas as they should. That is why it is imperative that we
collect as many toys as we can in order to make their Christmas
an enjoyable one.

We are asking you to inform other colleagues and students in
your class about this toy drive. We are also asking for any sugges-
tions you may have as to where in Montgomery County or
Prince George's County there exist foster homes or shelters
where we could distribute these gifts on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day morning. We have managed to come up with
many in Washington, D.C. However, due to transportation prob-
lems it may prove difficult to head out to Washington on these
two days.

Your help is greatly needed and appreciated. Any donation
can be dropped off in a box in front of the information desk in
the Stamp Student Union. We welcome you and your colleagues
joining us in distributing these toys as Christmas draws near.

If you should have any questions or concerns please contact
us at toys@launidadlatina.org or you may contact me at frnar-
tine@wam.umd.edu or at home at 434-0591 ■

Yours truly and respectfully,

Havio Martinez

Secretary, La Unidad Latina,

Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc.

Phi Chapter, College Park

HOPE

To children with nothing,

The gift of one toy,

Creates golden moments,

Of shared hope and joy,

Inspired anew,

As they recall the reason...

Why, it's Hope's own Birthday,

Observed at this Season!

The gifts not the toy;

To impart Hope we strive;

Won't you share in our efforts,

To keep Hope alive?

— Tanya Martinez 1 999

■ ■ <i«iH

Although this is the last

issue of the year, Outlook

will present itself once

again next semester,

starting Feb. 1.

Continue to send

notices, announcements

and calendar items to

2101 Turner Building or

e-mail to oudook@

accmail. timd. edu.

Happy Holidays

!

Outlook

Outlook is the weekly facutty-staff newspaper serving the University of Maryland campus community. Brodie Remington, Vice President for University Relations;
Teresa Flannery, Executive Director of University Communications and Director of Marketing; George Cathcart. Executive Editor: Jennifer Hawes. Editor;
Londa Scott Forte, Assistant Editor; David Abrams, Graduate Assistant; Erin Madison, Editorial Intern. Letters to the editor, story suggestions and campus infor-
mation are welcome. Please submit all material two weeks before the Tuesday of publication. Send material to Editor, Outlook, 2101 Turner Hall. College Park, MD
207 42. Tele phone (301) 4054629; e-mail outlook@accmail.umd.edu; fax (301) 314-9344. Outlook can be found online at www.inform, umd.edu/outlook/

December 14, 1999 Outlook 3

*

acement

Commencement Schedule
of Events

The university's winter graduation programs take place
Dec. 22 and 23. Students graduating at this time will par-
ticipate in a variety of activities to honor their achieve-
ments.

Wednesday, Dec. 22 die following colleges
will hold graduation ceremonies:

* College of Behavioral and Social Sciences - Cole Student
Activities Budding, 7 p.m.

* Journalism- Tawes Theater, 5 p.m.

* College of Life Sciences- Memorial Chapel, 7 p.m.

* Undergraduate Individual Studies- Nyumbuni Cultural
Center, Multipurpose Room, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 23, activities begin at 9 a.m. with a con-
vocation in the Cole Student Activities Budding. A recep-
tion takes place in the Grand Ballroom of the Stamp
Student Union from 1 1

G. Scott Shaw Communicates with Students

4&^lTy

*Yl>

a.m. to 3 p.m.

The following colleges
will hold graduation cere-
monies Thursday, Dec. 23:

• College of Arts and
Humanities

• American Studies,
Comparative Literature,
Dance, English,Theatre
and Women Studies-
Tawes Theatre, Noon

• Art History- Art-
Sociology Building, Rm.
2309, Noon

• Art Studio- Art-Sociology Building, Rm. 2203, Noon

• Classics, Foreign Languages, Linguistics -St. Mary's Hall,
Noon

• History, Jewish Studies, Russian Area Studies-Skinner
Building, Rm. 0200, Noon

• Philosophy-Skinner Building. Rm, 1119, Noon

• Communications- Ritchie Coliseum, Noon

• Robert H. Smith School of Business- Cole Student
Activities Building, Noon

• College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical
Sciences-Memorial Chapel, Noon

• College of Education- Reckord Armory, Noon

• A. James Clark School of Engineering-Reckord Armory,
2:30 p.m.

• College of Health and Human Performance-Health and

„ Human Performance
M0 Building, Rm 2240, Noon
WW 'College of Library and
^W Information Services-
jS^f Biology/Psychology

» Budding, Rm 1240,

1 p.m.

Speakers for
commencement include
^t • ^4 ^m Boomer Esiason, retired

quarterback and com-
mentator for "Monday
Night Football," and
Maryland alumnus.
Student speaker will be
a G. Scott Shaw, colum-

nist at the Diamondback
and journalism major.

—ERIN MADISON

"I came to college to be a better
communicator," says G. Scott Shaw,
"and everything I've since pursued has
fallen under those premises."

In the realm of university communi-
cations, the journalism major became
familiar to the Maryland community as
first a news reporter, then a design
instructor, and finally a bi-weekly
columnist for the Diamondback. He
also served as president of the univer-
sity's chapter of the Public Relations
Student Society of America. Beyond
the campus, Shaw found opportunities
to expand his communication and
design skills as an intern for the High
Technology Council of Maryland. "This
internship was a perfect fit," he says,
"because it offered me in sigh is into
the composition of the state's technol-
ogy industry."

