Editor: Roy Summerford. Contributing editors: Pete Pepinsky, Bob Lowry, Janet McCoy and David Granger. Research Editor: Mitch Emmons. Outreach Editor: Diane Clifton.

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

Funding cuts take toll on graduate student numbers, may impact research

Enrollment at Auburn this fall is down 1.3 percent from last year, with most of the decrease coming in graduate enrollment as academic programs respond to a continuing decline in state financial support.

Total enrollment is 21,505, compared to 21,778 last year. Undergraduate enrollment, however, dropped just 0.3 percent, 52 students, to 18, 733, a decrease that James Golson, newly appointed assistant vice president for enrollment management, said appears to be part of the normal ebb and flow of a stable enrollment.

Undergraduate enrollment is well within the accepted range for annual fluctuations, Golson said.

Graduate enrollment, however, declined 7.4 percent, 273 students, to 2,772.
Graduate School Dean John Pritchett cited national trends and a reduction in number of graduate assistantships by some academic departments to match available resources. The graduate enrollment decrease almost matches the 7.5 percent cut in state funding to higher education two years ago, and Auburn has not received an increase in state appropriations since that funding cut.

Pritchett said Auburn might be able to buck a national trend of declining graduate school enrollments if it had adequate resources. He noted that requests for information about AU graduate programs were up 25 percent for this year and are now at an all-t ime high.

Many students are already burdened by four or more years of undergraduate student loans, and they offset part of their graduate school costs by working as teaching or research assistants, he explained. "They have to choose a university that provides comp etitive compensation."

Pritchett said the state of Alabama may soon feel the impact, noting that engineering and science research are likely to be affected by large graduate enrollment decreases in those fields. "The graduate programs with the largest declines are in those are as which traditionally have brought in the greatest amount of extramural research funding and which have been closely identified with economic development," he said.

Some departments have reduced the number of graduate assistantships and used the savings to make the remaining ones more competitive, Pritchett said. He cited the History Department, which cut its graduate assistantships from 35 to 28.
Among undergraduates, freshmen enrollment is down 4 percent to 3,212, but Golson, the enrollment management head, noted that most of the decrease came, as predicted, in out-of-state freshman. Enrollment of those students fell 9 percent to 1,065.

In-state enrollment was 2,147, down just 1 percent, 29 students, from last year.
The university has tightened requirements for in-state residency of students from outside Alabama and requires those students to pay three times the tuition of students from in-state. Georgia, meanwhile, has used its HOPE scholarship program as an induc ement to keep more of its top students at public institutions in that state.
Measures enacted within the past year will allow Auburn to grant in-state status to students from nine Georgia counties within 50 miles of campus and provide partial scholarships to qualified out-of-state children of Auburn Alumni Association lifetime mem bers.

Auburn, meanwhile, recorded an increase in transfer students, 1,685 from 1,586 last year, with all the increase coming in out-of-state students. Those numbers increased from 306 last year to 400 this year. Golson said it is too early to determine why mor e students are transferring to Auburn from out-of-state community colleges and four year institutions.

Enrollment of black students remains at 6 percent of the student body, despite a decline in black enrollment to 1,289 from 1,347 last year. Retention is up but Auburn experienced a decline in black freshmen to 180 from 219 and transfers from 112 to 84.

James C. Brown, executive director for minority advancement, said his office began working with the Admissions Office in March in recruitment of black students, and he expects recent initiatives to lead to an increase next year. Those initiatives includ e closer working relationships with community colleges and high schools that have large numbers of African-American students.

State of University address: Muse sees academic successes despite budget setbacks

President William Muse pointed out silver linings in the university's dark economic clouds last week in remarks to Auburn faculty.

He also warned of continued financial stresses which he said can best be addressed through a united front by Auburn faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Successes during three years of severe underfunding from the state demonstrate that Auburn can control its destiny if the university takes decisive action, he said.
Muse said the university must make hard choices if it is to preserve the quality of academic programs and continue the recent successes.

Auburn alumni, faculty, staff and students need to work together to reverse the funding trend of the past three years in 1998, he added.

"We must, and I believe we are, beginning to take greater control of our own destiny," Muse said.

Although all Auburn constituencies must continue to work for increased support from the state, such support cannot be the sole solution to the university's financial problems, he added.

The plan submitted to the Board of Trustees in August offers the best opportunity to improve Auburn's financial prospects, Muse said. By improving the its finances, Auburn can protect its academic quality and competitiveness, he said.

Failure to act will have its consequences, the president warned. "If we let the quality of our programs and services decline, our reputation will surely suffer and our ability to attract outstanding faculty and students will be diminished," he said.

Muse said the plan presented to the Board of Trustees addresses the two biggest problems the university faces: increasingly non-competitive faculty compensation and old and inappropriate facilities. The strategy includes revenue enhancement and cost red uction.

The revenue enhancement phase includes annual tuition increases until Auburn tuition reaches the regional average. A second part involves enforcement of strict residency requirements to assure that at least 25 percent of Auburn students pay out of-state tuition.

"But revenue enhancements alone will not solve our problems," Muse said. "We must look at all ways in which we can reduce our costs while serving the same number of students."

He noted the university has made major cost reductions on the administrative side through downsizing in many units and reorganization of others such as Student Affairs. "But we also can and must look at a reduction in the number of academic programs that we offer as another source for obtaining the resources that are needed."

Muse said all programs need to be evaluated in terms of productivity, cost, quality and centrality to Auburn's mission. Programs that do not meet viability standards in terms of graduates per year provide a starting point, but graduation rates will not b e the sole criterion, he said. Nor should those programs be the only ones to be evaluated, he added.

"The bottom line is that in order to be able to bring our salaries up to the levels desired and to address the many problems that we are encountering in our facilities, we are going to have to reduce the scope of our activities and put our resources into those areas where we can do the best job, and where the demand for our services is the greatest," Muse said.

"That is a difficult job," he added. "I don't like to do it, you don't want to do it, but it has to be done if we want to maintain Auburn's reputation for quality."

