Faculty Senate Identifies Top Financial Priorities
Case Western Reserve University's Faculty Senate is requesting that university leadership focus on two main financial priorities on behalf of faculty in the coming fiscal year -- create a child care facility on campus to aid in the recruitment and retention of faculty and increase the faculty compensation pool to address compression, inversion and inequity.
Of the 61 voting members of the full senate, three abstained and 47, or 81 percent of the 58 who participated, cast ballots. Each senator had three votes to spread among eight priorities recommended by the senate's standing committees.
The top two issues identified received a total of 99, or 70 percent, of the 141 votes cast. Following the child care facility (50 votes) and faculty compensation (49 votes), the next highest appeals with budget implications were to refresh, upgrade and maintain Technology Enhanced Classrooms (11 votes); hire a development officer dedicated to fundraising for the Kelvin Smith Library (10 votes); and increase the materials base allocation for the library (10 votes).
Creating an Office of Minority Affairs received five votes, while creating an office of the ombudsman and hiring a scholarly communications specialist for the Digital Case enterprise each garnered three votes.
David H. Matthiesen, associate professor of materials science and engineering and chair of the Faculty Senate, presented these findings to the senate yesterday and to the Board of Trustees last weekend.
Traditionally, the Faculty Senate and its committees advocate for budget priorities in late spring. This year, the senate formalized the recommendation process with an official vote and accelerated the pace because much of the university's financial planning is completed at the start of the calendar year.
Chelsea Clinton, Actor Kal Penn to Take Part in Student-sponsored Political Discussions March 1
Case Western Reserve University's College Democrats will host Chelsea Clinton and actor Kal Penn in two separate political discussions on Saturday, March 1.
Clinton -- the daughter of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton and former president Bill Clinton -- will engage in a question and answer session with students, faculty, staff and community members about the important role young voters play in shaping the outcomes of elections beginning at 11:15 a.m. at Harkness Chapel. Her appearance is a part of the Clinton campaign's "Our Voice, Our Future" campus tour, an effort to attract young voters on college campuses.
Penn, who has appeared in movies such as Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and The Namesake, will speak at 7 p.m. at Wackadoo's Grub & Brew. A surrogate for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, he also will interact with the audience in a question and answer format on the topic of the presidential primary campaign.
These student-sponsored events are designed to engage students and the campus community in a discussion about the overall state of political affairs. Read more.
Head of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services visits the School of Medicine
Kerry Weems, the acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, presented the federal agency's newest initiative in electronic health records to the students and faculty of the School of Medicine this week.
The School of Medicine was one stop in the Cleveland kick-off for the agency's announcement of a new demonstration project providing Medicare incentive payments to physicians for the use of certified electronic health records (EHRs) to improve patient care. In mid-June, the program's participating communities will be announced. Read more.
Campus News
Online registration for Case Western Reserve University's 2008 Commencement Ceremonies begins March 1, and is open through April 1. This year's commencement activities will take place May 18.
Nominations are now being accepted for the Dorothy M. Pijan Student Leadership Awards. Over 20 different awards are available to recognize outstanding students, advisers and organizations. Deadline is March 18.
The university's Sustainability Web site provides information for all things sustainable at the university including recycling, energy conservation, Adopt a Building, Energy Ambassadors and more. Refer to the site for ways to recycle and/or reuse items.
For Faculty and Staff
The School of Medicine's Office of Student Affairs seeks nominations for the 2008 Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards, sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. The award recognizes the value of humanism in the delivery of care to patients and their families. The foundation wishes to honor one graduating medical student and one faculty member for exemplifying outstanding humanism in medicine, along with scientific excellence by awarding each with a $1,000 prize. To receive a nomination form, send e-mail to Celena Howard-Townsend, or call 368-2212. Nominations are due by March 3 to the Office of Student Affairs, Room E421.
For Students
Alpha Epsilon Pi is hosting a dance party in honor of Israel's 60th birthday from 8-11 p.m., March 1 at the Spot. There will be free food, music and a philanthropy raffle.
The theme for this year's Greek Week has been chosen -- Greek Week Legends: The Untold Story-- and students have an opportunity to design the logo. Submissions must pertain to the theme and include the title and subtitle. The winning designer will receive $50. Submit all designs and direct any questions to Greek Week Public Relations Chair Chris Jennewein. Submissions are due by March 4.
Events
Paul Ferguson, the university's director of jazz studies, will lead the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra in two upcoming concerts. The first begins at 7:30 tonight at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights; free, open to the public. The second event will be at 8 p.m., March 8 at the Cleveland Bop Stop; admission is $20. The concerts will feature music from his new music CD, Jazz Vespers.
"Russia Present and Future," a global currents discussion, will take place from 4:30-6 p.m., March 3 at the Allen Memorial Library's Ford Auditorium. Featuring three notable scholars of post-Soviet affairs: Thomas Remington, Andrew Barnes and Kelly McMann (assistant professor of political science at Case). Details available online.
Et al
Michael Schramm, an analyst/programmer at the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development, presented research on foreclosure findings during a Cleveland City Council foreclosure forum this week. Representatives from the Democratic presidential candidates campaigns were in attendance. In addition, the research was featured in a recent London Times article.
Greek Life accolades: The Zeta Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity was recently recognized for the fifth time by the International Fraternity as one of the Top Ten Chapters. For this accomplishment, the chapter has been awarded the honor of keeping the Hugh Shields Award Flag. Meanwhile, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity will be volunteering during the WVIZ Channel 25/PBS semi-annual telethon from 7-11 p.m., March 3.