It was also a communications pro-
ject that first introduced Shaw to the
world of hospice care: He designed a
brochure for teenagers coping with
terminally ill family members that was
later used by the Hospice of Prince
George's County. He would go on to
volunteer at Hospice events, including
the 18th Annual Hospice Cup Charity
Regatta, the largest charity regatta in
the United States, and the Beacon of
Hope fundraiser for Hospice of the Chesapeake
in Millersville. His belief In hospice care has a
rock-solid foundation: "The fact that such a ser-
vice exists in our current medical system is a
breath of fresh air"

Such a phrase may be used by several profes-
sors to describe Shaw himself. "He is an ener-
getic, personable and winsome young man," says
Reese Cleghorn, dean of the College of
Journalism. And Ralph Bauer, assistant professor
of English, proclaims,"He is a committed, serious
writer widi extraordinary gifts and, no doubt, a
bright future."

G. Scott Shaw, winter commencement's student speaker.

Post-graduation, Shaw plans to fulfill his
dream of driving cross-country ("Everyone does
Europe after graduation. No one does America.")
to explore firsthand the American history and
literature that have been his academic passions.
By next fall, he will have settled near Boston,
Mass., for a career in high-tech public relations
that combines writing, technology and politics.
He aspires to be an effective writer and one day
publish his own magazine.

"I'm looking forward," he says, "to being suc-
cessful on my own terms,"

Former Terp Returns to Inspire Grads

continued /mm page 1

it," he remembers. But that experience has
stayed with him in the big leagues.

Esiason owns several businesses, including a
limousine service and a line of sauces. Proceeds
from the sales of his salsa and barbecue sauces
benefit cystic fibrosis (CF), a cause Boomer has
supported since meeting a young girl with the
disease years ago. After his son Gunnar was born
with the disease, he formed the Boomer Esiason
Foundation to fund CF research.

If someone were to ask a classmate about
him, they might not have seen such a successful
future for Esiason. "Who would Ve thought I
would make it all the way to the top — Monday
Night Football? No one in my English classes

probably would 've thought I would make it this
far."

In his formal return to his alma mater, Esiason
hopes to be an inspiration to graduates just as
his father and his mentors at Maryland were to
him.

"Thank goodness I had a lot of good people
around me. You know what they say,'always
remember where you came from.' I've been for-
tunate in my life to be surrounded by so many
successful people who taught me to be a win-
ner. I'm so happy I've kept those friendships in
tact."

— DAVID ABRAMS

4 Outlook December 14, IW9

Campaign Donors Say It's All about Giving Back

Sim

Charles Wellford, chair of the Faculty and
Staff Campaign, says most peqple who
work here have something, besides the job,
that binds them to the university. "There's
something that excites them about the
campus," he says, and they give to help the
university continue its great work.

Some people love the students and give
to scholarships, he says. Others designate
gifts to their departments. Whether direct-
ing dollars toward specific areas, or desig-
nating money to be applied where need-
ed, faculty and staff play an important role
in the success of the Bold Vision * Bright
Future Campaign.

"It's not so much the size of the dona-
tion — people can give as little or as much
as they wish— but the fact that they give
that's important," says Wellford, acting
chair of the department of criminology
and criminal justice. With options like pay 1 ''
roll deduction or charging to a credit card,
and the ability to designate where on carti-
pus you'd like your dollars to go, making a
contribution is quite easy.

To help spread the word about the
Faculty and Staff Campaign volunteer fac-
ulty and staff from across campus have
been recruited. These donor volunteers
are, in most cases, employees who have
given to the university in the past. But
many are first-time donors who believe in
the university and want to play a role in
the campaign's success.

"We want this to be truly voluntary,
peer-to-peer solicitation," says WelUbrd, "It's
not meant to be a hard sell."

Loretta Carstens, executive administra-
tive assistant to the dean of libraries is a
firm believer in giving back to the institu-
tion. Carstens, who has been with the uni-
versity—and the libraries— since 1989.
says both she and her two children have
benefitted from the university.

Her now 16-year-old son attended the
Center for Young Children, including its
full-day kindergarten. "It was a wonderful
program "she says, "and I think he almost
feels like he's an alumnus of die universi-
ty." Over the years, her son also participat-
ed in several art programs and in Gary
Williams' summer basketball camp.

Carstens daughter graduated from the
university with a degree in fashion mer-
chandising. "She had the benefit of full
tuition, for which I am most grateful," says
Carstens.

And next May, Carstens is graduating
from University College with a degree in
business management. As she sees her goal
about to be realized, she says she could
not have achieved it without the universi-
ty benefit of tuition remission.
~\ I f I -appreciate my employment with the
university and am very happy to be a part
!of tftis place," says Carstens, who began
contributing a few years ago, when the
Friends of the Libraries foundation was
started.

"1 think there's satisfaction when you're
on the receiving end, and there's always
satisfaction when giving back for what
you've received," she says.

For alumnus Brent Flynn, assistant to
the director of Campus Recreation
Services, giving to the university is some-
thing he's done since his 1984 graduation.
The Pittsburgh native attended the univer-
sity on a baseball scholarship and then
continued his education, earning a mas-
ter's degree in recreational administration
in 1992.

"I contribute as a means of giving back
to the university for all the good things
the university has done for me," he says. In
liis role as a campaign volunteer, Flynn
says he sees himself as an ambassador for
the university.

"Admittedly if someone is not a graduate
of the university, they don't feel the same
passion I do," he says. "But it's tough to
find a better place to work with all the
great benefits and the beautiful campus
and facilities. To keep some of these bene-
fits, you liave to invest in the university."

Flynn says studies show it's not what
you give, but that you give that makes the
difference. "If donors outside this universi-
ty see faculty and staff investing in the
University of Maryland, that's a positive for
someone with, say matching funds."

Although not a graduate of the
University of Maryland, William Fourney
has been giving to the university for 1 5
years. The chair of aerospace engineering
is the youngest of 13 children raised in
West Virginia during the Depression.

