GOOD MORNING!

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING ME FOR THIS IMPORTANT CAMPUS UPDATE.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS IN RECENT WEEKS TO DEVELOP THE 2006-07 STATE BUDGET. OF COURSE, THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY HAS BEEN INTENSELY INTERESTED AND INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AND WE’RE CERTAINLY NO EXCEPTION HERE AT EASTERN. DOCTOR PAUL BLANCHARD AND I HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE STATE CAPITOL AND ON THE TELEPHONE WITH OUR ELECTED LEADERS THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY, ARTICULATING THE NEEDS OF E-K-U, OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, OUR FACULTY AND OUR STUDENTS, CURRENT AND FUTURE.

Multimedia Presentation

IF YOU’VE FOLLOWED THE HEADLINES IN RECENT DAYS, YOU KNOW THAT THE RESULTS TO THIS POINT HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY MIXED.

I WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES THIS MORNING AND TALK ABOUT WHAT, AS OF TODAY, WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING IN STATE APPROPRIATIONS … OUR RECENT BOARD-APPROVED TUITION INCREASE … FUNDING GUIDELINES RELATIVE TO BUILDING OUR 2006-2007 OPERATING BUDGET … THE FUNDING STATUS OF SOME MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ... AS WELL AS SOME OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS OF INTEREST.

AT MONDAY’S BOARD MEETING, OUR REGENTS APPROVED AN INCREASE IN TUITION FOR FISCAL YEAR ’07. EVEN WITH THIS INCREASE THERE IS NO EXPECTATION OF ANY CHANGE IN OUR RELATIVE POSITION AS ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY.

THESE NEW RATES, ALONG WITH A PROPOSED INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 OF APPROXIMATELY ONE-POINT-2 MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE APPROPRIATIONS FOR E-K-U AND SOME INTERNAL REALLOCATIONS FORM THE BASIS OF BUDGET GUIDELINES THAT THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED AT MONDAY’S MEETING.

WHILE THE FINAL BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED FOR BOARD APPROVAL ON JUNE 12 TH, I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR.

IN A FEW MOMENTS, VICE PRESIDENT DEBBIE NEWSOM WILL GO OVER THIS INFORMATION IN GREATER DETAIL. BEFORE WE BRING DEBBIE UP FOR A MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS.

THE BOLD STEP OUR REGENTS TOOK LAST YEAR TO RAISE OUR 2005-2006 TUITION LOOKS EVEN WISER NOW IN HINDSIGHT. ON MONDAY, OUR REGENTS APPROVED A TUITION INCREASE OF $266 PER SEMESTER FOR FULL-TIME, IN STATE, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.

IF YOU RECALL, A YEAR AGO THE BOARD APPROVED A LARGER INCREASE FOR 2006-07 OF $400 PER SEMESTER, WHEN IT APPROVED TWO YEARS OF TUITION INCREASES – ONE FOR 05-06 AND ANOTHER FOR 06-07.

THE BOARD ACTED MONDAY IN RESPONSE TO ACTION TAKEN BY THE C-P-E THAT PLACED A CAP ON TUITION INCREASES AT ALL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENTUCKY.

I WILL BE GOING BEFORE THE C-P-E ON APRIL 5 TH TO FORMALLY REQUEST ITS APPROVAL OF THE NOW REVISED TUITION INCREASE THE BOARD APPROVED MONDAY, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY C-P-E.

AS A RESULT OF THE CAP IMPOSED BY THE C-P-E, OUR GROSS TUITION REVENUES WILL BE THREE-POINT-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS LESS THAN WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THE ORIGINAL BOARD-APPROVED TUITION PLAN FOR 06-07.

THIS CERTAINLY LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO FUND A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN POSSIBLE.

WHILE NO DECISION TO INCREASE TUITION IS MADE LIGHTLY, WE MUST HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES AND REVENUES TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION. I BELIEVE EASTERN REMAINS A TREMENDOUS EDUCATIONAL VALUE FOR OUR STUDENTS … A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT IS BOTH AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.

