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ePoly Briefs News and events for faculty and staff of Polytechnic University October 2003 Edition |
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Editor's note: ePoly Briefs will suspend publication until I return from maternity leave in March 2004. Please continue to send information to ttillett@poly.edu. HEADLINES CASSARA, MCSHANE AND SELESNICK WIN JACOBS AWARD Professors Frank Cassara, Bill McShane and Ivan Selesnick each have received a 2003 Jacobs Award for Excellence in Education. The Jacobs Award—named for and supported by Joseph J. Jacobs—recognizes groups of individuals who demonstrate educational innovation and excellence. The Campaign 1-2-3 Quality-Learning Environment Team, led by Christine Worden, managed the award selection. Each professor received a $10,000 grant.
POLY LEAD INSTITUTION AWARDED $2.8M GRANT TO DEVELOP P2P NETWORKING THEORY Polytechnic has been named the leading institution in a $2.8 million, five-year grant awarded by the National Science Foundation to develop a peer-to-peer (P2P) networking theory. Keith W. Ross, the Leonard J. Shustek Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, is leading the project with Torsten Suel, assistant professor of computer science, as co-principal investigator. Research will be done in Poly’s Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT) in partnership with Columbia University and the University of Massachusetts. P2P networks connect a large number of different computers (i.e., peers), pooling their bandwidth, storage, content and computing resources. P2P networking applications—such as Kazaa.com, which allows users to search, download, organize and interact with a variety of files, including music, movies, games and software—are already being widely used to share files on the Internet. However, researchers are envisioning future P2P applications with other uses beyond file sharing. Ross and Suel’s research will focus on several issues regarding P2P networks, including security and privacy, the scale and traffic of such networks and the impact of differences among peers’ systems on the network as a whole. Says Ross: “Our vision is to help transform the Internet from a shared bandwidth infrastructure nto a combined bandwidth, storage and computing infrasturcture, which will create a massive, virtual computer shared by users worldwide.”
TOWN HALL COVERS SPECTRUM OF QUESTIONS, FROM REDUCING PENSION PLANS TO CLOSING BRANCH CAMPUSES Don Dean, the new director of Human Resources (see New Hires in this issue for profile on Dean), opened the October 27 Town Hall with a short presentation on information available for employees on My Poly, including a letter from the president (under Announcements), fall 2003 enrollment statistics (under Documents), safety and security procedures (under Policies & Rules) and payroll and vacation schedules (under HR Documents). He urged the community to check My Poly often for updates. President Chang said the Board of Trustees has approved the administration’s proposals to reduce the current $3 million shortfall caused by lower-than-expected enrollment and higher-than-expected attrition rates in fall 2003. Among the proposals passed by the board is a 50 percent cut in Poly’s contribution to employees’ retirement plans for fiscal year 2003-04. The University will continue to contribute the usual 10 percent to the plans until December 31, 2003. From January 1 to June 30, 2004, the University will not contribute to the plans. Chang said the board will decide in May 2004 about restoring the University’s contribution after June 31, 2004. Human Resources will issue a memo detailing tax-deferred options for employees. The board also passed resolutions to freeze staff positions, with exceptions for critical positions, and reduce non-salary items. The administration is also "looking into ways to achieve increased efficiency" at Poly’s branch campuses and in some areas at the Brooklyn campus, although Chang stressed there will be no “across-the-board” layoffs. He expects to have these proposals finalized "in a week or two." Regarding recruitment, enrollment and retention, Chang said Admissions is working hard on recruiting new students and recently hired someone to focus on recruitment on Long Island (see profile on Kent Yuen in the September 2003 issue of ePoly Briefs). The administration was expecting a flat enrollment this fall, but instead there was a decrease. [For specifics on undergraduate enrollment numbers, please visit My Poly and click on Polytechnic Community, Documents, “Official registration statistics for fall 2003.”] Retention was the primary resason for the decrease. From fall 2002 to spring 2003, approximately 140 students left the University, and from spring 2003 to fall 2003, approximately 250 students did not return. “For a school with 1,600 undergraduates, losing 400 students is big,” said Chang, "even though they were approximately replaced by new students." Chang attributed the freshmen attrition rate to academic reasons and for upperclassmen to financial reasons. He said the administration is executing a thorough review of the situation and has already announced some new policy changes. For freshmen, changes include more tutoring and counseling and introducing a 32-credit tuition policy, which will allow poor-performing students—who are required to take extra courses or who are placed on reduced course load—to register for as many first year courses as is necessary, at no additional cost, to ensure they are up to speed for their second year. For upperclassman who may leave because of financial hardships, new initiatives include dropping the 2.5 GPA requirement for Poly unrestricted grants and scholarships, increasing grant amounts for upperclassmen if tuition is increased