The Watson Advising Office will move to its new location in the M Pod of the Engineering Building today and Tuesday, June 17 and 18. Communication by phone will be limited during the move, but staff will be monitoring e-mail whenever possible. The office will resume regular operations in the M Pod on Wednesday, June 19.
Lunch on the Quad
Research assistants, from left, Yong-Ju Reichenberger, Ryan Rooeny and Kyle Acenowr, enjoy lunch outside at the Harpur Quad on June 17.
Photo by Jonathan Cohen
News Briefs
Watson Advising Office to move today and Tuesday| June 17, 2013
Physical Facilities service request process changing| June 17, 2013
Physical Facilities is changing its work management software, moving from FAMIS to a new system, Maximo. The conversion is planned to be finalized over the weekend of June 29 and 30. The "go live" date for the new system is Monday, July 1.
Current self-service users will be contacted with instructions on the new system and how to enter service requests through the new portal.
Current self-service users will be contacted with instructions on the new system and how to enter service requests through the new portal.
If your department is not a current self-service user and you would like information on submitting service requests directly into the system, e-mail your full name, e-mail address, department name and phone number to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
If you have questions, call Customer Service at 777-2226.
Friendship Family participants needed| June 17, 2013
The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office is recruiting new participants for its Friendship Family Program which involves a family or individual from the surrounding community who forms a social relationship with one or more international student(s) enrolled at Binghamton University. This social relationship can consist of family dinners, phone calls, conversations over coffee or tea, attending an event together or going to see the latest movie. Friendship families do not provide housing or financial, academic, medical or psychological assistance.
For more information about this program, visit http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/new-students/friendship-family-program/friendfam.html.
The application form is available at http://saffairs.binghamton.edu/isss/webforms/ffp-family/.
If you wish to participate in the program, contact Shawna Szabo at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Water shutdown for Old Champlain on Tuesday| June 17, 2013
There will be a shutdown of water service to Old Champlain beginning at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18. The shutdown will last for approximately 7 hours while a new water line is tied in.
Contact project coordinator Ryan Kazmark with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-6573.
Cultural competency workshop on Tuesday| June 17, 2013
The Multicultural Resource Center invites faculty and staff to the MRC Cultural Competency Workshop scheduled from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, in UU-111. This program is designed to increase your level of professionalism and cultural awareness when working with others. Buffet breakfast will be provided. Space is limited.
Some of the topics this workshop cover include:
• Definitions of culture
• The effects of stereotypes
• Value clarifications
• Power and privilege
• The cultural competency continuum
We look forward to working with you for this event! Should you have questions, or your office would like to send additional colleagues, let us know. To reserve a space for you or someone on your staff, contact MRC Director Nicole Sirju-Johnson at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-2123.
“PROSOCIAL: A method for increasing the performance of YOUR group” topic of talk| June 17, 2013
The Binghamton Community Lab will host a mixer and discussion titled, “PROSOCIAL: A method for increasing the performance of YOUR group” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Lost Dog Café Violet Room, 222 Water Street in Binghamton. This event is free and open to the public. At 6 p.m., participants are welcome to purchase an optional self-pay dinner. Speaker David Sloan Wilson, distinguished professor of biological sciences and anthropology, will discuss how important human endeavors require people to work together in groups. According to Wilson some of these groups, which include families, neighborhoods, volunteer organizations, churches, businesses and governments, work well and others are spectacular failures.
Wilson, who directs EvoS, Binghamton’s campus-wide evolutionary studies program, is developing a method for increasing the performance of groups called PROSOCIAL. He and colleagues are seeking groups for piloting the method and hope to recruit participants during the talk.
For additional information, contact Hadassah Head at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Career coaching: In person or on the phone| June 17, 2013
Résumé. CV. Cover letter. Interviewing. Elevator speech. Workplace challenge. Retirement planning. You name it. Sign up now for a confidential job/career coaching conversation with John Wojcio.
Wojcio is a certified career coach who can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Binghamton University provides this service for all its employees.
Administration Building restroom renovations to begin| June 14, 2013
A project to renovate the women's and men's restrooms (rooms 120 and 124) on the first floor of the Administration Building is scheduled to begin Monday, June 17, with preparation work on Saturday, June 15. These are the restrooms across from AD-148 and they will be totally renovated including new fixtures, partitions, doors and lighting.
There will be a partial water shutdown to the Administration Building beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, June 15, with no hot water to the Administration Building tower though cold water will be available in the tower. There will be no water service to the first and second floor wing of the Administration Building during this time. Plumbers will be installing isolation valves to prepare for the renovation project. Full water service to the building is expected to be restored late Saturday afternoon.
Demolition of the first-floor restrooms is scheduled to begin Monday, June 17, with renovation to follow. The work will be performed on second shift from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. First floor renovations should be complete by Monday, August 5.
Renovation of second-floor restrooms will begin in early August and be complete in mid-September. This work will take place on first shift, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be a partial water shutdown to the Administration Building beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, June 15, with no hot water to the Administration Building tower though cold water will be available in the tower. There will be no water service to the first and second floor wing of the Administration Building during this time. Plumbers will be installing isolation valves to prepare for the renovation project. Full water service to the building is expected to be restored late Saturday afternoon.