FOR 100 YEARS, EASTERN HAS BEEN A SCHOOL OF OPPORTUNITY, AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SERVING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF OUR REGION, WHICH INCLUDES SOME OF THE POOREST COUNTIES IN THE NATION.

IN SUPPORT OF THIS COMMITMENT, THE UNIVERSITY HAS ALLOCATED THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR BUDGET FOR NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID …FUNDS WITH WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AWARD THIS YEAR MORE THAN 3,000 GRANTS TO OUR NEEDIEST STUDENTS ... AND ANTICIPATE DOING THE SAME IN THE YEARS TO COME.

WHILE WE’RE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO CARRY THROUGH WITH OUR ORIGINAL BOARD-APPROVED TUITION PLANS FOR 2006-2007, WE STILL BELIEVE THIS TO BE A PROGRESSIVE BUDGET FOR THE UNIVERSITY … ONE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES … AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF QUALITY FACULTY AND STAFF, WHILE MAINTAINING HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

MS. NEWSOM WILL SHOW SOME INTERESTING SLIDES IN A FEW MINUTES THAT GRAPHICALLY COMPARE STATE AND INSTITUTIONAL REVENUE SOURCES AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET.

IN ADDITION, I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH STATE APPROPRIATIONS HAVE RISEN THE LAST TWO YEARS AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF DECLINE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A NET FIVE-YEAR DECREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS PER F-T-E, OR FULL-TIME-EQUIVALENT STUDENT.

AFTER MONTHS OF THOROUGH AND THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS, THE BUDGET COUNCIL, CHAIRED BY PROVOST CHAPMAN AND COMPRISED OF THE DEANS, CHAIR OF THE FACULTY SENATE, CHAIR OF THE STAFF COUNCIL, THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE S-G-A AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS ACROSS CAMPUS, MADE BUDGET GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ME, WHICH I, IN TURN, RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

WHILE NOT IDEAL, THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS … MOVE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FORWARD … AND POSITION THE UNIVERSITY FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AND SUCCESS.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO, THAT THESE GUIDELINES SEEK TO INCORPORATE ACADEMIC INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIES RECOMMENDED BY THE PROVOST TO SUPPORT FACULTY AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING.

ADDITIONALLY, THESE BUDGET GUIDELINES INCORPORATE AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD THREE-POINT-FIVE PERCENT COST-OF-LIVING SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR HARD-WORKING FACULTY AND STAFF. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THIS INCREASE, ALONG WITH CORRESPONDING BENEFITS, IS THREE-POINT-NINE MILLION DOLLARS.

ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT ABLE TO INCORPORATE INTO THESE BUDGET GUIDELINES THE SAME DOLLAR LEVEL OF STAFF EQUITY FUNDING AS WAS THE CASE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THERE REMAINS A COMMITMENT ON MY PART TO FULLY FUND THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE … BUT IT MAY TAKE AN ADDITIONAL YEAR BEYOND THE ORIGINAL THREE-YEAR TARGET TO DO SO.

HOWEVER, THERE’S GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE FACT THAT WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AT THE SAME LEVEL. ALSO, OUR MOVE FROM A THREE-TIER PREMIUM STRUCTURE TO A MORE FLEXIBLE FOUR-TIER STRUCTURE WILL RESULT IN SAVINGS FOR SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE COVERAGE WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL ALLOW EMPLOYEES CONFIDENTIAL ACCESS TO IMPORTANT COUNSELING SERVICES.

OUR NEW EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM, LAUNCHED JUST THIS SPRING, WILL ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND, I AM CONFIDENT, EVENTUALLY REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS.

ALREADY, 50 EMPLOYEES HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE AS WELLNESS CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM. EARLIER THIS MONTH, MORE THAN 200 FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN HEALTH SCREENINGS AND OTHER WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES AT A CAMPUS HEALTH FAIR.

FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED EMPLOYEES, FEBRUARY’S HEALTH LIVING CHALLENGE WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY TO WELLNESS. EIGHTY EMPLOYEES REACHED THEIR GOALS FOR THE MONTH.

ALSO, AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, 25 FEMALE EMPLOYEES RECEIVED MAMMOGRAM SCREENINGS FROM AN ON-CAMPUS MOBILE UNIT.

