Weekly Bulletin

Faculty candidates to present Microbiology seminars

Four candidates for a physiology faculty position in the Department of Microbiology will present seminars over the next two weeks. All of the sessions take place at 11:15 a.m. in 201 Morrill Science Center IV North. The candidates and their topics are as follows:

Mark Shirtliff, Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University, "Staphylococcus aureus biofilms," Tuesday, July 16.

Jeffery Blanchard, University of New Mexico, "A systematic approach to identifying functional modules underlying microbial phenotypes," Thursday, July 18.

Michele Klingbeil, department of biological chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Tuesday, July 23.

James Holden, department of biochemistry and molecular biology, University of Georgia, Thursday, July 25.

Refreshments precede each session at 11 a.m. in 202 Morrill IV North.

Certified Nursing Assistant training course

The School of Nursing is offering a Certified Nursing Assistant training course from July 15 through Aug. 2.

The cost is $700 plus a $5 registration fee. The deadline to apply is July 14.

For more information, contact Christina Scharbaai at 5-5084.

Pregnant women sought for Exercise Science study

Researchers in the Department of Exercise Science are seeking pregnant women (in all trimesters) for participation in a study to validate a physical activity questionnaire. Participation requires the wearing of an activity monitor for a week and two visits to campus to complete questionnaires.

Participants will receive $50.

For more information, call 5-1583 or send an e-mail (droberts@excsci.umass.edu).

Jazz in July performances

Free public performances are being presented next week as part of the 21st annual Jazz in July Summer Music Programs.

On Wednesday, July 17, "Jazz in July Jamsations," featuring participants in the instrumental and vocal programs, will perform from 7-10 p.m. at the garden stage of the Lord Jeffery Inn in downtown Amherst. A summer dinner menu and cash bar will be available.

On Friday, July 19, a "Jazz in July Concert" will be presented at Bowker Auditorium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Second summer session begins July 15

Second summer session classes begin Monday, July 15 and continue through Wednesday, Aug. 21.

The add/drop period ends Friday, July 19 and the last day for students to drop courses with a "W" is Friday, Aug. 2.

Registration open for UMass Extension's Green School

UMass Extension is accepting registrations for its annual Green School to be held Oct. 8 through Dec. 18 in Marlborough.

Green School is a comprehensive educational training program for green industry professionals presented by the UMass Extension Landscape Nursery and Urban Forestry Program in cooperation with the UMass Extension Turf Program. The program is designed to provide training in horticulture fundamentals and the relationship of those fundamentals to environmental quality. Green School is intended to instill a sense of environmental stewardship in the participants. Knowledge of plants and plant systems and integrated pest management form the foundation of the curriculum.

The 60-plus hour training program focuses on the management of the landscape as a whole, and is appropriate for garden center managers and employees, private or municipal grounds managers and personnel, landscape and lawn care operators, nursery operators and personnel, tree wardens, and professional gardeners. Horticulture professionals will learn about IPM concepts and the optimization of pest control through proper cultural management of turf, woody ornamentals, and other related specialties. Participants choose either a landscape management or turf management track. Sessions will be taught by UMass Extension educators, University faculty and other professionals recognized in their area of expertise in the Northeast.

The 12 sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students opting to receive the Green School certificate must maintain a 75 percent or better average on the daily quizzes.

The registration deadline is Sept. 24. The cost is $499 and includes all study materials. Early registration is advised as seats fill up quickly and space is limited.

For a copy of the schedule and an application, call the Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program at 5-0895 or go to the school Web site (www.umassgreeninfo.org).

For information, contact Kathleen Carroll at 5-0895 (kcarroll@umext.umass.edu) or Mary Owen at (508) 892-0382 (mowen@umext.umass.edu).

First summer session grades due July 16

Instructors are reminded that final grades for the first summer session should be submitted to the Summer Session Registrar's Office by Tuesday, July 16.

Breast-feeding and bone density study

Researchers are recruiting women for a study on breast-feeding and bone density. If you are breast-feeding or pregnant and planning to breast-feed, and want to know more about your bone density, contact Karen Pearce at 374-3091 (days), 367-9742 (evenings), or via e-mail (klp@anthro.umass.edu).

