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PCW sets goals for academic year, welcomes new members
The President’s Commission on Women (PCW) has established several goals for the upcoming academic year and work groups have been formed to address each goal. “The
commission had a very productive planning retreat this summer at which
time we identified key issues regarding women on the The goals and workgroups include: • Creating
a climate of valuing women. Among the initiatives
planned are involvement in a student climate survey to be conducted
in spring 2004, conducting open forums on campus, and partnering with
the • Leadership in governing and decision-making. Among the planned work is assessing representation of women on university committees including faculty and administrator search committees and monitoring the process of university appointments. The PCW will also establish bylaws for the commission. • Economic opportunities and equity. The commission will collaborate with several campus agencies to conceptualize and establish a user-friendly monitoring process that can be used to continuously examine salary equity on campus, specifically gender-related pay equity. This process will involve conducting a pilot study in two colleges and one administrative area during the next academic year. • Scientific and professional advancement. Major objectives of this goal include seeking ongoing institutional support of women’s programs and initiatives on campus. The Commission will work to find ongoing financial support, encourage participation, and find academic units interested in permanently sponsoring these activities, including the Kentucky Women Writers Conference and the Circles of Power Leadership Development Program for women faculty. The Commission will also develop a resource guide for making information about advancement opportunities for women available on the PCW Web site and begin planning an initiative to highlight the advancement of women in science. • Safety and well-being. The Commission will collaborate with several campus agencies to extensively review university sexual harassment policies and procedures and recommend changes to the President where necessary. This goal also includes advocacy for the implementation of the Work-Life Task Force’s recommendations. The PCW was instrumental in a grant proposal submitted to the Department of Justice in April 2003 titled “Grants to Combat Violence Against Women on Campus.” If the grant is awarded this fall, the PCW will support and advocate for the implementation of this program. If the grant is not awarded, the commission will seek alternative funding to pursue the goals of the proposal, including a campus survey to measure the experiences and perceptions relating to safety issues on campus, including sexual harassment. The PCW also welcomed 11 new members to the Commission: Eileen Abel, faculty, Humanities and Business Technology, LCC; Kimberly Anderson, faculty, chemical and materials engineering; Mary Davis, faculty, law; Julia Ellis, PPD accounting, Staff Senate representative; Caroline Harralson, professional student, law; Erin Hoben, undergraduate student, sociology; Carol Jordan, acting director, UK Center for Research on Violence Against Women; Mary Marchant, faculty, agricultural economics; Catherine Martin, faculty, psychiatry; Dina Smith, associate director, English Department Writing Program, Kentucky Women Writers Conferences representative; and Suzanne Truitt, athletics. For more information about the goals and work of the commission, visit the PCW Web site at www.uky.edu/PCW. College of Agriculture expands academic programsThe University of Kentucky College of Agriculture has expanded its academic programs with the inclusion of faculty, staff and students from the former College of Human Environmental Sciences (HES). Three of the four academic departments formerly associated with HES – Family Studies; Nutrition and Food Sciences; and Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles – will form the new School of Human Environmental Sciences within the College of Agriculture. The School of Interior Design earlier was moved from HES to the College of Design. UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. said the new administrative configuration enables the university to better serve the families and consumers of Kentucky and the nation by going to the heart of UK’s pursuit of a higher purpose while serving the entire state. “It enhances opportunities for faculty in research and academic achievement, it sustains multi-disciplinary education in family and consumer sciences, it enhances the university’s outreach through the Cooperative Extension Service, and it magnifies the work our Extension agents are doing in a variety of areas,” Todd said. The School of Human Environmental Sciences increases the number of College of Agriculture academic departments from 12 to 15. The expansion places 28 additional faculty and about 600 students under the responsibility of College of Agriculture Dean M. Scott Smith. “The College of Agriculture has always had close ties to HES programs through our Cooperative Extension programs in family and consumer science, so we view this expansion as a natural enhancement of what we already do,” Smith said. “We welcome these faculty and students to our college, and we look forward to the new opportunities this creates.” The new school includes undergraduate programs in dietetics, food science and human nutrition; hospitality management and tourism; merchandising and apparel; and family and consumer sciences. Additionally, the College of Agriculture will add master’s degree programs in biochemical nutrition; food science; community