I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS LIFE-CHANGING, AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING, PROGRAM.

AND SPEAKING OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT LAST MONTH THE NEW FITNESS AND WELLNESS CENTER OPENED MEMBERSHIP TO ALL CURRENT BENEFITS-ELIGIBLE FACULTY AND STAFF ON A PAID ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BASIS.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE BURKE WELLNESS CENTER CONTINUES TO BE OPEN TO CURRENT AND RETIRED FACULTY AND STAFF, STUDENTS AND E-K-U ALUMNI AT NO CHARGE.

HEALTH BENEFITS AND INSURANCE ARE JUST TWO OF SEVERAL AREAS WHERE WE EXPECT FIXED OPERATIONAL COSTS TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD.

ALTHOUGH WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL AT WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD IN CHECK RISING HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS, THE COMBINATION OF HEALTH INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT PLAN COSTS, UTILITIES ARE AREAS WHERE WE EXPECT COSTS TO CONTINUE TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT VARIOUS NEW ACADEMIC AND STUDENT SUPPORT INITIATIVES, WITH SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS TIED TO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PROVOST AND THE DEANS AS WELL AS OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.

ALONG WITH THE TUITION INCREASE, THE BUDGET GUIDELINES ALSO INCLUDE INCREASES IN OUR RESIDENCE HALL RATES AS A PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN TO MOVE TOWARD A SELF-SUPPORTING HOUSING OPERATION. MEAL PLAN COSTS WILL INCREASE MODESTLY.

IN EITHER CASE, WE BELIEVE THE COSTS REMAIN QUITE REASONABLE AND AMONG THE LEAST EXPENSIVE IN THE STATE.

AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST BUDGET GUIDELINES … AND SHOULD THE REMAINDER OF THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION TOSS US ANY CURVEBALLS, WE’LL MAKE ANY NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS AND COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH NEW RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND, AS FOR OUR MUCH-NEEDED NEW SCIENCE FACILITY, I REMAIN CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. THE HOUSE BUDGET APPROVED EARLIER IN THE SESSION DID INCLUDE 54 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR OUR THE SCIENCE FACILITY, BUT THE SENATE BUDGET DID NOT INCLUDE ANY FUNDING FOR THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK STATE REPRESENTATIVE HARRY MOBERLY JUNIOR AND STATE SENATOR ED WORLEY FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY.

I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WILL FUND OUR NEW SCIENCE BUILDING AT THE 54 MILLION DOLLAR LEVEL. WHILE THIS WOULD BE VERY GOOD NEWS FOR E-K-U, THIS AMOUNT IS WELL BELOW THE 83 MILLION DOLLARS WE REQUESTED, AND WE WILL HAVE TO BUILD THE FACILITY IN PHASES IF WE ARE FUNDED AT FIFTY-FOUR MILLION.

I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR MALCOLM FRISBIE FOR SHEPHERDING THE PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN PROCESS.

ALSO, OUR DAIRY MERGER PROJECT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WAS FULLY FUNDED AT APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGETS.

I ALSO REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT OUR STATE APPROPRIATIONS WILL BE INCREASED AND THAT WE WILL IN FACT RECEIVE FUNDING FOR OUR SCIENCE BUILDING AS WELL AS A NEW MANCHESTER CAMPUS.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK STATE REPRESENTATIVE HARRY MOBERLY AND STATE SENATOR ED WORLEY FOR THEIR HARD WORK, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY FOR E-K-U IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

OF COURSE, ANY CHANGES IN ENROLLMENT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, AND THE NEWS THERE CONTINUES TO BE ENCOURAGING. AS OF MARCH 1 ST, OUR SPRING ENROLLMENT WAS 14,985, UP ABOUT ONE PERCENT OVER THE SPRING 2005 HEADCOUNT. SINCE 2000, TOTAL HEADCOUNT ENROLLMENT HAS INCREASED BY ALMOST 11 PERCENT.

FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT ENROLLMENT, AS DEFINED BY THE C-P-E, HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 12 PERCENT SINCE 2000 … AND FULL-TIME HEADCOUNT ENROLLMENT BY MORE THAN 14 PERCENT SINCE 2001.

ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS FOR THIS FALL ARE VERY ENCOURAGING AS WELL.

MANY OF THESE NEW STUDENTS WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST TO ENJOY OUR NEWEST CAMPUS FACILITY. PHASE ONE OF OUR NEW BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER IS VIRTUALLY COMPLETE … FACILITIES SERVICES STAFF HAVE FINISHED THE FLOORS IN ANTICIPATION OF MOVING NEW FURNITURE IN BEGINNING APRIL 1 ST … AND WE EXPECT TO BE TEACHING SUMMER CLASSES THERE BEGINNING THIS MAY.

AS FOR PHASE TWO OF THE BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, MISTER STREET TELLS ME THAT PROGRAMMING MEETINGS WILL COMMENCE THIS WEEK AND VARIOUS CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE BROUGHT INTO THE DESIGN PROCESS AT APPROPRIATE TIMES. FINAL BID DOCUMENTS ARE ABOUT A YEAR FROM COMPLETION.

ALSO IN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, THE FORMAL PROPOSAL FOR OUR EXCITING NEW PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE P-G-A FOR ACCREDITATION … AND WE EXPECT A POSITIVE RESPONSE THIS SUMMER OR FALL.

TENTATIVELY, THE P-G-A ACCREDITATION TEAM EXPECTS TO VISIT OUR CAMPUS THIS SPRING, AND WE EXPECT TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAM THIS COMING FALL. WE ANTICIPATE THIS PROGRAM COULD ENROLL AS MANY AS 200 MAJORS WITHIN THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, LAST WEEK, I JOINED INTERIM DEAN DOCTOR HELM AND OTHERS FROM THE COLLEGE IN THE STATE CAPITOL FOR A CEREMONY RECOGNIZING OUR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND WESTERN’S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS.

ALSO THIS PAST WEEK IN RECOGNITION OF THAT MILESTONE … OUR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION TREATED THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY TO A 100-FOOT-LONG CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY CAKE DURING THE LUNCH HOUR OVER IN THE POWELL STUDENT CENTER.

IN THE COLLEGE OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY, I WAS HONORED TO BE ON HAND LAST WEEK TO HELP PRESENT, ALONG WITH DEAN ALLEN AULT, THE COLLEGE’S DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL AWARD FOR 2006 TO CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS.

IN THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES RECEIVED NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FROM THE COUNCIL FOR ACCREDITATION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES. THIS ACCREDITATION IS EFFECTIVE THROUGH THE YEAR 2015.

OUR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WILL SEE SOME SWEEPING CHANGES IN OUR GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, BEGINNING THIS FALL. THESE CHANGES ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE BOTH THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF THE EDUCATION ALL OUR UNDERGRADUATES RECEIVE … TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THEIR CLASS CHOICES … AND TO BETTER PREPARE THEM TO THINK CRITICALLY AND SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY. ON THAT LATTER POINT, THE CHANGES REFLECT OUR Q-E-P THEME.

THE Q-E-P IS WELL ON ITS WAY AND THE Q-E-P COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED A GOOD RESPONSE FROM FACULTY ON THE CONCEPT PAPERS. THESE PAPERS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND THE COMMITTEE IS PREPARING RESPONSES BACK TO FACULTY.

THESE CHANGES, WHICH ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS, WERE DEVELOPED WITH THE INPUT OF ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR ACADEMIC COMMUNITY.

AS YOU KNOW, I APPOINTED A SMOKE FREE ZONE TASK FORCE TO REVIEW THE UNIVERSITY’S EXISTING SMOKING POLICY AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN THAT WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR TRANSITION THIS FALL TO NON-SMOKING RESIDENCE HALLS.

THIS TASK FORCE HAS DEVELOPED A PROPOSED POLICY TO REPLACE THE EXISTING SMOKING POLICY AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING CAMPUS INPUT ON THE PROPOSAL. AN ONLINE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED LAST WEEK AND THE LAST FORUM WAS HELD YESTERDAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT ON THIS IMPORTANT, HEALTH-RELATED MATTER.