"I owe a lot for my education " he says.
"Otherwise, I would be dead from work-
ing in the coal mine, either from a mine
caving in or from black lung."

A graduate of West Virginia University,
Foumey earned his Ph.D. from tiie
University of Illinois. At both institutions,
he says, his education was paid for
through scholarships or jobs, Fourney says
he believes these universities, along with
the University of Maryland, all played a
major role in where he is today"! con-
tribute to give back for all I've gotten from
these institutions," he says.

"Maryland is a great university," says
Fourney who has been here since 1966.
"Higher education is so important in a
young person's life,"says Fourney. "I want
to see as many of them have an opportuni-
ty as possible."

—JENNIFER HAWES

Multicultural Modules Introduced in Family Studies Courses

Approximately 80 students
participated in multicultural
modules introduced in their
family studies courses this
semester. The two-week session
modules were the result of a
collaborative effort between
the family studies department
and the Office of Human
Relations Programs (OHRP).

"A primary goal of this col-
laborative effort was to pro-
vide students from diverse
backgrounds with opportuni-
ties to discuss diversity issues,
challenge stereotypes and
learn about others who were
very different from them-
selves," says Sally Koblinsky,
chair of the family studies
department.

"These modules were
designed to give students
ongoing education and experi-
ence surrounding diversity
instead of the traditional 'one-
time' training," says Mark
Brimhall- Vargas, acting assis-
tant director of OHRE

The first module developed
for FMST 105: Individuals
and Families focused on cul-

tural identity and interpersonal
relationships. It encouraged
students to think about how
important their ethnicity is to
them, how they feel about it
and how it affects their behav-
ior, says Koblinsky.

Experiential learning activi-
ties were used extensively and
included exercises such as
show and tell with a cultural
symbol and "Bafa Bafa," which
emphasized the challenges of
learning to communicate with
individuals from a different
culture. The various activities
were complemented by small
group and class discussions. At
the end of the two-week mod-
ule, students developed an
action plan describing ways
they would continue to
explore diversity in the future.

"The module was very valu-
able," says Maria VandergriJff-
Avery, FMST 105 professor.
"The activities allowed us to
experience issues of multicul-
turalism in a personally mean-
ingful way.The various exercis-
es and discussions also
brought the class together in

terms of creating a warm and
interactive environment."

Students appeared to share
the same enthusiasm about the
module. "This class and the
activities we engaged in
encouraged participation and
opened a lot of minds," says
Rita Lewis, a senior communi-
cation major. "This activity
should be included in more
classes," she adds.

Diversity in the workplace
was the focus of the second
module in FMST 383: Delivery
of Human Services to
Famllies.Thc students in this
class are primarily family stud-
ies majors and will participate
in a field assignment (e.g., in
day care centers, hospitals)
before they graduate.

For one of the major assign-
ments, students were asked to
research and role play hypo-
thetical workplace problems,
including gender discrimina-
tion, racial bias and domestic
partnership benefits. Students
prepared cases and worked
with other "employees" to
develop solutions to the identi-

fied problem. "Students were
challenged to consider the
importance of cultural compe-
tence when working with fam-
ilies and fellow workers from
diverse cultural, ethnic, or class
backgrounds," says Koblinsky.

The family studies depart-
ment plans to conduct a for-
mal evaluation of the modules
at the end of this semester.
Factors such as ethnic identity,
attitudes toward diversity, and
interaction with students from
diverse backgrounds will be
examined.

Not only is the family stud-
ies department planning to
present the modules in the
same two courses in the
future, but also is developing
new modules to address addi-
tional aspects of diversity in
other family studies courses.

"We would be happy to
share the modules and our
experiences with other inter-
ested departments," says
Koblinksy. For more informa-
tion, contact the family studies
department at 405-5672.

—JAMIE FEEHERY SIMMONS

imply Suzuki

After hearing a group of
young Suzuki violinists play,
world renowned cellist Pablo
Casals said/Music can save the
world."The University of
Maryland is doing its part
through its recently begun
pedagogy program where
young children learn how to
play the violin and teachers
are trained to teach the Suzuki
method.

Now in its third year, the
Suzuki Violin Program at the
University of Maryland is
designed to train Suzuki teach-
ers and to serve families. On
Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, the
Suzuki Violin Program will host
a recital at 6:30 p.m. in the
Ulrich Recital HaU of the Tawes
Fine Arts Building.

This unique approach to
teaching children ages three
through 18 to play music was
designed by Shiniclii Suzuki of
Japan, Through his method,
children often develop
advanced skills at an early age.

According to Ronda Cole,
lecturer in the School of Music
and director of the school's
Suzuki pedagogy, Suzuki
applied the principles used in
learning a language to teach
music: listening, imitating and
repetition, starting from birth,
and positive parental involve-
ment. The Suzuki training
method is designed to have
students use left and right
brain processes, learn aurally
kinesthctically and visually.

"Learning our native tongue
is the most complex and also
the easiest thing human beings
master in their lifetime," says
Cole. Certainly children who
have mastered their language
by the age of three sire very
talented, thought Suzuki. Every
child can learn.

"Suzuki's purpose in devel-
oping this approach is to raise
children with beautiful hearts,
high character, confidence,
self-esteem, respect, sensitivity
and discipline, 1 ' says Cole.

The graduate students who
populate the program have
already met the rigorous
entrance standar 's for a mas-
ter of music in violin perfor-
mance and have applied to
this program to become highly
trained teachers. Only two
graduate students are accepted
into this degree specialization
each year.

The university topes to
make the prognu.i known to
the public, says Cole. Families
interested in enrolling their
child/children can call adminis-
trator Wendy Harton at 301-
390-6224 or e-mail
wjh@wam.umd.edu for more
information.

