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UNC-CH eyes 9% tuition, fee hike
Tuition, BOG, UNC systemUNC-CH trustees approve tuition, fee increase
TuitionPhil Kirk to serve as assistant to dean of NCSU's College of Management
Phil Kirk's assignment as special assistant to the dean of the College of Management
Kirk
gets temporary job at NCSU
Phil Kirk's assignment as special assistant to the dean of the College of Management,
Ira R. Weiss
From
the field
Centennial Campus companies - N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Municipal
wireless network connects
Mention of an agreement between NCSU and Nortel for a wireless network
to cover the entire campus
Outdoor
education center focus becomes clearer
Nilda Cosco, College
of Design’s Natural Learning Initiative
Raleigh
Jaycees to Hold 14th Annual Brookhill
McKimmon Center activities/events
From
the field
Centennial Campus companies - N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Home
improvement
Activities/events involving NCSU experts in soil sampling
‘Living
laboratory' outlined on paper; ecology-themed high school needs funds
Partnership for proposed ecology-themed high school in Halifax County
Wachovia
Executive Lecture Series featuring Col. Jack Jacobs (Ret.) - Jan 26
at NCSU
College of Management, Wachovia Executive Lecture Series
Obit.:
Denise Machala Wood
Former employee of the Office of Undergraduate
Fellowship Advising
Phil Kirk to serve as assistant to dean of NCSU's College of Management
Jan. 26, 2006
Carolina Newswire (NC), Raleigh Triangle Business Journal, dBusinessNews Triangle
By staff report
© Copyright 2006
RALEIGH, NC -- Phil Kirk, former president and CEO of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry (NCCBI), the State Chamber of Commerce and the State Manufacturing Association, is on short-term assignment as special assistant to the dean of North Carolina State University’s College of Management. He will be working with the dean’s office to help identify new partnerships and build relationships between the college and the state’s business community. “We are very pleased that Phil is able to join the college at this time, and to help us as we continue developing relationships with business and industry throughout the state,” said Ira R. Weiss, dean. “The relationships that he has cultivated over the years will be a tremendous asset to us as we try to open more doors and communicate the benefits of active engagement with the College of Management.”
Kirk’s distinguished career includes roles in education, journalism, government, and business. During his 16-year tenure with NCCBI, he served on numerous statewide boards and committees, including chairing the working committees for the two largest successful bond issues in the state’s history: $2.75 billion for schools and roads in 1996 and $3.1 billion for community colleges, the UNC System, and UNC TV in 2000. He also made several hundred member relations visits across the state annually, and wrote articles, columns and editorials for North Carolina Magazine.
His career includes several firsts. When elected senator from Rowan County in 1970, at age 25, he became the youngest state senator in North Carolina history. In 1972, then Gov. Jim Holshouser selected him as secretary of the Department of Human Resources, making him the state’s youngest cabinet member ever.
Kirk later chaired Gov. Jim Martin’s transition team in 1984. He served a second term as secretary of Human Resources and in 1987 was named chief of staff, a position he held until accepting his role with NCCBI in 1989. He simultaneous served as chair of the state board of education for six years under Gov. Jim Hunt and Gov. Mike Easley.
Early in his career, he was a reporter for the Salisbury Post and taught journalism and English at Knox Junior High and Salisbury High School. He is a graduate of Catawba College, and has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree and the O.B. Michael Award as outstanding alumnus of the college. He also received the I.E. Ready Award, the top recognition of the North Carolina community college system, and the Holderness-Weaver award from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for outstanding public service.
Jan. 26, 2006
Durham Herald Sun
By ROB SHAPARD
© Copyright 2006
CHAPEL HILL -- Nearly three quarters of the downtown businesses responding to a recent survey are interested in some form of a municipal wireless network the town might help create, UNC researcher Shannon Schelin said Wednesday.
"That really did surprise me," Schelin said about the 70 percent of businesses that expressed an interest. "I didn't expect a number quite that high."
Schelin, interim director of the Center for Public Technology at UNC's School of Government, went over the survey results with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership on Wednesday. Working with the partnership, Schelin sent out the survey to 242 businesses around downtown in the fall. She reported getting back 76 responses, a return rate of about 31 percent.
Some members of the town's Technology Committee and other wireless supporters have been urging local officials to consider various ways for expanding the wireless, or wi-fi, service that members of the public can access.
Schelin said she is a proponent of technology in general, and she felt Chapel Hill was a good spot for such a network, provided it was done well enough to meet the high expectations that users likely would have for qualities like reliability.
