February 28, 2005

Millennial Initiative Doubles Campus Size

Western recently “We are attempting to announced the Millennial fulfill a promise we made Initiative, a comprehensive to the people of Western regional economic ,” Bardo development strategy said. “We want to keep made possible by the the best and brightest acquisition of 344 acres of the region’s young of property adjacent to the people from having no main campus. choice but to leave home Characterized by to find the type of high- Chancellor John Bardo paying jobs available as “a defining moment in elsewhere. We want the the university’s 115-year children of the mountains history,” the Millennial to be able to remain in Initiative is designed the mountains and to be to enable Western to participants in the high- engage in public-private tech, knowledge-based partnerships that enhance global economy of the educational opportunities 21st century.” for students in high-tech Looking east, this aerial view of the campus shows the 344 acres of property State legislation programs and increase the recently acquired by Western. approved in 2000, ability of faculty to conduct cutting-edge opposite side of N.C. Highway 107 from based on a measure originally written research, while simultaneously promoting the university’s main campus, the land by staff at Western, made it possible for economic development. will become a “knowledge enterprise University of North Carolina institutions University officials plan to develop the zone” where university, private industry to seek public-private partnerships to property as a multiple-use neighborhood and government partners conduct improve the academic experience for that will be home to a mix of academic research and development into scientific students and allow universities to apply buildings, research facilities, business, and technological innovations that have their intellectual resources – their faculty, industry and housing. Located on the commercial applications, Bardo said. students and staff – to foster economic continued on page 2 $1.5 Million Project to Upgrade Computing Capabilities Western is carrying out a $1.5 million project to upgrade said. Also, an upgrade of the fiber optic infrastructure planned computer capability in university residence halls and for later this semester will provide increased bandwidth in the classrooms, and is partnering with its network hardware residence halls, he said. manufacturer to install wireless networking in the public areas In the meantime, the division’s educational technologies of residence halls. group is managing about $500,000 worth of technology refresh The Division of Information Technology completed a projects in support of instructional activities, said Bob Orr, major upgrade of the data network in a majority of Western’s Western’s associate chief information officer. residence halls during the week of Jan. 31, and the division’s Among those improvements are the upgrading of faculty ResNet and networking groups are currently installing computers, installation of computer and projection equipment network upgrades in Walker, Scott, Helder, Leatherwood, in numerous classrooms, and the upgrading of several Harrill, Albright/Benton and Robertson residence halls, said departmental computer laboratories, including those that Scott Swartzentruber, the division’s director of networking, support geographic information systems and digital music. operations and communications. The college-based technology committees will be working The result of that $1 million investment will be a faster and with the educational technologies group to focus on other more reliable network for residential students, Swartzentruber continued on page 2 Information Technology Upgrade Millenial Initiative continued from page 1 continued from page 1 technology needs and develop a development to benefit their respective strategy for automatic computer regions and the state. replacement for faculty and Western purchased the Millennial staff, Orr said. The division Initiative land – 64 acres known as the also is developing a timeline for Killian property and 280 acres called other infrastructure upgrades, the Hooper tract – using $2.87 million including a new student e-mail set aside for property acquisition as system, a revamping of central part of the university’s share of funds processing facilities, and the provided through the 2000 N.C. Higher creation of centralized Education Bond Referendum. University network storage. officials estimate that up to 75 percent Enterasys, the manufacturer of the land, extending from the property of Western’s network hardware, line of the North Carolina Center for is donating $25,000 in hardware the Advancement of Teaching past the to the university to extend Jackson County Airport, is suitable for wireless network coverage to building. The acquisitions more than the main student lounge areas double the size of Western’s campus. of all Western’s residence “North Carolina is distinguished halls, said Tom Franke, the among states as an innovator in science university’s chief information and technology. Our ability to produce officer. Enterasys also will innovative technologies and a skilled, provide site analysis and design knowledgeable workforce will be an services, and the only direct important factor in determining our cost to the university will be in Tyler Jessie, a Western student and residence hall future economic success,” said N.C. wiring installation, Franke said. computer consultant, checks out one of 11 new network Gov. Michael Easley. “Western Carolina The wireless coverage in switches in Central Drive Residence Hall. The switches University’s Millennial Initiative the residence halls should be replaced network hubs, resulting in computer capitalizes on Western’s research and connections that are 10 times faster for students. activated by the end of entrepreneurial strengths to promote spring semester. economic development and prepare the Robert Caruso, Western’s vice computer capability and install wireless region’s workforce for the transformed chancellor for student affairs, said the technology in Western’s residence halls economy of the new millennium.” university’s department of residential depended heavily on the planning and UNC President Molly Corbett Broad living is “very enthusiastic” about the support provided by the residential living described Western’s plans as an essential Enterasys donation. staff. part of the state university system’s “The new wireless capabilities in some Enterasys also has provided equipment responsibility to help build a stronger of the public areas of our residence halls to allow for ubiquitous wireless future for all North Carolinians. will significantly add to the amenities networking in McKee Building, which “Economic development is of immense and learning opportunities we offer to our will provide for state-of-the-art teaching importance to the state of North Carolina residential students,” Caruso said. capability in a building that was built in and the 16-campus University of North Franke said the projects to upgrade 1939 and still has old-style chalkboards. Carolina, especially in light of the painful repercussions our state has suffered from relentless changes in the global economy,” Sport Management Program Receives NASSM Approval Broad said. “But economic development does not happen by accident or through Western’s undergraduate sport management program has received program minor changes. It will only come through approval status from the North American Society of Sport Management (NASSM) a large-scale transformation of thought through 2012. and action, and that is what we see taking Of the approximately 300 college undergraduate sport management programs place at Western with the Millennial nationwide, fewer than 40 are NASSM approved. “We’re thrilled to receive a renewal Initiative.” on our approved status,” said Kevin Ayers, associate professor of sport management. University officials say they want “We’re very proud that students receiving bachelor of science degrees in sport to move as quickly as possible on management from Western are very well prepared to enter the sports industry as development of the Millennial property, professionals.” and are in the early phases of a Program approval status is similar to the accreditation process for other degree comprehensive master plan to determine programs, Ayers said. To be considered for approval, sport management faculty the most logical building sites for the submitted a curriculum portfolio to NASSM’s review council that reflected curricular different types of structures to be located competencies and other standards. there. More than 200 leaders were on Western’s sport management program was first approved in 1996. The program hand for the historic announcement. has positioned itself as one of the best in the region and is one of only three sport Additional information is available on management programs in North Carolina currently approved by NASSM, Ayers said. the Web at millennial.wcu.edu.

