AU REPORT October 4, 1999
Headlines Samford interior problems cited DUC cites lack of support for Macs Two fine arts programs cut

Finalists for the position of assistant vice president for University Outreach will be on campus in the near future for open forums with the public.

The finalists and the date and place of the forums are:
* Thomas Eaves Oct.11, associate director, Florida State University Center for Professional Development , Oct. 11, Foy 202.
* Rusty Brooks, program director and associate professor, University of Georgia Fanning Institute for Leadership and Community Development, Oct. 20, Foy 203.
* Robert Montjoy, director and professor, Auburn University Economic Development Institute, Oct. 26, Foy 203.

All presentations start at 2 p.m. Copies of the candidates' curriculum vitae are available for review in the Vice President for Outreach's office. For information, contact Maury Matthews, search chair at maurym@auburn.edu

Relocating departments
In one of several pending moves, Industrial Design will vacate historic O.D. Smith Hall at the end of fall quarter.

AU begins series of moves

Faculty in several departments will begin a series of moves this quarter as the university prepares for renovation of some buildings and removal of others.

Those moves over the next two years will involve people now in Wallace Center, O.D. Smith Hall, the Math Annex, Parker and Allison halls, Leach Science Center and Ramsay Hall.

The first series of moves will be followed by still more moves in the next decade. Future projects include construction of a new student union, buildings for science laboratories and admissions and renovation of several other buildings, including Samford Hall.

In the current transfers, the Department of Industrial Design is scheduled to move across campus from O.D. Smith Hall on South College Street to the second floor of Wallace Center at Donahue Drive and Thach Avenue after classes end in December.

To prepare for that move, faculty in the former Department of Vocational and Adult Education are clustering their offices on the first floor, and two of that department's faculty are moving to offices in Haley Center.
With the termination of its trade and industrial education programs on Oct. 1 during universitywide cuts of low-priority programs, the remaining programs in Vocational and Adult Education have been placed under other departments in the College of Education. Adult education was placed in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, and the faculty member who taught trade and industrial education has been reassigned to the educational leadership faculty in EFLT.

The changes in Wallace Center will also involve removal of printing equipment of the Agribusiness Education Center to a yet-to-be determined location.

Former Vocational and Adult Education faculty in the agricultural science education and business and office education programs have been reorganized into the Career and Technical Education unit in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching and will continue to occupy offices and specialized classrooms on the first floor and east side of Wallace Center.

Industrial Design is scheduled to begin winter quarter in its new location, where it will have more offices and larger teaching labs in the building, which was completed in 1984.

The historic O.D. Smith Hall, built in 1908, is scheduled for renovation in 2000-01. The woodworking shop at the rear of the building will be demolished during the renovation.

The dean's office of the College of Sciences and Mathematics is scheduled to move from Extension Cottage into the renovated O.D. Smith Hall in April 2001. Graduate students now housed in the Math Annex are also scheduled to move into the second floor of O.D. Smith Hall at that time, and the Math Annex is scheduled for demolition for a parking lot in the summer of 2001.

Professors in the Math Annex are scheduled to move to Parker and Allison halls, which are slated for design changes and renovation to accommodate those faculty members.

Other changes involve transfer of a physics lab from Parker Hall to new facilities in Leach Science Center and the move of University Computing personnel from Extension Cottage to new offices in Ramsay Hall. In addition, the west end of Saunders Hall will be renovated for a glass blowing shop.

The moves and renovation projects are being handled by the Facilities Division.

Deteriorating building

Although most of Samford Hall's structural problems are inside and hidden behind plaster and false ceilings, lack of access for the disabled is the most visible problem cited by AU's architect.

Samford added to renovation list

Samford Hall, one of AU's few remaining buildings from the 19th century, could face major renovation in the first decade of the 21st century.

The interior of Auburn's landmark building has several safety, health, accessibility and historical preservation problems that need to be addressed, says President William Muse.

Major problems identified by University Architect Greg Parsons include highly combustible and termite-infested wood, deteriorating brick masonry and lack of access for people with disabilities.

