Strategic planning retreat set for Oct. 14-16
Yesterday, interim Chancellor Dr. G. Daniel Howard sent a letter inviting faculty, staff, and students to an  institution-wide strategic planning retreat, scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 14-16, at the Reng  Student Services Center/Student Union. The retreat will be based on the Open Space Technology concept originated by internationally-renowned consultant, Harrison Owen, who will serve as our facilitator for the retreat. By the end of the academic year 2010-2011, ASUJ will have a constituency-endorsed and board-approved strategic plan that is second to none. The strategic plan will serve as the foundation for ASUJ’s Higher Learning Commission self-study that is being prepared for the fall 2012 comprehensive visit for reaffirmation of accreditation. There is a place for everyone who desires to participate in the strategic planning process – faculty, staff, and students.  As this process produces results very quickly, it is most important that participants plan to attend all sessions throughout the two and one-half day retreat. The retreat will begin at 8 a.m., Thursday, October 14, and conclude at 12 noon on Saturday, October 16. The retreat will break for the day at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Lunch will be provided to allow for continuity on Thursday and Friday. In order to plan for meals and refreshments, please register online by September 28. For details, contact the Office of the Provost at ext. 2030 or see the NewsPage release.

Complete Lecture-Concert schedule now online
The 2010-2011 Lecture-Concert Series launches with a webpage, a new look, and a new sponsor. The complete schedule is now available online, and contains complete details of each guest, including guest bios, interviews, videos, sound clips, itineraries, and more. Dr. Tim Crist, Music, is the new chair of the Lecture-Concert committee and the website's creator. He will also maintain the site, periodically adding and supplementing information. The Lecture-Concert Series serves Arkansas State University and the surrounding communities in bringing to the ASU campus notable guest speakers and performers of diverse backgrounds and wide appeal. Many of the Lecture-Concert Series events include additional activities on the ASU campus as well as community outreach projects that enhance the quality of life and culture within and beyond the bounds of our university. As in the past, all Lecture-Concert Series events are free and open to the public. For details, contact Dr. Tim Crist, ext. 2094. Scroll down the page for details on the first event of the Lecture-Concert Series, featuring violist Juan-Miguel Hernandez.

Dr. Bhattacharya completes research project in Israel
Dr. Gauri Bhattacharya, Social Work, and director, Bachelor of Social Work program, traveled recently to Israel to conduct the research project, "Israeli-Arab Relations: How Globalization Influences Individual Perceptions of Conflict." Funded by ASU’s Middle East Studies Program, this research examined the relationships and conflicts embedded in the historical, sociocultural, political, and environmental contexts of both Israeli Jews and Arab Muslims residing in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The “Flotilla incident”--an Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid ship--and the worldwide political tensions and concerns over this event heightened the critical importance of this project. Dr. Bhattacharya arrived in Israel two weeks after the attack. To explore the intertwined relationships among individual perceptions and national identity, Dr. Bhattacharya interviewed both Israeli Jewish and Arab Palestinian participants, as individuals and as part of focus groups. The participants were artists, musicians, and members of community organizations, universities, research organizations, and policy institutes. Dr. Bhattacharya will present her study findings in workshops to help students think critically about common interests such as human security and global peace and stability. The significance of this research is its ability to foster mutual understanding and dialogue among multiethnic youth in global contexts.

Dr. Pearce engages in science outreach in Scotland
Dr. Amy R. Pearce, Psychology, recently returned from Scotland, where she spent the summer visiting universities and science centers. By invitation from the Dean of Biology at the University of St. Andrews, she hosted a collaborative workshop with neuroscientist Dr. Gareth Miles for the Fife Schools Science Festival. She also attended ScienceSunday at the University of Glasgow and met with directors of the Dundee Science Centre, Glasgow Science Centre, the Edinburgh International Science Festival, and the Scottish Institute for Biotechnology Education at the University of Edinburgh. The information and contacts gathered from the visit will help to improve science outreach programs Pearce engages in through ASU and other professional affiliations.

Dr. Shafer presents two papers at annual meeting
Dr. Kevin Shafer, Sociology, presented two papers at the Annual Meetings of the American Sociological Association in Atlanta, Ga. The first paper (with Charlie Morgan, Brigham Young University), “Exploring Immigration and Mixed Relationships in Southern California,” focuses on interracial and interethnic relationships among immigrant groups in metropolitan Los Angeles. Results show that interracial relationships are more likely among second- and third-generation immigrants, and interethnic relationships are most likely among recent U.S. immigrants. This holds true for both Hispanic and Asian immigrant groups, though there are important differences by nationality within each category. The second paper, “Specialization in Remarriage: Are Marriages More Traditional the Second Time Around?” explores what predicts marrying for the first time and after a divorce. Dr. Shafer compared patterns for men and women and look for differences between first and second marriages. The results show that people who eventually divorce and people who never divorce value education, income, and employment--regardless of gender. However, in second marriages, economic status has a positive effect on the likelihood of remarriage for men, but not for women. This suggests that gender dynamics in second marriages are more traditional than gender dynamics in first marriages and that the “breadwinner-homemaker” model of marriage is more likely in remarriage. The evidence indicates the need for more work on the relationship between gender and power in remarriages.

