I am delighted to tell you that the Society of Vocational Psychology presented Jo-Ida Hansen with their Lifetime Achievement Award (their highest honor). Jo-Ida is only the fourth recipient of this prestigious award. John Holland (MN PhD, 1952) was the first recipient. The tradition of excellence continues.

Congratulations to Jo-Ida for this wonderful recognition of her accomplishments.

Best,

-Gordon

Dear colleagues,

Since the implementation of the new Enterprise Financial System (EFS) on July 1, several of us have encountered major problems in paying subjects. For at least two labs, the problems have been so severe as to threaten suspension of data collection.

The bottom line is that EFS has bugs in processing some types of documents, including cash advances and employee reimbursement forms. Our staff people have tried hard to find work-arounds, without much guidance from above. Thank you for your patience in understanding the difficult position of our staff people.

We have been pressing CLA administration for help in resolving the problem of subject payments. The College recognizes our dilemma and is endeavoring to help us find a practical method for subject payments.

Please see the message below from Cathy Burke, head of the EFS service team responsible for Psychology. She describes a recommended method for paying subjects. I am crossing my fingers that this procedure will work, and get us over the current hurdle.

Guillermo continues to work closely with our accounting people, the service team, and CLA administration to resolve these problems. Don’t hesitate to ask him questions.

And, of course, I need to know if the system continues to malfunction.

Please read Cathy’s message below

--Gordon

Message from Cathy Burke:

Dear Faculty-

We understand that subject payments is a vital part of your research. We also know that the EFS system has caused many problems in getting these processed. In an ideal world, cash advances are the preferred method of paying subjects for a few reasons. One, the subject receives their payment right when they come in for the study, and two, it is much less paperwork for everyone.

However, EFS is still having issues in processing cash advances and employee reimbursements. Until these bugs are worked out and fixed, we are recommending payment by check to the subject as the way to pay them for their time. The check-payment process has been fixed in EFS, and it goes very smoothly and quickly once the paperwork reaches the service team. To have a subject paid by check:

1) Find the Research Subject Payment Form and the Check Request Form online at:

http://online.psych.umn.edu/forms/index.html

2) Fill out the two forms online for clarity; in addition the check-request form needs to be done online so that the Excel spreadsheet will automatically populate certain fields;

3) Print the completed forms.

Note: It will not work to print a blank check-request form and fill it in by hand.

4) The PI or other authorized person should ok the payment with their signature.

5) Give the Research Subject Payment form and the Check Request Form to Kamran or Barbara. They will send it on to the service team for processing.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this system.

Cathy Burke
CLA Financial Service Team East Bank 1
215 Shevlin Hall
164 Pillsbury Dr SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-8021
612-625-4115 (fax)

I am pleased to tell you that Josh McDermott has been selected to receive the University of Minnesota Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award for 2008-09. The Award recognizes postdoctoral scholars who have made outstanding contributions to research, scholarship and/or creative activities on a national or international level and acknowledges scholars who have made optimal use of the postdoctoral appointment by actively pursuing opportunities and resources to enhance their intellectual and professional development.

Josh has been working on auditory perception with Andrew Oxenham and lab colleagues. He has been studying mid-level audition, including source separation, texture perception, and the psychoacoustic basis of music.

Congratulations to Josh!

This award to Josh is a timely reminder of the excellence of postdocs in the Psychology department and the critical roles they play in many of our research programs.

Best,

--Gordon

Irv received his Ph.D. from and is currently a Senior Fellow in our Department. Please join me in congratulating Irv on receiving this prestigious award.

Gordon Legge

The Kurt Lewin Memorial Award is presented annually to honor "outstanding contributions to the development and integration of psychological research and social action." As this year's recipient of the award, Dr. Snyder has accomplished these goals in every way.

The 2008 Award Committee consisted of Dr. Brenda Major, University of California, Santa Barbara (Chair); Dr. Daphne Bugental, University of California, Santa Barbara; Dr. Jack Dovidio, Yale University; and Dr. Louis Penner, Hudson-Webber Cancer Research Center.

This is great recognition for Rich's contributions.

Best,

--Gordon

http://online.psych.umn.edu/forms/central/roster.htm

The fixed tables in N119 have been removed, along with the stage at the front of the room. The tables will be replaced with movable ones. Those tables will arrive in early to mid August. The chalkboard has been removed and will be replaced with a marker board, and carpet has already gone down in the room. The walls will all be painted. No significant changes are expected in the room capacity.

Similar changes will take place in N647 Elliott, but the work won't start until mid to late July, when the classes in there are complete.

www.deptid.umn.edu

Starting July 1, 2008, the University will be using a new Enterprise
Financial System (EFS) from PeopleSoft to handle all University
Financial transactions.

The old department identifiers (Area/Org etc.) will be replaced with a
new set of identifiers, so this website has been created to help you
find the new account numbers.

The new numbers from this page should now be accurate, but
our Service Team Senior Accountant, Eman Ausman
(ausm00007@umn.edu or 5.4126) is the most authoritative
source for these numbers.

Please check with Eman if you have questions.

Bruce Overmier has a truly honorific summer ahead of him. He is scheduled to receive TWO honorary doctorates. Congratulations Bruce!

On June 18, the University of Montreal will confer an honorary doctorate on Bruce. He will deliver remarks at the university convocation.

On August 29, the University of Bergen (Norway) will confer an honorary degree on Bruce, doctor honoris causa. The award letter reads “ … particular emphasis was placed on your central role in psychological research within fields such as learning studies, memory, stress and psychosomatics, your important contributions to research politics, as well as your long term and valuable cooperation with the University of Bergen.�

We all take great pride in this splendid international recognition of Bruce’s wide ranging contributions to psychological science.

--Gordon

As a bridge program, SPSS has offered the College a special site license for June 2008 to June 2009 toward which the Department contributed about
$3,500. This site license will cover the costs of installing SPSS on
any Department-owned and networked computer. As you know, this is a
huge savings and the Department is pleased to provide this for all of
our instructional and research staff.

The SPSS software will be available June 2, 2008. Meanwhile, please continue to use any SPSS install you may have, as long as you are able. Please notify Carla at 4-7076 or bates014@umn.edu if there are problems using your old copy until we are able to install a new one.

NOTE: If you have renewed your license since April 1, 2008, we are able to arrange for a reimbursement. Please forward to me your renewal email and the CUFS number you used.