News and Events

Due to construction, beginning Friday, July 31, 2009, the main University Outer Drive will be closed where it intersects with the Carillon Road, which leads to the university’s front entrance (see Road Closure graphic). This closure will interrupt continuous travel along the Outer Drive causing the campus roads to be divided temporarily in half at the intersection and halting access to the east and west sides by road.

Use the main north entrance (Stuenkel Road/University Parkway) to access the west side of campus and the following parking lots/docks:
-Parking Lots A, A-North, and Parking Lot B
-OTS Parking Lot
-Center for Performing Arts Delivery Dock
-PPO Service Building Parking Lot
-FDC Parking Lot
-Planning Building Parking Lot
-Grants Offices Parking Lot

Use the east campus entrance (Crawford/University Parkway) to access the east side of campus and the following parking lots/docks:
-Parking Lots C, D and E
-Kitchen Loading Dock
-F-Wing Loading Dock

The estimated completion of this portion of construction is mid-August. Ongoing construction will also occur on various other parts of the Outer Drive, Inner Drive, and at parking lot entrances. All parking lots will remain open.

Facilities regrets the inconvenience this construction will cause. For questions or concerns, contact Facilities at extension 4515.

On Thursday night, July 30, 2009, the main building wings A through F will be closed to faculty, students, staff, and visitors between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The concrete rehabilitation contractor is scheduled to x-ray slabs in order to locate reinforcement bars in the cafeteria dining area. To accomplish this work safely, all non-essential personnel must vacate the main building. The Department of Public Safety will help ensure that the area is evacuated prior to the commencement of the contractor’s work.

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Facilities Office at ext. 4515.

On Friday, July 31, 2009, the Nursing Lab contractor will begin the spray application of insulation to the walls. The contractor will make every effort to minimize odors to the building by installing barriers between the basement and first floor as well as providing ventilation to discharge expected odors to the outside.

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Facilities Office at ext. 4515.

The GSU Elementary Education program recently received national recognition from ACEI (Association of Childhood Education International) for meeting the standards of ACEI. This is the first step in the NCATE recognition process.
 

According to the Summary of Strengths in the ACEI National Recognition Report, “The program has some solid assessments and rubrics to monitor the progress of candidates. The variety of aspects of teaching that are being examined is excellent. With a minimal amount of time in course work, candidates are being prepared for a wide variety of grade levels. The range of the certification grade levels involved makes this a very difficult task. There is good organization of course work and field work.”

Fall 2009 Welcome Days are scheduled for Tuesday, September 1 and Wednesday, September 2. Activities will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Hall of Governors. If your office, department, or college would like a table to display information, contact Sara Appel at ext 7653 by Monday, August 17. 

The Civil Service Senate invites all Civil Service staff to a picnic and softball game between Gebe’s Twinkie All Stars and Elaine’s Grand Slam Cupcakes on August 21. The picnic begins at 11 a.m., in E-Lounge and on the patio. The softball game begins at 1 p.m. in the open field east of E-Lounge.

Team members will be chosen from the willing participants attending the festivities. Team members will change as work schedules allow.

The GSU Idol Contest adds to the festivities. Contestants may sing/rap/tap/yodel Take Me Out to the Ballgame between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The winner will be chosen by audience acclaim to perform at the softball game. Cheerleading cheers for either team will also be judged at the contest. The winning cheers will be performed during the game.

At its first Women’s History Month celebration, the Village of Hazel Crest honored 12 local women, three of whom are GSU alumni. Jane Brown, Barbara Donaldson, and Velma Webb were recognized for their leadership and service to the community. Mayor Robert Donaldson thanked the women, noting their hard work, ability to multi-task, and dedication to their community.

Jane Brown (BA ’75, BOG and MA ’76, COE) and Barbara Donaldson (MA ’73, COE) are both also members of the Alumni Association Board. Velma Webb received her MA in Public Administration in 1976.

