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cm-life.com
Friday, sept. 14, 2012
oLYMPiC CHaMPion
soCCer
Gold medal winner Dominique Dawes talks goals to a crowded Plachta Auditorium » PAGE 3A
Coach Stafford calls 2-0 loss to Purdue the ‘worst team effort’ of his CMU career » PAGE 7A
Ross: ‘cmU remains strong’ By Catey Traylor university editor
Central Michigan University President George Ross said the “transformative power” of education has been driving CMU for the past 120 years. Ross delivered his State of the University address Thursday in Plachta Auditorium to an audience of about 300 people and stressed the importance of education. “A good education helps us appreciate the need to embrace the future,” he said. “At CMU, we do not isolate ourselves in the ivory towers of academia. Instead, we partner with communities, schools, businesses, lawmakers and students and families.” He noted significant academic achievements from last year, including the College of Education and Human Services receiving full accreditation, the College of Medicine receiving preliminary accreditation and the academic prioritization of more than 400 programs on campus. Ross said more students are turning to CMU’s Global Campus to take classes. “We added 22 new online courses, and from (the first summer session) through the spring semester, we had 22,295 online course registrations—4,300 more than last year,” he said. Ross said the turmoil surrounding the 2010-11 academic year did nothing but make CMU stronger. “Despite challenges facing higher education and difficulties facing our campus last year, I’m here to tell you that CMU remains strong,” he said. “… Thanks to more than 1,000 dedicated and excellent faculty and 1,500 outstanding staff who share their knowledge, their critical thinking and their personal time with students.” A UNION| 2A
AdAm niemi/Staff PhotogRaPheR
CMU students and faculty listen as President George Ross delivers the State of the University address Thursday afternoon in Plachta Auditorium. “Our alumni are leaders,” Ross said.
Moving forward Ross notes achievements, looks to future at State of the University address
AdAm niemi/Staff PhotogRaPheR
Central Michigan University President George Ross delivers the State of the University address Thursday afternoon in Plachta Auditorium.
University President George Ross focused on Central Michigan University’s history, achievements and future goals during the State of the University address Thursday afternoon. The address was made on the 120th anniversary of CMU’s existence, and Ross spoke about how far the university has come since then.
By Neil Rosan “(CMU has) 120 years of top-notch education, serving not only the students in our classrooms, but through our alumni, inspiring hundreds of thousands of school-age children,” Ross said. Ross addressed the beginnings of Central Michigan Normal School in 1982. “On this day in 1892, CMU opened its doors as Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute. A class of 31 students began their studies that day, in a new building in downtown Mount Pleasant,” Ross said. “Obviously, life has changed a little in
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Staff Reporter 120 years.” The present was also an important part of the address. Ross spoke about many of the academic successes the university has had. He highlighted the achievements of chemistry professor Dillip Mohany and assistant professor of biomedical and environmental materials Anja Mueller. Mohany recently invented a way to capture mercury from coal-fired power plants and convert it into a material that can be disposed of in landfills. A ROSS| 2A
faculty members, department chairs have high expectations for Shapiro’s replacement By Emma Kinsel Staff Reporter
Faculty members reacted with little surprise and high expectations for future candidates following Provost Gary Shapiro’s recent announcement of his retirement at the end of the academic year. “It was expected, when he took the job, he indicated
he would only stay a couple years,” economics department chairman Paul Natke said. Shapiro will continue to hold the position of Provost for the next nine months and take a transitional leave after that. He plans to assist the university’s search for his replacement. Jeffery Betts, school of health sciences department chairman, said he expects Sha-
piro to continue the process of Academic Prioritization and proper allocation of funds in his remaining time as provost. Political science department chairman Orlando Perez said future candidates should be leaders with the academic credentials to inspire faculty and students. “I think we need someone that appreciates and values
the role that faculty play at the university,” Perez said. “I think we need a person with an outstanding record of teaching and research. I think we need a visionary leader that can inspire the best in the faculty and the students.” Judy Sherlock, director of career services, hopes for somebody who shares Shapiro’s vision to take his place.
“I certainly hope who it is shares a similar vision so we can keep making great strides moving the university forward,” she said. Sherlock said she would give Shapiro an A+ for his performance as provost. “He had to make some rough decisions, he made them ... and always with respect and what was best for CMU in his
heart,” she said. The provost is in charge of the university’s seven academic colleges, the College of Graduate Studies, Global Campus and other parts of the university, such as international education and academic affairs. “It’s a most important office, A SHAPIRO| 5A
candidate Katherine Hammett wants to globalize campus By Andrea Peck Staff Reporter
Katherine Hammett, a candidate to become Central Michigan University’s executive director for foreign affairs, wants to use her position to add international curriculum to all student’s education. Hammett is the director of international education at Carroll University in Wisconsin and has also held positions in the international student offices of Xavier University and Louisiana Tech University. She spoke at an open forum at Central Michigan University
Wednesday about her passion for international education. She said what excites her most about the position of executive director for foreign affairs at CMU is its place on the Council of Deans, something she would use to her advantage. “To be able to insert international education into everyday life on campus will be smoother because of that position,” she said. The executive director for foreign affairs will lead the campus in creating an international curriculum. They will work to enhance international research, exchange programs and have
a hand in the globalization of campus. Hammett said she would first spend time learning about people and their lives on campus and use that knowledge to move forward, if she were chosen for the position. “The study abroad office and the position of executive director for foreign affairs are so tied. It would be interesting to find a balance and something that works well for the two,” Hammett said. Hammett said she would work with faculty and students to help everyone see the role they could play in helping in-
ternational students on campus and in making CMU more global. “We are part of a global society, and to ignore that fact is perilous,” she said. Hammett is the last of three candidates for the position of executive director for foreign affairs to speak at CMU. Claudia Douglass, the interim vice provost of academic affairs and the head of the search committee for the job, said a decision concerning the position should be made by the end of October. university@cm-life.com
BrooKe mAyLe /Staff PhotogRaPheR
Executive Director of International Affairs candidate Kathy Hammett talks with faculty Wednesday afternoon in the Lake Superior room in the Bovee University Center.
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