News Briefs

Daniel Jardine will be the acting director of the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment (OIRA), effective Jan. 12. Jardine has served as the associate director of OIRA since November, 2008. Current Director and Assistant Provost Sean McKitrick is leaving Binghamton University to serve as a vice president for the Middle State Commission on Higher Education.

The following Binghamton University employees won $50 gift certificates donated by the president’s office in the drawing for those who donated a minimum of $75 to the State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) Campaign: Vanessa Young, JoAnn Navarro, Dora Polachek, Tammara Behonick, Dennis Chavez, Patricia Wrobel, Stephen Zahorian, Sara Bowlin, Alberta Lee Nesslage and David Jenkins.

This year’s campaign theme was “Since 1964 you haven’t skipped a beat!”, with the campus surpassing its $60,000 goal to support local, regional and national health and human services agencies. The annual campaign provides an opportunity for the University community to make a difference in the lives of its friends and neighbors in Broome County.

Binghamton University Chief of Police Timothy Faughnan has announced that Matthew Rossie has been appointed assistant chief of police, effective today, Thursday, Dec. 22. Rossie has been serving as interim assistant chief for several months.

In his role, Rossie will assist in planning, coordinating, assigning and reviewing departmental operations. As second in command, he will also assume the duties of the chief in his absence, represent him at meetings as appropriate and serve on the University’s Incident Management Team.

Rossie, who holds an associate degree from Broome Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College, joined the University’s Police Department as an officer in 1996. He served next as a lieutenant and then as an investigator before assuming his interim assistant chief duties earlier this year.

The Institute for Student Centered Learning has some brief video teaching tips available online. These are short examples of ideas, techniques or other approaches that have worked for colleagues at Binghamton University, and might also work for you. Go to
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=462811812. Click on View in iTunes, then click on the video clip you’d like to watch. Number 1 provides a short introduction. Additional tips will be posted every few weeks. They are less than two minutes long, except #3 which features Wilhelm F. Nicolaisen, distinguished professor emeritus of English, sharing insights from more than 60 years of teaching.

Matt Ritter ’01 does, because he’s a former lawyer who makes a living telling jokes. He’s one of eight Binghamton alumni pursuing careers in comedy who are profiled in the fall issue of Binghamton University Magazine. Also in the latest issue:
  • Federal prosecutor Nick Lewin ’96 helps put al-Qaida operative behind bars.
  • Members of the Class of 1984 lose a time capsule but find each other.
  • Students who study emerging markets go where the lessons are: India.

Have you been meaning to purchase a membership before the pre-opening discount expires?  It just got easier!  Students, faculty and staff can now purchase fitness memberships at their convenience online with their PODS login.

Opening Jan. 28, the Recreation Center at the East Gym will offer a better workout experience in the fully air-conditioned, comprehensive recreation facility. The new and expanded FitSpace will feature all-new equipment including 65 cardio machines with cardio theater, 32 circuit stations and over 40 free-weight stations. About 100 group fitness classes will be offered each week in the three new multipurpose rooms. Pre-opening fitness memberships are available at a 25 percent discount for students, faculty and staff until Nov. 30.

For more information about the project or to buy a membership, go to http://campusrecreation.binghamton.edu and click on the Rec Center information links on the left.

The new bMobi upgrade is live. What’s new?
• Updated map graphic to include newest campus buildings.
• Updated building data so you can find those new buildings.
• New “Places” feature within maps that includes details on dining, residential communities, and ATM and banking locations.
• New athletics feeds for latest scores, schedule and results.
For information on how to download the Binghamton University mobile app, visit http://binghamton.edu/mobi/ .

The latest edition of Binghamton University Magazine is in the mail and online at Binghamton.edu/magazine.

In this issue:

• Find out what makes Mark Macon tick.

• Does a decade change our view of 9/11?

• Has the romance faded for some languages?

• The dean of the Decker School of Nursing reveals her “other side.”

The STAR committee reminds the campus community of the STAR (Service Tradition Awards Recognition) program that honors faculty and staff who exhibit outstanding quality service within the University community. Anyone can nominate a person for the award and self-nomination is also encouraged. Those recognized receive a STAR pin, a check for $50 and a letter from President Magrath. Click on http://www2.binghamton.edu/human-resources/star-award.html for more information regarding the program.

The College of Community and Public Affairs is in the process of relocating to the third floor of the Engineering Building. Department locations are as follows:
• CCPA Dean’s Office – R Pod
• Human Development – S Pod
• Public Administration – P Pod
• Social Work – Q Pod
• Student Affairs – R Pod
• BU Initiative for Best Practice in Full Service Schools – Q Pod
• Center for Applied Community Research and Development – R Pod
• SHARE – Q Pod  
All phone numbers will remain the same.             

COEUS, which provides Binghamton University faculty members with an efficient, electronic way to manage sponsored program activity, will soon expand. An Institutional Review Board module is the latest addition to COEUS. The Human Subjects Office has begun to implement the IRB module and will open the online application process to researchers this fall. Until everyone is comfortable with this process, the office will run the COEUS application and its old system side-by-side to avoid any difficulties. Visit http://research.binghamton.edu/coeus or call the Human Subjects Office at 607-777-3818 for more information.

The upgrade of Blackboard software to version 9.1 has been completed and the system is now available. Information on the new release can be found at http://www2.binghamton.edu/uctd/blackboard/bb91whatnew.pdf. Questions or concerns may be addressed to Carol Bell at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Don Loewen at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Blackboard support at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Vice President James Van Voorst announces that Timothy Faughnan has been appointed Binghamton University Chief of Police, effective Monday, Aug. 1. Faughnan has served in the Binghamton University Police Department for the past 29 years.

“Tim’s wealth of experience in law enforcement, particularly at Binghamton University, and his demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff and his fellow officers has served the University well and will continue to in the years to come,” Van Voorst said.

Jeff Gates has been promoted to director of Enrollment Management Operations, Technology and Communications. He will work closely with the director of Financial Aid and Student Records and director of Undergraduate Admissions to insure timely processing of applications, aid packaging, registration and academic support. Gates will also assist in the development of the technology strategic plan and lead technology initiatives for the offices within Enrollment Management. 

The provost has announced the third round of the Academic Program and Faculty Development Fund to promote the University’s instructional, research, and outreach activities. Paragraphs of Intent are due Friday, Sept. 23. Each paragraph of intent, outlining the objectives of the project and an approximate cost of the project, should be sent to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

For more information about the program, visit http://www2.binghamton.edu/academics/provost/development-fund.html.