Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU 2005-2006, Volume 30 Grand Valley Forum, 1976- 6-5-2006 Grand Valley Forum, volume 030, number 40, June 5, 2006 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/forum30 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Grand Valley Forum, volume 030, number 40, June 5, 2006" (2006). 2005-2006, Volume 30. 40. http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/forum30/40 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Grand Valley Forum, 1976- at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2005-2006, Volume 30 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. N 0 0en A NEWSLETTER FOR THE GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY Published by News & Information Services ••• Board appoints Davis interim president Grand Valley's Board of Trustees appointed Gayle R. Davis, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, as the interim president to serve between July 1 and the hiring of a new university president. The board, at a special meeting June 1 at the De Vos Center, also for­ mally accepted the resignation of President Mark A. Murray, who announced in January that he will leave the university to become presi­ dent of Meijer Inc. Murray's resignation takes effect August 1, but he will begin taking earned vacation time July 1. Board members unanimously passed the resolution and gave Davis a standing ovation. She said it's very natural for the chief academic officer to be tapped for the interim role and she already is involved with the president's work. Photo by Bernadine Carey-Tucker "Mark and I already work so closely together," Davis said. "There's not Board members and other staff members give Gayle R. Davis, third from right, a standing ovation after she was appointed interim presi­ see 'Davis' on page 4 dent. ···-------------------------- Across Campus Educators discuss During presentations at high schools, Lopez said he discusses other post-high school plans, challenges that Hispanic, like technical schools. Latino students face "In the Hispanic community, a degree is not the Although more Hispanic and Latino students only factor to success. We do understand that are enrolling in college, educators say more not everyone will go on to college," he said. community partnerships and early connections are needed to help ensure that students finish Juan Olivarez, president of Grand Rapids their degrees. Community College, gave the keynote address at the seminar. Other speakers included Philip Area K-12 and college administrators met Batty, director of Grand Valley's Institutional May 24 at the Eberhard Center to discuss the Photo by Courtney Newbauer Analysis, and Jose Infante, board of trustees unique challenges that affect the success of Juan Olivarez, president of Grand Rapids member. Hispanic and Latino students. The half-day Community College, addresses participants at the first Hispanic/Latino Student Experience seminar, hosted by President Mark A. Murray, seminar, held May 24 at the Eberhard AmeriCorps students addressed issues high school and college stu­ Center. dents face, a historical perspective of the pop­ work on Habitat house ulations and recommendations for the future. from Grand Valley's Admissions office, and Mark Nazario, from Michigan State's Office Sarah Curle is learning that swinging a ham­ Anna Marie Clark, program adviser for of Multicultural Recruitment and Pre-College mer and pounding nails is not that far removed Student Support Services at Grand Rapids Outreach. All three agreed that reaching stu­ from her intended career of nursing. Community College, said many Hispanic and dents in the eighth or ninth grade is paramount Latino students arrive at college unprepared; to success. The health science major from Novi was one therefore, they many find courses too difficult of 250 AmeriCorps members who helped paint and drop out. "Language for them is a big Lopez said that Grand Valley, like most insti­ and put up siding on one of seven Habitat for issue," Clark said. "Something needs to be tutions, has numerous high school outreach Humanity houses in Grand Rapids during an addressed at the K-12 level." and mentorship programs. "Throughout our intensive service project day, May 23. They programs, we're giving overall support and Clark served as a panelist with Michael Lopez, keeping that connection going," he said. continues on page 2 GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 2 Forum I June 5, 2006 Across Campus continued from page 1 Social work graduate wins award were joined briefly by Michigan's Recent graduate Selene Wadhawan received the Lisa Putman Award for First Gentleman Dan Mulhern. Excellence in Child Welfare Services at the annual National Association of Social Workers Curle joined AmeriCorps in Conference in Ann Arbor. March. She and Joseph Savalle, another Grand Valley