December 11. 1999 Outlook 5

CP Scholars Discover Maryland's Living History Nyumburu Exhibits Celebrate Bloc,

rt

This winterterm, College Park Scholars will
be offering a new class, CPS 269, titled Living
Histories of the University of Maryland. In this
class students will study oral history and apply
it to the University of Maryland College Park.

Oral history entails die recording of inter-
views with individuals, or narrators, who have a
specific knowledge that might otherwise be
lost, says Cheryl Hiller, who will team-teach the
course with John Cordes, coordinator of under-
graduate research for College Park Scholars and
Kathy McAdams, executive director of College
Park Scholars.

The idea for the course evolved from the
interest of Hiller and Maurine Beasley, of the
College of Journalism, to retain the history of
women on campus." Oral histories are often
done with underrepresented populations such
as women, African Americans, native Americans,

and lower economic groups," says Hiller.

Students in the class will learn about oral his-
tory techniques and women's history at the uni-
versity. They will then develop research propos-
als, compose interview questions and record
interviews from a list of volunteers. These inter-
views will be kept as a part of a 50-year history
of Maryland.

The class welcomes interested students with
sophomore status or higher. Additionally, the
class will feature guest speakers from the Oral
History Association.

Hiller notes that the class will be intense, but
will, "bring history to life," for the students.

—ERIN MADISON

N

Powerful, color-filled paintings currently adorn the lobby of
the Nyumburu Cultural Center. Chlnedu Felix Osuchukwu Jr.,
this month's featured artist in the center's "A Celebration of
Black ArtiThe African American Experience." Osuchukwu, a stu-
dent at the Corcoran School of Art, majoring In fine art with a
painting focus,

A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of Art, Osuchukwu
began creating art at a very young age. He uses art to express
his beliefs and aspirations and conveys "thoughts of peace by
using colors subtly and painting portraits of great African-
American leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Paul
Robeson,*" he says. Osuchukwu s paintings focus on reality while
depicting themes that alert the- conscience.

Osuchukwu also teaches art to children throughout the
Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.Through teaching, he is
able to help other aspiring artists develop their skills and use
their art as a positive oudct.

"Working and creating art with everybody makes mc feel
good because 1 am able to serve God's wishes and give back
what I have learned," he says. "I have dedicated my talent to
reach out to other people as a problem-solving force in the
world. Art is an instrument that I use to accomplish my endeav-
ors and to give back to other young artists through my teaching.
Art will deliver me to my goals. I will never lose tiiis determina-
tion to fulfill my dreams."

"A Celebration of Black Art:The African American
Experience," is a monthly exhibit presented by the Nyumburu
Cultural Center. This is the second month that the center has
hosted the exhibit and they plan to continue featuring artists
indefinitely, says Christopher Page, coordinator at the center.

"We try to feature unknown student artists," Page says.

Last months exhibit displayed the art of two campus stu-
dents, Diomie Thomas and Jason Culpepper, As a result of his art
being presented at the center, Culpepper will be featured in his
second exhibit, "Renaissance of the New Millennium," in Fort
Washington this week.

Osuchukwu's art is currently on display

-sABWNA MARTIN

Story Time takes on New Meaning with Interactive Technology

Kindergarten puppet shows have come a long way
since I was a kid. Instead of socks widi googcly eyes
acting out scenes from a nursery rhyme, the Institute
for Advanced Computer Studies hopes to bring inter-
active Storykits to elementary school classrooms,

Storykits are used to build story rooms— interactive
rooms that allow kids to be characters in a story that
diey create themselves, using computer technologies
to make the story come to life.

"We've been asking ourselves how we go beyond
the desktop and into the room," says Allison Druin, an
education professor who works for die Institute for
Advanced Computer Studies "These kits will enable
kids to build their own stories."

First, the kids invent a story. Then they build props
and scenery to go along with their story. Finally, the
adults put "magic" on the props by placing computer-
ized sensors on them that produce special effects
when activated. The final product is a room created
by the kids, containing a scries of stations tiiat when
interacted with in the correct order, allow the partici-
pants to experience the adventure of the story for
themselves.

"Imagine you walk into a room and you feel your-
self jumping into the pages of a hook," says Jaime
Montemayor, a computer science graduate student
who is part of the Story kit development team.

The Storykit team works in the autonomous mobile
robotics lab (AMRL) and is made up of six adults and
six to seven children ages 7- 1 1 .The kids are mosdy
children of faculty and staff at the university who are
excited about technology, can work well in groups
and have a strong desire to turn their ideas into reali-
ty-

Tliis technology design team began in 1998 as an
effort to learn from kids what kids really want when it

comes to new technologies for learning. The adult half
is led by Druin, Professor of Computer Science and
Electrical Engineering James Hendler, and Computer
Science Professor Ben Bederson. Graduate students
from the computer science department and the art
department are assisting the project as well.

The kids are treated as equals and teach the adults
how to see the world through their eyes. Over an
intense eight-week summer session, the team came up
with the ideas for the Storykits and story rooms. Now
they are developing those ideas further. For three
hours a week, the team gets togedier to work out die
intricacies of creating an interactive story room envi-
ronment. The team must work hard and fast to be the
first to come out with this technology. Their main
competitor is the Massachusetts Institute for
Technology.

"We just have to work hard and get this out before
anyone else does. The kids know that this is really
cool stuff," says Montemayor.

The Idea for the story rooms is a spin-off of PETS
(Personal Electronic Teller of Stories), developed two
summers ago. Reminiscent of the old Teddy Ruxpin
dolls, the idea behind PETS is to have a robot built by
kids that can tell and act out a story written by kids.
With software created in the lab, called "My PETS," the
design team kids wrote stories and selected different
emotions for the robot to act out as it's told in the
story. In addition to writing the story, the kids
designed the robot and figured out what different
emotions — such as happy or sad — would look like
when acted out by the robot.