and providing merit-based scholarships. One of the goals of future capital campaign will be to provide more scholarships. “Our message to students,” said Chang, “is you’re not going to leave Poly because of financial reasons.” Following Chang’s remarks were questions from employees on all campuses: What is the process when a student says he/she is leaving? VP and Dean Bud Griffis said his office is notified of students leaving when they request a transcript to transfer to another school. “No one can leave Poly without talking with me,” he said, “and I’ll try to make sure they don’t leave.” Many students, have valid reasons, however, he explained, citing an example of a female student who was commuting three hours to Poly and, although making good grades, was physically exhausted. In that instance, Griffis said, his office helped her transfer to a school near her home. Are we accepting all students who apply, and if yes, should we be more selective to ensure they graduate? Chang replied that students who apply usually fit into a SAT group that we desire, and the University’s recruitment efforts concentrate on those students who would do well at Polytechnic. What is happening with the sale of the Long Island campus? Lowell Robinson, interim VP of finance, said that Polytechnic has sent a final note of sale to the developer interested in the property and is expecting a reply by the end of the week. Chang said that the delay on the sale is because the NYS Department of Transportation owns land adjacent to the campus and is interested in acquiring a piece. The department is also the official approving agency for the sale and is holding up the sale for what may be its own reasons. Shouldn’t employees who are now doing the job of two or have been handed more responsibility be given a salary increase? Don Dean said that he and Kevyn Mac in his office are looking at each individual’s request for a salary increase and at creative ways to find more money for salaries. Will Polytechnic outsource other administrative areas? Robinson said the most recent outsourced area was in Purchasing with Archer as the outside contractor. [Poly’s Mailroom and Print Shop are also outsourced to Archer.] “There are a couple of things we’re looking at in non-critical areas,” said Robinson, “but nothing’s finalized.” Chang said: “There’s nothing on the table that I know of.” Isn’t it unusual for a university to be so financially dependent on tuition? Chang said, “It is true. Can we get out of it is the question.” Chang proceeded to detail Poly’s tuition process, saying that the University receives approximately $40 million in undergraduate tuition, of which “we give back $15 million in scholarships.” The University receives about $15 to 16 million in graduate tuition, of which approximately $1 million is for scholarships. “That leaves us with $40 million net from tuition.” The school also earns approximately $3 million overhead in research grants. “We’re in pretty good shape,” Chang said, with our current endowment of $120 million; he would like to see the endowment increase by $30 to $50 million with the future capital campaign. Polytechnic Annual Fund “typically” brings in $2.5 million, “but that’s not something you can count on,” said Chang. “We are going to be tuition-driven for a long time.” Will the president and vice presidents cut their salaries by three percent this year as they did last year with the deficit? Chang answered, “Last year’s cut was not mandated, it was voluntary, and we have agreed to continue it this year.” Why aren’t the president, vice presidents and dean of admissions being held accountable for Poly’s financial problems and low enrollment? “Of course we’re accountable,” replied Chang. After the Registrar contacted each department for course and instructor information, why does the PeopleSoft program still show errors? VP Richard Thorsen said the Registrar has changed its practice with the class schedule, starting from scratch and cleaning it up, deleting “phantom” courses. “The new class schedule now lists, except for some math sequences, instructor’s names for every course.” Would the administration post a total cost on My Poly on the severance package for faculty; outsourcing to contractors; retaining consultants; and hiring temps, including hiring back people people originally laid off? Robinson said that the University used $3.9 million to cover the severance package and outplacement, which was reported in financial statements. Dean said that he would get back to the Poly community with a full answer at the next Town Hall meeting. Some universities issue mid-semester grades as a ‘wake-up’ call to students. Can Poly do something similar? Chang said Michael Campbell, assistant director of the Academic Advisement Center, was the best person to answer that question. [Campbell was not at the Town Hall meeting]. Chang also said that freshmen do meet with faculty advisers. “We need to look at this further,” he added. If the Westchester Graduate Center is closing, what is being done to notify current students? Chang replied that there is no decision about closing Westchester at this point. “We are reviewing our options (on Westchester) along with the Long Island Graduate Center and 55 Broad Street. What we do depends on an analysis of profit and loss.” Two questions asked at last month’s Town Hall were answered at the meeting. The first was about a severance package for staff. Dean said no, the University will not do that. The second question was about University credits for ROTC students. VP Ellen Hartigan said she recently received a letter from the head of the ROTC program at Fordham (Polytechnic’s ROTC partner) about offering courses for credit. She is passing the information onto Griffis and the Curriculum Review Committee for further review.
