Tune in to Science Channel to see program filmed at SPSU
“Stuff you should know," a new 30-minute Science Channel cable television program starring Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, premieres Sat., Jan. 19, at 10 p.m. Last fall, an episode of this program was filmed at SPSU and will air in the spring on a date that has yet to be announced.

Bryant and Clark are uber popular podcasters and actual Discovery Communications employees. Their podcast, called “Stuff you should know with Josh and Chuck,” provides credible and easy-to-understand information and explanations for thousands of topics
and is in iTunes’ top 10 with more than 5 million monthly downloads.

Now, for the first time, the Science Channel will follow the duo inside and outside the recording booth in a series that combines all the delicious informational nuggets of their podcast and wraps them in deadpan mockumentary-style humor. Full episodes will be available for download on iTunes the day following their premieres.

Hornets to play in NBA arena in Charlotte
The SPSU men’s and women’s basketball teams will play conference opponent Southern Wesleyan University (Central, S.C.) at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. on Mon., Jan. 21.

“Playing in a NBA arena will be a great experience for our student-athletes and coaches,” said SPSU Athletic Director Matt Griffin. “We are all extremely excited about this opportunity and would like to thank the Charlotte Bobcats as well as Southern Wesleyan for making this event happen. We hope that alumni, family and friends will be able to make the trip and enjoy a great day of basketball.”

Alumni Relations is offering some special perks to SPSU alumni, faculty and staff members attending the games. For $15, they can enjoy a private reception at 1 p.m. and seating in a private suite for three basketball games: The Charlotte Bobcats versus the Houston Rockets in an NBA game at 2 p.m.; and the SPSU Hornets versus the SWU Warriors at 5 p.m. (women) and 7 p.m. (men). With these tickets, fans will also enjoy a private meet-and-greet with SPSU Athletic Director Matt Griffin and head basketball coaches Laquanda Dawkins (women) and Jeff Pourchier (men).

For more information and to purchase tickets, click on the following link: SPSU Alumni Affairs event.

SPSU migrates to D2L learning management system
SPSU completed its migration just before the winter holiday break from GeorgiaVIEW Vista to the Desire2Learn (D2L) learning management system. D2L is a fully customizable and mobile online learning suite for all SPSU courses and students.

The user interface for D2L has been designed specifically to provide easy access to everything SPSU students and professors need – grades, homework assignments, updates and calendars. Instructors have had the opportunity to design course pages to accommodate each unique class.

There’s also a smart-phone application that allows students and instructors to connect to course work anytime and from anywhere. D2L is designed to change the way students learn and interact with their professors. With instructors able to send out updates and grade assignments right from their phones, students will likely find it easier to stay in touch and receive feedback.

The Instructional Design Unit will provide drop-in D2L tools hours through the Center for Teaching Excellence beginning in March. For additional assistance with D2L, please visit www.spsu.edu/d2l or submit a support ticket to the SPSU Helpdesk. If you have any other questions about D2L, please contact Brichaya Shah, director of instructional design, at ext. 3166.

Recent faculty activities
• Dr. Bill Diong, an associate professor of electrical engineering (EE), and Prof. Scott Tippens, professor of electrical and computer engineering technology (ECET) and director of SPSU’s Alternative Energy Innovation Center, have received $15,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a one-year project titled, “Increasing photovoltaic panel energy output by having the solar cells track the sun.” The funds were awarded through the EPA’s People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Grant program. They are being assisted by Dr. Simin Nasseri, associate professor of mechanical engineering technology (MET), and Dr. Mohammed Mayeed, assistant professor of mechanical engineering (ME), as well as students in EE, MET and mechatronics engineering.

• Prof. William Beecken, a part-time member of the business administration faculty who has a private practice as a certified fraud examiner, was recently invited to present a two-hour course on testifying as an expert witness for the Georgia Tech Office of Internal Audit. Prof. Beecken is a retired supervisory auditor and investigator for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and senior forensic auditor for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

Architecture students travel to Seattle
Prof. Kemp Mooney, a senior lecturer in architecture, and 35 architecture students traveled to Seattle last fall to experience architectural marvels first-hand. Along the way, they found themselves the guests of a mayor.

The trip was voluntary – open to all architecture majors and self-funded by the students. While in Seattle, the students visited a variety of buildings by famous architects including architect Olson Kunduig’s Seattle Asian Art Museum renovation and the Seattle University Law School annex, Rem Koolhass’ Seattle Central Library and Robert Venturi’s Seattle Art Museum. The most impressive place the students explored was Steven Holl’s Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University.

While visiting the construction site of a new arts center on Bainbridge Island, Wash., the students were introduced to Debbie Lester, the mayor of Bainbridge. Mayor Lester gave the group a tour of architect Miller Hull’s new Bainbridge City Hall and hosted them at her home.

Prof. Mooney has led students on informal field trips across the country each semester he has taught at SPSU. He is planning a field trip to visit New York City, New Haven, Conn., and Boston over spring break. Prof. Mooney has organized more than 100 field trips since he started teaching in architectural programs in the fall of 1966.

SPSU once again NAIA Five Star Champions of Character Institution
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has named SPSU a Five Star Champions of Character Institution for the third consecutive year.

Champions of Character is an organization that seeks to change the culture of sports for every NAIA student-athlete, coach, official and spectator. The program is working to replace the current cycle of cheating, trash talking, taunting and out-of-control behaviors with integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and leadership.

NAIA schools have to meet rigorous criteria to receive the award, including achieving certain scores in categories like character training, conduct in competition, academic focus and more.

SPSU was selected because the campus incorporates athletic achievement and public service into policies related to behavior in practice and game situations, into its athletic and academic environment, and its character education.

Have news to share?
If your department has an upcoming event or other news to share with the campus community, please send an e-mail with all the pertinent information to Diane Payne (dpayne@spsu.edu). To be considered for use in a specific issue of the SPSU Hornet’s Nest, a news item must be submitted no less than four weeks before the date of the issue.

Volume 6, Issue 1
Jan. 9, 2013