6A
NEWS
ADMINISTRATION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY NOVEMBER 16,2009
Chancellor's inauguration date set
BY JESSE RANGEL
jrangel@kansan.com
In addition to a warm spring backdrop, organizers for Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little's formal inauguration hope to add another component to the event — a commitment by students, faculty and staff for community service.
Organizers for the inauguration recently announced that it will be held April 11,2010,and that a day of service recognition would be scheduled for the day before.
Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, professor of psychology, senior vice provost for academic affairs
and chairwoman of the inauguration committee, said the committee chose the date not only in hopes of seeing better weather in the spring than in the fall, but
Grav-Little
also because it worked best for Gray-Little and would give the committee time to plan the events.
McCluskey-
Fawcett
sa she was also
on the committee for the inauguration of former chancellor Robert Hemenway in February of 1996. His inauguration also came
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several months after he began work at the university in the fall of 1995.
"It's going to be a very nice event," McCluskey-Fawcett said. "We wanted to make sure we had enough time to pull that off."
She said the committee was working with the United Way of Douglas County and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. She said the committee would develop a component on an inauguration Web site early next year where people could pledge community service hours in honor of Gray-Little.
"That way, students, faculty and staff can dedicate their service to her if they want to," McCluskey-
Fawcett said. "Then we will say, 'This is how many hours of service has been done in honor of the chancellor.'"
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Sonya Navarro, Tescott senior and president of the Service Learning Ambassadors, said community
inauguration would use the Kansas Union ballroom for a banquet to recognize volunteer work April 10, and the Lied Center for the formal installation ceremony April 11.
"It's going to be a very nice event. We wanted to make sure we had enough time to pull that off."
Erika Dvorske, president and CEO of the United Way of Douglas County, said she was part of a service committee that would be in charge of planning the service events scheduled for April 10. She said the United Way and the Center for Community Outreach would help students, faculty and staff access different volunteer opportunities.
KATHLEEN
MCCLUSKY-FAWCETT
Senior vice provost
for academic affairs
service was now something that was being incorporated in more events than before. She said pledging service was beneficial because it created a sense of community.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
"You say, 'Wow, there are great things going on, people are helping out. If they can do it, I can do it.' Navarro said.
“Part of our goal is to get folks engaged at all levels,” Dvorske said. “So just truing to work with
Though the committee does not yet have a budget for the event, McCluskey-Fawcett said the
folks where they're at,
to take it from point
A to point Z."
Dvorkse said the inauguration weekend's spring date would help to increase involvement in community service because there was no restriction on indoor space that volunteering in colder weather often required.
"What that does is just allows for there to be no limit on the number of folks who can be involved," Dvorske said. "Once we're able to be outside and get outside, the kind of opportunities is really much broader."
Follow Jesse Rangel at twitter
.com/igglephile.
- Edited by Amanda Thompson
Seeing eye to eye
Coach Mark Mangino shakes the hand of Arist Wright's father Saturday before the game against Nebraska. Kansas'15 seniors and their parents were recognized before the game.
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EDUCATION
Buechner wins HOPE Award
BY ABIGAIL BOLIN abolin@kansan.com
As Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little announced the winner and the other finalists began to clap, Matthew Buechner had yet to recognize his name. Completely astonished, Buechner blankly looked around until the weight of winning the award actually set in.
Standing in front of a sold-out crowd at the Kansas-Nebraska football game Saturday, six finalists listened for their names.
The HOPE Award, which was established by the Class of 1959, is the only honor given exclusively by students recognizing teaching excellence.
Buechner, associate professor of molecular biosciences, was announced as the winner of the Honor for an Outstanding Progressive Educator Award during the first quarter of Saturday's football game at Memorial Stadium.
"The award is important because it's from our students, which, at the end of the day, are our customers," Kelly Welch, HOPE Award finalist and lecturer in business, said. "We're trying to better serve them in a way that will benefit them 10 to 20 years down the road."
"I'm floored that the students voted for me," Buechner said. "I was among some fantastic teachers, and I am completely surprised that I won."
The senior class sent nominations via e-mail, and the six faculty members receiving the most nominations were interviewed by the representatives of the Board of Class Officers and its Senior Advisory Board. In addition to Buechner, the other finalists were Kerry Benson, lecturer in journalism, Mark Gerard Haug, lecturer in business, Diane Nielsen, associate professor of education, Kelly Welch, lecturer in business, and Misty Schieberle, assistant professor of English.
"It feels absolutely amazing," Schieberle said. "It's a sign that I'm doing things right and it motivates me to do well and continue to meet my students' needs."
Although students complete teaching evaluations at the end of each semester, the HOPE Award is public recognition of the teacher's ability. This is
Buechner's third time to be nominated, and he said he recognized how multiple classes had appreciated his teaching efforts.
"Biology courses have the reputation for being dull and difficult. I try to find a way to bring the subject to life." Buechner said. "I have been very lucky to have classes where I connected really well with my students. I get so excited about the material. I try to focus on teaching in a way that makes them excited about science, too."
Schieberle, who is in her second year at the University, said she felt honored to be a finalist because students recognized her. She expressed the importance of evaluating oneself as a teacher.
"The award is critical for faculty in the way it reminds us that students are reflective of their education." Schieberle said. "It's their opportunity to give feedback on the impact we've had, to show we've taught them something they can use beyond their time at KU."
"Thank you, it truly means a lot to me." Schieberle said. "I'm incredibly grateful to the students. It reminds me why I do this."
Buechner said that he felt greatly honored to win the award and that it had been a humbling experience. He said the only way to express his gratitude would be to say thank you to the students who found him memorable and took something away from his class.
"He has a passion for what he teaches and for his students," Lindsay Pruitt, Overland Park sophomore and one of Buechner's students, said. "He truly cares about his students and wants them to learn, succeed and do well. He should feel very proud of himself for what he's accomplished and that his hard work is recognized."
Schieberle and Welch both said that being nominated meant a great deal to teachers and although the process was anonymous, they wished they could express their gratitude directly to the students who had nominated them.
Follow Abigail Bolin at twitter.
com/abbey_rhode.
— Edited by Abbey Strusz
FALL 2009 ANDERSON CHANDLER LECTURE SERIES
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH Robert Herndon
FBI Special Agent and key investigator in the real-life case that is the basis for the new Warner Bros. movie "The Informant" starring Matt Damon
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1. 2009 · 7:00 P.M.
THE LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
CLUES FROM THE CONVICTS: LIFE LESSONS ON CHARACTER. LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI