SPECTRUMVIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY http://www.unirel.vt.edu/spectrum/ VOLUME 24 NUMBER 31 FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2002

(See KRAFT on 3)

(See RESTRUCTURING on 4)

The Founders DayConvocation beginsat 3 p.m. today inBurruss auditorium.

(See FULBRIGHT on 4)

Kraft selected 2002 Ruffner Medal recipient Restructuring maylead to collegeconsortia

By Clara B. CoxThe grouping of several colleges into

“consortia of colleges,” defined by ProvostMark McNamee as “a group of colleges thatshares common approaches to accomplishinggoals in one or more of the university’smissions,” is among the proposals that haveemerged during the university’s examinationof restructuring.

In a letter to faculty and staff memberson Monday, McNamee provided a progressreport that summarizes the “current state” ofthe restructuring discussions. The report,available on line at http://www.provost.vt.edu/restructuring.html,outlines six broad areas of recommendationsdesigned to “maximize our effectiveness inrecruiting and retaining outstanding facultymembers, students, and staff members aspart of the effort to expand the scholarlyenvironment appropriate for a top-30university.”

One recommendation would expandthe Pamplin College of Business to includethe Department of Hospitality and TourismManagement. In another recommendation,the College of Architecture and UrbanStudies could add part or all of the School ofthe Arts, the interior-design component ofNear Environments, and, for administrativepurposes, the School for Public andInternational Affairs.

Roy Graduate Commencement speaker Alexander’s Fulbrightto fund teachingmaterials on China

KRAFT

By Lynn Nystrom

When Christopher C. Kraft Jr. won the1999 National Space Trophy from RotaryInternational, the group described him as “adriving force in the U.S. human space flightprogram from its beginnings to the SpaceShuttle era, a man whose accomplishmentshave become legendary.”

In honor of his distinguished service toscience and the nation, the Board of Visitorshas awarded him the 2002 William H. RuffnerMedal, the university’s highest honor.

“Virginia Tech is truly honored to count

among its esteemed alumni Dr. Christopher C.Kraft,” President Charles Steger said. “He hasprovided vision and leadership in his service tothe university on the Board of Visitors in additionto his support for Alumni Center Campaign, theClass of ’45 Campaign and the College ofEngineering Committee of 100.”

Kraft was instrumental in the decision toland an astronaut on the moon. He led theplanning and operational control of programsfrom the two sub-orbital Mercury missionsthrough Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and the ApolloSoyuz/test project. He was deeply involved in

the development ofthe Space Shuttle.During its definitionand design studies,he played a vital rolein the decision-making process thatcreated the SpaceShuttle program, andhe determined theinitial configurationof the Space Shuttle

Giacco, Grado receive Alumni Distinguished Service Awards todayBy Kelly Corace and Courtney O’Hara,

University Relations internsThe growth and development of Vir-

ginia Tech as a major research university isdue in large measure to the active support ofthe university’s alumni. In honor of the nu-merous contributions that Alexander F.Giacco and John Grado have made to thebetterment of the nation and Virginia Tech,the Alumni Association has recognized themwith the 2002 Alumni Distinguished ServiceAward.

The awards will be presented to Giaccoand Grado today at the Founders Day Con-vocation, which begins at 3 p.m. in Burrussauditorium.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in1942 with a B.S. in chemical engineering,Giacco began his 45-year career with Her-cules, Inc. He served as the company’s presi-dent from 1977 to 1987 and chairman of theboard from 1980 until his retirement in 1987.The Wall Street Transcript dubbed Giacco“The Chemical Industry’s Outstanding ChiefExecutive Officer” in 1984.

Since leaving Hercules, he has served aspresident and CEO of Rheometric ScientificInc., and chairman and CEO of HIMONT Inc.He is currently managing director of AxessCorp.

Giacco’s achievements have earned sev-eral honorary doctorates from universities

throughout the U.S. He also has been honoredby the nation of his birth—in 1985, the Italiangovernment conferred a title of honor,Commendatore, the country’s highest civiliancommendation. In 1987 he was elected to mem-bership in the prestigious National Academy ofEngineering.

In addition to his corporate career,Giacco served as a member of the VirginiaTech Board of Visitors from 1979 to 1987and was rector of the board for the last threeyears of his term. During the university’snational “Campaign for Excellence,” whichgenerated more than $108 million dollars inless than three years, he chaired the Corpo-rate and Foundation Gifts Committee. Hewas inducted into the College ofEngineering’s Academy of Engineering Ex-cellence in 2000 and is a member of thecollege’s Committee of 100.