The alternative of doing nothing would lead to deterioration of quality across the board, he warned. "We can survive a long time if we are content with mediocrity. But that is not the strategy I recommend and that is not the strategy I plan to pursue."< P>

Successes cited by AU President

Successes cited by President William Muse in his State of the University address on Oct. 14 include:
€ National recognition of the School of Architecture's Rural Studio.
€ A 97 percent passing rate for Nursing School graduates taking the National Council Licensing Exam.
€ More than $2 million in federal funding to the Psychology Department for research on substance abuse.
€ $3.5 million in research funding to the College of Engineering and the School of Human Sciences through the National Textile Center.
€ The nation's first distance education master's degree program in nutrition and food science with an emphasis in hotel and restaurant management is in the School of Human Sciences.
€ The School of Forestry has developed a professional logging managers course that has been endorsed by the American Forest and Paper Association.
€ Successful compliance with a federal court decree to merge cooperative extension services at AU and Alabama A&M into the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
€ High marks toward AU from Auburn students in the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory.
€ A successful start to the new student transit system, which is exceeding 4,000 riders a day.
€ The newly private AU Medical Center finished its first year in the black and upgraded facilities and services to students.
€ AU's Athletic Department finished the year in the top 20 among NCAA institutions in the Sears Director's Cup that evaluates competition in all sports for men and women.
€ Continued expansion of a campuswide computer-access system that has already earned Auburn recognition as one of the nation's "most wired" campuses.
€ Addition of a linear accelerator at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
€ Approval by the AU Foundation and the AU Alumni Association of plans to expand alumni and development staff involved in fund-raising and related activities.
€ Skillful management of the university's health insurance program that enabled the program to maintain existing rates for another year.
€ In spite of three years of operating at reduced funding from the state, Auburn was able to generate a 3 percent salary increase last year and a 2 percent increase effective Jan. 1, plus a $500 salary supplement in December for faculty and staff.

AU salaries to get fresh look

President William Muse responded to concerns voiced at last week's general faculty meeting with a promise to take a fresh look at alleged disparities between faculty and administrative salaries.

With several of the approximately 75 faculty at the session questioning the gap between administrative and faculty averages, Muse said he has no problem with examining differences as long as positions are compared against positions with similar responsibi lities and personnel at competing institutions.

A comparison of administrative and faculty positions at Auburn and competing Southeastern universities will be published in an upcoming AU Report.

The university president said he has to consider the good of the university in considering salaries for key administrative positions. Among factors cited earlier are market forces, the nature of the work and the assumption of extra duties.

Among the recommendations from faculty was a proposal to hold pay steady for administrators until faculty pay increases to 90 or 95 percent of the Southeastern average for comparable institutions. Muse called the suggestion reasonable.

Muse also repeated his pledge to involve faculty in reviewing programs for academic viability. The University Senate has voted to establish a committee to represent the faculty in program reviews.

The AU president noted that short timetable in which he had to comply with a Board of Trustees request last summer precluded faculty involvement in selecting academic programs for the initial review. But, he added, the programs for initial review were re adily identifiable because of low graduation rates. Although graduation rates are not the only variable, they provided a starting point for review, he said.

Budget to include pay hike, new health plan

Budget guidelines including a 2 percent pay increase and a $500 per employee one time distribution were approved by the AU Board of Trustees on Oct. 9

In the absence of additional funds from the state, the university is scraping together the pay increase from cost savings and a portion of this fall's 9 percent increase in tuition. The $500 distribution will go to employees in December, and the pay rais e will be effective Jan. 1 for those employed as of June 1.

President William Muse said the pay improvement is the top priority in budget preparation. Muse said a commitment to cost cutting throughout the university and support from the Board of Trustees for the administration's budget proposals enabled the admin istration to save enough for the pay increase.

This is the second year in a row that the university has provided a pay increase in the absence of new funds from the state. Muse said a review of budgets for the past two decades found no precedent for salary increases without state funding.

The main campus total budget is approximately $300 million.

The board also approved a proposed change in the employee health insurance program to permit a choice of Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans between the existing Preferred Provider plan and a new Personal Choice plan, effective Jan. 1.

Under the Personal Choice plan, employees will be offered the opportunity to choose a doctor as their primary physician. Those choosing this plan must go through that doctor before consulting a specialist about a medical problem. The plan will be offere d at lower monthly cost and, unlike the Preferred Provider plan, will include coverage for annual physicals.

In other action, the board approved construction of a women's sports facility to replace the Sports Arena, which burned in 1996. The construction will be financed with insurance proceeds, private gifts and Athletic Department revenues.

The board, meanwhile, tabled selection of an architect for an art museum after members split in their support for two architectural firms. Once the architect issue is resolved, construction cannot start until funds are available from private sources.

'Borrowed' AU logo bites the dust at other institution

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is looking for a new logo for its football helmets, jerseys and equipment.

The superimposed AU worn by Pine Bluff athletes for the past 10 years has been Auburn property since it was developed by the late Jeff Beard, during his 21-year tenure as athletic director.

The logo issue between AU and UAPB began when Jim Hardin, AU student life director, picked up the sports section of a Little Rock, Ark., newspaper. He spotted an AU football photo... but it wasn't.

Hardin shared the newspaper with AU Licensing Director Susan Smith, who worked through the Collegiate Licensing Council, of which both universities are members. On Oct. 15, the UAPB Office of Sports Information issued a news release announcing the end of the AU at the 2,953-student campus.

"UAPB made the decision after it received inquiries from Auburn University about the similarity of the logo to the AU logo that has been used by Auburn since 1966," the release said.

Licensing Director Smith said Auburn netted $700,000 for academic and athletic scholarships in 1996 from the licensing program. "The primary reason for this licensing program is that Auburn could lose control and rights to our trademark if we don't prote ct it," she added.

Semester switch prompts changes in core curriculum

AU has adopted a core curriculum based on 41 credit hours for its semester academic calendar, which will go into effect in late August 2000.

The core is designed to expose undergraduate students to a broad curriculum, including science, mathematics, social sciences and liberal arts. It consists of 61 credit hours under Auburn's current quarter system, with courses based on five or three quarte r credit hours.

With the transition to semesters in the fall term of 2000, courses will be based on three or four semester credit hours.

"This semester core curriculum satisfies Auburn's educational needs and the state's General Studies requirement," said Provost Paul Parks. "The courses designed meet the objectives of the original core to enhance development of student's analytical skill s; build their communication skills; and encourage a multi cultural appreciation."

Under the semester core, undergraduate students will take six hours of history; six hours of written composition; six hours of the Great Books program in literature; three hours in fine arts; three hours of philosophy; eight hours of science; three hours of math; and six hours in the social sciences.

Some flexibility is built into the social science sequence, with students given options to select courses from among two groups. Group One includes U101 Social Science (Society, Culture and the Environment), Psychology, Sociology, Geography and Anthropol ogy. Group Two includes U102 Social Science (Political Economy), Political Science and Economics.

Auburn is one of the few major universities in the United States still operating on a quarter academic calendar.

During the three-year semester transition process now underway, Auburn's entire curriculum is being redesigned. When the transition is implemented in fall 2000, two 15-week semester terms and a 10-week summer term will replace the four 10 week terms under the present quarter system.

