Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Construction continues on the new classroom building at MSU, located at the intersection of George Perry Street and East Barr Avenue. When complete, the new building will provide 90,000 square feet of classroom space and additional parking spaces near the center of campus. The building is designed to be reminiscent of Old Main Dormitory, which burned in 1959. PHOTO: Sarah Dutton | Public Affairs

Riley Center celebrates 10th year with new series
The MSU Riley Center celebrates its 10th anniversary by announcing a Fall/Winter Performing Arts Series full of the kind of wide-ranging, top-quality entertainment that has made it a cultural icon and a powerful tool for economic development. In September 2006, the MSU Riley Center for Education & Performing Arts opened after a three-year, $25-million renovation. The project transformed a pair of frayed but beautiful old buildings into a state-of-the-art performance, education and conference center.

Adkerson School gaining traction among the best
The Adkerson School of Accountancy in Mississippi State’s College of Business has earned its first-ever rankings in the nationally recognized Commerce Clearing House Public Accounting Report. “The College of Business and Adkerson School of Accountancy offer an outstanding and stimulating learning experience for our undergraduate and graduate students, giving them an edge in the workforce after graduation,” said Dean Sharon Oswald.

myState mobile app launching Monday
Mississippi State’s new information-packed mobile app debuts Monday to help users stay in touch with the latest MSU news and announcements, while accessing information that is most relevant to their needs and interests. The development of the new mobile app was led by MSU’s Office of Information Technology Services with input from MSU’s Office of Public Affairs and other key university units.

Mississippi State takes over SEC Network July 27
Mississippi State takes over the SEC Network on July 27 as 24 hours of coverage will be devoted entirely to Bulldog content, including historic games and documentaries. For the second-consecutive year, SEC Network is turning over its control room to all 14 Southeastern Conference schools for a two-week stretch. MSU's "Relentless" series will be featured as well as classic games from a memorable 2015-16 athletic year.

Volunteers needed for MVNU2MSU
Move-In Day is a very important day in the life of a first-time freshman. Mississippi State faculty and staff members are invited to join Housing and Residence Life on Aug. 6 to help welcome the incoming class of 2020 to the university. "Please consider partnering with us on this special day to give our students a warm welcome to the Bulldog family," said Avent VanHorn, marketing and communications coordinator for student housing.

Mid-August deadline for travel grant applications
The Southeastern Conference Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program is intended to enhance faculty collaboration that stimulates scholarly initiatives between SEC universities. Mississippi State University can select a maximum of eight faculty members to receive 2016-2017 travel grants of $1,250 each for transportation, room, board, etc., to use for travel to another SEC campus. Assistant, associate and full professors are eligible.

University announces 2016-17 Lyceum Series lineup
A Sept. 28 concert by Mississippi native and soul-blues artist Zac Harmon will kick off Mississippi State’s 2016-17 Lyceum Series season. Season ticket renewals for patrons wishing to retain the same seats as last year will take place through July 1. New season tickets go on sale July 5-22. Coordinated by the MSU Performing Arts Committee, annual Lyceum programs are designed to expose residents of campus and surrounding communities to national and international artists in dance, music and theatre.

Don't take a break from volunteering this summer
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 Service DAWGS Day, Back 2 School Bash, Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity, MVNU2MSU, Stuff the Bus, Undergraduate Research Symposium, and more.

Institutional Repository now accepting submissions
The new MSU Institutional Repository is now online and accepting submissions. The repository -- available at http://ir.library.msstate.edu -- is a central digital archive for collecting, organizing, preserving, and sharing Mississippi State's history, intellectual and scholarly creations, and research data.

SMART modifying shuttle routes for summer
Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit (SMART) is modifying several routes through Aug. 11. However, the Boardtown North, Boardtown South, Highway 12 Express, Old Main Express, and the Golden Triangle Regional Airport Express will continue to operate as usual during the summer.

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, privacy and more.

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.

MSU-Meridian launches new partnerships
Mississippi State University has joined forces with East Mississippi Community College and Meridian Community College to increase collaboration for nine baccalaureate degree programs. MSU President Mark E. Keenum joined EMCC President Tom Huebner and MCC President Scott Elliott last Friday at the MSU Riley Campus in making a joint announcement on expanding partnerships. The new agreements offer a comprehensive approach allowing students pursuing an associate’s degree to conveniently bridge the gap to a bachelor’s degree.

NOAA reaffirms NGI as regional cooperative institute
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced last Friday it has selected Mississippi State University to host NOAA’s cooperative institute for the Gulf of Mexico region: the Northern Gulf Institute. The NOAA award comes with a commitment of $7 million for the first year of a five-year award that can be renewed for another five years based on successful performance.

MSU Libraries adds Hood's papers to collection
Colleagues, family and friends gathered last week at Mississippi State to celebrate the life and accomplishments of a beloved Mississippi journalist whose papers will be housed at the university’s Mitchell Memorial Library. “Orley was very special to journalism work in the state of Mississippi and even beyond,” said MSU Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman, who officially welcomed the family of late Vicksburg native and award-winning newspaper columnist Orley Mason Hood Jr. to Mississippi State.

12 staff members selected for LEAP program
Twelve Mississippi State staff members are new participants in the university’s 2016 Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program. “We are very excited to work with these outstanding individuals. These 12 already are leaders and the LEAP program is designed to help them reach the next level and help move MSU forward,” said Darrell Easley, learning and development manager for MSU’s human resources management department.