Experienced and successful educators with graduate degrees and a minimum of three years of field experience will be returning to MTSU in the fall because they realize that what they already know about teaching reading isn't enough to transform every child into a skilled reader.

School psychologists, speech-language pathologists, reading teachers, classroom teachers and school administrators at all levels will be among those seeking MTSU's new doctoral degree in literacy studies. This program will address why the National Assessment of Education Progress consistently shows that an average of four out of 10 children fail to read at grade level by fourth grade.

The interdisciplinary doctorate is based on the idea that narrow expertise in a single area does not equip graduates to understand the many factors that support successful literacy.

The new program is a first-of-its-kind partnership that has emerged from the Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at MTSU, a hands-on learning lab that may be the only one of its kind in the nation. The Dyslexia Center is a unit within the College of Education and Behavioral Science where professionals with different backgrounds work together to improve educational outcomes for children with dyslexia.

The doctorate has been shaped and will be governed by faculty representing several academic departments: educational leadership, elementary and special education, dyslexic studies, psychology, sociology, English (linguistics) and communication disorders. Program faculty are listed at www.mtsu.edu/~literacy/faculty.html.

"This degree is important because it reflects the direction of the institution as manifested in the Academic Master Plan, which identifies areas that are strategic, for the discipline and for the region," said Dr. Kaylene Gebert, MTSU executive vice president and provost. "This program will be a fulcrum for additional research projects ... and for bringing students to MTSU who will learn from the very best faculty."

Dr. Diane J. Sawyer, holder of the Katherine Davis Murfree Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies at MTSU, explained that in formulating the course of study for the doctorate in literacy, program faculty from many areas looked at research in each of their disciplines on how people learn to read and how teachers need to understand the teaching of reading.

"We looked at a curriculum, stemming from both research and practice, that typical preparation programs do not provide," Sawyer said. "We're bringing together neurobiology and neuropsychology to help people understand that the learning of reading really does involve the brain. It also involves the culture and environment in which one learns, and so we included the socio-cultural aspect as well."

A practicum will require students to go out into the field and test what they're learning, then bring back the reality of the field to their classrooms, Sawyer said.

"We're looking across disciplines to bring people into the study of literacy in an interdisciplinary way—and to take their learning back into their respective fields to enhance the educational process," she noted.

"Because of the unique, interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach that characterizes this degree, it really fills a void in the learning environment," added Dr. Gloria Bonner, outgoing dean of MTSU's College of Education and Behavioral Science.

"Given the crisis in the schools, and in particular 'No Child Left Behind' and the achievement gap that is really expanding, this ought to have tremendous appeal."

A key question reflects the bottom-line meaning of this new degree: How will the pedagogical issues and academic jargon trickle down and affect an elementary-school child struggling with reading?

"If we don't catch [this struggle] before grade four, it has implications for the rest of their academic career," Bonner observed.

One goal of the program is to train professionals who can support changes in how and when schools identify and help struggling readers.

"The models by which schools identify and support at-risk and low-performing students are changing," explained Dr. Stuart Bernstein, director of the MTSU Dyslexia Center. "The current model is nicknamed 'wait to fail,' because schools are forced to wait until children have fallen many years behind the other children in their grade before certain resources can be brought to bear.

"A new model called 'Response to Intervention' represents a departure in which frequent focused assessments are closely tied to instructional decisions, so that children can get help at the point when they do not learn something rather than years later," Bernstein continued. "However, this shift requires that the classroom teacher, reading specialists, curriculum supervisors—even principals—understand the nuances of literacy assessment and how to shape instruction based on those more focused assessments. The Ph.D. in Literacy Studies will address this.

"We can no longer train reading professionals in just one narrow domain," he added. "They need training that is broad and the opportunity to integrate this spectrum of knowledge."

Sawyer said schools need to "get beneath the scores" to reach a better understanding of where learning has broken down.

"Traditionally, what those who teach reading have learned about measurement is that tests give you scores and that children are scaled on those scores—and if you have a particular kind of score, you're in trouble," she pointed out. "But there's no instruction that helps them to understand where and how learning has broken down. So we use the shotgun approach, thinking that more of the same must be appropriate because they didn't get it the first time. But we don't know why or where specifically that breakdown was."