After Giacco retired from Hercules, thecompany established the Alexander F. GiaccoPresidential Chair at Virginia Tech with a$1-million endowment. The Alexander F.Giacco Engineering Scholarship Fund wassubsequently established through his sup-port. In 1989, he received the UniversityDistinguished Achievement Award for “sig-nificant achievement of enduring signifi-cance to society.”

“Just as Al Giacco has played a vital

By Julie KaneLucinda Roy will be the keynote speaker

for Graduate Commencement on May 10,beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

Roy is alumni distinguished professorin English and director of creative writing atVirginia Tech. In May, she will assume theposition of chair of the English Department.She served as an associate dean in the Col-lege of Arts and Sciences from 1993-1996,and was the Gloria D. Smith professor inblack studies from 1997-1999. In 1992, shewas the Margaret Bundy Scott professor ofEnglish at Williams College in Massachu-setts. Roy has taught in Africa, England, andthe United States, and frequently gives pre-sentations throughout the country on cre-ative writing, higher education, and diver-sity.

A recipient of several teaching awards,

including the university-wide Alumni Awardfor Teaching Excellence, Roy was co-founderof the Service-Learning program at VirginiaTech and has authored a number of successfulgrants in support of on-line course develop-ment and diversity initiatives.

She has published two novels, Lady Mosesand The Hotel Alleluia, and two collections ofpoetry. Her poetry collection, The HummingBirds, won the 1994 Eighth Mountain PoetryPrize. She received her B.A. (honors) in En-glish from King’s College, London, and herM.F.A. in creative writing from the Universityof Arkansas. In May 2000, she was awarded anhonorary doctorate of letters from the Univer-sity of Richmond.

Currently, she is at work on her thirdpoetry collection, her third novel, and a seriesof oil paintings in which she reinterprets thetrials of the “middle passage.”

(See SERVICE AWARDS on 3)

By Jean ElliottM. David Alexander, chair of the Depart-

ment of Educational Leadership and PolicyStudies, has been awarded funding from theFulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Pro-gram. The grant will fund 15 educators andadministrators from Virginia Tech, WesternKentucky University and three Virginia public-school systems, for a four-week study tour inthe People’s Republic of China.

“Our goal is to develop curriculum mate-rials about China that will enhance currentprograms within the K-12 districts and theofferings within the universities,” Alexandersaid.

Consisting of a series of seminars, field

GRADOGIACCO

2 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2002

ACTIVITIESEVENTS

BULLETINS

SEMINARSFriday, 26

Founders Day, 3 p.m., Burruss auditorium.TA Event, 8 p.m., Squires Studio Theater: “Radon!”

(Through 4-27).

Saturday, 27New River Valley Symphony, 8 p.m., Burruss audito-

rium.YMCA Hike, 10 a.m., YMCA Parking Lot.Virginia Museum of Natural History Event, 11 a.m. to

noon, Saturday Science: Flowers and Plants.SOTA Event, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., PAB: open auditions for

Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival.

Sunday, 28SOTA Event, 3 p.m., Squires Recital Salon: Faculty

Recital.

Wednesday, 1Pay Date for Faculty and Staff Members.Classes End.Family, Work/Life Resources Program, noon to 1 p.m.,

DBHCC conference room G.“With Good Reason,” 7 p.m., WVTF.SOTA Event, 8 p.m., Burruss auditorium: Benjamin

Britten’s War Requiem.

Thursday, 2Reading Day.SOTA Event, 8 p.m., Squires Recital Salon: Faculty

Recital.

Friday, 3Exams Begin.

Friday, 26Highlands in Chemistry, 11:15 a.m., 3 Davidson: Chris

Walsh, Harvard Medical School.MCBB, 12:20 to 1:10 p.m., Fralin auditorium: George

Bloom, UVa.STS, 4 p.m., 132 Lane: Michael Klein.

Monday, 29Horticulture, 4 p.m., 409 Saunders: Lisa Kelk.

Wednesday, 1ESM, 4 p.m., 136 Norris: Andrew Hood, U.S. State

Department.

Wednesday, 8Human Development, 7 p.m., Wallace atrium: Shirley S.

Travis, UNC—Charlotte.

SCC announces last assistance dayThe last day to request assistance from the Statistical

Consulting Center is April 26. The center will begin acceptingnew clients for the summer on May 16.