nutrition; merchandising, apparel and textiles; vocational home economics education; and marriage and family therapy. College affiliation of UK’s early childhood education program is under review. Day-to-day operations of the College of Agriculture’s School of Human Environmental Sciences will be managed by a director. The position remains vacant at this time. “As the roles of this office are more clearly defined, and as the need becomes apparent, I will consider appointing an acting director this fall,” Smith said. Smith said he places a high priority on ensuring a smooth transition for the school’s faculty and staff and already has started meeting with various groups and committees to address questions regarding HES student recruitment and advising, as well as issues associated with curriculum requirements. Staff Report EWC registration begins Aug. 22The Anyone
who wishes to enroll in courses taught in the evening and on the weekend
may complete the entire enrollment process at either registration session
on a drop-in basis. For
more information, contact the Evening and Weekend College at 257-3159,
9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; Briefs 1Research
Support Guide now available This guide replaces last year's Guide for Medical Center Faculty and Guide for Provost-Area Faculty. Researchers will note that the annual internal grant competitions have been dropped this year and replaced with a new research support grant program. The new grant program has no deadline and applications will be accepted throughout the year. Also, there will be a major research equipment competition in October. For questions, please contact gotgrants@email.uky.edu. PCW
offers scholarships to national conference The PCW asks faculty and staff to encourage students with an interest in research on violence against women to apply. Information on the conference is available here. Scholarship application information is available by calling the PCW office at 257-3493, e-mailing the office at kjdrum2@email.uky.edu, or visiting the PCW Web site here. The application deadline is Sept. 10. Women Mean Business Conference slated Sept. 9“Transitioning
for Success” will be the theme of the 11th annual Women Mean Business
Conference, scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Holiday
Inn North in Sessions
will focus on making transitions from being an employee to
being an entrepreneur; from traditional customers to new and
different markets; and from old facilities to new growth strategies
that involve expansions and relocations. Keynotes
will be delivered by Nuby Fowler,
the federal Small Business Administration director for SBA
Region 4, which includes Registration is $99. For more information or to register, contact the Kentucky Small Business Development Center at the University of Kentucky Gatton College for Business and Economics by calling 257-7666 or (888) 475-7232 toll-free. The conference’s Web site is www.ksbdc.org/wmb.html.
University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital received a new look recently, thanks to a donation from the Makenna Foundation. A 30-foot long ceramic tile wall designed by Lexington artists Jill and Richard Stofer now greets patients and visitors entering the hospital. While a patient at Texas Children’s Hospital, Makenna David, of Lexington, found joy in touching a three-dimensional ceramic tile wall. There, Makenna was diagnosed with pulmonary veno occlusion, a rare lung disorder. After Makenna passed away in December 1998 at 20-months old, it became a goal of her mother, Sheila David, to build a similar wall at UK Children’s Hospital—where Makenna also received treatment. The Makenna Foundation was established by RE/MAX Creative Realty in September 2001 in Makenna’s memory. The foundation’s annual fund-raiser, The Art of Making Miracles, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, on the grounds of RE/MAX Creative Realty on Palumbo Drive at Man O' War. The theme of the event is "A Starry, Starry Night" and funds raised will be used for a sedation room in the new UK Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic. Tickets are $50 per person in advance and $60 on the day of the event. For more information, call the Makenna Foundation at (859) 422-2010 or e-mail makennafund@iglou.com or visit the Makenna Foundation Web site at www.makennafoundation.org. Study offers new model of brain aging
A
University of The research, headed by Phillip W. Landfield, professor and chair, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Pharmacology, UK College of Medicine, is using new technology that helps match gene activity with actual age-related behavior and thinking. The new approach has helped uncover and identify a wide variety of aging and thought-based genes. The study suggests that the changes in gene activity that begin in mid-life may have a defining impact on how the brain works in later years. The report appeared