I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR MICHAEL BALLARD FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THIS TASK FORCE.

I CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN … TRAVELING TO ALUMNI RECEPTIONS … AND MEETING WITH POTENTIAL DONORS. THAT CAMPAIGN HAS NOW PASSED THE HALFWAY MARK AT MORE THAN 13 MILLION DOLLARS.

LAST WEEK, ALMOST A HUNDRED OF OUR RETIREES ENJOYED TWO AFTERNOON TEAS IN THE KEEN JOHNSON BUILDING. THESE FORMER MEMBERS OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF REMAIN AN IMPORTANT, AND VALUED, PART OF THE EASTERN FAMILY … AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL THEY HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO TO HELP US ADVANCE THE UNIVERSITY.

WE’RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE SPRING SEMESTER, BUT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN AN ACCOMPLISHMENT-FILLED FEW WEEKS FOR OUR OUTSTANDING FACULTY. I WANT TO SHARE A FEW RECENT EXAMPLES …

FERRELL WELLMAN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, WILL BE INDUCTED IN APRIL INTO THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME. HE IS A PAST RECIPIENT OF THE SCRIPPS HOWARD NATIONAL JOURNALISM AWARD FOR RADIO NEWS, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL HEADLINER BEST OF SHOW AWARD.

ENGLISH PROFESSOR DOCTOR CHRISTINE DELEA [PRONOUNCED DUH-LAY] HAS PUBLISHED HER FIRST FULL-LENGTH BOOK OF POETRY, “THE SKELETON HOLDING UP THE SKY,” WHICH PLACED FIRST RUNNER-UP FOR THE 2005 MAIN STREET RAG POETRY BOOK AWARD. AUTHOR ALICE FRIMAN CALLED DOCTOR DELEA “WHITMAN’S KID COUSIN WITH AN ATTITUDE.”

DAVID AFSAH-MOHALLATEE [PRONOUNCED MO’-HA-LA’-TAY], ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ART AND DESIGN, HAS RECEIVED A KENTUCKY ARTS COUNCIL AL SMITH INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS FELLOWSHIP, VALUED AT $7,500. HIS WORKS HAVE BEEN EXHIBITED IN 22 STATES, INCLUDING ALASKA AND HAWAII, AS WELL AS SEVERAL FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

BY THE WAY, TODAY’S HIS BIRTHDAY, SO “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”

TOM THURMAN, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LOSS PREVENTION AND SAFETY, WAS INTERVIEWED ON CAMPUS RECENTLY FOR A PILOT PROGRAM FOR A DISCOVERY CHANNEL SERIES ON THE “FORENSICS OF TERRORISM.” PROFESSOR THURMAN, A 1969 GRADUATE AND SON OF FORMER ALUMNI RELATIONS DIRECTOR “SPIDER” THURMAN, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE PAN AM FLIGHT 103 EXPLOSION OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, WHICH KILLED 270 PEOPLE IN 1988.

PROFESSOR THURMAN WAS SERVING AT THE TIME AS A SPECIAL AGENT IN THE FBI’S EXPLOSIVES UNIT. THE PROGRAM WILL AIR LATER THIS YEAR.

ALSO, PROFESSOR THURMAN’S BOOK, “PRACTICAL BOMB SCENE INVESTIGATION,” WAS PUBLISHED RECENTLY. IT IS CONSIDERED THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE OF ITS TYPE.

RETIRED HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER DOCTOR BOBBY BARTON WAS AMONG FIVE INDIVIDUALS INDUCTED INTO THE FIRST HALL OF FAME CLASS OF THE KENTUCKY ATHLETIC TRAINERS SOCIETY. DOCTOR BARTON STARTED THE FIRST ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN KENTUCKY DEVOTED TO TRAINERS AND SERVED A TERM AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS ASSOCIATION. HE WAS NAMED IN 1996 TO THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME.

