FACULTY AND STAFF NEWSLETTER FEB. 8, 2010

The Student Recreation Center was officially opened on Feb. 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the facility. Pictured front row, from left, are Brittany McGruder, Erin Chambers, Student Government Association past presidents; Phillip Masengill, SGA president; Dr. Margaret Toston, vice chancellor for student affairs; Gina McClure, Office of Campus Recreation director; Dr. Tom Rakes, UT Martin chancellor; Dr. Jan Simek, UT inter- im president; Dr. Nick Dunagan, chancellor emeritus; Al Hooten, vice chancellor for finance and administration; Lane Lyle, of Lyle Cook Martin Architects; Tim Nipp, physical plant director; second row, Jenna Wright, Faculty Senate president; Randy Brundige, Martin mayor; Houston Patrick, Weakley County Mayor; Curt Pierce and Scott Fleming, of Fleming Associates; Mark White, A&K Construction; Howard Carmen, UT Facilities Planning project engineer; Marshall Duncan, of Lyle Cook Martin Architects; and Jim Fassiotto, A&K Construction. Student Recreation Center integral to university It’s a recreation center for stu- the facility.” As a student who used dents and funded by students, so the previous recreational facilities at who better to know first-hand its least five times a week and has main- benefits than students? Bryan tained that schedule in the new facil- Panovec and Rachel Lester also have ity, Panovec has enjoyed the weight the advantage of their experiences as room the most so far. “But I also student employees of the Office of love seeing so many students use the Campus Recreation. They have SRC and hearing them speaking to worked and “worked out” for several each other about how awesome the years at campus facilities. SRC truly is.” The new $16.5 million, 96,000- Lester, a Martin junior nursing square-foot Student Recreation major, thinks the new fitness center Center was officially opened at 95 and basketball courts are the best Mt. Pelia Rd. on campus with features. “I’ve always played sports Dr. Jan Simek, UT interim president, commended the campus com- University of Interim and have been active ... I feel less munity for the successful completion of the Student Recreation President Jan Simek and UT Martin stressed and better about myself Center. Chancellor Tom Rakes among those after a good workout or a game of participating in the Feb. 3 ribbon- basketball.” She added, “I love to do cutting ceremony. cardio. The computerized monitors “It’s important for students to each cardio machine has allow you take advantage of the new facility to plan and save each workout you Enjoy next Lunch Bunch because it is theirs,” said Panovec, an do.” A soup and salad Lunch Bunch is planned from 11 a.m.-1 Austin, Texas, senior history and Panovec said having the new cen- p.m., Feb. 11, in the Chancellors’ Suite in the Alumni political science double major. ter on campus “is what this campus Center. Please reply to [email protected] by Feb. 8, if you “There is something for everyone in See Student, Back Page plan to attend. The Office of Institutional Research and Planning recently hosted a The College of Engineering and Natural Sciences recently hosted a retirement reception for April Baker, research coordinator, in honor of retirement reception for Linda Davis, center, administrative specialist, her 20 years of service. She retired Jan. 29. Among those attending the in honor of her 41 years of service. Among those attending the recep- reception were Chancellor Rakes and Len Solomons, vice chancellor for tion were Chancellor Emeritus Nick Dunagan and his wife, Cathy. university advancement. Online repository features UT Martin academic works Academic works authored by UT Martin graduates and faculty have searchers may use keyword, title, author and subject functions to a worldwide audience, thanks to an online resource established in locate material directly. The site also indexes in search engines like January 2008 by the Paul Meek Library’s Corbitt Special Collections. Google and ask.com, making the contents accessible across the globe. Known as an “institutional repository,” Internet browser hits for Once a record is located, a link to an electronic file allows users to Scholarship@UT Martin exceed 4,200 since July 1, 2009, and contin- download a digital copy directly to their computers. ue to grow. Nobody is more pleased than Richard Saunders, the uni- “Master’s theses and projects are demonstrations of academic com- versity’s special collections librarian and university archivist. petence,” Saunders said. “But, they rarely get used after they are pro- Several years back, Saunders had the idea of giving university- duced, mostly because they are accessible only at the student’s institu- authored academic works a virtual home. In 2005, he received an