The first prototype, PETS I, built in 1998, is about
two feet tall and looks somewhat like a cross between
a shaggy dog, an owl and a spotted cow. PETS I is
plugged into a computer and can move its arms and

body, but cannot make facial expressions.

Its successor, PETS n, built in May 1999, is much
more sophisticated. It looks like a pig from outer
space. Complete with a flying saucer., it is bigger than
the original PETS, can make facial expressions and is
completely wireless, PETS n was presented recently at
a Computer-Human Interaction Conference In
Pittsburgh-

Both the kids and the adults are learning about
technology and having fun doing so.

"I can't imagine doing anything else," Montemayor
says. "This is the fun part of school."

The future of story rooms and PETS is wide open.
Story rooms will be introduced first in Sweden and
England, where researchers are also working on col-
laborative storytelling with kids.

Druin plans to bring PETS into hospitals so chil-
dren there can create their own stories and characters
using the robots and My PETS software. She hopes the
robots will act as therapy aids for physically and emo-
tionally challenged children. Druin wants PETS to help
these children express their feelings.

"The robot enables kids to have the robot tell emo-
tions... The robot will help kids be more explicit with
their emotions," Druin says.

AMRL will continue working on PETS and story
rooms, developing technologies that incorporate the
ideas and creativity of children.

"This is ongoing work... Our focus is developing
new technologies for kids and develop new methods
we can use to integrate kids and design teams," Druin
says. "Most people don't include kids in the design
process."

— SABR1NA MARTIN

6 Outlook Deceml>er 14. 1999

Maryland Announces Creation of the Major F. Riddick, Jr.
Student Technology Entrepreneur Award

Exempt Pay Program
Implementation Draws Near

The University of Maryland will sponsor a
new competition each year to select the
state's best student-created" technology busi-
ness. Beginning in 2000, students in Maryland
colleges and universities who have started
their own technology business can compete
for the annual Major E Riddick, Jr. Student
Technology Entrepreneur Award and its
$2500 prize.

The new competition, which will be man-
aged by the Dingman Center for
Entrepreneurship in the Robert H. Smith
School of Business, is named in honor of
Major ¥. Riddick Jr., chief of staff for Maryland
Governor Parris N. Glendening and chair of
the Maryland Information Technology Board
and the Maryland Technology Showcase. It
will be open to all students attending a
Maryland college or university who have cre-
ated their own technology business. Winners
wUl be announced each year during the
Maryland Technology Showcase, die mid-
Atlantic region's largest showcase for cutting
edge products and services.

"As a state and national leader in entrepre-
neurship education and technology innova-
tion, the University of Maryland is pleased to
sponsor this new award for our state's top
student entrepreneurs." says University
President Dan Mote, speaking at opening cer-
emonies for the 1999 Maryland Technology
Showcase. "And we are particularly pleased to
name it for Major F. Riddick, Jr. He has been
instrumental in promoting the growth of high
tech business in our state and implementing
Governor Glendening's exemplary program
for a state IT network that will connect all
Maryland citizens and make state services

more readily available to everyone.

"Our sponsorship of this competition is
the latest of the University of Maryland's con-
tinuing efforts to foster entrepreneurship and
the creation of new business in the state and
region," Mote says. "Our commitment to the
teaching and practice of entrepreneurship
also can be seen in two new campus pro-
grams, the Hinman Campus Entrepreneurship
Opportunities Program and the
Entrepreneurship Citation Program,"

The Hinman CEO Program — the nation's
first living-learning entrepreneurship pro-
gram — will bring together undergraduate stu-
dents from different disciplines to study
entrepreneursliip as they live and work
together in a specially equipped dorm and
perhaps even create their own start-up busi-
nesses. A joint program of the university's
highly ranked schools of business and engi-
neering, the Hinman CEO Program was initiat-
ed with a $ 1 .7 million gift from Brian
Hinman, engineering school alumnus and suc-
cessful creator of three high-tech companies.
The first group of upperclassmen students
will enter the program in the fall of 2000.

The business school's Entrepreneurship
Citation Program is a curriculum of four
undergraduate courses that teaches the essen-
tial aspects involved in starting, managing,
financing and developing growth strategies
for new ventures. Students' work in the pro-
gram culminates in the creation of business
plans for their proposed new ventures.

Lucent Technologies and University Expand
Collaboration in New Technology Development

continued from page 1

ment and realization of the next generation of
networks which will power this new economy."

"We are very excited about this opportunity
to deepen our relationship with an innovation
leader like the University of Maryland," says Bill
O'Shea, president and CEO of Lucent Enterprise
Networks. "We look forward to working with the
university to develop the future— and our future
business leaders."

In addition to these newly announced initia-
tives, Lucent will continue to support the follow-
ing joint programs now underway with the
University of Maryland:

• Trailblazer - This student-inspired initiative
aims to create technology-sawy business lead-
ers. Lucent and the University of Maryland pro-
vide oversight and guidance to the program,
which is designed to give students the experi-
ence and skills they need to be successful in the
rapidly changing technology marketplace.

• Mentoring - Eleven Lucent executives are
engaged in active mentoring wiut University of
Maryland students under the auspices of the
VALUE (Visionaries And Leaders Unleashing
Excellence) program. Over the course of a
semester, the executives share life lessons with
the students, giving them a jump-start on their

careers and competitive advantage for the
future.

* Technology Trials - The University of Maryland
has and will continue to participate in beta tests
of new Lucent products such as DEFINITY(r) IP
Solutions with Voice-over IP telephones, which
put voice conversations on data networks.

