Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Hundreds of MSU faculty, students and staff members took a break earlier this month to receive a free cup of ice cream at the MAFES Sales Store as part of National Ice Cream Day. MSU is renowned for its Edam cheese; however, ice cream is one of the many other farm-to-table products processed on campus at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s Custer Dairy Processing Plant. With an award-winning dairy herd that produces approximately 475,000 gallons of raw milk every year, the dairy products produced and sold on campus are an outcome of the MAFES research program and teaching activities in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs

Student Affairs recognized with Seven Seals Award
Mississippi State University’s Division of Student Affairs is being recognized for supporting employees in the National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces reserves. Recently, the division was presented with the Seven Seals Award by the Mississippi Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. “We are grateful for this recognition and continue to be privileged to support our students and staff who are service members in achieving their academic and professional goals while also serving our nation and state. It is truly an honor,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt.

Center for Community-Engaged Learning now accepting applications for mini-grants
The Center for Community-Engaged Learning is accepting mini-grant applications through July 31 for 2019-20 community-engaged learning courses. CEL integrates meaningful community engagement into an academic course through experiential learning and critical reflection. CCEL seeks to support activities that enrich the educational experience of students by teaching civic responsibility and meeting the needs of a community. Any Mississippi State University faculty member is eligible to receive a mini-grant. Award priority will be given to projects of CEL fellows and faculty that teach a CEL designated course.

Lyceum mini-series tickets now available
Mini-series tickets for Mississippi State University’s 2019-20 Lyceum Series are now available for purchase. Starting Monday, mini-series tickets are available to the general public for $75 and $65 for MSU employees and senior citizens. The mini-series ticket option includes attendance to three programs and features guaranteed reserved seating at a discounted rate. The annual series supports performing arts in the Starkville and MSU communities.

MSU, ed2go offering online professional development courses
Mississippi State’s Center for Continuing Education, in partnership with leading online continuing education provider ed2go, is offering more than 300 online professional development courses. “Whether you want to enhance your professional skills or just learn something new, these classes are informative, affordable and can be taken entirely online at any time from the comfort of your home or office,” said Dixie Cartwright, CCE manager. New course sessions begin each month.

Summer read: 2019 Maroon Edition book, ‘Hold on with a Bulldog Grip’
Mississippi State students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends, as well as members of the local community, are encouraged to include the university’s Maroon Edition book, “Hold On with a Bulldog Grip,” in their summer reading selections. The book is being made available to incoming freshman students and transfers in their summer Orientation packets, and others can purchase the book at MSU’s Barnes & Noble bookstore or through other booksellers. Purchases also can be made online from the University Press of Mississippi at www.upress.state.ms.us/books/2240.

Volunteers needed for MVNU2MSU
Mississippi State’s Department of Housing and Residence Life is seeking volunteers for two move-in days as part of the university’s annual MVNU2MSU event. Individuals and groups of volunteers will welcome and assist new Bulldog students with moving into the Starkville campus’s 17 residence halls. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt. Students participating in Panhellenic recruitment, New Maroon Camp, Famous Maroon Band and Spirit Groups may move into their residence halls on Aug. 11 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. All other students may move in from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 17.

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

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Reminder: University policy addresses employee political activity
With political campaigning for local and statewide races currently underway, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’s policy on political activities. There are several guidelines that employees of the university should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. The Office of General Counsel encourages each employee to review this policy in its entirety to make certain you are fully aware of your rights and responsibilities.

Construction for new parking garage underway, to continue through July 2020
Construction for a new parking garage on the north side of Mississippi State's Starkville campus is underway and expected to last through July 2020. During this time, those navigating campus are advised to use caution when approaching this construction area. Due to construction, a section of sidewalk along Bailey Howell Drive and adjacent to the construction site will be temporarily closed, requiring pedestrian traffic to be re-routed. Please see the accompanying map for details.

Hale promoted to senior legal administrator, director of licensing
Duski Hale is taking on a new role as Mississippi State’s senior legal administrator and director of licensing. In her new position, Hale is responsible for directing, managing and supervising administrative operations for the university’s Office of General Counsel and the Trademark Licensing Program. She succeeds Sharon Hewlett, longtime senior legal administrator and director of licensing who recently retired.

Sullivan, Mohammadi-Aragh awarded NSF grant to examine role of culture in encouraging women to pursue engineering fields
A $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation will allow researchers from two Mississippi State University engineering departments to encourage young women to enter science-based computing fields. Aerospace engineering professor Rani W. Sullivan and electrical and computer engineering assistant professor M. Jean Mohammadi-Aragh were awarded funding from the NSF’s Research Initiation in Engineering Formation program.