Academic Convocation Showcases Faculty Excellence

Three faculty members were awarded their college's Teaching in Excellence award at Academic Convocation this year. Award winners, Sheramy Bundrick, art history professor from the College of Arts and Sciences, Brett Jones, assistant professor in the College of Education and Gerald Lander, accounting professor from the College of Business, were selected by a committee in their college.

Brett Jones was further acknowledged as the distinguished university-wide 2004 USF St. Petersburg Teacher of the Year, selected by the Academic Awards Committee.

“We are here today to celebrate great teaching and honor great teachers,” Gary Mormino, PhD, chairman of the Academic Awards Committee, said.

Regional Chancellor Karen A. White also addressed the audience with a campus update that showcased academic excellence, research and service learning courses and she applauded the strong move toward a study of ethics across the curriculum. She concluded by looking into the future by outlining some of the highlights in the Campus Master Plan.

>> Read More

>> See: Academic Convocation Photo Gallery

>> See: Regional Chancellor Karen A. White's Benchmarks Address

             Guest Speaker, Donald Langenberg, PhD, Campus Address

United Way Campaign Off to a Strong Start

More than 100 campus members joined the United Way Campus Campaign kick-off at October's 'spook-tacular' Final Friday. At the event, sponsored by Academic Affairs and the Regional Chancellor, guests enjoyed a barbecue lunch, socialized with each other and had the chance to meet United Way representative J.W. Hunnicutt.

"The Final Friday United Way kick-off was a success. It was the first time that the campus did anything like this," said Bill Benjamin, staff representative and campaign co-chair.

Hunnicutt was on hand to encourage USF's faculty, staff and students to "join thousands of others in the Tampa Bay area with their contributions to this worthwhile organization," Benjamin said. "In turn, United Way will provide support to many different Community Partner agencies that provide services to more than 600,000 people in our community."

This year's goal is $12,500, an increase from the $11,578 raised last year. Donors can support a specific United Way agency or make a general donation for distribution through the United Way.

At Final Friday, Hunnicutt also provided information on United Way's volunteer program known as 2-1-1. This program matches volunteers with opportunities throughout the community for short or long-term commitments. If you would like to volunteer, please call 727-562-1542.

If you have not received information for the Annual United Way Campus Campaign via campus mail, please contact Co-Chair Vivian Fueyo at 553-4429 or vfueyo@stpt.usf.edu or Benjamin at 553-4199 or benjamin@stpt.usf.edu.

Completed forms can be returned to one of the following campaign members: Bill Benjamin at TER408, Chris Mohrfeld, Business faculty representative, at COB348, Mary Ann Harrell, Education faculty representative, at COQ203, or Debra Starr-Simms, Arts & Science faculty representative, at DAV100.

YWCA Children Treated to Campus Halloween Event

Sixty children from the YWCA Family Village Daycare dressed up as princesses, dinosaurs, sports stars and USF cheerleaders to to spend a morning on campus for a Halloween Celebration, hosted by Regional Chancellor Karen A. White to launch the United Way Campus Campaign.

The children rotated through four activity stations and enjoyed puppet shows and story telling by the College of Education as well as an inside look at a police car provided by USF St. Petersburg Public Safety and a demonstration by the St. Petersburg Fire Department.

The YWCA is a campus community partner as well as a United Way agency. As they departed from campus, each child received a Halloween gift bag filled with goodies from the regional chancellor.

>> See: Photo Gallery

Voters Approve Referenda for Dali Land Acquisition

Voters approved two referenda Tuesday to move the Dalí Museum to a new location and allow USF St. Petersburg to acquire the museum's current property. This facility will connect our 46-acre campus and provide additional space as the campus continues to expand.

The City Council also must sign off on this proposal, but voter approval is an important first step. The Dalí must also acquire funding to relocate to a new three-story museum located at the Times Arena at the Bayfront Center.