Noted sociologist to headline conference on race, poverty & criminal justice

One of the nation's leading authorities on the growth of the urban underclass in America will be keynote speaker for a teleconference on "Race, Poverty and the Criminal Justice System," Monday, Nov. 3, at Auburn University.

Sociologist William Julius Wilson was cited by Time magazine as one of America's 25 most influential people in 1996 for his defining works on the relationship between the loss of industry and the growth of a poor underclass.

Time said of Wilson: "Indeed, no thinker has done more than the 60-year-old sociologist to explain why the black underclass sank into such misery and isolation at the same time millions of other African-Americans were escaping from the ghetto to cr eate a vibrant middle class."

Wilson heads a list of authorities from the government, private and academic sectors for the live, interactive teleconference at the AU Conference Center.

The Harvard sociologist, whom President Clinton credited with shaping his views on race and poverty, will lead a panel of experts in presentations from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Other panelists include Bryan Stevenson, director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery; James H. Johnson Jr., Adams Distinguished Professor of Geography, Business and Sociology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; attorney Richard H alperin, former chair of the board of Amnesty, International; Paul Pedersen, author and professor of human sciences at the University of Alabama, Birmingham; and Wendell J. Chambliss, legislative director for Congressman Earl Hilliard of Alabama.

The morning sessions, starting at 9:15 a.m., include presentations by academic, government and private sector leaders in the target areas.

The conference will explore problems that are national in scope yet several impact on cities and rural areas in Alabama and Georgia. Many cities and small towns in these states are experiencing stresses related to race, poverty and crime, said conference coordinator Renee Middleton, director of human resources for AU's College of Education.

Topics to be explored include the educational, social, political implications and impact of race, poverty and the criminal justice system, both locally and nationally.

The goal, Middleton said, is to help people understand the issues better, not to promote one ideology or another. "We want to look at things that are working and see how they can be applied on a broader basis," she added.

Among questions to be addressed are:

€ How can we use educational and political processes to achieve positive outcomes
and solutions in our communities?
€ What happens to a community when work disappears?
€ Can we live in a race neutral society with race neutral programs?
€ What is the impact of family structure on poverty?
€ How are all of these issues played out in our political system?

Wilson, whose latest book is When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor and the Truly Disadvantaged, has influenced the debate on race, poverty and economic class since publication in 1978 of his book The Declining Significance of Rac e, in which he predicted trends of the subsequent two decades, attributing many of the emerging problems of inner cities to a mix of racial and class attitudes and the "suburbanization" of business and manufacturing.

A professor at the University of Chicago for 24 years and a professor of social policy at Harvard since 1996, Wilson has been criticized by some liberals and conservatives alike for not sharing their views. However, his pioneering studies have been prais ed by Time, U.S. News & World Report and The New York Times for providing deeper insights into the interrelationships of class, race, economic changes, poverty and crime.

Speakers for the morning sessions include Karen Taylor, Alabama State University; Brian Fair, University of Alabama; Barry Burkhart and William E. Kelly, Auburn; and Mathew Whiteside and Aubrey Womack, Stillman College.

For registration or downlink information, contact Middleton at 334/844-4446 or by e mail at middlre@mail.auburn.edu .

Causey named first Ireland Professor

Keith Causey, an AU professor of zoology and wildlife science, is the recipient the first William R. & Fay Ireland Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Wildlife Science.

Causey, who also leads Auburn's white-tailed deer research program, said he sees his position as Ireland Professor as a chance to enhance the quality and reputation of Auburn's wildlife science program.

"Being awarded the first Ireland Distinguished Professorship in Wildlife Science is, of course, the highlight of my 30-year career at Auburn," Causey said. "Over the next three years, I hope to set a positive example for future Ireland recipients in my e fforts toward increased scholarships, fellowships and other program developments as well as significantly contributing to the quality and visibility of our wildlife teaching, research and extension programs at AU."

The Ireland Professorship was created through an initial endowment of $300,000 from William R. Ireland and his wife, Fay, and is administered by the Auburn University Foundation, through which contributions may be made to the endowment.

Ireland attended Auburn in the early 1940s before serving in World War II. The long-time Vulcan Materials Co. executive and board member has made numerous generous contributions to AU and is the namesake of the William R. Ireland Fisheries Laboratory at A U's Fisheries Research Unit. He received an honorary degree from Auburn in 1993, serves on the board of the Auburn University Foundation and on the advisory council for AU's College of Mathematics and Sciences.

Ireland is also a board member and past president of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, a member of the advisory board of the Alabama Wildlife Rescue Service and a member of the Governor's Committee on the Forever Wild amendment. He has been honored for his efforts on behalf of wildlife with the 1994 Walter L. Mims Lifetime Achievement Award in Wildlife Conservation and the 1995 Ducks Unlimited Marsh Project Award.

As Ireland Professor, chief among Causey's goals will be to develop among various sources -- private industry, alumni and other individuals or groups -- an interest in funding scholarships and/or fellowships in wildlife science. Causey hopes to identify, locate and organize AU wildlife science alumni for their assistance and to eventually create an Auburn Wildlife Alumni Scholarship program.

Before joining the Auburn faculty, Causey received a bachelor's degree in forestry, a master's degree in game management and a doctorate in entomology -- all from Louisiana State University. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 published research and magazine articles on topics ranging from the effects of insecticide residues on certain game species to age estimations of white-tailed deer.

Causey is a member of The Wildlife Society at the national, regional, state and local levels. During his career, he also has been active in the Alabama Academy of Sciences, the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners and the Alabama Conser vancy.

College of Business looks at expanding new international program

The AU College of Business hopes to build on its inaugural Central European Studies Program that sent 30 students to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary over the summer.

The students were accompanied on the four-week program by Daniel Butler, associate professor and chair of the Department of Marketing & Transportation and Sharon Oswald, Privatt Professor of Management.
Oswald said the program was "designed to give students with varying academic interests first-hand experience with the political, economic and social concerns of the transitional economies of Central Europe in an experimental learning environment."

The students were in Central Europe from July 7 until Aug. 4. The program was divided between the cities and suburbs of Prague, Bratislava and Budapest.
"They (students) got the opportunity to go into companies and learn about the changes and problems they're experiencing and have question-and-answer sessions with the managers," said Oswald. Some of the industries visited included an auto plant, a glass f actory, a chemical plants, a hospital, stock exchange and a brewery.

The 22 undergraduate students received 10 credit hours credit in Business and Cultural Issues in the Central European Environment and International
Business Studies. The eight graduate students received 10 credit hours credit for Business and Society: Special Problems in the Central European Environment and Multinational Business Operations.

