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In this Issue:
National Office News
CUR National Office to Close on July 9 and 10, 2008
CUR Institutes:
CUR Regional Workshop
Program on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research
Ongoing CUR Offerings:
Undergraduate Researcher's Graduate School Registry Advocacy: CUR In the News
Opportunities:
National Office News:
CUR National Office to Close on July 9 and 10, 2008:
The CUR National Office will be closed for reorganization of the National Office on July 9 and 10, 2008. All emails and phone messages will be received, and responded to when CUR resumes regular business on July 11, 2008.
CUR Emeritus President Appointed to Serve on ACS PRF Advisory Board
Program Committee:
Lori Bettison-Varga, provost and dean of the faculty, has been selected to serve a three-year term on the American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) Advisory Board Program Committee. The PRF is an endowed fund managed by the ACS, whose vision is to "support innovative fundamental research, advanced scientific education and the careers of scientists, to aid in significantly increasing the world's energy options." The Program Committee is charged with recommending changes and adjustments to funding priorities of the PRF, to monitor program performance, and to guide the allocation of resources to particular scientific and faculty development initiatives funded by ACS PRF. In addition, the committee is responsible for recommending changes to the PRF portfolio, including creation and termination of funding opportunities. Bettison-Varga is one of six committee members, each appointed by Judith Benham, chair of the ACS Board of Directors.
Update from Jim Turner, CUR Appointed Member of CFATS Higher
Education Working Group:
On June 23rd the CFATS Higher Education Working Group held a conference call with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss the results from the Top Screen submissions regarding chemicals of interest at facilities across the US. According to the DHS approximately 30,000 reports were received of which 7,000 facilities were categorized as high risk and classified in a tier I-IV ranking. In this group were included a small number of colleges and universities, approximately several dozen. Of theses high risk academic institutions, very few were in tier I with most in tiers III-IV. Registered letters from the DHS were sent out on June 23rd and include instructions for the next step for these tiered institutions which will be to complete an online Preliminary Vulnerability Assessment (PVA) for those institutions in tiers I-III. Tier IV institutions will have the option to complete the online PVA or they may submit an alternative plan. Nothing else needs to be done at the present time except completing the PVA. Next year, after a DHS review of the PVAs, a site security plan may be required. The remaining non-tiered institutions will receive their notifications in several weeks and no further actions will be required by the DHS for institutions in this category.
CUR Upgrades to New Association Management System:
CUR recently upgraded to a new association management system which will allow members to login to update records, register for meetings at member rates, and purchase publications at member rates. Your username and password have been sent to you previously. Should you need another copy of this information sent to you via email, please visit http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/members/password.asp . Non-members who have records in our database may also login to expedite registration processes, however discounts will only be given to members.
CUR Welcomes New Institutional Members:
The University of Findlay CUR Institutes: CUR Regional Workshop Program on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research:
Mentorship, Collaboration and Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities:
Initiating and Sustaining Undergraduate Research Programs:
Beginning a Research Program in the Natural Sciences at a
Predominantly Undergraduate Institution: This CUR Institute will be held November 21-23, 2008 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Ongoing CUR Offerings:
Undergraduate Researcher's Graduate School Registry:
Please encourage your students to sign up
for the Undergraduate Researcher's Graduate School Registry. The
purpose of this registry is to facilitate connections between
undergraduates and graduate schools seeking high quality students who
are well prepared for research. More information and the
submission form are available at:
http://www.cur.org/ugreg/
Graduate Schools that are interested in purchasing a subscription to
the registry should contact Robin Potochnik at
robin@cur.org
Developing and Sustaining a Research - Supportive Curriculum:
A Compendium of Successful Practices:
This publication is available for
purchase via the
order form
. The cost is $45.00 plus shipping costs, and individual
members are eligible for a reduced rate of $35.00, plus shipping costs.
Newswise Press Release
Subscription Service:
Newswise
is an academic news distribution service that provides media with news
leads from our member institutions.
Journalists receive this news by subscribing to an emailed Daily
Wire.
From the wire, they review news releases and decide whether or not
to follow up on any leads and contacts.
Upcoming Special Interest Wires:
The next scheduled thematic wire is the Back-to-School Wire. Possible ideas for this August-related wire include: - FOCUS ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL: Topics in education, pedagogy, testing;
Issues for school-age children, cafeteria nutrition, safety,
immunizations; College topics, the freshman 15, moving tips, empty nest
syndrome, young adult money management - Health campaigns: National Immunization Awareness Month, Children's
Eye Health and Safety Month, Psoriasis Awareness Month, World
Breast-Feeding Week (1-7) - August events/awareness: Democratic/Republican Nat¹l Conventions,
National Inventor's Month, America's Night Out Against Crime (5) - Astronomical events: Perseid meteor shower peaks (12), Partial
eclipse of the moon (16) visible in Eastern Hemisphere DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPATION: 5PM EST, WED., JULY 9 July offers several
other opportunities to participate in thematic wires requested by our
reporter subscribers. CUR
Institutional Members may submit releases to Nancy Hensel at
nancy@cur.org
.
