Barton traffic returns to nearly normal
With the excavation phase of the Henry Madden Library expansion project concluded, traffic on Barton Avenue will return to nearly normal. There will be occasional truck traffic, but not the level that forced closure for several weeks of Barton to two-way traffic south of Keats Avenue.  Faculty and staff still must use Jackson Avenue to enter and exit Parking Lots D and E, as Barton will remain closed north of Keats. Questions or concerns, call Amy Armstrong, University Police Department public information officer, at 278.6709.

Winter break closes campus Dec. 25-Jan. 1
Fall semester finals will be administered Dec. 18-21, then the campus will be closed from Dec. 25 through Jan 1 for winter break. The campus will reopen Jan. 2 and spring semester classes will commence Jan. 17. The University Police Department remains open throughout the year. In the event of an emergency, call 278.8400.

Opening of business incubator nears
Another step in the progress toward opening of the Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator on campus came with a call for applications to join the first group of innovators at the facility in March. The Central Valley Business Incubator, which partnered with the Fresno State-based International Center for Water Technology will accept applications through Jan. 2. The incubator is designed to provide a place to test and refine ideas about water and energy technologies that can be turned into local jobs in two industries vital to the San Joaquin Valley region. The WET Incubator is being erected at Chestnut and Barstow avenues, across from the Farm Market, and should open within a few weeks. Click here for details.

Campus employees’ giving is up 22%
Donations to this year’s California State Employees Charitable Campaign at Fresno State were at $35,145 – a 22 percent increase from 2005. Academic Affairs won the President’s Community Giving Award for the unit with the highest percentage of contributors (22.7%). Click here for details. (PDF 78k)

Computer graphics expert Dr. Alameldin dies
Services were held at the Islamic Cultural Center for Dr. Tarek Alameldin, a professor of computer science recognized internationally for expertise in computer graphics, who died Nov. 6 at his Fresno home. He was 43. Dr. Alameldin joined the faculty in 1990 after helping found the first-of-its-kind Ph.D. program in scientific visualization at Texas A&M. He did his undergraduate work in his native Cairo, Egypt, and then received master’s degrees from Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania, where he also obtained a doctorate. Dr. Alameldin “was a faculty member of great vision and imagination, always looking for new opportunities for his students,” said Dr. Walter Read, chair of Computer Science Department. Dr. Alameldin is survived by his children, Muhammad and Khalid, and his parents, in Cairo; a sister in Fresno and a sister in Egypt.
Click here for details.

Dr. Smallwood, Agriculture dean emeritus, dies
Dr. Charles Smallwood, dean emeritus of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, died Nov. 23 at his home in Coarsegold. He was 80. Dean Smallwood was an animal sciences expert, who graduated from Oklahoma State and was awarded master’s and doctoral degrees by Texas A&M. Dean Smallwood served from 1978 to 1992. Dr. Art Parham, chair of the Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education Department, told The Fresno Bee about Dean Smallwood’s passion for building the kind of relationships that benefited the college: "He basically threw his body and soul to the college to forge it into a leadership role," Parham told The Bee, adding that Dean Smallwood was instrumental in creating the California Agricultural Technology Institute and the Ag One Foundation. Dean Smallwood is survived by his wife, Peggy; a son, Chuck; and his granddaughter, Anne.

Campus quarter horse program honored
The American Quarter Horse Association honored Fresno State’s equine program as the only university program among 20 breeders receiving the organization’s prestigious Legacy Awards. To be eligible, breeders must have registered at least one foal for the past 50 years. The campus horse unit, operated by students and headed by Dr. Anne Rodiek (Animal Science), began in the 1950s when Fresno State relocated from what now is the Fresno City College campus. It has a herd of about 80 registered quarter horses. Click here for details.  

Wellness Challenge ahead
In February, faculty, staff and students will begin participating in the university’s first Wellness Challenge to promote healthy choices and a balanced lifestyle. People who register, beginning Jan. 17, must participate in a number of activities by April 24 to become eligible to win prizes. Click here for details.

