FHSU University Relations
The 2015-2016 academic year at Fort Hays State University will officially begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, when the annual Fall Convocation begins in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
Continuing a tradition initiated last year by President Mirta M. Martin, the price of admission is a non-perishable food item to stock Tiger Food Exchange, the FHSU food pantry.
President Martin will deliver her State of the University address at 8:15 a.m. after a welcome from Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Graham Glynn and remarks by Faculty Senate President Dr. Lorie Cook-Benjamin, assistant professor of teacher education; University Support Staff Senate President Marcia Tacha, University Relations and Marketing; and Student Government Association President Ulises Gonzalez, Garden City senior.
The introduction of new faculty and staff, beginning at 8:45, will be followed at about 9:30 a.m. by the presentation of awards, culminating with the university’s highest honor, the President’s Distinguished Scholar Award.
Other honors will recognize the:
• Faculty Member of the Year;
• Edmund Shearer Advisor of the Year;
• Internationalization of the Campus and Curriculum Award;
• John Heinrichs Outstanding Research Mentor; and
• Virtual College Adjuncts of the Year.
A new award will be added to the list this year — the Closing the Loop Department Award for departments that have implemented degree program improvements. The judgment of improvements will be based on an analysis of program and student learning outcomes. The award will come with a $2,000 prize for the winning department’s other operating expenses account to be shared with faculty members for such expenses as development travel and event food, equipment and book purchases.
Provost Glynn will speak on academic affairs initiative at 10 a.m.; Chief Ed Howell, director of University Police, will speak on campus safety at 10:30; and Tim Chapman, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation, will speak at 10:45.
After a welcome from DeBra Prideaux, executive director of the FHSU Alumni Foundation, at 10:50, a reception will begin in the Dreiling Lobby of Sheridan Hall.