TWO DAYS AGO, FRANK X WALKER OF OUR CREATIVE WRITING FACULTY AND DIRECTOR OF OUR AFRICAN/AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM, WAS THE FIRST KENTUCKIAN TO BE FEATURED ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO’S “THIS I BELIEVE” PROGRAM, A NATIONAL SERIES OF PERSONAL ESSAYS FROM FAMOUS AND EVERYDAY AMERICANS ON CORE VALUES AND BELIEFS. PROFESSOR WALKER IS REGARDED AS AMERICA’S LEADING “AFFRILACHIAN” POET.

IN THE SEGMENT, WHICH AIRED AS PART OF THE “MORNING EDITION” PROGRAM, PROFESSOR WALKER TALKED ABOUT GROWING UP IN DANVILLE AND THE POWER OF CREATIVITY.

EARLIER THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, PROFESSOR WALKER WAS ONE OF ONLY NINE INDIVIDUALS NATIONALLY TO RECEIVE A LANNAN LITERARY AWARD AND ONE OF ONLY THREE KENTUCKIANS TO HAVE EARNED THE HONOR IN THE LANNAN FOUNDATION’S 17-YEAR HISTORY, JOINING THE DISTINGUISHED COMPANY OF WENDELL BERRY AND CHRIS OFFUTT.

DOCTOR TIM ROSS OF OUR TECHNOLOGY FACULTY IS ONE OF ONLY 12 PROFESSORS SELECTED NATIONALLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY SPONSORED BY THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

ALSO, DOCTOR ROSS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A ONE-YEAR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEVELOP A CADRE OF LEADERS WHO HAVE THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF WORKFORCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

DOCTOR CAROLE GARRISON, CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND POLICE STUDIES, WAS AMONG THE HONOREES AT THE FIRST OHIO WOMEN OF HISTORY DINNER, HELD RECENTLY IN CANTON. DOCTOR GARRISON CHAIRED THE OHIO COUNCIL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATORS AND SERVED ON THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN.

DOCTOR JANNA VICE, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, RECEIVED THE OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER AWARD AT THE ASSOCIATION FOR BUSINESS COMMUNICATION-SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES CONFERENCE. DOCTOR VICE AND COLLEAGUE DOCTOR LANA CARNES RECEIVED THE 2006 DISTINGUISHED PAPER AWARD AT THE CONFERENCE.

DOCTOR DAVID GALE, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, HAS BEEN SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR DIETETICS EDUCATION OF THE AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION.

DOCTOR RON JONES’ GROUND-BREAKING BOOK “PLANT LIFE OF KENTUCKY” HAS BEEN NOMINATED BY THE COUNCIL ON BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL LIBRARIES AS A SIGNIFICANT WORK IN BOTANICAL OR HORTICULTURAL LITERATURE. THE BOOK IS NOW IN ITS SECOND PRINTING BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY.

OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES AS WELL.

STAFF MEMBERS OF THE EASTERN PROGRESS WON BOTH ON-SITE DEADLINE COMPETITIONS AND TOOK HOME 14 OTHER AWARDS AT THE KENTUCKY INTERCOLLEGIATE PRESS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION.

MORE RECENTLY, THE PROGRESS WAS NAMED THE BEST ALL-AROUND NON-DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER IN A SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS MARK OF EXCELLENCE COMPETITION THAT INCLUDED THE STATES OF KENTUCKY, ILLINOIS AND INDIANA.

I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR LIZ HANSEN FOR HER LEADERSHIP AS PROGRESS FACULTY ADVISER.

E-K-U TEAMS FINISHED SECOND AND TIED FOR EIGHTH PLACE IN THE RECENT MOCK TRIAL REGIONAL COMPETITION AT BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY AND QUALIFIED TO COMPETE AGAINST 63 OTHER TEAMS IN A NATIONAL EVENT IN DES MOINES, IOWA, NEXT WEEK.

ONLY THE TOP 10 TO 15 PERCENT OF TEAMS NATIONWIDE QUALIFY TO COMPETE AT THIS LEVEL. OTHER QUALIFYING PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, HARVARD AND COLUMBIA, TO NAME A FEW.

I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR SARA ZEIGLER, WHO SERVES AS FACULTY ADVISER TO OUR MOCK TRIAL TEAM.

