December 10th, 2009

Bud Winsor (Physical Plant) reports that the 8-10 inches of heavy, wet snow that fell in Keene on December 9 made it difficult for the KSC Building and Grounds crew to keep the campus parking lots and sidewalks clear. On Tuesday the crew began spreading Ice-Ban, the thin brown syrup applied prior to a storm to prevent snow and ice from freezing to the pavement. And on Wednesday they worked from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. It takes about three days to clean up after a storm of this size (scraping pavement and trucking away snow). Bud says that the forecasting tools available now have helped with storm-related tasks: “real time” forecasts indicated that the temperatures would rise after snowfall, so the crew focused on scraping snow rather than spreading salt (which also saved the College money).

Photo: Hannah Dale

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Keene State College is one of 30 colleges that U.S. News & World Report has singled out for offering “small classes on a budget.”

“Attending a big, affordable public university doesn’t doom a student to huge lecture halls …” the report stated, “Here are 30 well-regarded and affordable colleges with lots of small classes.” The list includes 30 colleges and universities nationwide that offered small classes (19 or fewer) and in-state tuition and fees under $10,000 in 2008. Researchers recognized Keene State for offering 52 percent of its classes with 19 or fewer students.

“We are pleased to be recognized for the small classes and individualized attention we offer,” says Keene State Provost Mel Netzhammer. “Our small class sizes are a critical part of important changes we’ve been making that are paying great dividends for our students.”

Netzhammer notes that a recent move from a 3-credit to a 4-credit curriculum at Keene State has led to a revision of all courses, allowing for more depth in courses. There is a new focus on undergraduate research, service learning, learning communities, and other “high impact practices” that, according to recent research, leads to improved student learning. Data recently released by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) documents significant improvements in student engagement at Keene State since the survey was administered three years ago. Additionally, the College’s new Integrative Studies Program is an “exemplar” program in AAC&U’s Liberal Education and America’s Promise initiative (LEAP).

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From Bill Menezes, Redfern: The Association of Performing Arts Presenters (Arts Presenters) has announced that the Redfern Arts Center is one of 31 semifinalists in the 2010 Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program. The Creative Campus initiative began in March 2004, following the 104th American Assembly at Columbia University, where more than 60 arts and higher education leaders gathered to examine the factors that characterize effective partnerships in education and the arts - the projects, proposals, curricula, and creative forces that make such partnerships work.

Keene State is one of 31 semifinalists chosen from a pool of nearly 150 applicants for the 2009 grants. Each school will be given $7,000 to help develop a project concept for full consideration as part of the final selection process of this grant program. Up to 10 one- to two-year project grants, ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 each, will be awarded in August 2010 to college- and university-based presenters from among these semifinalists (see the complete list here).

In 2006, Arts Presenters initiated The Creative Campus Innovations Grant program with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. This program was designed to support a set of innovative performance-based projects on American campuses that exhibit the importance of the arts to the educational, service, and scholarly missions of the academy and that fully integrate the performing arts into the life of the academy and the community. In 2007, eight campus-based presenters were awarded one- or two-year grants to implement projects that had the potential to increase value and expand support for integrating the performing arts into the academy and the campus community.

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From William Fleeger, Environmental Studies: The Environmental Studies department invites you to an open-house celebration of the completion of a natural resource inventory (NRI) for Robin Hood Park from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, December 15, in the Atrium Lounge (room 138) of the Student Center.

As a capstone service-learning experience, students in the department’s junior/senior seminar worked tirelessly during the year-long course to inventory and assess the condition of the ecological and social resources relevant to the park. Their professional quality NRI provides valuable new information and important baseline data necessary for the development of a management plan for this popular and centrally located city property. This informal event is an opportunity to view the completed NRI, learn about the student’s experiences, and express our gratitude for the support provided by our partners, the City of Keene Conservation Commission and Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, please contact Renate Gebauer (8-2577) or Bill Fleeger at (8-2989).

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From Rodney Obien, Mason Library: The Mason Library received a donation of Edward Gorey material from Mr. Robert Hubbard of Walpole, New Hampshire. The collection consists of more than 60 rare and unique items, including books, magazines, and broadsides.

Edward St. John Gorey was born February 22, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for his “gothic” style illustrations in black and white and his numerous children’s books, although he did publish adult books as well. Gorey attended Harvard University and graduated in 1950. He published works under his own name and also under many playful pseudonyms. Some of his most famous works are The Doubtful Guest (1957) and The Guilded Bat (1966). Gorey died April 15, 2000, in Massachusetts at the age of 75.

The gift - to be named the Hubbard-Gorey Collection - will be housed in the Mason Library’s new special collections and archives facility (due to be completed in the 2010 spring semester). “The Hubbard-Gorey Collection makes a fantastic addition to our special collections, which already includes the Children’s Literature Manuscript Collection,” said Library Dean Irene Herold. “We are honored to have been entrusted with this collection from Mr. Hubbard, who attended Harvard University during some of the same years as Gorey and told me stories about what a colorful character Gorey was.”

For more information about the Hubbard-Gorey Collection, contact Rodney Obien, archivist, Mason Library Special Collections & Archives (8-2717).