in the Genes appear to play an important part in the cellular calcium levels that can trigger cell death, cholesterol synthesis and the metabolism of iron. They may also take part in the breakdown of the insulation that surrounds and supports communication among nerve cells. Measuring the simultaneous activity of thousands of genes is accomplished through gene microarrays – among the most advanced in genomics technology. Landfield suggests that, "This study has allowed us to do what no other study has done before – incorporate advanced technology in a strategy that relates genes and behavior over time. The best news is that we now have a more comprehensive model of the genetic component in brain aging though the process is incredibly complex. This detailed picture of the brain should help us to develop new resources for improving the mental slow-down that typically impacts most individuals as they age." The research team focused on age- and cognition-related genes that represent different cellular processes within the brain. A complete listing of the genes and what they do appears in the journal article. The new model of brain aging that appears from this work suggests that a loss in nerve cell functions that is accompanied by a reduction in the protective covering that surrounds those cells may trigger the brain inflammation that leads to the loss in cell function that contributes to those age-related thinking problems. The genes appear to change in mid-life, before the impact of those changes is evident. Most promising may be the new options and possibilities for tracking change in the aging brain. The study was conducted by Landfield and colleagues Eric M. Blalock, research assistant professor; Kuey-Chu Chen, research assistant professor; Keith Sharrow, research associate; Thomas C. Foster, associate professor; and Nada M. Porter, associate professor, all of the Department of Molecular and Biomedical Pharmacology, UK College of Medicine and James P. Herman, professor of psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The research was supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with additional support from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), both divisions of the National Institutes of Health. Staff Report Wellness Program continues to offer employees transport to Farmers Market
The University of Kentucky Wellness Program is helping to support “Kentucky grown” fresh fruits and vegetables while also providing a way for employees to get the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. UK employees can catch the Wellness-sponsored bus to the Farmers Market located at Maxwell and Broadway during their lunch hour on the following dates: Aug. 21 and 26, and Sept. 4, 9 and 18. The bus is from the College of Agriculture and will have a Farmers’ Market sign in the front windshield. Through this Wellness-sponsored support of the local Farmers Market, not only are employees able to conveniently shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, but also are provided the opportunity to support “Kentucky grown” products.
Briefs 2UK
Research Foundation awarded RWJ grant The $124,807, 16-month grant will support the implementation of behavior modification intervention in community primary care practices, under the direction of Thomas Armsey, professor, Department of Surgery, UK College of Medicine. Established in 1972, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization devoted exclusively to health and health care in the United States. The foundation supports research focused in four major areas: the improvement of health care; the improvement of quality of care and support for those with chronic conditions; the promotion of healthy communities and lifestyles; and the reduction of the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse. Romanelli
honored by College of Health Sciences Construction
impacts campus traffic UK Hospital cookouts provide diversion to daily grind
Kermic Thomas
Jr. mingles through the crowd, singing along with the disc jockey's
selections and asking people to take part in the Cha-Cha and Electric
Slide. He is sort of a "master of ceremonies" for
the Co-workers chat and relax at picnic tables while food service employees quickly grill hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches to feed the crowd. Some pick up a microphone and select a favorite karaoke tune to entertain co-workers and friends. "I love the cookouts, especially when the weather is like this," said Srikant Rajan, a computer systems administrator for the College of Pharmacy. Irma Evans, a human resources assistant, and Janice Dyche, a staff support associate, both with Food Services, attend the cookouts each Friday for chicken sandwiches. "It's a break in the day," Evans said. "It's fun to watch people." Part of the excitement of the cookouts can be attributed to Thomas, who is Food Services operations manager. "If we can bring a little life into food, let's do it," Thomas said. "My job is to bring life to the program." In addition to more well-known line dances, Thomas has been teaching customers a new dance called "Steppin," by R. Kelley. "Grooves on the Move," a local company, provides the music and karaoke. The cookouts began on a weekly basis last summer and are held May through August, in addition to a few special events in the fall. Due to word-of-mouth and posters throughout the Medical Center, the cookouts have been drawing increasingly larger crowds, Thomas said. "Karaoke began this year and has definitely helped with business as well as employee morale," said Stacey Sininger, Food Services retail and catering manager. "I think that everyone really enjoys the music. It's a nice way to make Fridays go by fast and get ready for the weekend." If you would like to receive a weekly e-mail update about the UK Hospital Cafeteria menu and information about upcoming events, e-mail Sininger at sasini0@uky.edu. During emergencies, assist co-workersIn the case of an emergency, do you know what to do? If severe weather hits or a building catches on fire, do you know where to go? In those instances, do you know how to assist those with disabilities? It
is probably safe to say that most people know to evacuate a building
in the case of a fire or other building emergency, or to seek shelter
during severe weather. And with the new Severe
