CAREER SERVICES
It has been a busy start to fall term for the Office of Career Services. During Orientation week, 108 freshmen took part in the "Choosing a Major" workshops. On Saturday, September 18, the office hosted "Job Search Panels" which were attended by about 24 seniors. These panels consisted of a group of 1999 graduates discussing their job-hunting experiences. This was followed by a panel of local employers who shared what they look for in a potential employee.

On September 23, 31 students participated in Mock Interviews. This program allows students to practice their interviewing skills with actual recruiters who visit the Furman campus during the regular recruiting season.

Career Services also sponsored an information table in the lobby of the University Center to make students aware of the programs taking place this term. Four lucky students walked away with fabulous door prizes.

In additional to these activities, the new Web-based CareerConnections system had over 120 students register during the first month of use. Through this system, students can upload their resumés to the Furman Web Resumé Book, which allows potential employers to review resumés from the convenience of their offices. Also available on this system are job listings and sign-ups for the Campus Recruiting program.

— Larry Hudson

PLANNING AND INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH
As of September 1, the Office of Planning and Institutional Research has new responsibilities, a new place on the organizational chart, and a new director. New responsibilities are coordinating external surveys (federal, state, U.S. News, etc.) and admissions and financial aid research. The office now reports to the vice president for enrollment. Bill Berg, the new director, joins us after 13 years at Rhodes College. He brings a wealth of private school experience.

The Higher Education Research Institute conducted a survey of Furman faculty in the spring as part of a national study. A report was distributed in June that includes information about faculty and their attitudes, concerns, level of job satisfaction, workload, teaching practices and professional activities.

In August, a planning report was published titled "Assessing progress toward the goals in Furman 2001: A Strategic Plan for the 21st Century." This office coordinated the assessment procedure and prepared the year-end report of progress toward accomplishment of strategic initiatives in the strategic plan. Each person responsible for an initiative or initiatives was asked to review the Strategic Plan Monitoring/Assessment Schedule; to report on the progress on each task, whether accomplished, not accomplished, or on schedule in the five-year time frame; and to prepare a narrative describing assessment activities and progress toward reaching the goal. Included in the final report were individual progress reports, a financial analysis, and a summative analysis of year-end results. The report was presented to the board of trustees at its October meeting.

Surveys have recently been conducted of June and August graduates. A report will be prepared and distributed on campus that will include information on recent graduates’ experiences at Furman and preparation for the future, educational plans and employment plans.

This fall a data warehouse is being created to allow for monitoring of key indicators of Furman’s success and longitudinal comparisons with peer institutions.

— Dee Buford

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
The Administrative Services and Purchasing offices are scheduled to relocate to a temporary facility in mid-November. We will share space in a "mobile modular office facility" with Financial Services for a year or more while the first floor of the administration building is renovated and redesigned for Admissions and Financial Aid.

When the idea of moving temporarily to "trailers" was introduced, you could see the eyes roll. But, although the structure is modular and must be delivered to the site on wheels, we are all delighted about the space we will have and its functionality. The 4,800-square-foot facility is already erected near the Theatre Arts building.

New developments in purchasing include a change to Boise Cascade as our office supplies vendor. Boise has a successful track record in on-line procurement of office products and we are looking forward to a successful partnership with the company. Training sessions will start in November.

Lishan Yau and Linda Campbell have been evaluating our Procard. Through interviews with other procurement card providers, reviewing their proposals, and a number of focus sessions, we have decided to move this business to a company called Paymentech. Paymentech is affiliated with the Common Fund, a company with whom we already have a working financial partnership. A strength of Paymentech is the ability of its system to accurately allocate cost to departments when transactions originate. You will see this transition take place sometime during the winter of 2000.

There has been a lot of activity at the Tower Café. Faculty and students are discovering it as the in place to relax, study and converse over a cup of cappuccino. If you haven’t visited, then treat yourself and do it soon. While there, stop at the bookstore and buy some of those gifts on your Christmas shopping list. Speaking of the bookstore, we have been working on a Web site for the store and hope to have one operating in time for Christmas shopping.

— Jim Hudson

ADMISSIONS
After a summer full of visitors coming to campus, the Office of Admissions has once again changed gears to tackle "travel season," during which we meet prospective students on their own turf.

We have had counselors visit high schools and attend college fairs in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. In doing so, we get to share all the programs that Furman has to offer with students who are anxious to learn and ready to begin the application process!

The fall also brings the promise of more prospects visiting campus. Our Fall for Furman visitation days were set for October 2 and November 13. Prospects and their families have the opportunity to tour campus, listen to a faculty/student panel, and attend sessions that tell about engaged learning, study abroad, financial aid, and making a major decision (deciding on a major). The day concludes with lunch in the dining hall and on the 13th, the football game with Wofford. In short, this day gives students the opportunity to see Furman in action, while meeting both students and faculty.

Another great way for prospective students to gain a sense of what it’s like to be a Furman student is through the Admissions Office’s offer to allow high school students the opportunity to "be a Furman student for a day." Seniors in high school who are interested in Furman can spend the night on campus with one of the Admissions Office’s Ambassadors (Furman student volunteers). They also have the opportunity to attend classes the next day and experience the dining hall and other Furman activities. Thanks to all those in the Furman community who make this a positive experience for these students!

We appreciate the help from all over campus as we recruit another bright class — the Class of 2004!

— Kathryn Pierce

 ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Please come to visit us in Cherrydale!

Three short weeks before Homecoming, we moved into Cherrydale and have quickly learned to call this beautiful old house "home." The week before Homecoming was a flurry of activity around Cherrydale, in frantic preparation for its dedication. Pavers, landscapers and movers filled the house and the lawn, and literally overnight, Cherrydale was transformed into a lovely Alumni House. On Saturday, October 23, over 1,000 alumni, parents and friends celebrated the Cherrydale dedication on the front lawn of the house. At least 800 of those guests streamed through the house as the doors swung open.

Highlighted by the Cherrydale dedication, Homecoming 1999 was a terrific success. Over 3,000 alumni returned to campus for the weekend, all marveling at the recent developments. The third annual Homecoming Block Party happened Saturday night at the north end of Main Street. Hundreds of alumni came out to see old friends and swing to the sounds of Pat Throneburg and his 17-piece big band.

In addition to Homecoming activities, Furman Clubs and the Paladin Club have hosted tailgates at each away football game. The highlight tailgate thus far was at The Citadel, where over 120 alumni and friends turned out to cheer the Paladins on to a great victory.

With Homecoming behind us, we are now settling into the house. Curious alumni come every day to visit, and generous donors are beginning to offer furniture for the public rooms. We are now developing a Cherrydale host program, whereby retired alumni in the area volunteer as greeters and tour guides for an afternoon each week.

— Shannon Wilkerson

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
With Homecoming, two dedications and the Riley Institute looming, our office had another major task to prepare for last month: relocation.

But we persevered and our relatively happy group is now tucked away in the snug confines of the library basement. Though dark, our new space is a designated nuclear fallout shelter, so if the dire predictions of Y2K come to pass, we will be well situated to continue our work into the next millennium.

On a serious note, the transition from our old office in the administration building to our new one was fairly smooth. For the first time, our entire office – marketing, printing, copying, Web development and news media services – are located in the same facility.

More than 300 people attended the Riley Institute luncheon, which our office coordinated. Dedications of the amphitheater and Cherrydale were also well attended and ran smoothly. Our office spent months in preparation for the Riley luncheon and dinner, which included mailing invitations, developing programs and speech writing, among many other tasks. It was the largest event that Marketing and Public Relations has ever coordinated.