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The Campus Currents is distributed every Friday. If you would like to include an item in the newsletter send it to: Campus Currents, USB 9512 or by e-mail to Campus Currents. Deadline is Thursday at 8 a.m.

Welcome to Black Hills State University - Top

Patricia Johnson, mail processor, university mail service

Music professor presents music clinics in South Dakota and Wyoming - Top

Dr. Randall Royer, assistant professor of music at Black Hills State University, recently presented two clinic sessions at music conferences in South Dakota and Wyoming.

Royer presented a clinic at the Wyoming All-State Music Conference in Sheridan, Wyo., in January. His topic was “The Physical, Electronic, and Musical Considerations to Help Your Rhythm Section Swing” and he taught techniques for improvement in jazz band rhythm sections.

In February, the BH music professor presented a clinic at the South Dakota Music In-Service Conference held in Brookings on the campus of South Dakota State University. The topic for this presentation was “Sound Pressure Levels and Frequencies Generated in Secondary Public School Band Rooms” or “Am I at risk of a hearing loss if I'm a high school or middle school band director?” The presentation was given to warn band directors of the risk of hearing loss within their profession and gave tips on how to avoid the risk. Both conferences were attended by music teachers from throughout the respective states.

Royer joined the BHSU music faculty in 1997. He completed his Ph.D. in music education at the University of Utah in 1996. He was director of instrumental music in Evanston, Wyo., from 1980 to 1997

Woodburn display case features biology exhibit - Top

Biology is the focus of the new display in Woodburn. Stop by the display on second floor Woodburn and check out the old style microscopes, Barney (the snow owl), the rattlesnakes, the pictures of fossil grass seeds, fungi, fish, etc., and the photographs of the old science department.

This is Betty Anderson's final display and, as always, she has done an excellent job. Items in the display are on loan from Dr. Audrey Gabel, Dr. Brian Smith, Dr. Mark Gabel, Dr. Shane Sarver, Dr. Charles Lamb, and the University Archives.

Auditor will interview job candidates at Black Hills State - Top

Maurice Christiansen, South Dakota auditor general, will be on campus Thursday, Feb. 25 to interview accounting major graduates for the auditor I position with the Department of Legislative Audit.

Appointments may be scheduled by calling 642-6277 or at the career services office in Student Union 124.

Air Force recruiter will visit BHSU - Top

John Deavy, USAF officer accessions recruiter, United States Air Force, will be on campus Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. to discuss employment opportunities after graduation.

The Air Force offers a great employment opportunity, super benefits, good pay and more. If you have an interest in military service, check out the Air Force. For information, contact Career Services in the BHSU Student Union 124 or call (605) 338-4832.

Alumni mile Alumni participating in the annual alumni mile were, front row left to right, Keith Moon, Marcia Moon, Frank Davis, Cal Corey, Phil Bjorneberg, Rob Welo, Scott Bohall, second row, Jack Kirtley, Al Finch, Brian Harms, Mike Bendt, Dan Sorenson, Fred Romkema, back row, Scott Keiper, Jim Glazer, Doug Knaub, Brent Stile, Claude McBroom, Andre Raveling, and Darrell L. Stewart.

Obtain approval before beginning research projects with humans or animals - Top

Any faculty member or student utilizing human subjects in research projects or animals in research or teaching activities must obtain approval from the animal care and human subjects committee before beginning the project or activity.

For information and application forms, contact the committee chair, Doug Wessel, at USB 9032, phone 6514, or in SW210.

BOP offers driving and first-aid courses - Top

The South Dakota department of transportation through the bureau of personnel is offering the following courses at the Rapid City Howard Johnson.

Contact Becky Bruce at 6549 or Anita Haeder at 6545 to register. These courses are free. However, travel costs will be charged to the requesting department.

• March 16, 1999 - Defensive Driving - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• March 17, 1999 - First Aid with CPR - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• March 18, 1999 - Back Injury Prevention - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• April 20, 1999 - CPR - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

On-line writing courses offered by the bureau of personnel - Top

The bureau of personnel training program is offering two online writing courses this spring. The course, writing for results, is for the business writer, while the technical writing course is geared towards those individuals who want to improve reports, studies, analyses, procedures, and other technical documents.