tion. Traffic on Scholarship@UT Martin shows how valuable master’s- advertisement for commercial institutional repository software that level research can be to the world.” would manage online document storage and delivery. Although the As of Jan. 1 this year, 338 full-text files were accessible in the online software was impressive, the repository. In the five-figure annual subscrip- past year, that small tion charge was prohibitive. number has account- The library staff looked for ed for more than other options, seeking software that was open-source or inexpensive to 5,000 file downloads to researchers in 133 countries across the globe. use. Jim Nance, systems librarian, computer-science student John “That sort of activity suggests UTM students produce research of real Britton and Saunders discovered a product called EPrints. “EPrints is value,” Sanders said. Graduate students in education and agriculture an open-source, open-archive database developed at the University of wrote a majority of the 280 UT Martin master’s theses available on the Southampton in Great Britain,” Saunders said. “It was written by a site. “Still the single most downloaded item on the whole database is bunch of computer-science students who just simply have the idea that a 30-year-old master’s thesis on Tennessee teacher-tenure policy,” he research needs to be available publicly.” The program was adapted for said. The next step is capturing master’s projects, followed by use in the library service pages, and the digital world opened for UT University Scholars papers, which are academic works produced by Martin scholarly works. undergraduate students in the University Scholars Program. Faculty Saunders said about 600 open-archives repositories exist around the members are encouraged to contribute their own work, he said. world, with UT Martin’s repository about in the middle in terms of Besides the search feature, the site includes a “Paper of the Day,” size. He added that there are approximately another 1,000 databases randomly chosen by the software. “It’s just a way to remind people on commercial platforms similar to what UT Martin is using but that there is real research here,” he said. “It’s not just a site with a which carry considerable operating costs. “They’re slicker. They have number on it. There’s something to take a look at.” a little more customizability, but they’re a whale of a lot more expen- So far, Saunders is pleased with what Scholarship@UT Martin has sive, so we struck a balance between cost and effectiveness,” he said. accomplished. “Number one, it’s always good to have a digital pres- “And, as we have used this, we are absolutely certain that we came ence out in the world. That was a big driving force,” he said, adding, down on the right side of things, both for the taxpayers of Tennessee “What the software does is put UTM as a research institution into an and for the type of scholarship that the campus has generated over the international context,” he said. “We have a presence now.” last years.” To find the repository, point a browser to The software works like a library catalogue. From the front page, http://scholarship.utm.edu.

Weather-related Closings During periods of inclement weather, please refer to the UT Martin homepage news headlines and the portal for current university weather-related closing information. Travel-study set in May A travel-study trip to London and Paris is planned May 17-27. As part of this tour, partici- pants will visit historical sites in England and , explore cultures, the arts and sciences for each country by visiting museums, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. In Paris, the trip will include visiting the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Versailles. The group will also explore health care in these coun- tries. The approximate cost is $3,250. Group leaders are Ruby Black, professor of nursing, and Linda Luther, assistant professor of nursing. They may be contacted at [email protected], ext. 7133; and [email protected], ext. 5018. The Northwest Tennessee Healthy Start Program at UT Martin recently received the Vision Award from the Tennessee Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for its outstanding work with children and families. The Healthy Start Vision is to help prevent child abuse and neglect by helping families build strong trusting family relationships, promote healthy Bliss to perform, Feb. 21 childhood growth and development and positive parent-child interaction. High emphasis is placed on education for parents to stay in school and reach their highest potential. Pictured The Department of Music will host Dr. Andrew left to right are, back row, Shanna Via and Lalania Hilliard, family support coordinators; M. Bliss, lecturer of music, in a solo