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Show Page 4 StatesmanCampus News Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010 Physics: Donation for research Summer enrollment declining continued from page 1 "We are also required to present our findings at another forum, I am going to Albuquerque next week to report my research again," Sim said. Jensen conducted research on ablation therapy with Timothy Doyle, research associate professor for the physics department. He explored nanoparticles and their effect on cancer cells. "Nanoparticles are 1/20,000 the width of a hair," Jensen said. When these particles attach to cancer cells, they heat up and kill the cancer. Jensen said the goal of the research is to discover why the particles heat up and how much they heat up. Jensen said he used his scholarship to stay in Logan for the summer and further his research. Sim worked with Professor J.R. Dennison exploring electrostatic discharge from materials used in space. Plastics used for spacecraft discharge static and can be destroyed in the space environment, Sim said. Sim said his goal is to develop a model, given the voltage and temperature, to find out how long before a material degrades in space. Johnson worked with assistant professor Shane Larson and High Altitude Reconnaissance Balloon for Outreach and Research (HARBOR) in a high-altitude atmospheric pro- filing project at Weber State University. She said her job was to measure each of the variables of the atmosphere: temperature, pressure and air density. "We sent the weather balloons 100,000 feet in the air and recorded the data on the ascent and descent then compared our data with the standard atmospheric model," Johnson said. The data they collected is necessary for interpreting other experiments done with HARBOR, including the flight dynamics of the balloon and dust particle monitoring experiments that HARBOR is also flying, Johnson said. By JESSICA SWEAT staff writer While most students tend to make their departure from Utah State University and Logan as soon as final tests have ended, USU is strategizing how to make a summer semester more appealing to students. Vice President of Student Services James Morales brought the executive student council a report from his participation in the Summer Enrollment Committee, which is aimed at rectifying a decline in summer enrollment, about 33 percent over a six year period. USU's incentives toward a better summer program are —marissa.boddy@aggiemaiLusu. not only to maximize revenue, but include helping students graduate sooner and being more responsive to student needs. "Our main goals are to continue to jump start a student's career and to keep that career on track," Morales said. The committee was assembled to assess and solve issues preventing USU from achievpresent ing their goals through tracking enrollment and trying to identify the factors that would cause a decrease. Some factors found include: faculty incentives to teach, a student's pressure to work, a lack of clarity in regards to courses offered, and online classes being more convenient. The report also presented recommendations to diminish Thursday, September 23 each factor and to motivate students to enroll. The main 7:00 p.m. recommendations made were Logan LDS Tabernacle to revise the summer schedule, change the menu of courses, and change the funding model College students who attend can win up that is currently used for sumto $1,000 with a written essay related to mer semesters. the lecture. While all notions presented are currently only possibiliDetails at the lecture and at ties for the university, Morales http://library.usu.edu/specol/2010%20 said that the recommendations Writi ng%2OF lye r.pdf show the university "moving in The lecture is free and open to the public. this direction." As for economic pressures "A Paper Mountain: The Extraordinary Diary .40 of Leonard James Arrington" Sixteenth Annua Leonard J. Arrington MORMON HIS'TOR'Y' LECTURE Sponsored by: Special Collections & Archives Merrill-Cazier,Library Eeonard ArringtOn Foundation College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences felt by students, the recommendations the committee formed are to offer summer employment and internships to students as part of an enrollment package. Tuition incentives may be given and the university may also provide certification programs to help those wanting to enhance their resumes. Another factor keeping students physically out of the classroom over the summer is online courses. While most students use online courses at least once in their academic careers, the report addresses how the university can cornpete with the options they provide. Members of the committee have been using online sources to track shifts in enrollment. The newly implemented wait list students used to register for classes this fall is an example of this tracking. The wait list has better shown the university what classes are high in demand. Other benefits are geared toward freshman, non-resident, international, and nontraditional students. Summer semesters are said to cost less for out-of-state students and, according to Morales, can be a great opportunity for freshman and new international students to get adjusted and begin feeling welcome at USU before the fall semester begins. In regards to faculty needs, the report states that the university needs to find a way to make teaching in the summer more beneficial to educators. Typically