John Bauer officially named chief of SPSU Police
John Bauer has officially been named the new chief of police for the SPSU Police Department. Since joining the force in 1998, Chief Bauer has served as an officer and captain for operations.

Some of Chief Bauer’s professional accomplishments within the field include becoming a certified state police instructor, defensive tactics instructor and firearms instructor. In May of 2009, he graduated from the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and completed Chiefs School earlier this year. He has showed commendable leadership as well, and in 2004 he was nominated for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Officer of the Year. While serving SPSU, he obtained his master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University. Chief Bauer previously worked for the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department.

With a wide array of accomplishments under his belt, Chief Bauer is an excellent candidate for this important position, and we all appreciate the efforts he has made so far in keeping our campus community safe.

MCAA students attend conference in Chicago
The SPSU chapter of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) recently sent nine of its members to the MCAA Student Summit 2010 in Chicago, led by Prof. Maureen Weidner, an adjunct professor of construction management. SPSU was one of 34 schools in attendance at the event, thanks to funding provided by Gary Fowler of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Georgia.

The student chapter’s leadership made presentations highlighting recent achievements at SPSU and also created a buzz by talking up the university’s Center for Nuclear Power Generation.

The students also participated in the Summit Competition, bringing home $175 in prize money for their presentations. During the next two months, they will be preparing an entry for the MCAA Student Competition. The top four entries will be invited to the MCAA National Conference in Maui, Hawaii, in March 2011. Best of luck to the MCAA chapter on making it to Maui!

Amanda Canup to serve second term on museum board
The Marietta City Council has reappointed SPSU Computer Services Specialist Amanda Canup to a three-year term on the board of the Marietta Museum of History. Canup developed the museum’s website (http://www.mariettahistory.org/) and continues to maintain it.

The Marietta Museum of History opened in 1996. It is located in the historic Kennesaw House, a cotton warehouse that became the Fletcher House Hotel – which played a role in the infamous Union plot to steal the Confederate locomotive called The General – and served as a makeshift hospital and morgue during the Civil War.

Dr. Ariail receives AAFS Distinguished Research Award
Dr. Donald Ariail of the Department of Accounting has recently been recognized by the Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies (AAFS) with a 2010 Distinguished Research Award for his paper, entitled “Value Preferences, Political Orientation and Moral Reasoning of Certified Public Accountants.” The AAFS presented Dr. Ariail with the award during the Allied Academies Summer 2010 Internet Conference in August.

Dr. Ariail currently serves as president of the Gender and Work Life Balance Section of the American Accounting Association, the primary accounting organization for accounting academics.

Scholarship dinner honors 115 students

The SPSU Advancement Office held its annual Celebration of Scholarship Dinner on Oct. 12 to honor the students who received scholarships through the SPSU Foundation. This year, 115 students and their guests were recognized at the event at the Hilton/Marietta Conference Center in Marietta. SPSU President Lisa A. Rossbacher and many alumni were on hand to congratulate the deserving recipients.

The dinner afforded students an opportunity to meet the individuals who funded their scholarships and honored their academic achievements.

University System of Georgia named governor's Customer Service Agency of the Year
Gov. Sonny Perdue recently saluted the entire University System of Georgia (USG) for the level of commitment it has devoted to improving customer service and operating more efficiently during the past year.

During the Governor’s 2010 Customer Service Awards on Oct. 12, he selected the USG to receive the Agency of the Year Award.

“This is the Oscar equivalent of Best Actor(s) since the award is for what you and your fellow colleagues have done over the last year, under some increasingly trying conditions, to make this System more customer friendly, efficient and productive,” said Chancellor Erroll B. Davis in informing the presidents of the University System of the honor.

“To those of you who have labored long and hard on process improvement and customer service projects, I am so pleased that your efforts have been recognized,” Chancellor Davis added. “To the campus Customer Service Champions, I say well done. Nothing good ever happens on a sustained basis without the focus of great leadership!”

CSE professor has book published
Dr. Frank Tsui, an associate professor in the School of Computer and Software Engineering, had his book, titled “Managing Systems and IT Projects,” published by Jones and Bartlett. The book focuses on the four phases of management – planning, organizing, monitoring, and adjusting. This is the third book he’s written since joining the SPSU faculty 10 years ago.

Annual open enrollment period ends Friday!
If you haven't yet reviewed and made any necessary changes to all of your healthcare benefits, now is the time – open enrollment ends Friday.

If you do nothing, all of your 2010 elections will roll over to the 2011 plan year except your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) election, which you must re-enroll in each year. You will not have the opportunity to elect or change your coverage again until next fall, (unless you experience a qualifying “life event,” such as marriage, the birth of a child or death of a spouse).

To review your current coverage and make changes, log in to the Employee Self Service System at http://portal.adp.com and select the Benefits Tab.

Any changes you opt to make will be effective January 1, 2011.

Special deal for SPSU personnel, students at local Hardee's
A local Hardee’s restaurant has extended a deal to SPSU students, faculty and staff. The Hardee’s on Franklin Road (just off South Marietta Parkway, between SPSU and I-75) is offering those who show their Hornet Card a combo meal for the price of just the sandwich. Or, to put it another way, order a sandwich and they’ll throw in fries and a drink for free!

Got news?
If your department has an upcoming event or news of interest to SPSU faculty and staff, please send an e-mail with all the pertinent information to dpayne@spsu.edu, and we will be happy to consider it for a future issue of the Hornet’s Nest.

Volume 3, Issue 27
November 3, 2010