Finally – after years of planning, construction, and campaigning, the KSC Advancement Division is moving to its new home in the Alumni Center on Main Street across from the Hale Building. Who’s in the Advancement Division? The Offices of the Vice President for Advancement, Alumni & Parent Relations, Advancement Services, Marketing and Communications (formerly College and Media Relations and Online Communications), and Development.

We’re packing our boxes and should be hauling stuff to our new offices the week of March 15th. Want to know more about this project? Maybe you’d even like to see photos of the progress. It’s all on the Alumni Center page.

Oh, and even though our entire division is moving, our individual phone numbers and mailstop numbers will stay the same.

Good news about student loans? What can be good about student loans? Well, for starters, how about lower interest rates and fees and a smoother process?

Beginning with summer session 2010, Keene State College will switch from the Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP), which we had been using, to the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program for Stafford and PLUS loans, because we believe the Direct Loan (DL) Program offers more advantages for our students and their families.

Because the FAFSA serves as the loan application, the application process is easier, and, because you’re now borrowing from a single lender – the federal government, instead of one or more of the 3,500 lenders who are part of the FFELP program – the process is much less complicated. Parents will be able to take out a Federal PLUS loan at a 7.9% fixed interest rate (FFELP charges 8.5%), with a loan origination cost of 2.5% (FFELP charges 4%). Now, you’ve got to admit, that’s good news.

Direct Loans are great for student borrowers too. Student borrowers can choose from among five repayment plans, including one in which the government forgives the balance of the loan after 25 years, if you’ve been making regular payments during that time. In addition, the government will forgive remaining debt after 10 years if the borrower has made regular loan repayments and been working in a key public service profession such as teaching, government, social work, law enforcement, or a non-profit organization. You can consolidate all federal loans to the Direct Loan Program and still be eligible for some of the loan forgiveness programs.

If you intend to borrow a Stafford loan during the 2010–2011 academic year, you must file your 2010–2011 FAFSA and complete a new Master Promissory Note (MPN). Please note: Stafford loan funds cannot be disbursed to a student account until a new MPN has been completed. The MPN can be completed online. Additionally, parents who would like to borrow a federal Parent PLUS loan during the 2010–2011 academic year must also complete a new loan application/credit authorization and MPN.

Visit the Student Financial Services webpages for more information.

Our own Melanie Gosselin ’90, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, has just been named to the New Hampshire Business Review’s 2010 list of Outstanding Women in Business. These annual awards “celebrate the success and achievements of women across the state’s diverse business community.” NHBR states that each year, it recognizes “six women who have truly excelled, not only in their professional lives, but as leaders and role models.”

After Melanie took over the New Hampshire Food Bank in 2003, she saw the organization’s food distribution more than double from 2.3 to 5.8 million pounds in 2009. The Food Bank also now supports 411 programs – more than twice as many as it did when she first took the reins. Quite an accomplishment!

Do you know Melanie? Use the “comments” link below to drop us a note.

We’re happy to be able to offer parents and alumni a limited number of on-campus parking spaces during the City of Keene Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 17th. Passes will be available first-come, first-serve until October 10 until all available parking spaces are spoken for.

The fine print:
Parking passes are not transferable and automobile-specific; therefore, you should complete all of the requested information online for the automobile you plan to park on campus. Once you have your pass, you must park by noon on October 17. Each alum or parent may register only one vehicle.

UPDATE: Thanks to overwhelming response to this offer, we’re out of reserved spots! Thanks for your interest. For more parking options, please visit the Pumpkin Festival website. If you’ve registered already, your parking pass will be sent to you in the next several days.

Just a reminder to parents and families: Parent and Family Weekend is next weekend, and registration ends this Sunday! Get in while the gettin’s good!

KSC’s Parent/Family Weekend is coming right up: if you don’t already have it on your calendar, mark September 25-27 now!

We have great things scheduled for students and their families, including:

• a meet and greet social
• renowned mentalist Wayne Hoffman
• panel discussions with College administration and parents
• athletic events
• comedy show with Roy Wood Jr.
• the Concert Choir’s cabaret dinner show

The weekend is sponsored by the KSC Parents Association and the Social Activities Council. For more information (including a complete list of events), visit the Parent/Family Weekend page. Registration begins online Monday, August 10th.

