CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:
See complete listings for details.

Feature Stories

8th annual faculty research
symposium set for Oct. 30

The College of Architecture’s eighth annual faculty research showcase, “Research on the Built & Virtual Environments: Global Symposia Presentations 2006,” is set for Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 at the Langford Architecture Center on the Texas A&M campus.

The day-long research symposium features a series of faculty presentations previously delivered at scholarly venues around the world. This year's event includes invited or refereed presentations and papers from the 2005-06 academic year.

Call for Papers, etc.

Participating college faculty are each urged to submit three items:

1. An abstract of the presentation planned for the 2006 symposium,
2. Print-quality photographs or graphics that visually support the presentation, and
3. A list of all of their invited or refereed presentations and published papers since June 1, 2005.

Note: even faculty who are not presenting at the 2006 symposium should submit their presentation and publication list for inclusion in the back of the symposium publication. The publication is utilized throughout the year to showcase faculty research initiatives at the Texas A&M College of Architecture.

Also, faculty who have recently joined the College of Architecture are welcomed and encouraged to participate in this very special annual event.

Submissions are due by 5 p.m. Monday September 18. Please submit the requested data to:

Kathy Waskom
k-waskom@tamu.edu
Langford A 202-E
979.458.0478

A “Global Symposium” folder will be created on the college’s shared drive for graphics too large to e-mail.

Latest Autodesk software
available for free on Web

New free software downloads of the latest and greatest Autodesk software are available to College of Architecture students, faculty and staff. Stay as current as the professionals with the newest releases of Autodesk Inventor Professional 11, Autodesk Revit Building 9, Autodesk Civil 3D 2007, Autodesk VIZ 2007 and Autodesk Raster Design 2007.

In addition to the new software available on the Student Design Community website, participants will find updated curriculum, tutorials and student workbooks. Autodesk continues to enhance and develop the student community daily. In the fall, Autodesk is releasing phase II of the website which will be available to all post secondary students with a valid education e-mail address.

Additionally, Autodesk requests those who have been participating in the Student Design Community to complete the engineering and design career survey the next time they log onto the site, so that their feedback and needs continue to drive the development of the site.

Student Design Community survey:
http://students3.autodesk.com/?tagent=em3&nd=
g_survey_3&return_nd=m_home

Administrative Notes

New staff merit raise formula
announced by Dean Regan

The College of Architecture will utilize a new formula that considers staff performance evaluation results in determining the merit raise amount for each staff member in the upcoming fiscal year, Tom Regan, dean of the college, announced at a special June 19 staff meeting.

Under the new system, which Regan said was agreed upon by college supervisors, staff will receive merit raises according to their overall evaluation rating: 3% for “outstanding,” 2.5% for “excellent,” and 2% for “meets expectations.”

Because funds are allotted to the college for a 3% across-the-board salary hike for all staff members, the funds left behind by this adjusted formula will be made available to enhance the merit raises of staff members identified as worthy by their supervisors and with the approval of the dean.

Supervisors can apply for these additional merit raise enhancements by submitting a letter of request to Dean Regan. Criteria for approval of the raise enhancements will be released later this summer. All requests will be reviewed by Dean Regan, Guillermo Vasquez de Velasco, the executive associate dean, and Craig Griffith, assistant dean for business and finance. All of the funds placed in the merit review pool will be disseminated.

If any staff member has questions regarding this policy, they are encouraged to speak to their supervisor.

It's time to update your data, photograph
for the 2006-07 Faculty-Staff Directory

Toward the end of July, the College of Architecture will print a brand new Faculty-Staff Directory for the 2006-07 academic year.

Those who have not done so already need to submit their updated personal data including contact information, office location, and for faculty, areas of scholarly interest and a list of degrees earned.

For a new photograph, please make an appointment with John Peters, the college's audio-visual specialist, at 845-7887 or jpeters@archone.tamu.edu.

There are quite a few long-time faculty and staff who are way overdue for a new portrait. Many of the photographs in the current directory were pulled off of the Web at a resolution that is not fit for print reproduction. So in other words, just because your picture was in the last directory doesn't mean you don't need to have a new one taken.

Department administrators are urged to contact faculty who will be joining the college this fall to solicit pictures and biographical data for the directory.

Craft supply donations sought for
Rowena Philbeck's gourd workshop

Rowena Philbeck is seeking donation of craft supplies for a gourd workshop she will be teaching Thursday, June 29 for approximately 35, 14- to 16-year-old pediatric cancer patients as part of Scott & White's "Camp for All" in Burton, Texas.

Participants will craft Jamaican-themed bowls, baskets and pins from gourds. She'll accept just about any kind of craft item that can be utilized in such a project: stencils, buttons, beads, sequins, craft wire, stickers, small paint brushes, glue, sharpie markers, watercolor painting sets or markers, rickrack, mosaic pieces, etc.

