Headliners

Mellon grant aids Five College fiber optic project

Five Colleges, Incorporated has received a grant of $325,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support one-time costs for the management of a new Five College fiber optic network that will furnish nearly limitless bandwidth for the five member campuses of the consortium. Funds from the grant will also be used to offset partial costs for the first two years of operation.

Master’s degree in architecture approved by trustees

A new, multidisciplinary master’s degree program in Architecture is awaiting approval by the state Board of Higher Education after being endorsed Aug. 4 by the Board of Trustees.

Schrader named interim director of UMass Extension

Robert Schrader has been appointed interim director of UMass Extension, effective Aug. 10, according to John Mullin, vice provost for University Outreach.

Trustees revise bylaws to establish 2 committees

A new compensation committee and a freestanding audit committee were established Aug. 4 as the Board of Trustees approved changes in its bylaws.

James Karam elected chair of trustee board

James J. Karam was elected Aug. 4 to chair the University’s 22-member Board of Trustees. Karam succeeds Grace K. Fey, who remains on the board but did not seek a fifth one-year term as chair.

Air Force ROTC unit to close in 2007

The campus-based Air Force ROTC Detachment 370 will close in the summer of 2007 due primarily to the small number of officers it has produced during the past decade and the need to move manpower to other locations to support significant growth in the Air Force ROTC program nationwide, Air Force officials have announced.

Legislature approves Nantucket land sale

The sale of 110 acres of University-owned land on Nantucket to a conservation group won legislative approval on July 30.

Campus rated a ‘best buy’ by Fiske Guide

UMass Amherst is among the 16 public universities and colleges in the U.S. rated “best buys” by the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2005.

Community Breakfast set for Aug. 31

The annual Community Breakfast, organized by the Office of Public Affairs and co-hosted by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held Tuesday, Aug. 31, 7:30-9 a.m. at Franklin Dining Commons.

Now in its 38th year, the event kicks off the new academic year by bringing together members of the campus community, local legislators, civic and business leaders, area college presidents and townspeople to discuss common interests and goals.

Parking is available in Lot 62 and carpooling is suggested.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door. To reserve tickets, call 577-1101 by Aug. 25.

Malone named dean of College of Engineering

Michael F. Malone, a distinguished campus researcher and teacher for more than two decades, has been named dean of the College of Engineering.

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People

American Forests Names Paul Barten to National Advisory Board

American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the country, recently named Paul Barten, professor of forestry and hydrology in Environmental Conservation, to its science advisory board. Barten says his primary motivation is to protect drinking water supplies and aquatic ecosystems.

Armenian Diplomat Teaching Political Science Classes

Dr. Armen Baibourtian from the United Nations office in Armenia as a visiting scholar and professor in Department of Political Science for the Spring 2014 semester.

Communication Disorders’ Giang Pham Seeks to Expand Vietnam Collaborations

Giang Pham, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders, recently traveled to Vietnam to formalize international collaborations between the department and its peer institutions abroad.

Weekly Bulletin

Expert to speak on "Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Through Nutrition and Physical Activity"

Stella Volpe, professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition Sciences at Drexel University, is a nutritionist and exercise physiologist whose research focuses on the prevention of obesity and diabetes across the lifespan. There will be an informal reception before her talk.

Celebrating International Women's Day

In honor of International Women's Day 2014, the Center for Women & Community is celebrating women's creativity on Friday, March 7 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Shirley Du Bois Library, New Africa House.

SMART Plan Representative Available

A representative from the Massachusetts SMART Plan will be available to speak with employees from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, in room 911-15 of the Campus Center.

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