The Family Development Center (FDC) is offering students, faculty, and staff peace of mind while they are learning, studying, or working. The FDC offers childcare on Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m., for children ages three to 12.

Supervised activities include homework and computer time, indoor gym and outdoor play activities, and use of creative play materials, books, and videos. Nourishing snacks  are provided.

The cost is only $20 per child per evening. Prepay for 12 evenings and receive an additional three evenings for free, a savings of $60. Student Senate sponsored stipends are available for qualified students. Transportation is not provided.

For more information, visit the FDC website or call 708.235.7300.

Since it began 10 years ago, GSU Golf League participants have enjoyed many Tuesday evenings with a little exercise, a little socialization with our fellow GSU employees, and a little competition.

Until Tuesday, July 7, however, no participant had experienced one of golf’s most coveted events. On that glorious evening, Dave Erickson, of Procurement and Auxiliary Services, faced the fourth hole at Golf Vista Golf Course in Monee and captured a magical moment in by scoring a hole-in-one. Dave recorded the first ace in the Golf League’s history with  pin-point accuracy on a par 3, 98-yard hole with a sloping green.

League members and golfers everywhere offer congratulations to Dave. Great shot!

The next meeting of the Black Student Union is Wednesday, August 19, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., in the Cafeteria Annex. Everyone is welcome to attend and help make a difference at GSU.

The Family Development Center (FDC) is now accepting enrollment in its new three-day-a-week, half-day pre-kindergarten program, as well as its five-day-a-week, either full or half day, pre-kindergarten program. Both year-long programs serve the educational needs of three, four, and five year olds.

To further help families cope with current financial constraints, the FDC is offering a discount of two weeks of free preschool instruction to families with paid enrollment of one school year.

Additional tuition adjustments are based on eligibility. For more information, visit the FDC website or call ext. 7300.

Heating and air conditioning will be unavailable in the Faculty Office Center (G-wing) from 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 through 6 p.m. on Friday, July 24. The chilled and hot water pipes serving the FOC air conditioning and heating systems will be turned off in order to make necessary tie-ins for the new labs on the lower level. All heating and air conditioning systems will be back in service Friday evening.

Contact Facilities at ext. 4515 with concerns or questions.

All Governors State Jenzabar products, including CX (Cars), MyGSU, Student View, Faculty View, will be unavailable on Friday, July 24, from approximately 7:30 am to noon, while ITS performs software maintenance. During this time, staff/faculty will not be able to work in CX, and students/faculty will not be able to access any of the self-service web applications. All issues or concerns may be directed to the ITS Helpdesk at ext. 4357.

The GSU Soccer Club is currently playing weekly games and is looking for new members. Men and women are welcome to join, regardless of skill.

Weekly games take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 4:45 p.m. The club also participates in soccer tournaments and trips to Chicago Fire and international games.

Members of the Soccer Club enjoy camaraderie and a unique chance to interact with individuals from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Plus, playing soccer is a great cardiovascular workout. Alumni are also invited to join the club. There is no cost to join. For more information, contact Jose Reyes at 708.534.4494.

The Visual Arts Gallery will present a group exhibition of four graduating students from July 27 through August 17. A public reception will be held on Friday, July 31, from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit will feature the work of Jennifer Lesch-Benedick, Kathleen Rush, Rhiannon Sallas, and Kristina Schmitt.

The GSU Visual Arts Gallery is free and open to the public. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 708.534.4021.

An Enrichment Seminar on GSU’s Interdisciplinary Studies program will be held on August 5, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., in the Hall of Honors. Lana Bilyk, Student Services Coordinator, and Jennifer Finn, Assistant Director of Admission, will lead the discussion.

The Enrichment Seminar series focuses on different GSU degree programs and the related careers and opportunities open to graduates. Students learn from professionals who work in the field, gain knowledge of the GSU program, and discover grant and scholarship opportunities available to current and new students. Current and prospective students as well as those interested in careers in Computer Science are welcome.

