AROUND CAMPUS {What's going on at UNC Charlotte}
Belk College dean appointed to international advisory committee
Joseph Mazzola, dean of the Belk College of Business, has been appointed to the International Scientific Committee of the HEC Management School at the University of Liège, Belgium (HEC-ULg).
This committee evaluates and sets the strategic direction for research conducted by HEC-ULg faculty. Committee members include top academic and business professionals from Sweden, France, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States.
Mazzola, a highly regarded scholar in the areas of operations management and operations research, recently traveled to Liège for the International Scientific Committee’s biennial meeting. During his visit, he met with faculty members in the school’s five departments to discuss their research efforts; he also participated in a symposium for the school’s international partners.
HEC-ULg is a partnership between the University of Liège, a public university, and HEC (Haute Ecole de Commerce), a private college. HEC-ULg enrolls 2,500 students and is a member of AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs worldwide.
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Changes approved to Staff Employee of the Year, shared leave policies
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois has approved revisions to Policy Statement No. 77 “Staff Employee of the Year.” The policy revision reflects a change to the Office of State Personnel Manual that allows the criterion of two or more years of continuous service for staff employee of the year awards to be waived if an employee has engaged in an act that meets the criteria of safety/heroism as set forth by the Office of State Personnel.
The chancellor also approved revisions to Policy Statement No. 97 “Voluntary Shared Leave
Programs.” The policy was revised to add that compensatory time, along with the previously stated sick, vacation/annual leave and bonus leave must be exhausted prior to receiving an additional leave transfer from another employee.
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German foundation provides annual award for study abroad
Recently, the German Culture and Language Foundation presented Chancellor Philip L. Dubois with a check for $7,500 to fund one student’s study abroad experience in Germany. Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany Kurt Waldthausen gave the gift at the foundation’s annual fund-raiser.
“UNC Charlotte appreciates the longstanding support of the German Language and Culture Foundation and acknowledges their involvement as a critical component of our efforts to support students studying abroad as part of their academic experience,” said Joël Gallegos, assistant provost for international programs.
Currently, Brittney Montgomery, a junior business major, is studying in Mannheim, Germany, as a beneficiary of this annual study abroad scholarship. This award, which is competitive and requires an interview with Waldthausen, provides the recipient the opportunity for a one-year stay in Germany, which enables the student to become more engaged with the country’s culture, Gallegos noted.
Since 2006, the German Culture and Language Foundation has provided more than $35,000 in scholarship funding as part of its mission to “foster exchanges of university students between the Charlotte region and Germany.” Previous awardees have studied a variety of disciplines, including biology, German language, computer science and information technology.
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Employees put ‘Stake Your Claim’ into action through SECC
Faculty and staff members responded to the 2009 State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC) and helped top last year’s effort on the 23rd day of the drive. To date, contributions total $78,936; more than one-third of this year’s contributors were new donors. The 2008 campaign collected $77,491.
“The response to this year’s SECC has been extraordinary,” said David Dunn, vice chancellor for university relations and community affairs. “Given the economic hardships throughout the region, it is heartwarming to see the 49er family put ‘Stake Your Claim’ into action. This strong showing demonstrates the University’s commitment to support the greater Charlotte community and the many SECC charities that benefit from our giving back.”
Dunn added that it is not too late for individuals who have not donated to contribute. The SECC will officially close at midnight, Monday, Nov. 30. To join colleagues in the campaign, visit the SECC Web site.
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Study shows brief training in meditation may help manage pain
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Fadel Zeidan |
Living with pain is stressful, but a surprisingly short investment of time in mental training can help one cope.
A new study by UNC Charlotte psychologists Fadel Zeidan, Nakia Gordon, Junaid Merchant and Paula Goolkasian examined the perception of pain and the effects of various mental training techniques and found that relatively short and simple mindfulness meditation training can have a significant positive effect on pain management. The finding appears in the current issue of the Journal of Pain.
Though pain research during the past decade has shown that extensive meditation training can have a positive effect in reducing a person’s awareness and sensitivity to pain, the effort, time commitment and financial obligations required has made the treatment not practical for many patients. The UNC Charlotte study shows that a single hour of training spread over a three-day period can produce the same kind of analgesic effect.
“We knew already that meditation has significant effects on pain perception in long-term practitioners whose brains seem to have been completely changed -- we didn’t know that you could do this in just three days, with just 20 minutes a day,” noted Zeidan, a doctoral candidate in psychology. “This study is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of such a brief intervention on the perception of pain. Not only did the meditation subjects feel less pain than the control group while meditating, but they also experienced less pain sensitivity while not meditating.”