"I can't see any reason not to have it, as long as the town wants to make the investment," she said.
Various local businesses already offer wireless access to customers, who can connect to the Internet from laptop computers.
But the idea would be to create a more comprehensive wireless network, perhaps starting with downtown and expanding from there. And supporters point out that users could do more than just check e-mail or surf the Internet.
Among the questions are what role the town might play in areas like helping fund the network and maintain it, and whether the Downtown Partnership would play any role as well. The partnership board agreed Wednesday that it wants executive director Liz Parham to stay in the loop as the discussion goes forward, but that the board wasn't going to lead that discussion.
Board member Nancy Suttenfield, a UNC vice chancellor, said she felt a fairly small committee of people with interest and expertise should be established to lead the effort.
Earlier this month, Town Councilwoman Laurin Easthom made a similar suggestion at the council's retreat, raising the idea of a new committee to explore the feasibility of a municipal wireless network. The council didn't talk at length about that idea at the retreat, although it did approve a petition from Easthom at its recent meeting to ask for a report from the Technology Committee within two months.
At the partnership meeting, Schelin said officials had several variations they could consider, ranging from the town setting up the network itself to finding a private partner to do the work.
Gregg Gerdau, chairman of the Technology Committee, mentioned an agreement that North Carolina State University apparently has reached with Nortel, in which that firm will create a wireless network to cover the entire campus -- at no cost to the university, he said.
Wi-fi proponents Will Raymond and Terri Buckner attended the meeting as well. When Schelin talked about some of the dollar figures that businesses currently pay to offer wireless service -- and the amount they might be willing to chip in for a municipal wireless network -- they noted that businesses might also base their opinions on whether a new network would allow them to cut the cost of their current telecommunication services.
Among the 76 businesses that responded to the survey, about 30 percent already offer wireless connections for their customers and/or their own use, Schelin reported. About 45 percent offer the service for free. In terms of what the businesses pay to provide the service, she said some have no cost, because their corporate headquarters pay for it.
About 35 percent of them pay less than $20 a month for the cost. Two businesses reported they paid between $121 and $140 in costs for wireless, she said.
Schelin said there weren't any clear factors, such as the age of the business or the ages of the clients the business targets, that matched up consistently with how the businesses felt about wireless.
Overall, she said, "People who believe wireless is important aren't just people catering to college students, which is a little different from what I expected to find."
Outdoor education center focus becomes clearer
Jan. 26, 2006
Cherokee Sentinel
By staff report
© Copyright 2006
A vision for an outdoor classroom for Cherokee County began to come into clearer focus Saturday at a workshop concerning the Marble Springs Outdoor Education Center.
The North Carolina State University School of Design’s Natural Learning Initiative conducted the workshop at Marble Elementary School, where Rep. Roger West has donated 4.4 acres beside and behind the school.
Nilda Cosco, education specialist of the Natural focus becomes Learning Initiative, said the
Marble Springs outdoor education center can be a model site that could inspire creation of other outdoor education centers.
Robin Moore, director of the Natural Learning Initiative, said children spend too much time indoors and they are getting overweight. The center would provide a place for children to be outdoors and to do school curriculum work outdoors.
“We have the chance to create something different in this region,” he said.
Moore said a community needs survey has been started and the results will come together in a document that will be called the design program.
A question to put on the table will be if the center will be open to the public on weekends and evenings.
Possible user groups for the property were families, youth groups, senior citizens, walkers, joggers, church groups, artists, tourists, scientists and researchers.
The center could possibly include playing and learning settings, pathways, arbors, trellises and shade structures, active water play settings, water gardens and flower and vegetable habitats.
“This could give kids a memorable education that they will never forget,” he said.
Another issue discussed was whether there should be some kind of shelter on the property. There was discussion of a place for small gatherings, perhaps about 50, for a place for students to learn.
There was a discussion of what to officially name the center. Someone said including the word “park” would make it attractive to children. However, that would make people think that it is open to the public 24-hours a day.
Col. Howard Lovingood, who is spearheading the project, said the title should include the word “education”.
It was agreed that including native American culture in the center would be an intriguing portion of the property.
It was also agreed that the center could be used by teachers and students in diverse subjects across the curriculum.
Assistant Cherokee County Manager David Badger said he doesn’t like the idea of charging a user fee or putting up gates to keep people out.
“When you put up barriers, you are limiting access,” he said.
School Board Chairman Dr. David Ackerman said the school system is open to various community organizations, such as heritage groups, using the facility.
Marble Springs Elementary Principal Carol Wishon said other schools in the area will be accommodated so more parking space will be needed.