Future seminar topics include Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Accounting and Business Administration, Communications, Psychology, Social Work, and Biology.

The series is sponsored by the Title V Cooperative Grant and the Latino Center for Excellence. For more information, contact 708.235.7609.

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) series of online training modules used by faculty, staff, and students conducting research involving living humans as subjects will be unusable for five days beginning at on August 3, at 7 a.m. A major system upgrade will take place during that period.

GSU alum H. Frank Cervone was recently appointed Vice Chancellor for Information Systems at Purdue University Calumet. His background includes 15 years of experience and leadership as Director of Library, Information, and Media Studies at Chicago State University; Assistant University Librarian/Chief Technology Officer for the Northwestern University Library System and University Press; and library administrative positions at DePaul University.

In addition, he has held positions as a chief systems engineer and systems programming director in the private sector. Mr. Cervone offers an extensive list of published works, presentations, and professional and service activities and affiliations.

Cervone holds a baccalaureate degree from GSU; master’s degrees from DePaul, California State University East Bay and Northcentral University; and a Ph.D. from Northcentral.

A draft of Chapter 5 of the GSU Self Study is now available for review and feedback via the GSU HLC 2009 website.

As a reminder, feedback may be submitted via email at hlc@govst.edu.

The Family Development Center (FDC) is now accepting enrollment in both its new three-day a week, half day pre-kindergarten program, as well as its five-day a week, either full or half day, pre-kindergarten program. Both year-long programs serve the educational needs of three, four, and five year olds.

To further help families cope with current financial constraints, the FDC is offering a discount of two weeks of free preschool instruction to families with paid enrollment of one school year.

The FDC is a unique, state-of-the-art facility, which is full of color and light. Students experience a wide variety of meaningful literacy activities ranging from morning meetings to enjoying music and stories, drama, and movement activities.

Children also have gym or atrium time where large motor and social interaction skills are developed through sand and water play. Special activities vary from studio time to work with a variety of materials and on special projects. Children build things, color, draw, paint, sculpt with clay, solve puzzles, and use manipulatives.

Additional tuition adjustments are based on eligibility. For more information, visit the FDC website or call ext. 7300.

As part of the Emergency Response Team’s ongoing training, volunteers across the campus continue to participate in CPR/AED training courses.

The second session concluded last week with Karen Caesar-Smith, Carlos Cantu,

Lynne Clayton, Jane Garner, Lindsay Gladstone, Eric Matanyi, Eric Nicolson, Sherilyn Poole, Tamekia Scott, John Stoll, and Jan Wazio earning their certificates.

The Emergency Response Team is always looking for additional volunteers to assist in the event of a campus emergency. Interested individuals should contact Colleen Rock at ext. 7384. 

Computer Science is the first subject in a series of Enrichment Seminars beginning on July 20, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., in the Hall of Honors. GSU Professor Jeffrey Alfano and Oscar Herrera, GSU graduate and computer science entrepreneur, will lead the discussion.

The Enrichment Seminar series focuses on different GSU degree programs and the related careers and opportunities open to graduates. Students learn from professionals who work in the field, gain knowledge of the GSU program, and discover grant and scholarship opportunities available to current and new students. Current and prospective students as well as those interested in careers in Computer Science are welcome.

Future seminars include Interdisciplinary Studies, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Accounting and Business Administration, Communications, Psychology, Social Work, and Biology.

The series is sponsored by the Title V Cooperative Grant and the Latino Center for Excellence. For more information, contact 708.235.7609.

The Civil Service Senate is now accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2009 Trimester. In order to serve as many civil service staff as possible, the requirements have changed. Eligible students only need to be registered for three credit hours. The number of scholarships has also been raised to four ($250 each).

Contact Senatha Jenkins with questions or for additional information.

The Master of Public Administration and Trio Alumni Clubs are co-hosting a summer celebration and scholarship fundraiser. Beautiful Black and Dazzling White will take place on Saturday, August 15, from 5 p.m. to midnight, at GSU.

