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PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 27, No. 21, June 5, 2008

Research | Campus | Honors | Achievements | Briefs | Calendar | Job Market | Deaths | PDF Format

Cutting energy usage 'right thing to do,' Urbana chancellor says

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has established a goal of reducing the energy consumption of existing buildings by 10 percent over the next three years and has established a five-year target of rolling back usage to 1990 standards, consistent with the Kyoto Protocol. Full story

UI receives $4 million in energy grants

UI Board of Trustees Chairman Lawrence C. Eppley announced May 22 that the Urbana campus has received three grants totaling $4.025 million from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Full story

Public schools as good as private schools in raising math scores, study says

Students in public schools learn as much or more math between kindergarten and fifth grade as similar students in private schools, according to a new UI study of multi-year, longitudinal data on nearly 10,000 students. Full story

Big changes loom if high gas prices hold, UI expert says

Americans’ usual fuel-saving shortcuts could give way to dramatic changes affecting the nation’s auto, housing and even job markets if gasoline prices stay at record highs nearing an average $4 a gallon nationwide, a UI economic expert says. Full story

Novel toxin receptor discovered for ulcer-causing stomach pathogen

Helicobacter pylori is one tough bug. It can survive in the human stomach, a zone with a pH somewhere between that of lemon juice and battery acid. Now researchers have discovered how an H. pylori toxin gets into cells, a feat that helps the bacterium live in one of the most inhospitable environments in the body. Full story

Flash Index: Illinois economy continues slide

The UI Flash Index – first indicator of the state’s economy each month – continued its downward trend in May, falling to 102.3. The index dropped five-tenths of a point from its reading in April and reached its lowest point since September 2004, when it was at 102.2. Full story

New program trains workers to work more safely

A safety program in Facilities and Services encourages workers to help prevent injuries and falls on the job and at home. The program, the Employee Protection Process, promotes awareness of ergonomics, behavioral safety, fitness and risk-management decision-making. Full story

UI Board of Trustees discuss proposed FY09 state budget

A preliminary fiscal year 2009 operating budget for the UI with a 1.5 percent salary increase was presented to the UI Board of Trustees at its May 22 meeting at UIC. Full story

Trustees approve additional funding for Global Campus

University trustees approved an additional $3.4 million for Global Campus as administrators said they expect a marketing campaign and partnerships with community colleges to put the online degree program in “fast growth mode.” Full story

Training program to help safeguard sensitive data

Faculty and staff members in campus units that need to archive sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, credit-card numbers and grades will have the opportunity to undergo a training program later this year. Full story

Two UI researchers named HHMI investigators

Two UI researchers, Phillip A. Newmark, a professor of cell and developmental biology, and Wilfred A. van der Donk, the William H. and Janet Lycan professor of chemistry, have been named Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators. Full story

brief notes Youth summer camp is July 23-25 … UI units to share exhibit at Printers Row …More

• Master piano instruction, public concerts featured June 17-21

• Music barn festival expands with more concerts, range of music

Careers and Employment at the UI

Academic Human Resources
Suite 420, 807 S. Wright St., MC-310 • 333-6747
Listings of academic professional and faculty member positions can be reviewed during regular business hours or online.

Staff Human Resources
52 E. Gregory Drive, MC-562 • 333-3101
Information about staff employment is online.

Velma Irene Baylor, 89, died May 19 at her home in St. Joseph. Baylor worked in the department of agricultural economics from 1939 to 1944. Memorials: UI Class at the St. Joseph Church of Christ to support a missionary in Poland, the Hanging Rock Camp for children; or to the American Cancer Society.

Randy C. Berbaum, 51, died May 18 at his Champaign home. Berbaum had worked at WILL radio for 20 years as a television bradcast equipment operator.

Edward H. Betts, 87, died May 17. Betts taught at the UI for 35 years, retiring in 1984 as professor emeritus of arts. Memorials: Ogunquit Museum of American Art, 543 Shore Road, Ogunquit, ME 03907 or the Ogunquit Art Association.

Raymond W. Collins, 77, died May 22 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Collins worked at the UI physical plant on the floor and moving crews for 32 years. Memorials: Champaign County Humane Society or the Meadowbrook Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Kenneth E. Harshbarger, 93, died May 17 at Provena Covenant Medical Center, Urbana. Harshbarger was a professor of agriculture at the UI for 40 years, retiring in 1982 as head of the department of dairy science. Memorials: Alzheimer’s Association of Circle of Friends.

Marjorie “Ruth” McIntosh, 83, died May 24. McIntosh worked in the Housing Division for more than 10 years before retiring in 1986 as a typing clerk III. Memorials: Grace United Methodist Church of Urbana or Provena Hospice of Urbana.

Danny Dee Morris, 60, died May 19 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Morris worked for the Institute of Aviation for 24 years, first as a master ground flight simulator repairman and then later as an electronics engineer. He then worked as an electronics engineer assistant for life sciences from 1996 until he retired in 2001. Memorials: American Diabetes Association.

Vern Elmer Rittenhouse, 90, died May 23 at Asta Care Nursing Home, Paxton. Rittenhouse was a small animal caretaker at the UI for more than 30 years, retiring in 1999. He worked for microbiology, medical sciences and then the College of Medicine. Memorials: Asta Care Nursing Home.

Priscilla “Prill” Smiley, 63, died May 18 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Smiley was a librarian at the UI for 30 years, retiring in 1997 as an assistant professor. Memorials: Rantoul Christian Church or the Association for Frontotemporal Dementias.

Robert Steward “Bob” Williams, 73, died May 9 at the TideWell Hospice House, Saratoga, Fla. Williams worked as a librarian at the UI Library until his retirement. Memorials: Carle Hospice, Carle Cancer Center of the American Cancer Society.

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