Meanwhile, eight students conducted feasibility studies for Takata/Highland Industries for a third class (Special Studies In International Marketing). The class met before and after the trip to Central Europe. Students got first-hand experience through their charge from Frank Roe, chief executive officer of Takata/Highland, to go to Central Europe to study investment opportunities for the $600 million company. While in Central Europe, the students meet with industry officials and gathered information for their reports. The later completed the studies which are now being used as part of the company's plan to enter the Central European market.

Students paid $3,000 for the program, which included tuition, airfare, fees, lodging and some meals, received five credit hours. Students spent most of their time at the Czech Management Center -- three weeks -- in Celakovice, a village on the outskirts o f Prague.

"The value of this program is studying and learning about another world out there," said Oswald. "A lot of these students had never been outside the United States. They probably take for granted what we have. I think it was an eye-opening experience for them."

The students were in Central Europe from July 7 until Aug. 4.

"We are now in the process of setting up the program for next summer and
again expect a sellout," says Butler.

Doty named visiting eminent scholar

William Doty, professor of religious studies at the University of Alabama, has accepted a one-year appointment as the Visiting Goodwin-Philpott Eminent Scholar in Religion at AU.

Doty, who has taught at Alabama since 1981, was an adjunct faculty member at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, Calif., in 1996. He is also an adjunct professor in Emory University's Graduate Institute for the Liberal Arts.

Doty will teach several classes in AU's religious studies program in the Department of History, including Introduction to the New Testament, the Current Religious Scene, Jesus as well as a seminar.

He is the author of several books, including Myths of Masculinity, Mythography: The Study of Myths and Rituals, Letters in Primitive Christianity and Contemporary New Testament Interpretation.

Architecture School receives gift

The Alabama Board for Registration of Architects has donated $50,000 to AU's School of Architecture to enhance architecture education.

"The board believes the quality of education an architecture student receives plays a pivotal role in the development of a qualified architect," said Board Chairman John Woodham, principal of the Montgomery firm of Woodham and Sharpe Architects.
"This gift today is made from every Alabama registered architect because it is their money."

The Alabama Board for Registration of Architects registers and regulates more than 1,900 resident and non-resident architects and is charged with ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the public.

AU receives network software gift

Htmlscript Corporation has donated a gift of software to AU, says James Stone, executive director of AU Telecommunications/ETV and the Division of University Computing.

"The product allows our faculty to build interactive instructional web pages, surveys, and practice quizzes," Stone said of the gift from Htmlscript, a leader in Worldwide Web server-side application development tools.

Auburn students have used Htmlscript to add guest books and chat rooms
to their web pages.

Joseph Austin, president of Htmlscript, a San Diego, Calif.-based software firm
said AU will be able to install Htmlscript on any of the university's unix web servers at no charge.

Alumni Board gives Bowden its backing

The board of directors of the Auburn Alumni Association has adopted a resolution praising Tiger football coach Terry Bowden for his accomplishments in his first four years.

The resolution was presented to Bowden prior to Auburn's Homecoming game Saturday against Louisiana Tech. Auburn won the game 49-13, running the 1997 season record to 6-0 and Bowden's Auburn record in four-plus years to 42-9-1.

The resolution noted Bowden's perfect 11-0 record in his first season in 1993 -- when he was named national coach of the year -- and his Auburn record 20-game winning streak in his first two years.

"Basically we felt there were some unfair, negative things said in a couple of newspaper articles back in the preseason," said Richard Mitchell, president of the Auburn Alumni Association. "At that time we determined that we wanted to do this resolution to show Terry that the great majority of Auburn people had a great sense of appreciation and affection for him and what he's done."

Mitchell said he told Bowden the resolution was drafted before the Tigers defeated LSU on Sept. 20, adding jokingly, "We're weren't just jumping on the 5-0 bandwagon."

The resolution said, in part, "Through his actions and deeds, Coach Bowden has helped enhance the reputation of Auburn athletics, projected an extremely positive image of Auburn University to the nation at large, and shown himself to be the epitome of an Auburn man."

It also noted that Bowden has been an "enthusiastic supporter" of the programs and initiatives of the Auburn Alumni Association, attending more than 175 Auburn Club meetings, hosting club events in his home and "conducting himself as a true member of the Auburn family."

The resolution was signed by Mitchell and Betty DeMent, vice president for alumni & development. Athletic Director David Housel was also present when a copy of the resolution was presented to Bowden.

Gallery displays work of Southern artist Beverly Buchanan

AU's Department of Art and the Opelika Arts Association will sponsor the works of Southern artist Beverly Buchanan through Nov. 15 at the Biggin Hall Art Gallery.

Buchanan, who lives in Athens, Ga., will also give a public lecture on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Opelika Arts Association. Buchanan's work will be on display during normal business hours at the Biggin Hall Art Gallery.

Buchanan creates three-dimensional works made of scavenged material, colorful large scale drawing and photographs that celebrate the spirit of the people of her childhood.

Her ideas come from her travels as a child with her father, Walter Buchanan, an agriculturalist and college dean, through rural South Carolina and Georgia. It is her memories of tenant families and migrant workers that have formed for her a personal symbo l -- an intersection of architecture, folk art and social commentary -- the shack.

Buchanan earned the master's degree in public health and parasitology from Columbia University and served as a medical technologist and health administrator before devoting herself to her art. Her work has been exhibited widely and is represented in many public and private collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. She has received the Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships.
The work in this exhibition is provided courtesy of the Steinbaum Krauss Gallery in New York.

National program head to speak on ways to aid freshman adjustment

John Gardner, founder and executive director of the National Resource Center for the Freshman Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina, will speak at AU on Nov. 4.

Gardner will make two presentations at Foy Union, Room 213.

The first -- from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. -- "Issues Facing the First Year Student" is aimed at faculty and staff who work with or teach first year students. The second, from 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m., "Improving Teaching and Learning for the First Year Student" i s for U100 and other freshmen instructors and interested faculty.

Gardner's special area of expertise in higher education is the creation of programs to enhance the success and retention of students in transition, especially freshmen.

He has authored or co-authored several articles and books, including College is Only the Beginning, Step by step to College Success,Your College Experience, The Freshman Year Experience, Ready for the Real Worl d and The Senior Year Experience.

In his 29th year at South Carolina, Gardner has honorary doctoral degrees from Marietta College, Baldwin-Wallace College and Bridgewater State College.

Campus Views: Decoy ducks and land-grant universities
By Jody Graham, Kelly Dean Jolley and Michael Watkins

Some things ought to be too obvious to require proof and too clear to be mistaken.
For example, the validity of the following argument ought to be obvious and unmistakable:

€ Premise: X is a land-grant university.
€ Conclusion: X is a university.

Nonetheless, numerous recent remarks by a few members of the Board of Trustees reveal that those members must regard the argument as invalid. What could explain this?