Weather Preparedness Project well under way at the “People react to emergencies in many different ways,” said Patty Bender, assistant vice president for affirmative action/equal opportunity. “We all need to be aware of what we need to do to help those folks out of a building during an emergency.” Bender says one of the most important things to do for someone with disabilities is to inform co-workers of that fact and of any assistance that person might need. It is then helpful for the worker’s supervisor to designate someone who can assist that person during an emergency, as well as a backup. When the time comes, that person will know what to do to assist. When severe weather threatens, it is crucial to seek shelter in the approved areas in your building. If you are unsure where these areas are in your building, you can view them on the Web at wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/stormready/map.html. By clicking on your building on the map, you will be taken to a page that lists the safest places in the building and provides links to a layout of the building with those areas highlighted. In case of fire or other life-threatening emergency that requires evacuation, the designees should help their co-workers leave the building if there is nothing hindering the exit, i.e. if the first floor of the building has no steps. However, if the person with a disability is on a floor other than the first and cannot be evacuated by the elevator, that individual’s designee should transport that person to the nearest refuge point, which is normally a stairwell. It is important for the designee to leave the coworker at the refuge point and continue evacuating the building. By doing this, the designee knows exactly where to send the fire department upon arrival, saving valuable time in getting everyone out of the building. When instances arise that are not life-threatening, however, the designee can and is encouraged to stay with the person. “That is very difficult, to get people to leave someone in those situations,” Bender said. “But what they need to realize is that they are needed more outside. When the firefighters arrive, they will ask if anyone is left in the building. The designee knows precisely where to send them. And instead of four firefighters having to enter the building to get two people, only two have to enter to evacuate one person.” Bender also said that for everyone’s safety, you should never try to carry anyone out of the building. For more information on emergency and weather guidelines, visit http://ehs.uky.edu/welcome.html, or for specifics on assisting co-workers with disabilities, go to http://ehs.uky.edu/fire/evac.html. If you have questions about these procedures, you can contact the UK fire marshall at 257-6326 or Bender, who would be happy to help offices formulate plans for situations involving those with disabilities, at 257-8927. Memorial to UK’s first president relocatedA University of Kentucky landmark has found a new home. The bronze statue of James K. Patterson, UK’s first president, was moved from its place beside the Administration Building to a new location in front of the Patterson Office Tower. The relocation was part of the restoration of the Administration Building, which was heavily damaged by fire in 2001. The Patterson statue, which has stood at UK since its dedication in 1934, has been moved three times – once from its original location beside a walkway that connected the Administration Building with Maxwell Place, to off-campus storage during construction of the Patterson Office Tower and White Hall Classroom Building in the late 1960s, and then to its former location on the north side of the Administration Building facing Limestone. Workmen used a forklift to move the statue, which weighs an estimated 1,800 pounds. While preparing the statue for the move, workers were surprised to find that it was hollow – “Like a chocolate Easter bunny,” one said. Staff Report
UK, LFUCG reach agreement on ballgame traffic controlThe Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and the University of Kentucky have reached an agreement on managing traffic control at home football and basketball games. The city and the university believe that by working together they have developed a plan that is fair to both entities and more importantly achieves safe, efficient traffic control for UK athletic events. Under the agreement UK will reimburse LFUCG $88,882.13, the projected cost for the Division of Police to support the traffic control plan for all UK home football games. In addition, LFUCG will absorb the projected cost of $38,053.94 for the Division of Police to manage traffic control at all UK home basketball games. “Through all of our discussions with the mayor and her staff, we have recognized the city has serious budget issues to contend with, as does the university,” said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. “We knew that we would develop a plan that is fair and equitable for both of us and believe we have achieved that. Frankly, this has been a much bigger issue out in the community than between the mayor and me. I’m pleased that the LFUCG police will be supporting our traffic control as usual, and we are ready to kick things off on August 31.” “There was never a doubt in my mind that an agreement would be reached before the start of the football season,” said Lexington Mayor Teresa Ann Isaac. “Both Dr. Todd and I realized the importance of UK activities and the need for trained and experienced officers to control traffic.” Staff Report Healthtrac Rewards program off to excellent start
University of Kentucky Healthtrac Rewards, the latest health improvement program offered by the UK Health Literacy Project, is getting a “healthy” response. Since
the new program launched in early July, 2,494 employees and retirees