Donations can be delivered to Rowena in the Technical Reference Center or you may call her at 845-6579 to have them picked up.

Benefits plans to change;
enrollment begins in July

The July annual benefits enrollment period is just around the corner, and the Texas A&M System has announced several changes to the benefit plans that will become effective September 1, 2006. The changes to benefit programs are detailed in an article appearing on the Human Resources website:
http://hr.tamu.edu/benefits/2006changes.doc.

The premiums for fiscal year 2007 have not yet been announced. An e-mail will be sent as soon as they are available. The benefits enrollment period is the entire month of July, and changes can be made online through HRConnect.

For more information, e-mail hr-benefits@tamu.edu or call 845-4105.

Status report on computer
laboratories — as of 6/19/06

Reasons for not being operational
* 1 - One 9600 has banding issues.

This Week's Calendar

Through June 29

Dick Davison exhibit: Selected drawings and book pages by Dick Davison, architecture professor and drawing instructor at Texas A&M's College of Architecture, will be on exhibit June 2 - 29 at the Texas Gallery in the P. David Romei Arts Center, located at 2275 Dartmouth Street in College Station. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more on the Davison exhibit, visit the Arts Council of Brazos Valley Web site: http://www.acbv.org/

June 30

First summer session ends: Last class day of the first summer term classes.

Calendar Highlights:

July 3

Final exams for first summer term.

July 4

Independence Day: Faculty and staff holiday.

July 5

Second summer session begins: The summer’s second term classes get under way.

July 9 - 14

CampARCH+ is an exclusive week-long interdisciplinary experience designed to acquaint students with the study of and potential careers in professions utilizing architecture, visualization, construction science, landscape architecture, and urban planning. Activities include lectures, design/build activities, digital photography, video editing and presentations by faculty in the College of Architecture. Additional activities include workshops in basic design and materials, individual and group projects, a review and critique of projects, and information about attending Texas A&M University and the College of Architecture. To learn more, visit the CampARCH+ Web site at http://archone.tamu.edu/college/careerhorizons/.

July 19

Q-drop: Last day for all students to drop courses with no penalty for the 10-week summer term.

July 21

First Things First Time Management Workshop: In this one-day workshop offered through the Continuing and Professional Studies Office, participants learn: strategies for getting the most important things done first while staying focused on highest priorities; how to focus on what is important, rather than simply respond to things because they are urgent; and to see, think, and act differently to achieve better results. Participants will also receive a FranklinCovey Participant Manual and Stephen Covey's & Roger Merrell's First Things First best-seller book. The workshop is taught by a FranklinCovey Certified Facilitator. The workshop costs $349. For more details and to register, visit: http://capso.tamu.edu/all-programs/first-things-first.

July 21 - 27

Vanegas leads lecture series: Dr. Jorge Vanegas will host 20 Universidad de los Andes students accompanied by Dr. Diego Echeverry for a series of lectures and site visits. For lecture topics and times, contact Dolores Gonzales, 458-0102 or e-mail dgonzales@archone.tamu.edu.

July 24

Research proposal presentation: 10 a.m. - noon in Langford A 323. "Decision Support System for Real Estate Construction" — Committee members: Leslie Fegenbaum, Robert Johnson, and M. Haque For more information, please contact Sharmistha Ghosh at 979-997-6479 or e-mail sghosh81@yahoo.com.

July 29

Q-drop: Last day for all students to drop courses with no penalty for second summer term.

August 7

Second summer sessions end: Last class day of the second summer term and 10-week semester classes.

August 8-9

Final exams for second summer term and 10-week classes.

August 21 - September 8

Architectural photography exhibit featuring 25 large format photographs of architecture by Marcel Erminy. For more information, contact Marcel Erminy at 845-1015 or e-mail merminy@tamu.edu.

August 11

Summer commencement and commissioning

COSC graduation reception: The Department of Construction Science will hold a reception for summer 2006 graduates 5:30 - 8 p.m. in the Langford A atrium. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood at 845-0289 or e-mail aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

August 17 - 18

New graduate student orientation: This University-wide program is offered to all incoming graduate students. It provides an overview of expectations at Texas A&M University. The two sessions are for new students only. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Rudder 224-225. For more information, e-mail Teresa Ford at orientation@vprmail.tamu.edu or visit: http://ogs.tamu.edu/OGS/gradorient.php

August 22

COSC department retreat: The Department of Construction Science will hold a daylong departmental retreat at the 7-F Lodge. The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Directions are available on the 7F Lodge Web site: http://www.7flodge.com/Directions.htm.

