Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Ruby Carter, a veterinary technician, and Kerry Centini, a senior veterinary medical technology major, work with Jack in the new "endless pool" at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Labrador retriever has neurological injuries, and swimming in the pool is helping him regain strength in his back legs. PHOTO: Tom Thompson | CVM

Facilities Management survey ends Thursday
The Mississippi State University Facilities Management team has distributed its annual survey via e-mail, and is looking forward to receiving valuable feedback about its performance in 2011 that will help the unit maximize resources and enhance customer service. The survey closes Thursday.

Spirit of State nominations, applications wanted
With the seventh annual Spirit of State Awards, Mississippi State will recognize outstanding contributions made by our students toward improving student life. Applications and nominations are now being accepted.

Nominations open for outstanding women awards
An annual awards program sponsored by the President's Commission on the Status of Women at Mississippi State will recognize exceptional women across all employment categories. Nominations are being accepted until Feb. 21 for the 2012 Outstanding Women Awards.

Faculty invited to Fulbright session Feb. 14
Fulbright Ambassador Charles A. Johnson, senior vice president for research at Texas A&M University, will visit Mississippi State on Feb. 14 to support the university's growing Fulbright faculty program.

Intro to Lab Safety course Feb. 17
The Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety at Mississippi State is offering an interactive, hands-on training course on general laboratory safety Feb. 17. "Introduction to Laboratory Safety" is a three-hour seminar for laboratory users of all experience levels.

Retirewise workshop series starts Feb. 21
Mississippi State University Human Resources Management and MetLife are offering Retirewise on campus in late February. The free four-part program is designed to help people feel more confident about retirement.

Register now for Feb. 29 PERS workshop
Human Resources Management at Mississippi State is sponsoring a Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) workshop on Feb. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Bost Extension Center on the Starkville campus. The workshop is free for university employees, but pre-registration is required.

Diversity conference set for March
"Enhancing Diversity in Higher Education: Undergraduate Retention and Recruitment of Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff" will be the theme March 1 and 2 for Mississippi State's second Diversity Conference.

Recycling change: No more glass in bins, please
Mississippi State's single-stream recycling program has now been in place for more than a year. The program has fundamentally changed the way the university collects recyclables and trash on campus. However, due to a contractor change, MSU can no longer collect glass as part of the recycling stream.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 02/06/12
Men's Basketball hosts Ole Miss on Thursday at 6 p.m. (ESPN or ESPN2), and then hosts Georgia at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday (SEC-TV)... Women's Basketball travels to Baton Rouge for a game against LSU at 6 p.m. Thursday, and then hosts Ole Miss on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (FSN-TV)... Softball opens play in the Mardi Gras Invitational in Mobile, Ala., against South Alabama at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Play continues through the weekend... Men's Tennis faces Ole Miss in Jackson on Thursday at 5 p.m.... Starting Friday, Track and Field competes at the UAB-Samford Invitational in Birmingham, as well as the Washington Invitational in Seattle... Women's Tennis hosts Southern University on Saturday at 1 p.m.... Men's Golf opens play in the Gator Invitational in Gainesville on Saturday... Women's Golf begins competition in the UCF Challenge in Orlando on Sunday.

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Kansas State names Vaughn an Alumni Fellow
A senior Mississippi State administrator is being honored by the Kansas State University Alumni Association for professional achievements and distinguished service. Rayford "Ray" Vaughn of Starkville, the university's associate vice president for research, has been named a 2012 Alumni Fellow at the Manhattan land-grant institution where he earned master's and doctoral degrees.

Waide adding 'students' attorney' to responsibilities
A Mississippi State faculty member named last year as the university's professor of the year is taking on some additional duties. Political science instructor Whit Waide is assuming the part-time role of students' attorney in the Division of Student Affairs. He will provide free legal advice and consultations to enrolled students from an office in Lee Hall.

Counterman helps find butterfly gene
Years after sleeping in hammocks in the wilds of Peru and Panama, collecting hundreds of thousands of samples of colorful insects, Mississippi State assistant professor Brian Counterman now is helping unlock a very difficult puzzle.

MSU Foundation marks 50 years of progress
On Sunday, the Mississippi State University Foundation marked a half-century of fundraising for the land-grant institution. "The foundation ushered in a level of progress for Mississippi State that has allowed the university to grow and meet the needs of the state as an educational leader over time," said John P. Rush, MSU vice president for development and alumni.