Constitution Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the place where the Alaska Constitutional Convention was held in 1955. The listing coincides with the 50th anniversary celebration of Alaska’s Constitution.

President Hamilton announced the names of the 55 delegates chosen for the Conference of Young Alaskans, including four delegates and one alternate from UAF. The conference takes place Jan. 13–16, 2006 at UAF. For more information visit www.alaska.edu/coya/.

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UAF Summer Sessions was elected to membership in the Association of University Summer Sessions. The association limits its membership to 50 universities.

UAF and UAA have implemented a joint Ph.D. program in Clinical-Community Psychology. The program addresses the high demand for mental health professionals across the state. Students will earn their degree from UAF, but attend classes from both universities. Applications for the program will be accepted through Feb. 1, 2006 and classes being in Fall 2006.

The Alaska Chamber Chorale, directed by Marvilla Davis, CLA, was selected by the American Choral Directors Association to perform at the Northwest Conference in Portland, Ore. in March 2006.

Brush up on your German skills next semester with German Conversation I and II taught by Silvia Daeumichen, with discussions, problem solving situations and training for comprehension and listening skills.

Carol Holz, International Programs, was selected as the Alaska representative for NAFSA Association of International Educators Region I, the Pacific Northwest.

Alaska Sea Grant is donating 10 percent of proceeds from book and video sales through April 30, 2006 to help U.S. Gulf Coast fishermen affected by the hurricanes.

Dianne Coursey, SOE, is going to El Salvador as co-director of the Teacher-to-Teacher: Alaska to El Salvador Language Proficiency Workshop.

The 5th annual Women’s Athletic Luncheon was held Nov. 9. More than 150 people attended and more than $10,000 was raised for women’s athletics.

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The Academic Advising Center is hosting a series of Invest in Yourself workshops including Creating a Four-Year Plan Nov. 29 in Gruening 409 at 1:05 p.m. For more information or to register visit www.uaf.edu/advising/.

Sun Microsystems is holding the Solaris 10 University Challenge Contest for university students, faculty and IT staff from Nov. 2005–June 2006. Sun Microsystems will be in Fairbanks to host a Sun Day on Nov. 30. For more information visit www.sun.com/software/solaris/contest/univ_challenge.jsp.

Music at One, free recitals by UAF music students, take place on Dec. 1 and 8 from 1-2 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall.

The UAF Jazz Band and Combo and the UAF Jazz Choir present a concert Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is $10 adults, $5 student, seniors and military and children 12 and under are free.

The UAF Women’s Center is hosting a gift giving and wrapping party Dec. 2 from 4–6 p.m. in the Wood Center multi-level lounge to benefit those spending the holidays at the domestic violence shelter. Refreshments and wrapping supplies will be provided. Bring a gift and help wrap them. For more information call 6360.

Yelena Matusevich, CLA, is holding a reception for her art exhibit Dec. 2 from 6–8 p.m. at Advantage Alaska Realty, 925 Third Ave. All proceeds from the exhibit will be donated to the St. Petersburg Foundation to help the blind.

The UA Museum of the North is holding an open house Dec. 3 from noon–4 p.m. Explore the museum, meet with curators and see the new collection space. There will be hands-on activities for kids. Admission is free. The museum is hosting a new exhibit, A New Sense of Wonder, featuring recent works by the Sense of Wonder artist-donors and Kesler Woodward as guest curator. The exhibit runs from Dec. 3–April 30, 2006. For more information call 7505.

UAF Trails Day is Dec. 3. Join Outdoor Adventures for free lessons and ski rentals and enjoy the UAF trails. For more information contact 6027 or fywild@uaf.edu, or visit www.uaf.edu/outdoor/.

The UAF Office of Multicultural Affairs is hosting a Multicultural Extravaganza Dec. 3 from 7–10 p.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. Come enjoy dancing, food and music. Admission is $5. For more information call 7300.

