The Academic Leadership Institute 2009 – 2010 begins Sept. 22. The institute will take place one Saturday each month during the academic year from 9 a.m. – noon and will be limited to 10 participants. To apply for the institute or for more information contact Sheri Layral at fynlc@uaf.edu.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. This and other information about H1N1 influenza is posted on the UAF on Alert site. It includes FAQs and the CDC's updated guidance for higher education. The site is also linked from UAF's website under the Emergency tab.

The School of Education's new special education certification and M.Ed. in special education both received approval by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. SOE is accepting applications for admissions to both programs for spring 2010. Admission materials are due Oct. 1.

Stephen Jewett, SFOS, and Derek Sikes, UA Museum of the North, along with a team of researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visited Kasatochi Island to study how an ecosystem develops from the first species to colonize an area after a volcanic eruption.

Jeremy Mathis, IMS, tested sea water samples collected from the Gulf of Alaska and found the water was more acidic than expected. The results matched findings in the Chukchi and Bering seas. The increase in acidity could damage Alaska's king crab and salmon fisheries.

Shih-Hsung "Alex" Hwu has been appointed director of the Center for Distance Education and Independent Learning.

Staff from Poker Flat Research Range assisted fire personnel with mapping the Crazy Mountain Complex fires by using unmanned aircraft. Video of the aircraft at work is available online.

Nilima Hullavarad and Shiva Hullavarad, OEM, authored "Photoconductivity Dependence on the Background Oxygen Pressure in Nanostructured ZnO UV Sensor," to be published in the 2009 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting Symposium AA proceedings.

Anne Sudkamp and Alice Veazey, Alaska EPSCoR, completed training in facilitating and leading planning sessions and meetings.

Summer Sessions' Winter Cultural Tour to Tanzania and Zanzibar starts Dec. 28. Registration is due Sept. 1 and space is limited. For more information call 474-7021.

A website has been set up to update staff, faculty, students and stakeholders on the status of the UA presidential search.

Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management announces loss prevention funds are now available for FY10.  The program is designed to increase awareness of safety and provide a funding mechanism for campuses to invest in projects to reduce injuries and losses.  For more information on the program contact Annette Chism at apchism@alaska.edu.

All university employees purchasing airline tickets should be aware of new TSA Secure Flight program regulations for tickets purchased after Aug. 12. The requirements include full legal name as it appears on your government issued identification, birth date and gender.

The UA Museum of the North is seeking volunteer docents for its school tour program. Training takes place Monday, Aug. 31 – Friday, Sept. 11. Volunteers commit to three hours one day a week. For more information call 474-5360.

Residence halls open Sunday, Aug. 30, for the fall 2009 semester. Classes begin Thursday, Sept. 3.

The UA Museum of the North presents museum artist demonstrations by painter Karen Austen Monday – Tuesday, Aug. 24 – 25, from 1 – 4 p.m. Demonstrations are free with museum admission. For more information call 474-7505.

The University Employee Assistance Program provider, ComPsych, is hosting webinars on select Wednesdays throughout the year including Becoming a Team Player Sept. 2 and Preventing Identity Theft Sept. 16. For more information call Anne Sakumoto at 786-1432.

The Institute of Arctic Biology and Institute of Marine Science present a free public lecture on hibernation by Gerhard Heldmaier, the 2009 Irving-Scholander Memorial Lecturer, on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. in the UA Museum of the North. A reception will follow the lecture.

Theatre UAF auditions for the 2009 – 2010 season fall productions take place Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. For more information call 474-6590.

The UAF Student Job Fair (PDF), hosted by Career Services, takes place Wednesday – Thursday, Sept. 9 – 10, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Wood Center. For more information or to register for a department table call 474-7596.

The Center for Research Services is hosting an undergraduate research fair Friday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Wood Center multilevel lounge. Departments are invited to host a table. For more information contact jenn@alaska.edu.

Check out the UAF Weekly Science Calendar, sponsored by the Center for Global Change and Arctic System Research, for science-related events at UAF.

Visit UAF's online calendar for information on UAF events or to publicize an event.

Dana Hanselman, alumnus, was selected to receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Hanselman earned a Ph.D. in Fisheries from UAF in 2004.

Chancellor Rogers recognized four students for their efforts to encourage sustainability on campus: Molly Dischner, senior journalism major; Gretchen Garcia, senior biological sciences major; Amy Snider, junior political science major; and Eli Sonafrank, 2009 graduate in natural resources management. Each will receive a 12- or 6- credit tuition waiver or a $500 cash award.

Joe Margraf, Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and IAB, has been awarded the American Fisheries Society's 2009 Meritorious Service Award. The award will be presented at the society's annual meeting Aug.31 in Nashville, Tenn.

Nanook cross country takes on Central Washington Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the West Ridge Trails and Saturday, Aug. 29, at 9 a.m. at Birch Hill.

The 2009 Auto Service Company Nanook Classic volleyball tournament takes  place Friday – Saturday, Sept. 4 – 5, in the Patty Center gym. The Nanooks play at 8 p.m. Sept. 4, and 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sept. 5.

Sept. 4: Updates to your information in the UAF directory are due. Please review your information online (PDF) and make any needed changes in EDIR. For help with EDIR contact the OIT Support Center at 450-8300, 800-478-8226 or helpdesk@alaska.edu.

Sept. 25: Faculty and staff submissions for technology fee proposals are due.

Oct. 2: Student submissions for technology fee proposals are due.

Cornerstone banner photo by Todd Paris, UAF Marketing and Communications.