Nicole Kelly, assistant director of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition, said they want to focus on water quality. The plan is to restore the original Marble Springs. Hyatt Creek, which runs through the property, is a designated trout stream so education can be incorporated into that fact, including how native Americans caught fish, with weirs.
With the direction given at the public workshop, Lovingood can move ahead with fund raising for the project.
Lovingood said the next thing that needs to be done is cleaning out the 4.4 acres because it is full of water heaters, tires, etc.
Raleigh Jaycees to Hold 14th Annual Brookhill
Jan. 26, 2006
Carolina Newswire
By staff report
© Copyright 2006
Raleigh, NC -- Despite the potential sale of the picturesque Clayton farm that the Raleigh Jaycees turn into the area's premiere sporting event every first Saturday in May, the 2006 Brookhill Steeplechase gallops on. For the 14th year, the Raleigh Jaycees will replace grazing cows with galloping horses and nearly 12,000 spectators when the group holds its Brookhill Steeplechase on May 6th. The Brookhill Steeplechase is the only nationally sanctioned steeplechase organized entirely by volunteers.
As the Triangle's premier sporting and entertainment event, the steeplechase attracts nearly 50 jockeys and horses each year and is the only steeplechase held in this area. Other North Carolina steeplechases include the Queen's Cup near Charlotte, and Stoneybrook, held in Southern Pines.
Spectators and participants come from all over the southeast to be a part of the Brookhill Steeplechase and the traditional tailgate before the event. It's the perfect way to get together and is suitable for people of all ages - families, groups of friends, young professionals and retirees. For those entertaining large groups, you can even purchase your own private tent package!
You can reserve your own tailgate space online at brookhillsteeplechase.com, call (919) 713-0033, or e-mail sales@brookhillsteeplechase.com to request a brochure. Tailgate spaces come with four to eight general admission passes and range from $100to $375 for each space. Tailgaters are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, drinks, lawn chairs, and blankets to enjoy the afternoon.
Groups of 20 or more are encouraged to purchase exclusive tent packages. The tents include tables and chairsfor you to enjoy a catered affair from one of approved caterers or on your own. The prices start at $600 and are enjoyed every year by groups celebrating company picnics, family reunions, and other special occasions.
The Raleigh Jaycees is an organization dedicated to leadership development through community service. This 235-member, all-volunteer civic organization runs more than 100 community service and leadership development projects each year. The Raleigh Jaycees are an affiliate organization of the N.C. Junior Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Junior Chamber International. Membership in the Jaycees is open to anyone between 21 and 40 years of age. The Raleigh Jaycees meet the first and third Tuesday of each month at the McKimmon Center on the North Carolina State University campus. For more information please visit www.raleighjaycees.org
Jan. 26, 2006
News & Observer
By Teri Boggess
© Copyright 2006
The new Coastal Recreational Fishing License goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2007, and the state's many recreational fishermen and out-of-state visitors will need places to buy them.
So, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are going on the road to scout out additional agents to sell the licenses.
Starting next week, staff from the DMF and WRC will hold meetings to review license requirements and to demonstrate sales procedures. The state expects to need an additional 200 agents along the coast to handle demand for the license, which will be required for fishing in N.C. waters, according to a news release.
Bait and tackle shops, boat dealers and coastal businesses are encouraged to attend the meetings. Agents can earn 6 percent on the sale of each license while providing a service to their customers.
The meetings, which start at 1 p.m., will be held:
* Wednesday at Festival Park, Manteo;
* Feb. 7, Crystal Coast Civic Center, Morehead City;
* and Feb. 9, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Drive, Wilmington.
For more information, contact Grace Kemp at (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632.
Proposals affect crows, mute swans
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will hold a Jan. 31 public hearing on proposed changes to state regulations on crows and mute swans.
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in the first-floor auditorium of the commission's new building, located at 1751 Varsity Drive on the Centennial Campus of N.C. State University in Raleigh. The commission will hear public comments on three proposed regulatory changes -- one applying to crows and two to mute swans -- before voting at a March 1 meeting.
The crow proposal would add Thanksgiving Day to the legal season for crows, which now can be hunted on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from June 1 through Feb. 28 and on Labor Day and Christmas. Thanksgiving is a traditional crow-hunting day, but because of an oversight last year the day was omitted from the list.
The mute swan proposals would bar bringing or releasing the non-native birds into North Carolina. Mute swans, native to Europe and Asia, escaped from captivity in North America around 1910 and began multiplying. Highly aggressive, they have become a nuisance in East Coast states, particularly Maryland, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The Atlantic Flyway Council has recommended that member states, including North Carolina, take steps to prevent the species from expanding its range and displacing native waterfowl.