• Optical Networking Project - Lucent
Technologies, in collaboration with the
University of Maryland and other institutions,
will begin joint research into ultra-high band-
width applications over optical facilities.

Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray
Hill, N.J,, designs, builds and delivers a wide
range of public and private networks, communi-
cations systems and software, data networking
systems, business telephone systems and micro-
electronic components. Bell Laboratories is the
research and development arm for the company.

For more information on Lucent
Technologies, visit its web site at
www. Iucent.com.

continued from page I

ing with campus administra-
tors to review and discuss the
proposed pay band assign-
ments for placement of
exempt positions within their
respective areas of responsibili-
ty. By mid-February, all affected
employees will receive a notifi-
cation letter detailing the pay
band assignment for their par-
ticular position, which will go
into effect on Feb. 27, 2000.

Titles for current associate
staff and academic administra-
tors will not change, but classi-
fied-exempt titles will change
to comparable titles, effective
Jan. 2, 2000.AU classified-
exempt employees will be
notified in writing before the
holiday break of their new
titles

The Exempt Pay Program
policies represent an improve-
ment over many existing poli-
cies. For example, associate
staff and academic administra-
tors currently earn 22 days of
annual leave per year regard-

definition of "exempt" employ-
ees under the Fair Labor
Standards Act, which stipulates
that exempt employees be
paid a standard salary for per-
forming the requirements of a
job. regardless of actual hours
worked. With this new policy, a
typical (full-time) bi-weekly
pay period requires a mini-
mum of 80 hours on a sched-
ule that satisfies the require-
ments of the job. This policy
will provide administrators
more discretion and flexibility
in accommodating temporary
schedule changes and alternate
work schedule arrangements,
as appropriate.

The recording of annual
leave, sick leave and personal
leave will not change under
this new policy, though accrual
of compensatory time will no
longer be permitted without
prior written approval of the
Director of Personnel. In early
February, exempt employees
will receive a re-designed
timesheet with detailed
instructions on the recording

Exempt Pay Program

Broadband Structure, College Park Campus

(Effective 2/27/00)

Salary Band

Minimum-Maximum

Band Speed

1

$24,000-$55,000

127%

2
3
4
5

$30,000-$71,000
$40,000-$97,000
$5 5, 000-$ 140, 000
$70,000-$190,000

137%
143%
155%
171%

less of their length of service
to the university. Under the
new policy, all exempt employ-
ees will receive 22 days of
annual leave through their
20th year of service, but begin-
ning with the 21st year of ser-
vice, annual leave will be
accrued at the rate of 25 days
per year.

Another policy change per-
tains to the timekeeping
method for exempt employees.
Currently, employees are
required to record "time-in,
time-out" on their timesheets.
Under the new Policy on Work
Schedules, exempt employees
will no longer record actual
hours worked. Instead, exempt
employees will record "duty
days" worked on their
timesheets. This important
change is consistent with the

of duty days worked and leave
taken.

Please watch Outlook for
further information as the
Exempt Pay Program imple-
mentation proceeds. The
Personnel Services Department
staff is available to assist with
questions employees may have.
exempt Pay Program inquiries
may be directed to person-
nel@accmail.umd.edu, or to
Compensation & Classification
at 405.5660, Employee
Relations at 405.5651, or the
Office of the Director at
405.5648.

—CAROLYN TRIMBLE.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF

PERSONNEL

December 14, I9W Outlook 7

Exempt Pay Program for Policies, Effective January 2, 2000*

Policy

Highlights of Major Provisions

Changes from Existing Policy

VIM. 22- Policy on
Separation for Regular
Exempt Employees

Establishes separation procedure for "at-will" appointments with an
ascending period of notice based on length of service for employees
hired after V2JO0.

• Excepts employees who serve as officers, and those with titles of
Asst. /Assoc. VP, Asst./Assoc. Provost, Asst./Assoc. Academic Deans,
and Asst JAssoc. Vice Chancellor, and other key executive positions
the President may designate.

• Requires a one-year probation for an employee who voluntarily applies
for and accepts an Exempt position elsewhere on the campus.
Rejection on probation requires prior written notice of 30 days.

• Academic Administrators serve "at the pleasure of the institution.

• Classified-Exempt employees may be separated for "cause only" after passing a
six -month probation.

• Associate Staff may be terminated with a period of notice requirement up through
seven years of service: after seven full years, may be terminated for cause only.
Associate Staff serve a one- year probation with each new appoinlment.

VIM .31 -Policy on
Layoff and Recall of
Regular Exempt
Employees

Establishes period of notice and recall status for Exempt employees
who are laid off due to abolished positions, termination of funds,
organizational change, or lack of work
* Requ ires 90 cale nda r d ays advance written n otice

* Associate Staff must be provided 30 days prior written notice pending layoff

• Classified-Exempts must be provided 90 days prior written notice pending layoff.

VII-6.10 -• Policy on
Work Schedules for
Regular Exempt
Employees

* Eliminates "lime- in, time-out" recording of hours worked. Establishes
the recording of "duly days" for days worked.

• Eliminates accrual of compensatory time, except with grjor written
approval of the Director of Personnel.

• Associate Staff must account for eight hours per day.

• Academic Administrators must account for 40 hours per wort week.

• Classified- Exempt employees must account for 40 hours per workweek.

VII-7.01 - Policy on
Annual Leave for Regular
Exempt Employees

• Establishes the annual leave earning rate of 22 days per year through
20 full years of service; beginning with the 21 st year of service, annual
leave shall be earned at the rate of 25 days per year.

