WCU College of Business Bi-Weekly Newsletter                             December 9, 2005

 

 

Dean's Update

 

Highlights from Dean Leroy Kauffman

 

Wow, another semester is almost over.  Time has really flown by this fall.  Seems like only yesterday that we were welcoming our newest group of students and faculty to campus and here we are at the end of fall semester already.  Today is the last day of class and finals conclude next Friday with graduation exercises on Saturday, December 17.  CONGRATULATIONS to our December graduates!

 

Thanks also to the Business and Law Society for their work in cleaning up the cigarette butts in front of our building and then with decorating the lobby of Forsyth.  If you get a chance, stop by next week and enjoy their handiwork.  It gives Forsyth a nice holiday feel.

 

 

Student Successes

 

Celebrating student achievements

 

  1. Business Law majors Heather Weaver and Brian Weaver traveled to Raleigh October 12 to participate in the NC Undergraduate Research Symposium. This state-wide event is open to all NC college students. The Weavers presented their research on identity theft in a presentation called “Stolen People: The Scary World of Identity Theft.” Appropriately 40 people attended their presentations. The Weavers have submitted an abstract for and hope to present at, the National Conference for Undergraduate Research to be held in Asheville this spring.

 

  1. Business Law Senior and Business and Law Society President, Meredith Silas, took the LSAT exam on December 3rd. She plans to attend law school this fall.

 

  1. November 1st the Business and Law Society cleaned cigarette butts around Forsyth and Killian as part of the “Pick Up Your Butts” campaign. The event, which the Society plans to repeat, encourages smokers to use the ashtrays and not to litter. While cigarette butts around the building are still a problem, the Society hopes that with repetition of the campaign, smokers will get the message to use the ashtrays!

 

  1. ‘Tis the season! The Business and Law Society sponsored its “COB Holiday” on December 1st. The Society invited all COB faculty, staff and students to help decorate the Forsyth foyer and to enjoy refreshments.  The Society sends a special thank you to the Accounting Club who sent members to help with the decorating. The holiday decorations will remain until the last day of finals. Happy Holidays from the Business and Law Society!

 

  1. The Society is still collecting non-perishable food items for “Food Baskets for the Needy,” a community project. Donations will be accepted through December 16th at noon. Boxes for donations are located by the tree in the foyer or donations can be left in Forsyth 107.

 

  1. The Giving Tree in the foyer has the names and ages of children who need our help this holiday season. The children are siblings and the Business and Law Society is working to help Santa buy toys, clothes and stocking stuffers for them. Everyone is invited to select a name from the tree and purchase a gift for a child. Instructions for the return of gifts are available near the tree. The Society members will make sure all the children have appropriate gifts but any help is much appreciated.

 

 

Focus on the Faculty

 

A look at recent activities and accomplishments of the College of Business faculty

 

  1. Jayne Zanglein, Business Law professor, had an article entitled "The Dual Loyalties of Two-Hatted Trustees" published by Texas Tech Law Review, and a video review entitled "Labor's Comeback: Pensions & Jobs" published by the Labor Studies Journal. She was also designated as co-chair of an ABA's Employee Benefits subcommittee.

 

  1. Jayne Zanglein’s proposal, "My PACE or Yours?" was accepted for the 2006 Teaching Professor Conference in Nashville, TN on May 19-21, 2006.  Only 45 of the 175 proposals submitted were selected as a workshop by the Conference committee. The Faculty Learning Committee on creative and critical thinking will be making the presentation on how professors can pace their courses to encourage deeper student learning and prevent teacher burnout.

 

  1. Jayne Zanglein was invited to speak at the Michigan Upper Peninsula AFL-CIO's annual conference in Marquette on February 24-25, 2006.  She will be speaking on "No More Business as Usual: The Use of Pension Activism to Protect Workers' Rights." She will also be speaking at the School of Business at Northern Michigan University.

 

  1. Lorrie Willey wrote two more articles for the Western Carolina Business Journal. “Good Lawyers Make Good Business” appeared in the October issue and “’Tis the Season for Hiring” appeared in the November’s issue.