150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BEGINS MAY 2004; NEW LOGO TO BE INTRODUCED
Polytechnic was incorporated in 1854 in Brooklyn and officially opened its doors on September 10, 1855. In recognition of this important period in the University’s history, the 150th Anniversary Celebration will include academic symposiums, sporting events, alumni reunions and a 150th anniversary gala in September 2005. A Sesquicentennial Committee has been established with VP Richard Thorsen as its chair, and a special website is being created by Webmaster Jim St. Lawrence and his Web Team to provide information on all anniversary activities. Beginning January 2004, Polytechnic will introduce a new 150th anniversary logo, pictured above, which will replace the current logo on all University-related materials, including stationery and business cards. The anniversary logo incorporates the main component of the current logo and adds the words "Celebrating 150 Years in Brooklyn" and an image of the Brooklyn Bridge to more clearly identify Polytechnic with its entrenched and illustrious roots in Brooklyn.
NAME CHANGE FOR BS TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The BS degree program in Technology and Information Management (T&IM) has been renamed Business and Technology Management (BTM) to stress its focus on technology management. “Our original name was a bit of a misnomer,” explains Barry Blecherman, associate dean of undergraduate education and director of the BTM program. “When students hear the word ‘information’ paired with ‘technology,’ they assume it’s all about computer science. Our BTM degree program is unique in that students receive both management theory and practice and science and technology skills, which can be applied to more than one area.” The two-year-old program currently has 124 students. In addition to Blecherman, the full-time BTM faculty comprises Assistant Professor Yair Berson and Associate Professor Bharat P. Rao. The program relies on Poly’s other departments for courses in the basics of mathematics, engineering, the sciences and the humanities. The program also uses adjunct instructors with technology executive backgrounds. With the BS degree program, Management now offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology management, including a new PhD degree program, which plans to admit students in fall 2004.
POLY STUDENT RECEIVES HOMELAND SECURITY SCHOLARSHIP
Governor George E. Pataki sent congratulations to Harari, saying, “This prestigious award is a recognition of your tremendous dedication to your work—and the potential it has to strengthen the security of our nation and the safety of our fellow citizens.” The award will cover Harari’s tuition at Polytechnic and provide a $1,000 stipend each month. In addition, he will have a paid internship at a Department of Homeland Security-affiliated laboratory in summer 2004. For more information, visit the Homeland Security Scholars and Fellows Program website.
EMPLOYEES’ MEDICAL FSA INCREASES TO $4,000 Polytechnic has increased employees’ maximum contribution to a medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) from $2,500 to $4,000, beginning January 1, 2004. The Flexible Spending Account allows you to deduct a portion of your paycheck, pre-tax, to reimburse medical and dependent care costs. The maximum pre-tax deduction for dependent care costs is $5,000 a year. You have until December 17 to enroll in or change either or both accounts for 2004. Forms are available in Human Resources or on My Poly, Polytechnic Community, HR Bulletins, "Year End Benefits Reminders". For more information, contact Sally Chan at ext. 4038 or chan@poly.edu. Recently, BeneFlex, Polytechnic’s FSA carrier Account, announced it will now cover over-the counter medications used to alleviate or treat illness and/or injuries. Please see the September 2003 issue of ePoly Briefs for more information.
