AU REPORT July 27, 1998

William F. Walker, dean of Auburn's College of Engineering, says he anticipates the need to take a broader perspective toward AU's academic programs when he becomes interim provost on Sept. 1.

"As a dean, I've focused up to now on one fairly large college, and now I will be focused on the entire campus," said Walker, who will serve as Auburn's chief academic officer during the search for a permanent provost.

"I've always tried to do what's best for the university rather than taking a narrow focus," he added.

AU President William Muse has appointed the Engineering dean to succeed Paul Parks following Parks' retirement as provost and vice president for academic affairs on Aug. 31. The search for a permanent replacement will begin after a commission that is reviewing the university's structure completes its report to the Board of Trustees in January.

"Dr. Walker is a very capable administrator, and we can expect him to provide continuity to our academic programs," said Muse. "My hope is that we can begin the search for a provost early next year. In the meantime, the office will be in very capable hands."

Walker is co-chair of the 10-member commission that is reviewing the structure and programs of the university. "There's some uncertainty right now because of the commission's work, so it was a reasonable decision to postpone the search for the time being," said.

As provost for at least the next few months, Walker said his top priority will be to help Muse carry out the academic policies of the university. In doing so, he said, he expects and will seek high levels of faculty involvement. "I am very open to input,"
Walker said. "I don't profess to have all the answers, and I will talk with anyone who has constructive input."

A professor of mechanical engineering and dean of AU's College of Engineering since 1988, Walker implemented the strategic planning and continuous quality improvement processes at the college and has launched initiatives to improve retention of women and minority students in engineering at Auburn.

Due to increased emphasis on retention and graduation of students, the College of Engineering at Auburn now ranks in the top 15 in the nation in the number of undergraduate engineering degrees awarded.

As dean of one of Auburn's oldest and largest colleges for 10 years, Walker has overseen successful efforts to modernize engineering facilities and programs, involve faculty in strategic planning for the college, increase the minority and female student populations to more than the national average, institute awards for quality teaching and expand the engineering curriculum to include broader exposure to the liberal arts.

During his tenure as dean, the total value of business operations in the college has doubled to $40 million and the College of Engineering has seen its endowment increase from $1 million to almost $20 million,.

Walker is a member of the university president's quality improvement council, has served three times on the president's budget advisory council, served on AU presidential committees and task forces on information technology, priorities and goals, distance education and the university's mission.

Before joining the Auburn faculty in 1988, Walker was a professor and department head at Rice University. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Walker is a member of the university president's quality improvement council, has served three times on the president's budget advisory council, served on AU presidential committees and task forces on information technology, priorities and goals, distance education and the university's mission.

Before joining the Auburn faculty in 1988, Walker was a professor and department head at Rice University. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Deadline near to submit reorganization plans

Friday, July 31, is the final day for faculty, staff and members of the public to submit proposals for university reorganization to the AU President's Office.

President William Muse is receiving proposals for reorganization from individuals and organizations for the remainder of this week. He is turn the recommendations over to the Commission to Review AU's Role at the panel's 1 p.m. meeting on Aug. 7 in the Conference Center.

The commission was created by the Board of Trustees in April to recommend updates to the university's strategic plan and organizational structure, which are based upon the 21st Century Commission plan adopted in 1997. Although the commission's initial report is scheduled for the Board's Sept. 4 session, the panel's facilitator has recommended delaying a final report until January.

Commission members agreed at their July 10 session to solicit reorganization ideas from the public through the President's Office. The first proposal came at the July 10 meeting, in which Billy Powell, executive director of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, presented a plan to reorganize AU's agricultural programs.
Anticipating more proposals, the commission established the formal submission process.

Muse has asked persons submitting proposals to identify themselves on the proposal, describe the proposed changes and state their rationale. The rationale would include the educational enhancement to be obtained, information about the efficiencies to be obtained, the viability of the changes and economies of scale to be achieved.

