Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

Fall Dates Available for Bay Point Condo
Fall Astronomy Observatory Events Announced
Funds Available for Faculty to Host Students
Women's Resource Center Announces Two Fall Activities
Graduate School to Hold Preview Day
Capstone Women's Network Accepting Members

Fall Dates Available for Bay Point Condo

University faculty, staff and retirees can reserve a stay at the University's Bay Point condominium in Panama City, Fla. The condo sleeps six adults and is located in the Marriott Complex on St. Andrews Bay. Club Meadows and Lagoon Legend Golf Courses may be used by four condo residents during their stay at no additional cost (except golf cart). Swimming is also available. There is a $30 cleaning fee per visit.

The following rates will apply to the Bay Point Condo: Spring break until Labor Day -- $99 per night; Labor Day until spring break -- $75 per night. To check policies, available dates, and other information, go to the Web site at www.baypoint.ua.edu. To reserve the UA Condo, download and complete the Reservation Request Form and a Waiver Form. Sign and submit both to Margaret Keith in person at the Office of Land Management, 225 East Annex. A deposit equal to one-half the rental for your stay must be given by check made payable to Capstone Foundation. The balance is due before picking up the keys.

Fall Astronomy Observatory Events Announced

The public is invited to view selected celestial objects including Venus, the moon and Saturn through UA's refracting telescope in the dome on top of Gallalee Hall and at Moundville Archaeological Park, presented by the department of physics and astronomy within the College of Arts and Sciences.

UA faculty members will present short lectures that will highlight the viewing subjects. The free event dates, times, locations and speakers are as follows:

Friday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. (Gallalee Hall; Family Weekend), Dr. Jack Sulentic, Venus, the Ring Nebula
Friday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m. (Gallalee Hall; Homecoming Weekend), Dr. Gene Byrd, the moon
Friday, Oct. 25, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., (Moundville), Dr. Bill Keel, deep-sky observing: nebulae, star clusters and galaxies
Friday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., (Gallalee Hall), Dr. Ray White, the moon, Saturn

For more information on events or questions about weather and event scheduling, contact the department of physics and astronomy at 348-5050. Additional information is located on the Web site at www.astr.ua.edu/PublicNights.html.

Funds Available for Faculty to Host Students

Dr. Barry Mason, UA interim president, has made special funds available for faculty members to be reimbursed for expenses incurred for hosting students enrolled in their courses and/or for academic advising activities. Guidelines for determining whether reimbursement is appropriate and request forms, as well as an alcohol awareness statement, are available from the Office of the Dean of Students, 231 Ferguson Center. For more information, call 348-6114.

Women's Resource Center Announces Two Fall Activities

Feast and Focus Series

The focus for the Women's Resource Center's fall Feast and Focus lunch discussions is on healthy minds, bodies and homes. Discussions are held on Tuesdays from noon-1 p.m. in Ferguson Forum through Nov. 26. Bring a brown bag lunch. Reservation forms are available and can be faxed to 348-5282 or mailed to Box 870360. Upcoming discussions are: Helping Hot Flashes, Mastering Menopause, and Get in Shape, Girl. For more information and a registration form, call 348-5040.

Violence Education Group

The WRC sponsors a Relationship Violence Education/Support Group. Groups meet on Wednesdays, from noon-1 p.m. through Nov. 13. Groups are openended, confidential, and open to UA female faculty and staff, and their family members and friends. Upcoming topics are Tactics of Abuse: Warning Signs, Why are Women Abused? and The Abuser's Beliefs and Why Women Stay. For more information and the location, call 348-5040.

Graduate School to Hold Preview Day

UA's Graduate School will conduct a Graduate School Preview Day on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 3 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Theater. The event will provide information to undergraduate students and other prospective graduate students interested in pursuing a graduate degree at UA. Representatives from the various programs offered at UA will be present to answer questions about graduate study in their colleges. Also, the Kaplan Education Center will be on hand to provide students the opportunity to take a free practice test for the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Students who are interested in attending this event and taking the free practice test should call the Graduate School at 348-5922, or the Kaplan Education Center at 1-800 KAP-TEST (1-800-527-8378) to make reservations.

Events include: Applying to Graduate School: The Application Process; College Representatives Talk about Graduate Study in the Various Colleges; Preparing for the GRE, GMAT, MAT and Other Tests; and Free Practice Test for the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Students must pre-register.

Capstone Women's Network Accepting Members

CWN provides networking opportunities, enriches the working lives of UA women, including employees, graduate students, and retirees; sponsors informative presentations and discussions, and gives scholarship support to adult undergraduate women. The membership fee is only $25 a year. For a membership form, contact Barbara Nicol at 348-3928 or bnicol@ sw.ua.edu. The fall reception will be Tuesday, Sept. 17, and the President's Mansion from 4:30-6 p.m.