Harnessing wind power

Buoy Scout: six buoys will gather data.

The Palmetto Wind Research Project, a groundbreaking collaborative project by Santee Cooper, Coastal Carolina University and the South Carolina Energy Office to study the possibilities of generating wind energy off the coast, got under way in March 2009 with a widely publicized press conference in Georgetown.

The University's Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies is playing a major role in the project. In the first phase of the initiative, a series of weather buoys were placed off the coastline at Winyah Bay and Waties Island. The center, under the guidance of director Paul Gayes, is responsible for measuring wind speed, direction and frequency at these buoy stations up to six miles out into the ocean.

Gayes and his team of faculty and student researchers, working closely with counterparts at North Carolina State University who built the buoys, will evaluate the buoy data to help pinpoint the best location for an off-shore platform, which will be installed later this year to measure upper-level winds similar to those a wind turbine would encounter. Once installed, the offshore wind platform is expected to gather data for at least a year.

"At present, there are no offshore wind farm installations anywhere in the United States," said Gayes. "With the potential of wind resources off our coast for power generation, arriving at this stage of the process is of enormous significance and potential."

The project is part of a plan by Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility company, to provide 40 percent of its energy by 2020 through non-greenhouse gas emitting sources.

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New logo & brand unveiled

As part of a major new marketing initiative, the Office of University Communication unveiled a new logo and promotional campaign in June. The new logo (left) by Director of Publications and Graphic Standards Rob Wyeth transforms the graphic elements of the original design—the Atheneum and the ocean—in a crisp contemporary image. Based on exhaustive research, the advertising campaign emphasizes the high quality of the academic experience on campus. Television, print, billboard and radio ads highlight signature academic areas such as marine science, PGA golf management and other programs. The theme is "Coastal Carolina University: It's About You."

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New Dean

Dean Dianne L. Hall Mark

Dianne L. Hall Mark became the new dean of the Spadoni College of Education at Coastal Carolina University on June 15, 2009.

Mark has been dean of the College of Professional Studies at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania for the past two years. Previously, she was associate dean and interim associate dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Central Michigan University. She was also a faculty member at Drake University and taught at Des Moines Area Community College, Niagara University and in the Buffalo Public School District.

Mark earned an M.Ed. and a Ph.D. in education administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She earned a master's degree in student personnel administration from Buffalo State College and a bachelor's degree in physical education from Michigan State University.

She attended Harvard Institute's Management Development Program and the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education's (AACTE) New Deans Institute.

Mark is the coauthor of a book about multicultural literature, and she was the recipient of the Minority Achievement Award from Minority Opinion magazine last year.

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EQL moves, expands

Professor Susan Libes (right) cuts the EQL ribbon. Looking on are Dr. Larry Holt and Dr. Jarrett Lark, of the Center for Marine and Wetland Studies' Board of Visitors, and Professor Joseph Bennett.

University officials cut the ribbon April 29 to open the new and expanded Environmental Quality Laboratory. The facility, which directs many analytical chemistry and microbiology research projects that impact the region, has moved from the R. Cathcart Smith Science Center building to its new location across U.S. 501 in the Coastal Science Center on the University's East Campus.

The new facility is approximately three times larger than the former lab, with 2,674 square feet spread over five rooms. Established in 1991, the Environmental Quality Lab is one of the essential components of the University's Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies.

The lab has conducted scores of water quality monitoring projects along the local coastline, working with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to determine the public safety of area beaches and of stormwater drainage systems. The Environmental Quality Lab was the first lab in the state to be certified by DHEC to measure enterococci bacteria.

All research conducted through the Waccamaw Watershed Academy is also handled through the lab.

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International award

Wall College Dean Henry Lowenstein (left) accepts the award from BGS President George E. Stevens.

The University's chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS), the international honor society for collegiate business students, won the 2009 Silver Chapter Award, an international distinction that includes funds for a new scholarship. The chapter's adviser, management professor Barbara Ritter, received an honorable mention in the year's Outstanding Chapter Adviser Competition.

Henry Lowenstein, dean of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, accepted the award at the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International Conference and Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., in April.

The University was chosen for this award from among 482 member chapters across the nation. Only business schools accredited by AACSB International may be members of BGS.

"The achievement of this extraordinary award by Beta Gamma Sigma is strong recognition by the international collegiate business academy of the performance and dedication of the Wall College, its students, faculty and our Beta Gamma Sigma chapter leadership," said Lowenstein. "We are extremely honored and proud of this recognition."

The University's BGS chapter received $1,250 for a scholarship, which will be awarded to a student who meets the criteria of the BGS scholarship program.

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Networking with Chauncey

Chauncey Chanticleer, the incomparable mascot of Coastal Carolina University, is now on Facebook and Twitter. He made his debut on May 13 during the annual biker week. The first posting showed him revving up his hog to attend the Chanticleer baseball game against the Charleston Southern University Buccaneers at Watson Stadium.