February 28, 2 0 0 5 • The Reporter • page 2 March Wednesday, March 2- Saturday, March 5 Feb. 28 - Mar. 13 Catamount Basketball— Tournament. Chattanooga, Tenn. (227-7338) Wednesday, March 2 Lady Catamount tennis—vs. College of Thursday, March 10- Catamount baseball—vs. UNC Asheville. Charleston. Southern Conference match. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12 2 p.m. Greenwood Field, Asheville. Reid Gymnasium tennis courts. (227-7338) Film—The Incredibles. Admission: $2 with (227-7338) Catamount baseball—vs. Georgia State. student identification; $4 without student Thursday, March 3 3 p.m. Childress Field/. identification (includes small soda and Old-time Music and Bluegrass Jam—local (227-7338) popcorn). March 10 at 10 p.m., March 11 at 9 musicians share tunes and techniques while p.m., March 12 at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Theater, enjoying old-time and bluegrass music. Academic Forum—“Challenges and A.K Hinds University Center. (227-7206) Opportunities of a Growing Campus,” town 7–9 p.m. Mountain Heritage Center, H.F. Friday, March 11 Robinson Administration Building. (227-7129) hall meeting open to all interested members of Western’s community. Presentation by provost, Workshop—“Grant Writing Basics,” designed Thursday, March 3- followed by question-answer session. 3:30 p.m. for people who write grants for businesses Saturday, March 5 Grandroom, A.K. Hinds University Center. or other organizations. Registration fee: $65 Conference–Southern College Health (227-7495) (including lunch). 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Room 139, Association, hosted by the Health and University Outreach Center. (828-227-7397 Catamount Concert Series—Faculty Follies, Counseling Center. Events include a Thursday or 800-928-4968; registration form online at spoof concert by music faculty including the night opening dinner and keynote address by http://edoutreach.wcu.edu/grants) “WCU Faculty Marching Band.” 8 p.m. Recital Earl Davis, president of Moonshadow Learning Hall, Coulter Building. (227-7242) Meeting-Western’s board of trustees will hold Services, Friday and Saturday morning its quarterly meeting. 9:30 a.m. Board room, educational sessions in Asheville and a tour of Wednesday, March 9 H.F. Robinson Administration Building. Western’s newly renovated Health Center. Appalachian Cultural Lunchtime Series— (227-7640) country-gospel duo Ray and Jerry Wilson. Lady Catamount tennis—vs. Coastal Friday, March 4 Attendees are invited to bring their lunch. Carolina. 1 p.m. Reid Gymnasium tennis Co-sponsored by Ron Rash, Parris Professor of Black History Month—Harriet Tubman, by courts. (227-7338) Appalachian Cultural Studies. 12:15– Living Art for Students. Admission: $6. 10 a.m. Catamount baseball—vs. Appalachian State. 1 p.m. Auditorium, Mountain Heritage Center, Ramsey Regional Activity Center. (227-7667) Southern Conference game. 3 p.m. Childress Robinson Administration Building. (227-7129) Sunday, March 6 Field/Hennon Stadium. (227-7338) Catamount baseball—vs. Georgia State. Concert—University Choral Ensembles. Workshop—techniques and technology 3 p.m. Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. 8 p.m. Recital Hall, Coulter Building. of collecting oral histories, designed for (227-7338) individuals who want to contribute to the Blue (227-7242) Concert—Western Carolina University Ridge Parkway’s oral history program. Saturday, March 12 2–4 p.m. Mountain Heritage Center, H.F. Symphony Band. 8 p.m. Recital Hall, Coulter Building. (227-7242) Lady Catamount tennis—vs. UNC Administration Robinson Building. (227-7129) Greensboro. Southern Conference match. Southern Circuit Film Series—filmmaker Thursday, March 10 Noon. Reid Gymnasium tennis courts. Steve Gentile’s Loaded Gun: Life, and Death, Movie—8 1/2 (Federico Fellini, 1963). Films (227-7338) that Matter series. 6 p.m. Room 130, Fine and and Dickinson, a search for insight into elusive Catamount baseball—vs. Appalachian State. Performing Arts Center. (227-2324) poet Emily Dickinson. No admission charge. Southern Conference game. 2 p.m. Childress Director will be present to discuss films. 7 Traditional Dance—informal traditional dance Field/Hennon Stadium. (227-7338) p.m. Theater, A.K. Hinds University Center. gathering. No dancing experience necessary; Concert—Western Carolina University Choral (227-7206) square dancers and buck dancers invited to Clinic. 8 p.m. Recital Hall, Coulter Building. teach steps to other participants. 7–9 p.m. Monday, March 7 and repeated on (227-7242) Thursday, March 10 Grandroom, A.K. Hinds University Center. Workshop—sexual harassment training, with (227-7129 or 227-7206) Sunday, March 13 sessions offered through May. Required of Concert—Western Carolina University Lady Catamount tennis—vs. Davidson. all employees except those who attended new Jazz Ensemble. 8 p.m. Recital Hall, Coulter Southern Conference match. Noon. Reid faculty orientation or new employee orientation Building. (227-7242) Gymnasium tennis courts. (227-7338) Catamount baseball—vs. Appalachian State. after August 2004. Registration required. Thursday, March 10 Southern Conference game. 1 p.m. Childress March 7, 9–10 a.m. or 10:15–11:15 a.m. March Colloquium Concert—Music and the Region: Field/Hennon Stadium. (227-7338) 10, 2:30–3:30 p.m. or 3:45–4:45 p.m. Mountain Appreciating Our Appalachian Culture, Heritage Center. (Registration, http://www. featuring four-time Grammy Award-winner Arti-Facts!—series designed for children ages wcu.edu/ht/training/special.asp; information, David Holt. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Theater, 6 through 12 to explore our natural and 227-7116) A.K. Hinds University Center. (227-7311) cultural heritage, presents Cooking. No admission charge, but reservations required. Catamount Concert Series—Michael Faculty Colloquium—True Life Storytelling: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Mountain Heritage Center, H.F. Lowenstern, bass clarinet/guest artist. 8 p.m. Spice Up Your Teaching with Real Stories. Robinson Administration Building. (227-7129) Recital Hall, Coulter Building. (772-7242) Four-time Grammy Award-winner David Holt Tuesday, March 8 will discuss how to look into the untapped Send calendar notices to WCU Calendar, Workshop—“Service Learning: How To Use stories within ourselves. 3:30-4:30 p.m. 1601 Ramsey Center, Western Carolina University, It.” 12:30–1:30 p.m. Dogwood Room, Cullowhee,North Carolina 28723 or e-mail to: Multipurpose Room, A.K. Hinds University [email protected]. A.K. Hinds University Center. (227-7147) Center. (227-7311)