For more on the reorganization, see: Special Report: Charting the Future: A Look Back.

Muse tells TQM congress about AU's quality improvements

AU President William Muse described Auburn's quality improvement efforts to an international audience recently at the World Congress for Total Quality Management in Sheffield, England.

In remarks to an audience of business scholars from around the world, Muse outlined the university's efforts to streamline operations and establish ongoing processes for quality improvement. His comments examined the strategic planning of the 21st Century Commission and the reorganization and quality improvement activities of the Office of Student Affairs.

Muse noted that Vice President for Student Affairs Bettye Burkhalter led that office through major changes with processes she advocated as assistant provost for quality improvement before assuming the Student Affairs post in 1995.

Quality improvement at Auburn gained added impetus in 1995-96 in response to the 7.5 percent cut in state appropriations that year, Muse said. He cited actions by the university to maintain quality in the face of budget cuts by eliminating 348 positions, consolidating or eliminating centers and institutes, streamlining Student Affairs operations and privatizing the university medical center, and implementing the 21st Century Commission recommendations for raising revenues, reducing costs, conducting academic program reviews and reallocating resources.

"We are constantly searching for better and more efficient ways to do things and are questioning whether we should be doing all the things we do," he added.

In addition to Muse's presentation to the conference, he and Burkhalter authored a peer-reviewed article, "Restructuring brings quality improvements to Auburn University," for the current edition of the journal Total Quality Management.

The journal article details processes used in the reorganization of and other quality improvement efforts in the Office of Student Affairs.

Outreach provides 'Summer Experience'

Auburn Outreach and 11 civic organizations and individuals in Alabama and Georgia provided nearly $4,500 in scholarship funds for 13 students to attend AU's recent Summer Experience '98 Industrial Design Workshop and Junior High Honor Band camp.

Auburn's Outreach Program Office, with collaboration from the Department of Industrial Design and other schools and colleges, conducted the workshops.

"Several aspiring artists were able to attend this year as a result of these efforts," said Sam Burney, director of the OPO.

In one case, seven entities came together to provide funding for Bobby Porch of Fort
Payne to attend the design camp.

"Through increased individual participation and scholarship support from area art associations, businesses and the vice president of University Outreach, David Wilson, the Design Workshop continues to be one of the best Summer Experiences offered at Auburn University," said OPO developer Sondra Hennessee.

"Sondra's efforts were the key to the remarkable 150 percent increase in attendance at Design Camp this year," said Burney. "This camp had never attracted more than eight participants until this year. This year there were 20."

AU Outreach funded three students from West Alabama to attend the Design Workshop '98 and six students from Loachapoka to attend the Junior High Honor Band Camp.

Greensboro students Timothy Joe, his brother Christopher and Willie Rutledge attended the Design Workshop on scholarships provided by AU Outreach.

"I didn't know what to expect in the Industrial Design program," said Timothy, 15.
"I have learned much in this class and realize what it takes to get a new product on the shelf."

Rich Britnell, associate professor in the Department of Industrial Design, was the instructor for the summer camp.

"This year's group of 20 was the largest group we have ever had for the summer workshop," said Britnell. "The quality of work produced by the group was outstanding. The students work ethic was impressive, and they rose to the occasion to produce some very skillful work."

And from Ft. Payne to Foley to Douglasville, Ga., local arts associations joined forces with churches, schools, businesses and individuals to find ways to provide scholarships totaling $4,455.

Following is a complete listing of the students and their sponsors.
For Design Workshop:

Jaclyn McCloud and Angel Boyd were sponsored by the Douglasville, Ga., Arts Council, the Friends of Art and Music Education and the Douglas County Public Education Trust Fund.

Bobby Porch of Fort Payne, was sponsored by the Big Wills Art Council, Sandra Comley of the Big Wills Art Council, St. Joseph Episcopal Church, the Artists' Guild, Dortha Williamson of the Jackson/Dekalb Writers Guild, Vicky Kirby Investments and Ray Stone of the Optimist Club of Ft. Payne's "Friends of Youth."