percussion front row, Debbie Walden, family assessment worker/supervisor; Diana Luther, program recital at 3 p.m., Feb. 21, in Campbell Auditorium director/state trainer; and Ang O’Brien, director of grant programs at UT Martin. of Holt Humanities Building. As a performing artist, Bliss has extensive experi- ence in a wide variety of musical ensembles and genres, while specializing in contemporary solo and Testing center offers professional exams chamber performance. He has been a featured artist at the SEAMUS National Conference, the The Student Success Center Testing Trainer, Medical Representatives Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, the College Center now offers CASTLE Worldwide Certification Commission, Transportation Music Society’s International Conference in exams to the public. CASTLE administers Professional Certification Board, and at multiple Percussive Arts Society professional certification and licensing Certification Commission of the National international conventions. examinations for a wide variety of profes- Association of Medical Staff Services, The concert will feature solo percussion works by sional associations and government agen- American Board of Certification for some of the leading composers of the 20th and cies. Gastroenterology Nurses, Certified 21st centuries, including David Lang and Iannis “We are excited that we can offer this Licensing Professional, Regulatory Affairs Xenakis. The program will also feature “Olana”, by testing service to the people in our region Professional Society, California Council Kyle Gann, a vibraphone solo that Bliss commis- without having to drive to Jackson, for Interior Design Certification, sioned and premiered in 2008. Finally, the pro- Nashville, or Memphis,” said Sharon American Healthcare Radiology gram will end with “Mudra,” by Bob Becker, a Robertson, Student Success Center assis- Administrators, Rehabilitation Nursing snare drum solo with percussion quartet that will tant director. “We strive to provide the Certification Board, American Council on feature four students from UT Martin’s percussion same professional testing services of large Exercise and the National Interpreter studio, directed by Dr. Julie Hill, assistant professor testing centers, but the personal touch of a Certification. of music. The concert is free and open to the pub- small testing center.” For more information and/or to register lic. Among exams offered are the following: for an exam visit For more information, contact Bliss at ext. 7414 National Kitchen and Bath Association, www.castleworldwide.com or call the test- or [email protected]. Board of Certification for the Athletic ing center at ext. 7727. Luscombe concert soon The Department of Music will host the Concert Series UT Martin Bookstore performance by Greg Luscombe at 8 p.m., Feb. 15, in More than just textbooks! Watkins Auditorium of Boling University Center. Luscombe has served as assistant professor of music at the University of Mississippi since 2008. He has also served as the principal trombonist with the Memphis Get your Skyhawk Gear and cozy up with a good book! We Symphony Orchestra since the 1989-90 season. Luscombe has a Master of Arts degree in music from the have national campus bestsellers, campus authors, and bargain University of Akron. books. As a performer, Luscombe has been featured various times as a soloist with the Memphis Symphony If you do not see what you are looking for, we can special Orchestra. He also has soloed with other orchestras and various concert bands. He will be performing works by order for you Martin, Reiche, Besozzi, Casterede and others. at no extra cost. For more information, contact Dr. Bradley Coker, assistant professor of music, at ext. 7401 or [email protected]. Student CALENDAR Feb. 8-14 Continued from Front Page Tuesday, Feb. 9 needed to compete with other schools across the state. This will have a significant effect on – 7 p.m. – Skyhawk men’s basketball vs. South - visiting students, with the opportunity to help increase enrollment.” Lester agreed and east Missouri, Tom and Kathleen Elam Center added, “... I think it helps out with offering more places and things to do.” – 9 p.m. – SGA, Freshman Council meetings, Gina McClure, Office of Campus Recreation director, credits students for making the Room 111, Boling University Center center a reality and points to the much-needed space as a means to have consistent recre- Wednesday, Feb. 10 ational time without competing for time and space with classes and athletics. “This is some- – 11 a.m. – Lunch Around the World!, cafeteria thing that we have not been able to provide before because of the multiple users and uses hallway, university center of the Elam Center.” While the Elam Center will still be utilized, the