North Carolina's proposed rules would, first, follow federal law by removing the mute swan from the list of birds receiving legal protection. Second, the amended regulations would prohibit "importation, transportation, exportation, purchase, sale, stocking or releasing into public or private waters or lands" of a live mute swan. Exceptions include publicly financed zoos, research facilities and licensed wildlife rehabilitators, who can apply for permits from the commission.
Mail written comments to Kate Pipkin, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701, or e-mail wrccomments@ncwildlife.org. Include the writer's full name and address in case the commission has questions. The full text of the proposals is available at the Web site www.ncwildlife.org .
Bassmaster tour starts season today
The new, revamped and ramped up CITGO Bassmaster Southern Tour will hold its season-opening event today through Saturday on Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida, BASS said in a news release.
Along with the five-event Northern Tour, the two new Tours replace the former CITGO Bassmaster Opens and will serve as a lucrative feeder system into the big leagues of bass fishing -- the new CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series.
At stake this week is a $75,000 top prize, up from $50,000 in the Opens, BASS said.
Follow the competition online at www.bassmaster.com.
Jan. 26, 2006
Kannapolis Independent Tribune
By Tammy Griffin
© Copyright 2006
CONCORD - Deciding what to do to enhance the appearance of your home can be a challenge.
If you believe you may be among the yard challenged, then the Greater Charlotte Home & Landscape Show being held Friday through Sunday at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center may just have the cure.
“There will be thousands of square feet of displays of gardening and landscaping as well as professionals that can answer questions,” said Victoria French with Show Technology.
“Paul James and Harry Rinker from HGTV will be there. There will be local wineries displaying their wine and giving samples and Carolina Raptors will be there with their birds of prey.”
There will also be experts from N.C. State University holding a discussion on the importance of doing soil samples and how to take soil samples.
For those who wonder why nothing they plant ever grows, the answer may be in their soil and the type of vegetation they choose. Getting soil samples before planting can save time and money.
“Someone trying to do hardscaping on their own, their soil is going to be a problem,” said Julie Molrine, a landscaper and designer supervisor for Barefoot Lawnscape in Concord.
Carol and Don Bradford, owners of Barefoot Lawnscape on Wilshire Avenue, arrived at the arena at 8 a.m. Wednesday to begin setting up.
“We’re working on setting up an English garden,” Carol said as she worked on arranging winter cabbages, shrubbery and a water fountain.
The Bradfords are setting up a display with a house front and “yard” area that will have a 50-foot water stream, patio and landscaping to give visitors an idea of what can be done with their yards.
“People in the area don’t know who all of the landscapers are and where they are located,” Carol said. “They can come out, talk with us and show them that, yes, it can be done. We’re here to give people ideas.”
Carol suggested that visitors bring photographs of their yard to show to the professionals.
“With a picture, I can see what your yard looks like rather than trying to get an idea from a description,” Carol said.
Molrine said trying to provide as much information as possible about drainage and sunny or shady areas will also help when choosing the landscaping that is right.
“It doesn’t have to all be done at once,” Molrine said. “You can do it in phases and when in doubt, ask someone.”
French said the idea behind the show is to help people learn how to develop their landscapes and gardens easily and affordably.
She said this is the time of year when people begin to think about spring planting and the show will give them access to professionals who can help them with projects or do the project for them.
Don Bradford said they began working a month ago to prepare for the show.
“It takes that to set this thing up in two days,” he said. “We started our business 20 years ago with a weedeater, a mower and a pickup and we’ve built it from the ground up.”
Through learning and trial and error, the Bradfords have achieved a great deal of knowledge and said they specialize in turnkey landscaping.
“The show gives people a chance to see what’s possible,” Carol said. “If they want a 50-foot stream to run through their property, it can be done.”
• Contact Tammy Griffin at tgriffin@independenttribune.com or 704-789-9134.
IF YOU GO
What: The Greater Charlotte Home & Landscape Show
Where: Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, N.C. 49, Concord
When: Friday: 2-7 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $7 for adults; $3 for children 13-16; free for children 12 and under;
Friday only: $5 for persons aged 65 and older. Free admission to active duty
military personnel with valid ID. Parking is free.
