Oak Ridge Today

Recent ORAU annual meeting highlighted compliance complexity in higher education

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Federal regulations require diligence from academic institutions

Colleges and universities face many complex issues as they navigate the growing number of federal regulations. Institutions of higher education spend considerable financial resources to stay in compliance. Speakers at the 72nd annual meeting of the ORAU Council of Sponsoring Institutions clarified select regulations and presented practical solutions for overcoming hurdles.

The recent two-day meeting hosted by ORAU at Pollard Technology Conference Center involved nearly 150 attendees, and speakers addressed regulatory reform to compliance processes.

Keynote speaker Brett Sweet, vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer of Vanderbilt University, observed the substantial increase in the magnitude of federal regulations since the 1950s and noted the administrative and enforcement expenses tied to these regulations.

“While some regulation is valuable, compliance and reporting add a material cost burden to post-secondary education. This is especially true for research institutions,” Sweet said. [Read more…]

ORAU welcomes four new institutions to university consortium

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ORAU recently welcomed Arizona State University and Yale University as its newest sponsoring institutions during the 72nd annual meeting of its Council of Sponsoring Institutions. Oakland University and Villanova University were named new associate members.

“We are honored to have these four institutions joining our growing university consortium,” said Andy Page, ORAU president and chief executive officer. “Membership in ORAU’s consortium broadens the already diverse opportunities these universities provide for students and faculty researchers in many critical areas of science and technology.”

ORAU includes 120 sponsoring institutions across the nation and in England. Now in its 70th year, ORAU originally was formed under the auspices of the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies and consisted of 14 southern academic institutions.

An ORAU sponsoring institution is a nonprofit institution of higher learning granting doctoral degrees in multiple science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, fields. Associate members are institutions of higher learning offering bachelor’s, master’s, or a limited number of doctoral degrees in the STEM fields. [Read more…]

Health care employers invited to participate in Roane State job fair

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Employers are invited to participate in a March 29 job fair at Roane State Community College for students who are pursuing careers in health care and plan to graduate this year.

The fair is planned for Wednesday, March 29, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. Setup begins at 11 a.m. in the Coffey-McNally building.

Employers are asked to register by March 24. There is no registration fee. To register, visit www.roanestate.edu/jobfair. Limited space is still available. [Read more…]

Regional symposium for community college leaders, educators

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The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, the nation’s leading organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship through community colleges, and the Appalachian Regional Commission will co-sponsor a regional symposium for community college leaders and educators in Appalachia who are interested in enhancing economic growth in their areas.

The summit, “Leveraging Assets in Your Local Community to Promote Economic Development,” will be held March 30-31 at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville.

The keynote speaker for the event is Randy Boyd, former Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.

Chris Whaley, president of Roane State Community College, and Anthony Wise, president of Pellissippi State Community College, are among those scheduled to present at the symposium. [Read more…]

Roane State NASA scholars named for spring 2017

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Four Roane State Community College students have received NASA scholarships worth $2,850 to support their pursuit of degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields.

NASA provided funding for the scholarships through a $499,689 grant it awarded to the Tennessee Community College Space Grant Consortium. Roane State, Cleveland State Community College, Columbia State Community College, Northeast State Community College, and Pellissippi State Community College are part of the consortium.

The recipients are Jose Coronilla of Philadelphia (pre-engineering), Gregory Eaton of Kingston (pre-engineering), Ronnie Lewis of LaFollette (mechatronics), and Horace Parrott of Jellico (mechatronics).

To learn more about STEM majors at Roane State, visit roanestate.edu/stem.

Roane State to host ACT workshops March 18, April 1 at main campus in Harriman

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For college-bound high school students, it’s the biggest test to date of their academic careers: the ACT exam. The test evaluates students’ readiness for college, and scores can determine whether they are admitted to the college of their choice.

Roane State and the private education institution, SailAway Learning, are offering workshops on preparing for the ACT on two Saturdays, March 18 and April 1.

The workshops, titled “Hidden Rules of the ACT Prep,” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. Check-in will be from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. [Read more…]

Wilsons expand Roane State Foundation endowment to provide scholarships for more students

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James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson (Photo courtesy Roane State)

James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson (Photo courtesy Roane State)

 

James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson recently established a scholarship endowment with the Roane State Foundation, the James Frank and Patricia Ann Wilson Morgan County Campus Scholarship Endowment.

