News Briefs

Sen. Warner to speak at graduation
John Warner, a 27-year veteran of the U.S.
Senate, will deliver the University’s Commencement Address May 16 on the Lawn. A 1953 graduate of the U.Va. School of Law, Warner will speak at 10 a.m. during Final Exercises before more than 30,000 anticipated students and guests.

Warner, a Virginia Republican, was elected to his fifth Senate term
in 2002. In 1956, he was appointed an assistant U.S. attorney, and from 1960 to 1969, he was in private law practice, specializing in bank,
securities and corporate cases.

In 1944, Warner voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was released from active duty in July 1946, and earned a bachelor’s degree in
basic engineering from Washington and Lee University in 1949. He completed his law degree at U.Va. in 1953 after a second tour of active military duty in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Atiim Kiambu (Tiki) Barber, a professional football player and a 1997 graduate of U.Va.’s Commerce School, will address the Class of 2004 at Valediction Exercises May 15 on the Lawn.

Garber elected to NAE
Nicholas J. Garber, professor and chairman of the University’s civil engineering department, was among 76 new members elected Feb. 13 to the National Academy of Engineering, which cited his research and teaching contributions.

On the Engineering School faculty since 1980, Garber is a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. In 2002, he received awards from the Engineering School and the civil engineering department. A member of the Center for Transportation Studies, he has worked with particular emphasis on intelligent transportation systems, speed management on high-speed roads, work zones and large truck safety.

Tracking growth of insulin-producing cells
Researchers want to find out if it’s possible to “turn on” cells of the body to produce insulin, potentially helping millions of diabetics worldwide. Dr. Raghu Mirmira, assistant professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, received a five-year, $912,000 grant from the American Diabetes Association to investigate how insulin-producing cells form. Research shows that all forms of diabetes result from the impaired ability of pancreatic beta cells to produce enough insulin.

Update Windows protection
All Windows users should protect themselves against security holes by running Windows Update at windows update.microsoft.com and installing all critical updates, unless your local computing support person has told you this is being handled centrally. ITC now offers a free service that provides participating workstations with automated Microsoft critical updates; see www.itc.virginia.edu/microsys/patchmanagement.html and check with your support person to see if this is in place in your area, except for systems handled by Health System Computing Services. To join, e-mail itc-microsystems@virginia.edu.

Hospital sets up cyber cafEs
Take a break at a cyber café — a computer station — in the cafeterias of the University Hospital or in the Magnolia Room in the old hospital, called the West Complex. Set up for Medical Center employees, the 12 computer stations allow users to check e-mail, work on training at a NetLearning Web site or find out about classes and other Health System news. Other cyber cafes are in the eighth-floor staff lounge, the seventh-floor central playroom, nutrition room G602, environmental services room G517, the third-floor central dayroom, and rooms 4814, 5505 and 6814.

New group oversees student elections
The official campaign period for student elections began Feb. 19 with a new twist – a new group called the University Board of Elections is conducting the elections process for Student Council, the Honor Committee, the University Judiciary Committee, class councils and other student organizations.

After controversies arose during last year’s election for Student Council president, the student body approved formation of the University Board of Elections in a November referenda. An autonomous body consisting of 11 students, the UBE has established new rules, a Web site and an automated voting system designed by ITC. Fourth-year student Brian Cook is chairing the UBE.

Voting runs March 2-4.

Three new managers join Art Museum
Claire Holman Thompson has returned to the U.Va. Art Museum to be director of development. Thompson, who held this position in 1999, earned her bachelor’s degree from Scripps College, and her master’s degrees from U.Va.

Andrea Douglas is curator of collections and exhibitions, filling a position vacated by the retirement of Suzanne Foley. Douglas received her bachelors’ degree from Mount Holyoke College, a master’s degree from SUNY, Binghamton, and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in art history from U.Va. Douglas is also serving as curator of the special exhibition, “Carrie Mae Weems: The Jefferson Suite”, which opens March 24. She also teaches in the Art Department.

Jena Leake is the new director of Summer Arts @ the Museum, replacing Jennifer Van Winkle. Leake, who has a master’s degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., was curator of education
for Gallery Stratford, Ontario; a youth arts teacher for ArtReach
in Charlottesville; and an expressive arts therapist in Charlottesville and Boone.

Notable
Awards and achievements of U.Va. faculty and staff
• Robert S. Harris, dean of the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, will chair the Graduate Business Foundation’s Deans Advisory Panel through 2005. The panel provides strategic guidance to the foundation as it serves its primary stakeholders, student government leaders at 50 of the world’s top graduate business schools.

• With a grant from the National Headache Foundation, Dr. Anne Mounsey, co-director of the Family Medicine Clerkship at the School of Medicine, will run a pilot program with a new curriculum for medical students on how to treat severe headaches. Data shows that this disease, which can be significantly debilitating, continues to be under-diagnosed and under-treated.

• Jeanette Lancaster, dean of the School of Nursing, received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Government Affairs 2003 Grassroots Star Award.

• Dr. David Bruns, a professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Pathology, is the new president-elect of the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists. He will take the helm in June.

Give blood; supplies low
Blood supplies are critically low in Charlottesville, in Virginia and around the country. The Medical Center’s Clinical Laboratories and Transfusion Service encourages everyone who is eligible to become a regular blood donor.

Virginia Blood Services supplies blood products for local hospitals. People do not have to wait for an organized blood drive; the Health System has a donor room of its own available for donors throughout the year. To make an appointment to donate or to find out when and where a blood drive is, call (800) 989-4438.

Donation centers are located at the U.Va. Donor Center in suite 1206, Hospital West Complex, or at 2401 Hydraulic Road.

