News and Events

“You are the STAR” is the theme of this trimester’s Welcome Days. On September 2 and 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Hall of Governors, students will have the opportunity to learn more about GSU. Information will be available on student clubs and organizations, student services, the Career Center, the Writing Center, disability services, and counseling services. Representatives from the Chicago Regional College Program will be on hand to explain a unique opportunity that helps students pay for college while earning an income. U.S. Post Office representatives will also be available with passport applications and information.

This event is free to all students, who are welcome to pick up a free wristband flash drive and 2008-2009 Student Handbook/Daily Planner while supplies last. Current student ID required. Students may also enter a raffle for a mountain bike sponsored by Sodexo and Coca Cola.

For more information, call 708.534.4550.

As part of GSU’s parking lot improvement project, Parking Lot B is currently closed and under construction. Work is scheduled for completion by mid-November. Adequate parking is alternately available in lots A, C, D, and E. The Please pardon the inconvenience.

GSU Student Life Unit and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive on September 3, from 1 to 7 p.m., in Engbretson Hall. Students, staff, faculty, and community members are encouraged to donate blood.

While appointments can be scheduled, walk-ins are always welcome. The Red Cross reminds donors to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water prior to donating. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs, and be in good health. Sixteen year olds may donate with parental consent. A photo ID is required.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 708.235.7362.

Some of the world’s funniest comics, fresh from NBC’s sixth season of Last Comic Standing, bring their live tour to The Center for Performing Arts for opening night on Oct. 11. Tickle your funny bone by attending the only Chicago-area performance by this up and coming group of comedians.

Great seats are still available. Purchase your tickets today online or by calling 708.235.2222.

GSU’s Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park was recently awarded a $2,620 grant from the Illinois Arts Council.
 
According to the Council’s core values, they “strive to cultivate long-term sustainability in the vitality of [their] creative spirit and the pathways through which that creativity is channeled by and to the people of Illinois.”

The Sculpture Park fits the mold perfectly. Congrats.

Join CUG (CX Users Group) for an orientation on the data report handling capabilities of Jenzabar CX 8.1 (aka “the new CARS”). Meet on Friday, September 5, from 11 a.m. to noon, in the ACS Lab, room D2430, to explore how to download reports into Excel and make the universe a better place to be.

And lo! There will be great rejoicing! Space is limited, so make sure to pre-register. 

The GSU Votes Committee reminds the GSU community that voting is not just a right. It is one of the most important jobs of citizenship. Don’t quit your job. Be sure to register and vote.
Left, Right

In 1992, all three of the presidential candidates had leftist tendencies. They (Bill Clinton, George HW Bush, Ross Perot) were all left handed.
Virginia Hams

Virginia is the birthplace of the greatest number of Presidents. It boasts eight. Thirty-one states have never claimed a native son as President.

On September 16, the Friends of Mysteries meeting will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Library Administrative Conference room instead of the Cafeteria Annex.

President Maimon will present her annual State of the University address during Convocation 2008. The event will be held on Thursday, September 11, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., in Sherman Hall, and is open to the entire GSU community.

In addition to the President’s address, the winner of the Baysore Award will also be announced. Nominations for the award are being accepted through Thursday, September 4. Written nominations should be sent to Penny Perdue, G334.

The pool in GSU’s Recreation and Fitness Center will be closed temporarily beginning on Monday, August 25. The pool is undergoing maintenance and will tentatively reopen on September 2.

For more information, contact Victor Griffin at 708.534.4556.

College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) will hold a Master of Occupational Therapy degree program information session on Saturday, September 13, on the university’s main campus, located at 1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the formal program is from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in room G-127. Prospective students will learn about the degree program and have an opportunity to meet with current students, faculty, and advisors.

For additional information or to RSVP, call 708.534.7290 or e-mail Mary Tracy.

While the cafeteria is closed, the GSU community can still savor a delicious lunch courtesy of the Civil Service Senate. The CSS will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and chicken breast sandwiches, on August 25 through August 28, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the cafeteria annex.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare food from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and to cook, serve, take money, and clean up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers need not be Civil Service Senators. To volunteer, contact Renee Rainey at ext. 7525.

