We invite your suggestions for Inside ASU
Over the last several months, as ASU has gone through strategic planning, it has been noted often that communication needs to be improved across the campus. One of the ways to do this is through Inside ASU. Right now, we ask for and encourage your feedback to make Inside ASU a more effective tool for communicating among faculty and staff. Please send any comments that you might have to: tmoore@astate.edu, hart@astate.edu or anonymously through an online form.

Board of Trustees meeting update from Friday
The Board of Trustees met Friday via telephone conference call in the President's Office conference room. Several items were on the agenda including the approval of faculty promotions and tenure, and three new degree programs. Another highlight of the meeting was a resolution conferring an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree upon Dr. C. Calvin Smith, who is retiring at the end of the summer after many years of service to ASU. Other resolutions were approved for three new programs, subject to approval by the state Higher Education Coordinating Board: a bachelor of science in forensic science, a master of arts in criminal justice, and a master of social work. See the promotion and tenure article or the Calvin Smith article on the NewsPage for more details.

Recent faculty and staff achievements
Dr. Don Lester, Management, Dr. Dianne Lawler-Prince, Teacher Education, and Dr. Nancy Hendricks, Alumni Relations, all have recent accomplishments and achievements listed in Campus News. For all the latest, go to Campus News.

NCAA Certification team visit is successful
A peer review team from the National Collegiate Athletic Association visited the campus last week as one of the last steps in the NCAA certification process. Dr. Kermit Hall of Albany State University and George Hoey of the University of Colorado met with numerous university personnel to gather more information for their report. Congratulations to Dr. Glen Jones, who chaired the steering committee, and members of the steering committee and sub-committees for their work. The exit interview was very positive. ASU's outcome in the certification process will be determined in July. For more details on the significance of the study and how the process has unfolded, see President Wyatt's First Friday report for May.

Jazzman's opens student art exhibit today
Jazzman’s Hardwired Café will host a new summer art exhibition, Summer Select which opens today. This exhibition will feature vibrant paintings from two ASU artists: Maryam Moeeni of Jonesboro, who received a master of art in painting and Matt Miller also of Jonesboro, a current student majoring in international business. Jazzman’s is open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 2 a.m.; and on Saturdays from 7 a.m.- midnight and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Creative Writing Retreat at Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center will host the fourth annual Creative Writing Retreat for Adults, Monday through Friday, June 13-17, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Enrollment is limited and the $75 registration fee is due by Saturday, May 28. After May 28, the fee is $100. This is an opportunity to interact with and receive feedback from published and aspiring writers in an informal setting on the property where Ernest Hemingway worked on the novel, A Farewell to Arms. For more details or to request a brochure, contact Deanna Webster at 870-598-3487 or via email at dcwebster@centurytel.net. For more about the museum, go to Hemingway-Pfeiffer.

Business students advance as finalists in Governor's Cup
An ASU team from the College of Business advanced to the finals in the 2005 Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup competition in Little Rock last month. Undergraduate students Stacy Somers, who also works in Academic Affairs, and her husband, Matt Somers, along with Rachael Grady and Brad Mobley, submitted a business plan they prepared based on a idea for a new business venture. Only six teams (out of 60 that competed) made it to the finals which included an oral presentation to Arkansas business executives at the Arkansas Arts Center. Dr. Don Lester is the faculty sponsor. This team performed admirably, advancing farther than any ASU team has in four years of competition.

Retirement Reception for 40-year employee, Phil Pickle
Everyone is invited to join in a retirement reception in honor of Phil Pickle, Information and Technology Services, who has served ASU for 40 years. The reception will be Thursday, May 12, from 1-3 p.m. in the Grand Hall of Fowler Center.

Summer Children's Theatre opens next month
The Theatre Department has released the schedule for the 2005 ASU Summer Children’s Theatre season. The 10th anniversary season of children’s theatre will open with “The Elves and the Shoemaker.” Performance dates are Thursday, June 22, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Friday, June 23, at 10 a.m. and Saturday, June 24, at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The second production of the 2005 season will be “Witches, Britches, Rings ‘n Things” by Dave Barton. This patchwork of storytelling brings together some of the best fairytales including “The Three Sillies” and “The Billie Goats Gruff.” Performance dates are Wednesday through Friday, July 27-29. All performances will be at Fowler Center and all seating is reserved. Tickets may be purchased (in advance) at the ASU Central Box Office for $3.50, or by calling 972-ASU1, or online here. Reserved seating tickets (if available) may be purchased at the door. Advanced reservations are recommended.