Home show schedule
Friday
• 2-8 p.m. - Harry Rinker will give two verbal appraisals as well as
clinics and lectures on antiques
• 4 p.m. - Carolina Raptors
5:30 p.m. - Shannon Braswell will discuss soil sampling
Saturday
• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. - Harry Rinker
• 11:15 a.m. - David Goforth will give a seminar on trees
• Noon - Paul James
• 1:30 p.m. - Carolina Raptors
• 3 p.m. - Paul James
• 5:30 p.m. - Residential Mortgage will present “Don’t Just Add On. Add Value”
Sunday
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m. - Harry Rinker
• 11:15 a.m. - Residential Mortgage
• Noon - Carolina Raptors
• 1:30 p.m. - Paul James
• 3 p.m. - David Tarpy will hold a discussion on entomology
Kirk gets temporary job at NCSU
Jan. 26, 2006
News & Observer
By staff report
© Copyright 2006
Phil Kirk, who abruptly quit as the president of the state's top business
lobbying group in November, has joined N.C. State University's College
of Management.
Kirk will be on short-term assignment as special assistant to Ira R.
Weiss, the school's dean. The politically connected Kirk will help identify new partnerships
between the college and the state's business community, according to a statement
released late Wednesday.
"The relationships that he has cultivated over the years will be a tremendous asset to us as we try to open more doors," Weiss said in a prepared statement.
Kirk stepped down as president of the N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry after 16 years amid signs of dissatisfaction with his leadership among some members. The organization also had suffered financial problems in recent years amid the decline of the textile and furniture industries.
‘Living laboratory' outlined on paper; ecology-themed high school needs funds
Jan. 26, 2006
Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald
By Jennifer Heaslip
© Copyright 2006
HALIFAX - School officials have completed a detailed, 45-page plan outlining the specifics of a proposed ecology-themed high school in Halifax County.
Now all that's needed to create the state's first high school focusing on ecology, zoology, conservation, construction and green design is money, which Halifax County Schools officials hope will come from a grant administered by the state New Schools Project.
The plan and an application for funding to create the new school have been submitted, and Superintendent Willie Gilchrist hopes to hear the outcome in March. The State Department of Instruction approved the idea and more planning meetings were held, but the district now needs the funding. They haven't started selecting staff or students for the new school because they don't want to jump the gun, Gilchrist added.
The school will mean a high concentration of science and math for students, as well as a lot of hands-on and lifelong learning experiences offered through partnerships with Sylvan Waterfowl Center, the N.C. Zoo and others. Students will still be able to take elective classes such as band, chorus and art, but will have to travel to their home schools. They will also be able to participate in after-school activities such as athletics.
The plan
The autonomous school will be housed in a wing at Southeast Halifax High and will have its own principal, counselor, seven core teachers and 100 students in its first year, the plan states. Another 100 students will be added to the school each year until hitting 400 students in its fourth year.
They will partner with the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center, 10 miles from Southeast in Scotland Neck, and the N.C. Zoo to incorporate the school's central themes into the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, stressing rigor, relevance and relationships. Students will primarily come from Halifax County Schools, but students from all six districts in the Roanoke River Valley Education Consortium will be welcomed.
Other partners include Roanoke Construction Group, Communities in Schools in the Northeast, Halifax Community College, Elizabeth City State University, N.C. State, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and others.
The RRVEC was created in 1994 as a tool for area school superintendents to pool resources and apply for grants based on shared demographics, needs and other commonalties. The RRVEC consists of the Halifax, Northampton, Bertie, Hertford and Warren county school systems and Weldon City Schools. About three years ago, the organization decided they wanted the ecology high school, which is a part of Halifax County Schools because of its proximity to the waterfowl center.
The cost of the new school for each of the first three years would be $599,494, according to the budget proposal submitted with the plan. The largest amount - $468,152 - is needed for classroom teachers, a principal and a counselor, plus $58,842 for administrative support. Other money would be used for textbooks, instructional supplies, travel and computer software and supplies.
The plan states that the partners are already scheduling professional development for teachers in the district. Teachers will have to travel to districts that have effectively established new school models and to professional development sites, and experts must be brought into the county.
“The N.C. Zoo, for example, has offered full use of its facilities and educational experts to help teachers learn how to incorporate zoology into the curriculum, but their classrooms are on the other side of the state,” the plan says. “Grant funding will basically be used to get HCSE up and running so it can continue into the future.”
The plan also says that “Classes will not be thought of in terms of periods in a day, which is a traditional high school concept, but in terms of the instructional needs of students and courses. Class lengths and times will vary, perhaps daily, to allow for greater personalization of learning.”
The school will challenge students to make relevant connections between the real world and their studies, and that teachers will have high expectations and standards.