GSU will upgrade its entire copier fleet this fall. Implementation will begin during the week of August 25. Though arrangements are being made to ensure a smooth process, your patience is appreciated as new machines are transitioned into departments. For additional information, contact Jerad Garrison at extension 7445.

The Civil Service Scholarship/Education Assistance Fund Award provides two scholarship/education assistance awards to qualified GSU Civil Service employees with at least two years if service, their spouses, and dependent children. Each $500 helps to defray the costs of tuition, books, and other educational expenses.

For more information or an application, contact Diane Jones, ext 7470.

“You are the STAR” is the theme of this trimester’s Welcome Days. On September 2 and 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Hall of Governors, students will have the opportunity to learn more about GSU. Information will be available on student clubs and organizations, student services, the Career Center, the Writing Center, disability services, and counseling services. Representatives from the Chicago Regional College Program will be on hand to explain a unique opportunity that helps students pay for college while earning an income. U.S. Post Office representatives will also be available with passport applications and information.

This event is free to all students, who are welcome to pick up a free wristband flash drive and 2008-2009 Student Handbook/Daily Planner while supplies last. Current student ID required. Students may also enter a raffle for a mountain bike sponsored by Sodexo and Coca Cola.

For more information, call 708.534.4550.

Substantial Upgrades to 20+ Classrooms Implemented Prior to Fall
Part of what makes a university conducive to high quality teaching and learning is the character of the spaces in which those activities occur. Over the next few weeks, 20 classrooms will undergo substantial upgrades. Each will be furnished with tables and chairs designed for comfort, attractiveness, and easy mobility. New carpet will be installed in four classrooms.  Technology is also integral in today’s classrooms. All 20 upgraded classrooms will be equipped with new whiteboards. High-definition, 50-inch plasma monitors will also be installed in four rooms.

In addition, at least a dozen other classrooms will see furniture improvements by virtue of getting the best of the pre-existing furniture from the rooms being upgraded. Most of this work should be finished by the beginning of the Fall trimester, with full completion by mid-September.

Removal of the Orange Carpeting in the E Wing
At the same time, the orange carpeting will be replaced in the E-wing hallways, offices, and classrooms. This project is scheduled to be completed by Tuesday, September 2. The new carpeting will be removable and can be reused after future reconstruction of the E and F wings.

Project Funding
Funds for the upgrades come from the $13 per credit hour Strategic Initiative Fee, which every student is assessed at registration. Since the fee’s establishment four years ago, it has supported a variety of projects with direct effects on the university’s learning climate, including the development of technology-enhanced classrooms, the deployment of assistive technology for visually-impaired students, the development of online courses and programs, and upgrades in the public computing labs.

“Jerry Baysore, simply, was the best man I’ve ever known.” 
- Professor David V. Curtis

Who is the best GSU employee you know?

Once again, it is time for nominations for the Dr. Gerald C. Baysore Award. This award is presented annually to the GSU employee who best demonstrates the following qualities so consistently and fully embodied by Dr. Baysore during his eighteen-year service to the university:
- absolute integrity
- total competence
- generous dedication
- unfailing civility 

The 2008 Baysore Award will be presented by President Maimon during Convocation on September 11. Nominations must be received by Thursday, September 4 in order to be considered and should explain how the employee embodies the above four qualities in their day to day work. Please send your written nominations to Penny Perdue, G334.   

Governors State University will hold Winter Commencement on Saturday, January 31, 2009. The ceremony will be preceded by the Honorary Degree Recipient Dinner on Friday, January 30.

The CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs at GSU continues to build on its reputation of assisting award-winning businesses.

CenterPoint client and owner of Behold Signs and Graphics in Midlothian, Richard Cruz, is one of two suburban Chicago entrepreneurs to be honored by The Business Ledger in the Young Entrepreneurs Category for the 2008 Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards.

“I would like to thank Governors State University’s CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs for their advice, counsel, and encouragement over the last seven months,” said Cruz. “Working with CenterPoint has been an exciting opportunity that I encourage all beginning and growing businesses to experience.”