February 28, 2 0 0 5 • The Reporter • page 3 SACS Update Leadership Team Gets the Ball Rolling

The committees are formed, the task of informing the university community about the new standards and review SACS Leadership Team Members process required by the Southern Association of Colleges and John Bardo, Chancellor Schools is under way, and the University Accreditation Offi ce has been established. Kyle Carter, Provost The fi rst committee formed as part of the SACS review is Troy Barksdale, University Planner the Leadership Team, which is responsible for guiding the Newt Smith, Chair of Faculty Senate institution through a process of Sharon Jacques self-refl ection, assessment and improvement. , Associate Professor of Nursing A key focus of the Leadership Team’s activities will be the Noelle Kehrberg, Dean of Applied Sciences identifi cation, development and implementation of a Quality Jerry Kinard, Professor and Department Head, Management Enhancement Plan, or QEP. An integral component of all and International Business institutional bids for reaccreditation, the QEP provides an Dixie McGinty, Associate Professor of Educational opportunity for Western to improve all aspects of university functioning. SACS defi nes the QEP as a “carefully designed Leadership and Foundations and focused course of action that addresses a well-defi ned Richard Starnes, Assistant Professor of History topic or issue(s) related to enhancing Carol Burton, Director of the SACS Review student learning.” Darlene Stonesifer, Staff Assistant for the SACS Review While it is presented as a process that is separate from the SACS compliance certifi cation the institution must also complete, the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan is, co-chaired by Kyle Carter and Newt Smith, will be meeting in fact, imbedded in the institutional mission, governance and with Chancellor Bardo this month to initiate a revamping effectiveness. The University Strategic Planning Committee, of our mission statement.

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February 28, 2 0 0 5 • The Reporter