Purdue News Roundup
Purdue News Roundup
Swain, professor of electrical and computer engineering, assumes this role after 11 years as director of the Continuing Engineering Education program, where he worked with engineering professors to offer master's degree programs for learners as far away as Luxembourg and South Korea. In his new position, Swain will work with professors campuswide to offer undergraduate, graduate and professional coursework in a wide variety of academic areas.
"Distance learning" refers to courses in which the instructors and students are at different geographic locations.
"We have a very solid start to our program," said Robert Ringel, executive vice president for academic affairs. "This office, under Phil's expert guidance, will provide Purdue with the tools to show substantial increases in both the number of students we reach and the number of classes we offer through distance learning.
"I am excited by his vision for the office, to create an enhanced environment conducive to the adoption of distance learning by the academic units as a strategy for accomplishing the university's threefold mission of education, research and service, and to promote the innovative and productive use of distance learning by identifying needs that could be addressed by distance learning and potential resources for meeting those needs."
Currently, off-campus enrollment in credit courses and registration for noncredit courses at Purdue is estimated at 2,500 annually. Access has become increasingly easier thanks to technology. Purdue uses the Internet, satellite feeds and videotapes to reach students as close as across town and as far away as the other side of the world.
Swain said he hopes to take the experience from his 11 years with Continuing Engineering Education to create a campus environment where distance learning is encouraged. He said he plans to promote the possibilities within the university's schools to help professors see the opportunities and find the resources to make distance learning a reality.
"It's my task to help coordinate all of Purdue's resources that are already available," Swain said. "I hope to make resources easily available to anyone who wants to use them."
Early efforts will seek opportunities for faculty to learn about distance learning technologies and instructional methods; identify and work to resolve intellectual property issues; and coordinate planning and development of facilities and resources for program implementation.
Swain said he doesn't believe distance learning will ever replace the traditional classroom, but he does think distance learning classes provide benefits for traditional students. "We are part of the global economy, which means we need to do more global teaching. Every time we receive feedback from around the world, it helps our students right here in West Lafayette," Swain said. "We are able to help our students prepare for a global environment in an increasingly smaller world."
But Swain said he believes the campus environment is necessary for most traditional students.
"The socialization found on campuses is absolutely essential for young people," Swain said. "It's where they learn how to be good citizens. However, nontraditional students who missed the initial opportunity to come to a campus, for whatever reason, are able to get the same excellent degree without leaving home or the office."
For more information on distance learning opportunities at Purdue, contact Swain's office at (765) 494-6969.
Renee Thomas, director of the BCC, said Walker's responsibilities will include working with the four performing arts ensembles: the Black Voices of Inspiration choir, the New Directional Players drama troupe, the Jahari Dance Troupe, and the Haraka Writers creative writing group. He also will have administrative duties that go with the center's Cultural Arts Series.
"In addition to having 10 years' experience at the University of Kentucky, Frank is a visual and literary artist," Thomas said. "He will be a great complement to all four ensembles. His experience as a writer, actor and photographer gives him a unique perspective as he works with our students."
Walker said he is excited about the chance to work at Purdue.
"Purdue's Black Cultural Center is one of the premier centers in the country," Walker said. "In fact, the center at U of K was designed using Purdue's program as a model.
"I feel like I'm kind of a throwback to the age of Renaissance artists. I've had some success as a visual artist and writer, and I hope to be able to translate those hands-on experiences at every level of the business to help students prepare for shows and for possible careers in the arts."
Walker has a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Kentucky and an art studio minor. He is the founder and executive director of the Bluegrass Black Arts Consortium, and a creative writing instructor for the Governor's School for the Arts.
He also is a member of the Kentucky Arts Council Civil Rights Committee and a founding member of Affrilachian Poets & Message Theatre. Walker will start at Purdue on May 19.
Purdue is in the midst of a campaign to raise $3 million to finance construction of a new Black Cultural Center. The two-story, 18,000-square-foot structure will be almost twice the size of the current center, which was dedicated in December 1970. Purdue has contributed the land and $1 million toward the construction.
The center serves about 35,000 people each year through its performing arts ensembles, speaker series, tours and other programs.
For more information on the campaign or other events at the BCC, contact Thomas at (765) 494-3092.