Demolition of the first-floor restrooms is scheduled to begin Monday, June 17, with renovation to follow. The work will be performed on second shift from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. First floor renovations should be complete by Monday, August 5.
Renovation of second-floor restrooms will begin in early August and be complete in mid-September. This work will take place on first shift, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Building occupants should use restrooms available on other floors during renovations. Signs will be posted indicating other available facilities. Contact project coordinator Ed Harrison with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-5889.
Business system reporting tool: Business Intelligence| June 14, 2013
The University will begin using the Binghamton University Business System starting on July 1. Participants at this related training will preview the new Business Intelligence reporting tool including dashboards for finance, expenditure inquiry, etc. This session will also include general accounting related items such as account numbers and sub-accounts. The University Center for Training and Development will offer workshops on June 20-21 and June 24-27.
Participants may register online (click on Calendar and Registration) or by calling the University Center for Training and Development at 777-6362.
President Stenger announces new role for provost| June 13, 2013
To the Campus Community,
I am announcing that, effective immediately, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Nieman will become Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.
In assuming his new role, Executive Vice President and Provost Nieman will be given the authority to handle many of the issues and questions typically brought to the president. Currently, 24 of the top 25 public universities in the nation operate under this structure. Although we are younger and smaller than many of them, as we grow in size and complexity, I believe we must take advantage of the increased effectiveness that this common organizational structure provides.
Placing our chief academic officer on nearly the same plane in the organizational hierarchy as the president will reinforce the strategic importance of advancing our educational and research objectives through a high level of organizational collaboration. While the direct reporting lines of vice presidents will not change, the executive vice president, in consultation with the president, will be responsible for budget, space and resource allocations for all University divisions.
In the coming years, as Binghamton University grows and its reputation expands and strengthens, a fluid and dynamic relationship between the EVP/provost and president will be in place to ensure that matters needing executive attention are handled quickly and effectively. This increased flexibility will prove invaluable in the ever-changing landscape of our campus.
I appreciate your support of this initiative and look forward to working with you under this new structure.
Sincerely,
Harvey G. Stenger
President
I am announcing that, effective immediately, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Nieman will become Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.
In assuming his new role, Executive Vice President and Provost Nieman will be given the authority to handle many of the issues and questions typically brought to the president. Currently, 24 of the top 25 public universities in the nation operate under this structure. Although we are younger and smaller than many of them, as we grow in size and complexity, I believe we must take advantage of the increased effectiveness that this common organizational structure provides.
Placing our chief academic officer on nearly the same plane in the organizational hierarchy as the president will reinforce the strategic importance of advancing our educational and research objectives through a high level of organizational collaboration. While the direct reporting lines of vice presidents will not change, the executive vice president, in consultation with the president, will be responsible for budget, space and resource allocations for all University divisions.
In the coming years, as Binghamton University grows and its reputation expands and strengthens, a fluid and dynamic relationship between the EVP/provost and president will be in place to ensure that matters needing executive attention are handled quickly and effectively. This increased flexibility will prove invaluable in the ever-changing landscape of our campus.
I appreciate your support of this initiative and look forward to working with you under this new structure.
Sincerely,
Harvey G. Stenger
President
Wellness Services Suite summer hours| June 13, 2013
Every day brings mental, physical and emotional challenges. A shift in focus can help restore our energy, spirit and balance. Spending even a short time on yourself can have a profound impact. Let our staff assist you in reaching a place of relaxation through massage. The Wellness Services Suite is open from noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays this summer. Massage sessions can be booked for anywhere from 10 to 90 minutes and are available by appointment or on a walk-ion basis. For more information, call Wellness Services at 777-3515 or go online.
Start your morning off with Spinning class| June 13, 2013
Looking for a great way to get your workout in before the afternoon heat sets in? Campus Rec is offering Spinning class at 6:45 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in EG-22. If early morning classes aren’t for you, there are many other group fitness classes on the summer schedule including Yoga, RIPPED, Step it Up, Total Body Toning and Boot Camp. Classes are open to all Rec Center Fitness members with valid University ID card or biometrics on file. For a complete list of Group Fitness classes, go online.
Film and Food Series resumes Thursday| June 12, 2013
The Film and Food Series at the Art Mission and Theater (61 Prospect Ave., Binghamton) will continue at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13, with “The Wedding Banquet,” a 1993 movie by Ang Lee. Professor Ingeborg Majer-O’Sickey will introduce the film and a food tasting will be provided by Tranquil Bar and Bistro.
Cost: $15 per person; $10 for students. Payment at the door. RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Social Security workshop on June 25| June 12, 2013
“What You Need to Know to Help Maximize Your Retirement Income” will be presented from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, in UUW-324, by Mark Nardella, a senior financial advisor with Valic. To make a reservation, call Diane Cardillo at 908-470-4359. Pizza will be served.
Herbicide applications June 13-21| June 12, 2013
Herbicide applications will take place from Thursday, June 13 through Friday, June 21, weather permitting. Applications are planned for the east recreation fields and spot areas around campus.
Contact grounds manager Don Williams with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-4638.