Participants must have internet and e-mail access to take either course.

If you are interested in taking either of the courses, contact Becky Bruce at 6549 or Anita Haeder at 6545 to register. Course costs will be billed to the requesting department(s).

Minutes of the CSA advisory council meeting - Top

The CSA advisory council met Jan. 12, 1999. Council Vice President Susan Hemmingson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. in the Pangburn Cafeteria. Members present: Gloria Spitler, Marilyn Luscombe, Colleen Gustafson, Corinne Hansen, Deatta Chapel, Candy Huddleston, Susan Hemmingson, Paulette Ward, Becky Dovre and Fred Nelson, state representative. Members absent: Candy Cregor, Jim Holter, Margaret Kleinsasser, Ellen Boyd.

The minutes of the Dec. 8, 1998, meeting were read and approved.

The following people were elected as the new CSA officers: President -Colleen Gustafson, Vice-President -Deatta Chapel; Secretary-Becky Dovre; Treasurer-Marilyn Luscombe.

There were no finance report or committee reports.

Old Business - The Christmas gathering at the Hall of Fame Room in December had a fair turn out. There was lots of food and those attending reported an enjoyable evening.

New Business – The next Board of Regents State CSA meeting will be held on April 16, 1999, in Pierre. Fred Nelson is planning to attend.

Problems with registration were briefly discussed.

(SDSEO) is currently recruiting new members.

CSA awards luncheon is tentatively set for April 15, 1999, in the multi-purpose room of the Student Union. Committee members for the awards luncheon are: Chairperson - Susan Hemmingson, Deatta Chapel, Marilyn Luscombe and Becky Dovre.

The CSA meetings for the next year were scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month in the Little Dining Room at Pangburn.

There was a discussion to have a CSA awareness committee to promote the CSA on campus. This was tabled until a future meeting.

The meeting was adjourned

Instructional improvement committee is receiving applications - Top

The instructional improvement committee is ready to receive applications for course releases for the 1999-2000 school year.

Course releases are available to any full-time faculty member with the approval of his/her dean and department chair. Course releases will be for one semester during the regular academic year. Consideration will be given for summer stipends for faculty unable to apply for a course release for the regular academic year because of documented departmental staffing problems.

Course releases may be granted to:

• design a new course which will be infused with technology or offered through the internet;
• redesign an existing course so that it is infused with technology or offered for internet delivery;
• design a new course or redesign an existing course to be presented collaboratively with other BHSU faculty;
• significantly redesign an existing course; or design a new course.

Proposals for course releases will be reviewed by the instructional improvement committee in February so that the recommendations may be made and approved by April. Proposals should be submitted to the grants and special projects office in Woodburn 220, by the last Friday in January, and will consist of a proposal following the specified format. A copy of the guidelines and proposal format are available from the grants office web page or by contacting your dean or department chair for a hard copy. Ten copies of the proposal are needed so that each member of the IIC can review it. Proposal writers may be requested to make an oral presentation to the committee in support of a proposal.

Faculty-research committee has funds available - Top

The faculty-research committee has funds available for the current fiscal year. Write a short (about three-page) proposal. Proposal forms are available at the academic affairs office. The faculty research committee will review applications March 11.

Proposals are due March 4. It is anticipated that successful applicants will request support for faculty release time, research equipment, travel to research sites, research support for the production of creative work. Education, social science and humanities proposals are encouraged. Funds for two three-hour release times are available for the spring and fall 1999 semesters. You can apply now. The research committee will not provide salary. The committee may approve payment to student or non-student research assistants. Mail ten copies of your proposal to USB 9550.

Grants opportunities announced - Top

Below are the program materials received Feb. 12-19, 1999, in the grants office, Woodburn 220. For copies of the information, contact our office at 642-6627 or e-mail requests. Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union bulletin board near the information desk.