“Students will take courses requiring critical thinking skills. They will have the opportunity to enroll at a community college or four-year college. Students will also have the opportunity to take online or distance learning courses to accelerate the learning process if those courses are not available locally,” the plan states.
“Partners will also provide mentoring, hands-on activities, internships and other work-based learning experiences to students.
“Every student will have a personalized education plan that will be developed based on his or her gifts, aptitudes, interests and learning styles. Long-term student projects will be based on their passions and interests as they evolve ... Quantitative measures (such as state-mandated tests) would be utilized, but students would also be expected to demonstrate what they have accomplished academically through portfolios, journals, exhibits, artwork and other individualized and creative projects that demonstrate real understanding ...”
Students and parents will have input in how the classroom and school are structured. Officials also want to involve the community in educating the students. “The life lessons, the cultural perceptions, and stored wisdom of parents, grandparents, local business owners and many others can be utilized by teachers to create lessons ....” the plan states.
Wachovia Executive Lecture Series featuring Col. Jack Jacobs (Ret.) - Jan 26 at NCSU
Jan. 26, 2006
Carolina Newswire
By staff report
© Copyright 2006
NC State College of Management
Date: Thursday, Jan. 26, 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Event: Wachovia Executive Lecture Series
Speaker: Col. Jack Jacobs (Ret.) speaking on the topic: Lessons from Combat. He is a political analyst for NBC and a military analyst for MSNBC. Col. Jacobs will speak for the first half hour, and take questions from the audience for about 20 minutes afterwards.
Where: NC State College of Management, Nelson Hall, Nelson Auditorium (third floor), corner of Hillsborough Street and Dan Allen Drive, Raleigh
Please contact Anna Rzewnicki at 919.513.4478 or amrzewni@gw.fis.ncsu.edu if planning to attend.
Background
Col. Jack Jacobs to present first Wachovia Executive Lecture for 2006
Jan. 6, 2006 - Jack Jacobs, retired U.S. Army Colonel, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and NBC military and political analyst, will lead off the Winter-Spring 2006 Wachovia Executive Lecture Series hosted by NC State’s College of Management. Jacobs will be speaking Thursday, Jan. 26, at 4:30 p.m., at the college’s Nelson Auditorium. The College of Management is located in Nelson Hall at the corner of Hillsborough and Dan Allen Drive in Raleigh. There is no charge to attend the lecture, and parking is available in the Dan Allen Parking Deck on the NC State Campus.
In his presentation, “Lessons from Combat,” Jacobs will discuss how he has applied lessons in leadership and management from his distinguished military career to his business career.
Jacobs currently is an on-camera military and political analyst for NBC, and holds the McDermott Chair of Humanities and Public Affairs at the U.S. Military Academy. He also is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Since 1996, he has been managing partner of the Fitzroy Group in London , a firm that specializes in the development of residential real estate in London and invests both for its own account and in joint ventures with other institutions. He also serves on the boards of directors of a number of charitable organizations and is the vice chairman of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.
Previously, Jacobs was a founder and chief operating officer of AutoFinance Group Inc, one of the firms to pioneer the securitization of debt instruments; the firm was subsequently sold to Key Bank. He also was a managing director of Bankers Trust, where he ran foreign exchange options worldwide and was a partner in the institutional hedge fund business.
Born in Brooklyn , NY , Jacobs holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rutgers University and entered the U.S. Army in 1966 as a Second Lieutenant through the ROTC program. He served as a platoon leader in the 82 nd Airborne Division and executive officer of an infantry battalion in the 7 th Infantry Division, and commanded the 4 th Battalion 10 th Infantry in Panama . A member of the faculty of the U.S. Military Academy, he taught international relations and comparative politics for three years, and was a member of the faculty of the National War College in Washington , D.C. Jacobs was in Vietnam twice, both times as an advisor to Vietnamese infantry battalions. He is among the most highly decorated soldiers from that era, having earned three Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars and the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest combat decoration. He retired as a Colonel in 1987.
The Wachovia Executive Lecture Series, hosted by NC State's College of Management, features business and industry leaders who share their knowledge about what it takes to achieve success in their fields.
UNC-CH eyes 9% tuition, fee hike
Jan. 26, 2006
News & Observer
By Jane Stancill
© Copyright 2006
Tuition and fees at UNC-Chapel Hill could increase next year by 9 percent for in-state undergraduates and nearly 7 percent for out-of-state students under a plan recommended Wednesday by the university's trustees.
The plan will likely win final approval next month by the UNC system's Board of Governors.