Zeidan suspects that the mindfulness training lessens the awareness of and sensitivity to pain because it trains subjects’ brains to pay attention to sensations at the present moment rather than anticipating future pain or dwelling on the emotions caused by pain and thus reduces anxiety. According to Zeidan, the meditation course used in the experiments is one of the shortest and simplest training regimens available, and people wishing to learn it may be able to find instruction over the Internet.
The research was funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
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What’s on UNC Charlotte Cable TV?
UNC Charlotte Cable Television is offering a new series “The Best Chefs.” Each episode in this series is a culinary journey; viewers are exposed to a behind-the-scenes look of kitchens and their chefs. Restaurants are featured from all over the world – from Chicago to Washington, D.C., to France, and the chefs share their favorite dishes, secrets and aspirations. “The Best Chefs” premieres at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2, with a rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
A complete UNC Charlotte Cable TV program schedule is available online and at TVGuide.com (Charlotte - Time Warner Cable, Channel 22). UNC Charlotte Cable TV is produced by the University’s Broadcast Communications Department, which provides a wide variety of video and media services.
For more information, e-mail Ashley Rowell, program director, at abrowell@uncc.edu.
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Campus dining facilities average high scores on health inspections
Since the beginning of the academic year, the Mecklenburg County Health Department has inspected all but one of the University’s food service facilities. The average rating for the facilities is 100.02.
According to Keith Wassum, associate vice chancellor for business services, 14 University dining facilities received scores greater than 100; two received perfect scores of 102 (Einstein Bagel Brothers and Mamma Leone’s). Employing ServSafe certified managers enables establishments to receive two extra points during an inspection.
“Given the opening of eight new permitted food service areas in the Student Union this fall, I believe these scores are quite remarkable,” commented Wassum. “Our food service partner, Chartwells, obviously takes food safety very seriously, and these scores are possible only through the commitment of the entire Chartwells team.” He added that during the first game of the season, facilities in the Student Activity Center were inspected, too. For concessions, these operations are manned primarily by volunteers. Yet, the four areas still received an overall average rating of 100.5.
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More tips to help campus community stay safe
As the semester comes to a close, faculty, staff, students and others are hustling across campus, sometimes after nightfall, with a lot on their minds. The Campus Safety and Security Committee offers the following safety tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings, including other individuals around you. Avoid dark areas where someone could be hiding.
- Determine if someone is following you. If so, change directions and call the police.
- Alert the police if you spot someone looking into windows of parked cars or a vehicle is driving slowly and aimlessly through campus parking lots.
- Share your class and activities schedule with family members and close friends to create a type of “buddy” system.
- Travel in groups, particularly after dusk, whenever possible.
- Keep your vehicle locked and place packages and any other valuables in the trunk.
Connaughton studies film industry’s impact on Charlotte economy
John Connaughton, professor of economics in the Belk College of Business, recently conducted an economic impact study for the Charlotte Regional Partnership to determine the contribution of the film and video production and distribution industry to the regional economy.
According to Connaughton, the industry’s impact is more than $468 million per year, and it adds the equivalent of 2,453 full-time jobs to the regional workforce.
The economic impact study will be used by the Charlotte Film Commission, a division of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, to entice companies to choose the Charlotte region for productions. Movies filmed in the region include “Leatherheads” and “Shallow Hal.” Cable television’s SPEED Network and NASCAR Media Group are also based in Charlotte.
“Charlotte has a video production and distribution industry that’s not rivaled in that many other places in the country in terms of its size, and we have a lot of major players here,” Connaughton said. “But more importantly, we have a very unique labor force. It’s very talented and hard to find in other regions.”
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Two UNC Charlotte students receive Emerging Scholar Award
Emily Garcia and Meighan Read are recipients of the 2009-10 Emerging Scholar Award given by the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Garcia and Read each received $250 grants; they were among 60 awardees nationally. More than 170 students from universities across the country applied for the Emerging Scholar Awards.
To be eligible for the award, students must be rising sophomores studying at an active Phi Kappa Phi member institution, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale and have a minimum of 30 semester hours of academic credit.
Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest, largest and most selective honor society to recognize and promote excellence in all academic disciplines. The society has chapters at more than 300 college campuses across the country. The UNC Charlotte chapter of Phi Kappa Phi inducts qualified students each fall and spring.
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UNC Charlotte tax team places in national Top 10
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| Tax team members (l to r) Ramirez, Saddock, Templeton and Condit with Godfrey (center). |
A team of UNC Charlotte accounting students from the Belk College of Business has placed in the Top 10 in a national tax competition.
Katie Condit, Mark Ramirez, Ashley Saddock and Irka Templeton – all students in the Master of Accountancy program – participated in the Deloitte Tax Case Study Competition, sponsored by the Deloitte Foundation. In the competition, teams had four hours to complete a case study that required participants to analyze information, identify issues and alternative tax treatments and develop a recommended solution that appropriately cites IRS code and Treasury Department regulations.