the summer is a time off for educators to use as vacation from teaching. Some educators also decide to spend the time researching or on other projects. Those who do teach over the summer usually receive a flat rate for their course whether 2 or 200 students enroll. Professors can also choose where and when their classes are held. What the university may begin to provide educators is flexible time off so research or other activities can take place throughout the year, making them available during the summer. "This university is student-driven, based on student needs, not faculty-driven based on faculty needs," Morales said. Morales then opened up his time of the meeting to ask the executive council for some feedback. The council inquired about reducing housing costs, FAFSA allotment, and activities that could better improve all aspects of a student's summer in Logan. Morales took note of their inquires and reassured them that they would be reviewed if not already considered. Also at the meeting, Brent Crosby, ASUSU executive vice president, said the council is working toward a goal to get 1,000 students to register to vote in Cache County. Crosby said that they need about 80 students a day to register. Students that register may find voting on campus more convenient and registration is from 12-2:30 p.m. every Monday through Friday, at the TSC info booth. President Tyler Tolson also spoke of two surveys he is working on. The first is a survey about Computer Information and Literacy (CIL) exams students are required to pass in order to graduate. Tolson is exploring a few ideas, including eliminating the exams or making them more of an aptitude test to inform students what they need to learn. The other survey involves Tolson's campaign for a new recreation center. This survey will identify what students do for recreation and if students recreational needs are met at USU. "We want views on what people think of as recreation in their daily lives," Tolson said. So far the recreation center includes plans for lounging, food, and entertainment. —jessie.a.sweat@aggiemaiLusu. edu Recycle: 3rd year considered a success continued from page 1 SCHOO L Wednesda September 22, 2010 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. om & Lounges wrappers. Models walked the runway in four categories, depending on the materials that composed their outfit: paper, plastic, trashy and mixed waste. Four awards were given for the unique runway designs, including most innovative, most green, most wearable and best in show. Ashley Miller won in the innovation category while Kelsey Wilson and Rachel Wilkey were awarded for constructing the most green friendly outfit. Vivian Amundson's design was selected as the most wearable and the best in show was snatched by Kynzie Thorbe, Rachel Carlisle and Tyra Simmons whose design was titled "Pretty in Paper." The panel of judges were composed of USU's First Lady, Joyce Albrecht, as well as Darrin Brooks, interior design assistant professor , ASUSU Vice President of Service Tasha Jorgensen and public relations student Joshua Rosen. "I was looking for something you'd see in a fashion magazine, something you could wear that's durable," Albrecht said. "We were looking for creativity, design and practicality." Rosen said he went to Shirley and suggested the class event go university-wide, so he and other dress and humanities class members set up a committee to jump-start a marketing plan. "I decided to do it because it's one of my hobbies and I wanted a forum to display my work," Rosen said. Shirley said she has learned through her studies how pivotal clothing is in our lives as a way of self expression and necessity. In American culture, fashion is prominent and can be a tool in raising awareness, she said. "It is important to me to challenge students to think critically about issues impacting their community and to use problem solving skills to take everyday objects and transform them into something that represents them as individuals," she said. Melissa Whipple, a junior and American Sign Language major, designed a dress made entirely from grocery bags and collected all of them by asking residents of apartments for S cience Unwrapped UtahStateUniversity CAREER SERVICES Visit usu.edu/career for a complete list of graduate schools attending (435) 797-7777 careerservices@usu.edu Have We Created a Monster? The Internet's 'Good, Bad and Ugly donations. Whipple ironed the plastic in some areas and tied bags to the waistband to form a two-tier skirt. Some students who designed outfits for the fashion show worked long hours and late into the night to finish their outfits. Laura Walker, a senior in graphic design, said she scavenged the TSC recycle bins to accumulate aluminum cans for her dress titled "Cola Chanel," which was fastened together with brads and sewn in some areas. Walker said through crafting her own garment she did some research and learned some celebrities are wearing sustainable clothing. Peter Danes, a junior and political science major who attended the fashion show said, "I like that fashion is being brought to the community and Utah doesn't have as much environmental awareness as other parts of the country, so this definitely promotes awareness because of the number of people here." —catherine.meidell@aggiemail. usu.edu Join us Friday Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. ESLC Auditorium www.usu.edu/science/unwrapped Join our Facebook group |