Samford last underwent a major interior renovation in 1970-71, when many historic features were destroyed and air conditioning was installed. Parsons says some of the building's current problems date from that time.
Other problems, such as highly combustible wood in parts of the building, date from the origin of the 1888 building.

Parsons identified the major safety problem as the fire danger, compounded by improper fire exits and lack of fire sprinklers. He also cited the health problem of poor indoor air quality.

In addition to noting the termite damage and deteriorating bricks, Parsons cited moisture entry at the foundation and inefficient heating and air conditioning systems, which add to the deterioration.
Although the building might qualify on historical grounds for exemption from federal laws on access for the disabled, Parsons noted that previous changes in the interior have weakened that argument.

Programs gain year to prove their viability

Sixteen AU programs that were subjected to scrutiny this year because of viability questions due to low numbers of graduates have been given an additional year to solidify their position.

Provost William Walker told the Board of Trustees on Sept. 22 that 15 programs had been recommended for retention for another year after review by the AU Academic Review and Assessment Committee and administrators in the Provost's Office. Another program was granted a year's extension to assess the impact of recent changes in the program.

Many of the programs have increased their graduation numbers and are within range of meeting or surpassing criteria used by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to determine program viability, he said.

Programs gaining one more year to meet or surpass ACHE standards were the M.S. and Ph.D. in animal and dairy sciences, master of industrial design, M.S. in economics, B.S. in foreign language education, B.S. in music education, Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, Ph.D. in computer science and engineering, B.S. and M.S. in textile engineering, M.S. in apparel and textiles, Ph.D. in nutrition and food science, Ph.D. in English, B.A. in German, B.A. in philosophy and M.S. in business administration.

The master's program in business administration was added to the list by the administration after the program's advocates asked for the additional year to determine the impact of a new, non-thesis option. The master of science in business administration program is separate from the College of Business' M.B.A., which is among the college's largest programs and easily surpasses ACHE criteria.

One other academic program at risk for termination has been given more time by the AU administration to meet ACHE viability standards. The College of Agriculture has been given until December to present a plan to save the master of science program in poultry science or merge the program into another program within the college.

In addition to action on those programs, the university is merging seven programs to produce larger and potentially more viable programs.

Programs undergoing merger (and the programs with which they are being merged) are the M.S. and Ph.D. in entomology (with plant pathology), specialist in counselor education (with general education specialist), B.S. in textile chemistry (with chemistry), B.S. in biochemistry (with chemistry) and Ph.D. in wildlife science (with forestry).

ACHE standards require that undergraduate programs produce an average of 7.5 graduates per year over three years. Master's programs must average 3.75 graduates per year, and doctoral programs must average at least 2.25 graduates per year.

AU cuts master's programs in music, studio art

Master's degree programs in music and studio art have joined the list of academic programs designated this year for termination.

The university began phasing out the master of fine arts degree in studio art and the master of music degree on Oct. 1.

In a presentation to the Board of Trustees on Sept. 22, Provost William Walker said that, with the deletion of these programs, AU has reduced its program inventory by 120 since 1995.

The master's programs in music and studio art joined six academic programs slated for termination since January, when the Board of Trustees approved recommendations submitted in late 1998 by a special review commission. That list identified low-priority programs on the basis of criteria established by university committees and the review commission.

The master's degrees in studio art and music were recommended for termination by the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and endorsed by the AU Committee on Academic Program Review and Assessment. The recommendations were based on the programs' inability to meet standards for program viability of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, said John Pritchett, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School. The ACHE standard for master's programs is an average of 3.5 graduates per year.

The Master of Fine Arts program in studio art averaged 1.6 students per year from 1991-92 through 1998-99, and the Master of Music program averaged 2.4 students over the eight-year period.

Students already in those programs will be permitted to earn their degrees, but no new students are being added. Each program has only two students remaining. Both students in the music program and one student in the art program are projected to graduate this year. The music program would have to produce eight graduates and the studio art program would have to produce six graduates this academic year to meet ACHE's standard.

"There is simply no way that these programs can meet the ACHE requirement," said Pritchett, who was a member of the committee and assisted Walker in evaluating the recommendations.

