November 20, 2003

Vol. 14, No. 20

The "8 1/2 x 11 News" is published each week by the University Advancement Division. News of campus interest should be sent to one of the following editors:   Ed Delaney, 412-268-1609 (ed47@andrew.cmu.edu)
  Bruce Gerson, 412-268-1613 (bg02@andrew.cmu.edu)
  Susan Cribbs, 412-268-7521 (cribbs@andrew.cmu.edu)

The newsletter is available on the official.cmu-news and cmu.misc.news bulletin boards.

2001 Editions are available online.

2002 Editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

American children aren't doing very much homework, and what little homework they are doing may not be helping them learn, according to a study co-authored by History Professor Steven Schlossman and RAND Corp. social scientist Brian Gill, a Carnegie Mellon alumnus. The study, published in the fall issue of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, found that the vast majority of American children at all grade levels spend less than one hour each night on homework–an amount that has remained consistent for most of the last 50 years.

—These findings not only contradict media accounts that today's students are overburdened with homework, but also dispel the myth that there was a golden age in American schooling when children studied furiously every night. From the 1890s through the 1940s, child health advocates and progressive educators crusaded against homework; the former believed it threatened children's physical and mental well-being, while the latter argued that it served no legitimate academic purpose and even undermined children's education.

—Information: www.cmu.edu/PR/releases03/031112_under.html

SCS TO IMPLEMENT DUAL DEGREE WITH WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY IN KOREA

The School of Computer Science (SCS) and Ewha Woman's University's Graduate School of Business Administration in Korea will implement a dual degree program beginning next fall. Ewha students will be able to obtain an MBA from Ewha and a Master of Science in Information eBusiness Technology degree from Carnegie Mellon. Ewha is the largest women's university in the world. Information: official.cmu-news, Nov. 18.

INTEGRATED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COURSE RECEIVES AWARD

Carnegie Mellon's Integrated Product Development course received the 2003 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Curriculum Innovation Award on Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C. The course is taught by an interdisciplinary team of faculty including Jonathan Cagan, professor of engineering; Craig Vogel, professor of design; and Laurie Weingart, professor of organizational behavior and theory. The award is given to the course that demonstrates a significant advancement in engineering education, has the potential for significant impact on meeting the changing needs of the profession, has the ability to be adapted by many schools in an affordable and effective manner and shows a likelihood of being widely adopted. During the semester-long class, engineering students, MBA students and industrial design students collaborate on interdisciplinary teams to create products for a corporate sponsor.

GRANT TO INCREASE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AT GRAD LEVEL

The School of Computer Science (SCS) has received a $400,000, three-year grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to fund a program aimed at increasing the number of women studying computer science at the graduate level. The new program, "Women@IT," will place special emphasis on attracting women who have done their undergraduate work in fields outside of computer science, such as mathematics, biology, physics or psychology. It will build upon the success of SCS' eight-year-old initiative to attract and retain women in the computer science undergraduate program. Since that effort began in 1995, the number of women entering at the undergraduate level has increased fivefold from 8 percent to 35-40 percent. "The grant is a significant recognition of our progress at the undergraduate level and our plans to adapt its successful strategies to our graduate programs," said SCS Distinguished Career Professor Lenore Blum, who will direct Women@IT in conjunction with co-directors Jeannette Wing and Carol Frieze. Information: news.cs.cmu.edu/Releases/demo/129.html

APPLICATIONS FOR FIFTH YEAR SCHOLAR PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE

Student applications for the Fifth Year Scholar program are available in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, Warner Hall 301, and online at www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/fifth. The Fifth Year Scholar program offers an opportunity for a small number of exceptional students who have contributed in outstanding ways to the academic and extracurricular life of the university to remain at Carnegie Mellon for one full year following the completion of their normal course of study. Fifth Year Scholars are supported by free tuition and a scholarship grant. Designed to provide outstanding students with an opportunity to broaden their educational background–likely in an entirely different area from their major field–the program gives these students a chance for personal and professional growth while allowing the campus community to benefit from their extended stay at Carnegie Mellon. The application process consists of an open round of applications, followed by a select round of interviews.

—Applications are due by Feb. 16. Offers will be made in mid-April.

NEWS BRIEFS

—A Faculty/Staff blood drive will take place from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the Connan Room, University Center. Send e-mail to SStonick@itxm.org to schedule an appointment.

—Carnegie Mellon will receive a $15,000 grant from ExxonMobil as part of the company's program to assist their top recruiting colleges and universities. The business school will receive $8,000 and the College of Engineering $7,000. The amount awarded is determined by the number of ExxonMobil employees who studied at Carnegie Mellon and the company's success in recruiting at the school. More than 70 alumni are employed by ExxonMobil.

—Staff Council is selling the 2004 Entertainment Books as a service to the campus community for $20 per copy. The 2004 books can be used immediately for discounts at restaurants, movies, sporting events and attractions. Two editions are available: "Pittsburgh" and "Pittsburgh East." The east edition includes coupons for Pittsburgh and the eastern suburbs. Both editions are available from Staff Council representatives listed on official.cmu-news, Nov. 17.

—The College of Engineering (CIT) is seeking nominations for its annual "Staff Recognition Award," which honors a CIT staff member whose job performance and dedication merit special recognition. It is also seeking applications for the "Burrit Education Award." Any staff member continuing their education at any degree level for the calendar year 2003 is eligible for nomination. For a copy of the criteria and guidelines for these awards, send email to ac65@andrew.cmu.edu. Address nominations to CIT Staff Awards, CIT Dean's Office, Scaife Hall 110. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 25.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Mechanical Engineering professor Bill Messner has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The Fellow Grade recognizes significant engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession.

—Seniors Dan Gilman and Brandon Greenland have been named Fellows of the Center for the Study of the Presidency in Washington DC. The non-partisan center actively counsels the White House and the Executive Branch on policy areas critical to strengthening Presidential leadership by reaching out to the creativity and innovation in the private sector, public policy centers, and academic communities. Dan and Brandon will work closely with an academic advisor on campus, as well as a community advisor in Washington, over the academic year researching a specific challenge that the modern presidency faces. Further information: www.thepresidency.org.

—Anne Rosse, former assistant dean for external relations at the School of Information and Computer Science, University of California at Irvine, has been appointed Director of development for Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science. During her first year, Rosse will be on the West Coast, where many Computer Science alumni work and live. After one year, she and her family plan to relocate to Pittsburgh.

—Elaine A. King, professor of art history/theory in the College of Fine Arts, delivered a paper on Nov. 12, titled "A Cultural Tapestry in an After Post Present" at the 37th annual Association of International Art Critics Congress (AIAC) in Bridgetown, Barbados. She has been invited to be a plenary speaker at the forthcoming AIAC Congress in Taiwan.

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, the next issue of the 8 1/2 x 11 News will be published on Thursday, Dec. 4.

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