Week of  Jan. 14-21, 2008

Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. 

Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200

Click any link for these stories:

Western Names Vartabedian Next President

Western Appoints New Registrar

Western Institute Dean Accepts New Position

Tower Sports

News Briefs

Calendar

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The deadline for all entries is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, for the next week's issue. Tower Topics will be online weekly during the fall and spring semester.  For more information call 271-5651.

Western Names Vartabedian Next President

The Western Board of Governors has named Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian Western’s fourth president since 1969.

“Dr. Vartabedian’s 22 years in higher education administration have prepared him well to be Western’s next president,” said Dirck Clark, chair of the Board of Governors. “He has outstanding communication skills and a record of meaningful engagement with the communities where he has lived. He is the right person to lead Western into the future.”

“My experiences are a good fit for the university,” said Dr. Vartabedian, describing Western as a blossoming state university that is student-centered with a focus on applied learning and community involvement. “I welcome the opportunity to shape the future of the university and the region, and to communicate Western’s mission throughout the state.”

Dr. Vartabedian has been vice president for academic affairs at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in Portales, N.M. since 2005. In that role, he is chief academic officer for a university with a total enrollment of about 9,500. He has recently overseen re-accreditation efforts in six departments. The university’s 2007 evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission/North Central Association was accepted without any deficiencies and is being showcased as a model application.

Previously, Dr. Vartabedian was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C. from 1999 to 2005, serving eight months as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2004. As dean, he oversaw 14 academic departments and four centers. As interim vice chancellor, he was the chief administrator for all academic programs for the 8,400 students enrolled.

Both ENMU and Western Carolina created several new academic programs under Dr. Vartabedian’s leadership. He has also overseen building renovation projects at ENMU for science, technology and music and five major building projects at Western Carolina totaling $60 million, including a $30 million Fine and Performing Arts Center.

Community involvement has been a hallmark of Dr. Vartabedian’s career. He created the ENMU “Peanut Project” as a way to forge a partnership with the local peanut industry while providing students with hands-on experience in a marketing campaign. He also recently directed a faculty showcase theatre production of Mitch Albom’s “And the Winner Is,” with proceeds benefiting ENMU scholarships and the Portales Main Street Project.

Previous administrative experience for Dr. Vartabedian includes time as a department head and director of graduate studies in communication at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas and as a division head, coordinator of graduate studies in communication and assistant dean of graduate studies at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan. He has received numerous teaching awards throughout his career.

Dr. Vartabedian graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in speech communication from California State University, Fresno in 1974. He received a master of arts in speech communication from Wichita State University, and a doctorate in communication from the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife, Dr. Laurel Vartabedian, have two children: Rob, 28, of Amarillo, Texas and Sarah, 25, of Chicago.

“Dr. Vartabedian will bring a number of strengths to Western’s presidency,” said R. Patt Lilly, vice chair of the Board of Governors and chair of the 20-member screening committee that reviewed applications and selected three finalists that were interviewed on campus in early December. “He has a strong record of integrity, of building consensus and of seeking and valuing the opinions of others.”

Dr. Vartabedian will succeed Dr. James Scanlon as Western’s president on July 1, 2008. Dr. Scanlon announced in April his intention to retire next year after seven years as president. In announcing the selection of Dr. Vartabedian, Clark thanked Dr. Scanlon for his leadership and acknowledged the significant roles of the university’s previous presidents: Dr. M.O. Looney and Dr. Janet Gorman Murphy McCarthy.

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Western Appoints New Registrar

After an extensive national search, Western appointed Susan Bracciano to the position of registrar, replacing Dr. Keith Eulinger, who is retiring effective Dec. 31. Bracciano will assume her new responsibilities on Jan. 1, 2008.

“I am pleased that she has accepted our offer,” Dr. Joseph Bragin, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, said. “I look forward to working with her in her new position.”

Bracciano was appointed interim assistant registrar at Western in 2002 and became permanent assistant registrar in 2003. Prior to that, she was veteran affairs/NCAA academic compliance coordinator. As assistant registrar, Bracciano played a major role in SCT/Banner implementation with responsibility for establishing online registration, class scheduling, grade processing, degree audit and the transfer process. In fulfilling these responsibilities she has worked closely and effectively with faculty, staff and students in nearly every academic and administrative unit of the university. Her appointment was highly recommended by the search committee.

Bracciano received both her bachelor of science in business administration and her masters in business administration from the University of Kansas and serves on a number of important university committees. In 2005 she was recognized as a Western Outstanding Employee, one of the first to receive this award.

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Western Institute Dean Accepts New Position

Dr. Christopher Shove, dean of the Western Institute, has resigned his position to accept an appointment as vice provost of Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“We wish Dr. Shove well in his new position and express our appreciation for all his contributions to Western during his service with the university,” said Dr. Joseph Bragin, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs.