The recommended donation is $10 and includes food, dancing, and fun. Attendees should come dressed in black and white. Athletic clothing/shoes are not acceptable.

For more information, call 773.301.4927.

Computer Science is the first subject in a series of Enrichment Seminars beginning on July 20, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., in the Hall of Honors. GSU Professor Jeffrey Alfano and Oscar Herrera, GSU graduate and computer science entrepreneur, will lead the discussion.

The Enrichment Seminar series focuses on different GSU degree programs and the related careers and opportunities open to graduates. Students learn from professionals who work in the field, gain knowledge of the GSU program, and discover grant and scholarship opportunities available to current and new students. Current and prospective students as well as those interested in careers in Computer Science are welcome.

Future seminars include Interdisciplinary Studies, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Accounting and Business Administration, Communications, Psychology, Social Work, and Biology.

The series is sponsored by the Title V Cooperative Grant and the Latino Center for Excellence. For more information, contact 708.235.7609.

The Master of Public Administration Club (MPAC) will hold its summer meeting on Tuesday, July 21, at 6 p.m., in the Hall of Honors.

All Public Administration are encouraged to attend. The club promotes community involvement, networking, and student exposure. MPAC is also strongly committed to cultural diversity, self empowerment, and providing service to others. Refreshments will be served.

• Registration for Block 1 and Block 2 courses for Fall 2009 is open from Monday, July 13, 2009 to Tuesday, September 8, 2009.
• Block 1 and Block 2 courses for Fall 2009 will not be added or reinstated after Tuesday, September 8, 2009. This is the last day to register for Block 1 and Block 2 courses.
• Registration for Block 3 courses for Fall 2009 is open from Monday, July 13, 2009 to Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
• Block 3 courses for Fall 2009 will not be added or reinstated after Wednesday, October 28, 2009. This is the last day to register for Block 3 courses.
• If a student believes that his or her Fall 2009 courses were dropped for non-payment in error by the university, he or she should contact Jan Haan or Nirmala Connor in the Registrar’s Office to explain why there was an error and request reinstatement. The Registrar’s Office will notify students within three business days via e-mail what action was taken.
• All correspondence regarding registration inquiries, including requests to change course sections, must be made by the student in writing through e-mail from the student’s Governors State University e-mail account to Jan Haan or Nirmala Connor in the Registrar’s Office. The identity of students cannot be verified over the telephone; therefore, request for changes will not be accepted over the telephone.
• Students who wish to switch sections of a course must have written approval from the instructor who teaches the new course. The written approval from the instructor must be in e-mail format from the instructor and be sent along with the request from the student to change course sections to Jan Haan or Nirmala Connor in the Registrar’s Office at the time the request for the change is made.
• Students who are not on class rosters SHOULD NOT be attending classes. This means that they are not registered. Instructors should not let these students sit in classes.
• Any student who is active in a practicum, internship, student teaching seminar, or similar learning experience and not registered for the course by the end of the registration period must receive approval from his or her college dean to be registered. The dean should send the approval to add the class or classes for the student through e-mail to Carol Cortilet-Albrecht.
• If you have any questions about the registration procedures, please contact either Michelle Smith-Williams or Carol Cortilet-Albrecht.

Only one month to go until The Center of Performing Arts at GSU unveils the first SLATE (Southland Area Theatre Ensemble) produced musical, Into The Woods. The production features the exceptional talents of local artists and performers.

Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine is an amazing musical about magical enchantment that blends the stories of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Cinderella - and more - into an exciting, intertwining show for all ages!

The CPA production is on Friday, August 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, August 15, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale June 15. Student tickets are $19 and $16 and adults tickets are $21 and $18.

SLATE was founded in the south suburbs of Chicago in 2008 with the goal of educating, enriching, and entertaining the surrounding communities.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.slatetheatre.org.