The Business Ledger will recognize Behold Signs and Graphics at their 2008 Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards Recognition Event in September. Last year, CenterPoint client UBulidit, of Mokena, received the Early Start Entrepreneurial Excellence award.

Student Services & Academic Support (SAAS) departments will be operating under extended office hours during the week before classes and the first two weeks of class for Fall 2008. The offices will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. the weeks of August 25, September 2, and September 8.

The GSU Votes Committee reminds you to register to vote. Election Day is November 4. Here is some more presidential trivia to prepare you to do your civic duty and the September trivia contest.

Presidential Births and Deaths
Eight presidents were born British subjects. They were George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and William Henry Harrison. Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on the July 4. Calvin Coolidge was born on that day. There were five presidents named James, one named Jimmy, and only one named Millard. What were his parents thinking?

Want to know what is going on around campus? Look no further than GSU’s new online event calendar. The comprehensive, university-wide calendar (formally called Resource25) not only lists academic class information (i.e. time, location, professor), but also contains information on all public events and meetings held on campus.

The calendar can be accessed via the News & Events link on the front page of the GSU website or directly by visiting www.govst.edu/calendar.

Using calendar filters makes finding information simple and quick. Courses, for instance, can be viewed by day, week, or month. Other filters help to find and list events by college or unit.

Clicking on event titles within the calendar yields full event details. Users can also check room availability and features using a Quick Search option.

All events/rooms booked through Facilities Development and Management (FDM) will be automatically listed on the calendar. If an independent event has not been booked through FDM, it can still be listed. Simply contact the following individuals:

- For academic classes, contact Bonnie Simpson, ext. 4504 (Registrar’s Office)
- For general event scheduling (requires form completion), room reservations, and online calendar listings, contact Nicole Harrison, ext. 4515 (Facilities Development and Management)
- For computer lab reservations to be listed on the web calendar, contact Maureen Bendoraitis, ext. 3193 (ACS Lab)

Many thanks to the entire Resource25 team for bring this project to fruition.

GSU’s Emergency Response Team will conduct a campus-wide evacuation drill on Thursday, August 21, at 10 a.m. The evacuation will only affect the main campus and does not include the Print Shop, Hantack House, Family Development Center, Conference Center, Environmental Field Station, or OTS building.

All faculty, staff, students and university guests present in wings A through G are required to participate in the evacuation. No one will be allowed to remain in the building(s).

The drill will involve activation of emergency notification systems around the university, including the fire alarms, telephone announcement system, and public address system. Use of all elevators will be strictly prohibited during the drill.

Individuals with disabilities will be given two evacuation options. The first option involves voluntarily exiting the building 10-15 minutes prior to the formal evacuation, thereby providing use of the elevators. The second option involves full participation in the formal evacuation. Disabled individuals needing special assistance, who wish to participate in the full drill must contact Robin Sweeney, Director of Disability Services, by 5 p.m., on Tuesday, August 19, at ext. 3968.

Assisting in the evacuation will be the newly activated Emergency Volunteer Corps. Members of the team will wear bright orange vests. They will assist in the evacuation, directing individuals to designated assembly areas away from doors and entry ways. Please follow all directions given by members of the Volunteer Corps, as they have received specific evacuation training.

The Department of Public Safety will provide an ‘all clear” signal when it is safe to return to the building.

The campus evacuation drill will allow the Emergency Response Team to evaluate and improve upon the university’s evacuation procedures. Additional evacuations and drills will be scheduled throughout the academic year to help the university prepare to respond to a variety of emergency situations.

Effective with the Fall 2008 registration period, students can no longer register for classes late. Courses can no longer be added after the last scheduled registration date for each block. Classes for Blocks 1 and 2 may only be added through Monday, September 8. Classes for Block 3 may be added through Wednesday, October 29.

Contracts are in place and the first phase of GSU’s parking lot renovation program under the Deferred Maintenance Initiative has begun. The contractor will install a fence along the perimeter of Parking Lot B starting Tuesday, August 26. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-October.

Lots A, C, D and E will remain open. For persons with disabilities, additional accessible parking will be available in C-lot for use during this phase of the project.

