WEEK OF 03.24.03

Hollywood honored its own last night. This week, IIT hands out its own version of the "Oscars" for IIT faculty. The nomination committee announced this years’ honorees:

Excellence in Teaching Award:
Christopher White, assistant professor of physics
Christopher serves as the department's advisor for physics majors, teaches Basic Physics and the Physics Instrumentation Lab, for which he has written a manual to be published by Cambridge University Press. His chairman, Larry Scott, describes Chris as "one of the most gifted and effective teachers that I have ever encountered." His student evaluations confirm Professor Scott's high praise. The genuine interest he takes in the education of all his students is truly admirable.

Bauer Family Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching:
Scott Peters, senior lecturer of political science
Peters has been an outstanding teacher for several years. He holds the responsibility of teaching Intro to the Professions, Intro to American Government, and he advises the department's political science majors. Scott's teaching is earmarked by its rigor, use of a variety of methods and a deep commitment to his students. His sincere interest and devotion to the students he encounters each semester is unwavering.

The next time you head south on State Street, driving or walking into the Main Campus, you may notice something new in the grassy median, just south of 31st Street.

For the first time in its history, IIT now has a specially designed marker, welcoming drivers and pedestrians to the Main Campus. This northern “Gateway” has a base made of Indiana buff limestone. The top is North American black granite; with stainless steel letters in the Mies van der Rohe font, spelling out Illinois Institute of Technology.

A similar marker will be placed on the southern edge of campus on the State Street median near 35th Street next month. Eventually both “gateways” will be lit during the evening hours. The new signs are part of the ongoing State Street improvements, funded by IIT and the city of Chicago.

Students at IIT’s College of Architecture have set an unusual, new standard in golf course design, as part of the Epilepsy Foundation’s annual “Golf around Chicago” fundraiser through April 13, 2003.

The IIT students, led by Professor Susan Conger-Austin, designed a miniature golf hole, “Bauhaus to Koolhaas--IIT,” for the event, now open to the public at Navy Pier's Crystal Garden. The IIT hole is one of 18 on the course, designed by leading Chicago architects and builders whose designs celebrate Chicago’s landmarks, buildings and culture. The College of Architecture was the only school invited to participate.

Built in partnership with Clune Construction, the hole takes its inspiration from IIT’s new McCormick Tribune Campus Center, under construction on the Main Campus.

All proceeds from “Golf Around Chicago” will provide advocacy, education and support for people affected by epilepsy.

Librarian Elizabeth Quinlan, at IIT’s Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions, has been selected as one of 30 Illinois librarians to participate in Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative.

Synergy, a unique yearlong program sponsored by the Illinois State Library and the Illinois Library Association, develops future leaders in the library profession. The goal of the program is for each individual to develop leadership skills that can be applied in local, state and global arenas.

Quinlan will attend Synergy seminars and work with other library community members March 24-26 in Utica; July 16-18 in Grafton; and January 26-28, 2004 in Lisle.

Staff Excellence in Service’ Award Nominations Due Today
Non-faculty award to be given next month

If you know or work with an outstanding non-faculty member, today is the last day to submit your nomination for IIT’s annual “Excellence in Service” award.

Candidates should serve as role models for others and should have displayed, over the last academic year, special initiative that goes well beyond what is expected. This may take the form of distinguished commitment to task, or leadership in one or more of the following broad categories: service to students, to office staff members, to the improved functioning of a department or through other relevant activities.

Please submit nominations to Human Resources Director Beverly Perret via e-mail at perret@iit.edu or by fax at 312.567.3450. Nominations must be received by today, March 24, 2003. The annual “Excellence in Service Award,” will be announced on April 16, 2003 and comes with a check for $1,000.

A senior principal from Hewitt Associates, headlines next month’s Business Leadership Forum at Stuart Graduate School of Business. Arturo Fisher will speak at 5 p.m. at the Downtown Campus Wednesday, April 9, 2003, on “Best Employers, Best Results: Global Survey Findings.”

Fisher is the lead consultant on human resources strategy for key multinational corporations with Hewitt Associates. He designs multi-country programs to align human resources strategy with local and regional business objectives and has published several articles on various global and Latin America human resources topics.

Chicago Transit Authority fare cards are here! These CTA cards can be used on all CTA and Pace public transportation, including “L” trains and buses. For pricing information, please contact one of the following offices:

Main Campus-Cashier’s Office: 312.567.3324
Downtown Campus-Bursar’s Office: 312.906.5161

IIT professors apparently have a sweet tooth, at least when it comes to The McCormick Tribune Campus Center nearing completion on the Main Campus. Faculty members dove into this cake, complete with a depiction of the new center, made out of icing!

The cake was presented during an Armour Faculty Club lecture February 28, by College of Architecture Dean Donna Robertson. Robertson briefed faculty on the master plan for IIT, including updates on the new campus center, designed by Rem Koolhaas and the new student residence hall, designed by Helmut Jahn. Both buildings are scheduled to be completed this summer.

Our thanks to BCPS Professor Peter Lykos, for managing to snap a photo of the cake, before it was devoured!

IT Job Fair, March 25, 2003:
All Students welcome. For more information contact Julia Chase at 312.906.5634 or chasej@iit.edu.
3 p.m. - 7 p.m., IIT Rice Campus, 201 East Loop Rd., Wheaton.

Career Boost Seminar, March 26, 2003:
Learn how Linux can free you from the Microsoft Treadmill. Visit http://cpd.iit.edu/careerboost.html or contact Barb Kozi at 630.682.6040 or kozi@iit.edu for additional details.
8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. IIT Rice Campus, 201 East Loop Rd., Wheaton.

MMAE Seminar, March 26, 2003:
Speaker: John F. Widmann, National Institute of Standards and Technology on "Measurement of the Optical Extinction Coefficients of Flame-generated Agglomerates".
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., E-1 Building, Crawford Auditorium.

Legal Conference. March 27-28, 2003:
Chicago-Kent College of Law presents conference on Section 1983, civil rights litigation. Sponsored by the Office of Continuing Legal and Professional Education. Contact Deborah Villa for more information at 312.906.5090 or dvilla@kentlaw.edu.