In other election day news, voters approved the Pinellas County School Board referendum to give an additional one-half mill ad valorem tax to the school district for operating expenses. USF St. Petersburg professor Bill Heller, PhD, chaired the local organization, Citizens for Pinellas Schools, that worked to promote the referendum's passage.

A Message from the Campus Public Safety Department

As faculty, staff and students adjust to the end of daylight savings time, many will arrive to campus and leave in the dark. Campus Safety expects everyone to take an assertive approach to help protect yourself, your property, and all members of the campus community from most preventable incidents.

"If all campus members are aware of potential problems, we can work together to maintain a safe and secure campus," said John Spicuglia, crime prevention and special events officer. Public Safety offers tips to keep you safe both on campus and in the community:

Office Security

• Inspect your work area occasionally for potential hazards and security weaknesses.
• Lock all doors and windows when leaving.
• Report security or safety defects to University Police.
• Keep personal property in a locked desk or cabinet at all times.
• Maintain a current inventory of all valuable personal and campus property. Include make, model, size, color serial number and USF number.
• Consider etching your driver’s license number in personal items of value.

>> Read More

Leading Economist Talks about Social Capital and Health

One of the country's leading health economists, Richard Scheffler from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, will share the role and impact of social capital on health Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 11 am in DAV130, as part of the College of Business at USF St. Petersburg Distinguished Lecture Series. 

“In recent years, social science researchers have begun to look at the link between social capital – features of social organization, such as the extent of interpersonal trust between citizens, norms of reciprocity, and vibrancy of civic associations – and health. Scheffler presents new evidence on this link,” said Richard Smith, USF St. Petersburg assistant professor of economics who is coordinating this lecture.

Scheffler teaches health economics, international health economics, economics of medicine and managed care and also studies the role of government in healthcare financing and insurance, and the supply of health care professionals. Scheffler directs three programs at UC Berkeley: the Health Policy Training Program, the National Institutes of Mental Health pre- and post- doctoral training programs, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality pre- and post- doctoral training programs.

Scheffler, who has published more than a hundred papers and edited and written six books, recently received a senior scientist award from NIMH to study mental health parity and the economics of the public mental health system in California, managed care in mental health and the mental health work force.

Scheffler will speak at 7 pm the same day at USF Tampa in the USF Library as part of the Globalization Research Center Speaker Series.  His talk will focus on the role of health in economic development.

Campus Celebrates with First Multicultural Feast

Celebrate campus diversity at the first annual Multicultural Feast Nov. 17 from noon to 2 pm in DAV130. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to prepare a dish of cultural significance to participate in a potluck feast with the Center for Multicultural Affairs. The event will include live Calypso music and belly dancing.

"The Multicultural Feast gives us the opportunity to connect with our USF
St. Petersburg community and our diverse backgrounds while creating an atmosphere of learning through the foods that we share," said Monica White, coordinator of multicultural affairs. " What's better than food, friends and community?"

If you would like to participate, please return a completed brochure by Nov. 8 to White at TER200. For additional information, White can be reached at whitem@stpt.usf.edu or 553-4845.

>> See: Event Brochure

Town and Gown Features Darryl Paulson

At last month’s Town and Gown meeting, about 20 members enjoyed the wit of political scientist and USF St. Petersburg professor Darryl Paulson who lightened the heated election season with political humor and satire.

Decked out in his politically correct jacket with Democrat buttons on his left side and Republican buttons on his right, Paulson shared how humor is used in politics, numerous political jokes and poorly worded laws created throughout the country.

“We like to make fun of our politicians so that’s why it’s so important that they can make fun of themselves,” said Paulson, who is known on campus as “Professor Wit.”

Paulson is a noted political expert who has recently been interviewed more than 35 times in publications throughout Florida and the country about the upcoming elections. For example, he has interviewed with USA Today, Tampa Tribune, Lakeland Ledger as well as various Tampa Bay television and radio stations.

Town and Gown’s next meeting is January 28 with guest speaker Jeff Klinkenberg, a journalist from the St. Petersburg Times. Town and Gown was established in 1999 to promote understanding and friendship between the university and the community.