It is Sawyer's vision that the new doctoral degree will produce a greater understanding of learning and the strengths and weaknesses of current reading assessment tools and instructional practices.

"It's looking underneath the scores to the humanity," she said.

Sawyer and Bernstein also pointed out an interesting paradox: Four out of 10 children cannot read and comprehend at grade level, and four in 10 adults can't read an average newspaper, yet reading is "one of the most overstudied things on the planet," Bernstein noted.

"It's like talking about the weather—everybody does it. The overstudying of reading results in too much information of varying quality, and it's hard for anyone at any point in the process to understand what has a good chance of working and what doesn't."

Once the new degree is launched this fall, Sawyer and her team plan to hold a series of roundtable sessions composed of classroom teachers, principals, parents, professionals and doctoral students to discuss the learning process and reading instruction.

"We hope to attract people who are good at what they do and want to become even better," Sawyer said. "It takes very bright and dedicated educators to rethink what they know to be right and good, to analyze their successes and failures and to reach out for new learning experiences that will enable them to arrive at new concepts."

To learn more about the new Ph.D. in Literacy Studies degree, including course requirements, visit www.mtsu.edu/~literacy/info.html or call 615-898-5642.

'MY BEST YEARS'—Lewis E. Tigg Sr., above, longtime stockroom manager for MTSU's Department of Chemistry, proudly displays a copy of the plaque installed in the Davis Science Building to honor his 46 years and two months of service to the university during a ceremony April 24. Tigg, a Classified Employee of the Year winner who retired in 2002, celebrated the event with four generations of his family and dozens of friends and former colleagues, shown at left. "MTSU gave me my first and only job, and it enabled me to provide a home for and raise seven children," Tigg said. "MTSU got 46 of my best years." The plaque will be reinstalled at the chemistry stockroom when the new science building is constructed, department chair Dr. Earl Pearson said.

Acclimating and adjusting to life on a new college campus can be a difficult transition for students. Trying to decide which student organizations to join, figuring out how to register for classes, learning where particular buildings are on campus and finding a new group of friends all can become very overwhelming.

The Office of Transfer Student Services at MTSU tries to provide helpful and informative advice to prospective, incoming and current transfer students, all in the hopes of making the transition smoother.

Transfer Student Services, located in Room 100C of Kirksey Old Main, is a relatively new institution on the MTSU campus. Dr. Virginia Donnell started it 2 1/2 years ago after recognizing the need for a student-centered program that focused directly on transfer students. Since then, the Office of Transfer Student Services has undergone some changes as its responsibilities to transfers students have grown. According to Michelle Blackwell, director of the Office of Transfer Student Services since July 2007, nearly 46 percent of the MTSU student population comprises transfer students.

"Many of the students transfer in from community colleges and universities all across the country because of the premier programs at MTSU," Blackwell said.

The office is very thorough in its assistance of transfer students. The decision to transfer to a new university can be a difficult one, but Blackwell said TSS tries to steer prospective students in the proper direction by providing them with helpful information about academic programs and campus life.

TSS also helps students who have already decided to attend MTSU transition into the academic and social setting of a new university. The progress of current transfer students is a concern of the office. To track the advancement and development of current transfer students, TSS has initiated a new program called Making Academic Progress, or MAP.

MAP helps current transfer students flourish in their new environment by providing one-on-one advising with a faculty member at least three times per week, sending progress reports to the students that highlight areas in which the student could use improvement, and teaching students study skills that will help them make those improvements.

For students who are considering transferring to MTSU, the Office of Transfer Student Services Web site is an essential resource. Located at www.mtsu.edu/~transfer, it offers an overview of life on the MTSU campus by explaining how to register for classes, get credit for past coursework, access Pipeline MT/Raider Net and get a student ID and parking pass, just to list a few of the services. The Web site also provides a glossary of terms that can be helpful to students, explaining what a "prerequisite" is and what it means to have "candidacy," among other topics.

"The Web page is very descriptive and can be helpful to nontransfer students as well," Blackwell said.