We believe that the only reasonable diagnosis of the members' mistake is that the members regard "land-grant" in "land-grant university" as an alienating adjective.
That is, the members must think that "land-grant" plays the same role in "land grant university" that "decoy" plays in "decoy duck." The members must think that just as a decoy duck is no kind of duck, a land-grant university is no kind of university. Consider the following invalid argument:

€ Premise: X is a decoy duck.
€ Conclusion: X is a duck.

This argument is invalid because of the role played by "decoy" in "decoy duck." Putting this as logicians might put it, the form of words "decoy duck" cannot be logically segmented: "duck" in "decoy duck" cannot stand on its own. Putting this another way , a decoy duck is not a kind of duck as a mallard duck is a kind of duck. "Mallard" plays a different role in "mallard duck" than "decoy" does in "decoy duck." Proof of this is the fact that the following argument is valid:

€ Premise: X is a mallard duck.
€ Conclusion: X is a duck.

Alienating adjectives are a common feature of the language: Consider "fair weather" in "fair-weather friend," "rubber" in "rubber biscuit" and, arguably, "white" in "white lie." Nonetheless, alienating adjectives often confuse us and lead us into a variety of pseudo-problems, like the pseudo-problem of trying to figure out just what kind of duck a decoy duck is, or what kind of friend a fair-weather friend is. These adjectives can also lead us into other, complementary pseudo-problems, like the problem of trying to figure out what kind of institution a land-grant university is (since we treat it as if it were not a kind of university).

Our idea is that a few members of the Board are snared in just such a pseudo problem. The members, trying to determine what kind of institution a land-grant university is, are engaged in the same busywork as someone who is trying to determine what kind of animal a mallard duck is. A land-grant university is a university; a ma llard duck is a duck. Anyone who hopes intelligently to discuss a land-grant university, its mission and its constitution must start by recognizing the fact that a land-grant university is a university.

Undoubtedly, getting Board members over this pseudo-problem is to do only a little toward solving the problems faced by Auburn. Still, it is to do a little. And what is more, until this little is done, a lot of effort by Board members is going to be wasted "solving" a pseudo-problem. One of the problems faced by Auburn is the problem of deciding what kind of university a land-grant university is, but that problem cannot even be set until we recognize that a land-grant university is a university.

Recognizing that much will at least prevent our confusing Auburn with institutions that are not universities: e.g., junior colleges, trade schools and technical schools. If someone argues that Auburn should be a, say, technical school, he is not argu ing about what kind of university Auburn should be, as a land-grant university, should be. He is arguing that Auburn should not be a land-grant university. (Interestingly, this sort of argument does not seem to tempt folks at land-grant universities like Berkeley, Cornell and Wisconsin -- land-grant universities that have become pre-eminent universities.)

Problems are solved by those who see them. But it is hard to see a problem when it is eclipsed by a pseudo-problem. Clear practical vision of the problems faced by Auburn requires clear, logical vision of the terms in which the problems are set.
Postscript: To decide what kind of university a land-grant university is, we need to think about the Morrill Act. The Act will not decide for us, of course. But it does schematize the concept "land-grant university" and provide an economical lingua f ranca -- a hybrid language for communication between people speaking different languages -- in which to frame the issues relevant to the decision.

***
(Jody Graham, Kelly Dean Jolley and Michael Watkins are faculty members in the Department of Philosophy.)

Achievements

Emily Melvin, assistant dean for student affairs in the College of Education, is serving this year as president of the Alabama Fulbright Association, which consists of faculty, staff and others in Alabama who have served as Fulbright Scholars abroa d or visiting Fulbright Scholars to the U.S. from other countries. She recently represented the state group at a national conference of Fulbright Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Bruce Gladden, an Alumni Professor in the Department of Health and
Human Performance, was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of
Kinesiology and Physical Education during its annual meeting in Chicago.
The academy promotes the sutdy and educational applications of the art and science of human movment and physical activity. Membership in the Academy is limited to 150 Active Fellows. Gladden's induction statement was read by Gil Reeve, Professor in Health and Human Performance. Reeve also received a service award
from the academy for completion of his two-year term as editor of the AAKPE News, the academy's newsletter.

Conner Bailey, a professor or rural sociology, has been invited to serve as an external reader on a doctoral dissertation dealing with social aspects of aquacultural
development in Norway at the Tromso University, Norway. Tromso University is the northernmost university in the world. While in Tromso, Bailey will present a seminar on the globalization of shrimp aquaculture and a seminar on management of marine fisher ies in Southeast Asia.

In September, Herbert Rotfeld, a professor of marketing, was the 1997 Distinguished Visitor at the School of Business at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia. There he worked on joint research projects with Australian faculty and provided lectures, informal talks and other presentations to faculty and students on the disparate topics of misplaced marketing, marketing education and academic research and U.S. advertising self-regulation.

Bill Felkey, an associate professor of pharmacy care systems, was recently invited to give several lectures. His lecture titled "Update on Technology for Patient Care" was given to the California Society of Hospital Pharmacists in Los Angeles, CA. In Kansas City, MO, He spoke to the Missouri Pharmacists Association on "Improving Patient Outcomes Through Electronic Information Resources." Felkey spoke in Washington, D.C. to the National Council for Patient Information and Education on "Technology for Patient Information and Education." His lecture titled "Pharmacist Care: Proven Strategies for Making it Pay Off" was given to the National Community Pharmacists Associations Expo '97 in San Diego, CA. He spoke in Atlanta, GA, at the Medicine-On-Time Phar macy Conference on "Using Technology To Get Paid For Pharmacy Services." Felkey also spoke to the Australian Study Tour in Boston, MA, with a lecture titled "Review of Technology for Pharmacy Services." Felkey also recently published an article titled "So ftware to Support Pharmacy Services" in the May, 1997 issue ofThe Source.

Bruce Berger, a professor in pharmacy care systems, was recently invited to speak at the London Drugs Annual Managers' Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His lecture was titled "Making the Transition to Pharmaceutical Care."
Berger also recently published an article in the May/June 1997 issue of the Journal of fhe American Pharmaceutical Association. The article was titled "Readiness to Change: Implications for Patient Care."

Zdenko Krtic, assistant professor of art, was recently awarded the Grumbacher Gold Medal Award for his painting, "Volvelle Celestial Cartography." The painting won the award in the 5th annual Carnegie Art Center National Exhibition. The juried show t ook place in North Tonawanda, NY, and it featured two of his paintings.