Shiva program set for April 29Vandana Shiva, scientist, ecofeminist, and activist, will

present a program in the Donaldson Brown auditorium MondayApril 29, at 8 p.m.

She is the director of the Research Foundation for Science,

Technology, and Natural Resource Policy in New Delhi, India.She is known for her scholarship in—and work to protect—biological and cultural diversity, traditional agro-ecosystems,and the knowledge and rights of women, indigenous peoples, andpeoples of the Third World.

Her visit is sponsored by the Campus Greens at VirginiaTech. Co-sponsors include the departments of Biological SystemsEngineering and Political Science, International Club at VirginiaTech, Multidisciplinary Studies, Science and Technology Studies,womanspace, and the Women’s Studies Program.

Music department sponsoring Alumni WeekendThe Department of Music is sponsoring the first annual

Music Education Alumni Weekend April 26-27.More than 20 alumni are returning to campus to lead

seminars, classes, and conduct ensembles for Tech’sundergraduate music-education majors. Music-education faculty,alumni, and undergraduates will participate in a series of seminarsand ensemble performances that will bring the real world ofpublic school music education to Tech’s undergraduate music-education program. Alumni will experience the latest in music-education theory and technique while undergraduates experiencethe “real world” of music-education alumni.

Staff and Faculty Annual Fund offers donation options

Campus beautification competition winners announced

Engineering freshmenwill need laptopsthis fall

By Kathleen PantaleoLast year, the Staff and Faculty Annual

Fund experienced a 45-percent increase in thenumber of participants from earlier years. Inputfrom staff and faculty members and retiredemployees resulted in many positive changes,such as the Employees’ Spouse and DependentScholarship Fund (http://www.fst.vt.edu/vtsp/)emerging as a primary focus for the campaign.

This scholarship fund is now highlightedthroughout the Staff and Faculty Annual Fundcampaign, although many other areas at theuniversity can and do benefit from annual dona-

tions made by Virginia Tech employees.So that the Staff and Faculty Annual Fund

may better meet the expectations of VirginiaTech employees, the following are now offered:on-line giving at http://www.filebox.vt.edu/univdev/af/; the option to give collectively foremployee groups, and payroll deduction. Em-ployees who contribute at least $1 per paycheck($24) made by June 30, will receive a chance towin drawing for $400 in airfare.

A new option introduced this year is theopportunity to add to the Presidential Depen-dent Scholarship Endowment. This endow-

ment—started by President Charles Steger alongwith past university presidents—ensures thatspouses and dependents of employees will al-ways have scholarship opportunities made avail-able to them if they choose to attend VirginiaTech.

In addition to the scholarships alreadymentioned, current and retired Virginia Techemployees can make a gift to any area of theuniversity. Current and retired Virginia Techemployees can look for a pledge card in the mailon or around May 1.

By Karen GilbertThe computer requirement for engineer-

ing freshmen has been changed from a desktopto a laptop to reflect the increased technologyneeds of students.

“The college is a strong believer in provid-ing useful technologies that will serve our stu-dents well while learning at Virginia Tech andprepare them for the next stage in life, enteringthe workforce,” said Glenda Scales, assistantdean for distance learning and computers in theCollege of Engineering.

About 30 percent of engineering studentssurveyed by the college’s laptop taskforce,which was established to seek broad-basedinput before deciding on the requirement, re-ported that they have already switched to alaptop computer out of preference. Studentsresponded that laptops are more convenient andprovide quick access to the Internet, e-mail andhomework files.

“One of the key things that came out of thesurvey that interested me was the number oftimes engineering students return to their dormsor apartments to use the computer,” said TomWalker, associate professor of engineering fun-damentals. About two-thirds of students liveoff campus and these students spend an esti-mated seven hours a week in wasted travel timegoing back and forth from classrooms to homefor computer use. The need to return homeincreases the pressure on students to own a car,which compounds the parking problem on cam-pus.

Network plug-in or wireless network ac-cess is currently available in certain classroomsand study areas, such as Randolph Hall andTorgersen Hall. “CNS wants the laptop initia-tive to be successful and understands that ex-

(See ENGINEERING on 4)

By Sherri BoxJon Phillips, a business-information-

technology major, and Lauren Fisher, alandscape-architecture major, were honoredApril 20 at the Student Recognition Banquet forwinning first place for their submissions to the“Ornament the Cement” competition. Thewinners will each receive $500 and a certificate.