This project includes the use of environmental materials and protocols such as permeable paving and native landscaping. The finished lot will include an increased number of parking spaces, better security lighting, and additional emergency phones.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Facilities at extension 4515.

GSU will upgrade its entire copier fleet this fall. Implementation will begin during the week of August 25. Though arrangements are being made to ensure a smooth process, your patience is appreciated as new machines are transitioned into departments. For additional information, contact Jerad Garrison at extension 7445.

GSU’s Emergency Response Team will conduct a campus-wide evacuation drill on Thursday, August 21, at 10 a.m. The evacuation will only affect the main campus and does not include the Print Shop, Hantack House, Family Development Center, Conference Center, Environmental Field Station, or OTS building.

All faculty, staff, students and university guests present in wings A through G are required to participate in the evacuation. No one will be allowed to remain in the building(s).

The drill will involve activation of emergency notification systems around the university, including the fire alarms, telephone announcement system, and public address system. Use of all elevators will be strictly prohibited during the drill.

Individuals with disabilities will be given two evacuation options. The first option involves voluntarily exiting the building 10-15 minutes prior to the formal evacuation, thereby providing use of the elevators. The second option involves full participation in the formal evacuation. Disabled individuals needing special assistance, who wish to participate in the full drill must contact Robin Sweeney, Director of Disability Services, by 5 p.m., on Tuesday, August 19, at ext. 3968.

Assisting in the evacuation will be the newly activated Emergency Volunteer Corps. Members of the team will wear bright orange vests. They will assist in the evacuation, directing individuals to designated assembly areas away from doors and entry ways. Please follow all directions given by members of the Volunteer Corps, as they have received specific evacuation training.

The Department of Public Safety will provide an ‘all clear” signal when it is safe to return to the building.

The campus evacuation drill will allow the Emergency Response Team to evaluate and improve upon the university’s evacuation procedures. Additional evacuations and drills will be scheduled throughout the academic year to help the university prepare to respond to a variety of emergency situations.

Beginning with the Fall 2008 trimester, employees will notice a deduction of $3.75 per pay period under the “Parking Fee” item on check stubs. Students will see a $30 “Walkway & Parking Fee” on each trimester’s invoice.

The Board of Trustees approved the fee increase in February. All parking lots, roadways, walkways, and paths on university property require significant renovation and year round maintenance. The first phase of the parking lot improvement initiative begins this month with the reconstruction of Parking Lot B using permeable pavers.

While the cafeteria is closed, the GSU community can still savor a delicious lunch courtesy of the Civil Service Senate. The CSS will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and chicken breast sandwiches, on August 25 through August 28, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the cafeteria annex.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare food from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and to cook, serve, take money, and clean up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers need not be Civil Service Senators. To volunteer, contact Renee Rainey at ext. 7525.

As the university’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to focus on campus safety and security issues, it has assembled a corps of volunteers to assist in emergency response scenarios. The group comprises faculty and staff members from departments throughout the university.

The volunteer corps completed their first training session on Wednesday, August 13, in preparation for the university-wide evacuation drill on Thursday, August 21, at 10 a.m. Each individual was issued a basic response kit, including an orange vest, which will help the rest of the GSU community identify them in the event of an emergency.

It is the ERT’s goal to have at least two volunteers in each physical area as determined by the team. All faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in the volunteer corps. There is a particular need for volunteers in the E and F wings.

For more information on GSU’s Emergency Response Team or to sign up for the Volunteer Corps, contact Sherilyn Poole at ext. 7594.

The Civil Service Scholarship/Education Assistance Fund Award provides two scholarship/education assistance awards to qualified GSU Civil Service employees with at least two years if service, their spouses, and dependent children. Each $500 helps to defray the costs of tuition, books, and other educational expenses.

For more information or an application, contact Diane Jones, ext 7470.

The GSU graduate program in Reading is sponsoring The Literacy Zone, a reading tutorial program for students in grades six through twelve, which brings students experiencing reading problems together with certified, experienced teachers.

Students meet on campus with teachers enrolled in the Master of Arts Reading Program at GSU. Sessions are on Tuesdays from 4:45 to 6:30 p.m. from September 16 through December 2. Faculty of the Graduate Reading Program supervise Literacy Zone sessions.