With so many exercise options available, summertime is one of the best times to work on health and fitness. The Department of Human Resources encourages participants in the Let’s Get Fit program to continue exercising with their families and friends and have them sign the Fitness Record Card when 30 minutes of exercise has been reached. Credit will also be given for participation in walk-a-thons or a visit to the doctor.

For more information about the Let’s Get Fit program, visit the Department of Human Resources.

GSU alumna Dr. Gwen Shah-Ingram is committed to the promotion of social progress and better standards of life around the world. She has served as a Delegate Diplomat to many organizations around the world as a founding member of the World Association of Former United Nations Interns and Fellows.

Dr. Shah-Ingram is a member of the United States International Health Society and the Strategic Studies Association U.S. Defense & Foreign Affairs, where she served at the United Nations Association of the U.S.A. on the Credentials Committee and the United National Hospitality Committee.

In addition to the membership on many boards and organizations, she has received many awards including the Spirit of Detroit and the Testimonial Resolution from the Detroit Common Council; the Mayor’s Award from the City of Detroit for contributing to the excellence of the people of the City of Detroit; recipient of the U.S.A. United Nations Association Distinguished Service Award for support of the Principles of the United Nations; and a U.S. Presidential Commission with a Spirit of America Award.

Dr. Gwen Shaw-Ingram received a BA in 1975 in the Board of Governors Program and her MHS in 1977 from the College of Health Professions.

An Open Letter to the GSU Community:

Once again, this year’s PBAC process was exemplary.  PBAC and its six committees have been meeting throughout the year drafting plans and strategies for appropriate administrative review and adoption, developing budget development guidelines and principles, holding budget hearings, analyzing requests and priorities and ensuring effective linkage between our resource allocation decisions and the goals and strategies articulated in Strategy 2015.  Members of my Cabinet and I attended PBAC’s budget hearings and deliberations. On June 15, co-chairs, Interim Provost David Curtis and Executive Vice President Gebe Ejigu, forwarded PBAC’s final recommendations to me.

I am now pleased to announce that I have accepted  PBAC’s entire set of recommendations for FY 2010 operating budget without any substantive changes.  The attached table displays the budget based on those recommendations.

The FY2010 operating budget constitutes an increase of just under $1.5 million over the FY2009 operating budget.  Of that total increase, 56.1% is allocated to the academic units under the purview of the Provost.  Eight new positions are created in the FY2010 operating budget, of which five are for tenure-track faculty.  It is noteworthy that, once again, considerations of improved instruction, quality, and performance were key factors driving the PBAC recommendations.

The Governor and the General Assembly have not yet completed the state budget appropriations process.  As a result, no one is sure about the final outcome and what exactly our appropriations for FY2010 will be.  Because of this uncertainty, we have had no choice but to project a conservative budget, totaling $51.3 million, an amount slightly lower than the “preliminary” budget of $52.2 million that the GSU Board of Trustees authorized at its meeting on June 12, 2009.

As we work together to deal with the uncertainty at the state level, we are prudently managing our internal resources, with increased dependence on tuition and fees.  Unless dramatic changes occur, we are anticipating a steady course within the context of the conservative operating budget described above.  The only up side of the current situation is that we are more and more masters of our own fate. I want to call on all members of the GSU family to participate creatively in strategic enrollment management, fulfilling our mission to provide top quality higher education to a broad range of qualified students.

I want to commend everyone who participated in the PBAC process. It is gratifying to observe our outstanding progress toward broad-based participation in the complexities of strategic investment and linking our resource allocation decisions to our strategic goals. I am convinced that GSU is now prepared to move forward to achieve our goals of high quality in teaching, scholarship, and service.

I wish to extend special thanks to Dr. Curtis and Dr. Ejigu, the co-chairs.  As I stated at the conclusion of last year’s PBAC process, the strategic investment of resources is the life’s blood of university progress. PBAC has established a framework for broad-based campus ownership of resource allocation. PBAC is shared governance at its best.

