Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, located in Mississippi State University's Mitchell Memorial Library, has opened the public exhibit "The Presidents' Faces: Portraits of Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln in Context." It will be on campus until April 30, 2016. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Crisis Action Team holds preparedness exercise
Mississippi State’s Crisis Action Team held a tabletop exercise during its regular meeting last week to drill the emergency response skills of top administrators and key decision makers during a practice hypothetical scenario and training session. “Without question, this type of complex, regular training and drills sharpen our university’s ability to respond decisively in times of threat or crisis,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

New social media hub leverages storytelling's power
Followers of Mississippi State on social media now can get all of their university news in one place at www.social.msstate.edu. “People want to know more about who we are, and we’ve added this new hub to give visitors a 360-degree view of our people, places, activities and accomplishments,” said Sid Salter, MSU’s ‎chief communications officer.

Applications sought for teaching excellence awards
Mississippi State University faculty who are interested in submitting applications for the 2016 Grisham Master Teacher Award, the Alumni Association Early Career Teaching Excellence Award or the Alumni Association Graduate Teaching Excellence Award have until Oct. 16 to do so.

HRM hosting workplace bullying seminar
What is workplace bullying and how do you identify it? The Department of Human Resources at Mississippi State invites faculty and staff to a special workplace bullying seminar this week. Bill Badzmierowski with Crisis Prevention Institute will deliver this interactive and informative session on Thursday.

United Way campaign underway on campus
The 2015-2016 United Way campaign at Mississippi State is underway. Donations made to the United Way of North Central Mississippi remain in the community, and will positively impact hundreds of lives. All gifts and pledges are confidential and any amount given helps to make a difference in Oktibbeha, Choctaw, Winston and Webster counties.

MVC leading fall break trip to Delta
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 fall break Delta trip, Bulldogs on the Move, Boys & Girls Club tutoring, ACCESS program peer mentors, and more. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to make a difference by volunteering this fall.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With local and statewide campaigns underway this fall, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel reminds employees to be aware of the university's policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity.

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, 09/28/15
Men's Golf opens play Monday in the Shoal Creek/Graeme McDowell Invitational in Birmingham... Beginning Friday, Women's Tennis competes at the Purdue Invite in Indiana, and at the ITA Riviera All-American Championships in Los Angeles beginning Saturday... Volleyball plays Kentucky in Lexington on Friday at 6 p.m., and then hosts South Carolina at 11 a.m. on Sunday... Soccer is on the road to College Station for a Friday match against Texas A&M at 7 p.m. ...Men's Tennis starts play Saturday at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa... Football plays Texas A&M on the road at Kyle Field on Saturday with a kickoff time TBA... Softball plays Ole Miss in an exhibition on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Tupelo, and then plays an exhibition double-header on Sunday in Scooba against Southern Union and then Wallace Hanceville beginning at noon... Women's Golf starts play Sunday in the Jim West Challenge in Texas.

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

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Clay joins OTM as licensing associate
A Mississippi State alumnus is returning to the land-grant institution where he will work with faculty and staff to move inventions, new products and processes developed at the university into the marketplace. Jeremy Clay is the newest licensing associate in MSU’s Office of Technology Management.

Smith receives national award from AABP
A Mississippi State epidemiologist is this year’s selection for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners’ Award of Excellence. At the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. David Smith holds the Mikell and Mary Cheek Hall Davis Endowed Professorship. He also leads the college’s beef program.

Funderburk’s art wins national prize, works accepted
Brent Funderburk, a Mississippi State faculty member since 1982, has had artworks accepted into several national and international exhibitions. “Today,” a watercolor painting by the university's W. L. Giles Distinguished Professor of Art, has received the first prize award in the 42nd Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition.

University earns national honor for diversity
A national organization has recognized Mississippi State’s efforts to promote diversity. Minority Access also applauded MSU for its efforts to recruit and retain minority students, as well as President Mark E. Keenum and other university leaders’ “clear commitment to diversity through goals articulated within the university’s strategic plan and by providing funding and support for diversity and inclusion initiatives across campus.”