For more information, please refer to the following document:
http://www.cur.org/pdf/newswise%20flyer.pdf
Advocacy: CUR In the News:
Washington Partners News July 1, 2008
Column:
Congress Addresses Spending; Prospects for Action in 2008
Unclear June has been a month of action on federal spending bills, although
the partisanship on Capitol Hill seems to be intensifying, since the
month closed out with some legislative maneuvering that left many
wondering how much more progress might be made this year. Following the passage of the FY 2009 Budget Resolution earlier this
year, the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce,
Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) started their markup
processes for FY 2009. These bills set funding levels for the coming
fiscal year for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other funding
that will support research and education programs designed to improve
U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) innovation
and competitiveness. In June, the House CJS Appropriations Subcommittee marked up their
proposal, which would spend a total of $56.8 billion. This is $5 billion
over the FY 2008 enacted levels, and $3.1 billion more than the
President's FY 2009 budget request. Included in the Subcommittee's mark
were recommendations for NSF. Overall, the Subcommittee's recommendation
includes a total of $6.85 billion to be provided for NSF, an amount $789
million over the FY 2008 enacted level. For NSF's Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), the
House Subcommittee recommended $840.26 million for FY 2009. This is
$114.66 million over FY 2008 and $49.85 million over the President's
request. Within EHR, $107 million has been recommended for the Graduate
Research Fellowships Program (GRFP). While this recommendation was $19
million over the FY 2008 enacted level, it was $10 million less than the
President's FY 2009 request. In their report, the Subcommittee states
the President's request exceeds the authorized level for the GRFP by $10
million, and that this money can be "provided for other worthy
programs" within EHR. The Subcommittee also recommended $50 million for Robert Noyce
Scholarships-scholarships for undergraduate STEM students that will
become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The bill recommends $87.5
million for Undergraduate/Graduate Student Support Programs, compared to
$83.35 in FY 2008, and $49.5 million for Graduate Teaching Fellowships
in K-12, compared to $47 million in FY 2008. The NSF Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program receives a total
of $61 million under the proposal, which is $12.5 million over FY 2008
and $10 million over the budget request. MSPs are partnerships between
higher education institutions, K-12 schools, and private organizations,
created to improve elementary and secondary student achievement in
mathematics. For the National Science Board (NSB), the House Subcommittee
recommended $4.03 million for FY 2009. This matches the President's
budget request, and is $61,000 above the FY 2008 enacted level. In
addition to providing oversight and policy recommendations for the NSF,
the NSB also acts as an independent advisor to both the President and
Congress on STEM education and research issues. Outside of NSF, the House bill recommends $785 million for the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), compared to
$673.6 million in FY 2008; and $17.8 billion for NASA, up from $17.31
billion in FY 2008. The Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee Committee Chairwoman
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) convened that panel's markup of its bill days
after House action. That proposal totals $57.9 billion, an amount that
is $4.2 billion above the President's request and $1.1 billion more than
the House version. A press release related to the spending package says
$6.9 billion of that amount would go to NSF. Chairwoman Mikulski (D-MD)
also noted that $790 million of these funds will be reserved for
education and training programs, presumably a reference to EHR programs.
It was also announced during the markup that the panel recommends $17.8
billion in spending for NASA, $813.5 million for NIST, and $4.5 billion
for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Senate markup was cordial, with members congratulating the
panel's leadership on its bipartisan effort. Senator Mikulski said to
her retiring colleague, Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) that she hoped the
investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education
and federal research programs signals support for his work in this area.
In response, he said he hoped that the country would see real benefits
from these investments in "five or six years." It should be noted that these proposals include funding for the
Departments of Justice and Commerce, and some of those decisions are not
without controversy. Census efforts, tensions between the Department of
Homeland Security and the FBI, as well as law local law enforcement
programs are expected to be debated as the larger bill moves forward.