Theatre UAF presents Four Farces and a Funeral, featuring four one-act plays by Anton Chekhov including The Bear, The Marriage Proposal, The Wedding and On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco. Performances will take place in the Salisbury Theatre Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 8:15 p.m. and Dec. 4 and 11 at 2 p.m. Admission is $12, $10 for UAF affiliates, seniors and military and $6 for students. For more information call 7751 or visit www.uaf.edu/theatre/.

The Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra presents the Design Alaska Family Holiday Celebration Dec. 4 with a silent auction at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall and a concert at 4 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. For more information visit www.fairbankssymphony.org.

The UAF Women’s Center presents a self defense and empowerment workshop Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. and Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. on the balcony of the SRC. For more information or to sign up call 6360.

The UAF Percussion Ensembles present their fall concert Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is $10, $5 students, seniors and military and children 12 and under free.

The holiday historical photograph reprint sale takes place Dec. 8–9 from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. in the Wood Center. Purchase reproductions of some of the archive’s most popular photographs and rare maps. For more information call 6344.

The UAF Wind Symphony concert will be held Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is $10, $5 students, seniors and military and children 12 and under free.

The University Chorus, conducted by Jaunelle Celaire, CLA, performs Schubert’s Mass in G Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is $10, $5 students, seniors and military. Proceeds will help the chorus pay for its trip to Carnegie Hall in April 2006.

The Alaska Chamber Chorale Holiday Concert, directed by Marvilla Davis, CLA, takes place Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is $10, $8 students, seniors and military and children 12 and under free.

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KSUA received 14 of 20 Goldie Awards given in the student division at the 2005 Alaska Broadcasters Association annual awards dinner.

TVC’s Aviation Maintenance program received a recently surplused turbine engine donated by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Silke Schiewer, CEM, received a $388,524 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the use of waste citrus peels as biosorbents for heavy metal removal from wastewater.

Michelle Bartlett, Summer Sessions, received a Golden Heart Award from the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce as a UAF employee who impacts the local community.

Elaine Drew, IAB and CLA, was named a Health Disparities Scholar by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Stephen Jewett, SFOS, received a Fullbright Senior Specialist grant in Environmental Science to work at Catholic University of the North in Coquimbo, Chile in Jan.–Feb. 2006.

Four UAF Army ROTC cadets were selected as Distinguished Military Graduates for the 2005–2006 school year. Christopher Eby, Jessie Janes, Linda Tomisser and Kevin Wehner were chosen among the top 20 percent of young military leaders nationwide.

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Dec. 1, 2005: Nominations for the Edith R. Bullock Prize for Excellence are due. For more information visit www.alaska.edu/uafound/.

Dec. 1, 2005: Applications for graduation with leadership honors are due for December graduation. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/leadership/.

Dec. 1, 2005: The Strategic Planning Committee is soliciting comments on the draft Strategic Plan 2010. Send comments and recommendations to fy2010@uaf.edu. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/strategic/.

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Staying on Track

It takes a combination of many things, especially the right people, to make a great university. While excellent staff and administrators are important parts of a university’s workforce, the heart of the institution is the faculty. Their collective competence, dedication and attitudes define the institution and its learning environment.

In that context, I consider the recently released report “Study of Faculty Work Life at the University of Alaska Fairbanks” to be essential to an understanding of the present state and future of UAF. In the words of the report, there is much to celebrate. For example, most faculty members are satisfied with their jobs, appreciate what the community has to offer and enjoy the respect of their colleagues. On the other hand, the report also identifies areas where improvements are necessary--resources dedicated to support of faculty activities in teaching and research, involvement of faculty in university-level decision-making, options for child care and the level of civility and professionalism in interpersonal interactions at UAF. Furthermore, the survey results indicate that, in general, male faculty members find the UAF environment to be more inviting and supportive than do their female colleagues.

I think we owe a big “thank you” to the UAF Faculty Senate Committee on the Status of Women for this survey and report. The committee has done its job. Now it’s our collective responsibility to discuss and address the issues the study has raised. All of us should become involved in developing a set of priorities for action. The study has been very valuable, and it has provided us with an opportunity to enact changes that will improve UAF. Please join the Faculty Senate and me in efforts to capitalize on this opportunity.

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