Although some institutions have been slow to eliminate nonviable programs, Pritchett noted that AU is following a more active approach. "All along, we have been following the policy that we are going to take action ourselves and not wait for ACHE to tell us to act."

Muse says AU enters new budget year in best shape in recent years

Auburn's finances have been pronounced in their best shape in several years.

AU President William Muse told the Board of Trustees on Sept. 22 that the university would start its new fiscal year on Oct. 1 with enough new funding to make significant progress toward accomplishing its goals.

One of those goals is to close the gap on salaries between AU and the average for the region. A 2 percent across-the-board salary increase went into effect Oct. 1, and additional amounts were set aside for merit and equity increases. Executive Vice President Don Large said the 5 percent total increase in the pool of funds for salary, merit and equity increases would appear to place Auburn in the upper range of increases among Alabama institutions this year.

On the related issue of employee benefits, Large said he anticipates an increase of 12 percent to 15 percent in the cost of faculty and staff health insurance in January. The university is self-insured and shares the cost of health insurance with employees.

Currently, family coverage costs $144.50 and individual coverage $68.75 per month on a 12-month basis. The last increase in health insurance was in 1997, when fees were raised 5 percent.

Besides moving AU salaries toward the regional average, other major budget goals include increasing departmental operating funds, reducing a backlog of deferred maintenance and providing funding for a new set of university priorities designated "Peaks of Excellence."

The new budget is based on projections of nearly 6 percent in new revenues for a total main campus budget of $346.5 million. The largest dollar amount, $130 million, is from state appropriations, which are 6.3 percent higher than last year's amount, marking the second consecutive increase in state funding after a three-year financial drought in the mid 1990s.

Student fees are projected to add $77 million, 7.6 percent more than last year, to Auburn's revenue.

The largest share of the funds, $118.4 million, will go for instruction, which is getting 9.6 percent more than last year. Academic support will get an 11.3 percent increase to $15.5 million.

Panel recommends changes in Communications Board

A special university committee has recommended to President William Muse changes in the composition and rules of the Communications Board, which oversees student media.

Responding to Muse's request to clarify the Communications Board's oversight role for The Auburn Plainsman and other student media, the committee outlined professional standards for student editors and disciplinary and removal requirements and procedures for violations of those standards.

The committee, in its Sept. 23 report, also recommended training workshops for Communications Board members and editors and other officers of student media.

In addition, the panel proposed changing the composition of the Communications Board to increase diversity in student membership and add two print and broadcast media professionals to the board as non voting members.

Muse formed the committee after a conflict between last year's Plainsman editor and student members of the Communications Board resulted in a censure vote against the editor. The action was challenged by the Alabama Press Association, and the board later rescinded a threat to fire the editor. Muse asked the special committee to clarify language in the Communications Board's charter and rules that had led to different interpretations by both sides in the controversy.

The AU president appointed the ad hoc committee of students, faculty, staff professionals and professional media representatives at the end of spring quarter, with Student Affairs Vice President Bettye Burkhalter as chair.

In addition to administration approval, several recommendations involve changes in the Student Constitution and are subject to a vote of the Student Senate.

Three named to posts in Student Affairs

Three key appointments have been announced in the Office of Student Affairs.

Nancy McDaniel has been named interim assistant vice president for student life, John Fletcher is the new interim assistant vice president for enrollment management services and C. Doyle Bickers will be AU's new director of admissions.

McDaniel succeeds Grant Davis, who was promoted to secretary to the AU Board of Trustees. She has been director of AU's Student Success Center since May 1997. Prior to that, she was director of Auburn University at Montgomery's Center for Special Services' Disability Services from 1992 to 1997 and an adjunct professor in AUM's department of leadership, counseling and special education from 1994 to 1997. She has also been an instructor and faculty member at AU and was a special assistant to the state superintendent of education.

McDaniel received a bachelor's degree from Kent State University and master's and doctoral degrees from Auburn -- all in education.
Fletcher came to Auburn in 1988 as associate registrar and has been AU's registrar since 1997. He was assistant director of computer-assisted registration services at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1981 to 1988.

