Welcome to @WPI

Vol. 1, No. 7 Dec. 2, 1999

Around Campus

Campus map update

If you know of changes that need to be made to the current campus map, e-mail them to mccrea@wpi.edu or contact Bonnie McCrea at ext. 5306 by Dec. 10. A revised map will be available by Jan. 13.

The map is available as a PDF file on the WPI Web site at http://www.wpi.edu/about/visitors/campusmap.html. You can open the file with the Adobe Acrobat reader (http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html). An updated map will be provided to Office Services in Boynton Hall (ext. 5150), which can print multiple copies for a fee.

BubbleBoy alert

Please make sure your virus scanner and DAT files are up-to-date. There's a new virus out there called "BubbleBoy." For more information on it, go to the URL http://vil.nai.com/vil/vbs10418.asp. This annoying virus travels through electronic mail. But, unlike e-mail viruses in the past, this one does not require you to open a file attachment to activate it. Simply opening the message will launch it. The College Computer Center (CCC) already has in place a preventive measure to counteract this virus. To be safe, you should check to make sure your computer is capable of scanning and cleaning viruses. If you receive an e-mail with the text "BubbleBoy" either in the subject line or the body of the message, contact the Help Desk ASAP at 831-5888, send e-mail to helpdesk@wpi.edu, or stop by and see the Help Desk staff in Fuller Labs, room B12.

Scan for viruses

Did you know that McAfee Virus Scanner can be installed on every CCC lab machine and every staff or faculty machine on campus? Do you know it's available for installation via Novell? Have you checked your computer for viruses lately? Do you have the most up-to-date version of the virus scanner? Do you know how to obtain up-to-date DAT files? Contact the Help Desk and get your computer ready!

Are you Y2K compliant?

The College Computer Center recently upgraded faculty and staff computers and all CCC labs to be Y2K compliant. Have you checked your machine for Y2K compliance? To get information on this important subject, visit WPI's Y2K Web site, http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/IT/Y2K/. You will find links to other Y2K Web sites, recommended reading, the status of our campus, frequently asked questions, a test for hardware and more. If you need help determining your computer's Y2K compliance, contact the Help Desk at 831-5888, send e-mail to helpdesk@wpi.edu or stop by and see the Help Desk staff in Fuller Labs, room B12.

Software on CD and online

The Help Desk has received many calls and e-mails regarding the Microsoft license agreement. The software installation CDs are available at the Gordon Library for loaning. You can point your browser to http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/CCC/Software/CLA/ to read more about the Campus License Agreement and to access the secured site that contains the software keys. Many people are not fully aware of what software is available to them via Novell, what software they can install locally via Novell and what software they need to obtain from the library. For more information on WPI's licensed software, go to http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/CCC/Software.

President's IQP award finalists

Four teams of finalists have been selected for this year's President's IQP Awards competition. Final judging will take place Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m., in Higgins House. The 1999 finalists are: Kevin Dickert '01, Loren Gordon '00, Jennifer Hardy '01 and Vanessa Melanson '01 for "A Study of Marketing Possibilities at Lankester," advised by Director of Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Washington Project Centers Susan Vernon-Gerstenfeld and Management Professor Arthur Gerstenfeld; Kyriacos N. Felekkis '00 for "Health Care System of Cyprus," advised by Social Science and Policy Studies Professor John T. O'Connor; Jovanna Baptista '00, Sean Landrette '00 and Alyssa Schlichting '00 for "Refining the Wheelchair Prescription Process," advised by Humanities and Arts Professor Joel Brattin and Mathematical Sciences Associate Professor Peter Christopher; Anne-Marie Chouinard '00, Gregory Halloran '00 and Jill Hubbard '00 for "Speech, Language and Hearing Centre," advised by Social Science and Policy Studies Professor Douglas Woods and Chemical Engineering Professor Robert Thompson.

Celebrate the holidays

Administrators, faculty and staff are invited to the President's Holiday Luncheon Friday, Dec. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Harrington Auditorium. Return registration forms to the President's Office by Dec. 8.