August 25

College faculty/staff meeting: College of Architecture faculty and staff meet 10 a.m. in the Langford B auditorium,. Lunch will be served in the Langford B Exhibit Hall after the meeting.

August 26

New graduate student orientation: This university-wide program is offered to all incoming graduate students who have previously attended Texas A&M only. It will be held 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Kleberg 115 and 113. For more information, e-mail Teresa Ford at orientation@vprmail.tamu.edu or visit: http://ogs.tamu.edu/OGS/gradorient.php

August 27

Freshman Convocation is a 45-60 minute ceremony that welcomes freshmen to Texas A&M University's community of learners in a manner similar to the community's recognition of students' graduation at commencement. The university president offer some inspiration remarks urging students to make their Texas A&M education a life changing experience. For more details on this event, visit http://www.tamu.edu/freshmanconvocation/about.htm

August 28

Classes start: First day of fall 2006 semester gets under way.

September 3

MSC Open House showcases student groups: The annual Memorial Student Center Fall Open House will be held the first Sunday of the semester in the MSC, Rudder Exhibit Hall and G. Rollie White Coliseum from 1 – 6 p.m. This is Texas A&M's largest recruiting event for recognized campus organizations. An estimated 13,000 people attend every fall. Tables for recognized student groups can be reserved now at the MSC Box Office in the lobby of Rudder Tower. Tables are $35 and can be purchased using cash, a student organization finance check, interdepartmental transfer, Aggie Bucks or credit card. Tables will remain on sale until all the space is taken or Wednesday, August 30, whichever comes first. Students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to attend. Registration forms are available online at http://mscopenhouse.tamu.edu/. For more information, contact Heather Hartman at 979.845.626, e-mail marketing@msc.tamu.edu or visit http://mscopenhouse.tamu.edu/.

September 4-8

German study abroad exhibit: Students who participated in the spring 2006 study abroad program in Düsseldorf, Germany will exhibit their work in the Langford B Exhibit Hall. For more information, contact Dolores Gonzales at 458-0102 or e-mail dgonzales@archone.tamu.edu.

October 4

National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter meeting & dinner: 6:30 - 10 p.m. in Langford B Exhibit Hall and Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Joe Horlen at 845-0289 or e-mail Ann Eastwood at aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

September 8

Academic Convocation: In academia, the word "convocation" refers to a ceremonial assembly of the members of a college or university. Traditionally, academic convocations celebrate special events such as the beginning of the academic year or the anniversary of an institution. In 1997, Texas A&M re-established the practice of Academic Convocation as a celebration of the university's progress and an opportunity to discuss the university's plans for the future. To learn more about this annual event, visit http://www.tamu.edu/conv/

September 11

CIAC members recruit at COSC Career Fair: Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) companies will be featured at the first of two Department of Construction Science Career Fairs to be held this fall in the Langford A atrium. Students attending the 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. event will have an opportunity to sign-up for interviews with participating companies on the following day. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

September 12

CIAC members interview COSC job seekers: Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) companies will hold job interviews with construction science students 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Kyle Field (2nd floor skyboxes on West side) and the Career Center (209 Koldus). Student may sign-up for the interviews during the Sept. 11 Department of Construction Science Career Fair in the Langford A Atrium. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

September 19

COSC Career Fair: Construction companies vie the attention of Texas A&M construction science students at the second of two Construction Science Career Fairs to be held this fall in the Langford A atrium. Students attending the 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. event will have an opportunity to sign-up for interviews with participating companies on the following day. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter meeting & dinner: 6:30 - 10 p.m. in Langford B Exhibit Hall and Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Joe Horlen at 845-0289 for e-mail Ann Eastwood at aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

September 20

Companies interview COSC job seekers – Construction companies will hold job interviews with construction science students 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Kyle Field (2nd floor skyboxes on West side) and the Career Center (209 Koldus). Student may sign-up for the interviews during the Sept. 19 Department of Construction Science Career Fair in the Langford A Atrium. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

Department of Architecture lecture: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Geren Auditorium. Details to be announced. For more information, contact Malcolm Quantrill at 845-7878 or e-mail casa@archone.tamu.edu.

September 25

Faculty Recognition Banquet: The College of Architecture's annual presentation of special awards and recognitions to outstanding faculty is set for 6:30 - 10 p.m. at the Presidential Conference Center. For more information, contact Trish Pannell at 458-0400 or e-mail t-pannell@tamu.edu.