 

  1. The LSAT prep test is here, at least in part. Lorrie Willey contacted the Law School Admission Council and was granted permission to copy the LSAT practice tests they publish to assist WCU in starting the LSAT prep test program.  Included in the program will be individualized timed testing upon request throughout the academic year and, approximately three times per year, a Saturday morning “mock” exam given to a group of students under actual testing conditions. While plans for individualized test taking are ongoing, the first of the “mock” LSAT exams is schedule for January 21st, two weeks before the real LSAT exam which is scheduled in February 2006.  Interested students should register with Lorrie Willey, dwilley@email.wcu.edu, by January 17th if they wish to participate in the “mock” exam.

 

6.      The Marketing and Business Administration and Law department started an award program for “Advisors of the Year.” Students are asked to say “thank you” by nominating a Marketing faculty member or a Business Law faculty member who has made an impact on them during their years at WCU by being a great advisor. The winner of the award will receive a letter or plaque and a touch of additional travel money.

 

  1. Jim DeConinck’s, article, "The influence of ethical control systems and moral intensity on sales managers' ethical perceptions and behavioral intentions," was published in the Marketing Management Journal, Vol. 15 (fall), 123-131.

 

  1. William Perry, CIS faculty member, will be giving the following WestCare CEU presentation at Harris Regional on December 20, 2005:  "HIPAA:  A Perspective on Information Security Awareness and Non-Disclosure." The presentation will also be broadcast to WestCare's facility in Swain County.

 

  1. Malcolm Abel was a presiding judge at North Carolina High School Mock Trial Regional in Hendersonville, North Carolina, in November. The mock trial competition requires high school student teams to argue a criminal case, with all the preparation required to compete against other high schools in the region. Regional winners advance to state level competition, with a national competition in the spring. Dr Abel has participated in the western regional for the last ten years.

 

  1. Dean Leroy Kauffman, Susan Swanger and John Beegle spent the day on Thursday, December 8 attending the 2005 Tax Update seminar sponsored by Dixon-Hughes PLLC in Asheville.  Don Farmer, annual presenter at this seminar, manages to keep the topic of discussion as lively as anyone can on the subject of taxes.   Thanks to Dixon Hughes for underwriting the registration fee for our faculty.

 

  1. Congratulations to Russell Teasley of the Project Management faculty.  Russell got word this past week that he successfully completed the Project Management Professional exam and he is now PMP certified.

 

 

Community Involvement

 

Involving our students in the real world

 

  1. The Halloween Festival sponsored by the Business and Law Society raised approximately $100.00. These funds have been mailed to the Red Cross earmarked for hurricane relief.

 

  1. The Business and Law Society’s Teddy Bear Drive for hurricane victims has netted over two dozen stuffed animals. These toys will be delivered to the Red Cross for distribution among the youngest hurricane victims. Thanks to all who supported this effort.

 

  1. Alumni Courtney Tate with Cintas, Jeremy Helton with IKON, and Lane Heffner with Verizion Wireless enjoyed "being on the other side of the table" in role plays in Julie Johnson's Professional Selling class.  All three were former students in the class and had played the role of the "salesperson" while at WCU.  Now, as experienced salespeople, all three played the role of the "buyer" in the role plays.  Also involved in role plays were Mike Davis and Andy Flippin with Sherwin Williams, Joe Haney with Cintas, and Steve Crocker with IKON. 

 

  1. Members of the Business and Law Society volunteered to assist the Jackson County Center on Aging service called “Project Fire.” Volunteers split, loaded and delivered firewood for elderly residents in need. The Society plans to send members to the remaining delivery dates as well.

 

  1. The Business and Law Society won the Center for Student Involvement Holiday Door Decorating Contest. The Society created a Giving Tree on the door with the photos and first names of the children the Society is sponsoring for the holidays. The Wal-Mart gift certificates given as the prize will be used to purchase clothes and toys for the children.

 

 

Alumni News

 

Keeping in touch with our alums

 

Ø      Kyle Kissman began a new job as a "Reformed Recruiter" with CPCC Inc. (Construction Professional Contract Corporation). He will hire for all professional positions in the construction industry.

 

Ø      Tiffany Jackson (BSBA 2002) of Dixon Hughes demonstrated the firm’s audit management software in Sue Swanger’s Auditing class in Cullowhee on November 21st.  Tiffany is a CPA and has recently transferred to the firm’s Asheville office from High Point.   We are delighted to welcome Tiffany back home to the mountains!