The goal of the Office of Transfer Student Services is to provide a central resource for incoming and current transfer students. It serves as a central point of information for campus resources, services and opportunities specifically for transfer students. Transfer Student Services provides students with support and guidance for navigating the university.

For more information about the Office of Transfer Student Services, visit its Web site or contact the office at 615-898-5728.

April 11 was the last day of this semester's MTSU Faculty-Staff Wellness Program. It was also my last day as the director of this program, which is being turned over to MTSU's Campus Recreational Center staff, who will supervise the program this summer and hopefully beyond. I hope the program will become a permanent part of services provided to all MTSU employees through Campus Recreation. Here are a few parting comments.

First, my sincere thanks to MTSU's president, Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, for his unwavering financial and spiritual support of this program since its inception in August 2006. His discretionary funds of $67,000 and $65,000 for the first and second academic years, respectively, allowed campus faculty and staff to engage in a high-quality wellness program at a fraction of the actual cost. MTSU is the only university in the state of Tennessee whose operating budget provides financial support to an employee wellness program.

I also want to thank Dr. Tony Johnston, associate professor in the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, who, as part of his mission as the Faculty Senate President (2006-07), wanted to promote a campus climate of improved health and wellness. Tony, who was a member of one of my campus fitness studies, asked me to write an employee wellness proposal to the president, which led to its funding. Gratitude must also be extended to Charlie Gregory, Campus Recreation Center director, for his unequivocal administrative support—Campus Rec staff handled all registration—and, of course, full use of Campus Rec facilities, including discounts for faculty and staff spouses/partners. Much gratitude also is extended to the staff of Health Services, directed by Rick Chapman, who graciously provided qualified staff and facilities for blood draws twice each program for pre- and post-program comparisons in each participant's lipids profile (i.e., cholesterol, triglycerides) at minimum cost. Great job, and a pleasure working with you all.

A few statistics are in order to reflect on how this program touched and changed lives on our campus. The five semesters of program funding (fall 2006-spring 2008) served an enrollment of 557 different faculty and staff (not including those who re-registered) and provided employment and training for 32 student coaches and six external consultants (nutrition, life skills and yoga). The wellness program Web site (www.mtsu.edu/~wellness) was developed and maintained by Dr. Tom Brinthaupt, professor of psychology, and three research manuscripts and three conference presentations (to date) have been generated from program data. Tammy Sanchez, health and human performance department financial coordinator, was instrumental in getting our employees paid and keeping us on budget, and our exercise-science faculty provided fitness testing equipment and training to many of our coaches. Thanks, guys.

But perhaps the most important recognition goes to those of you who registered for and participated in this program. Your support, which was reflected by your registration, attendance, encouraging words and written program evaluations, was spiritually gratifying to all of us who provided this valuable, life-changing service. As you have informed me, I know that many of you have taken a different, more favorable path in your journey through life based on your experiences in this program. You are now living a life more in sync with your values—what you feel passionate about and what's really important—and you have more energy for doing the things that really matter to you. Well done!

Finally, I would like to end with a few quotes from Carnegie Mellon University professor Dr. Randy Pausch, who at this writing is dying of pancreatic cancer. His book, The Last Lecture, has gained recent attention by the popular media. His words resonate for those of us who are undertaking a new adventure in trying to improve our quality of life and are trying to reach our "ultimate mission."

From Randy Pausch, the married father of three young children: "I know that I'm dying, so here's what I want to tell my children:

• "Always have fun" (be enthusiastic and positive as part of your wellness lifestyle);

• "Dream big" (give yourself permission to dream and avoid self-doubt; you deserve success and happiness);

• "Ask for what you want" (that's the purpose of having a coach; be free to use available resources);

• "Dare to take a risk" (stop caring about what other people think when you exercise in public; this is your health and your life, not theirs);

• "Make time for what matters" (when you have your health, you have all that you need for the people you love—and who love you); and finally

• "Time is all you have; and you may find one day that you have less than you think."

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to make a difference.

Dr. Mark H. Anshel is a professor of health and human performance at MTSU.

The University Writing Center, located in Peck Hall 325, is a valuable resource for the student body at MTSU.