Also, each of these bills exceeds the president's budget request for the
programs therein. Assuming that President Bush intends to veto any bill
that spends more money than he would like, as he continues to say, this
bill would draw a veto threat. Many expect House and Senate
appropriators to put together spending bills, but it is not clear how
many of them will be debated on the floors of the House or Senate, let
alone make it the president's desk. It should be noted that the House Appropriations Committee tried to
mark up a separate spending bill-that for the Departments of Labor,
Health and Human Services (LHHS) and Education just before the July 4th
Recess. What was anticipated as a pro forma endorsement of Subcommittee
action earlier in the week came to an abrupt halt when Ranking Member
Jerry Lewis (R-CA) offered a surprise amendment to substitute the
language of an Interior funding bill for the LHHS measure. Angry that
Chairman David Obey (D-WI) had not scheduled a mark-up of the Interior
bill prior to the July 4 recess, Lewis hoped to force a vote on
Department of Energy support for domestic oil production. Chairman Obey was not pleased. When it was apparent that the
Republican strategy was to offer continual amendments to thwart
Committee action, the Committee went into recess with Obey shouting to
Lewis from the chair, "See you in September". The Members,
staff and public present at the mark-up shook their heads in disbelief
and left the room. At this point it is unclear what the next step will
be in consideration of any spending bills. Chairman Obey had announced
earlier in the week his plan to take up all 12 appropriations bills on
the House floor before the end of July. That schedule at the moment is
in question. Rep. Bernice-Johnson Introduces Bill on Gender Equity in STEM
Faculty "Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and
Engineering Act of 2008" was introduced in the House on June 12,
2008 by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). The bill aims to
increase awareness of the existence of gender bias in academic science
and engineering, and to overcome that bias through research and
training. Its major component is the establishment of uniform workshops
for each Federal science agency to enhance gender equity in academic
science and engineering. Led by the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, these workshops would: There is an extended research grant provision for federally funded
researchers who have caregiving responsibilities. In addition, each
Federal science agency is required to collect standardized data on their
research grant applications, such as demographics, field, award type,
review score, and funding outcome. The House Science and Technology
Committee had scheduled the bill for debate in June, but those
proceedings have been postponed.
Opportunities:
NIST Construction Grant Program: The Department of Commerce's (DoC) National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) is seeking grant proposals for the construction of
science research buildings from institutions of higher education and
non-profit organizations. The agency has announced on the Grants.gov web
site that it will award approximately $29 million in congressionally
directed funding for a competitive grant program created under the
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-161).
A news
release on this program with a link to the Grants.gov announcement can be
found at:
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tbx2008_0520.htm
NIH Program Announcements: Minority Institutional Research Training Program (T32) Transforming Medicine Through Innovation: 10th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR
Conference (July 22-23, 2008) Mentored Career Award for Faculty at Minority Institutions (K01) Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity/Re-Entry
in Biomedical Research (K01) OLAW Institutional Official (IO) Outreach Program OLAW IACUC Staff Outreach Program For more information, please contact: Krishan K. Arora, Ph.D., Health
Scientist Administrator, Division of Research Infrastructure, National
Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, Department
of Health and Human Services, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Room 938 - MSC
4874, Bethesda, MD 20892-4874, Telephone: (301) 435-0760
Sigma Xi's Catalog of Undergraduate Research Events:
If you are responsible for an undergraduate conference, symposium,
celebration day or similar event, please take 5 minutes to enter the event
information into the database.
Sigma Xi's Undergraduate Research
project team is building a comprehensive catalog of undergraduate research
events (conferences, symposia, etc.) in the US and beyond. Presently
comprising more than 85 events, the catalog will help organizers and
participants in several ways:
* Create a network of organizers and
institutions to develop "best practices" documentation, hints,
tips, suggestions, etc. on how to run a conference
* Inform
organizers of what conferences are ongoing in their geographical area,
discipline, etc. to minimize duplication
* Provide comparative
data for organizers and institutional administrators on such criteria as
attendance, sponsorship, etc.
* Provide students options for
conferences where they can present their research
* Provide
undergraduate researchers a "big picture" view of conference and
symposium activity
* Highlight your event to prospective sponsors
who want to support undergraduate research
Data will be available
free of charge to all participants starting in mid-2008.
Please
use this URL to enter your information:
www.sigmaxi.org/urs-conferences,
Or visit the Web site: www.sigmaxi.org/urs,
Or contact the database manager at Sigma Xi: Roger Harris
rharris@sigmaxi.org
919-547-5251
Minority Serving Institutions - Technical Assistance Workshop: Creating a Presence: Minority Serving Institutions, Technical
Assistance Workshop The U.S. Department
of Commerce, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and U.S. Agency for
International Development will host its second annual technical assistance
and capacity-building workshop for Minority Serving Institutions (Alaskan
Native Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Hawaiian
Native Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, and Tribal Colleges and Universities). The goal and mission
of the workshop will be to inform the MSI community about the various
partnerships and funding opportunities with Federal agencies. This is a
FREE Workshop!
Should you
have questions about the workshop please contact Ms. Senora Coggs at (202)
482-8190.
If you have problems viewing this newsletter, please contact robin@cur.org. To view this email as a website, please visit: http://www.cur.org/newsletter/newsletter070708.htm |
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