I am late in getting this month's newsletter to you.  The semester is moving along rapidly and hopefully spring is not too far away.

Fall applications for admission to IUSB: In week 6 of the fall applications, we are showing an increase in the number of students admitted, 302 versus 239 when compared to last year.  Our admissions staff is doing good work.  As we progress, we will be calling upon deans and faculty to follow through with letters and phone calls.  Our enrollment success depends on students actually registering for class and attending IUSB.

Searches: Searches are underway for the positions of registrar and director of financial aid. The chairs are respectively:  John Withey and Anita Echevarria. These are important positions if we are to maintain the progress we've made.  The B&E Dean's search committee has narrowed its candidate list to eight semi-finalists and has already begun phone interviews. 

Associate Faculty Reception: The annual Associate Faculty Reception/Recognition Event will take place on Friday, March 9, 2001 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room. Please join us as we recognize and pay tribute to all IUSB Association Faculty.

Kudos: Congratulations to Karen White who is traveling this week to the First Year Experience Conference in Houston to receive an "Outstanding First Year Student Advocate" award. Chancellor Perrin nominated Karen for this award.

Strategic Planning: The Strategic Directions Committee under the leadership of Eileen Bender will work with the campus community to develop a comprehensive strategic plan.  This plan will guide the University in budget and operational objectives and will serve as a benchmark for establishing campus priorities.  Members of the committee include: Judith Gottwald, Jasmid Mehran, Cynthia Sofhauser, Mike Keen, J. Paul Herr, Barbara MacMillian, Karen White, Joann Phillips, and Michael Carroll (replacing Pete Biegel).  Linda Fritschner will serve as a representative from academic affairs and will be staff assistant to the team.

Honors: I hope you were able to attend the fifth Freshman Research Seminar.  These seminars, were thoroughly researched and well presented.  The seminar showcases the extraordinary academic talent of our students.

NCA: We have submitted our informal reply to the NCA team's report.  We await the final report and findings.

Budget Hearings: Academic Affairs has now begun budget hearings.  The process is collegial and allows the entire campus community to understand unit budget priorities.  The hearings help us understand and appreciate how and why decisions are made.  Once this process is finished, the academic cabinet will reach consensus in establishing priorities for all of academic affairs.   The senate budget committee will also make recommendations to the chancellor regarding budget priorities. 

Direct Admits: At the last Senate meeting Larry Garber updated the campus on the planned phase-in stages of direct admit implementation. Progress to date on direct admits include reassigning, to the College of Liberal Arts and Science and the Division of Nursing and Health Professions, all students  (with a 2.0 or better GPA) who have indicated a degree interest in these areas.  The advising for beginning students who are undecided, have a GPA below 2.0 or have indicated an interest in business, SPEA, or education will continue to be the responsibility of advisors reporting to Karen White.

Additionally, Kirk Aune is chairing a group of faculty and staff to build a common student data base to be used in advising.

Marketing: External Affairs and Academic Affairs have been working collaboratively to develop strategic marketing initiatives with the remainder of Strategic Directions Initiatives (SDI) money. Proposed marketing efforts will be developed in these areas: an updated viewbook, program sheets for academic units, website development, street signage, marketing research, recruitment, graduate programs, and international programs.

Atheletics: IUSB's women's basketball team is in first place in the Chicagoland Conference.  The women have two games left on their schedule.  One of these is a home game against Illinois Tech which is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Brown School.  The men's team also has two games left on their schedule.  They play St. Francis on Wednesday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Brown School  These last games at Brown School mark the end of an era of IUSB basketball at Brown.  Next year the teams will play their opening game in the Student Activities Building.

Both the women's and men's teams are scheduled to play in the CCAC Conference Playoffs.  The first playoff games will be on February 27 in Wiekamp Hall at Bethel College.  The times of the games are not yet set.  Come and watch and support Coach Mary Wisniewski and her Assistant Coach Deb Martin, Coach Lou Hickey and his Assistant Coach Ken Mack, and the student team members at their last games of the year.