Michael Robinson, assistant director of internal auditing, was recently awarded the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. This designation is awarded only to select professionals who meet a stringent set of criteria, including strict character, experience and educational requirements. Robinson also had to pass a rigorous written exam to obtain his CFE. The exam tested his knowledge of financial transactions, the legal elements of fraud, fr aud investigati on and criminology and ethics.

Sam Fowler of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System is one of 25 Cooperative Extension personnel from across the U.S. selected for the National Extension Leadership Development program. During the two-year program, participants engage in study , research and experiential learning for one week at each of four sites across the nation and for two weeks at an international location. Fowler completed the first seminar on Sept. 21-26 in Vail, Colo. The seminar focused on personal leadership develo pment, leadership theory and philosophy.

Patricia Ellis, associate director of the AU Medical Clinic, was recently awarded the American College Health Association's Ruth E. Boynton Award for distinguished service to the association. She has held several positions with the association, in cluding chair of ACHA's Nursing Section, continuing education committee and subcommitee on continuing nursing education. She also participated in the ACHA College Health Nurse Certification Task Force.

Campus Roundup

New version of Netscape available
Netscape version 4.03 is now available via the AU Install utility. To download this latest version of Netscape, click on the "Updates" button on the AU Install inventory page. For more detailed information on AU Install, see http://auinst.duc.auburn.e du".

AAUP chapter to host open forum
The Auburn Chapter of the AAUP will host an open forum on Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. in Tichenor 206 to discuss the value of shared governance with President
William Muse, Provost Paul Parks and AAUP panel members.

Public lecture to examine genetic research
Chris Brinegar, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State University, will present a public lecture, "Genetic Engineering in the Supermarket," at 7 p.m., Nov. 12, in Broun Hall Auditorium. Brinegar, the Fall Disti nguished Lecturer for the Auburn Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Honor Society, will present a professional seminar earlier in the day.

Muse to speak to staff
AU President William Muse is scheduled to address the Administrative and Professional Assembly at its 3 p.m., Oct. 22, meeting in Foy 217 and the Staff Council at its 2:30 p.m., Oct. 28, meeting in the Pharmacy Auditorium.

Nominations sought for teaching awards
The Auburn Alumni Association is seeking nominations for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Awards. Students, alumni and others are invited to submit nominations for professors from each of Auburn's colleges and schools. Twelve awards with $500 each will be presented in early 1998. The Alumni Association established the awards in 1987 to honor the faculty who teach Auburn undergraduates and to "emphasize the continued importance of good teachers." In 1995, the Alumni Association voted to increase the num ber of awards from two to 12. Deadline for nominations is Dec. 15. For information on nomination procedures, contact Liz Peel, Alumni Teaching Awards, Auburn Alumni Association, by phone at 334/844-1146 or e-mail at peeleli@mail.auburn.edu.

Faculty Handbook now available on web
The revised Faculty Handbook is now available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/faculty_handbook/faculty_han dbook.html . An alternative is to use your web browser to access the Auburn University Home Page under Administra tion/Office of the Provost/Faculty Handbook. You can print Faculty Handbook pages directly from the web page. With the latest version of the Faculty Handbook on the web, commercially printed copies will no longer be available.

Applied mathematics group plans seminar
The Applied Mathematics group at AU is launching the second year of the Auburn Interdisciplinary Seminar. The seminar is a forum for presentations by researchers whose research has ties to mathematics and is of interest to a diverse audience of scientists and engineers. Its goal is to foster inter-disciplinary research at Auburn and encourage collaboration between researchers from different disciplines and different departments. Some areas of current research within the applied mathematics group are numer ical fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics, finite elements, geoscience and climatology, dynamical systems, and wavelet analysis. On Oct. 30, at 3:10 p.m. in Parker 217, Richard Hoover of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, will discuss life in th e universe and the possibility of microscopic-life carrying meteorites. To find updated information about future talks, point your web browser to: http://www.auburn.edu/~ajm/ids.html. To receive e-mail announcements of future talks or if you wish to regi ster as a future speaker in this seminar, contact A. J. Meir at ajm@math.auburn.edu or 844-4290.

Supplemental retirement seminar set for Oct. 28
Representatives of university-approved tax-deferred annuity companies will be on campus Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m.-noon in Foy 213. Company representatives will give a brief overview of each investment plan, and a question and answer session will fo llow. Representatives will be on hand to enroll new participants.

Call to attend retirement seminar
Members of the Employees' or Teachers' Retirement Systems are encouraged by the Office of Payroll and Employee Benefits to attend a retirement seminar at 1 p.m., Nov. 13, in Foy 213. The seminar will be conducted by representatives of the Retirement Sys tems of Alabama. Faculty and staff interested in attending should ensure adequate seating by calling the Payroll and Employee Benefits Office at 844 4183.

Marriage & Family Therapy Center offers help
If you or your family are having marital, child, family, drug, alcohol or related problems, AU's Marriage and Family Therapy Center can help. Call 844-4478.

Forms required for employees to take classes
Employees planning to enroll in AU courses for credit must submit an approved UPO 200 (Request to Enroll in University Course Work) each quarter of attendance. The completed and approved UPO 200 should be sent to University Personnel Services. Forms may b e acquired from departments or Personnel Services.

AU Outreach

AU, Calhoun School become partners in humanities, sciences

A year-long pilot program to bring humanities and science programs to a rural Lowndes County school rich in African-American history has been announced by Auburn University.

The program, which brings humanities and science enrichment opportunities as well as AU professors and students to Calhoun School in Letohatchee, was announced during a community meeting in August.

Funded by AU's Outreach Office, the program was developed by AU's Center for the Arts and Humanities, AU's College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Calhoun School.

The humanities part of the program will focus on school and local history and will feature visits to the school by writers, scholars and artists. The science objective will be met through a Saturday Academy and a mentor program.

"This program will be collaborative in every sense possible," said Associate Provost and Vice President for University Outreach David Wilson. "Auburn University and the Calhoun School, together with faculty and resources, will work jointly to develop and conduct the project."

Calhoun School Principal Willie B. Hill said he believes the program "will bring back the pride to our students that Calhoun has always stood for. The children over the years have lost that.

"We think that just having this program in our school will revive it," said Hill, who oversees the 375-student high school. "We think once students see and understand the school's history, they will take pride in attending this school.

"We also think the students will do better academically," Hill said.

Calhoun School teacher Tracy Larkin, who teaches English and journalism, agrees.

"The involvement of the student is critical and this project achieves that," says Larkin, who will have two classes involved in the project. "Students need to know how the school was started, how people were socialized and what role it played in the Civil Rights movement."

Allen Cronenberg, director of AU's Center for the Arts and Humanities, which developed the proposal and is administering the humanities portion, said there is a long-term goal of three to five years for the program, and outside funding is being sought.

