Joint campaigns near end

The joint campaign period for the 2011 State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC) and University Employees Campaign (UEC) will end Wednesday, Nov. 30. Those employees and retirees who have not contributed or made pledges are encouraged to do so by this deadline. Contributions may be made via cash, check, credit card, stock transfer and payroll deduction by completing the SECC and UEC contribution forms. For further details, contact one of the campaign co-chairs—Dr. James Gooch, jjgooch@ncat.edu, 336-334-7978, or Joyce Edwards, edwardsj@ncat.edu, 336-334-7755—or Patricia Mitchell, pmitchel@ncat.edu,

336-334-7600.

New group for writers

A&T’s Creative Writing Program is forming a First Chapter Writer’s Group for faculty, staff and administrators. If you have a manuscript you’re dying to finish or need a supportive writing community focused on editing and completing writing projects, then look no further. Interested parties should contact Dr. Anjail Ahmad at arahmad@ncat.edu by Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Tenant’s rights workshop

A workshop for tenants (and landlords), “What Tenants Should Know to Protect Their Rights,” will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, 10–11:30 a.m., at 2105 Yanceyville Street. The NCCU School of Law is sponsoring this free, public event. For more information contact Daniel Rodriguez at 336-285-4589 or drodrig1@ncat.edu.

Holiday concert

The University Choir will present its holiday concert Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., at Metropolitan United Methodist Church, which is located at 1701 E. Market St. in Greensboro.

Directed by Travis Alexander, the choir will perform excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, Christmas anthems and Negro spirituals. The concert is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 336-285-2010.

Blackboard® update

Course shells for the spring semester are now available to instructors in Blackboard®. To identify the courses, look for 201220 in the Course ID.

Although the courses are designated as “Unavailable,” instructors have full access to them; however, instructors should not make the courses available to students while the current semester is in session. Listed below are dates to remember.

• 12/15/11 - Start date for archiving and removal of fall 2009 courses (201010)

• 12/19/11 - Fall 2011 courses (201210) courses made “Unavailable” to students

system-wide

• 1/5/12 - Spring 2012 courses (201220) made “Available” to students system-wide

For information about teaching assignments, contact the academic department office.

Closing Bell Series

Willie Deese, executive vice president and president of the Merck Manufacturing Division and chairman of the N.C. A&T Board of Trustees, will be the next keynote speaker for the 2011-2012 Closing Bell Series. The event will be held Jan. 17, 2012, at 4 p.m. in Merrick Hall Auditorium.

The School of Business and Economics sponsors the series, which began in September 2008. The program brings successful scholarly professionals to the campus to engage with students in topical discussions that reflect the changing global environment.

Other upcoming speakers for the series include Larry Shirley, director of the Green Economy, N.C. Department of Commerce; Eric Watson, vice president of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Delhaize America; and Dmitri Stockton, president and CEO of GE Capital’s Global Banking.

For more information, contact Denise Jones, executive assistant of the School of Business and Economics, at 336-334-7896 or via email dpjones@ncat.edu.

Postage hike

Effective Jan. 22, 2012, the United States Post Office will increase the cost of a first class stamp from 44 cents to 45 cents per stamp. All standard first class stamps will need to be combined with a $0.01 stamp for proper mailing. However, the 44-cent Forever stamp will not require additional postage. For further information, contact the Campus Mail Center at 336-334-7544.

Grief counseling

Counseling Services provides grief counseling for A&T students and employees in Murphy Hall, room 109, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted or call 336-334-7727.

Africana colloquium

The Africana Committee in the Department of English held its first Africana Colloquium, “Africa and the African Diaspora: The Role of Museums in Promoting an Understanding of the Connections,” on Oct. 26, in the General Classroom Building.

Bamidele Agbasegbe Demerson, executive director of the International Civil Rights Museum and Center in Greensboro, was the keynote speaker. Other participants were Dr. Goldie Byrd, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Faye Maor, chair of the English department; Dr. Anjan Basu, adjunct instructor in the English department; and Demetrius Noble and Ishmael Khatibu, spoken word performers.

The Africana Committee sustains its vision and mission initiatives by creating intellectually stimulating opportunities for students and faculty through discussion forums, films and speakers series. More events are being planned for the spring of 2012.