Toni Wynne of Orange Beach was sponsored by the Performing Arts Association of Foley.

Rutledge and the Joe brothers were sponsored by AU Outreach.

For JHS Summer Honor Band Camp, the following Loachapoka students were sponsored by AU Outreach: Shana Andrews, Jami Benson, Ezell Quartez, Johnny Johnson II, Montavious Ray and Evette Reese.

Oyster research seeks better harvests, safer eating

Two Auburn researchers -- David Rouse and Yolanda Brady -- are involved in work to improve oyster production in Mobile Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and in privately owned reservoirs along the Alabama coast.

"Oysters have played an important role in Alabama's coastal economy since the late 1800s," says Rouse, a professor in the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture. "But oyster populations in Mobile Bay fluctuate. The natural harvest has good and bad years."

Auburn's efforts involve developing hatchery techniques to help ensure an even oyster harvest, which is a key component of Alabama's $300 million-a-year seafood industry.

Most natural oyster cultures grow on the bottom, Rouse says. Fluctuations in water influx into Mobile Bay, however, directly impact production.

"Flooding and drought conditions, the amount of silt coming into the bay, the numbers of natural predators inhabiting the bay due to these changes in conditions - all affect oyster production," Rouse said.

To offset these variables, Auburn researchers are evaluating different hatchery techniques and methods for suspending oysters off the bottom.

Evaluations thus far have been positive for this three-dimensional growing area, Rouse said.

"Suspending young oysters in bags, directly in the water column helps keep them away from natural predators," he said. "We've also found that being placed directly in the water column provides ample food supplies."

In addition to improved hatchery techniques, Brady's concentration is on disease control and prevention.

"We began to realize quickly that we could do things to help increase oyster production, but the oysters had to be safe," said Brady, an associate professor in Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture. "One of the things we've been looking at is Vibrio Vulnificus control."

Vibrio Vulnificus is a bacterium that has been linked to illness in people who eat contaminated oysters, Brady said. However, it can be purged in high concentrations of salt water.

Using the hatchery suspension techniques, market-sized oysters are removed from the Mobile Bay culture sites and placed in salty Gulf waters for a holding period of two to three weeks before final harvest.

"We have found that through this procedure, Vibrio Vulnificus numbers are significantly reduced," Brady said.

Brady added that Vibrio Vulnificus contamination appears to be greatest during the warmer months. Oysters harvested from late October or early November until late spring are virtually free of the bacterium.

The Gulf's warm, rich waters that are conducive to aquaculture production are also conducive to bacteria growth, Rouse added.

"Because of this, post-harvest handling is very important," Rouse said.

"Improper handling is a major contributor to bacteria contamination," Brady added. "We're looking at this in our research as well."

Brown shows merits, means of organic gardening

Unable to find a suitable textbook for his popular AU course on organic gardening written for students and home gardeners, AU Horticulture Professor James E. Brown wrote his own.

The book, Organic Gardening: Vegetable Growing in Simple Terms, was recently published by Simon & Schuster Custom Printing, which turned to the AU professor when it needed a book that students and home gardeners can understand

Brown uses the book and a companion study guide in his course on organic gardening, which attracts approximately 2,500 students a year. One of the most popular options for students in all majors, the course in organic gardening teaches gardening without chemicals as a relaxing and healthy hobby the students can use throughout life, he said.

Gardening is one of the favorite pastimes of health-conscious Americans, said Brown, who noted that the course teaches students scientific methods of growing vegetables without chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.

In his classes, Brown stresses to the students that organic gardening requires patience and scientific precision to fully implement, but the results are worth the effort, he adds. By learning how to garden organically, students become more aware of and protective of the natural environment, and their quality of life improves as they break away from the stresses of their careers, he said.