International education honor society chapter reactivated
A Fresno State chapter of Phi Beta Delta, the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education, has been reactivated. An induction ceremony was held in November, which brought students, faculty and staff into the organization, which is dedicated to promoting international education. Chapter members are Shirley Melikian Armbruster (University Communications), David Berkey (History), Charles Boyer (Agriculture), Karen Carey (Science and Mathematics), Kathleen Curtis (Health and Human Services), Dennis Driggers (Political Science), Jeri Echeverria (Provost), Chris Fiorentino (Students for Community Service), Berta González (Continuing and Global Education), Simon Haeder (student), Lucia Hammar (International Student Services), Fraka Harmsen (Earth and Environmental Sciences),  Doug Hensler (Business), Katsuyo Howard (International Student Services), Melissa Jordine  (History), Vanvilai Katkanant (Physics), Josh McDonald (student), Hollyanne Myrold  (student), Ram Nunna (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi (Africana and American Indian Studies), Kathy Pehl (Maddy Institute), Melanie Ram (Political Science), Vida Samiian (Arts and Humanities), Naomi Strom (Maddy Institute), Cynthia Teniente-Matson (Administration and Finance)  and Matthew Yen (Industrial Technology). Click here for details.

Tips to keep you safe while driving
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management offers three safe driving suggestions. 1. When driving at night, headlight glare from oncoming traffic can be blinding. When a vehicle gets close, avoid looking directly at headlights by re-directing your eyes to the white line along the edge of the road until the vehicle passes. 2. Make sure you're more than 10 inches from the steering wheel, so an inflating airbag will protect and not harm you. 3. Check all around before changing lanes. Never assume another car isn't there. – Contributed by Steve Martinez, director of Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management

Defensive driving course is required
Driving on state or university business requires more than just a license from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Ron Harris, a safety specialist with Fresno State’s office of Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management, explains you must have a good driving record, too. That means a maximum of two DMV points within the past four years and no failures to appear, unpaid fines or convictions for driving under the influence, either. Even that is not enough: You’ll need a defensive driving card and then get it renewed every four years. To get the card, Harris’ office offers one classroom session each month (Dec. 22 is the next one) and an online course available at any time. To reserve space in the next class, call Jeri Willis at 278.7422 or send an e-mail to jeriw@csufresno.edu. To request the online course, send an e-mail to Willis or to Harris at roharris@csufresno.edu and include your name, status (faculty/staff), department, mail stop, date of birth and campus phone number. A return e-mail will guide you from there.

Retirements from campus
Three retirements were celebrated during November. Sylvia Clark retired from University Food Services after a 26-year career. A joint celebration of service was held to mark the retirements of Genie Montanye (20 years) and Vonda Epperson (28 years), administrative assistants in Political Science/Women’s Studies. A retirement reception is scheduled at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, for Christine Takahashi, who is leaving the Department of Food Science and Nutrition after a 21-year career on campus.

TII Project approaches Stage 2
The Stage 1 construction work on the new telecommunications infrastructure is completed. However, additional documentation and verification from the Stage 1 contractor is needed prior to using all of the new cabling. The new telecommunication buildings (MDF-A and MDF-B) are undergoing HVAC and electrical modifications to prepare them for the installation of the Stage 2 electronics, which will be largely complete in January and finished in February. TII Stage 2 will provide network services for the telecommunication infrastructure developed in Stage 1. The IT Services staff is working with SBC/ATT to formalize the design of the new network that will run on the new cable system.  SBC/ATT's current schedule calls for the installation of new electronics to begin in mid-January.  The transition to the new infrastructure and electronics is expected to begin in February. The transitions from old to new will continue as the electronics and infrastructure are ready over the next six months.  The transition schedule will be developed with regard to the Academic Calendar to minimize inconvenience to the campus.  It is hoped completion of Stage 2 will occur by summer 2007. The benefits of this two-year project will allow the university population to take advantage of increased access speeds and new technologies on the network. For questions or concerns, contact Sydney Jackson at 278.7167 or syjackson@csufresno.edu.
Click here for TII details.

Fresno State presence at criminal justice conference
From left, Drs. Kevin Miller (Chemistry) and Candice Skrapec (Criminology) and students Lindsey Fausett and David Pyrooz staffed Fresno State’s booth Nov. 3 at a  criminal justice workshop at California State University, Los Angeles. The half-day workshop explored the CSU system’s role in preparing students for occupations in criminal justice.