IN OTHER CAMPUS NEWS …

I AM DELIGHTED TO REPORT THAT OUR ELECTRICAL RENOVATION WORK IS VIRTUALLY COMPLETE AND THE ENTIRE CAMPUS IS NOW SERVED BY THE NEW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MANY THANKS TO FACILITIES SERVICES DIRECTOR JAMES STREET AND HIS OUTSTANDING STAFF FOR SHEPHERDING THIS PROJECT THROUGH TO COMPLETION ... AND TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY FOR ITS PATIENCE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THE OLD BOWLING ALLEY SPACE ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE POWELL STUDENT CENTER IS BEING RENOVATED TO HOUSE THE POWELL STUDENT TECHNOLOGY CENTER. RENOVATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE THIS SUMMER TO ALLOW FOR A FALL 2006 OPENING.

THE BOARD APPROVED MONDAY THE DEDICATION OF LAND ADJACENT AND NORTH OF THE ASHLAND FIRE SCIENCE AND LABORATORY BUILDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

NOW DON’T WORRY – OUR DAIRY HERD IS NOT COMING BACK TO TOWN. THIS SPACE WILL BE USED FOR LABORATORIES SUCH AS SOIL JUDGING AND SURVEYING … AND FOR HOSTING CAMPUS EVENTS.

I ALSO WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF EVENTS ON CAMPUS LATER THIS SPRING.

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 28 TH, AT 2:30 P.M., AS PART OF OUR ALUMNI WEEKEND AND CENTENNIAL FESTIVITIES, WE WILL HOLD A RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR ONE OF OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS – THE KEEN JOHNSON BUILDING.

OF COURSE, THE CAPSTONE EVENT FOR THAT WEEKEND IS OUR ALUMNI AWARDS BANQUET SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 29 TH. WE’LL BE INDUCTING FIVE MOST DESERVING MEN AND WOMEN INTO OUR HALL OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI.

THESE INDUCTEES ARE FOUNDATION BOARD AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CHAIR DUSTY MCCOY, NOW CHAIRMAN AND C-E-O OF THE BRUNSWICK CORPORATION, A FORTUNE 200 COMPANY … DOCTOR AARON THOMPSON, OUR ASSOCIATE V-P OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FOR UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS …

… FRANK NASSIDA, THE CAPTAIN OF OUR 1954 TANGERINE BOWL FOOTBALL TEAM AND A RETIRED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR … GEORGE NORTON, A RETIRED VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE CORE STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION … AND, POSTHUMOUSLY, JACQUELINE MILLER SMITH, WHO WAS THE FOUNDER AND CO-OWNER OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, ONE OF THE FIRST CLINCIAL DRUG RESEARCH COMPANIES WORLDWIDE OWNED BY WOMEN.

DAVID LAWHORN, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE KENTUCKY HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY, WILL RECEIVE THE YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD AND DOCTOR LANA CARNES IN BUSINESS AND DOCTOR JACK RUTHERFORD IN EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCE WILL RECEIVE THE ALUMNI AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE.

ON MAY 13 IS OUR SPRING COMMENCEMENT. OUR FEATURED SPEAKER FOR THE MORNING SESSION WILL BE SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL … AND, FOR THE AFTERNOON SESSION, E-K-U ALUM AND T-V AND MOVIE STAR LEE MAJORS. I HOPE YOU’LL WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR FESTIVITIES THAT DAY.

IN ATHLETICS, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT AS WE NEAR THE END OF OUR NCAA CERTIFICATION PROCESS, THE N-C-A-A SITE TEAM WILL BE ON OUR CAMPUS FOR ITS OFFICIAL VISIT APRIL 23 RD, 24 TH AND 25 TH. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT VISIT … AND WE EXPECT TO LEARN OF OUR RE-CERTIFICATION IN JULY. I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR LARRY COLLINS FOR CHAIRING THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

BEFORE I TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO MS. NEWSOM, I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. YOU ALL HAVE A VALUABLE ROLE TO PLAY AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FORWARD TOWARD OUR GOAL OF NATIONAL DISTINCTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF SERVING AS YOUR PRESIDENT.

MS. NEWSOM …