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October 23, 2007

Changeover to Heating Season

As we move into the cooler seasons of fall and winter, we would like to take a moment to explain Facilities Management's role in transitioning from building cooling to building heating systems. The process of switching from a cooling to heating system varies by building and area of campus and can sometimes take several weeks.

The transition to heating is significantly more complicated than the change to cooling. Once the heating systems are up and running, the cooling system is shut off permanently until the following spring. Turning on heating units prematurely will cause great discomfort in buildings.

While Facilities Management typically starts this changeover by *October 15*, some buildings need to be handled differently and can experience a change in temperature both earlier and later than this projected time.

Please be aware that until the cooling to heating transition takes place, we have very limited options for bringing warm air to many of our buildings. As the outside temperatures reach below 40 degrees, we anticipate that some areas may experience uncomfortable temperatures. Please be patient with us if your building or space becomes too cold due to outside temperatures.

If you feel as though the temperatures are inexplicably too low or high, please call the Department Main Office at 625-2818 and we will direct your request to the appropriate maintenance personnel.

October 22, 2007

Wilma Koutstaal has been awarded a McKnight Presidential Fellowship

I'm delighted to tell you that Wilma Koutstaal has been awarded a McKnight Presidential Fellowship. This 3-year award from the University of Minnesota recognizes exceptional accomplishments by newly tenured faculty members. According to the award letter:

"This program is targeted specifically to the most promising faculty granted tenure and promotion to associate professor. Funding was available to make five faculty selections based on this year's promotion and tenure dossiers.

The McKnight Presidential Fellow Award recognizes your accomplishments and supports your ongoing research and scholarship. Selection criteria include an identification by internal and external reviewers as leaders in their field; potential to build programs that will be in the top tier internationally; ability to advance University priorities; and growing national or international reputation as evidenced by record of scholarship, publications, external funding, invited presentations and symposia addresses, significant awards, or other evidence of recognition for research and scholarship."

This is terrific recognition of Wilma's many accomplishments. We all congratulate her on this splendid honor!

--Gordon

October 4, 2007

Michael Corcoran in the Main Office has been promoted from student assistant to staff member

Michael Corcoran, began as a 75% staff member on September 4, prior to that Michael has been working in the Main Office as a student assistant since this summer.

Orbe Stricherz from the Main Office has been reassigned to work with the Chair's group

Orbe Stricherz from the Main Office has been reassigned to work with the Chair's group, namely Guillermo De Paz and Liz Gates as an administrative assistant.

Please welcome Heidi Wolff to the Main Office

We would like to welcome Heidi Wolff from the AHC Office of Communications has joined the Main Office on Monday, September 24. Please stop by the Main Office N218 Elliott Hall and meet her and introduce yourself.


October 3, 2007

New Faculty: Yuhong Jiang

Yuhong Giang, CAB

Arrived June, 2007
Office Elliott 251

New Faculty: Traci Mann

Mann joins Social Area
Arrived August 1, 2007
Office Elliott N325

New Faculty: Steve Engel

Welcome Steve Engel from UCLA

Steve Engel, CAB
Arrived August 1, 2007
Office Elliott 253

Joyce Bono moves to Carlson

I'm writing to let you know that Professor Joyce Bono has accepted a faculty position in the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota. Joyce has been presented with an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the development of a new center for integrative leadership, a joint venture of Carlson and Humphrey.

Joyce will be leaving the Psychology Department, but she will remain a colleague on campus and a friend of Psychology. She will continue to work with our students and faculty.

I'm know you all join me in wishing Joyce very best wishes for continuing success as she moves across the river.

Gordon E. Legge, Ph.D.
Psychology Department Chair
Distinguished McKnight University Professor