Enrollment is limited. There is a $100 registration fee. However, $30 is refunded to the parents/guardians of those students who complete the program with good attendance and return all Literacy Zone materials.

For more information, contact Dr. Mary Hession at 708.534.4129.

Look no further than GSU when you crave your morning grande, skinny, Caramel Macchiato, extra shot, extra hot. This Fall, Sodexo will open its own Starbucks coffee shop right here at GSU. The new place to get your caffeine fix at GSU is University Perk.

During the week of August 25, the GSU cafeteria will temporarily cease operations while construction of the new  University Perk coffee bar is completed. Most of that week, lunch will be available at the Civil Service Senate Cookout, from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Vending machines will be serviced throughout the week. If you wish to request that a certain product be available in the vending machine, please complete and submit a Vending Product Request Form. 

Student Life Unit and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive on September 3, from 1 to 7 p.m., in Engbretson Hall. Students, staff, faculty, and community members are encouraged to donate blood.

While appointments can be scheduled, walk-ins are always welcome. The Red Cross reminds donors to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water prior to donating. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs, and be in good health. Sixteen year olds may donate with parental consent. A photo ID is required.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 708.235.7362.

Whether you are an experienced quilter or a complete newbie, your interest is the only qualification needed. Join a new, informal quilting group on campus - no chair, nothing mandatory, no stuffiness - just the joy of quilting and sharing with friends.

The next meeting is on August 14, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Library Administrative Conference Room. Future meetings are tentatively scheduled for the second Thursday of each month, at the same time and location. As a relatively new group, participants are encouraged to bring their ideas, projects, even their quilting conundrums. Discussion will also focus on the future of the group and choosing a name.

For more information, contact Dianne Kronika at x3979.

The GSU Civil Service Senate invites all civil service employees to the CSS Carnival on Friday, August 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Conference Center. The fun includes great food and games including ring-toss, darts, duck pull, and a beanbag competition. Shuttle transportation to the Conference Center will leave from the main entrance.

Lunch tickets are required so RSVP to Raquel Rios-Aguirre no later than Friday, August 15. To register a team for the beanbag competition, contact Lynne Clayton by August 15.  

...Along comes new and improved CX (CARS) 8.1! Join CUG for a tour of Jenzabar CX 8.1, the Windows-based incarnation of the data system loved by the whole GSU family. We'll meet in the ACS Lab in room D2435 from 11am until noon on Friday, August 22. Our guide will be Jeanne Hagen of ITS. Wear comfortable walking shoes; don't forget your camera; and please keep your arms and legs inside the Windows at all times. Click to pre-register! Space is limited.

There are just a few more days left to register for the fall weekend trip to St. Louis sponsored by the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (NMSP). On September 19, a luxury motor coach will leave GSU at noon for St. Louis. The tour group will stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel St. Louis Southwest – Viking Conference Center for two nights.

The weekend includes an optional morning trip to Cahokia Mounds, a tour of the St. Louis Art Museum, lunch at Puck’s Restaurant overlooking the Sculpture Terrace and a tour of the Pulitzer Foundation and the Contemporary Art Museum collections on Saturday. On Sunday, the tour continues at Laumeier Sculpture Park with over 70 large-scale pieces on view, a picnic on the grounds of the Laumeier estate, and a tour of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

The fee for the three-day trip is $347 (based on double occupancy), which includes transportation, hotel, some meal expenses, and admission costs. The reservation deadline is Friday, August 15. For more information, call 708.534.4486 or email sculpture@govst.edu.

GSU has taken another important step toward maintaining its dedication to environmental responsibility.

When it rains or snows, water runoff from impervious surfaces such as asphalt parking lots drains into underground sewers which lead to campus retention ponds. Overflow from the ponds discharge into one of Illinois’s most important waterways, Thorn Creek.

As good stewards of our land, GSU is pleased to announce that through the Deferred Maintenance Initiative, reconstruction of some parking lots will include the use of an environmentally responsible system of permeable pavers.