Associate Staff and Academic Administrators accrue annual leave at the rate of 22
days per year, regardless of length of service
Classified-Exempt employees adhere to the State of Maryland leave accrual
schedule in (our stages, beginning with 10 days accrued in each of Ihe first five full
years of service, up to a maximum of 25 days accrued annually beginning with the
21 st year of service.

VII-7.10- Policy on
Personal Leave for
Regular Exempt
Employees

Establishes the earnings rate for personal leave at three days per
calendar year.
* The use of personal leave requires prior notification to the supervisor.

* The use of personal leave requires prior approval.

• No change to the rate of earnings.

• '

V1I-7.30- Policy on
Holiday Leave for Regular
Exempt Employees

* Establishes the amount of holiday leave earned by regular employees,
and the protocol for observance dates.

No change to existing institutional practice.

VH-9.Q1 ~ Policy on
Implementation of the
Exempt Pay Program

Provides that no employee shall experience a reduction in base salary
as a result of the implementation of the Exempt Pay Program.

• Vests current rights with employees converted into Ihe new program,
so long as they remain al their current institutions.

Permits formerly Classified-Exempt employees !o elect to enroll in the
Optional Retirement Program or remain in the Maryland State
Retirement and Pension System.

• Requires that existing compensatory leave balances be used within
one year of implementation.

• Stipulates that there is no effect on employee grievance rights as a
result of the Exempt Pay Program

• Classified-Exempt employees must enroll in the Maryland State Retirement and
Pension System and do not currently have the option of enrolling in Ihe Optional
Retirement Program.

VII-9.11- Policy on
Pay Administration for
Exempt Positions*

Establishes USM Exempt Pay Program salary administration guiding
principles.
• Extends the authority to each institution to design a pay administration
program consistent with the guiding principles.

• Salary administration policies were specific to each category of employment.

VII-9.51 - Policy on
Reassignment for Regular
Exempt Employees

Authorizes reassignmenl or modification of duties, responsibilities,
and/or reporting relationships at any time to a similar or comparable
position.
* For reassign men Is involving a change of schedule or location,
employees must receive two weeks prior written notice.

• No change to existing policy except that there is no current requirement for prior
written notice.

VH-9.61 - Policy on
Reinstatement for Regular
Exempt Employees

• Establishes the conditions that shall apply to former regular employees
who are re-appointed to regular Exempt positions within three years
from the date of separation from regular USM and/or Slate service.

• Applies to service credit and reinstatement of sick leave balance.

* Previous reinstatement period was two years from date of separation.

•The Policy on Pay Administration (VU-9.11) will go into effect on February 27, 2000.

The approved policies reflect significant improvements over the initial draft versions circulated amongst the USM institutions last summer for dissemi-
nation to employees. After widely distributing the policies to affected employees, the College Park campus received feedback from individual employ-
ees, as well as from the Personnel Advisory Council, the Senate Staff Affairs Committee and the President's Commission on Women's Issues. All
feedback was carefully reviewed and combined into College Park's institutional response back to the Exempt Task Force. Based on feedback of our
campus, as well as from other institutions in the system, the policies were significantly modified prior to being approved by the Board of Regents on
Dec. 3.

8 Outlook December 14, 1999

for your
i

vents • lectures • seminars

wards* etc

Library Intercession Hours

The University libraries' schedule
of hours for the intersession and
Winterterm are now available at most
library locations. Faculty, staff and stu-
dents should be aware that materials
in circulation may be recalled during
this period.

If you are going to be away for
more than 1 4 days, library staff recom-
mend that you either return the
books you have borrowed, or have
your mail picked up by someone with
access to the library materials charged
out to you. This way, others will not
be denied the use of materials needed
for their research, and you won't have
a mailbox full of overdue notices
when you get back.

For more information, inquire at
any UM Library service desk, or con-
tact David Wilt, EPSL circulation, at
405-9140 or Terry Sayler, access ser-
vices, at 405-9177.

Computer Virus Alert

Potentially the first of manyY2K
viruses, the W32.Mypics. Worm /
TROLMYPICS program affects
Windows 95, 98 and NT machines.
This worm is spread as an e-mail
attachment file called pics4you.exe.

When activated, it sends itself in an
e-mail message to 50 people in your
Outlook mailbox. When the computer
date changes to the year 2000, it will
make a change that will simulate a
Y2K problem and prevent you from
accessing your hard drive without
going into the BIOS setup. It will also
overwrite your existing autoexec.bat
startup file with a version that will
delete all files on your C and D drives.

For more information, visit the
Office of Information Technology
Website at www.oit.umd.edu/
helpdesk/virus. For further informa-
tion, contact the OFT Help Desk at
405-1500 or visit the helpdesk website
at www.oit.umd.edu/helpdesk

Cellular Vendor Days

The Office of Informadon
Technology has arranged for cellular
telephone vendors to be available to
demonstrate, answer quesdons and
sign up faculty, staff and students with
special rates available to the University
of Maryland community Beginning in
January and continuing through May,
the vendors will be available from 1 1
a.m. to 3 p.m. the third Tuesday of
each month in Room 0106 Patuxent
Building.

For more information contact Tom
Heacock on 405-4409, or e-mail: thea-

cock ©mere ur y. umd . edu.

Art and Cultural Politics

With the recent hand-over of Hong
Kong to China, and the pending return
of Macao to China this month, and
other developments in Asia over the

Advanced Microsoft Access

Faculty and staff computer training
in Advanced Microsoft Access will be
offered Monday, Dec. 20, from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m., in Room 4404 Computer
and Space Sciences Building. There is a
fee of $75 for training and course
materials.

Those with intermediate-level com-
petency will learn to use action
queries to update data values, create
outer joins and use crosstab queries,
create macros and use Access to cre-
ate links to Internet sites and more.