Humanities objectives include an intensive local history study, which will involve students in a year-long project collecting, preserving, documenting and sharing the history of Calhoun School and the surrounding community.

"The school is a historic educational institution with a rich legacy of pride and leadership," said Cronenberg.

"By working on uncovering the history, students will develop not only practical skills and knowledge of their area and school, but also pride in and ownership of their community."

As a part of this objective, author Linda Holmes, will spend three weeks with English and history students, teaching them to conduct interviews and research history.

Holmes, a resident of New Jersey, was involved in developing the oral history project and began working with students Aug. 18. She said she "wants to give students a meaningful, intensive experience in recording oral histories.

"Lowndes County is extremely rich in Civil Rights history and in the history of that school, and there are many, many stories not being recorded," Holmes said. "The people who know the community best are the people who live there, and those are the people who need to be telling the stories.

"I want to encourage students to learn about their community "

AU and the Calhoun School are working to develop additional supporting programs to enhance students' humanities education.

The sciences portion of the project will be achieved through a Saturday Academy, which will be held this fall. The academy will include biological and physical science components and will target ninth-grade students, according to Marllin Simon, an associa te professor of physics who is coordinating the program.

"We want to generate some excitement among students and teachers as well as develop a partnership between Auburn faculty and students and Calhoun faculty and students," he said.

"We want to give these kids something exciting, teach them things they've not learned before and stimulate them so they will carry what they learn everywhere they go so they then will excite others."

In addition to the Saturday Academy, Simon will also establish a personal and electronic mentor program between AU and Calhoun faculty and students.

A third component of the science program will be to create and implement a more significant program to encourage more students in the Black Belt to enroll in and consider the sciences as a career choice.

WALC alliance strengthens rural counties

In West Alabama, just over half the population are high school graduates. The region also has the highest illiteracy rate in the state.

These are depressing numbers for the state's most economically depressed counties.

But these numbers may be improving because of the development of the West Alabama Learning Coalition, a partnership effort to not only improve education but to also promote economic and community development.

Being developed by Auburn University's College of Education and its Truman Pierce Institute and funded by the Jesse Ball duPont Fund, the coalition is bringing the proven value of educational methods to address the educational and economic problems in Wes t Alabama -- through partnerships.

"The important goal -- always -- is improved student achievement," said Richard Kunkel, dean of AU's College of Education. "We're proud of our new and developing West Alabama Coalition. It follows on the heels of eight years of partnership development in Alabama."

The reasoning is that what has worked in one area of the state will work in another.
T
he Truman Pierce Institute for the Advancement of Teacher Education entered a formal Professional Development School relationship with the Auburn City School System in 1990, resulting in a number of improvements in teaching and education.

The Teacher Education Program includes a year-long internship; on-site college classes; expanded classroom experiences for pre-interns; increased diversity in teaching strategies; and a larger focus on problem-solving skills and abilities.

The partnership also resulted in expanded research activities; increased student performance and promotion standards; and the adoption of a guaranteed minimum level of student performance.

A system is also in place to monitor student performance and report findings to parents and to the community in an effort to enhance accountability.

These methods will now be applied to West Alabama's schools.

Although still in the planning stages, the coalition aims to improve education and the economy through partnerships between public schools, institutions of higher learning and business.

"The partnership is central to the mission of Auburn University," said Frances Kochan, director of the TPI, "and offers us a unique opportunity to make a significant difference."

In addition to representatives from AU's TPI, the initial planning meeting of the West Alabama Coalition included representatives from Dallas and Washington county schools, Alabama Southern Community College, the University of West Alabama and the Univers ity of South Alabama.

Future activities are on target, according to a recent coalition annual report. A minimum of two joint meetings with all partners is planned as well as the creation of a method of technological communication.

The unique element of this partnership, said Kochan, is that it seeks to connect education, economic and community development, offering great hope for making real and lasting change.

SBDC aids couple's career dream

John and Laurie Grubbs are the proud new owners of a pet store. It has been a desire of John's since he graduated from high school and began his first job in a pet store.
And Auburn University's Small Business Development Center helped make it possible.

"Initially I went to the bank, and the loan officer there referred me to Devron Veasley. He gave me direction and an outline of what I needed to be doing," says John, who was going into business on his own for the first time.
Devron Veasley is the director of AU's SBDC, and the bank referred Grubbs because of an arrangement made between area banks and the SBDC several years ago.

"What we do is help the bank make a better decision about whether they want to make the loan. It teaches the client a little bit about business, and it gives us our client contacts," says Veasley. "All three entities involved benefit."

Veasley says the Grubbs, who had worked in business before, were better prepared than many first-time business owners. "They were well-versed in what they wanted to do and the direction they wanted the business to take," says Veasley.

With loan money in hand, the Grubbs became the proud owners of the Pet Center II located in the Flint's Crossing Shopping Center in Auburn. The business had existed for 10 years before the Grubbs took over.

As in the past, the Pet Center II will continue to carry a complete line of pet supply needs. John will handle day-to-day operations while Laurie takes care of the accounting, record keeping and taxes.

And John does have a few changes in mind for the business which, in addition to supplies, offers pets such as cats, birds, small animals, reptiles and fish.

"I want to expand the fish, salt- and freshwater, and I want to expand the birds, get into hand-fed domestic birds," says Grubbs.

While John enjoys almost all of the store's animals, there's some that he's not too enthusiastic about. "I think everyone has different animals they gravitate to. For me, the hardest thing is dealing with the rodents. I'm not a rodent person."

But Grubbs is enthusiastic about the SBDC and its services. "I think it's great. It was wonderful," says Grubbs. "It's a real asset to have assistance like that available and not have to worry about coming up with hundreds or thousands of dollars to pay a n outside professional."

AU's SBDC is an outreach arm of the College of Business. Its service area includes Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell and Tallapoosa counties. The SBDC's mission is to reduce the failure rate of local small businesses by assisting them i n improving their ability to profit; seek feasible investments; and insure successful transfer and application of technology to their business.

Funded by the Small Business Administration, the state of Alabama and AU, services offered by the SBDC are free to the public.

"We're always looking for more clients," says Veasley. "We're here to help."

AU Research

Agency may offer environmental research opportunities

Auburn faculty involved in environmental or climate related research may find opportunities to expand their work through the NASA sponsored Global Hydrology and Climate Center.

The Huntsville-based organization is seeking to establish research teams to conduct regional climate assessments, said Howard Clonts, director of Auburn's Environmental Institute. Its objective is to establish data that can be used to forecast the economi c or social impacts of climate variability.

"Climate changes occur in cycles," Clonts said. "The primary focus of the Global Hydrology and Climate research center is to understand the earth's global water cycle, the distribution and variability of atmospheric water, and the impact of human activity as it relates to global climate change."