Scholarship Donor and Recipient Luncheon Next Week

Two groups of people who have positively impacted each other will come together at the Scholarship Donor and Recipient Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 12.

“The purpose of the luncheon is to introduce students to their donors and vice versa and to thank donors for their continued support,” Jennifer Fraser, financial aid assistant director said.   All 2004-2005 scholarship recipients, scholarship donors, the scholarship committee and the deans from each college have been invited to the luncheon coordinated by the offices the Regional Chancellor, Financial Aid, Advancement and University Relations.  

During the luncheon, scholarship recipients can publicly thank their donors. “It is always quite moving to hear what receiving their scholarship has done for them,” Fraser said.

Alumni Community Luncheon Moves Downtown

Meet USF Athletic Director Doug Woolard, USF Football Coach Jim Leavitt and Regional Chancellor Karen A. White at the Annual Community Luncheon, hosted by the Pinellas County Alumni Chapter of the USF Alumni Association.

The luncheon is Dec. 8 from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Hilton St. Petersburg, will give community members and alumni an opportunity to get an inside look at USF Athletics and USF St. Petersburg. The most popular feature of the lunch is the chance for guests to ask questions. More than 100 guests attended the luncheon last year.

“The Community Luncheon is my favorite event of the year,” said Gene Haines, Pinellas County Alumni Chapter President“I have enjoyed seeing this event grow over the past four years and I hope this is our most successful yet.”

Tickets are $25 per person or $250 per table of ten and can be purchased by Dec. 3 at the USF Alumni Web site at www.usfalumni.net, or by contacting Sue Bebernitz at 727 553-4561.  

The Hilton St. Petersburg is located at 333 1st St. South in downtown St. Petersburg. The luncheon is presented by the St. Petersburg Times.

>> See: Registration Form

Rivers in Florida Offers Immersive Experience

This semester, students in the Rivers in Florida course are literally immersing themselves in their work. Students are canoeing down rivers throughout the state to understand and experience what they are learning in the classroom: the connection of the state's rivers to history, literature and art. 

Visiting scholar, Tom Hallock, PhD, is teaching this Florida Studies course that incorporates class-time with canoeing field trips down Florida rivers to study what each river system has to offer and its impact to the land and culture.

“Courses in the humanities with field experience are rare,” said Hallock, visiting scholar in the Florida Studies Program.  “I hope it teaches students, long after the class is over, to connect their travels and the longer history of a place - not just in Florida, but wherever they go.”

During a recent trip, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio canoed with the class down the Hillsborough River. During a short break at a local park, she discussed the importance of the river and her plans to incorporate it into the future of Tampa development. Co-directors of the Florida Studies Program, Ray Arsenault, PhD, and Gary Mormino, PhD, also joined the trip to share historical facts about the river.

Mormino said, "I don't think a building in Tampa has been built with the river in mind."

Hallock said that this type of course in the environmental humanities field is cutting edge. Although there are programs in the far West and in New England, he said not a single program in environmental humanities exists in this quarter of the country, except for USF St. Petersburg.

>> See: Article in Weekly Planet   

             Article in St. Petersburg Times

Notice of Intent to Adopt Campus Master Plan

USF St. Petersburg proposes to amend a campus master plan to govern the use of land within the area shown in the campus map. A second public hearing on the proposed Campus Master Plan Amendment will be Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 pm in Davis Hall, Room 130. 

A copy of the proposed Campus Master Plan Amendment is available for inspection by the public 8 am to 5 pm at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library. To obtain a copy of the campus map, call Herta Schafer at 553-4822.

Interested parties are invited to be heard at the public hearing regarding the proposed Campus Master Plan Amendment.  Interested parties who cannot attend can submit written comments to: James A. Grant, AIA, Director, Facilities Planning and Construction, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, 140 Seventh Avenue South, TER 100, St. Petersburg, Florida. 