The Writing Center offers myriad services to students who are experiencing trouble writing papers, doing research or preparing a resume or speech. Peer tutors work closely with students to dissolve anxieties that often accompany writing or research assignments, along with helping them improve their personal writing styles. Tutors also teach students how to use research gateways, like LexisNexis and JSTOR, via online and in-person access from the James E. Walker Library.

Although the tutors in the Writing Center assist students with brainstorming and developing ideas, the main focus of the tutors is higher-order concerns, or HOCs.

Jacob Sharbel, a senior English major and peer tutor in the Writing Center, explains that "higher order concerns focus on the development of the thesis, the flow of the essay and the overall organization of the paper."

Sharbel has been working as peer tutor in the Writing Center for nearly three years. Even though there seems to be a steady flow of students seeking help, Sharbel says that around midterms, or when the first essay in a class is assigned, the Writing Center becomes flooded with students desperate for someone to guide them in the proper direction.

The center's purpose is to create a community of writers where students feel comfortable sharing their work. It also pushes students to examine their own work more closely and be more critical of their writing and gives students a chance to test their writing against different readers to see what kind of response their work elicits.

The Writing Center, which also offers a computer lab next door to its main office in Peck Hall and services in the University Speaking and Writing Center in Ezell Hall's Room 119, also teaches students how to develop good study habits and allows them to foster relationships and interact with people who have been successful.

Writing Center personnel warn students, however, to be careful about the assumptions they make before visiting: The peer tutors are not personal for-hire essayists. If a student decides to take advantage of the services offered in the Writing Center, the personnel recommend that the student come prepared with a sheet explaining the assignment and all preliminary writing. That preparation can help students alleviate some of the stress and anxiety associated with the writing process.

For more information about the University Writing Center, visit its Web site at www.mtsu.edu/~uwcenter. The site includes links for students and faculty plus downloadable handouts used at the center. The center also has a blog at http://processingthecenter.blogspot.com.

Dr. Wayne Dornan has been chosen as the chair in the Department of Aerospace, Dean Tom Cheatham and the College of Basic and Applied Sciences announced April 21. Dornan had been serving as interim chair since August 2007.

"Our aerospace program arguably is one of the top three in the country," Dornan said. "Our goal is to not only maintain that reputation but continue to improve our program until we have the top program in the country.

"It's very exciting to be offered this position because a lot of programs in aeronautical science are struggling," added Dornan, who joined the MTSU faculty as an associate professor in 2003. "It's so nice to be taking over a program that's thriving."

In making the announcement, Cheatham said, "Dr. Dornan is an experienced aviator, a former department chair and a dedicated educator. He is active in several national aviation activities and an associate editor for a leading journal in the field. He is well-qualified to serve as our aerospace department chair."

Dornan holds a doctorate in psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland and did postdoctoral work in the Brain Research Institute at UCLA, Cheatham said.

Before joining MTSU, Cheatham noted, Dornan was a first officer for two regional airlines, the director of research and co-founder of Central Illinois Neuroscience Foundation and a professor of psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University. He's also an active scholar and grant writer, the dean added.

In addition to overseeing the academic side of aerospace, Dornan said one of the interesting aspects of the post is that the chair also oversees the flight operations and maintenance sides at Murfreesboro Airport.

"I also work with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) on a weekly basis because they oversee all of these operations," he said. "It's my job to see that we're in compliance. If we're not, they (FAA) can shut us down like they've done others in the industry."

Dornan said one of aerospace's immediate plans—and he's "getting positive feedback from the administration"—is "taking our fleet (of planes) and turn it into a complete 'glass' fleet." This will mean replacing nine of 20 Diamond Aircraft with all-glass Diamond 40s.

"We need to do this in order to maintain our reputation as a leader in training students in automated aircraft," he said. "This will increase productivity of flight-school maintenance so they can focus on one model of aircraft."

Aerospace will have 15 full-time tenure-track faculty and four or five adjuncts this fall, Dornan said, adding that there are 20 to 30 flight instructors plus staff at the airport facility.

Dornan is married to Dr. Rhonda M. Hoffman, an associate professor in animal science and horse science in the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience.

