Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Peter McPherson (center), president of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, was among visitors stopping by Mississippi State's displays June 29 at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. President Mark Keenum (right) and Provost Jerry Gilbert explained details of MSU's exhibits celebrating 150 years of land-grant universities. More than one million visitors were expected at the festival, which concluded July 8. PHOTO: Beth Newman-Wynn | University Relations

Road closures for summer paving projects
Beginning this week, the following areas on the Mississippi State University campus will be closed to through traffic: the intersection at Bost Extension Center will be closed on July 11, 12, and 13; the parking lot on the northwest side of McArthur Hall will be closed to all traffic from July 9-31; from July 9-July 31, access to the Zacharias parking area will be maintained, but expect to encounter construction.

Ticket sales begin for Lyceum Series season
With the 2012-13 season to begin mid-fall semester, the Mississippi State University Lyceum Series announces the opening of ticket sales for all five, or individually selected, performances. The Capitol Steps, a Washington, D.C.-based musical and political satire troupe of former congressional staffers, will inaugurate the season Oct. 11. The American Shakespeare Center's Feb. 22 presentation of "Twelfth Night" opens the spring events.

Civil rights org gives MSU 'green light' rating
Mississippi State is joining just 16 other universities nationwide as holder of a green light rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. "This rating brings recognition to something the university has been committed to for the past decade," said Thomas Bourgeois, MSU dean of students. "As an institution of higher learning, it is our job to provide an environment in which the university community can engage in an exchange of ideas grounded with all the protections provided to it by the First Amendment."

No-cost lab safety training session next week
The Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety is offering an interactive, hands-on training course on general laboratory safety. "Introduction to Laboratory Safety" is a three-hour seminar for laboratory users of all experience levels. The next session of the summer takes place next week.

Movin' You to MSU volunteers needed
Faculty, staff and student volunteers are needed for Mississippi State University's annual Movin' You to MSU move-in day, which will take place Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, beginning at 8 a.m. Duties include working check-in at Humphrey Coliseum, moving boxes from cars to rooms, greeting students and directing traffic. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt, and a box lunch from Aramark.

Last chance to volunteer for P.R.E.P.
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Service DAWGS Day, Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity, P.R.E.P. Disaster Preparedness Training, and more.

University hosting PERS seminar this fall
Human Resources Management at Mississippi State is hosting a PERS pre-retirement, full-day seminar on Oct. 3, 2012, at Bost Extension Center. The seminar offers general information on a range of topics, including estate planning, Mississippi Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust, Social Security benefits, and PERS benefits and options. The seminar is available to any covered PERS member at no cost, but pre-registration is required.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription online, and privacy.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Jha named Raspet Flight Research Lab director
An aerospace engineer with extensive experience in aircraft design is the new director of the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University. Ratneshwar "Ratan" Jha officially joined the university July 1, at which time he assumed the director's role and a faculty position within the department of aerospace engineering. He takes over for Lori Bruce who had served as interim leader since 2010 when David Lawrence retired.

Delta rice researcher Kanter retires from MSU
A long-time rice breeder is turning his rubber boots over to the next generation of researchers. Dwight Kanter, a research professor with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, retired on July 1. Tim Walker assumed Kanter's duties. Kanter moved from Nebraska to Mississippi State University's Delta Research and Extension Center in 1988 to continue the efforts begun by the station's early breeders.

New Internet2 connection boosting research
When researchers and faculty members at Mississippi's research universities and institutions switched on their computers last week, they had a new direct connection to the ultrafast Internet2 network via the new Jackson Internet2 connector site. David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development at MSU, said the direct connectivity to the new Internet2 point of presence in Jackson will allow for enhanced collaboration with other research universities and federal labs around the nation and the world.

Disaster preparedness training coming up Friday
Will your family be prepared when disaster strikes? The Mississippi State University Campus-Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) is hosting an emergency/disaster readiness program titled PREP -- Personal Readiness and Emergency Preparation -- this Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Bost Extension Center.