News

Campus Center Way closed to through traffic Jan. 17

The contractor for the Old Power Plant Demolition Project will be closing Campus Center Way, from Flint/Holdsworth Way to the Lower Garage Service Road on Thursday, Jan. 17 to make steam line repairs in the area.

The Campus Parking Garage will remain open and accessible from Commonwealth Avenue via Holdsworth Way. There will also continue to be access to the Lower Garage Service Road.

The work zone will be open, as necessary, to emergency vehicles only. UMass Police will direct traffic. Through traffic on Campus Center Way should resume by the end of the day.

Questions about this project

Senior awarded Language Intensive Focus Track scholarship to continue Arabic studies in Jordan

Clara Wool, a senior in Commonwealth Honors College majoring in Environmental Design and Middle Eastern Studies, has been named an inaugural Language Intensive Focus Track (LIFT) scholar by the Council on International Educational Exchange, allowing her to extend her studies of Arabic in Amman, Jordan through the spring semester.
 
Last summer, Wool attended an intensive language institute in Jordan with a Critical Language Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State.

Ryan honored by Mass. Tree Wardens and Foresters Association

The Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association presented its George E. Stone Award to Dennis Ryan, professor of arboriculture and urban forestry in the Department of Environmental Conservation, on Jan. 15 at the organization's annual meeting in Sturbridge.

The highest honor bestowed by the association, the annual award recognizes a member of MTWFA who has continuously demonstrated outstanding dedication with many hours of volunteer service to the organization.

 

Free introductory yoga classes

Newmass Yoga is offering free introductory yoga classes in the Newman Center during the first week of the semester, Jan. 22-24.
 
Come learn about this ancient and modern system of self-care. All levels of experience are welcome. Classes are open to all, however each class size is limited to the first 25 arrivals.

Class times are 3-4:30 and 4:45-6:15 pm. in the main floor meeting room beside the Newman Center chapel.
 
For more information, visit www.newmassyoga.com or e-mail yogaumass@yahoo.com

Vokbus honored on retirement from International Programs

Pat Vokbus of the International Programs Office, who is retiring after more than 38 years of service, was honored Jan. 14 by colleagues from across the campus, state and region.
 
“As an international student advisor and dean for international exchange students, Pat’s years advising international students set an example for the entire community on the importance of service to our international students,” said Jack Ahern, vice provost for International Programs.

Nieto, McDermott cited by American Enterprise Institute for promoting public dialogue on education policy

The American Enterprise Institute’s Frederick M. Hess has recognized two scholars from the School of Education for contributions to the national public dialogue on education policy.

 
Professor emerita Sonia Nieto of the Department of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies and associate professor Kathryn A. McDermott of the Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration were among 168 education scholars nationwide named to Hess’s “Edu-Scholar Public Presence Rankings,” which recognizes “university-based scholars for their contributions to the public square.”
 
That impact is

Jordaan, researchers conclude fishways haven't helped fish

Despite modern designs intended to allow migratory fish to pass, hydropower dams on major Northeast U.S. waterways, including the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers, have failed to let economically important species such as salmon, shad and river herring reach their spawning grounds, say a team of economists and fish ecologists including Adrian Jordaan of the Environmental Conservation Department. 
 
This raises serious questions about the impact of new dams now being planned and constructed on major waterways worldwide, say the researchers in the current issue of Conservation Letters. The

Schweik addresses Technology, Knowledge and Society conference

Charles Schweik, associate professor of Environmental Conservation and Public Policy, gave a plenary address on Jan. 14 during the annual International Technology, Knowledge and Society conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.
 
His talk, “Internet-based Collaboration in Open Source Software,” described some of the history of open-source software, as well as some selected results from a five-year National Science Foundation-funded study on the topic.

New course proposals

The following new course proposals have been submitted to the Faculty Senate Office for review and approval and are listed here for faculty review and comment. Comments on any new course proposal should be submitted to Ernest May, secretary of the Faculty Senate, at senate@senate.umass.edu.

ANIMLSCI 365, “Fundamentals in Veterinary and Biomedical Laboratory Techniques,” 4 credits; Instructor: Dr. Lisa M. Minter; Lecture and Laboratory. Lecture emphasizes theoretical basis of veterinary clinical procedures, techniques, and instrumentation in hematology, microbiology and parasitology.

Campus, WMECo partner to reduce energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions

In partnership with Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo), the campus recently completed an energy efficiency project expected to save more than $220,000 in energy costs per year and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 1,000 metric tons in 2013 and beyond.
 
To achieve this, WMECo and Physical Plant staff use a technique called “continuous commissioning” to identify low-cost operational and maintenance improvements in buildings where the original operating parameters may have changed or slipped over the years.

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