FOR HONORS LECTURE SERIES—University Honors College Dean Phil Mathis, left, Knoxville businessman Dr. H. Lee Martin and Joe Bales, MTSU vice president for development and university relations, stand with a ceremonial check depicting Martin's $20,000 gift for the college. It will continue to provide funding for the Paul W. Martin Sr. Lecture Series. Mathis said Martin has given $40,000 for the Martin Lectureship. Martin, a Murfreesboro native, said he is "supporting a speaker's bureau to bring some of the best business leaders in the region (to MTSU) and perpetuate it for a number of years." His appearance was part of the annual Honors College Awards Ceremony.

MTSU has received a $100,000 grant from the National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Home Builders, said Tracy Hensler, director of development for the endowment organization.

The Homebuilding Education Leadership Program grant is given to two- and four-year colleges and universities to help create, expand or enhance existing residential construction management programs.

"Residential construction is the largest sector in the construction industry, and the demand far exceeds the supply for graduates that specialize in development and residential construction," said Walter W. Boles, chair of the MTSU engineering technology department.

"The HELP grant will allow us to add another faculty member and thereby increase enrollment in our land development and residential construction program to between 150 and 200 majors. We look forward to working closely with the National Housing Endowment and the vibrant and exciting homebuilding industry."

In 2006, the National Housing Endowment launched the HELP program as the cornerstone of its education effort and is its signature grant program, Hensler said. Through this program, the endowment has made a long-term commitment to establish closer relationships with institutions of higher education.

Key goals of the HELP program include encouraging academic institutions to provide residential education tracks and/or programs that respond to the current issues of the homebuilding industry and increasing the number of qualified college graduates entering the residential construction profession, Hensler said.

"In order for the homebuilding industry to continue to strive for excellence, we must foster opportunities for the next generation to learn and develop skills from educational programs that are equipped to provide the latest and greatest in technology and theory," said Gary Garczynski, chairman of the National Housing Endowment and 2002 NAHB president. "MTSU has shown a strong commitment to providing the best education and will raise the level of professionalism in our industry for generations to come."

Last year, the National Housing Endowment awarded pilot HELP grants to East Carolina University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The National Housing Endowment, established in 1987 by the NAHB, will help the industry develop more effective approaches to homebuilding, enhance education and training of future generations of leaders in residential construction and increase the body of knowledge on housing issues.

Dr. David Hatfield serves as director of the MTSU Construction Management Technology Programs.

A pre-retirement seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, for MTSU employees who are looking to the next stage of their busy lives, Human Resource Services officials say.

Registration and refreshments begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Keathley University Center Theater, and the program is set to begin at 8:15. The seminar will include presentations from HRS, Social Security personnel and a financial and estate planner.

The event is open to MTSU employees age 55 and up with at least 10 years of service, age 60 and up with at least five years' service or employees of any age with 25 or more years' service.

For more information, view an agenda at http://hrs.web.mtsu.edu/announcements/2008retirementseminaragenda.pdf or call 615-898-2929.

Just inside the east porte-cochère of the Fairview Building, a new room filled with sunshine is helping more little ones grow.

Project Help's new "Yellow Room," built with aid from a $5,000 Community Enhancement Grant sponsored by state Sen. Jim Tracy and last summer's successful "Saddle Up" fundraiser, can now let the program provide services for another 10 young children.

Watching them bounce and toddle around the Yellow Room during an April 17 open house as parents, grandparents and friends filled the adjoining observation room, it's clear the extra space is welcome.

Senior Kandis Oliver, a child and family development studies major who works as a child-care aide for Project Help, regularly leads the little ones in "circle time."

They dance, sing, say their names and do other exercises cleverly disguised as play, all with the aim of invigorating and expanding little minds and bodies—and with the help of teachers Stephanie Mansolf and Rebecca Harris.

"I've wanted to work with Project Help for the last two years," Oliver said. "I kept begging them for work, saying, 'Are y'all ever going to have a part-time opening? I really want to work here! Please!' And then this opportunity arose, and I love it."

Project Help, which began in 1983 to provide a classroom environment for developmentally delayed preschool children and a training ground for education majors, celebrated its 10th anniversary in its North Baird Lane facility in April 2007. Its services are in almost constant demand, and children are on a waiting list for admission into its "Red," "Green" and "Blue" classrooms.

