Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Construction progresses on a new classroom building at the corner of George Perry St. and Barr Ave. The $41-million, three-level facility will contain 90,000 square feet of classroom space -- or 22 rooms on three floors -- and 60,000 square feet of parking in a two-level garage. The structure is expected to open for the fall semester of 2016. Eupora-based Belinda Stewart Architects is heading the project on the Starkville campus, and Brandon-based Evan Johnson and Sons Construction is the general contractor. PHOTO: Russ Houston | Public Affairs

University recognized for athletes' high grad rates
Mississippi State University took top honors during the Halbrook Awards for Academic Achievement Among Athletes ceremony held last Monday as part of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities Annual Conference. MSU was the winner in the Public University Division for the highest percentage of both male and female athletes graduating.

Personal storytelling drives new MSU Experience
Mississippi State University is defined by its many success stories -- and who better to tell these stories than the people who are living them every day. That's the purpose of The MSU Experience, a series of photographs and videos in which members of the campus community explain why they've chosen MSU as the place for learning, discovery, and personal and career success.

Institute for the Humanities celebrating 10 years
Mississippi State’s Institute for the Humanities celebrates its 10th anniversary Thursday and Friday with a special symposium. Part of the university’s College of Arts and Sciences, the institute primarily serves the departments of communication, English, classical and modern languages and literatures, history, music, and philosophy and religion, as well as the Cobb Institute of Archaeology.

Benefits open enrollment underway
Benefits open enrollment is now available for eligible Mississippi State University employees. Open enrollment is required only if you are adding new coverage, changing existing coverage or canceling coverage. If you aren’t adding new coverage, changing existing coverage or canceling coverage, you do not need to participate in open enrollment, and your current benefits will continue into 2016.

Explore volunteer opportunities with the MVC
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 4th-annual Haunted Horse Park, Palmer Home tutoring, Canoe Day at the Refuge, Boys and Girls Club tutoring, 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, 10/12/15
Men's Tennis starts play Thursday at the ITA Southern Region Indoor Championships in Tuscaloosa... Women's Tennis starts play Friday at the ITA Southern Region Indoor Championships in Auburn... Cross Country competes at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa on Friday and at the Pre-NCAA Meet in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday... Volleyball visits Baton Rouge on Friday for a match against LSU at 7 p.m., and then travels to College Station for a 1 p.m. match against Texas A&M on Sunday... Soccer hosts Florida at 7 p.m. on Friday... Football hosts Louisiana Tech on Saturday at 11 a.m.

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University brand launch Tuesday afternoon
Mississippi State officials are planning the launch this week of an innovative branding initiative aimed at positioning the university for the future. Special festivities are planned for 3 p.m. on Tuesday in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium. Joining MSU President Mark E. Keenum in presenting the comprehensive strategy will be five distinguished university alumni.

Miller named Mercatus Visiting Scholar
A Mississippi State University finance professor has an opportunity for his research to inform public policy decisions on consumer finance. Thomas W. Miller Jr., holder of the Jack R. Lee Chair in Financial Institutions and Consumer Finance, has been named a Visiting Scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia.

Du selected as JSTARS editor-in-chief
Bagley College of Engineering faculty member Jenny Du has been named the new editor-in-chief of the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. As editor-in-chief, she will be responsible for the review and publication process, as well as seeking science for publications and promoting the journal in the international remote-sensing community.

Godwin earns APR professional certification
The publications manager for Mississippi State University's High Performance Computing Collaboratory has achieved a top professional designation. Diane Godwin recently attained Accredited in Public Relations (APR) certification from the Universal Accreditation Board.