NEW HIRES IN HUMAN RESOURCES AND STUDENT ACCOUNTS
In his 18 years at Teachers College, he worked with a staff of seven to oversee 600 employees. Poly—with an HR staff of four and 350 employees—attracted him for several reasons. “I had been working in the liberal arts climate for a while and the change to engineering was appealing as well the vibrancy of MetroTech Center,” he says. “The more I learned about Poly and its current challenges, the more I felt I could contribute with my background in development training and labor relations.” Among his goals are to improve morale and enhance employee skills. To that end, he has joined the Campaign 1-2-3 Rewards & Recognition Team and plans to establish training and development programs for faculty and staff to create a more student-centric environment and advance supervisory skills. A native of Canada, Dean was raised in the steel-town of Hamilton, Ontario, where his father and other family members worked for the railroad. The first generation in his family to earn a college degree, he received a BA in Social Sciences from the University of South Florida and an MA in Organizational Psychology from Columbia. Dean and his wife of 27 years, Peggy, an artist and computer graphics instructor, live in Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester. In his free time, he sings bass in a barbershop chorus and volunteers for Musicians-On-Call, where he brings musicians to hospital AIDS and cancer wards to entertain patients. He can be reached at ext. 3343 or ddean@poly.edu, and is located in JB 252.
Correction: the September 2003 issue of ePoly Briefs incorrectly printed Christine Worden's telephone number in her new position as director of special events and projects. She can be reached at ext. 3892.
Mark M. Green, professor of organic chemistry, received a U.S. patent (with Jonathan V. Sleinger) for “Temperature Measurement and Temperature Controlled Switching Using Change in Helical Sense.” Roger P. Roess, department head of Civil Engineering and speaker of the faculty, was elected vice president of the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education on Long Island.
Mel Horwitch, director of the Institute of Technology and Enterprise and the Othmer Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, was quoted in a Christian Science Monitor (October 23) article, “Supersonic Swan Song,” about the demise of the Concorde. “In a sense, the demise of the Concorde shows that the U.S. system for developing commercial technology with federal funding from the bottom up—when you allow a debate to take place—works. In a sense, we dodged a bullet,” he is quoted as saying. He also adds that people are substituting technology for travel: “We’re getting better at using videoconferencing, and that’s only going to improve.”
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING Kalle
M. Levon, panel member, “Homeland Security,” CEWIT 2003: Business Without
Boundaries, Stony Brook University, Long Island (November 13, 2003) Eli M. Pearce, invited plenary speaker, “Designing
Polymer Properties by Use of Miscible Polymer Blends,” 40th Anniversary
Celebration, Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
(October 2003) ELECTRICAL
AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING Zhong-Ping
Jiang (with K.D. Do, J. Pan), article “A Global Output-Feedback
Controller for Simultaneous Tracking and Stabilization of Unicycle-Type
Mobile Robots,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation
(accepted, 2003) HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES INTRODUCTORY DESIGN AND SCIENCE URBAN SECURITY INITIATIVE
Imagine there’s no countries, Imagine no possessions, You may say I’m a dreamer, John Lennon releases song “Imagine” on October 8 (1971) Viking Leif Ericson discovers “Vinland” (North America) and later settles at Newfoundland, Canada (1000) . . . Peter Stuyvesant establishes America’s first volunteer firemen (fun fact: origins of word “buff” derived from buff-colored uniform worn by NYC volunteer firemen) (1648) . . . Collegiate School of Connecticut chartered in New Haven, later called Yale University (1701) . . . 15th and last Tokugawa Shogun resigns in Japan (1867) . . . George Eastman patents paper-strip photographic film (1884) . . . Mormon Church outlaws polygamy (1890) . . . New York City unveils first electric subway, IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit), linking Brooklyn Bridge to midtown Manhattan; fare is one nickel (1904) . . . first facsimile photo sent over city telephone lines, in Washington, D.C. (1922) . . . Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes changes name to Yugoslavia (1929) . . . Germany demands all Jewish passports stamped with letter J to restrict emigration (1938) . . . Harry S. Truman gives first Presidential address televised from White House (1947) . . . People’s Republic of China proclaimed by Mao Tse-tung (1949) . . . comic strip “Peanuts” debuts in nine newspapers (1950) . . . Pope Paul VI is first pope to visit Western Hemisphere; he visits United Nations (1965) . . . Argentine Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Ernesto “Che” Guevara executed in Bolivia (1967) . . . actor Rock Hudson dies at age 59 from complications of AIDS (1985) . . . 