recreational pro- Thursday, Feb. 11 gramming that is possible in the new center includes fitness classes and special events such – 11 a.m. – Lunch Bunch-/See Page 1 as game nights, a variety of tournaments and “other things we haven’t thought of yet. We – 5:15 p.m. – Skyhawk women’s basketball @ have the space and time to explore a multitude of things.” Jacksonville State “Facilities like this are really important for universities,” said Simek, who added that a – 5:30 p.m. – WOW Thursdays, Interfaith Stu- university today has a responsibility for the health and well being of its community, stu- dent Center dents, faculty and staff. Simek said another reason these facilities are important, is because – 7:45 p.m. – Skyhawk men’s basketball @ Jack - students pay attention to the environment in which they are going to go to school. “And, sonville State if you really want to attract the best and brightest students to your institution, you have to – 9 p.m. – SGA senate meeting, Room 111, uni- have facilities for them that are going to give them the context in which they feel they’re versity center going to learn the best. This is not simply an exercise facility, not simply a place for stu- Friday, Feb. 12 dents to enjoy themselves. Facilities like this are integral. You should all be very proud of – UT Martin Junior High Honor Band (Feb. 12- what you’ve done here.” 13) “The modern recreational facility is a welcome addition to multiple playing fields, swim- – 3 p.m. – Skyhawk softball vs. Missouri-Kansas ming pool and many other recreational sites our students enjoy on a daily basis,” said City, Giles Field Chancellor Tom Rakes. “Student use during our trial period has been brisk, and all those Saturday, Feb. 13 involved from planning, construction, and now actual management have been vital to the – 10 a.m. – Skyhawk softball vs. Miami (OH), completion of this facility. Our student affairs staff has moved quickly but carefully in phas- Giles Field ing in various activities throughout the center.” – 5:30 p.m. – Skyhawk women’s basketball @ The new facility includes: four basketball courts that can convert into volleyball and bad- Tennessee Tech minton courts, walking/jogging balcony, three racquetball courts, fitness center with state- – 6 p.m. – Skyhawk softball vs. Middle Ten - of-the-art equipment, classroom, multipurpose and aerobics room, locker rooms, equip- nessee, Giles Field ment checkout space and office suite. It also has two lobbies, which provide additional – 7:30 p.m. – Skyhawk men’s basketball @ Ten - leisure recreational opportunities – pool, foosball and air hockey. nessee Tech The center was built primarily for students, as student fees are the funding source. Other Sunday, Feb. 14 potential users include faculty, staff, retirees and families of UT Martin students and – Skyhawk Rifle NRA Sectional/NCAA employees, who will pay a fee for use of the facility. Qualifier (Murray, Ky.) Lyle, Cook, Martin, of Clarksville, and Fleming Associates of Memphis, served as pro- – 6 p.m. – SAC Sunday Movie Series ject architects in a joint venture, and A&K Construction Co., of Paducah, Ky., built the center. Design, AAUW meeting is consultation Submit events services offered Feb. 11 at library free by to Web calendar AAUW will host a meeting at 6 p.m., University Relations, ext. 7631 The Web Events Calendar, accessible Feb. 11, at C.E. Weldon Public Library in from the home page, is managed by downtown Martin. There will be a pre- Boling University Center Informa tion sentation from State Rep. Judy Barker. Center. She will speak on the topic of “Women in Need a wide-format poster or banner Campus departments /or gan izations Politics.” Elected in 2008, Rep. Barker, a for an event or presentation? hosting or facilitating events must sub- Democrat, is the representative for the Digital Printing Services can print up to 60” mit information to the Information 77th district. She sits on the Education wide on paper or vinyl. Center in order for an event to be post- and Transportation Committees. ed on the Web calendar. The calendar Dinner will be served. The cost is $6 also is the source of the Addenda cal- per person and students eat free. Call for 881-7840 endar content. Use the form, at for prices! www.utm.edu/infocenter, or call ext. 7000. THE AT MARTIN Addendas Addenda archived at Published weekly during the academic year and biweekly during the summer by UT Martin; Martin, TN 38238 http://www.utm.edu/ Submit news to the • Dr. Jan Simek - Interim President, University of Tennessee System departments/univrel/adden • Dr. Tom Rakes - Chancellor, University of Tennessee at Martin Addenda • Rita Mitchell - Addenda Editor, University Editor da/addenda_archives.php UT Martin is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. E05-0425-00-010-10