January 29, 2010

Dear colleagues,

President Mark P. Becker Let me begin by thanking the entire Georgia State community for a swift and impassioned response to the crisis in Haiti. To better coordinate our campus-wide relief effort, we have established a website, www.gsu.edu/helpforhaiti, that will act as a clearinghouse for the many ways you can help. The overwhelming response to this international crisis is another example of the spirit of Georgia State - people helping people.

Over that past week I have received numerous congratulatory comments on the front-page story in Monday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution entitled "Georgia State continues its rise." The article outlines GSU's continued rise as a destination of choice institution for college students in Georgia. For those of you who missed it, the article can be found at http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/georgia-state-continues-its-282362.html.

Yesterday GSU was featured prominently in an Education Trust press release on colleges and universities that are making gains in graduation rates for minority students. Improved student retention and graduation rates are major priorities for the university, and the Education Trust makes the point that "Georgia State's example demonstrates that public institutions can strive for access and success simultaneously." The press release, entitled "Some Public Colleges and Universities Are Making Gains, Closing Gaps in Graduation Rates for Minority Students," is online at http://www.edtrust.org/dc/press-room/press-releases.

A huge thank you to those of you who answered my call in the last e-newsletter and submitted ideas about what Georgia State means to you, through ideas@gsu.edu. I received dozens of responses, and be assured I read all of them. It is important to me to get the varied perspectives on what is most important about GSU, and about what can be done to assure our continued rise in standing and recognition.

Saturday evening (Jan. 30) Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) will air "Capitol Steps - Atlanta Special" at 10 p.m. This broadcast of a Capitol Steps performance was taped before a studio audience last weekend at the Rialto Center for the Arts. Go to http://www.gpb.org/capitol-steps for additional show times. This GPB production is another excellent example of GSU constructively partnering with another entity to extend our reach and impact, and in this case to showcase the Rialto Center for the Arts.

Finally, in the coming weeks I will be joining fellow Georgia university presidents and CEOs in the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy Challenge. Recently I read to children at Georgia State's Child Development Center, and the Ferst Foundation videotaped the event. Next week, the video will be on YouTube and I humbly call on you to support childhood literacy by voting in this friendly contest. A small donation will be required to vote, with proceeds going to the Ferst Foundation. We will publicize further details of the competition as they become available.

Thank you for a great start to the year and all you do for Georgia State.

Sincerely,

Mark P. Becker
President

In the News

GSU celebrates winter homecoming
Georgia State kicked off its final winter homecoming this week, as the university transitions to festivities centered on football in the fall. Homecoming 2010 runs through Feb. 6 and includes events for students, faculty and staff members, as well as alumni and community supporters, during the day and at night. Read the full story here.

Biz profs named best in field
Six Georgia State University professors in the department of computer information systems (CIS) in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business received top recognition in a recent peer report. Professors Richard Baskerville, Michael Gallivan, Mark Keil, Arun Rai, Daniel Robey, and Detmar Straub, all in the CIS department, are among the 30 most prolific researchers in the world in their field, according to a recent study assessing research productivity published by the Association for Information Systems. Read the full story here.

GSU has new ombudsperson
Kelley Alexander is Georgia State University's new ombudsperson. The Office of the Ombudsperson assists faculty, staff and students in resolving complaints or concerns informally, confidentially and with neutrality. Click here for more information. Click here for more information.

Kudos

Daniel Robey, John B. Zellars Professor of Computer Information Systems at Georgia State University's J. Mack Robinson College of Business, has received a LEO Award for Lifetime Exceptional Achievement in Information Systems. The award is presented annually by the Association for Information Systems Council and the International Conference on Information Systems Executive Committee.

Frank J. Hall, a professor of mathematics, will visit the Czech Republic this spring thanks to a U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program award, to collaborate with a renowned mathematician in research in an area that impacts computer science, economics and other fields.

Mike Metzler, professor of kinesiology and health, was elected an active fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. He also was installed as the national president of AAKPE.

Send "Kudos!" to newsletter@gsu.edu.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chandler Brown.