The Yellow Room addition is a true community effort, from the grant and fundraiser for construction to the Charity Circle-donated furniture and computers and United Way dollars for staff salaries.

Dr. Gloria Bonner, outgoing dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, approved the use of the room in the Fairview Building, which also houses MTSU's Child Development Center, the Career and Technical Education Office, the Center for Environmental Education, dance studios and the Tennessee Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Center.

"This classroom is the result of what can actually happen when university and community resources unite," said Project Help Director Susan Waldrop. "We are blessed to have the support of people in both who really care about helping children and families."

IN THE ROUND—Teachers and students in Project Help's new "Yellow Room" classroom in the Fairview Building enjoy "circle time" as they prepare to sing their names. Teachers are, from left, Stephanie Mansolf, senior Kandis Oliver and Rebecca Harris, and their young charges are, from top, Ethan, Benjamin, Isaac, Lydia (in Mansolf's lap), Samuel, Annie and Jackson.

photo by Andy Heidt

The fifth annual MTSU President's Celebration of Excellence recognized 15 people—students, faculty and alumni—from a cross-section of divisions and organizations Saturday, April 12, in the James Union Building's Tennessee Room.

By divisions and organizations, the awards and recipients (and their departments or majors) included:

Student Government Association

• John T. Bragg Distinguished Service Award: State Rep. John Hood (B.S. '54, M.Ed. '74);

• Bob Womack Distinguished Faculty Award: Dr. John McDaniel, dean, College of Liberal Arts.

Division of Student Affairs

• Community Service Award: Crystal Griffey, senior, communication disorders and global studies;

• Robert C. LaLance Jr. Achievement Award: Sara Serati, senior, chemistry;

• Provost's Award: Taylor Barnes, senior, chemistry and physics;

• President's Award: Gretchen Jenkins, senior, political science.

Blue Raider Athletics

• Outstanding Blue Raider Award: Amber Holt (women's basketball), senior, liberal studies;

• Outstanding Student-Athlete Award: Leslie Clark (volleyball), sophomore, elementary education.

Alumni Association

• Distinguished Alumni Awards: Lana Seivers (B.S. '72), Sandra Y. Trail (B.S. '76) and Gale Prince (B.S. '57).

• Young Alumni Achievement Award: Brady Barnett (B.S., B.M. '97).

The MTSU Foundation

• Career Achievement Award: Dr. Robert F. Carlton (B.A. '64), professor and chair, physics and astronomy.

Tennessee Board of Regents

• Chancellor's Citation for Excellence in Philanthropy: Stephen B. "Steve" Smith.

Office of the President

• President's Legacy Award: Elizabeth Hay "Liz" Rhea (B.S. '55).

A STELLAR LEGACY—Dr. Elizabeth Hay "Liz" Rhea, center, accepts the President's Legacy Award from MTSU First Lady Liz McPhee as university President Sidney A. McPhee looks on. Rhea, a renowned MTSU supporter and Class of 1955 alumna, joined 14 other honorees April 12 at the annual President's Celebration of Excellence.

photo by Jack Ross

The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center.

MTSU's Michael T. Gavin, preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture on "Log Houses of Rutherford County."

Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU's Center for Historic Preservation said those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both presentations are free and open to the public.

Author of the popular Restoration Guide for Historic Log Houses, Gavin is a recognized authority on historic log architecture in Tennessee with 30 years of experience in log construction and restoration.

"Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past," Gavin said, "and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape."

Gavin also recently penned a free driving-tour brochure, A Traveler's Guide to Rutherford County's Log Architecture, which contains a concise explanation of the origin and evolution of log buildings, accompanied by a brief driving tour of log homes across the county.

The May 29 lecture is the second of four talks in a Community Heritage Lecture Series held at the Heritage Center and sponsored by the Heritage Area, which is a partnership unit of the National Park Service and administered by the CHP at MTSU.

The next two presentations in the Community Heritage Lecture Series will take place in the fall, Graham said.

Located just off the historic Murfreesboro Square at 225 W. College St., the center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Heritage Center is a joint venture between the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, Main Street: Murfreesboro/ Rutherford County, the City of Murfreesboro and the CHP. Additional support comes from Rutherford County Government and State Farm Insurance.