The beautification competition began sixmonths ago, and on March 4 a selection jurymade up of visiting and university facultymembers, administration, and past graduateschose the winners. In October, students werecharged with the task of beautifying what hasbecome one of Virginia Tech’s mainentranceways: the area between Prices ForkRoad, West Campus Drive, Perry Street, andStanger Street.

The competition was designed by theCampus Beautification sub-committee of theCommission on University Support as part of aneffort to improve the aesthetics of the campus.Any student organization or full-time student in

the fall 2001 semester was eligible to submit anentry and the submissions were accepted fromOct. 1, 2001 through Feb. 1, 2002.

“Banners on a Campus Lot,” Phillip’s entry,was described as a simple, yet effective solutionto the expanse of the commuter-lot entrance tothe university. Phillips designed high-durability,weatherproof banners in orange and maroon,complete with the Virginia Tech emblem, whichcould be attached to the lighting structuresthroughout the lot. The banners can be changedfor various events, as well as portray the parkingdesignations of each lot. The design providescolor, versatility, easy upkeep, and is costeffective.

“Unity in Design,” Fisher’s entry, proposedbuilding several university-themed structuressurrounding a new road entranceway. The roadwill create a more direct entrance from PricesFork Road to West Campus Drive and will havea Burruss Hall abstract design made of pylonson the corner of the turn. Drivers approachingcampus along Route 460 will see eight pylons

surrounded by Hokie stone, each with a collegeseal cast in bronze. As a final design element,Fisher included a screening wall along PricesFork Road lines with trees to hide the commuterlot. Her design combines campus landmarksand insignia into an aesthetically pleasinglandmark entrance.

The entries were judged upon theirinnovative and creative use of construction,landscape, and design elements; successfulintegration of the design into the existingenvironment and architectural style;comprehensiveness and thoroughness ofsubmitted design; and feasibility and practicalimplementation. Submissions also had to includea visual representation of the idea and a designessay.

Honorable mention was awarded toMichelle McLeese for “Ornament in the CementProject,” and special mentions were awarded toJeremy Richa for “VT West Campus DesignCompetition,” and Alison Thorne for “A Visionin Motion.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2002 SPECTRUM 3

Spectrum, a faculty-staff tabloid, is published eachFriday during the academic year, with the exception ofcertain holidays, exam weeks, and the summer. Copydeadline is noon Friday. No advertising is accepted. Spectrum is a non-profit publication of the Office ofUniversity Relations: Lawrence G. Hincker, associate vicepresident for University Relations; David Nutter, director ofcollege and media relations.

EditorJohn Ashby, 1-6961

News Bureau ManagerSherri Box, 1-8508

Production ManagerMelinda Shaver, 1-8524

Business Manager1-8819

Web/Editorial AssistantSherri Songer, 1-2522

Letters to the editor and questions for "Ask Spectrum"should be addressed to the editor, 102 Media Building,Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Electronic Spectrum: http://www.unirel.vt.edu/spec-trum/ Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employ-ees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color,gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran sta-tus, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Any-one having questions concerning discrimination or ac-cessibility regarding the programs described in this news-paper should contact the Equal Opportunity AffirmativeAction Office: 540-231-7500 (v), 540-231-9460 (TTY).

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTEAND STATE INIVERSITY

EMPLOYMENTCLASSIFIED POSITIONS

FACULTY POSITIONS

KRAFTContinued from 1

SERVICE AWARDSContinued from 1

The following classified positions arecurrently available. Position details, spe-cific application procedures/position-clos-ing dates may be found on Personnel Ser-vices web site http://www.ps.vt.edu. Posi-tions are also listed on the Job Line, a 24-hour recorded message service. For infor-mation on all job listings, call 1-5300. Somepositions include state benefits. Positionswith numbers beginning with “W” are hourlyand do not include state benefits. Individu-als with disabilities desiring assistance oraccommodation in the application processshould call by the application deadline.Closing date for advertised positions is 1p.m. Monday. An EO/AA employer commit-ted to diversity.

FULL TIMEOne full-time food-service position avail-able.Assistant Manager, 000561H, PB 3, RDP.Electrician, 001050F, PB 3, Physical Plant.Graduate Enrollment Specialist,001846G, PB 3, ESM.Graduate Program Coordinator,001092G, PB 3, Math.

