Fresno State’s FastForward Program one of state’s tops
The Campaign for College Opportunity ranks Fresno State’s FastForward to Academic Success Program one of15 top programs in the state that improves college access and success for Latino students. The program was created in 2002 to use online and traditional instruction and counseling to decrease remediation rates and increase retention of Latino students entering the university. Victor Olivares, the program director, says proficiency in math and English tests has increased at a rate greater than the California State University system average. Click here for details.
 Gallery owner and alumnus Doug Walla discusses provocative art
Doug Walla, who received his bachelor’s in art in 1973 at Fresno State and founded the Kent Gallery, one of New York’s best-known, will speak on campus Nov. 26. His appearance is part of the College of Arts and Humanities’ new Distringuished Alumnus Lecture Series. Walla will speak about contemporary provocative art that reflects perspectives about the world and documents societal political and social concerns. The lecture, which is free, begins at 7 p.m. in the Alice Peters Auditorium of the University Business Center. Click here for details.
Maddy Institute’s ‘Sacramento Update’ scheduled Nov. 28
Members of the San Joaquin Valley delegation to the Legislature will meet with
community and civic leaders Nov. 28 for the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute’s “Sacramento Update – The Year in Review,” part of the Maddy Associates program. Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines and Assembly members Juan Arambula, Nicole Parra and Bill Maze, as well as Sens. Dave Cogdill, Jeff Denham and Dean Florez have been invited. More information is available from Mark Keppler, the institute executive director, at mkeppler@csufresno.edu.
Coleman Fellowships awarded
The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Coleman Foundation is providing $5,000 stipends to try three innovative courses. The recipients of Coleman Fellowship for 2007-08 are Reza Raeisi (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Klaus Tenbergen (Food Science and Nutrition) and Don Priest (Mass Communication and Journalism) and Corey Whitehead (Music), who are collaborating on one course.
Fresno State Floral offer holiday gift wrapping
The Floral Lab in Ornamental Horticulture (Barstow Avenue, just east of Chestnut Avenue) offers a holiday gift wrapping service starting at $1 per item. The lab is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Call 278.7627 for more information.
 Author Aliki receives a very personal gift
There was a unique presentation to the featured speaker, Aliki, at the “Painted Words and Spoken Pictures” conference on children’s and young adult literature hosted by the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature. Kate Nelson, a photographer, presented Aliki, an award-winning author and illustrator of 200 children’s books, a quilt with Aliki book covers.
Telecommunications infrastructure improvements nears conclusion
The telecommunications infrastructure initiative (TII) is concluding this fall with a cutover process that connects buildings to the new cabling system and new electronics that will improve performance, reliability and security of campus telecommunications. A preliminary, subject-to-change schedule for cutover activity is available at tii.csufresno.edu/building.html. As dates are confirmed, notices will be posted in buildings and information about the cutover process will be distributed in offices.
Mentoring program by entrepreneurs gets academic status
The Entrepreneurship Mentor Program, developed by the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, now is Fresno State’s newest academic offering. Timothy Stearns, the Lyles Center director, says, the program’s goal is for students to develop skills that prepare them to succeed professionally as entrepreneurs. Twenty prominent entrepreneurs have volunteered their time to mentor the students in the class, which will meet each week through spring. Click here for more information.
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