who are enrolled in a “Our goal for the first year of UK Healthtrac Rewards is to have 4,500 employees and retirees actively participate in this program,” said Wellness and Health Literacy Director David Hoke. “It’s wonderful that in one month we are already half way to our goal.” The
Health Literacy Project is an overall effort to limit cost increases
in health insurance by improving the health of participants in the One reason Healthtrac may have caught on so quickly is the financial incentive to participate. Participants who visit their personal health page once a month and fill out the questionnaire when it is available, can earn $10 each month, up to $120 a year, with quarterly checks sent directly to their homes. “We had a large response the first week after announcing the program, and a steady increase each week since,” Hoke said, “but we anticipate a spike in participation when that first round of checks is mailed in October.” The financial reward first got the attention of Matthew Bradley, a storeroom assistant in the UK Chandler Medical Center Physical Plant Division. However, Bradley said after he completed the health assessment questionnaire and received a report based on his answers, he’s very enthused about the program. “After reading the questions, it just hit me – boom – maybe I should be watching my fitness and what I eat,” Bradley said. “It really helped me a lot.” Bradley said he plans to access his personal health page more often than once a month and use the information to make positive changes in his health. During the first week of the program, there were some technical glitches that were resolved within a few days. An insufficient Internet browser seemed to be the biggest culprit. Some people had to use Internet Explorer or upgrade their Netscape software to successfully navigate the Web sites. Now, most of the questions deal with forgotten passwords and the logging in process. Hoke said the entire Health Literacy Project staff was and continues to be available to help individuals who may encounter problems accessing their personal health pages. Also many campus employees were trained prior to the announcement to help people in their departments. Brian Hughes, a senior computer programmer/analyst with Enterprise Database and Applications and a staff senator, was a Healthtrac mentor for his area. As a health conscious person, Hughes said he is very pleased so many people are participating in Healthtrac Rewards. “I think it’s wonderful, especially for folks who don’t take care of themselves. This gives them an incentive to start thinking about their health,” Hughes said. He also said the $10 a month is a good motivator to try it. “Anything with money attached to it will get people involved.” When Hinderberger, who retired from the College of Dentistry 12 years ago, said he also hopes Healthtrac Rewards will hold down spiraling insurance costs. “I think it’s a good idea which will be tested with time. I believe it has every potential to save money for the university’s self-insured pool.” As
for concerns about the program, Hoke said
there have been some. They mostly deal with
security and use of the information provided on the health assessment
and complaints from people not eligible to participate in the program
because they are not enrolled in a “The Health Literacy staff has been able to field the questions and concerns to the satisfaction of employees and retirees,” Hoke said. “I am very happy with everything so far, and encourage people who haven’t taken advantage of UK Healthtrac Rewards yet to try it.” Individuals enrolled in UK HMO LSA or UK HMO RSA may access their personal health page at www.dhppsccha.net/dhp/start.asp. Those enrolled in UK PPO, UK PPO High, UK EPO, UK Health First, UK Indemnity, or UK Medicare Carveout may access their page at www.myhumana.com. Anyone needing help or more information, may contact the Health Literacy Project at 257-6215 or visit the Web site at www.uky.edu/healthliteracy. For the people who have registered and filled out the health questionnaire, they will receive a monthly reminder e-mail to visit the page each month to receive their financial reward. UK welcomes new, returning students back to campusAs students begin to return to Lexington, the University of Kentucky will officially begin its fall semester with an Opening Convocation from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, in Memorial Coliseum, part of the 2003 Kentucky Welcome. Following the convocation, students and their families will join President and Mrs. Lee T. Todd Jr., college deans, faculty, and staff in the Student Center to mingle and talk about college life. Campus Ruckus will be another event kicking off the fall semester. Beginning at 9 p.m. Aug. 23, students are invited to Haggin Field for music, games and a pizza taste-off. And on Aug. 24, students can participate in the Student Center Spectacular. This event, billed as “entertainment everywhere,” runs from 8 p.m. to midnight and is one of the most anticipated events of Kentucky Welcome. New to this year’s events will be UK FUSION (For Unity and Service In Our Neighborhoods), a day in which the university community will come together and complete service projects throughout Lexington. UK FUSION will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 25; beginning at Haggin Field, participants will be transported to various work sites. After UK FUSION, students can enjoy the Wildcat Rookie Camp at Commonwealth Stadium beginning at 4 p.m. This event features the pep band, cheerleaders and mascots. For a detailed list of events and activities planned as part of the 2003 Kentucky Welcome, visit www.uky.edu/studentaffairs/newstudentservices/fallintro.htm. top |
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