The fellowships provide funding for graduate students to study pet behavior and assess the quality of veterinary medical care. They will work within the Center for Applied Ethology and Human-Animal Interaction and the section of clinical epidemiology in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
The first fellowship, the "Kenneth Scott Fellowship in Animal Welfare and Veterinary Preventative Medicine," will begin in July. The graduate veterinary student will be chosen through an international search and will have practice experience and an interest in animal welfare issues. The person selected will focus on developing methods for animal shelters to improve animal health and welfare through changes in management, nutrition and the environment.
The other fellowship, the "Kenneth Scott Fellowship in Animal Behavior and Population Medicine," will begin in July 1998. This position will provide a three-year clinical residency focusing on how animal behavior affects the human-animal bond. The graduate student will work closely with Dr. Andrew Luescher, an animal behaviorist who, in July, will become the director of Purdue's new Behavior Clinic for Companion Animals. The new clinic will begin accepting cases of companion animal behavior problems in September.
"Both of these positions have the potential to really make a difference in the quality of life for pets and their owners," said Dr. Lawrence T. Glickman, professor of epidemiology and environmental health. "By identifying and possibly changing animal and human behaviors, we can slow the number of pets turned over to animal shelters and, often times, euthanized."
The positions are being funded for four years by a gift of $222,860, from KeyBank, trustee for the Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust. The check was presented April 19 during the annual Veterinary School open house. The late Kenneth Scott was a Cleveland, Ohio, resident who established the trust to promote the welfare of small animals.
The Center for Applied Ethology and Human-Animal Interaction at Purdue was established in 1983 by faculty from the Schools of Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Science, Liberal Arts and Consumer and Family Sciences. It is dedicated to better understanding the relationships that exist among humans, animals and the environment.
CONTACT: Glickman, (765) 494-6301
The shooting deaths of Jay Severson and Jarrod Eskew in October prompted the formation of a Residential Life Procedural Review Committee. Marvis J. Boscher, director of residential life who headed the review committee consisting of students and staff, said that although policies are not changing, more will be done in the future to make sure residents, their parents and staff are familiar with hall regulations.
"Although we realized nothing could have been done to prevent this tragedy, we believed it was appropriate to review what we do and how we do it," Boscher said. "We concluded that our policies are very solid. We believe that it is important we intensify communications in order to make sure all the residents and staff are fully aware of the rules."
Boscher said the residence halls have a zero-tolerance policy on firearms and illegal drugs. Violation of the weapons and drug regulations is cause for termination of a student's housing contract.
Students who serve as counselors participate in extended training sessions in August, September and January. The residence hall managers and assistant managers conduct monthly in-service programs and weekly staff meetings at each hall.
The Residence Halls Guidebook this fall will have an expanded section about due process and policies regarding weapons, alcohol and other controlled substances. Boiler TV will feature public service announcements and educational programs.
Starting this fall, a doctoral student from Purdue's Counseling and Psychological Services will staff a counseling office for students living in the residence halls. The hall administration also will sponsor a drug-awareness speaker each year.
CONTACT: Boscher, (765) 494-1000.
Jerry M. Woodall, the Charles William Harrison Distinguished Professor of Microelectronics, will receive the Eta Kappa Nu Vladimir Karapetoff Eminent Members' award for 1997. The award recognizes inventions or discoveries that have had significant impact on society and have enhanced public welfare.
Woodall will receive the award, and a $2,500 honorarium, at a May 5 awards banquet in New Jersey. Eta Kappa Nu is the national honor society for electrical engineers.
Woodall's electronic components are called heterostructures or compound semiconductors because they are made from more than one type of material. Previously, semiconductors were made from all one material, such as silicon.
Woodall pioneered the use of a technique called liquid phase epitaxy to invent and fabricate semiconductors using gallium arsenide, and heterostructures using gallium arsenide and gallium aluminum arsenide. The technique allows researchers and manufacturers to build such devices one thin layer at a time.
At least half of the estimated $4 billion compound semiconductor market is based on fabrication methods and devices invented by Woodall.
Woodall said these types of semiconductors play a central role in lasers, light-emitting diodes and state-of-the-art solar cells. They also are the basis for cellular phones and consumer electronics such as compact disc and laser disc entertainment technology and optical storage technology. The semiconductors also are used in infrared remote control and signaling devices that not only change TV channels, but also allow data transfer in notebook and laptop computers.
CONTACT: Woodall, (765) 494-0732.
The Purdue School of Consumer and Family Sciences is honoring eight alumnae this year.
The Purdue School of Liberal Arts has named three distinguished alumni:
Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