Under Dr. Shove’s leadership since 2004, the Western Institute provided support to Western's programs in faculty and student research, obtained federal funding for construction of the Christopher S. “Kit” Bond Science and Technology Incubator, expanded Western’s capacity to deliver educational and diagnostic services to the Missouri Department of Corrections, supported the development and delivery of numerous online classes, created offsite educational centers in Kansas City’s Northland and downtown St. Joseph, enhanced Western’s programs in community arts and applied learning, and received regional and state recognition for its programs in adult and continuing education, Dr. Bragin said.

Dr. Shove will remain at the Western Institute through the end of January 2008.

Dr. Shove’s new employer, Alfaisal University, was recently created to invigorate higher education in Saudi Arabia and is being assisted by Harvard University Medical College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in establishing its programs in medicine and engineering.

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Tower Sports

Women's Basketball

• Win vs. Southern Arkansas, 63-54,  Dec. 17

• Loss vs. Henderson State, 45-66, Dec. 18

• Win vs. Central Methodist, 99-56, Dec. 29

• Loss vs. Washburn University, 52-65, Jan.2

• Win vs. Missouri Southern, 74-72, Jan. 5

• Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 74-78, Jan. 9

• Loss vs. Truman State, 80-84, Jan. 12

• Jan. 16 vs. Central Missouri at 5:30 p.m.

• Jan. 19 vs. Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m.

Men's Basketball

• Loss vs. Central Oklahoma, 71-77, Dec. 17

• Loss vs. Southeastern Oklahoma, 70-77, Dec. 18

• Win vs. Washburn University, 78-77, Jan. 2

• Loss vs. Missouri Southern, 71-77, Jan. 5

• Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 60-73, Jan. 9

• Loss vs. Truman State, 65-73, Jan. 12

• Jan. 14 vs. Rockhurst at 7 p.m.

• Jan. 16 vs. Central Missouri at 7 p.m.

• Jan. 19 vs. Fort Hays State at 7 p.m.

New Scholarship The Goppert Foundation of Kansas City has given the Western Foundation $100,000 to establish a permanent endowed scholarship. The Goppert Scholarship will be awarded annually to one or more full-time students at Western, with preference given to students from Lathrop, Mo. or Norborne, Mo. Financial need will be a consideration. The first Goppert Scholarship will be awarded for the 2008-2009 academic year. The application deadline is March 1. Students can apply through Western’s financial aid website. The Goppert Foundation was formed nearly 50 years ago to meet the needs of communities served by Goppert-owned banks in Missouri and Kansas.

Preparing to Care A recent joint presentation by the presidents of Western and the University of Missouri System will be broadcast this month on Missouri Western Television (MWTV). The presentation was taped on Western’s campus Dec. 3. Western president Dr. James Scanlon and Missouri interim president Dr. Gordon Lamb spoke about “Preparing to Care,” a statewide higher education initiative to increase the number of health professional graduates. It will air Jan. 8-20 Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. on MWTV, channel 39 on St. Joseph Cablevision and Channel 97 on Allegiance Communications in Atchison, Kan. For more information contact video communications producer Tara Stoll at 4171.

School Closing Information If inclement weather leads to a decision to close campus, school officials will immediately post the information on Western's website and will notify area media outlets. School closing information will be available on television stations:

• KQTV - St. Joseph

• St. Joe Now, 3TV

• KCTV - Kansas City

• KMBC - Kansas City

• KSHB - Kansas City

• WDAF - Kansas City

Radio stations:

• KKJO 105.5 FM

• KFEQ 680 AM

• KSFT 1550 AM

• KSJQ 92.7 FM

• KGNM 1270 AM

• KMRN 1360 AM

• KKWK 100.1 FM

• KAAN 95.5 FM

• and a number of Kansas City radio stations.

Most media outlets will put closing information on their websites as well.

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Monday, January 14

• Classes Resume

• Late Registration 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, January 15

• Late Registration 1-6:30 p.m.

• Residence Council Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Commons Building

Wednesday, January 16

• Late Registration 1-4:30 p.m.

• WAC meeting at 4 p.m. in the Junior College Room

• Senate meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Blum 220

Thursday, January 17

• Late Registration 1-4:30 p.m.

Friday, January 18

• Late Registration 1-4:30 p.m.

Monday, January 21

• Campus Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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For Sale: Pool table in good condition. Has red felt, 6' x 3', and legs fold under for easy storage. Includes accessories. Asking price is $200. Call Ellen Kisker at 271-4280.

For Rent: Unfurnished, one bedroom upstairs apartment at 3217 1/2 Mitchell Avenue. Rent is $400 per month plus electricity. $300 deposit required. No smoking and no pets. Call 816-233-1448 if interested.

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