Dr. Mello named to editorial review board of journal
Dr. John Mello, Marketing, and director, Center for Supply Chain Management, has been named to the editorial review board of Transportation Journal.  The Transportation Journal is devoted to the publication of articles that present new knowledge relating to all sectors of the supply chain/logistics/transportation field. The Transportation Journal is included in major citation indices and abstract databases and is considered to be the premier transportation-related journal in the field.
Transportation Journal is published quarterly by the American Society of Transportation and Logistics to disseminate research findings and original writings on transportation, logistics, and related fields.

Dr. Johnson-Leslie publishes book chapter
Dr. Natalie Johnson-Leslie, Teacher Education, published a book chapter, “Creating Electronic Evidence Rooms for NCATE Accreditation: Using College LiveText Solutions,” in the new information science reference book, “Technology Leadership in Teacher Education: Integrated Solutions and Experiences." For nearly a century, the clarion call for more accountability at all levels of education across the USA has been made. As a result, accreditation bodies (national, regional and specialized), in the USA are frequently found to be independent of the Department of Education. In this chapter, the focus is on creating an electronic evidence room for the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE was developed more than 50 years ago; it requires concrete evidence that teacher candidates are prepared rigorously to acquire the relevant body of knowledge and field experiences needed for them to be successful teachers.  With technological advances, NCATE--accredited institutions are given the charge to produce electronic evidence rooms as a means of showcasing tangible evidence of progress--that of students, departments, and colleges of education. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of how electronic evidence rooms are created using College LiveText Solutions for NCATE accreditation.

Snap Crow Legs to perform Sept. 18 at first tailgate
At long last, Snap Crow Legs is ready to rock out in Jonesboro again. Snap Crow Legs will be performing at the first ASU tailgate of the season, at Cooper Alumni Center, Saturday, Sept. 18, 4:30-6 p.m. Day job obligations have recently altered the band's lineup, but Dr. Mitch Holifield has been recruited as new lead singer. Other members of the band include Dr. Rich Grippo on bass and harmonies, Dr. Greg Phillips on lead guitar and vocals, Dr. Tanja McKay on violin, and Nate Gastineau on drums.
 
Lecture-Concert Series opens Sept. 20 with violist
Violist virtuoso Juan-Miguel Hernandez will perform in the first event of Arkansas State University’s 2010-2011 Lecture-Concert Series on Monday, Sept. 20, at  7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. Hernandez is widelyregarded as one of the finest young viola talents of his generation. He has collaborated with distinguished artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Lynn Harrell, Robert Spano, Paul Coletti, Robert Chen, Ronald Leonard, Paul Katz and Yehonatan Berick. Hernandez was born in Montreal, Canada in 1985. He began studying the violin at age seven and viola at age twelve. He has studied at the Pierre-Laporte Music High School and the Vincent-D'Indy College in Montreal with Madeleine Mercy and Jean MacRae. He is currently finishing his studies with Paul Coletti at the Colburn Conservatory of Music. Juan-Miguel Hernandez plays on a 2008 Miralles instrument on loan from the Maestro Foundation and generously sponsored by Ron and Pat Lebel. For details, contact Dr. Tim Crist, ext. 2094, or see the Hernandez release in thecomplete 2010-2011 Lecture-Concert schedule online.

Constitution Day set for Sept. 22
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences invites ASU students, along with other members of the ASU community, and selected area high school students to join in observing Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The program will begin at 9 a.m. in Centennial Hall of the Reng Student Services Center/Student Union. This year’s program will focus on Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch. With mid-term elections looming for one third of the U.S. Senate and the entire membership of the House of Representatives, we will look at the electoral process, discuss what is at stake for the political parties and our nation, and address the question of whether our law-making body, the U.S. Congress, still works. This year’s program commemorates the 223nd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. We hope that faculty members will bring their Wednesday morning classes and that a large number of individual students will decide to attend. For details, contact Dr. Carol O’Connor, interim dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, ext.3973, or Dr. Richard Wang, chair, Department of Political Science, at ext. 3048, or see the NewsPage release.

Yearbook photos being shot today, this week
Reminder: The WolfTracks Yearbook will be holding its annual Yearbook Picture Week this week. All faculty and staff are greatly encouraged to have headshots made. These headshots frequently provide identifying images for faculty and staff items in Inside ASU and are sent to the news media when required. Faculty and staff must bring a valid ASU ID to the 1st floor of the Student Union. The dates and times are: Monday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 14, -9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, contact Natalie Eskew, ext. 2055.

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