Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

John Blanton, professor and head of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, teaches an introduction to animal and dairy science course in the Newell-Grissom Building, which is home to the MSU volleyball team. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Fall general faculty meeting coming up Tuesday
The Office of the President and the Robert Holland Faculty Senate invite all Mississippi State University faculty to the fall general faculty meeting on Tuesday [Sept. 22] at 3 p.m. in the Hunter Henry Center. Interested members of the campus community are also welcome. The meeting will feature a report from President Mark E. Keenum on topics of interest to the university community. Due to COVID-19, seating in the Hunter Henry Center's Parker Ballroom will be limited to 60 seats with physical distancing measures in place. Face coverings are required for all attendees. A livestream of the meeting will also be available for those unable to attend in person or who prefer to watch online by clicking here.

ORED, OIDI issue call for proposals
The Mississippi State University Office of Research and Economic Development and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion are jointly issuing a special call for proposals for research that advances inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. Proposals are due October 5 by 5 p.m. This funding opportunity is designed to support new research and creative activities in any discipline that contribute to understanding of racial equity. Scholarship from all disciplines and a wide variety of methodological traditions is appropriate for this program.

Park Cafe re-opens in research park
The Park Cafe in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park re-opened this month under new management. Located in the II-VI building at 60 Technology Blvd., Suite 100, Park Cafe offers blue plate lunches and more from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Dine-in service will be available in a reduced capacity. Diners also can order food to-go. The Riley J’s Streatery food truck will park outside the II-VI building to serve lunch on Mondays, offering Mexican cuisine.

Nominations now open for MSU’s Grisham Master Teacher Award, Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Awards
The University Instructional Improvement Committee is announcing the call for nominations for the 2021 Grisham Master Teacher Award, 2021 Alumni Association Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award and 2021 Alumni Association Graduate and/or Professional Teaching Excellence Award. All submissions must meet the deadline of Oct. 15. Interested faculty must submit an electronic application in PDF form to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President via email to grishamaward@provost.msstate.edu.

Apply for the 2020 MSU Excellence in Community Engagement Awards
Applications for the 2020 MSU Excellence in Community Engagement Awards are now available at https://tinyurl.com/MSUCEAwardapp. The MSU CE Awards recognize outstanding accomplishment in community engagement in the categories of Community-Engaged Service; Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning; Community- Engaged Research; and Scholarship of Engagement. The most outstanding example of a current community engagement project or program in each of the four areas will receive a $3,000 award to further community engagement efforts within Mississippi State’s threefold mission of teaching, research and service.

Looking for a way to help? Give to the MSU Student Relief Fund
The Mississippi State University community continually exhibits a great sense of responsibility and caring for enrolled students that make the land-grant institution such a special place. The MSU Student Relief Fund, built with private gifts, helps those members of the student body affected with day-to-day crises or like now, the impact to their daily lives posed by COVID-19. The Dean of Students' Office assesses needs and administers the fund for acute crises that may impact students’ ability to succeed academically. The MSU Foundation accepts gifts year-round for the MSU Student Relief Fund. Contributions for this effort can be made online or by contacting the Annual Giving office at (662) 325-2466.

Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy.

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‘Cast of thousands’ prepares university for semester experience like no other
The academic experience is looking a little different at Mississippi State this fall, especially from a row in the 10,500-seat Humphrey Coliseum where students are absorbing the fundamentals of U.S. history and political science during COVID-19 in the university’s largest indoor venue. Turning “The Hump” into a 50%-capacity lecture hall didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it’s been a four-month process for MSU leaders to identify the larger campus spaces that could be transformed and outfitted with technology to allow not only for the necessary physical distancing, but for livestreaming, recording and uploading capabilities. “When we began planning for the fall semester, we knew it would be unlike anything we have seen before on this campus,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “I’m incredibly proud of the campus-wide effort these last few months to ensure that students can stay on their academic paths and have the option of a safe, in-person college experience."

Mississippi State is a ‘Great College to Work For’ for fifth consecutive year
Employees of Mississippi State have spoken -- again! For the fifth year in a row, their university is being recognized as a “Great College to Work For” based on positive feedback from faculty and staff. The latest results were released last week in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education. Out of 221 colleges and universities surveyed, only 54 applicants representing four-year institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” status. Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions, with Mississippi State included among large universities with 10,000 or more students. “What a privilege to see our employees in action this year,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “They have responded in these uncertain times with extraordinary focus and professionalism, always prioritizing the needs of their students and upholding MSU’s mission in everything they do."

Snyder releases 10th book: 'Hobbit Virtues'
The founding dean of Mississippi State’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College has released his latest work examining the fiction of renowned author J.R.R. Tolkien. “Hobbit Virtues: Rediscovering Virtue Ethics through J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings” is MSU Professor of European History Christopher A. Snyder’s 10th book, recently published by Pegasus Books. “Tolkien ennobles the small, the humble, and the marginalized in his Middle-earth writings and presents leaders who are hesitant to exercise power, are courteous, and value wisdom and learning,” Snyder said. “Tolkien’s readers come from many different religious and secular backgrounds, and the pleasure and profundity of ‘Hobbit Virtues’ is that mutual respect for public virtues is, especially now, necessary for a well-functioning pluralistic society.”

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