Dean of Students Office seeks judicial hearing officers

The Dean of Students Office is looking for faculty and staff to serve as judicial hearing officers during the 2002-03 academic year. In preparation for becoming a hearing officer, each person must take part in a two-hour training session which will include an explanation and review of the hearing process, a discussion of the Code of Student Conduct and a "walk-through" of an actual hearing. For those who are interested, an additional session will be offered to focus on issues of sexual assault, rape and any other uninvited sexual behavior.

After their training, hearing officers are contacted on an as-needed basis. Working in teams of three to five, usually including faculty, staff and student representatives, the boards hear cases and forward recommendations to the dean of students, who is responsible for notifying students and imposing any disciplinary sanctions. The role of the hearing officer is very important as officers hear all sides of a case and make a recommendation based on the information.

Training sessions will be held in the Student Affairs Conference Room, 319 Whit-more on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2-4 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Interested persons should sign up for one of the two training sessions. Faculty and staff who wish to become hearing officers should contact Paul Vasconcellos, assistant dean of students, at 5-2684 or by e-mail (PaulV@stuaf.umass.edu) by Friday, Aug. 23 for the first session and by Friday, Sept. 20 for the second session.

Election for USA grievance officer

The University Staff Association has scheduled an election to choose a grievance officer for Tuesday, July 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.

Blood drive

The Hampshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive on Monday, July 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in 174 Lincoln Campus Center.

Therapeutic riding program needs volunteers

The Pioneer Valley Therapeutic Riding Association is seeking volunteers for its summer horseback riding program for riders with disabilities at the Hadley Farm, Wild Barry Ridge Farm in Belchertown and Wooden Horse Farm in Thorndike.

Volunteers prepare horses and assist riders during the instructional sessions.

The program operates Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Hadley Farm. In Belchertown, the hours are 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Lessons are also offered at 3 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays in Thorndike.

For information, call 549-3259.

New session of Weight Watchers

A new 12-week session of Weight Watchers Winning Points Program began July 1. Meetings are held in 253 Boyden Gym from noon to 12:30 p.m. and are open to anyone in the Amherst community.

For more information, contact Cheryl (548-9404) or Jill (5-3321).

Notify Chronicle of circulation changes

Due to the large number of retirements and other staffing changes across campus, some departments and offices may need to adjust the number of copies of The Campus Chronicle received each week.

Each departmental bundle carries a label specifying how many copies should be delivered. Send circulation changes to The Campus Chronicle, 205 Munson Hall or call 5-4818. Changes may also be e-mailed (campus.chronicle@urd.umass.edu). Note the building, the current number of papers received and the number desired.

American in Bloom judging set for July 29

Judges from a national beautification program will arrive on campus July 28 to assess the University's efforts to improve the landscape and promote community pride.

The campus is involved in America in Bloom, a friendly competition that recognizes and rewards participating communities, according to Pamela Monn, manager of Landscape and Construction Services at Physical Plant. The University's participation is sponsored by the Campus Beautification Committee, Grounds Management Department, the Adopt-a-Planter Program and the College of Food and Natural Resources.

Monn said America in Bloom objectives are:

To improve the visual appeal of neighborhoods, parks, open spaces and streets through imaginative use of flowers, plants and trees;
To encourage involvement and coordinated action by citizens of all ages, municipal governments, local organizations and businesses; and
To emphasize environmental awareness and preservation of heritage and culture as key parts of the program.

"America in Bloom is more than just a beauty contest," said Monn. "Specially trained, qualified judges volunteer their time to travel across the country during the summer to evaluate participating communities" on eight critera: landscapes, community involvement, trees, tidiness, heritage, floral displays, environmental awareness and turf and open spaces."

According to Monn, the judges are scheduled to conduct evaluations on July 29.

The Boston suburb of Winchester is the closest competition in the campus's category, said Monn, who is urging all Adopt-a-Planter participants to give it their best effort.