Fletcher received bachelor's and master's degrees in secondary education and higher education administration from Tennessee and an Ed.D. from Auburn.

Bickers succeeds Robert Karcher, who moved to director of student services in AU's College of Engineering. Bickers had been director of admissions at Western Carolina University since 1996. He has been director or dean of admissions for more than 20 years at five different colleges and universities, including Western Carolina, Shippensburg (Pa.) University; West Georgia College; Tift (Ga.) College; and North Greenville (S.C.) College. In addition, he was director of enrollment planning and enrollment services at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, Va., from 1993 to 1996 and assistant director of admissions and records at Georgia Southern College from 1976 to 1978.

Bickers holds a bachelor's degree from Samford University and a master of divinity degree from Emory University's Candler School of Theology. He assumed his new position Oct. 4.

AU Computing unit cites withdrawal of Mac support

University Computing, citing a need to concentrate available technical support resources on the dominant Windows/Intel platforms, is recommending that purchasers of new computers on campus buy computers using Microsoft Windows software.

The advisory notifies users and potential users of Apple Macintosh computers that University Computing cannot supply technical expertise to help those users solve major software or networking problems they may encounter.

Meanwhile, hardware support remains available to Macintosh users on campus through Digital Repair in the L Building. "We are, have been and continue to provide hardware support for Apple computers," said Digital Repair Manager Daryl Waites.

The Division of Telecommunication, ETV and University Computing has been without technical support for Macintoshes for several months as the unit has concentrated its resources on networking systems which interface better with the far more numerous Windows-based computers, said Jim Stone, executive director of the division.

"It is not a matter of favoring any particular platform," said Stone. "We are trying to build a structure that others can interface with and build on so that we can provide the highest level of service to the most people. We have a finite amount of resources to accomplish that goal, so we need to apply those resources to achieve the maximum benefit for the university."

Stone said he considers Macintoshes to be excellent computers and the high-end models have attributes, particularly in design capabilities, that other platforms cannot match.

The problems hampering technical support, he said, involve security and interfacing with a campuswide network.

At present, Macintoshes have no software available to authenticate users, Stone said, noting that the tracking ability becomes important when people send threatening or harassing e-mail messages. The problem was most acute when the university maintained Macintoshes for public use in open labs, he added.

The interface problem is more widespread because of its effect on ongoing efforts to upgrade the campuswide network, Stone said. "The problem is with the interfaces, not individual machines in classrooms and offices. They are wonderful machines, but it is very difficult to build an affordable network that can interface effectively with both the Windows and Apple platforms."

He noted that his unit operates high-end Macintoshes for specialized operations, but those machines are not used for networked activities.
Stone said the unit is advising purchasers of new computer equipment to buy the dominant Windows platform to ensure that technical support is available. Departments that choose to proceed with purchase of Macintoshes should also contract with outside vendors for a service contract, he said.

He added that continuing improvements in technology may eventually enable the university to resume technical support for Macintoshes. "We will constantly monitor and periodically reevaluate out service priorities," Stone said. "In the meantime, we have to serve the greatest number of users with the resources at our disposal."

Apple to host seminar on technology

Apple Computer will host a Tech Updates in Education seminar on Oct. 11 at the Dixon Conference Center.

The seminar, which will be in Room G from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m., will give AU faculty and staff an opportunity to learn the latest about Apple products from company representatives. Organizers said the program will provide Macintosh users with an opportunity to meet other Mac users on campus and organize a Mac users group.

Some of the topics to be addressed include:
* ibook: the first portable computer for education to provide untethered internet access for home and schools;
* Airport: Apple's revolutionary new wireless local area network solutions.
* Quick Time TV: The internet's highest quality network for Web-based video and audio.

The seminar is free, but Apple requests that participants register by calling 1-800-800-2775, option 4.

Three named to Education professorships

Three faculty members have been named to professorships in the College of Education by Dean Richard Kunkel.

Phillip Browning, professor and head of the Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education, has been named to a Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professorship, and Bruce Gladden, professor of health and human performance, and Craig Darch, professor of rehabilitation and special education, have been named to Humana-Germany-Sherman Distinguished Professorships.