Housekeeping Worker, 007324C, PB 1,Physical Plant.Human Resources Specialist, 007570D,PB 4, Personnel Services.Laboratory Specialist, 007944M, PB 3,Biochemistry.Laboratory Technician, 007945G, PB 2,CVM.Large Animal Veterinary Technician,001996M, PB 4, VTH.Office Services Specialist, 001286S, PB2, Purchasing.Office Services Specialist, 007283G, PB2, ECE.Phototypesetting Specialist, 000601A,PB 3, Printing Services.Practical Nurse, 001776J, PB 3, SHC.Radiologic Technologist, 002394M, PB3, VTH.Technical Operations Assistant,007940J, PB 2, VTTI.TV/Media Systems Engineer, 000196A,PB 4, VBS.Web Designer, 007510A, PB 4, BEV.Webmaster, 007943Y, PB 4, VBI.

PART TIMELaboratory Technician Senior,W022172M, PB 2, VTH.

Large Animal Husbandry, W022155M,PB 1, VTH.Program Coordinator, W023168J, PB 3,CDAC.Program Support Technician, 004570M,PB 3, CSES.Radiologic Technologist, W022412M, PB3, VTH.Security Guard, W020470Y, PB 1, Police.Switchboard Operator, W022101A, PB 2,CNS.Switchboard Operator, W020821M, PB2, VTH.Veterinary Technician, W023340M, PB4, VTH.

OFF CAMPUSNursing Supervisor, 000606M, PB 3,CVM—EMC.Office Manager, 007796Y, PB 3, IALR.Operating Room Supervisor, 007377M,PB 3, CVM—EMC.Research Specialist, 007942J, PB 3, VTTI.Secretary Senior, 002089R, PB 2, NVC.Wildlife Worker, 006638G, PB 2, Biology.

Policy Studies. Assistant/AssociateProfessor in Counselor Education.(CACREP-accredited program.) Contact:Mary Whitlock, College of Human Re-sources and Education, 103 War Memo-rial Hall (0317), Blacksburg, VA 24061.Review begins May 16.

NON-INSTRUCTIONALUniversity Development. Director

of Development Communications. Con-tact: Rhonda K. Arsenault, Assistant VicePresident for Advancement Services, Of-fice of University Development, 201 PackBuilding, Mail Code (0336), Virginia Tech,Blacksburg, Virginia 24061.Metropolitan Institute, College of Ar-chitecture and Urban Studies. SeniorProject Associate. Contact: Robert E.Lang, Director, Metropolitan Institute atVirginia Tech, 1101 King Street, Suite612, Alexandria, VA 22314.Women’s Center. Program Coordina-tor. Contact: Program Coordinator SearchCommittee, Women’s Center at VirginiaTech, Price House, Stanger St. (0270),Blacksburg, VA 24061-0279. Review be-gins May 20.

INSTRUCTIONALDepartment of Educational Leadership

Virginia Public Service Week setLater this month, Governor Mark Warner

will announce the observation of Virginia PublicService Week (VPSW) for May 6-12. Thisyear’s theme is “Proudly Serving Virginians.”

VPSW is an opportunity to reward andrecognize employees for their hard work anddedication to the state and raise public awarenessof the contributions state employees make everyday. In addition to supporting VPSW, VirginiaTech provides many university employee awardand recognition programs in the spring and fall,including Staff Appreciation Day, scheduledfor the week following Virginia Public ServiceWeek.

The state-wide program will recognizeemployees through Governor’s Awards. The

Virginia Public Service Steering Committee, astate-level committee, will review all entriesand the selected employees will be honored at aceremony during that week. Because of theshort time frame for VPSW, the university willsubmit the names of the fall 2001 winners of thePresident’s Award for Excellence for severalGovernor’s Awards. The five universitynominees are Penny Cook, Jessie Eaves, TomHead, Christopher Peters, and Sally Stafford.

Thirty-five employees from state agencieswill be randomly selected by the state’sDepartment of Human Resource Managementto participate in the Governor’s Award ceremonyas employee ambassadors to thank awardrecipients on behalf of other employees.

system, a new concept in space transportation.Kraft was the director of the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration’s(NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center inHouston, Texas, from January 1972 to August1982.

Kraft was born in 1924, two years beforeAmerican physicist Robert Goddard launchedthe first liquid-fueled rocket. Graduating in1944 with a bachelor’s degree in aeronauticalengineering, he immediately joined the LangleyAeronautical Laboratory of the NationalAdvisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA),the precursor of NASA.

In 1958, Kraft was selected as one of theoriginal members of the Space Task Group, theorganization established to manage the ProjectMercury. The group developed the basicconcepts of the Mercury Project that launchedthe human space flight program for the UnitedStates. He personally served as the flightdirector for all of the Mercury missions andmany of the Gemini missions.