When the weather outside is frightful

In the event of inclement weather, when there is no announced closing, the following pay procedures will be followed:

WPI has established a special telephone number-831-5744-to inform employees about snow-related closings or delayed openings. Announcements about these inclement weather changes will be recorded as early as possible prior to the scheduled opening of the university.

Announcements will also be carried on the CityLine School Closings Network (792-5482, acess code 4226) and on the following television and radio stations: WBZ-TV (channel 4), WHDH-TV (channel 7), WCVB-TV (channel 5), WTAG-580 AM, WORC-1310 AM, WBZ-1030 AM, WKOX-1200 AM, WSRS-96.1 FM and WXLO-104.5 FM.

Ski sale

The WPI Alpine Ski Team is holding a one-day-only fund-raising sale of brand new ski equipment today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Wedge. The latest in new skis, boots, bindings and poles will be sold at below wholesale prices.

Bring me to the mall!

On behalf of the Provost and Human Resources offices, transportation to area shopping centers will be provided to lunch-hour shoppers. The van will travel to the Greendale Mall on three Tuesdays, Dec. 7, 14 and 21, and will head to the Worcester Common Fashion Outlet Mall on two Thursdays, Dec. 9 and 16. The van will depart from the front of Alden Hall at 11:55 a.m. and return at approximately 1 p.m. Seating is limited. For reservations, call Melanie, Julie or Sharon at ext. 5470.

Winter sports schedule available

Copies of the Winter Sports Schedule have been distributed to all departments. If you have not received a copy or would like extras, call Steve Razcynski, sports information director, at ext. 5328.

Native American Dance

The Student Development and Counseling Center will sponsor a Native American Dance Social Dec. 2- 4, featuring presentations by Mike McLeod, Lakota (Sioux) artist from South Dakota, and Storm McLeod, who has worked with Lakota elders. Information about these and other presentations are listed on the WPI Events calendar.

Spirited selections

WPI's annual Holiday Concert, featuring Alden Voices (the WPI women's chorale) and the WPI Orchestra, will take place tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Alden Memorial. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature classical and traditional music of the season. Margaret Konkol is the director of Alden Voices; Douglas Weeks, administrator of applied music, directs the orchestra. For more information, call ext. 5696.

SAS food drive

The Student Alumni Society (SAS) will hold a food drive in conjunction with the Alumni Office's holiday activities. During the week of Dec. 6-10, SAS will have boxes for food collection in Higgins House and the Wedge. The Food Drive will end Sunday, Dec. 12, when the students host the Clark and Holy Cross student alumni groups for a holiday dinner in Higgins House. All donations will be given to Rachel's Table, a central food distribution service to help feed the hungry. For more information, email sas@wpi.edu.

Poetry reading

The Humanities and Arts Department, the Student Speakers Fund and the Worcester County Poetry Association will sponsor a poetry reading featuring Jeffrey Harrison, author of The Singing Underneath and Signs of Arrival, Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. in the seminar room of Gordon Library. For more information, call Laura J. Menides at ext. 5513.

At your service

WPI's chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, the national co-ed service fraternity, will sponsor a service auction Thursday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. in Riley Commons. All money will go to the charity chosen by the highest selling person or group. Volunteers from the WPI community have chosen to bake cookies, clean, tutor and more. The APO service auction is the biggest service event of the year. Last year it raised $1,300, won by the musical group Interstate 8 and donated to the Mustard Seed Food Bank. The service auction will include musical performances by Interstate 8 and Simple Harmonic Motion. Come and bid on everything from a Chartwells lobster dinner to cleaning services. For more information, contact Katie Gagnon at katiah@wpi.edu.

WPI's earns spot in Templeton Guide

WPI's Passage program, conducted by the Student Development and Counseling Center, is one of 405 college programs nationwide recognized by the John Templeton Foundation and listed in its just-released Templeton Guide to Colleges That Encourage Character Development. The 405 exemplary programs profiled were divided into 10 categories. WPI's mention was listed under Spiritual Growth Programs. Collectively, the 10 categories represent a rich tapestry of best practices on colleges campuses that encourage character development. "Programs that foster spiritual growth provide a means to develop a vision of moral integrity that coheres and connects belief to behavior," notes the guide.

Passage is designed to assist students through their journey into adulthood. Through the voluntary, year-long Passage process, students learn about themselves, developing a sense of self and self-esteem. The WPI Passage program was established by Thomas J. Balistrieri, director of the Student Development and Counseling Center.

TIAA/CREF individual counseling

Charlie Doherty, individual counseling representative from TIAA/CREF, will be on campus Tuesday, Dec. 14, from 8:30 to 1 p.m. in Morgan B. For more information or to make an appointment, call Melanie Desiata at ext. 5470 or e-mail mridler@wpi.edu.

Human Resources deadlines

Staff time sheets are now due by noon on the Friday before the pay date. Noted below are the scheduled Human Resources and Payroll Office deadlines:

Thursday, Dec. 2 Biweekly student payroll authorizations (Student payroll paid Thursday, Dec. 9) Thursday, Dec. 9 Biweekly staff payroll authorizations and Flexcomp claim forms (Staff payroll paid Wednesday, Dec. 15) Friday, Dec. 10 Monthly payroll authorizations and Flexcomp claim forms (Monthly payroll paid Thursday, Dec. 23) Biweekly staff payroll authorizations and Flexcomp claim forms (Staff payroll paid Thursday, Dec. 23) Biweekly student payroll authorizations (Student payroll paid Thursday, Dec. 23)

All forms submitted to Human Resources and Payroll must be complete and have all of the appropriate approvals in order to be processed. Forms submitted after these dates will be processed in the following payroll.

Employment Opportunities

(current as of Nov. 29)

Administration

Events Manager

Biomedical Engineering

Tenure-track positions Part-time Adminsitrative Secretary III

Chemical Engineering

Tenure-track position Assistant professor and an open position

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Organic and General Chemistry Instructor Post-Doctoral Research Assistant Multiple fall 2000 faculty positions Post-Doctoral Fellow

Computer Science

Tenure-track faculty positions

Continuing Education

UNIX Program Administrator (Waltham campus) Technical Trainers, Seminar Leaders Administrative Secretary III (MetroWest campus) Part-time Receptionist

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Tenure-track faculty position Professor of Practice

Fire Protection Engineering

Faculty position

Graduate Admissions

Assistant Coordinator

Instructional Media Center

AV Manager

Management

Two assistant professors Management Information Systems faculty positions

Massachusetts Academy Of Mathematics And Science

Master Teachers Visiting Scholars

Mathematical Sciences

Visiting assistant professorships Tenure-track faculty positions

Mechanical Engineering

Two mechanical engineering faculty positions

Physical Education And Athletics

Part-time Assistant Volleyball Coach Part-time Assistant Baseball Coach

Physics

Visiting faculty position

Research Administration

Director of Research Administration

Social Science And Policy Studies

Part-time instructor

For more information about these positions, visit the Human Resource Web site at http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/HR/Jobs/.

WPI's Human Resources Office encourages current employees to refer qualified individuals to apply for jobs at WPI. For each person you refer who is hired and who successfully completes six months of active service, you will receive a $500 bonus. The new Employee Referral Bonus Program applies to all permanent non-faculty, exempt and nonexempt positions posted on or after Sept. 1, 1999.

To take part in the program, the referring employee must submit the candidate's resume or WPI employment application to the Human Resources Office along with a referral form (available in the Human Resources Office).

People

Knowledge is power

Knowledge Technologies International (KTI) of Lexington, Mass., has invited Professor David C. Brown to join its new Product Development Council (PDC). The PDC, created in May 1997, is based on a commitment to form strategic think tanks and senior level customer forums with the goal of determining new technologies for the future.

The PDC is a group of senior engineers and executives from aerospace, automotive and industrial manufacturers as well as noted academicians and industry analysts. Its main objective is "to define the processes, challenges, trends and resultant technology that will propel our mutual businesses into the next product-design revolution."

Members of PDC include professors from Cambridge University, Cranfield University, Universite De Valenciennes, University of Magdeburg and Loughborough University. Industry heavyweights such as British Aerospace, MTU, PSA, Trico, Ford, Aerospatiale, Boeing, AP Parts, Daimler Benz Aerospace, GKN Westland, Latecoere, AlliedSignal, Embraer, General Motors, Pratt & Whitney, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Lotus Car, British Steel, Telco, BMW and Timken also participate in PDC activities.

Gennert awarded joint appointment

Michael Gennert, associate professor in the Computer Science Department, has been awarded a joint appointment as associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. This additional title reflects a collaborative appointment in accordance with the recently established Guidelines for Faculty Joint Appointments. A collaborative appointment carries current rank title in both home and in second departments. Faculty members who hold a collaborative appointment are expected to participate in advising, project advising, graduate advising-including thesis and dissertation advising-and research in both departments.

Fellow honors

L. R. Ram-Mohan, professor of physics and electrical and computer engineering, has been elected a fellow of the American Physical Society. He was cited "for his development of powerful analytic and computational methods for the investigation of the properties of novel semiconductor heterostructures." Each year no more than one-half of the membership are elected to the status of fellow in the American society.

Colloquia/Conferences/Meetings

Biology and Biotechnology

Thursday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m., "Diagramming for Learning Science: Implications for Model-based Reasoning," Janice D. Gobert, Harvard University, Fuller Labs 311. Refreshments at 10:45.

Brown Bag Safety Seminar

Friday, Dec. 10, noon, "Compressed Gases: Safe Handling Procedures," Goddard Hall 217. For more information, call ext. 5216 or e-mail dmessier@wpi.edu.

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Tuesday, Dec. 7, noon, "Interactions Between Aromatic Molecules: From Liquid Crystals to Landmine Detection," Vance Williams, MIT, Goddard Hall 217. Refreshments. Tuesday, Dec. 14, noon, "Control of Polymer Microstructure by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization," Scott Gaynor, Carnegie Mellon University, Goddard Hall 217. Refreshments.

Computer Science

Friday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m., "Research Issues on Wireless Data Dissemination," Wang-Chien Lee, GTE Laboratories Inc., Fuller Labs 311.

Continuing Education

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1 and 6 p.m., Information Session, "Advance Your Career with IT Training," MetroWest Campus, 225 Turnpike Road (Route 9 West) Southborough. For more information, call 800-974-9717. Thursday, Dec. 9, 1 and 6 p.m., Information Session, "Advance Your Career with IT Training," Waltham Campus, 60 Hickory Drive. For more information, call 800-974-9717.

Faculty Meeting

Thursday, Dec. 16, 4:05 p.m., Kinnicutt Hall. Refreshments at 3:45.

Mathematical Sciences

Friday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m., "Traveling Water Waves," Walter Craig, Brown University, Stratton Hall 202.

Physics

Friday, Dec. 3, 4 p.m., "Langmuir-Blodgett Films of Purely Organic Magnetic Molecules," J.L. Gallani, Institut de Physique et Chimie des Materiaux de Strasbourg France, Olin Hall 107. Coffee at 3:40 p.m. in Olin 118. Monday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m., "Optical Demultiplexing Using Semiconductor Amplifiers," Niloy K. Dutta, University of Connecticut, Olin Hall 107. Coffee at 3:40 p.m. in Olin Hall 118.

Tech Old Timers

Thursday, Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m., "Holiday Musical Presentation," WPI students, Riley Commons.

Venture Forum

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 6:30-9 p.m., registration 6 p.m. Venture Forum Workshop: "Internet Commerce," Misha Katz, co-founder and vice president of New Technology of Furniture.com. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for non-members and free with a WPI ID. Kinnicutt Hall, Salisbury Labs. For more information, call ext. 5075.

Publications & Presentations

Computer Science

D. L. Grecu & D. C. Brown (Nov. 1999) "Guiding Agent Learning in Design.'' In Knowledge Intensive Computer Aided Design, (Eds.) S. Finger, T. Tomiyama, M. Mantyla, Kluwer Academic Publishers. Cruz, Maria Isabel F., K. M. James and David C. Brown, "Integrating Layout into Multimedia Data Retrieval." In proceedings of the AAAI Fall Symposium on "Using Layout," Falmouth, MA, November 1999.

Continuing Education

Lowenstein, Arlene, moderator for Legislative Breakfast, Nov. 3, WPI's MetroWest campus.

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Orr, J. A. and S. Kerns, "ABET Engineering Criteria 2000, the Evaluators' Perspective," Frontiers in Education Conference 1999, San Juan, Nov.10-13. Orr, J. A., G. Gerhard, J. Regan and H. Tharp, "Enhanced Pre-Visit Communication Under Criteria 2000," Frontiers in Education Conference 1999, San Juan, Nov. 10-13. Paar, C., P. Fleischmann and P. Soria-Rodriguez, "Fast Arithmetic for Public-Key Algorithms in Galois Fields with Composite Exponents," IEEE Transactions on Computers, October, vol. 48, no. 10, pp. 1025-1034.

Humanities and Arts

Mott, Wesley T., chair and presenter, English Majors Panel, Career Opportunities Week, Boston University, Oct. 27. _______. "Emerson and Individualism." Thoreau Institute Annual Lecture Series, Concord Museum, Concord, Mass., Nov. 10.

Management

Zhu, Joe, invited presentation, "A Unified Additive Model Approach for Evaluating Inefficiency and Congestion with Associated Measures in DEA," INFORMS National Meeting, Nov. 7-10, Philadelphia. Zhu, Joe, invited session chairperson, "Data Envelopment Analysis," INFORMS National Meeting, Nov. 7-10, Philadelphia.

Mathematical Sciences

Chen, M. H., J. G. Ibrahim and D. Sinha, "A New Bayesian Model For Survival Data With a Surviving Frantion." In American Statistical Association Journal, 94, 909-919. Lipsitz, S.R., J.G. Ibrahim, M. H. Chen and H. Peterson, "Non-ignorable Missing Covariates in Generalized Linear Models." In Statistics in Medicine, 18, 2435-2448. Christopher, Peter R., "Cycle Lengths in Cages." Invited presentation at Graph Theory Day 38, Mathematics Section of the New York Academy of Sciences, New York City, Nov. 13.

University Relations

Davis, Sharon, faculty presenter at a three-day workshop in St. Louis, Mo., on "Writing Persuasively for Development" for the Council for the Advancement for Support of Education (CASE). _______, presentation on "Donor Cultivation," Oct. 28, National Continuing Education Association (NCEA) Region I Conference, Stowe, Vt.

Recent Grants

The following is a list of new grants received by WPI in October. The Office of Research Administration provides information about these awards.

Pryputniewicz, R.J., "Development of a Fiber-Based Electronic Interferometry," $150,947 from Sandia National Laboratory.

Rong, Y., "Automated Dedicated Fixture Design and Verification," $150,900 from the National Science Foundation.

Sullivan, J.M., "A Preliminary Investigation Into Use of FEA for Non-Linear Component Fixturing," $10,722 from Compaq Computer Corp.

Walker, H.F., "Educational Innovation in Simulation Education," $81,756 from the University of Utah.

Worth Noting

This feature usually focuses on notable people and programs at WPI, but there are also some noteworthy stories connected with the University's physical plant. For example, Atwater Kent Laboratories, home of the Electrical and Computer Engineering and Social Science and Policy Studies departments, was the first building in the United States dedicated to education in electrical engineering. Completed in 1907 and named for a radio pioneer who was a member of WPI's Class of 1900, the building, when viewed from the air, resembles a capital E. The Washburn Shops, constructed in 1868, is the oldest building in the nation used continuously for engineering education. Originally a working manufacturing plant where students made products for sale under the tutelage of professional mechanics, today the Shops houses programs in manufacturing and materials science and engineering, the Department of Management, the Metal Processing Institute, and a 10-kilowatt nuclear reactor.

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Last modified: July 12, 2010 13:56:41