Now, they have submitted an additional gift that will expand scholarship opportunities to nursing and allied health sciences students in Morgan County, a press release said. The Wilsons said: “We are pleased to double down on our commitment to these scholarship beneficiaries. It is very important to us. We ask that you determine what is important to you and do the same now rather than later.”

Recipients must be a current or former Morgan County resident, have financial need, and meet special criteria as set by the Roane State Community College Foundation Scholarship Committee. [Read more…]

Author Mascaro to speak at Roane State Oak Ridge campus March 1

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Knoxville area author Marilyn Mascaro will be the featured speaker at the new Arts and Lectures series at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus.

Mascaro—an educator, writer, traveler, and East Tennessee native—will discuss her latest book, “Surviving History: The Life of B.Y. Harris in East Tennessee.”

It’s described as “creative non-fiction” and is about a relative who fought in the Civil War.

The event will be held in the Oak Ridge City Room (A111) at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1. Mascaro will be introduced by DeAnna Stephens, a Roane State assistant professor of English and humanities. Stephens organized the new Arts and Lectures series, titled “Writers at Roane State.” [Read more…]

Driskill named Roane State executive director for Oak Ridge campus, community relations

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Owen Driskill

Owen Driskill

 

Owen Driskill has been named Roane State Community College’s executive director for the Oak Ridge Campus and Community Relations.

Driskill joined Roane State’s staff in 2007 after a 10-year career in journalism as a reporter and editor. He served as Roane State’s news coordinator until 2011, when he became the college’s director of marketing and public relations.

Driskill serves on the boards of Explore Oak Ridge, First Steps Child Development Center in Oak Ridge, and the Oak Ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development. In addition, he is a member of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Committee. He has been a volunteer mentor for tnAchieves, the nonprofit that coordinates mentors for Tennessee Promise students, since 2008. [Read more…]

UT, NOAA to collaborate on atmospheric sciences research

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Taylor Eighmy, UT vice chancellor for research and engagement, left, and Bruce Baker, director of NOAA’s Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, headquartered in Oak Ridge, right, sign a memorandum of agreement in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee)

Taylor Eighmy, left, UT vice chancellor for research and engagement, and Bruce Baker, right, director of NOAA’s Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, which has headquarters in Oak Ridge, sign a memorandum of agreement in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee)

 

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, or ATDD, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Air Resources Laboratory to advance collaborative research in atmospheric sciences. ATDD has headquarters in Oak Ridge.

The agreement was signed Wednesday, February 15, at ATDD headquarters in Oak Ridge, and it will help with joint efforts to advance understanding of air pollution, atmospheric transport processes, and weather on a regional and national level, a press release said. It also will create educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to collect scientific data, develop models and simulations, and transition research to applications and commercial use.

“The mission of the collaboration will be to train the next generation of scientists and engineers and provide the best available atmospheric data and scientific analysis to the global scientific community, to local and national decision makers, and to the general public,” said Bruce Baker, director of the ATDD. [Read more…]

Alan Williams named 2017 Front Page Follies honoree

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Alan Williams

Alan Williams

 

Alan Williams, Local 8 News and CW anchor and a 37-year veteran in the broadcast business, will be the honoree at the 39th annual Front Page Follies on June 17.

The Front Page Foundation will present the dinner and show that each year roasts state and local newsmakers at the Knoxville Convention Center. Proceeds will fund journalism and broadcasting scholarships presented in Williams’ honor at the University of Tennessee and a media studies scholarship at Pellissippi State Community College.

“Alan Williams is a veteran broadcast journalist who brings both a professional approach and a personal touch to the news he reports,” said Frank Murphy, Front Page Foundation president.

“Alan can tell sports stories with insights he gained as an SEC athlete, then cover an entertainment event with the experience of a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the Country Music Association,” Murphy said. “He knows the community well because he’s worked here more than 30 years, and he’s been an active community volunteer. That kind of perspective has meant a lot to his East Tennessee audience, and we’re proud to name Alan Williams this year’s scholarship honoree.” [Read more…]

Register today: Roane State teaching symposium set for Feb. 25

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Roane State’s Symposium on Powerful Teaching, set for Saturday, February 25, will feature Nancy Surrett Gregg, a member of King University’s School of Education.

The annual event, now nearly a decade old, will be held in the O’Brien Theatre on the college’s main campus in Harriman.

Online registration is available through February 17 at www.roanestate.edu/symposium.

Same-day registration and check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. February 25 in the lobby. All area K-12 educators are invited, and many typically attend the symposium. [Read more…]