For more information on the Community Heritage Lecture Series, please call the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@ mtsu.edu.

Thirty-two retiring members of the MTSU community were honored April 16 for their exemplary work and years of dedication in a ceremony in the James Union Building.

Recognized for their combined 748 years of service to the university, the retiring honorees received clocks, engraved with their names and dates of service, to commemorate their accomplishments.

"Make no mistake about it," President Sidney A. McPhee told the assembled crowd of honorees, their families and colleagues, "your contributions to the university will be long-remembered and you will always be considered a valued member of the MTSU family and community."

The retiring members of the MTSU community for 2007-08 include:

• James V. Balch Jr., mathematical sciences;

• Charles K. Cantrell, energy services;

• Fannie M. Carney, custodial services;

• Judy M. Cox, English;

• Kay M. Deveau, human sciences;

• John M. Downs, energy services;

• Ruby Carol Dudinetz, English;

• Thenartis Ellis, economics and finance;

• Franklin L. Forgette, audio visual services;

• Michelle D. Graham, mass communication;

• Barbara Ann Gray, health and human performance;

• Karen L. Hargrove, biology;

• Cynthia J. Hughes, athletics;

• Rosemary Anne Kew, foreign languages and literatures;

• Nancy Z. Lanier, Faculty Senate;

• James W. Lea Jr., mathematical sciences;

• John T. Lee, economics and finance;

• Glenda C. Lewis, Instructional Technology Support Center;

• Jon L. MacBeth, health and human performance;

• James M. Mason, warehouse services;

• Philip M. Mathis, University Honors College;

• Dorothy W. McCallie, Business Office;

• Peggy O'Hara-Murdock, health and human performance;

• Nghiep H. Nguyen, economics and finance;

• Jerry R. Perkins, music;

• Dale E. Short, athletics;

• Nancy W. Smotherman, Center for Historic Preservation;

• Thomas H. Strickland, economics and finance;

• Sheri D. Trent, elementary and special education;

• Martha R. Turner, Career and Employment Center; and

• Gloria Y. Walker, Records Office.

REGIONAL AWARD—Lisa L. Rollins, center, News and Public Affairs director of special media projects, joins Daily News Journal Lifestyles Editor Sandee Suitt, left, and Dr. Carol Pardun, chair of MTSU's School of Journalism, to celebrate the recent Creative Partnership Award given to the newspaper and MTSU by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's District III. Rollins put together a campaign, "Promoting Student Learning in Print," in which students in her media writing class were encouraged to submit stories to the DNJ. The collaboration gave students the opportunity to publish their work and enhance their portfolios and provided the local newspaper with a regular supply of quality stories.

photo by Andy Heidt

The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area has partnered with Linebaugh Library and the Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County to begin a Civil War book-discussion group series that will focus on literature and biography.

"Between the Lines: Reading About the Civil War" is the name of the new group, which will meet twice a year, in June and January, said Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU's Center for Historic Preservation.

During June, the group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Heritage Center, 225 West College St., in Murfreesboro.

"June's book discussion group will take an in-depth look at Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, a bestseller published in 1997, with each week focusing on a different theme related to the book," Graham said.

The group's discussion schedule is as follows:

• June 5, Wartime Loyalty/ Desertion;

• June 12, Women and the Home Front;

• June 19, Death, Destruction and Violence; and

• June 26: Memory and Literature.

For more information on "Between the Lines: Reading About the Civil War," which is free to those who wish to participate, please call 615-217-8013 or e-mail Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

MTSU's College of Mass Communication added three distinguished alumni to its Wall of Fame during annual awards ceremonies April 23 in the John Bragg Mass Communication Building.

Joining more than 40 other accomplished graduates on the college's Wall of Fame for 2008 are:

• James Stevens (B.S. '03), founder and CEO of James Stevens Design in Nashville;

• Mark Blakeman (B.S. '93), vice president of orchestra and building operations and general manager of the Nashville Symphony; and

• Sgt. Maj. Phillip R. Prater (B.S. '81), Army Public Affairs.

