Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Jane Parish, extension and research professor of animal science with Mississippi State, and Kipp Brown, area extension associate in Carroll County, visit with Webster County horseman John Fondren at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center Producer Advisory Council meeting in Verona last month. PHOTO: Linda Breazeale | MSU Ag Communications

Diversity efforts create inclusive environment
A diverse group of celebrated speakers and successful professionals are packing Mississippi State University's forums, conferences and symposiums exploring inclusion strategies, diversity policies and the unique challenges faced by people of color. The MSU Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion spearheads most of these efforts.

Take advantage of spring volunteer opportunities
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community on its website and in its newsletter this week, including details about alternative spring break in the Delta, "Coffee with a Christian," local food pantries, Dash 4 Davion 5K, and more. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to make a difference by volunteering this spring.

Deadline extended for Spirit of State nominations
Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the 10th-annual Spirit of State awards. These awards are open to all Mississippi State students from all campuses and recognize excellence in campus involvement; service to the university community; actions that promote the Spirit of State; and overall impact on peers and the broader campus community. All forms should be submitted online by this Monday.

'Safety stand-down' deadline for labs nears
In a continuing effort to meet best practices at Mississippi State, the university's Office of Research and Economic Development and the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine are requiring all principal investigators who conduct research at Biosafety Level 2 to participate in a phased plan in support of a federal "safety stand-down." The deadline is March 13.

Maroon Alert: Sharing emergency updates with MSU
Mississippi State's emergency notification system is known as Maroon Alert. In case of a campus emergency, university officials will use Maroon Alert to notify you via one or more of several methods. Please take a few minutes to learn more about how Maroon Alert works during an emergency.

Tobacco Use Attestation Form completion required
Human Resources Management at Mississippi State reminds all benefits-eligible employees that the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration's board voted recently to implement a $50 per month tobacco use surcharge, effective July 2015, for the State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan. All plan participants are now required to complete a "Tobacco Use Attestation Form."

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.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 03/02/15
Men's Golf opens play in the Louisiana Classics in Lafayette on Monday and in the Tiger Invitational in Opelika on Sunday... Baseball hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and then San Diego on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.... Women's Basketball competes in the SEC Tournament in North Little Rock beginning Wednesday... Softball hosts Kennesaw State on Wednesday at 3 p.m., and then Georgia at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday... Men's Basketball visits Nashville on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. tipoff with Vanderbilt, and then hosts Missouri at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday... Men's Tennis hosts Ole Miss at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Arkansas on Saturday at noon, and Nicholls State at 5 p.m. on Saturday... Women's Tennis hosts Missouri at 3 p.m. on Friday and Arkansas on Sunday at 1 p.m.... Women's Golf begins play in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Hilton Head on Sunday.

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.

Burrell, Jackson assume ITS leadership roles
Two longtime Mississippi State staff members are being promoted in the university's Information Technology Services division. John G. "Jay" Burrell is the new director of information technology infrastructure, effective Feb. 16, while Meredith Jackson now is in her fifth month as the director of enterprise information systems. Both are MSU graduates.

Andrew Goodman Foundation honors Perry
A Mississippi State University political scientist is among 50 recognized recently by the Andrew Goodman Foundation. Ravi K. Perry is a selection for the New Jersey-based organization's 2015 Hero Citizens list that recognizes individual efforts to advance voting rights and social justice. He is an assistant professor in the political science and public administration department.

Strout's book details how weekly became 'godsend'
The key role a Gulf Coast newspaper played in helping its community recover from Hurricane Katrina is the topic of a new book by a Mississippi State faculty member. "Pass Christian and the Gazebo Gazette: A Gulf Community's Post-Katrina Triumph" is the work of Lawrence N. "Larry" Strout, an associate professor in the university's communication department.

Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival this month
Officials of Mississippi State University Libraries will hold the ninth annual Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival March 26-28. Previously an event exclusively featuring piano and concentrating mainly on ragtime, the Templeton Festival is "spreading its wings to include more instruments and styles," said Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman.