COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SERVICES

F-Secure is now the university’s licensed virus protection software. One advantage of this software for users connected to the network will be automatic updating for protection from new viruses. The Help Desk staff will be contacting all departments to remove previous virus protection applications and install F-Secure. Licensing for student machines is included. Making this available to the student community will help minimize the spread of computer viruses on campus.

Furman’s Microsoft Office license for 1999-2000 includes all available versions of Office Professional and Front Page as well as Visual Studio, a programming application. Furman’s license extends to faculty and staff desktops and academic laboratories. Included in the arrangement is the opportunity for faculty and staff members to load one legal copy on a home/personal system for their exclusive use. The CD-ROM media is available to faculty and staff through the Furman library.

In the administrative systems area, C&IS welcomes a new staff member. Joy Brown joined Furman in August as programmer/analyst. Joy is involved in designing and customizing database applications for the ongoing Datatel implementation. All major systems are now live on the Datatel system. The add/drop process will be handled this fall on the Datatel Web request system, replacing OLAD. Administrative systems manager Randy Dill anticipates that we will have to continue to refine through the first annual cycle of implementation. The ability to have all major systems running has depended upon the dedication and persistence of a number of staff across the university. We are sincerely appreciative of the efforts of all those involved.

New student network card installations will be staged at the University Center on September 7 and 8. The Watkins Room provides adequate space for both the distribution of network cards/licenses and installations. Mandatory technology orientation sessions will once again be offered to new students. With the assistance of Student Services, new students will be assigned to a specific training session as a part of their orientation information to alleviate scheduling conflicts. The orientation sessions will include opportunities for all new students to set up their network and Lotus Notes accounts.

— Susan Dunnavant

FINANCIAL AID

The Financial Aid Office has spent most of the long, hot summer awarding returning, day, graduate and evening students financial aid using Datatel. The process for awarding the returning students is far more complicated than the process of awarding incoming students. Thus, my ode to HP3000:

You couldn’t be everything to everybody,

But to me you served my purpose well;

I didn’t realize how much so until Datatel.

Forgive me for complaining about your inadequacies,

I miss your familiarity.

The things you did well, you did really, really well . . .

But alas, on to Datatel.

Kim Jenerette, Faye Jordan and Anne Smith attended the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators conference in Las Vegas, where they learned more of how to fold ’em rather than hold ’em! Excitement and anticipation fill the financial aid community with the recent appointment by Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley of Greg Woods as the department’s chief operating officer. Woods is to initiate a performance-based organization emphasizing customer service. This will be the first federal program set up to measure its own performance. Kudos to Secretary Riley! Now if only the IRS will follow suit.

LaShelia Wyatt has accepted the position as loan counselor. LaShelia has worked as a temp for us since March and will be a great asset with the knowledge that she has acquired.

— Anne Smith

PUBLIC SAFETY

The Falcons’ summer training camp involved lots of daily details. Flexibility was the theme of our operations because the Falcons changed their schedules and needs daily. Six regular staff and an additional 18 temporary staff were required daily, with weekend events requiring as many as 55 people.

The installation of the access system was one of our top priorities. We decided to use a separate access card because of the continuing problems in integrating the Pala Card system with the access program. This change will improve the security of the access card since the card will not have a photo or name on it. If lost, no one will be able to identify the access level of that card. The card is also more durable and less expensive to replace.

Parking at the University Center was reorganized to provide more customer parking, turnover during the day and increased support during evening hours. Some employees and the CESC vehicles were moved to other parking areas, and two new areas were reserved from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for employee parking. The remainder of the spaces include: five 30-minute spaces, enforced 24 hours, and 59 30-minute spaces, which are enforced from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New signs were installed on the Library circle to support special programs during the day and early evening by off-campus persons for the Dining Hall and University Center. As the day progresses more spaces will be open to support the University Center. By 7:30 p.m., there will be 230 parking spaces available to support evening programs, the University Center and other nearby facilities.

— Bob Miller

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Two summer projects that our office has worked on are now complete: the university calendar and the South Carolina History Homepage (http://www.furman.edu/palmetto). The online calendar is a comprehensive listing of university activities with personnel from each department trained to upload information. For more information on these two projects see the stories on page 1 and X.

Gayle Warth and John Roberts recently helped coordinate the very successful faculty/staff ice cream social and dedications of the Buck Mickel Community Square (in John E. Johns Hall) and the Buck Mickel Commons (in Minor H. Mickel Tennis Center). The ice cream social was so well received that we are planning to host a similar event next year.

Cindy Bagwell of Financial Services has joined our staff as copy services coordinator. In this position Cindy will coordinate and manage copying jobs too small for Printing Services but too time-consuming for regular copier use. These jobs might include booklets and pamphlets. Cindy’s office is located in Printing Services in the basement of the library.

New equipment is changing the face of Printing Services. A new folder and press machine have been installed, as has a plate setter that will provide the capability to go directly from disk to plate. This is expected to drastically reduce our production time on jobs while providing higher quality and more efficient service to the campus.

— John Roberts

STUDENT SERVICES

Our summer has been busy as we prepare to welcome new students to FURMANPALOOZA, better known as Orientation ’99. I have been working since March with a committee of 20 upperclass students, led by Nicole Knapp, AFS vice president for student services, to plan the programs used to welcome and acclimate new students to Furman. Along with placement tests, advisor appointments, Lotus Notes training and moving in, the students will enjoy a picnic at White Oaks, a carnival, dance and lakeside concert.

Our other large program for the summer involved working with Owen McFadden, director of recreational sports, in coordinating four Summer Outdoor Experience trips for approximately 110 entering new students. We enjoyed games and activities at Earthshine Lodge in Brevard, N.C., and Owen then took the groups for a day of rafting on the Nantahala River.

— Carol Daniels

DEVELOPMENT

The new fiscal year has begun in a very exciting way for the Development division. Leadership Furman was held August 20 and 21 and more than 120 of Furman’s finest volunteers came to campus for training, fellowship and work. These volunteers included Furman Club presidents, Alumni Board members, head and class agents, Alumni Network members, and others. The best part of the weekend for Development staff is the motivation these volunteers provide. It is easy to do your job when you have the support of such a dedicated force of volunteers.

The other great news that we are celebrating is that Furman has now passed the $100 million mark in the Forever Furman Campaign. New, in-force estate plans lead the way toward the ambitious goal of $150 million, with annual giving also ahead of schedule. While these programs help account for the early success of the public phase of the campaign, we are still focusing our effort on outright gifts for endowment and facilities to implement the strategic plan.

— Phil Howard

ATHLETICS

Furman’s athletic teams kick off a promising sports year in a big way over the next two weeks when football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country swing into action.

The Paladin football team, which was picked in preseason polls to finish fourth in the Southern Conference, kicked off its season September 4 against Elon in Paladin Stadium. Coach Bobby Johnson’s squad, which finished 5-6 in 1998, returns 17 starters.

The departure of the Atlanta Falcons, who wrapped up preseason camp at Furman August 19, has allowed the Paladin football team to regain the use of its locker room in Timmons Arena and practice fields behind the PAC. The strong regional and national exposure generated by the Falcons’ training camp at Furman should assist recruiting efforts in Atlanta, a longtime prospect hotbed for Furman athletics.

The men’s soccer team begins its quest for another Southern Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance when it takes on South Florida at the UAB Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., September 3. Coach Doug Allison’s squad, 16-4-2 in 1999, is stocked with several outstanding veterans, including sophomore Matt Goldsmith, a preseason second-team All-America pick.

Coach Brian Lee’s Lady Paladin soccer team is expected to challenge UNC-Greensboro for the league championship following a 13-8 finish a year ago. The volleyball team, under the direction of new coach Keylor Chan, opened its 1999 schedule against Alabama in Charlottesville, Va., at the UVA-Jefferson Cup Invitational September 4

The addition of Chan, whose arrival at Furman followed a short stint at Northwestern, highlights several changes in the athletic coaching staff. Ted Cain, who most recently served as head football coach at VMI for two seasons, is set to begin the season as coach of Furman’s tight ends and receivers. Cain served as an assistant at Furman from 1978-85 before moving on to N.C. State, where he worked as an assistant for nine seasons.

In other moves, Michelle Young joined Furman’s volleyball program after serving one season as head coach at Greer High School, and in baseball, pitching coach Greg McVeigh recently accepted the head coaching post at Kentucky Wesleyan College. His replacement has yet to be named.

— Hunter Reid

CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

The Child Development Center recently completed registration by enrolling 26 children for the 1999-2000 school year.

Located on the north side of campus, the center was founded in 1973 and serves children ages three to five. We employ three teachers.

The staff of the Child Development Center believes that children grow and develop in unique ways. Our program strives to meet their needs through an individualized approach to learning that stresses the child’s active participation and exploration in a nurturing, supportive, child-centered atmosphere. Teachers offer children choices of activities and materials incorporating various levels of development.

The staff also seeks to balance children’s interests and abilities with activities that challenge and stretch their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.

The center uses a team-teaching approach that capitalizes on teacher strengths and differences. Members of the staff work with children individually and in multi-age groupings. Each teacher seeks to establish a rapport with every child in the center.

For more information about the Furman Child Development Center, please call 294-2213.