The event honored mass communication alumni who have distinguished themselves in the professional world through their accomplishments, as well as juniors, seniors and graduate students who have demonstrated academic excellence in their respective areas of study.

During the event, the Office of the Dean also honored a new "Friend of the College"—Debbie Turner, president and general manager of the News Channel 5 Network.

MAN ON THE MOVE—Alumnus and U.S. Army Capt. Brian D. Blake ('00) is interviewed by WSMV Channel 4 videographer (and MTSU alumnus) Jim Garbee (B.S. '93) April 18 near the MTSU tennis courts. Blake, a Clarksville resident based out of Fort Campbell, Ky., was part of the crew of two Army CH-47F Chinook helicopters that transported MTSU ROTC cadets on a training mission to Fort Campbell. The new helicopters cost $39 million each and weigh 24,000 pounds. Blake said the CH-47-F can "move passengers and troops, vehicles, containers and cargo and do sling loads."

MTSU's Positive Behavior Support Grant Initiative will welcome internationally recognized psychiatrist Dr. William Glasser as the featured speaker at the second annual Positive Behavior Support Conference, which will be held Thursday, May 8, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 221 of the McWherter Learning Resources Center.

Glasser, founder of the Chatsworth, Calif.-based William Glasser Institute, will discuss "Use of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy as Positive Behavior and Instructional Supports" beginning at 9:30 a.m., said Dr. Zaf Khan, PBSI grant project director.

"As part of a larger program to promote the quality of special-education services for students identified as having behavioral challenges, we are offering counties within the Middle Tennessee region Positive Behavior Support training and ongoing support to school personnel," Khan explained, adding that the event is being offered free to school-system participants.

Glasser and his wife, Carleen Glasser, a school counselor, will use role-playing, simulations and demonstrations of Glasser's choice theory (in short, all personal behavior is a matter of choice) and reality therapy (counseling aimed at helping people make better choices) at work in building successful relationships to improve student achievement and behavior.

For more information about the conference, contact Khan at 615-904-8429 or zkhan@mtsu.edu.

The James E. Walker Library and the MTSU Department of Art joined forces again this year to raise student awareness of paper usage through an imaginative project on display in the waning days of the spring semester.

The "Paper Rewind" project was installed at the library on Monday, April 21, one day prior to the international celebration of Earth Day on April 22, and will remain in place through Wednesday, May 7.

While students are studying for final exams and preparing research papers, animals, trees and people created by Professor Thomas Sturgill's 3-D design classes will surround them. Each silhouette creation guides students to information about the amount of paper used at the library. For example:

• the paper consumed by the library represents the equivalent of more than 700 trees.

• all the used paper stretched end-to-end would extend for 1,100 miles.

• if stacked, the paper would reach 2,100 feet into the air.

"Students are printing 6.5 million copies a year from computer printers, and this art project is intended to raise awareness on the part of the students to conserve natural resources and think before they print," says Bill Black, library professor in charge of administrative services.

The student artists participating in the project are Alicia Wilson, Allison Thomas, Ashleigh Mabry, Danielle Ross, Dwight Carter, Jenna Shapiro, Joe Depeder, Kim Dill, Lawrence Winston III, Michelle Pendergrass, Ryan Manous, Rich Adams, Robert Wilson, Rosemary Raford, Steve Hull, Mercedes Vinson, Arsany Sarofiem, Ben Harper, Brian Simpson, Christopher Beeson, Emily Roley, Eric Pavol, Kayla Shellman, Jen Reid, Leanne Grisham, Grant Eason, Rick Lemanski, Kyle Scudder, T.J. Smith and Yvan Joubay.

For more information on the project, please visit www.paperrewind.com. To view more photos, go to the Flickr home page (www.flickr.com) and enter "art installations MTSU" in the search box. The first search result will take you to the Walker Library's Paper Rewind photostream.

LOOK OUT BELOW—Rich Adams, a senior enrolled in one of Professor Thomas Sturgill's 3-D design classes, prepares papier-m‰chŽ art from library waste paper for display on the fourth floor of the James E. Walker Library. The effort was part of the classes' "Paper Rewind" environmental awareness project.

photo by J. Intintoli