Eric J. Clouthier, 2009 ASSE Region VIII SPY

But not the 007 kind, though this local hero has done a lot to make his world a safer place. Eric J. Clouthier ’00 recently received the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Region VIII Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) Award for his ongoing contributions to his chapter and the Society and his commitment to protecting people, property, and the environment. Region VIII represents ASSE chapters in Conn., Mass., Maine, N.H., N.J., N.Y., Penna., R.I., and Vt.

According to an article in Seacoastonline.com, Eric, who lives in North Hampton, N.H., “serves as a safety engineer at Harvey Building Products in Londonderry, where he manages safety, health, and environmental functions for all of Harvey’s 38 locations throughout New England, N.Y., Penna., and N.J. He is also a call firefighter/emergency medical technician (EMT) for the North Hampton Fire and Rescue Department, where he has served for 15 years.” He received a bachelor of science in safety studies with a minor in management here at KSC, where he first became a student member of ASSE.

If you remember Eric, use the “Comments” link below to drop him a note of congratulations.

More information.

Dr. Susan Herman (photo by Mark Corliss)

We are saddened to learn that Dr. Susan Herman, professor emerita of Management, passed away early this morning, June 24th. Dr. Herman was an energetic and engaged teacher, professional, traveler, outdoorswoman, and cook. The KSC Human Resources office uses her 1994 book, Hiring Right, as a sound basis for the College’s recruiting protocols. Dr. Herman was also an important catalyst in the evolution of the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies, which established the Susan J. Herman Award for Leadership in Holocaust & Genocide Awareness this past April to honor her vital contributions to its work.

Dr. Paul Vincent, professor of Holocaust studies and history, mentioned a meeting with Dr. Herman in early spring, when she was still undergoing tests for pancreatic cancer in Boston. He recalled a statement she made that summed up the strength of her character: “You know, Paul, I want to live. But if that’s not to be, I’ve had a wonderful life.”

“The world is a dimmer place without the magic of her life,” Dr. Vincent said.

For a wealth of photos and information from Susan and her family, including notification of upcoming memorial services in Dorchester, Mass., and Keene, visit her Caring Bridges web pages.

If you remember this warm and wonderful teacher, please use the “comments” link below to let us know, and visit the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies blog to leave and read memories.

Three cheers for one of the best survival kit distributions ever! With the help of first-year parents Elaine Ellis and Karen Goolsky, student worker Brittney Sousa, and staff members Kay MacLean and Pauline Dionne, we handed out more than 260 of the 270 Exam Survival Kits, Spirit packages and fruit baskets on Dec 4, 5, and 8.

It was so much fun to see student reactions to receiving the packages. Students received personalized notes of encouragement with their packages, and many had envious friends asking “whatcha get?” We saw many smiling faces and a few sheepish grins as students read their little notes. One student said “this really made my day!”

The Parents Association wishes to thank those parents who participated in this fundraiser and the volunteers who helped make this a tremendous success!

We look forward to the Valentine’s Day promotional event in February. We will be looking for volunteers to help out on Feb. 11, 12, and 13.

From Patty Farmer, director of alumni and parent relations:

The next Parents Association meeting is November 30, 2008, at 2 p.m. in the Markem Lecture Hall, in the Science Center.
The agenda will include:

• Election of vice president, secretary and ad hoc member
• Discussion and vote regarding the proposal to reorganize as a KSC Association
• Discussion regarding new program opportunities and events

Please join us if you can.

Also, the KSC Parents Association relies on membership dues and fundraisers to help give scholarships and put on other programs benefiting students. As one of those fundraisers, we’ll be distributing Exam Survival Kits December 4, 5, and 8 from 2-7 p.m. in the Student Center on campus. We need volunteers to help staff the distribution table for a few hours each of those days. To volunteer please contact Patty Farmer at pfarmer@keene.edu. Your help is greatly appreciated!