Kunkel described the recipients as national leaders in their disciplines. "The professorships recognize distinguished faculty members who have greatly increased the stature of the College of Education nationally, as well as within the state," he said.

"Dr. Browning, Dr. Gladden and Dr. Darch are truly setting the pace for others through their teaching, research and publishing, as well as student mentoring and representing the college before the public," Kunkel added.

The three were recommended by a selection committee of faculty, retired faculty and alumni of the college.

Browning was a prominent figure nationally in rehabilitation and special education when he came to Auburn as department head 10 years ago, and he has spearheaded the department to national prominence over the past decade, Kunkel noted. An authority in special education, particularly the transition of disabled children to broader school and community participation, Browning has authored 71 professional manuscripts on that and related subjects.

Browning holds one of three Wayne T. Smith Professorships in Education, which was the first set of professorships in the College of Education. The professorships were made possible by a gift from the Humana Foundation in honor of Smith, an AU graduate and former chief operating officer of Humana Inc.

Gladden and Darch are the first faculty members to hold the new Humana- Germany-Sherman Distinguished Professorships, which are funded with gifts from the Humana Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Gordy Germany and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Sherman. Gordy Germany and Gordon Sherman serve on the College of Education Advisory Board.

Kunkel described Gladden as one of the most respected and influential researchers and scholars in the field of exercise physiology. In addition to publishing more than 80 articles and abstracts in refereed professional journals, Gladden has generated more than $1 million in grants for studies in the discipline and has organized major national symposia on exercise science. He has also served as an AU Alumni Professor and as Graduate Faculty Lecturer for the university.

Darch has co-authored two books on classroom organization and management, and a third book awaiting publication. He has also published 53 articles and three book chapters concerning effective teaching practices in special education. He has also served as associate editor for two refereed journals in the discipline and has generated more than $2 million in federal grants for special education projects. Darch is vice president for a major division of the Council for Exceptional Children.

AU gains approval for instititute at former Fort McClellan

AU's proposal for a new canine and handler training center at Fort McClellan has been approved by the Fort McClellan Redevelopment Joint Powers Authority.

Auburn's Institute for Biological Detection Systems, which conducts research on the odor detection of explosives and drugs, will take possession of approximately 75 acres on the military reservation and be allowed to use another 100 acres to train and work dogs.

In addition to refurbishing the fort's veterinary clinic and polygraph building, AU hopes to build a research facility in the future. Research at the center will consist of studying the biology of dogs, such as their olfactory, or smelling system.

Fort McClellan was closed as part of a 1995 report by the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The 82-year-old military base finally shut its gates last week.

The new Auburn center will bring about 50 jobs to the Anniston area, says Ken Whitley, executive director of the Fort McClellan Redevelopment Joint Powers Authority.

Ed Hawkinson, cited by professionals in the field as one of the nation's leading dog trainers, was lured away from the Secret Service, to lead the new AU training facility. Hawkinson, who plans to train about 300 dogs annually, says he hopes to begin classes in February.

Research at the center will consist of studying the biology of dogs, such as their olfactory, or smelling system.

Agriculture announces changes in departments, positions

The College of Agriculture has announced the merger of two departments, a name change for another and two new departmental chairs.

The departments of Entomology and Plant Pathology have been merged to form the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. The new department will be chaired by Mike Williams, who had been chair of the Department of Entomology.

The College of Agriculture has changed the name of the Department of Agricultural Engineering to the Department of Biosystems Engineering. Clifford Flood remains the department chair.

Meanwhile, James G. Floyd, Jr. has been named chair of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. Floyd has been an Extension veterinarian and faculty member at Auburn since 1988. His three-year appointment became effective May 1.

Lines return to campus
The War Eagle and Terrell food courts have become two of the busiest places on campus since they reopened two weeks ago under private management. Especially popular are the new Chick-fil-A franchises, which attract lines unseen at Auburn since before the university adopted registration via telephone in the early 1990s.

School of Forestry gets new name

The School of Forestry is now the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.

The new name, approved by the AU Board of Trustees on Sept. 22, became official on Oct. 1, recognizing the transfer of the wildlife science program from the College of Sciences and Mathematics to the School of Forestry.