Following the first public hearing August 11, 2004, the proposed Campus Master Plan Amendment was transmitted to those external review agencies identified in s. 1013.30 (6), F.S.  These agencies were given 90 days after receipt of the proposed Campus Master Plan Amendment to conduct their review and provide comments to the USF St. Petersburg Campus Board. This review period will conclude on November 11, 2004.

>> See: Full-size Campus Master Plan Map

USF St. Petersburg will be participating in two fundraisers this month. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.

Tampa Bay Heart Walk

Saturday, Nov. 6 at St. Petersburg Times Forum in Tampa

To participate: Call Barry McDowell at 553-4990

Walk for National Conference for Community and Justice's Camp Anytown

Saturday, Nov. 13 at the St. Petersburg Times Forum in Tampa

To participate: Call Donald Taylor at 568-9333 or visit www.nccjtampabay.org

Campus Volunteers Share Halloween Fun

Each month, volunteers from USF St. Petersburg make a difference first-hand.

Recently, volunteers prepared dinner and organized activities at the Ronald McDonald House, complete with a Halloween theme. Children and their parents enjoyed a home-cooked meal, met Ronald McDonald and enjoyed the company of USF St. Petersburg's community.

If you would like to lend a helping hand at an upcoming visit to the Ronald McDonald House, contact Barry McDowell at 553-4990 or mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu.

UAlbany Part of Autism Study

Times Union in Albany, NY

Nov. 2, 2004

A former University at Albany professor is bringing part of an $892,000 grant he's won back to the Capital Region.

V. Mark Durand, a University of South Florida-St. Petersburg expert in developmental disabilities, is working on a project to help parents help children who bang their heads against walls, bite their hands and exhibit other behavioral problems, and will split research between USF and here.

Look Out, John Stewart...

USA Today

Nov. 1, 2004

(Professor Darryl Paulson is extensively quoted in this article)

Though he occupies a mere sliver of the TV dial — a half-hour slot on late-night cable that attracts a relatively paltry 1.2 million viewers — Jon Stewart has the impact of prime time and the reach of a satellite dish.

His sendup of a classroom textbook, America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, is a best seller (No. 2 on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list last week after spending two weeks at No. 1). A frequent and favored guest of major network news shows, Stewart, the host of The Daily Show, a satirical news roundup on Comedy Central, was profiled by CBS' 60 Minutes last week. Last month, the man who makes a living mocking the media made the cover of Rolling Stone and TV Guide, nearly a year after he landed on the cover of Newsweek.

>> See: Article in USA Today

Grab Your Oars, Get Paddling

St. Petersburg Times

Oct. 30, 2004

Canoeing down the southern stretch of the Hillsborough River, it's hard to imagine the Indian villages, lumberyards and industrial warehouses that once lined the banks.

The modest houses, apartment buildings and boat docks offer few clues into the river's rich, diverse past.

BUT HISTORY buffs know the story.

>> See: Article in St. Petersburg Times

The Life Aquatic

Weekly Planet

Oct. 28, 2004

As Doctor Thomas Hallock wraps up the instructional speech I missed while trying to find the correct entrance to Lowry Park, 37-year-old graduate student Donna Self asks if I've got a canoeing partner. I didn't; now I do. A deal is struck. She will sit in the back and steer; I will sit in the front, paddle when all other options have been exhausted, and try not to move around too much. Another University of South Florida student overhears.

"You're going with her?"

Over Self's laughing protestations, it is revealed that she and Doctor Raymond Arsenault, co-director of USF's pioneering Florida Studies Program, took an unintentional dip during another recent field trip for Hallock's "Rivers of Florida" class.

>> See: Article in Weekly Planet   

The USF Web Calendar of Events can advertise to campus-wide faculty, staff and to the general public. Events may include lectures, conferences, ceremonies, concerts, sporting events, scholarship events, fundraising events and exhibits. 

The best way to submit your event is to use the central news, events and announcements submission form located here: http://www.stpt.usf.edu/news/submissions.htm