Kraft retired from NASA in 1982. In atribute to his career at the time, the RoanokeTimes editorialized that he “epitomized thespace age…he probably instilled moreconfidence in our space program than any slickcampaign could have done, because of hisknowledge and ability to impart it.”

Since his retirement, Kraft has consulted

for Rockwell International, IBM, and a numberof other companies. A brief listing of his manyhonors include membership in the prestigiousNational Academy of Engineering, theInternational Academy of Astronautics of theInternational Astronautical Association, andthe Aerospace Medical Association.

Among his awards, he received the NASAOutstanding Leadership Medal from thepresident of the United States in 1963, the Spiritof St. Louis Medal from the American Societyof Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in 1965, theVirginian of the Year Award from the VirginiaPress Association in 1967, the ASME Medal in1973, and the Goddard Memorial Trophy fromthe National Space Club in 1979. He alsoreceived the NASA Distinguished ServiceMedal, the highest NASA award, four times.

Paper Co., offered Grado a job as chief indus-trial engineer. Grado soon became president ofFitchburg’s Decotone Division and eventuallyexecutive vice-president of the parent com-pany.

When Litton Industries bought FitchburgPaper in 1967, Grado—then only 35 yearsold—was made the corporate vice-president ofLitton. In 1983 he bought the company fromLitton, renamed it Technographics and movedthe world headquarters to Fitchburg, Massa-chusetts. Grado’s entrepreneurial talents madeTechnographics a resounding success. In 1999he sold the company and retired from corporatelife.

His generosity to Virginia Tech includesendowment of the Department of Industrialand Systems Engineering (ISE), which becamethe Grado Department in 2000. He also hasendowed the John Grado Professorship and ascholarship fund that supports 19 students an-nually.

Grado is a member of the College ofEngineering’s Committee of 100 and is aninductee of Virginia Tech’s Ut Prosim Society.He has served on ISE’s Advisory Board and isa member of its Academy of DistinguishedAlumni. He also has served on the VirginiaTech Foundation Board and the board of theCorporate Research Center. He has been hon-ored with the University Distinguished AlumniAward and election to the College ofEngineering’s Academy of Engineering Ex-cellence, and he has received ISE’s Agee Dis-tinguished Alumni Award.

“He started as a student who didn’t haveanything and now he has given so much back toVirginia Tech students,” said ISE studentHeather Rae Danforth, a recipient of a GradoScholarship.

role nationally in the chemical industry, he hasalso given Virginia Tech the benefit of hisrenowned executive talents,” said MalcolmMcPherson, interim dean of the College ofEngineering. “His leadership on the Board ofVisitors during a time of growth and changewas a major force in bolstering the university’ssubstance and status.”

Grado entered Virginia Tech at the age of16 and a year later he interrupted his studies toenlist in the U.S. Navy for two-year stint duringWorld War II. He then returned to the univer-sity and received his degree in industrial engi-neering in 1951.

His early work led to a career in the paperand printing business. In 1956 George Wallace,then president of Fitchburg (Massachusetts)

Staff Appreciation Dayis

May 15,from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.in Rector Field house.

4 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2002

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAIDBlacksburg, VA Permit No. 28

Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061

IN OTHER NEWS

ENGINEERINGContinued from 1

FULBRIGHTContinued from 1

RESTRUCTURINGContinued from 1

maintained as a separate college from the naturalsciences because of its distinctive teaching andresearch programs, but a School of ComputerSciences and Information Technology wouldbe created to reflect the growing importance ofcomputer science, computer engineering, andother forms of information technology.Discussions continue about the administrativehome for the school.

Several college models have been proposedto address the arts, humanities, social sciences,education, and human-resources programs. Aconsortium of two colleges—one an outgrowthof the College of Arts and Sciences and oneemerging from the College of Human Resourcesand Education—would be formed to attainnationally prominent educational and researchobjectives. A Graduate School of Educationwould be organized within the latter college tohighlight the commitment to science andmathematics education.

The core curriculum could fall under theumbrella of a “university college.” Specificproposals are under development.

The report also describes several conceptsunderlying the restructuring plan “that shouldaid us in advancing all missions of the universitywithout setting up hard, inflexible, competingadministrative structures.” In addition to takingadvantage of shared approaches, the consortiaof colleges concept would share certainadministrators, such as the associate dean forundergraduate studies, associate dean forresearch, and associate dean for outreach.

Another concept “involves an on-goingeffort to continue discussions among departmentheads across college lines based on sharedinterests.”