Unlike many college texts, the 122-page book describes in simple terms the steps gardeners take to prepare the soil for and to grow vegetables.

Much of the book is targeted for Southern gardeners and provides information on the growing of sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, blueberries, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, okra, cabbage, squash and other popular vegetables.

Simon & Schuster also offers the book to home gardeners through commercial bookstores around the South.

Facilties to reopen Roosevelt Avenue

The Facilities Division has announced plans to reopen Roosevelt Avenue to traffic the week of July 27-31 and to close the Noble Hall parking lot for a few days for repaving.

Culvert repairs were near completion last week along Roosevelt west of Mell Street. The project is expected to conclude work that has caused rerouting of traffic on Mell and Roosevelt at times this summer, said David Story, communications consultant for the Facilities Division.

Achievements

Fred Kam, chief medical officer of the AU Medical Clinic has been selected by his peers to be included in the fourth listing of The Best Doctors in America. Selection is based on an exhaustive survey in which more than 35,000 doctors throughout the United States were asked to rate the clinical abilities of other doctors in their area of specialization. Only those physicians who earned the consensus support of their peers are included.

Col. Danny C. Rehm, assistant professor of Air Science, has been named Outstanding Region Advisor for the Arnold Air Society's 11 areas-regions. The Arnold Air Society is the national professional fraternity of the Air Force ROTC. The award was presented at the 50th annual conclave in Atlanta.

Ross Heck and Ray Dugas of the graphic design faculty in the Department of Art, have been notified that the OwlBay Publishers logo the two designed has been chosen for entry in the 1998 Print Regional Design Annual. The annual is one of the most widely read national publications in the field of graphic design, photography and illustration. Of the 35,000 individual entries, only 5 percent are chosen for inclusion in the annual, representing the best in visual communication from every area of the country.

Kelley D. Alley, an associate professor of anthropology, has been elected treasurer for the Society for Urban National and International Anthropology.

Susan L. Roberson, an instructor of English, has recently had her book Women, America, and Movement: Narratives of Relocation published by the University of Missouri Press.

Donna Angarano, associate dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been named president of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.

Campus Roundup

BC/BS representative to visit
AU's Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative will be on campus Aug. 11 from 10 a.m.-noon in the Payroll and Benefits Office at Ingram 212 to answer questions from AU faculty and staff about their health insurance coverage and other Blue Cross/Blue Shield benefits. No appointment is necessary.

Class to host career fair
Students in a Human Sciences class will present a career fair from 1-3 p.m. Aug. 3 in Spidle 220 and 244. The presentation will focus on career options in a broad range of Human Sciences fields. The course -- Introduction to Careers in Human Development and Family Studies -- is taught by Anthony Salandy.

Unsung Hero: Cynthia Spinks, College of Business

This week's Unsung Hero is Cynthia A. Spinks, administrative assistant in the Dean's Office of the College of Business. She has been with the College of Business for 18 years. She was asked:

I get the greatest satisfaction in my job when... "I have completed several different tasks within the same deadline, along with efficiently assisting the faculty, staff, and students in the College of Business. I have always taken pride and am very dedicated to my work. Performing daily or last minute requests or challenges is something I thrive on."

In my job area, quality is measured by... "effectively conducting business daily with accuracy and teamwork whenever needed."

If I could change one thing about Auburn (or my job), it would be... "make sure there was enough money in our budget to hire a full-time receptionist to screen calls and answer the telephone."

I've always wondered why... "it is so hard for people to be respectful and courteous to one another. It is very difficult to explain to people the policies and procedures here at Auburn. Then later, the staff are the ones who get the raw deal."

When people come to this campus, I want them to... "feel they are part of the Auburn Family. All our visitors should feel the great Auburn spirit that most of us feel regardless of social status."

In my spare time, I like to... "do home decor (floral arrangements, wallpaper, painting, etc.) and taking a drive with my son, while listening to Kenny G for relaxation. Also, experiencing that unconditional love he gives me."

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