October 4

National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter meeting & dinner: 6:30 - 10 p.m. in Langford B Exhibit Hall and Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Joe Horlen at 845-0289 or e-mail Ann Eastwood at aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

October 6-7

Disaster Recovery & Redevelopment: Interdisciplinary Student Research Symposium — This two-day student-led event will explore relevant new research in rapidly developing field of disaster recovery and redevelopment. Abstracts will be accepted through July 30 in the following thematic areas: the natural and built environments; social and economic vulnerability; public policy; resource management; design and (re)development; physical planning; and other related topics. Complete papers are due by Sept. 30. The symposium and a student-managed online peer-reviewed journal will be structured around the thematic areas list above. The journal will publish the symposium's most exemplary papers. Symposium speakers include: Dr. Shirley Laska, director of the Center for Hazard Assessment and Response and Technology at the University of New Orleans; Ty Symroski, director of growth management for Monroe County, Florida; and Dr. Walter Gillis Peacock, director of the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center at Texas A&M University. Registration is $30. More details and online registration are available on the College of Architecture's Office of Continuing Education Web site: http://archone.tamu.edu/conted/ or by contacting Dolores Gonzales at 458-0102 or e-mail dgonzales@archone.tamu.edu.

October 7 - 8

Building inspection workshop: The Department of Construction will holding its fall Building Inspection Workshop 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Langford C 105. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood at 845-0289 or e-mail aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

October 11

Department of Architecture lecture: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Geren Auditorium. Details to be announced. For more information, contact Malcolm Quantr

October 25

Department of Architecture lecture: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Geren Auditorium. Details to be announced. For more information, contact Malcolm Quantrill at 845-7878 or e-mail casa@archone.tamu.edu.ill at 845-7878 or e-mail casa@archone.tamu.edu.

October 27 & November 3

LAUP Professional Advisory Board meets in the Langford Gallery.For more information, contact Robin See at 8-4307 or e-mail robin-see@tamu.edu.

October 30

8th annual faculty research symposium: The College of Architecture's eighth annual daylong faculty research symposium, "Research on the Built and Virtual Environments: Global Symposia Presentations," is slated for Monday, Oct. 30. Abstracts, supporting print-quality graphics and a list of each faculty member's invited presentations and published papers since June 1, 2005 are due by Sept. 18 to Kathy Waskom at k-waskom@tamu.edu. The presentations and publish paper lists should be submitted by all faculty members, even those who are not presenting at the Oct. 30 event.

November 1

National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter meeting & dinner: 6:30 - 10 p.m. in Langford B Exhibit Hall and Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Joe Horlen at 845-0289 or e-mail Ann Eastwood at aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

November 3

CPC/AIC Exam: The Department of Construction will give the Certified Professional Constructors/American Institute of Constructors required exam to all graduating seniors 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Rudder Rm. 601. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood at 845-0289 or e-mail aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

LAUP Professional Advisory Board meets 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Langford A Gallery. For more information, contact Robin See at 458-4307 or e-mail robin-see@tamu.edu.

November 8

Department of Architecture lecture: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Geren Auditorium. Details to be announced. For more information, contact Malcolm Quantrill at 845-7878 or e-mail casa@archone.tamu.edu.

November 10

Outstanding Alumni Award Banquet: The College of Architecture will honor the 2006 recipients of the Outstanding Alumni Award 6:30 - 10 p.m. at Miramont Country Club. For more information, contact Trish Pannell at 979.458.0400 or e-mail t-pannell@tamu.edu.

Dean's Advisory Council fall meeting: The meeting will be held 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Langford A 217 Conference Room. For more information, contact Trish Pannell at 458-0400 or e-mail t-pannell@tamu.edu.

Fifth annual Health Industry Advisory Council meeting: The daylong HIAC meeting features lectures and member networking with faculty fellows from the College of Architecture's Center for Health Systems & Design. Dr. John Zeisel, president and co-founder of Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, Ltd. will present the keynote address. He will also be available to sign copies of his classic text, "Inquiry by Design," which is hot off the press. For more information, contact Judy Pruitt at 845-7009 or e-mail jpruitt@archmail.tamu.edu.

November 11

Former student open house: The College of Architecture's annual Former Student Open House is set for 8 a.m. - noon on Saturday, Nov. 11. For more information, contact Trish Pannell at 458-0400 or e-mail t-pannell@tamu.edu.

November 15

Department of Architecture lecture: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Geren Auditorium. Details to be announced. For more information, contact Malcolm Quantrill at 845-7878 or e-mail casa@archone.tamu.edu.

November 17

Construction Industry Advisory Council meets 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in 601 Rudder Tower. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289 e-mail aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

November 29

National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter meeting & dinner: 6:30 - 10 p.m. in Langford B Exhibit Hall and Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Joe Horlen at 845-0289 or e-mail Ann Eastwood at aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu.

February 15 - 16

LAUP Career Fair: The The Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning will hold their student career fair in the Langford A Atrium. For more information, please contact Robin See at 458-4307 or e-mail rsee@archmail.tamu.edu.