• Rural Health Policy Analytic Centers - DHHS. The purpose of this program is to fund rural health services policy analytic centers to conduct policy relevant research on rural health services issues of multi-state and national significance, and disseminate the finding of their research. The centers study the critical issues facing rural communities in their quest to secure adequate, affordable, high quality health services.
• Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) - DHHS. The goal of this program is to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake education to enter a health profession.
• Star Schools. Four or five awards averaging $2-million are available under the Star Schools Program of the U.S. Department of Education. Applications are due March 26. This program encourages improved instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, and other subjects (e.g., literacy skills and vocational education). It also seeks to serve underserved populations (the disadvantaged, illiterate, limited-English proficient persons, and the disabled) through the use of distance learning technologies. Applications must include a local educational agency but may also involve institutions of higher education, state educational agencies, adult and family education programs, teacher training centers, and public or private elementary or secondary schools. For more information, contact: Joseph Wilkes or Tawanna Coles, ED, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20208-5544. Telephone: (202) 208-3882 CFDA No. 84.203F
• Watershed Research. Grants of $100,000-$300,000 per year for 203 years are available under the 1999 Water and Watershed Research Program, which is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Proposals are due May 28. This program seeks improved understanding of natural and anthropogenetic processes that govern quantity, quality, and availability of water resources in natural and human-dominated systems. A second goal is to better understand the structure, function and dynamics of the coupled terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that comprise watersheds. For more information, contact: Brian Sidlauskas, EPA, (202) 564-5181 or sidlauskas.brian@epa.gov; or Bernard Bauer, NSF, (703) 306-1754 or bbauer@nsf.gov; or Maurice Horton, USDA, (202) 401-5971 or mhorton@reeusda.gov
• Educational Technology: Preparing America for the 21st Century. Promoting Partnerships. The FY99 appropriation for Educational Technology includes $75 million under the National Activities authority. These grants will be awarded for up to three years on a competitive basis. The grants are expected to promote improved teacher preparation in higher education institutions and foster more collaboration across disciplines, and among higher education, elementary and secondary schools and the private sector. Through these partnerships, universities, colleges of education and others, will expand and build capacity in preparing teachers to use technology in all instructional areas. Timeline. It is estimated that applications will be available by March 15, 1999. The estimated closing date is May 24, 1999. Awards will be made by Aug. 16, 1999.

This week at Black Hills State - Top

Friday, Feb. 19

• Brown-bag travelogue series presentation entitled "My Travels in the Caribbean: Conservation of an Endangered Snake," by Brian Smith, noon, Jonas 305
• Women's basketball vs. Mt. Marty, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 6 p.m.
• Men's basketball vs. Mt Marty, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 20

• Yellow Jacket Foundation board of directors meetings, Young Center, 1:30 p.m.
• SDIC Track meet, Young Center field house
• Pre-game tip off social, Stadium Sports Grill, 4-5:30 p.m.
• Women's basketball vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 6 p.m.
• Men's basketball vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 8 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 22

• Spring Science Series: "Plant Fossils and Paleoenvironments of the Miocene Great Plains" by Mark Gabel, Jonas 164, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23

• Speaker Eric Saperston, "The Journey" an open forum for students, faculty and staff to locate the source of their power by building meaningful relationships with themselves and their communities - by challenging individuals to follow their intuition, live authentic lives, engage in courageous dialogue, ask others for help and seek counsel from wise people, David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union multi-purpose room, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 24

• Women's basketball vs. S.D. School of Mines and Technology, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 6 p.m.
• Men's basketball vs. S.D. School of Mines and Technology, Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 25

• Green and Gold meeting, Cedar House, noon
• South Dakota auditor general, Maurice Christiansen, will be on campus to conduct interviews. Contact career services at 6277 for an appointment.
• BHSU musical theatre production "Gypsy," Woodburn Auditorium, 8 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26

• BHSU musical theatre production "Gypsy," Woodburn Auditorium, 8 p.m.