Two town hall meetings were held onWednesday to provide a forum for discussionof the proposals.

A comprehensive set of recommendationsfor evaluation by the Board of Visitors will bepresented to the university community by May1.

visits, and curriculum-development workshops,the program will be conducted by Jinhuan Shi,professor of education at Beijing Normal Uni-versity; Jianliang Wang, associate professor atWestern Kentucky University; and Alexander.The participants will form three study/writingteams, each having representatives from theuniversities and public-school systems. Theywill visit Beijing, Xian in Shaanxi Province,and Chengdu in Sichuan Province.

Resource materials will be developedcollaboratively, implemented in participatingschool systems, and disseminated at the stateand national levels through the network ofeducators and by establishing a web site atVirginia Tech. The focus will be on themodernization process occurring in China andits national and international impact on social,economic, and educational systems.

Educators from Giles County PublicSchools, Menchville High School (NewportNews) and two high schools in Fairfax County(Westfields and Langley) will participate. GilesCounty schools have established a school-busi-ness partnership with Hoechst Celanese, whichhas business interests in China. The Giles Countyeducators will focus on developing a curricu-lum to gain a better understanding of the

economy, geography, customs, and traditionsof the Chinese people.

Alexander has extensive international ex-perience, making his first trip to China in 1993by invitation of the People’s Education Press,the largest education press in China respon-sible for curriculum development and textbookcompilation for all elementary and secondary-school children in China. He also led a delega-tion of 15 educators to China in a similarFulbright-Hays sponsored grant in 1997.

panded wireless coverage will be desired,” saidJohn Pollard, director of engineering operationsfor Communications Network Services.

Having a laptop will give the students theability to take their computers—holding notes,data, applications software and other informa-tion—to class, group meetings, and study ses-sions. “We see this as a significant improvementin the academic environment for our students,”said Nat Davis, assistant department head inelectrical and computer engineering. Instruc-tors will be able to set up ad-hoc “computerlabs” for their classes simply by having studentsbring their laptops with them.

As part of a bond issue to be voted on thisfall, the university is seeking funds to renovateits inventory of outdated classrooms. “Obvi-ously, technology plays a big part, but our initia-tive is also fueled by the need for flexibility inseating styles that new learning pedagogies re-

quire—tables and chairs instead of desks, forimprovement in lighting and sound control,and for classroom comfort,” Associate ProvostDixon Hanna said. The availability of moreelectrical receptacles in the classroom will sup-port the use of laptops. About 30 classroomshave been improved so far and the bond fund-ing would provide for the university to updatean additional 50 classrooms.

Virginia Tech was the first public univer-sity to require its entering engineering studentsto bring a desktop computer to school. Thecollege has been offering laptops as an optionto the computer requirement since 1998.

The cost of a laptop compared to thepreviously required desktop is approximately$400 to $600 higher. Financial-aide guidelinesfor freshmen engineering students will be ad-justed to factor in this cost.

For more information, contact TomWalker at twalker@vt.edu or visitwww.eng.vt.edu/compreq/compreq.html.

HTM educators among most influential Wakefield appointed VCHR associate director

Earth Day Commuter Challenge results in

A new College of Biological,Mathematical, and Physical Sciences would becreated and would join the College of NaturalResources, College of Agriculture and LifeSciences, and Virginia Maryland RegionalCollege of Veterinary Medicine under anumbrella “colleges of natural science,” whichmight also include the departments ofpsychology; economics; and human nutrition,foods, and exercise.

The College of Engineering would be

By Jean ElliottThree Virginia Tech faculty members were

ranked among the top five educators in a cita-tion analysis, according to the most recent issueof the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Edu-cation.

Michael Olsen, Pam Weaver and KenMcCleary ranked third, fourth, and fifth, re-spectively in an “Update of Hospitality Man-agement Education’s Most Influential Schol-ars: A Citation Analysis 1989-1999.”

A citation analysis is the time-consumingprocess of counting the number of times anypublication or researcher has been cited in“main articles” in peer-reviewed journals. Inthis case, the five major hospitality-manage-ment education journals were used: the CornellHotel and Restaurant Administration Quar-terly, the FIU Hospitality Review, the Interna-tional Journal of Hospitality Management, theJournal of Hospitality and Tourism Education,and the Journal of Hospitality and TourismResearch. Main articles are the major pieces ofa journal and do not include book reviews orreports on working papers. Each reference ap-pearing in a main article is logged in a database.

No self-citations are counted and authorsare counted only once per main article, regard-less of the number of times cited within thatarticle.