These two social networking sites give members of the Coastal Carolina University family an opportunity to make contact with Chauncey and with each other.

Chauncey is out there and loving it! Check Chauncey out on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and on Twitter at: www.twitter.com.

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May Commencement '09

More than 830 students crossed the stage at the University's largest commencement ceremony, held Saturday, May 9 at Brooks Stadium. Commencement speaker Edward Ball—winner of the 1998 National Book Award for his book, Slaves In the Family—spoke to graduates about family connections, touching on his own "vexed inheritance" of a privileged white family that owned slaves. Referring to formal instruction and textbooks, Ball exhorted the graduates to "listen for what they don't say," tossing his own books into the sea of black gowns at the end of his talk. "The world is making room for you; bring it on!"

Ball received the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters. Clay D. Brittain Jr., Hilda M. Carter and Arthur Herbert (Doc) Lachicotte Jr. received the honorary degree Doctor of Public Service.

Six students received the President's Award for Academic Achievement, which recognizes students with the highest cumulative grade point averages. The recipients of the award, who all had perfect 4.0 grade point averages, graduating summa cum laude, were Amelia Hammond, a drama major of Gainesville, Ga.; Jessica Hilton, a double major in biology and psychology from Millersville, Md.; Susan Key, an education major from Myrtle Beach; Ryan Rossi, a computer science major from Pawleys Island; Marcie Veitch, a biology major from Ontario, Canada; and Marcie Willis, an English major from Fredericksburg, Va.

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Professors study abroad on Fulbright Grants

Carol Osborne

John Reilly

Professors Carol Osborne and John Reilly recently won Fulbright grants for foreign study programs. Osborne, professor of English, was selected for the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad program in China for June and July 2009. John Reilly, assistant professor of chemistry, was awarded a Fulbright-Nehru grant to teach in India during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Osborne studied Chinese culture in order to enhance the curriculum of her world literature course and to develop a new upper level course on Chinese literature and culture. The Fulbright-Hays program gives American educators an introduction to China's history, culture and society. She traveled to Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Hong Kong, attending lectures on Chinese history, economics, education and politics.

Reilly is teaching physical chemistry, with the addition of an ethics and writing component, at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur, India. In addition to the traditional physical chemistry curriculum, Reilly has added an ethics component on the history, development and use of nuclear weapons. Students will read, discuss and write about the broader ethical issues relating to the development of nuclear capabilities.

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Mann joins staff

Will Mann

Will Mann recently joined the staff of the University's PGA Golf Management Program as director of player development. Mann has led a distinguished career in the golf industry, including a term as president of the PGA of America in 1999-2000.

He is a graduate of NC State, and early in his career he served as the first golf course superintendent at Myrtle Beach National, where he was responsible for the construction and turf management for the 54-hole golf complex. He moved into the golf operations arena and has been a successful head professional, general manager and golf course owner. Most recently, he was the owner and manager of Quarry Hills Country Club in Swepsonville, N.C.

Mann was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 2005.

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Bridge Program connects

Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) have created the Residential Bridge Program, a competitive academic-enhancement transfer program that begins in Fall 2009. Participating students begin taking courses at HGTC during their freshman year to prepare for successful transfer to Coastal Carolina University.

Residential Bridge students live in University Place, one of the University's residence halls, and have access to most campus life programs including: intramural activities, student clubs and organizations, shuttle transportation, sports events, and health and counseling services. After students complete 21 transferable credit hours with at least a 2.5 grade point average, they automatically transfer to the University.

Bridge students will be required to live on the University campus with other freshmen unless their home is within a 50-mile radius.

"Paying lower tuition to the technical college for the first year is also a good way to save money during these lean economic times," said Dave Evans, assistant provost at the University and director of the program. "This program is for students who might not otherwise be able to attend a four-year higher education institution."

News Clips

Funds Raised
Coastal Carolina University students have raised $11,119 for Schools for Schools, a national aid program that raises money for schools in Northern Uganda, Africa.

Big Read 2009
Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream by Adam Shepard is Coastal Carolina University's 2009 "Big Read." All incoming freshmen were assigned the book about achieving success and a meaningful life on a shoestring. The purpose of the Big Read is to unite freshmen in a common learning experience and to facilitate creative and critical thinking.

Alumna wins title
Kelley Sloan, a 2007 graduate, won the 2009 Miss South Carolina title. The former Miss Hartsville will represent the state in the upcoming Miss America pageant in Las Vegas in January 2010.

New degrees
Final approval has been granted for a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a Master of Science degree in educational leadership. Other new degrees that are pending final state approval are a bachelor's degree in graphic design, a bachelor's degree in information systems and a Master of Education degree in learning and teaching. Ten other new majors are in various stages of development.