The permeable paver system consists of interlocking concrete pavers with gravel filled joints set over a gravel sub-base. Instead of discharging water directly into our storm sewers, the runoff polluted by dirt, oils, metals and debris is filtered and cleansed as it flows through the paver joints and sub-base. This system not only increases the runoff water quality, but also reduces its rate of flow thereby diminishing erosion of the waterways.

This approach to reconstructing the first lot, Parking Lot B, was authorized by GSU’s Board of Trustees, at its June, 2008 meeting.

Re-construction of Parking lot B will begin in about two weeks. The contractor is currently developing his schedule and will notify us of a firm start date. There will, obviously, be some inconvenience to our campus community during this reconstruction period expected to last until about mid-October, 2008.

GSU’s Library with extend its hours this coming week to best serve students studying for finals. Extended hours will be as follows:

Friday, August 8

8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, August 9

8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Please keep in mind that quiet study time will be available on both days (with no reference service) between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m.

For more information, visit the Library’s website. 

Working closely with over 450 new entrepreneurs and in-business clients this year, The CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs at GSU has played a vital role in the continuing economic development of the region.

Through owner’s investment, CenterPoint 504, (our SBA Certified Development Co.) and other forms of financing arranged by The CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs, clients have invested more than $3,500,000 in 2008 in their businesses. Area business that are clients of The CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs have reported this year creating and retaining over 825 jobs in the GSU region.

Many clients formed new businesses this year, ranging from a small tailor shop in Oak Lawn to a Chicago inventor developing products to improve mobility of the elderly. 

A variety of entrepreneurial training seminars held at GSU this year brought more than 200 area residents to GSU, including veterans and veterans’ families attending the Veterans Entrepreneurial Boot Camp. CenterPoint business analysts also worked with 25 of GSU’s Physical Therapy students through cross-curriculum entrepreneurship training, introducing them to entrepreneurial opportunities related to starting a private PT practice.

For more information on The CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs, call 708.534.4929 or visit the CenterPoint website.

Just a quick reminder that the GSU chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association will not meet during the month of August. Contact Kathy Miller with questions. See you on a September morning (still can make me feel that way).

(A regular feature of the GSU View to update the University community on the status of ongoing facilities projects)

• Hantack House remodeling to serve as the Grants Office for the College of Health and Human Services – completed.
• Swimming pool infrastructure reconstruction – completion by August 31
• Classroom furniture & equipment upgrade – completion by September 2
• New carpeting for the E & F wing – classrooms, corridors, and offices – completion by September 2
• Fitness re-carpeting and replacement of workout equipment – completion by September 2
• Air quality monitoring – undertaken by an independent and licensed environmental services firm, random air sampling campus-wide. Project started in September, 2007 and is ongoing; lab results so far have all come back negative (i.e. clean) except samples taken from the Photo Lab on the second floor of the E-wing; remediation work by a licensed contractor was completed last week end and lab studies of post-remediation air samples from the entire wing have come back negative.
• Deferred Maintenance Initiative Projects :
  Concrete repair and cladding – completion by September 15
  Rehabilitation and upgrade of air handlers, water softeners system, Motor Control Center, electrical distribution system, lightning protection, and interior lighting controls – ongoing with varying completion dates
• Building C elevator reconstruction and upgrades – completion by September 15
• Elevator reconstruction and upgrades – Buildings A, B, E, F, CPA, and FOC – varying completion dates
• Parking Lot B reconstruction with permeable pavers - work scheduled to start by mid-August for completion by mid-November
• Cafeteria/Coffee Bar expansion project to provide additional food and coffee service area – work scheduled to start the third week in August for completion by September 2.

The GSU Votes Committee reminds the GSU community that we are as strong as our vote, and you can’t vote unless you register first. Registration is quick and easy in Illinois. Visit www.elections.il.gov/ for information and registration forms. To be eligible to vote in the November presidential election, you must be registered by October 8.

Take your dose of trivia with a spoonful of sugar and get ready for the GSU Votes Trivia Contest.

Presidential Terms

William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States, died of pneumonia one month to the day after making, in the falling snow, blowing wind, and chilling temperatures, the longest U.S. presidential inauguration speech on record in 1841. His vice president was Martin Van Buren.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the thirty-second president, was the only one to serve more than two terms. He was re-elected three times, serving from 1933 to 1945. He died during his fourth term. His vice president was Harry S. Truman.