Seating is limited and web-based
prercgistration is required at
www. info rm . um d . edu/Sho rtCourses.
Questions about course content can
be directed to oit-training@umail.
umd.edu; questions about registration
can be directed to the OIT training
services coordinator at 405-0443.

Zhaoxing to Visit Campus

China's Ambassador to the U.S., Li Zhaoxing, will visit campus Dec. 16. He
will give a speech tided "China and the U.S. are Destined to be Partners" at
11 a.m. in Room 01 1 1 of the Classroom Building.

The purpose of the ambassador's speech is to strengthen the relationship
between the University of Maryland and the People's Republic of China.
Current links between China and the university include programs in agricul-
ture, information sciences and archives as well as training sessions in several
disciplines. Exchange programs are already in place for students and schol-
ars, and various departments on campus host frequent visits by Chinese dig-
nitaries.

The ambassador's speech will reflect upon the rich, varied and long-stand-
ing collaboration between campus and the world power and focus on
strengthening our ties of scholarship and friendship.

The event is open to the public. Please contact Rebecca McGinnis of the
Institute for Global Chinese Affairs by Dec. 14 at 405-0213 or e-mail
rml65@umail.umd.edu to reserve your seat.

The Classroom Building is on Stadium Drive across from the A. V Williams
Building. Parking will be available in Parking Garage 2, located on Regent's
Drive.

past several decades, the relation
between art and cultural politics in
Asia has taken an interesting turn. A
one-day conference on "Art and
Cultural Politics: China, Hong Kong
and Taiwan." sponsored by the
Institute for Global Cliinese Affairs and
the art history and archaeology depart-
ment on campus, will be held to
examine the major issues surrounding
this theme.

The event will take place on
Saturday, Dec. 18, in Room 0105 St.
Mary's HaU, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Papers will include "White Cat, Black
Cat: Cultural Politics Under Deng
Xiaoping," "In Search of Historical
Truth: The '2-28 Incident' Museum,"
"Hong Kong Artists' Representation of
China ""The Margin alization of Female
Artists in the Chinese Art System .""The
Uses of Written Characters in
Contemporary

Chinese Art," "Chinese Ink Painting: A
Postmodern Condition Past and
Present," and others.

For more information, and to regis-
ter your name by Dec. 15, contact
Rebecca McGinnis, Institute for Global
Chinese Affairs, at 405-02 1 3. or e-mail:
rml 65 @u mail, umd.edu.

Textbook Info Requests

Faculty members and other acade-
mic department staff members are
being contacted by a number of Web-
based textbook companies requesting
textbook adoption information, and
one company is also requesting faculty
members to recommend students who
could serve as their sales representa-
tives on campus.

You do not have to respond to any
of these requests. If you need help or
have questions concerning such
requests for information, contact Paul
Maloni at 314-7837 or e-mail him at
pmaloni @ union . um d . edu

Books in Storage

To allow new books and serials to
be shelved in the McKeidin Library,
staff have determined it is necessary
to transfer to on-campus storage most
books that have not circulated since
1980. Books identified for transfer to
storage are being flagged with purple
forms. These forms will remain in the
books for at least a month before the
books are moved to storage.

Faculty or students can fill out the
purple form to indicate that a book
should remain in the open stacks. If a

book is checked out, die purple form
is removed. Books moved to storage
are available to all users within one
business day and can be requested via
VICTOR.

This project is expected to contin-
ue throughout the remainder of the
academic year. For further information
contact Karla Hahn at 405-9117 or
kh86@umail.umd.edu or visit
www.lib.umd.edu/UMCP/PUBSERV/
circ_a!l. htmI#STOR.

Web-based Course Management

Registration is underway for the
Winter/Spring 2000 series of Institute
for Instructional Technology We bCT
training modules, offered the second
week of January, 2000. Faculty wishing
to learn how to use the campus Web-
based course management tool can
attend these free, three-hour modules.
Faculty already experienced in the use
of WebCT may be interested in
"Catching Up With WebCT version
2.0", or other topics on advanced uses
of the environment.

Module descriptions, attendance
criteria, and web-based registration are
available at: www.inform.umd. edu/
IIT/current.html,

The IIT is cosponsored by the
Office of Information Technology and
the Center for Teaching Excellence.
Questions about course content can
be directed to oit-training@umail.
umd.edu; questions about registration
can be directed to the instructional
technology training manager at 405-
2945.

Statistics Seminar

Amy Goodwin Froelich discusses
"Statistical Issues Related to Item
Response Theory,"Thursday, Dec. 16 at
3:30 p.m. in Room 3206 Mathematics
Building. Her seminar is sponsored by
the statistics program in the mathe-
matics department.

For more information, contact
Professor Grace Yang at 405-5480 or
gly@math.umd.edu. For a complete
abstract go to www.math.umd.edu/
dept/setninars/statistics

Black History Month Calendar

Each year the Office of Campus
Programs publishes a university calen-
dar of events to commemorate Black
History Month. This celebration
reflects on the experiences and
acknowledges the contributions of
persons of African descent.

Now is an excellent time to begin
thinking about programming for tills
February's Black History Month, with
the theme "Heritage and Horizons: The
African American Legacy and the
Challenges of the 21st Century." You
are invited to join in this university
celebration by sponsoring lectures,
programs or activities. Be creative in
identifying topics for programs that
relate to your particular unit, organiza-
tion or mission.

Submit information or questions
about programs to: Brandon Dula,
Office of Campus Programs, 1 135
Stamp Student Union, 314-7167, or e-
mail bdula@union.umd.edu.
Information for the calendar is due
Jan. 7, 2000.