‘Just say no’ policy
The U.S. Department of Education requires that every institution of higher education distribute its alcohol and other drug policy annually, in writing, to every student and employee. The following is a summary of the University’s alcohol and drug policy:

The University does not condone the illegal or otherwise irresponsible use of alcohol and other drugs. No employee — including full-time, part-time, wage and student workers — will report to work while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. It is the responsibility of every member of the U.Va. community to know the risks associated with substance use and abuse. This responsibility obligates students and employees to know relevant University policies and federal, state and local laws and to conduct themselves in accordance with these laws and policies.

Information concerning substance use and abuse, plus treatment and educational programming can be found in the Student Record or online at www.virginia.edu/registrar/records/ugradrec//chapter5/chapter5-2.htm#alcohol.

Online Advanced training offered
Employees now have access to more than 1,300 Web-based computer and professional development courses through a pilot program the Human Resources Division of Training is offering in partnership with ITC. NETg is supporting the program through a customized “U.Va. NETgLearning” Web site.

As a complement to instructor-led classroom training, this capability is expected to significantly increase the University’s ability to support individual and group job performance and development for staff, faculty and students at all levels.

For a one-time fee of $135 per person, University-affiliated employees have access to NETgLearning for a year. Information about Netg is available at www.hrs.virginia.edu/dot/netg/index.htm.

Take time for work/life balance
Learn to balance work and the rest of life by better understanding yourself and others through the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program’s Work/Life workshop.

From managing anger constructively to dealing with difficult people, the program gives employees ways to improve communication in all kinds of relationships.

A new, six-week session begins March 18, with weekly, one-hour discussions starting at noon in Carruthers Hall conference room E. Register by e-mail to dds4e@virginia.

Some workplace policies
During 2003, five policies were established through a recently revamped process that improves efficiency. To access the information online, visit www.virginia.edu/ uvapolicies.

• Web site advertising: Responds to the recent report by the state Secretary of Technology on advertising and private sector sponsorships on state Web sites. U.Va. Web pages must comply with IRS regulations concerning tax-exempt status and advertising and sponsorship. It was established to address the potential for conflict of interest and to assure freedom from influence.

• Authorization of volunteers in the work place: For the Commonwealth to provide legal defense and insurance protection for our volunteers, there must be clear documentation of their status as agents working
on behalf of U.Va.

• Determination of an award as a gift or sponsored project: Establishes guidelines to determine if a revenue stream is a gift or sponsored project in order to ensure that proposals are properly submitted and awards are correctly processed.

• ID card policy: Provides guidelines for the issuance and use of U.Va. identification cards and provides clarification on who is eligible for one.

• Use of University aircraft: Sets guidelines for use of the University’s airplane.

Fellowship offers new teaching experience
The University Teaching Fellows Program aims to help successful junior faculty members develop into exceptional teachers. Faculty members may apply or be nominated by their department chairs. Fellows receive a $7,000 research grant during the summer at the end of their fellowship year to support them in developing one or more new or existing undergraduate courses. The application deadline is March 15.
“The University Teaching Fellows Program is uniquely valuable to
junior faculty members wishing to improve their teaching experience and balance their academic careers,” said one past recipient.

The program offers mentorship opportunities to explore innovative and effective teaching technologies, strategies and course designs. The program is meant to encourage interdisciplinary discussion about a variety of teaching and professional issues, including communicating with students and integrating teaching and research. For details, see trc.virginia.edu/Programs/utfprogram.htm.

Fellowship for scholars of Jefferson
The International Center for Jefferson Studies at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello will be awarding a dissertation fellowship of $12,000 for the academic year 2004-05. Dissertation fellows must be nominated by their supervising professors; the deadline is March 19.
If you or someone in your department knows an advanced graduate student who sounds like an eligible candidate, forward a letter of nomination, explaining the relevance and significance of the project for your discipline and for Jefferson studies; the nominee’s curriculum vitae; and a short dissertation prospectus of no more than five pages to U.Va. history professor Peter Onuf, by e-mail to pso2k@virginia.edu. For information about the center, contact the director, Andrew O’Shaughnessy, at 984-7500.

Public service law conference features Breyer
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will give the keynote address at the fifth annual Conference on Public Service and the Law, to be held Feb. 28 at the Law School. The symposium brings attorneys and government officials together to survey the status of legal issues relating to social justice. Breyer will deliver the keynote address at 4:30 p.m. in Caplin Auditorium.

The conference features panel discussions on the reformation of federal judicial appointments, the success of the “No Child Left Behind” education program, abortion litigation, the regulation of animals used in research, and how to balance privacy interests and security concerns after Sept. 11. Workshops Feb. 27 will help law students find public service employment.

For information, visit www.student.virginia.edu/~law-conf/2004.

Think spring
The University’s Blandy Experimental Farm has a range of activities and special classes to get you ready for spring. From pruning basics to beekeeping to dyeing Easter eggs, check out the schedule at www.virginia.edu/blandy. Most classes require reservations and fees. Blandy, a 700-acre research facility, is located about 90 miles north of Charlottesville in Boyce.

In Memoriam
• Helen Smith Holsinger, 82, of Charlottesville, died Feb. 18. She was retired from the Department of Student Health, where she had been a laboratory technician.

• Carolyn Marie Secor Duprey, 60, of Ruckersville, died Feb. 15. Duprey was a fiscal technician at the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

• Mary Randolph Berkeley, 93, of Charlottesville, died Feb. 20. She was the administrative assistant to B.F.D. Runk, former vice president of student affairs, and retired in 1973.