The transfer, which was requested by faculty and officials in the School of Forestry and the wildlife science program, was part of a universitywide series of changes recommended by a special review commission to the Board of Trustees last November. The board approved the merger in January.

The former School of Forestry, which requested the new name to signify the partnership, is the only school or college to undergo a name change as a result of a merger. Wildlife science was formerly paired with zoology in the College of Sciences and Mathematics' Department of Zoology and Wildlife Science.

Smith named chair of ISE Department

Alice E. Smith was named as professor and chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, effective Sept. 1. She joins the College of Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, succeeding Ed Unger, who has retired. At Pittsburgh, she was an associate professor of industrial engineering and Board of Visitors Faculty Fellow, a position similar to AU's Alumni Professorships.

"The College of Engineering is fortunate to be able to attract Dr. Smith to this leadership position," interim Dean Larry Benefield said. "She is uniquely qualified to build on the efforts of Dr. Unger and the faculty in bringing ISE into an arena where it is recognized as one of the leading programs in the nation."

Smith, who has degrees in engineering and business from Rice University, Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri-Rolla, was employed by Southwestern Bell Corp., for 10 years before joining the University of Pittsburgh in 1991.

Smith has worked with industrial partners including Lockheed Martin, DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems (NA), Inc. (Adtranz NA), Eljer Plumbingware, Extrude Hone, Ford Motor Company and Crucible Compaction Metals.
She holds editorial positions on six professional journals, including INFORMS Journal on Computing, IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, and IIE Transactions.

Spirit of Excellence
Each month, the university presents Spirit of Excellence awards to four employees for exceptional service. Recipients for September were, photo at left, from left, Jeanie Roberts, Gail Ward, and Romona Shierling, and, at right, Kathy Rome.

Gift funds Building Science scholarships

L. Judson Akin has established the first endowment for presidential scholarships for students in the Building Science Department of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. AU created the endowment through an initial gift of $100,000.

The L. Judson Akin Presidential Scholarship is intended for students from Tallapoosa County who have been accepted or are enrolled in AU's building science curriculum. Each scholarship is for a maximum of five years or until graduation, whichever occurs first, and will include tuition, fees, books and supplies.

Akin, a 1949 Auburn graduate in building construction, is the owner of Akin & Flanders, Inc. For 45 years, Akin worked in construction in Atlanta and was involved in commercial and industrial projects worldwide.

Trimble named to U.S. aviation post

William Trimble, a professor of aerospace history at Auburn, has been named the Charles Lindbergh Professor of Aerospace History at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Trimble will serve one year in the post, one of the highest honors an aerospace historian can receive. The author of several books on aerospace history, Trimble is the second AU history professor to the named to the position. Distinguished University Professor David Lewis served in 1993 94 as the Lindbergh Professor.

While at the Smithsonian, Trimble will conductresearch and write about naval aviation in the 1950s.

Best's book seeks to end myths about bats

Troy L. Best, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, has co-authored Bats of the United States, a nonprofit publication devoted to the comprehensive study of the species.

"Contrary to popular beliefs that bats get caught in your hair, are blind and other misinformation, we want to give beneficial information on bats," Best said.

Biology Professors Michael J. Harvey of Tennessee Technological University and J. Scott Altenbach of the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque worked with Best in the composition of the 64-page book. The authors represent more than a century of bat research, and Best says the book "is all you want to know about bats."

"The book is designed for all ages, from youngsters to high schoolers, anyone interested in bats," Best said. "It's designed to inform people on the diversity of bats, to let people know that bats are beneficial and have significant economic importance."

The book lists and describes the 45 different species of bats in the United States, including 16 species identifiable in Alabama. One hundred thousand copies of the book will be released in the United States on first printing.

Lovett wins state association's educator award

Chi Chi Lovett, an assistant professor of art at Auburn, has been awarded the Higher Education Art Educator of the Year by the Alabama Art Education Association.

The AAEA honors the work, both academically and professionally, of 10 veteran teachers, principals or others who support art education.