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From Chris Burke, Health and Wellness: The State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has moved to “tier three” for distribution of the H1N1 vaccine. This tier includes:

• anyone from 6 months to 24 years old
• anyone 24 to 64 years old with a chronic medical condition

KSC will be hosting three H1N1 vaccination clinics:

Thursday, December 10, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Atrium Conference Room, Student Center
Friday, December 11, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Madison Street Lounge, Student Center
Tuesday, December 15, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Mabel Brown Room, Student Center

All students and staff up to age 24 are eligible as well as any students, staff, or faculty who have a chronic medical condition and are 24 to 64 years old. Given the potential risk of H1N1 to the traditional-age college population, we strongly encourage students to receive the vaccine. The vaccination is free. We are planning to distribute 600 doses at each clinic on a first-come, first-served basis. Most eligible individuals will qualify for and receive the flu mist vaccine, which is inhaled rather than injected. The H1N1 vaccine carries the same benefits and risks as the seasonal flu vaccine.  Please visit www.keene.edu/alerts for informational sheets on both the injection and the mist vaccine.

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From Jim Tuttle, Business Office: Please note that paychecks for the B1-26 (12/12/09-12/25/09) work period for salaried employees will be available to those who pick their pay checks up on campus on Wednesday, December 23. The Direct Deposit pay date for this B1-26 pay period will be Thursday, December 24. Please be aware that these salaried checks will be dated 12/24/09. We ask those who pick up their checks not try to cash or deposit them until Thursday, December 24. This updated schedule and holiday pay information is available on the Business Office website.

If you have any questions about pay dates during this holiday season, please call or e-mail Jim Tuttle (8-2482).

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From Recreational Sports: End of the semester/winter intercession Recreation Center facility hours:

Monday-Thursday, December 14-17, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
Friday, December 18, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
   (Regular pool hours Monday-Thursday; no pool hours on Friday.)
Saturday & Sunday, December 19 & 20, Closed
Monday & Tuesday, December 21 & 22, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday, December 23, 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
    (Pool hours will not be held December 18-23)

The Recreation Center will be closed December 24-January 4, and will re-open on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.
Winter intercession facility hours:

January 5-15, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
            (There are no pool hours during the winter intercession, and the facility is closed  on Saturday and Sunday.)

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From the IT Group: Normally, when you want to close a pop-up that has opened on your computer screen, you simply click on the red X located in the upper right-hand corner and the pop-up goes away. In most cases this does not harm your computer.
 
However, as viruses and spyware/malware become more sophisticated, clicking the red X may infect your computer. You know that McAfee is the Anti-virus/Spyware tool used by the college to keep your computer free from problems. As virus programmers get craftier and craftier, they’ve devised a way to make certain pop-ups look convincingly like anti-virus programs intended to help you. What you don’t know is by clicking on the red X, you’re asking for trouble.
 
A good rule of thumb: if you ever receive a suspicious pop-up, do not click on the red X to close it. The best way is to end the task. Simply press control-alt-delete to bring up the Task Manager. Click on the Applications Tab, find the name you see in the title bar of the pop-up, click on that application to highlight it and click the End Task button on the bottom. That will close the pop-up without infecting your computer. If this box continues to reappear, your computer begins to run very slowly, or you have pop-ups that are continuous and annoying, contact the HelpDesk and we will be happy to help you get your computer back in good condition.

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This is the last 2009 issue of Campus News. The first issue of 2010 will be on Thursday, January 14 (deadline Monday, January 11, at noon).

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You still have one last chance to celebrate Keene State’s centennial year! Keene City Clerk Patricia Little contacted the College and asked if part of the Celebrating Our Centennial 1909-2009: 100 Years of Academic Community (at the Thorne last summer) could be condensed and brought downtown. College and Media Relations designer Lynn Roman sifted through the original exhibit’s photographs and memorabilia chronicling the college from 1909-2009 and assembled the display currently in the Ingersoll cabinets in the lobby of City Hall. The lobby is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Bob Madden, faculty emeriti, recently saw the movie 2012 and notes that a character broadcasting from Yellowstone National Park (played by Woody Harrelson) not only says the Mayans knew the world would end in December, 2012, but that Charles Hapgood warned us in 1958.

Charles Hapgood was professor of the history of science at Keene Teachers College when he wrote The Earth’s Shifting Crust. This and two other books, Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings and The Path of the Pole, proposed the radical theory that the earth’s axis has shifted numerous times during geological history.

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From Andy Robinson, Student Affairs: The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs cordially invites you to join us for hors d’oeurves at a retirement reception in honor of Carol Symonds on Wednesday, December 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Madison Street Lounge.
 
Carol started her career at Keene State College more than 20 years ago as the scheduling coordinator in the old Student Union Building and has provided support to the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, and to Keene State College students and their families for the greater part of her time here.
 
We hope you can join us to share your stories and reminisce about Carol’s time at KSC. If you are interested in contributing to a gift for Carol, please contact Barbara Preston bpreston@keene.edu.

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From Paul Striffolino, Student Affairs: Keene State College is pleased to announce the arrival of Josef Quirinale, the new General Manager of Keene State Dining Services. Please help us welcome Josef to our campus community in January 2010. Josef comes to Keene State with extensive experience in resident dining, retail, catering, and marketing. In his many years working with Sodexo, he has spent time at Western Connecticut State University, Plattsburgh State University, and the University of Vermont. Josef’s vast knowledge of campus dining is sure to compliment all of our dining locations and enhance the campus community at large. He is excited to join our dining staff and is looking forward to being a part of our community.

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