student, are Social work faculty members of the Michigan Service member David Gabrielse Scholars Program. Students said Wadhawan, who now accepted into the program com­ works for the Department plete 300 hours of community ser­ of Human Services as vice in a year and receive $1,000 a foster care and adop- toward college expenses. tion specialist, drove 140 miles round-trip from "I'm going to be a nurse, so help­ her Midland home to Big ing people is something that has Rapids to finish her mas­ Photo courtesy of David Gabrielse and always will be a part of me," ter's of social work with the Selene Wadhawan, second from right, is she said. "AmeriCorps is a great GVSU cohort there. pictured with Grand Valley social work program that allows you to help faculty members (left to right) Connie Shands-Baab, Jane Hayes, David Gabrielse people and also receive money for "While Selene has been Photo by Courtney Newbauer and Jean McFadden. college. It feels great to help those interested in public social Sarah Curle and Joseph Sava/le take who are less fortunate in any way a break from working on a Habitat welfare policy, her real for Humanity house in Grand Rapids. that I can." love has been working directly with youth who are in the system and need They are members of the Michigan an advocate to negotiate the various systems of social services, juvenile Service Scholars Program. Savalle, a biomedical science courts, mental health and education," Gabrielse said. major from Algonac, has volun­ teered at area hospitals and mentored young people as an AmeriCorps member. He said the skills he's learned will help him become more mar­ Students receive awards ketable after graduation. to offset costs of study abroad "The networking by being in AmeriCorps will definitely be beneficial and The Padnos International Center announced that Grand Valley students the people skills learned are really helpful," he said. "Speaking in public Casey Rich and Jason Schuurman each received scholarship awards of and in front of large groups has also become easier. I have also learned $3 ,000 to offset the cost of studying abroad in China this summer. my leadership style and how to work with people who have different lead­ ership styles." Savalle plans to join the Peace Corps after graduation. The scholarships were from the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia pro­ gram, established in 2000 to encourage more Americans to study abroad Curle also recognized the benefits she's gained since joining AmeriCorps. in East and Southeast Asia. According to "Open Doors," the annual survey "Nursing is a special field and I believe AmeriCorps is helping me be a strong and independent person," she said. continues on page 4 • •• FORUM Volume 30, Number 40 GVFaces The GVSU Forum is published by the News Michael Leahy, systems analyst presentations and syl­ and Information Services Office every Blackboard administrator labi that their students Monday when classes are in session and can access at any time biweekly during the summer. The submission Since the late 1970s, Michael Leahy has har- from any place. deadline is Tuesday noon. Send publication bored an enthusiasm for computer technology. items to Michele Coffill, editor, c/o forum @ Accompanying his father to the office at the age of Leahy said one of the gvsu.edu. Telephone: 616-331 -222 1. Fax: 616- 10, he took an active interest in the computer sys­ newest Blackboard fea­ 331 -2250. tems there and began developing a knowledge that tures is Turnitin, which Faculty and staff members can find an online would later become crucial to his profession. can help instructors "Sketches" submission form on the Web at monitor the submis­ www.gvsu.edu/forum. Now a systems analyst in the Information sions of their students Other publications by tbe News and Technology department, Leahy is an administrator to prevent plagiarism. Information Services Office include: of the Blackboard system. He's worked at Grand By scanning student documents for unorigi­ Valley for seven years. Michael Leahy nal material, Turnitin GVNOW "Blackboard is a technology that instructors can will alert instructors to To see video features and daily campus choose to use in the classroom, just as they can potential citation issues in an effort to stop pla­ news, visit Grand Valley's online publication, choose to use the chalkboard," he said. "The quality giarism before it starts. Currently undergoing a GVNow, at www.gvnow.gvsu.edu. of the course is ultimately up to the instructor." testing period for the Spring/Summer term, Leahy said Turnitin will soon be fu lly integrated into the The use of the Blackboard system by campus fac­ Blackboard system. GRAND VALLEYII- ulty is on the rise. During the Winter 2006 semes­ ter, 1,000 faculty and staff members had active Away from work, Leahy chairs his church's finan­ Blackboard sites for their courses.