Sincerely,
Elaine P. Maimon, Ph.D.
President

An interactive kiosk was recently placed in the Hall of Governors to allow the community to learn about and comment on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s GO TO 2040 program.

GO TO 2040 is a regional planning campaign aimed at helping the region make critical decisions about land use, transportation, housing, jobs, natural resources, education, and other quality-of-life issues.

Area residents and stakeholders are encouraged to “Invent the Future” by expressing preferences online at www.goto2040.org, at public kiosks (Hall of Governors), or in 50 workshops across the region. The GSU kiosk will be available for approximately one to two more weeks.

Let your voice be heard today.

All travel vouchers for travel beginning July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 must be submitted to the Financial Services and Comptroller’s Office by July 14 in order to receive reimbursement for your FY 2009 travel.

For travel beginning July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, use the FY 2009 travel voucher. For travel beginning July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, use the FY 2010 travel voucher. All FY 2010 travel vouchers should reflect the new mileage rate of $0.55 per mile.

Both FY2009 and FY2010 travel vouchers are available on the GSU travel site. If you have any questions, please call 708.235.7411 or e-mail gsutravel@govst.edu.

The Intellectual Life Committee is sponsoring One Book, One University in October featuring Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals. The book details Abraham Lincoln’s choice to bring together many of his greatest political competitors to help him lead the country through difficult times.

On October 21, Dr. Thomas F. Schwartz, Illinois State Historian and Lincoln expert from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, will lead a discussion on the themes found in the book.

Save the date, read the book, and join in the conversation.

The new ZIP code for the Village of University Park, including Governors State University, became 60484 on July 1, 2009. The university community is reminded that all materials with the old zip code are still valid and usable until July 1, 2010.

Please review and update the website. As other materials require reprinting (i.e. business cards, envelopes,
stationery/masthead, forms, marketing materials), please make changes that reflect the new ZIP code.

All departments doing business with outside entities are also responsible for informing those entities of the change for correspondence and billing purposes.

Just the facts, please:

• New ZIP Code: 60484 (Nine-Digit 60484-0975)
• The university must change the ZIP code on all materials between July 1, 2009 and July 1, 2010.
• GSU may continue to use mail materials bearing the old code (60466) through July 1, 2010. Outbound GSU mail bearing an obsolete ZIP code as part of the return address after July 1, 2010 and found to be undeliverable-as-addressed would be considered a dead letter and not be returned sender (GSU).

For more information, contact Paul Schwellenbach at ext. 7429.

In observance of Independence Day, Governors State University will be closed from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5. All university offices will be closed during this period and classes will not be in session.

Individuals in need of campus access during this closure are required to sign in and out at the Department of Public Safety (C1375). To reach DPS by phone, call 708.534.4900.

It’s not your imagination. The new, interactive kiosk in the Hall of Governors is talking to you.

The kiosk was recently placed at GSU to allow the community to learn about and comment on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s GO TO 2040 program.

GO TO 2040 is a regional planning campaign aimed at helping the region make critical decisions about land use, transportation, housing, jobs, natural resources, education, and other quality-of-life issues.

Area residents and stakeholders are encouraged to “Invent the Future” by expressing preferences online at www.goto2040.org, at public kiosks (Hall of Governors), or in 50 workshops across the region. The GSU kiosk will be available for approximately two weeks.

Make your voice heard today.

All travel vouchers for travel beginning July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 must be submitted to the Financial Services and Comptroller’s Office by July 14 in order to receive reimbursement for your FY 2009 travel.

For travel beginning July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, use the FY 2009 travel voucher.

For travel beginning July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, use the FY 2010 travel voucher. All FY 2010 travel vouchers should reflect the new mileage rate of $0.55 per mile.

Both FY2009 and FY2010 travel vouchers are available on the GSU travel site.

If you have any questions, please call 708.235.7411 or e-mail gsutravel@govst.edu.