Hope Brannon, an art teacher at Montgomery Academy and chair of the awards committee for AAEA, said the honors are significant because each winner must be nominated by someone in their field.

AAEA supports art education at all levels, from elementary school through higher education.

Lovett, who has taught at Auburn since 1993, was noted for a special workshop she has coordinated each summer for the last six years to introduce students to art where they may not otherwise learn to appreciate it.

The sixth annual Children's Art Workshop! is held for two weeks where
more than 400 children, many of them underprivileged, have learned about theatre as a constructive form of self expression while developing a child's critical thinking and eye-hand coordination.

Conference features series of plays

The Alabama Conference of Theatre and Speech convention will be at Auburn on Oct. 20-23, bringing together several hundred college and high school students and eight performances by college theatre troupes.

During the ACTS conference, sponsored in part by the Kennedy Center, eight Alabama universities will participate in the American College Theatre State Play Festival. In addition, the ACTS high school scholarship auditions and ACTS workshops for college students will be held.

At the same time as the ACTS convention, the Southeastern Theatre Conference will screen college actors, said Dan LaRocque, associate professor of theatre.

The plays in Telfair Peet Theatre at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day are open to the public, and tickets are available at the door for $2 each. The plays include "How I Learned to Drive," "A Doll House," "Diary of Black Men," "When You Comin' Back Red Ryder," "The Greeks," "The Scarlet Letter," "Quilters" and "Les Liasions."

For details, call 844-4748 or check the AU Theatre web site.

Alumni Association seeks teaching-award nominations

The Auburn Alumni Association is seeking nominations for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Awards. Winners will receive a recognition plaque and a $1,000 honorarium. Send letters of nomination to Liz Peel, Alumni Teaching Awards, Auburn Alumni Center, campus, before Dec. 11. The letter should describe the nominee's teaching performance, knowledge of subject, interest in students, impact on the nominator's personal educational experience and the nominee's influence within the university. Contact Peel at 844-1146.

Campus Roundup

Muse to speak to faculty, staff
AU President William Muse is scheduled to present "State of the University" remarks to two major campus representative organizations next week. He will address the University Faculty at 3:10 p.m. on Oct. 12 in Broun Hall auditorium, and the Staff Council at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 in Langdon Hall. Both meetings are open to the public.

Local orchestra to present concert
The Auburn Community Orchestra will present a free Pops Concert at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in Kiesel Park. The orchestra, conducted by Howard Goldstein, associate professor of music at AU, will perform works by Berlioz, Holst, Saint-Saens, and the Strauss family. The orchestra is sponsored by the AU Department of Music and the City of Auburn Dept. of Parks and Recreation. For further information call 887-4930.

Depression screening scheduled
Student Counseling Services is sponsoring free screening to detect symptoms of depression on National Depression Screening Day, Oct. 13. The screening from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Foy Union Ballroom will provide information about the signs, symptoms and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder. For more information, call 844-5123.

BC/BS representative to visit
AU's Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative will be on campus from 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9, in the Payroll and Employee Benefits Office, Ingram 212. No appointment is necessary.

Achievements

Grant Davis was confirmed by the Board of Trustees as secretary to the board on Sept. 22. Davis, formerly assistant vice president for student life in the Division of Student Affairs, had been serving in the new post since Sept. 1, pending board approval.

Dennis Wilson, Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professor of Health and Human Performance in the College of Education, was recently one of 18 invited foreign speakers at the 1999 Seoul International Sports Science Congress in Seoul, South Korea.

Jeff Coats has joined the staff of Foy Student Union as a program advisor for the University Program Council. Coats, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from AU, is working on his doctorate in higher education administration.

Unsung Hero: Geraldine Sullivan, housekeeper, Cater Hall

This week's Unsung Hero is Geraldine Sullivan, housekeeper in Cater Hall. She has been at AU in the Facilities Division for 13 years. She was asked:

What do you do in your current job? "I am responsible for maintaining all of Cater Hall, keeping it clean for workers whose offices are in Cater Hall, as well as any visitors that may stop by. I guess you would say that I keep it just like my own house."

