Page 20 - Laker Connection Spring 2015

campus UPDATES
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THE LAKER CONNECTION
Clayton State Selected by Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching 2015 Community Engagement Classification
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced the selection of 240 U.S. colleges and universities to receive its 2015 Community Engagement Classification. Included in this important designation for the first time is Clayton State University. Of 240 institutions so-named, 83 are receiving the classification for the first time, while 157 are now re-classified. Five of the institutions, including Clayton State, are institutions of the University System of Georgia. “The receipt of the Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation reflects excellent work by our campus and so many of our colleagues and students,” says Clayton State President Dr. Thomas Hynes. “It also reflects the achievement of a goal of our strategic planning process that advances our mission, in part committing us to cultivate ‘...an environment of engaged, experienced based learning, enriched by active community service...’”
Clayton State University Earns 2014 Tree Campus USA® Recognition
Clayton State Adds Two New Concentrations to MBA Program
Dr. Ali Dadpay, assistant dean of the College of Business at Clay- ton State University and director of the College of Business’ MBA program, has announced the addi- tion of two new concentrations for Clayton State MBA students; Sports and Entertainment Man- agement, and Human Resource Leadership.
The Sports and Entertainment Management: Tailored to the needs of those seeking employ- ment in the booming entertain- ment industry, the concentration offers classes on sports and enter- tainment marketing, the econom- ics of entertainment industry, and the surrounding legal issues.
Mary Sweeney, program manager for the Arbor Day Foundation, recently notified Clayton State that the University has earned 2014 Tree Cam- pus USA® recognition. Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, honors col- leges and universities and their leaders for pro- moting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.
“Your entire campus community should be proud of this sustained commitment to envi- ronmental stewardship,” said Sweeney in a letter to Clayton State Tree Advisory Commit- tee Chair Justin Brooks. “Your diligence in improving the environment and quality of life at Clayton State University contributes to a healthier, more sustainable world for us all.”
Economics Faculty Receives Affordable Textbook Grant
Affordable Learning Georgia has accepted a proposal from the Economics faculty in the College of Business at Clayton State University that will lower the textbook costs in their courses. The $25,800 grant will be used to switch to textbooks that are offered for free on- line in both Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 2105) and Principles of Microeconom- ics (ECON 2106). Students will also have the option of buying physical copies of the books at low cost (current prices are $33.50 for either book). The current textbooks cost $132.99 each at the campus bookstore. Clayton State Economics faculty members plan to make the switch starting in summer of 2015. “As we transition to using free, online peer- reviewed textbooks for these economics courses, we will be conducting regular assess- ment to measure student feedback and success that would help us to fine-tune and improve the online support materials to accompany the online textbook,” says Dr. Avinandan Mukherjee, dean of the College of Business. “We are eager to implement this program and save money for our students,” says Dr. Jesse Zinn, assistant professor of Economics and associate director of the College of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the coordinator of the project.
The Human Resource Leadership:
concentration builds on the estab- lished success of Clayton State business students and responds to a growing market demand. Clay- ton State’s SHRM chapter made history in 2012, winning the Best in Georgia Award (the Student Chapter of the Year) from the So- ciety for Human Resource Man- agement Georgia State Council.