Researchers are needed in the eight areas of water quality; forest health and production; food safety and production; human health; urban planning; energy; ecosystems; and extreme climate.

Teams of scientists, engineers and educators are being established to conduct assessments throughout the Southeast. Data gathered will be used to improve and validate predictive models for such things as better weather forecasting, water resource use plan ning and policy making and for making better-informed decisions on a variety of agricultural and other economic issues, Clonts added.

For more information, contact Clonts at 844-4132 or the associate dean for research at each college or school. The Global Hydrology and Climate Center is accessible through the Internet at: http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov.

Miller named director of AU's electron microscope facility

Mike Miller, formerly a postdoctoral research scientist at Cornell University, is the new director of Auburn University's Electron Microscope (EM) Facility.

Miller succeeds Alfred Brown, who serves as chair of Auburn's Department of Botany and Microbiology.

Electron microscopy is used extensively for research in the areas of biology, electronics and geological science. Miller brings to AU a strong background in plant genetics with extensive specialization in EM procedures, including light microscopy; scannin g electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In addition to directorship of the EM Facility, he also holds an adjunct professorship in the Department of Botany and Microbiology.

Miller has definite plans for expanding not only the services available through the EM Facility, but also the training students receive in electron microscopy -- much of which he says will mesh well with Auburn's new semester system that begins in the fal l of 2000.

"Right now, I'm 100 percent dedicated to the EM Facility," Miller said. "My focus will be on obtaining needed equipment upgrades, expanding the services and expertise available through the lab and increasing the number of users of the facility."

As for his teaching plans, Miller said he sees through the forthcoming transition to a semester academic calendar, an avenue for broadening the training students currently receive in electron microscopy.

"EM courses normally are long because learning to be proficient in electron microscopy requires a great amount of practice," Miller said. "Under a quarter system, there isn't enough time for students to get in the amount of practice that they really need.

"I believe that once Auburn goes to semesters, we can structure EM courses to provide more in-depth use training. Perhaps even develop courses that specialize in scanning and transmission electron microscopy."

Presently, scanning and transmission microscopy are both covered in a single EM course, Miller added.

"Separating these technologies also would enable us to provide instruction in more advanced EM techniques," he said.

Auburn's EM facility was established in 1990. Current services include scanning and transmission microscopy. The facility is located in room 37 of the Rouse Life Sciences Building and is available for use to AU faculty, staff, students and to local indust ry.

AU geologist serves on scientific cruise

A cruise usually is an exotic way to spend one's summer vacation, but a professor in Auburn University's Department of Geology spent his time at sea as part of the working scientific crew of an international sea floor exploration.

Charles Savrda, a specialist in the study of sediments, spent a month on the scientific exploration ship, Joides Resolution, drilling deep holes into the sea floor off the coast of New Jersey. Once used as an oil-drilling vessel, scientists now use the s hip to conduct research on the ancient layers of the ocean bottom. The expedition is part of the international Ocean Drilling Program managed by Texas A&M University.

"We are studying these layers in an attempt to learn more about the earth's history through the effects of changes in sea levels on ancient climates," Savrda said.

The 50-scientist crew worked around the clock in two shifts, Savrda explained. Cores taken with the ship's massive drill were dissected for study and analysis.
"It's a drill back in time," he said. "The primary objective of this particular leg (of the project) was to reconstruct the sea-level history for the Atlantic margin over the last 40 million years."

Referring to seismic graphs, Savrda explained how the various layers of the ocean floor provide a wealth of information for scientists.

"Many of the top layers appear to be flat, but if you look at the chart, you can see where deep down these layers begin to taper downward," Savrda said. "This would have been an ancient shoreline."

Scientists involved in the Ocean Drilling Project hope to determine how much of the ancient fluctuation in sea levels was due to up-and down movements of the land and how much to depletion of the oceans during the great ice ages. Sediments gathered from t he drill samples, however, also tell much about the ancient marine, animal and human life, Savrda added.

"Examination of the biogenic structures, or fossil matter, within these sediments can tell us much about the behavior of sea life... feeding habits... and in some cases there may even be evidence of human development in areas that are now inundated by sea ," he said.

Significant fluctuations of sea levels occurred many times over the past 40 million years, according to Savrda. On the Alabama coastal plain, alone, he said there has been at least 20 major changes in the shoreline. Each time sea levels changed, climate c hanges also occurred.

"These changes are documented scientific facts," Savrda said. "One of the important things about looking at the relationships between sea level changes and climate obviously is, if we understand how things worked in the recent past, we might be able to pr edict potentially what we might see in the future."

Savrda said he plans to spend part of next summer at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, N.Y., analyzing the samples he helped gather this year.

"Gathering the samples was only part of the work," he said. "There's still much to be done."

NSF changes EPSCoR co-funding procedures

A change in the co-funding procedures of the National Science Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) may enhance funding opportunities for Auburn researchers doing work in the program's six priority areas.

"It is important that investigators who are preparing or planning an NSF proposal be aware of and take advantage of this initiative," said Kenneth Pruitt, director of the Alabama EPSCoR program.

Among the six EPSCoR priority areas are:-
Smart materials for transport control;-
Bio-materials technology transfer;-
Added value reclamation of solid waste;-
Information science and technology;-
Materials science-
Biological and environmental science.

Previous participation in an EPSCoR-funded project is not a requirement for co funding eligibility. However, the Alabama EPSCoR project director must certify all proposals before they are submitted to the NSF.

Investigators wishing to take advantage of this procedure change should submit an original copy of their proposal to the Alabama EPSCoR office for review. Proposals deemed eligible for co-funding will then be submitted to the NSF with a certification lett er from the Alabama EPSCoR office.

"Historically, Auburn researchers have not taken full advantage of this co-funding option," said Vice President for Research Michael Moriarty. "With funding tight, good proposals often are rejected. Having one's proposal certified as eligible for co funding may significantly improve an investigator's chances for bring funded."

Applications should contain a proposal abstract, applicable deadline information, and complete information -- including telephone numbers and mailing address--for contacting the principal investigator.

For more information, contact the AU Office of Research Development at 844-5964.

Registration set for NASA space center inspection tour

AU faculty have an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the "home of human space flight," when NASA opens the doors of its Johnson Space Center in Houston, Nov. 12-14.

The event, Inspection 97, is designed to provide a first-hand look at the space program to industry, business, community and education leaders.

On display will be the center's facilities, labs and technical products. Visitors also will have the opportunity to talk with engineers, scientists and managers, and attend lectures about the center's programs.

Registration forms are available through the colleges and schools, or via the Internet at: http://inspection.jsc.nasa.gov