What is the most rewarding part of your job? "I like it when people let me know that I have done an excellent job in keeping the building beautiful. This motivates me to continue to do my best!"

What is the most challenging part of your job? "Making sure that everyone understands that it takes a team effort to maintain the appearance of a building."

If you were not doing this job, what would you most like to do? "I have a great desire to do mission work. I truly enjoy the opportunities I have to assist others who might need my helping hand."

What makes Auburn special? "I especially enjoy the students and how friendly they are. It is like I never meet a stranger. They are always so eager to say 'Hey!'"

What was your first impression of Auburn University? "I knew that I wanted to be a part of it, and it offered opportunities for children to learn and be successful in a chosen field."

How has that impression changed? "I now realize that it has even more to offer and that a child can be whatever he or she desires in life. The doors of opportunities are open."

What words best describe Auburn as a work environment, learning environment or just a place to be? "I feel that Auburn is a learning environment which provides experiences for students to grow and excel in the future."

What do you like to do when not at work? "There are a number of things I like to do when I am not at work -- travel, working in the yard, spending quality time with my family, reading, attending church."

What person or persons do you most admire and why? "My mother is my most admired person. She instilled in me to be loving, caring and considerate of others."

What is your favorite line from the Auburn Creed and why? "I believe in my country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by doing justly, loving mercifully and walking humbly with God. Because without Him, I can do nothing."

Campus Views: Making a case for extramural compensation
By David Bransby, Alumni Professor, Agronomy and Soils

Part 1 of 2

Extramural consulting by faculty is a sensitive issue: The administration is always concerned about conflict of interest situations (and this is entirely reasonable), and faculty who do not have the opportunity to consult privately often feel that it is unfair that some of their colleagues get paid extra to do this kind of work.

Also, a proportion of the public (and maybe students, too) regards extramural consulting by faculty as unethical because we are state employees and it is their taxes that pay our salaries. Therefore, my objective here is to examine the concept of extramural consulting by faculty, and to show that it is not unethical but can be of great benefit to the mission of the university and the citizens of Alabama, provided it is managed correctly.

Before discussing details related to extramural consulting, it is necessary to examine employment conditions of faculty in order to clarify the context in which any consulting is done. For most state employees, a standard work week is 40 hours. However, in the preamble of our new trial workload document, it states that many studies have shown that professors work an average of 55 hours per week.

I am told that state law has assigned university faculty to an employment category that does not qualify for overtime compensation. So, to do our jobs properly, we essentially have to work 15 hours per week overtime for no pay. The question here is whether these employment conditions are ethical. Most reasonable people would probably say they are not, or at least that they are questionable....

It might be argued that whether we work overtime or not is our choice. While there could be some truth in this perception, for many of us, it is simply not possible to earn tenure and promotion if we work only 40 hours a week. Furthermore, if we take pride in our jobs and do them well, considerably more time than this is needed to achieve satisfactory performance, especially with the cutbacks and associated increases in workloads we have experienced at AU recently.

Few people who properly appreciate our employment conditions could deny that we all do a lot more than just earn our salaries. Another way to emphasize this is to attach a value to the overtime that we donate to AU. Let's say a professor on a 12-month appointment earns $50,000 per year. Assuming a 47-week work year and a 40-hour week, this amounts to $26.60 per hour. Overtime rates are usually time and a half, which amounts to $39.90 per hour for this professor. Multiplying the hourly rate by 15 hours per week of overtime indicates that this faculty member gives $598.50 per week, $2,394 per month, $8,394 per year (56 percent of annual salary), or $703,225 over a 25-year career to AU. What this also amounts to is that our 1,000-member faculty donates $28 million in overtime to AU each year. This is an extremely generous gift from employees that are currently paid well below the regional average.

Editor: Roy Summerford. Contributing editors: Bob Lowry, Janet McCoy and David Granger. University Relations Executive Director: Pete Pepinsky. The AU Report is the faculty/staff newsletter of Auburn University and is published by the Office of University Relations at Auburn University. Direct correspondence to AU Report, 23 Samford Hall, Auburn University, Ala. 36849-5109. Telephone 334/844-9999. Electronic mail: summero@mail.auburn.edu