If the proposal were approved, UNC-CH undergraduates from North Carolina would pay $250 more per year in tuition while those from out-of-state would pay $1,100 more. The tuition tab would climb by $500 for graduate students.
Student fees are on their way up, too. Fees are expected to climb by $170 for undergraduates and $166 for graduate students. The proposal includes a $50 athletic fee increase, which students had strongly opposed.
The UNC-CH trustees' plan would bring the campus nearly $5 million a year. The money would be used for financial aid, faculty salary increases, reduced class sizes and better pay for graduate student teaching assistants.
Trustees said the increases were in line with their overall tuition philosophy, which is to keep tuition low for North Carolinians but charge market-driven rates for out-of-staters. Still, there was some concern that an out-of-state price tag approaching $20,000 could discourage some non-North Carolinians from applying.
Chancellor James Moeser had recommended increases of $275 for North Carolina students and $900 for out-of-state students, saying, "I don't want our nonresident students to feel that we view them as cash cows."
Trustees said they were more comfortable with a smaller increase for in-state students, whose tuition and student fees bill would reach $5,033 -- an increase of $420 over the current year. That is less than the $451 ceiling on tuition and fee increases urged by the systemwide Board of Governors.
Trustee Chairman Nelson Schwab said it would be a good political move to send to the UNC system a recommendation under the cap, "given the heartburn of last summer."
Senate leaders made a move last year to give tuition-setting power to the campus trustees at UNC-CH and N.C. State University, instead of the UNC system's board, which currently controls tuition.
The legislation failed, but it set up a battle between leaders of the flagship campuses and the UNC system.
Tuition decisions have become a volatile issue on the campuses in the past few years as rates have soared.
More than 100 graduate students had sent letters to trustees opposing large tuition increases. A jump of $500 can be a big burden for a grad student, said Jenn Carter of the Graduate and Professional Student Federation.
"That's someone's child care for a month or groceries for a couple of months," she said.
Despite the increases, trustees made the point that a UNC-CH education is a bargain compared with universities nationally. Earlier this month, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine ranked UNC-CH as the best value in the United States among public university campuses.
"It's still a relative value of major proportions," Schwab said.
Students held no raucous protest of the tuition increases. But the athletic fee drew scorn.
On Wednesday, the opinion editor for The Daily Tar Heel campus newspaper took the unusual step of speaking against the fee, which would help pay for the renovation of the 1960s basketball arena Carmichael Auditorium.
Chris Cameron said it was unreasonable for students to shell out $50 to athletics, which he called one of the richest departments on campus. The student athletic fee doubled last year, and the athletics department recently inked an advertising contract with Wachovia worth $9 million over eight years.
"Tuition people understand because it goes to things we need," Cameron said. "Athletic fees do not."
Staff writer Jane Stancill can be reached at 956-2464 or janes@newsobserver.com.
UNC-CH trustees approve tuition, fee increase
Jan. 26, 2006
Durham Herald-Sun
By Jamie Schuman
© Copyright 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Trustees approved increases for tuition and fees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that are less for in-state students and more for out-of-state students than the chancellor recommended.
Trustees on Wednesday approved increases of 9 percent for in-state undergraduates, or $250 more per year; and nearly 7 percent for out-of-state students, or $1,100 more.
The UNC system's Board of Governors will consider the proposal next month.
Chancellor James Moeser had recommended increases of $275 for North Carolina students and $900 for out-of-state students.
"I don't want our nonresident students to feel that we view them as cash cows," he said.
But trustees said the increases matched their philosophy of keeping tuition low for North Carolinians but charging market-driven rates for out-of-state students.
The tuition tab would climb by $500 for graduate students.
Student fees are expected to increase by $170 for undergraduates and $166 for graduate students. The proposal includes a $50 athletic fee increase, which students had opposed.
In-state students would pay $5,033 a year, an increase of $420 from the current year, while the out-of-state cost would approach $20,000 annually.
The additional $5 million a year from the increases would be used for financial aid, faculty salary increases, reduced class sizes and better pay for graduate student teaching assistants.
The board also voted to be more consistent and predictable in its long-term plans for tuition and fee increases, starting next year. The trustees will try to draft multiyear guidelines about how much tuition could rise.
"It will help in educating both students and parents on what to expect on an annual basis," Board of Trustees Chairman Nelson Schwab said of the measure, which student body president Seth Dearmin wrote.
2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Media Tour ~ Day Three
Jan. 26, 2006
Insider Racing News
By staff report
© Copyright 2006
A North Carolina Motorsports Education breakfast hosted by Nationwide opened the third day of the NASCAR Nextel Media Tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway. The event took place at the Hilton University Place in Charlotte, N.C., and focused on educational programs that support the motorsports industry.