Under the supervision of Howard Godfrey, professor of accounting, the students met for a series of case-solving exercises, including all-day sessions, group meetings and writing practices. Godfrey said that all four students have job offers from top accounting firms waiting for them once they complete their degrees.
“It is an honor for the UNC Charlotte team to finish in the Top 10 in the nation, given the intensity of the competition,” Godfrey said. “The students challenged themselves and insisted on absolute excellence in their work. We are very proud of their accomplishment.”
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| Gail Cassell, right, recently visited UNC Charlotte where she spoke to approximately 50 faculty and staff members from the science, technology, engineering and math fields. Her visit was part of the ADVANCE Series “Toward a More Diverse Academy: Women Taking the Lead.” Cassell, vice president for scientific affairs and distinguished Lilly research scholar for infectious diseases, is the mother of Cynthia Cassell, public health sciences (left). Cosponsors for Cassell’s visit were the Center for Professional and Applied Ethics, Women’s Academy, College of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Health Sciences, the Health Services Research Academy and the Graduate School. |  |
Consulting firm to study University traffic
As part of the University’s planning efforts, local consulting firm Ramey Kemp and Associates has been contracted to obtain vehicle counts for the campus. According to facilities management officials, this work will be used to aid future traffic circulation planning.
Throughout November, representatives from Ramey Kemp will conduct counts at the following locations: the crosswalk at the Student Union and the intersections of Cameron Boulevard and Mary Alexander Road, Cameron Boulevard and Phillips Road, Craver and Mary Alexander roads and Craver Road and Cameron Boulevard.
Consultants should have appropriate decals on their vehicles and display construction parking passes.
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Community service leave opportunity moved to campus
Last month, Campus News publicized an opportunity for employees to utilize their community service leave in support of St. Jude’s Research Hospital. The opportunity, to prepare packets for the charity’s Thunder Road Marathon, now will be held on campus in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center, 49er Lounge (formerly the Game Room). Volunteers are needed from noon to 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 7, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8.
Each year, University employees receive up to 24 hours of paid child involvement/community service leave. The University’s Human Resources Department has approved this event as eligible for community service leave. According to Staff Council representatives, more than 50 employees have indicated their willingness to volunteer. To participate, employees should obtain their supervisor’s approval and e-mail Lynn Cauble at lacauble@uncc.edu or call ext. 7-2327.
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Internal audit reminder about gifts from vendors
The holiday season is approaching and many vendors that conduct business with the University may choose to show their appreciation with various gifts. While many of these are unexpected and in keeping with how business is done in the for-profit sector, as a non-profit entity and a state agency, there are limitations placed on accepting gifts from vendors.
Last month, Gov. Beverly Perdue signed an order banning gifts to employees in her administration from people who do business with the state, and she asked the General Assembly to expand the ban to include all state employees. Although this has not happened yet, several agency heads have followed the governor’s lead and placed similar restrictions on their employees.
While the UNC system has not established its own gift policy, UNC Charlotte employees are subject to the general “gift” law in North Carolina (North Carolina General Statutes §133-32). Violation of this provision is a criminal offense.
“We also should recognize that we are in a period of increased scrutiny from the public of our actions, a public that expects their civil servants to meet high standards of ethical conduct,” said Tom York, director of internal audit. “Navigating the complexities of properly receiving gifts begins with knowing where to look for guidance. Some good advice can be found in this newsletter from the Board of Ethics. The general gift prohibition has several significant exceptions, so the best course of action is to discuss the situation with your supervisor.”
Supervisors can contact the Office of Legal Affairs at ext. 7-5732 for additional guidance.
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Nominees sought for 2010 Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence
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| 2009 BofA award recipient Charles Burnap |
The selection committee for the 2010 Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence is soliciting nominees. This award is one of the most important and prestigious presented by the University, as it honors outstanding teachers on campus and provides an example of UNC Charlotte’s commitment to teaching excellence.
In its call for nominations, the committee is seeking to honor individuals respected as outstanding teachers and mentors. The strongest nominations include specific examples from students and colleagues alike. In order to be eligible for the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence, a faculty member must be tenured, must be on the UNC Charlotte faculty for seven years and must be teaching in the year that the award is given. Nominees cannot be a former recipient or have been a finalist within the past two years.
As in the past, the Bank of America Award Committee will select five finalists from among the nominees. The award recipient will be selected from the finalists and will be honored along with them at an awards ceremony in September 2010.
For more information or to nominate a teacher, go to the Web site www.provost.uncc.edu/BOFAaward. Nominations are due by Friday, Dec. 4.
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