The field was led by a retired scholar,Robert Lewis, with 142 citations, followed by

a UNLV professor with 141 citations. The onlyother scholars with a minimum of 100 citationsare all Virginia Tech faculty members: Olsen(122), Weaver (106), and McCleary (101).Besides having an impact on their field overtime, the trio also ranked third, fourth and fifthin most recent citation activity (1997-99): Olsen(54), McCleary (52), and Weaver (47). VirginiaTech’s Muzaffer Uysal ranked 27th with 16citations—despite his focus on tourism beingfeatured more widely in other journals.

Virginia Tech’s overall impact on thehospitality industry is also evidenced by thefact that eight VT HTM doctoral graduatesranked among the top-60 in the 1989-99 cita-tion analysis.

“Overall, Virginia Tech ranked secondamong institutions for cumulative citations,”said Brian Mihalik, head of the Department ofHospitality and Tourism Management (HTM).“I am very impressed with our faculty dedica-tion and am confident that if the research wasexpanded to the entire tourism field, Dr. Uysalalso would have joined Dr. Olsen, Dr. McClearyand Dr. Weaver in the top-ranked faculty. Thisexample of HTM faculty dedication to re-search further reinforces our departmental com-mitment to excellence in scholarly activities.”

Virginia Tech, which posted 360 cita-tions by six authors, trailed only Cornell intotal citations, which posted 455 but had 14authors.

By Sarah NewbillBuilding Construction Professor Ron

Wakefield has been appointed to the newposition of associate director for the VirginiaTech Center for Housing Research housed inthe College of Architecture and Urban Studies.He will continue his duties in the building-construction department while assuming thisnew role, as well as additional responsibilitiesin the college.

Wakefield’s leadership role in housingtechnology research is shown most recentlythrough a series of publications he has co-written. Funded by the U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Development, the publica-tions focus on the residential construction siteand ways to make the building process andinformation flow more efficient. These can befound on the HUD web site at http://www.huduser.org/publications/manufhsg/ircs2.html.

Center Director Ted Koebel said Wakefieldis recognized as both a principal investigatorand as a program builder, and looks forward toeven greater success with him serving in this

new capacity. “The center has been verysuccessful in accomplishing its mission toimprove the quality, affordability andaccessibility of housing through research. Thatsuccess relies entirely on the involvement andleadership of faculty members like RonWakefield. Faculty members from thedepartments of Building Construction andArchitecture have developed an impressiveagenda of nationally and internationallyrecognized research on residential constructiontechnology,” Koebel said.

Wakefield will assume his new duties atthe center in July, along with another appoint-ment as director of the environmental designand planning doctoral program. He holds theWilliam E. Jamerson Professorship of BuildingConstruction and earned his Ph.D. in civil engi-neering from the University of New SouthWales, Australia. He has been at Virginia Techsince 1998.

More information about the Center forHousing Research can be found atwww.caus.vt.edu/CAUS/RESEARCH/vchr/VCHR.html.

By Suzanne Ducker, alternative transportation managerThe first Earth Day Commuter Challenge,

sponsored by the Office of Transportation andBlacksburg Transit was held Monday.

The three ‘commuters’ participating in thechallenge at Tall Oaks Circle in Hethwood andPatrick Henry Drive began their trip to TorgersenHall at 10:45 a.m. The bicyclists were the firstto reach Torgersen Hall from both routes. Thebus riders were the next and the car drivers werethe last to arrive. The bikers rode directly up toTorgersen, locked their bikes at the rack and

checked in; the bus riders rode to the nearest busstop and walked to Torgersen; and the cardrivers drove in, found a parking space and thenwalked to Torgersen Hall. The following re-sults were obtained on the Patrick Henry Driveto Torgersen Hall, Tom’s Creek bus route:bicycle—five minutes, 15 seconds; bus—nineminutes, 15 seconds; car—12 minutes, 53 sec-onds.

Tall Oaks Circle to Torgersen Hall,Hethwood bus route: bicycle—nine minutes, 2seconds; bus—15 minutes, 15 seconds; car—16 minutes, 41 seconds.

Since 1961, the Fulbright-Hays GroupProjects Abroad Program has awarded grantsto universities, state departments of education,and private non-profit educational organiza-tions to provide training opportunities for fac-ulty members, teachers, and students in foreigncountries where the United States has diplo-matic representation. Under this program,awards are made to conduct overseas groupprojects in research, training, and curriculumdevelopment.