Participating schools included: Catawba Valley Community College and its Bobby Isaac Motorsports Program in Hickory, N.C.; the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C.; Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C.; Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Concord, N.C.; North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C.; and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C.
Other North Carolina colleges and universities with motorsports programs include Duke University; North Carolina State University; Central Piedmont Community College; Davidson County Community College; Forsyth Technical Community College; Wilkes Community College; and Pit Instruction and Training in Mooresville.
Panel members were Dr. Owen Furuseth (UNCC); Richmond Gage (RCCC); Thurman Exum (NC A&T); Dr. Bill Thierfelder (Belmont-Abbey); Mary Miller (CVCC); and John Dodson (NASCAR Tech. Inst.).
As part of the program, Nationwide Insurance announced it will extend its relationship with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) for four more years. As part of the extended partnership, Nationwide will provide race fans with a number of programs designed to enhance race day enjoyment. Fans at Speedway Motorsports, Inc. facilities will have a chance to enjoy programs ranging from transportation around tracks to fan-friendly comfort zones.
"Nationwide has always been 'On Your Side' and our new fan programs will be a great way to demonstrate this to race fans at some of the best racing venues in NASCAR," said John Aman, advertising and brand officer for Nationwide. "We are pleased to be involved in such a great sport and hope to be able to give something back to the great fans that support it."
H.A. "HUMPY" WHEELER (President and General Manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway): "You've read a lot about North Carolina's strong push to solidify and anchor the North Carolina Motorsports industry and make sure we keep it here. There have been two economic research studies, one in 1987 commissioned by Gov. Jim Martin. The second one was in 2003 commissioned by Gov. Mike Easley and we've got another that's just about finished and you'll be hearing about it in a few weeks. One of the strongest things we've got going on, obviously, is the employment base. In '03 that was 25,000 people scattered among race teams, marketing, sponsors, speedways, etc. The average salary was $70,000 per year. We have to paper this industry with education. We have to provide educated people to come in, whether they want to work in a race shop or work for Jerry Gappens (in Marketing and PR) or work for NASCAR Scene or whatever. We have three motorsports engineering degrees available now in North and South Carolina, two in North Carolina, at UNC Charlotte and one at North Carolina A&T."
DR. BILL THIERFELDER: (President, Belmont Abbey College): "Humpy and I sat down about a year and a half ago and he said this is what we need: 'We need an executive management type program, something that's going to deal with business management in the industry.' One of the things that makes Belmont Abbey College uniquely qualified is that we can provide a four-year program. One of the things we emphasize is not only the training from a business standpoint, but also it deals with teaching someone how to think, how to read, how to write, how to articulate their ideas, how to reason. Those are the types of things that prepare you for anything in life and I feel they are an added bonus to this type of program."
RICHMOND GAGE (Motorsports Program Director at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College): "We were the first program in the state, at the associate degree level, to address both the business and technical aspects of the industry, and Mr. Wheeler had a hand, directly and indirectly, in our program. Back in 1995, the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce held its first regional Motorsports symposium at Lowe's Motor Speedway and 'Humpy' gave the keynote address. One of the things he said was we need something in this area to train people to go into this industry. From there, Rowan Cabarrus Community College administrators took the ball and ran with it."
Jan. 26, 2006
News & Observer
MS. DENISE MACHALA WOOD, 44, of 109 Lake Hickory Court, Cary died recently at her residence on Tuesday, January 24, 2006.
A native of Jersey City, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Nieves G. Machala and John E. Machala who survives. She was of the Roman Catholic faith. She was a graduate of Elon University. She received her Masters degree from East Carolina University. She later attended Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA in pursuit of her Doctorate degree. Previously, she had worked at N. C. State University as Director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowship Advising. She also managed the university's campus selection competitions and the application processes for most major national awards, including the Fulbright, Rhodes, Gates, Cambridge and National Science Foundation Scholarships and Awards. Presently, she was Director of Grants and Special Projects at Piedmont Community College, Roxboro, N.C.
In addition to the father of Burlington, survivors include a sister, Mrs.
Michele M. Foster and her husband, J. Mike of Burlington; one niece, Olivia;
and one
nephew, James.
She was preceded in death by a brother, John J. Machala.
A memorial mass will be conducted 12-noon Friday, January 27, 2006 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Alamance County, P.O.
Box 3673, Burlington, N.C. 27216 or to a Humane Society in the donor's
area.
Condolences may be sent to the family at inforichandthompson.com.