18-month-old Jessica McClure from Midland, Tex., falls 22 feet down a well; she is rescued 60 hours later (1987) . . . actress Elizabeth Taylor weds for eighth time, to construction worker Larry Fortensky; they divorce five years later (1991) . . . Yankees win second World Series sweep in row with final game 4-1 win over Braves (1999). ePoly Briefsis published the last week of each month by the Office of Communications and Media Relations Editor: Therese E. Tillett, 718/260-3165, JB 551A Polytechnic University, October 2003 |
HAPPENINGS OCTOBER 12 p.m. Friday 31 Last day to file for degree if completed during fall semester Faculty spring 2004 adoption lists for textbooks due 10:45 a.m. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. NOVEMBER Tuesday 4 Wednesday 5 Alumni Lecture Series “Beyond A Poly Education” William Schuster ’73, president, Integrated Systems JAB 474 Thursday 6 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
12-1:30 p.m. Friday 7 10:45 a.m. Saturday 8 Sunday 9 Monday
10 12-1 p.m. Tuesday 11 Wednesday 12 Dibner Library Workshop Introduction to MatLab LC 337 Thursday 13 6 p.m. Friday 14 10:45 a.m. Sunday 16 Monday 17 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 12-1:30 p.m. Tuesday
18 3-4 p.m. Wednesday
19 12-1 p.m. Thursday
20 3-4 p.m. Friday
21 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday
26 Thursday 27 Friday 28 DECEMBER Wednesday 3 Poly vs. New Rochelle Women’s basketball Gymnasium Thursday
4 Thursday 5 Monday 8 Tuesday 9 Wednesday 10 Thursday 11 to Wednesday 24 to JANUARY Friday 2 Tuesday 6 Wednesday 7 Thursday 8 Saturday 10 Monday 12 Monday 19 7 p.m. Tuesday 20 Wednesday 21 Thursday 22 Friday 23 Monday 26 6 p.m. 8 p.m. Wednesday 28 Thursday 29 Saturday 31 FEBRUARY Wednesday 4 Thursday 5 Friday 6 Saturday 7 Sunday 8 Tuesday 10 9 p.m. Thursday 12 Sunday 15 2 p.m. Monday 16 Tuesday 17 Thursday 19 Sunday 29 |
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Cassara,
professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the
Long Island Graduate Center, was cited for developing a wireless laboratory
course, the nation’s first such course, and for creating a summer
research intern program for college juniors. Of the students who have
completed the internship program, now in its 11th year and funded
in part by the National Science Foundation, 17 have published their
research results in journals or conference proceedings, and more than
70 have gone on for graduate study. Cassara also conducted numerous
wireless communications workshops for faculty from colleges and universities
nationwide.
McShane,
professor of mechanical and systems engineering, was recognized for
designing a manufacturing systems sequence for all undergraduates
and an applied data-analysis course, required for management and construction
management undergraduates, both of which makes extensive use of the
Internet and information technology to engage the students.
Selesnick,
associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, was honored
for developing a set of projects using notebook computers for the
computer-based laboratory portion of a signals and systems course. The projects
facilitate in-class demonstrations and homework assignments and
allow students to work individually and in groups.
At
Commencement 2004 on May 27, Polytechnic will launch a year-long celebration
of its 150th anniversary.
Saul
Harari, a senior mechanical engineering student, has received a full
scholarship from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as part
of a new $2 million scholars/fellows program to educate a future
generation of scientists to study ways to protect the nation against
terrorism. He is one of 101 recipients out of nearly 2,500 applicants
and the only New York State resident to receive the scholarship award.
Don
Dean joined Polytechnic on September 29 as director of human resources,
replacing Sue Karavolas. A human resource generalist with 22 years
experience in higher education, he comes to Poly from Teachers College
at Columbia University, where he was director of human resources.
He previously was a staff relations coordinator for the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, responsible
for 22 community colleges in Canada’s Ontario Province.
Sheldon
Rudowsky joined Poly on October 7 as manager of collections in
Student Accounts, replacing Melvin Talley, who left in the spring.
Rudowsky is responsible for maintaining student payments. He previously
worked in the same capacity at Barron's Educational Series and the
camera company Nikon. A native Long Islander with a degree in business
from Stony Brook University, he lives in Bayville with his wife, Carol,
and sons Sean, 9, and Reed, 5. He can be reached at ext. 3472 or