Dr. Maimon continues to be honored for her commitment to education and the region. On Tuesday, July 29, she was named an honorary member of the Matteson Rotary Club for her community involvement and dedication to offering accessible education opportunities. She is only the second person to receive an honorary membership from the organization. The Matteson Rotary Club also donated $1000 to the GSU Promise.

“Governors State University and the Rotary share the same purpose – to serve the community. I am proud to accept this honorary membership,” said Dr. Maimon.

Last Saturday, Dr. Maimon was honored by the Ex-Saker Students Association (EXSSA) at their 8th Annual Convention at Chicago’s Ritz Carlton. The EXSSA membership is made up of alumni of Saker Baptist College in Limbe, Cameroon. GSU Foundation Board member Bea Tayui nominated Maimon for the honor.

Dr. Maimon was recognized, alongside Kelly O’Brien, founder of the O’Brien School for the Masai in Tanzania. Both honorees were selected for their dedication to educating women. The event’s theme, Believing in Ourselves...A Celebration of Aspiring Women, was illustrated by the keynote speakers Dr. Sonya Anderson, Executive Director of Education for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, and William Ball, Vice President /Caterpillar Foundation Group.

Dr. Maimon expressed her appreciation during her remarks. She noted that GSU’s history of empowering women is aligned closely to the evening’s theme celebrating the aspirations of women everywhere. She also noted the importance of the GSU Promise program in furthering educational opportunity.

The revised process for finding a job at GSU has just made students’ lives a bit easier. Follow these six steps to student employment.
• Contact the Office of Career Services to obtain an e-Recruiting username and password. 
• View available job postings online
• Complete a student employment application for each job of interest
• Submit the completed application to hiring manager for position of interest
• Wait for an interview to be extended from the hiring manager
• Upon hire, complete hiring paperwork in the Financial Aid Office before you begin working.

Students are reminded that Federal Work Study funding is limited and allocated on a first-hired basis. To be employed at GSU, international students must be full time students (12 credit hours per trimester for undergraduate students and 6 credit hours per trimester for graduate students) and must have a U.S. Social Security number to work on campus.

For more information, contact the Office of Career Services, room A1120, at 708.235.3974.

On Wednesday, August 6, 2008, contractors will use heavy equipment to execute underground utility work in certain areas of Parking Lot “A”. To ensure the safety of all, the entire parking lot will be closed from 6 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. 

Facilities regrets any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Facilities at ext. 4515.

Join us for the next in the series of CX (CARS) workshop sessions as Lisa Hendrickson of CAS leads us on a tour of the CX Student Advising menu resources. This session will be especially helpful for those faculty and staff who serve in an advising capacity to help GSU students navigate through their programs to graduation.

Space is limited! Please preregister at http://gsunet/cug for the session to be held on Friday, August 8, from 11 a.m. until noon, in the ACS Lab, room D2435. See you there.

It’s not too late to plan an end-of-summer getaway. Art, sculpture, history, and archeology are the themes of a fall weekend trip to St. Louis sponsored by the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (NMSP) at Governors State University.

On September 19, a luxury motor coach will leave GSU at noon for St. Louis. The tour groups will stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel St. Louis Southwest – Viking Conference Center for two nights.

NMSP curator Geoffrey Bates will offer a preview of the weekend on Friday evening. Saturday activities include an optional morning trip to Cahokia Mounds. The day continues with a tour of the St. Louis Art Museum and lunch at Puck’s Restaurant overlooking the Sculpture Terrace. In the afternoon, the group will tour the Pulitzer Foundation and the Contemporary Art Museum collections.

On Sunday morning, the tour continues at Laumeier Sculpture Park with over 70 large-scale pieces on view. There will be a picnic on the grounds of the Laumeier estate followed by a tour of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Dinner will be in Springfield before the coach return trip to GSU.

The fee for the three-day trip is $347 (based on double occupancy), which includes transportation, hotel, some meal expenses, and admission costs. The reservation deadline is Friday, August 15. For more information, call 708.534.4486 or email the park.