PENNSTATE
PzetnHarrisburg
I 8 5 5
CAPITAL TIMES
vol. 25, no. 1
PSH GETS FACELIFT
Victoria Cuscino
Capital Times Editor
Penn State Harrisburg renovated the
Olmsted lobby during summer break and
implemented a new telephone system on
August 8, 1990.
PSH maintenance worked all summer
in the lobby to create a conversation and
waiting area for students. Many students
stay in the lobby to wait for friends, so
we wanted to create a convenient area as
a meeting place, said Dr. James South,
Associate Provost for Administrative
operations.
The renovations included a new sofa
unit, carpeting, better lighting,
woodwork and a higher ceiling." Because
that is the way most of our visitors enter
the college , we feel that should be a
quality place," South said.
To facilitate the lobby renovations,
the records office lost some of their
space. Therefore, we tried to make the
records office a "warmer place" and more
efficient, South said. By opening the
corridors, the lobby has a "different
feel...because is is more open."
The telephone project consisted of
replacing all the instruments on campus,
and a complete rewiring inside and from
one building to another -- a $1,400,000
project.
Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg
Babo and the "Sidewalk Supervisor'
The new telephone system "will give
us several capacities we have not had
previously," South said . This includes
voice mail, which makes some people
work more efficiently and will release
secretaries from their telephones so they
can be more productive by performing
their actual duties.
PSH was "out of capacity" with the
old system and there were no more
telephone lines, available with the old
technology, South said.
Students living in the dorms have
telephones in their rooms this year -- no
more waiting for hall phones!
The money for these projects came
from a variety of sources. Some of it
came from student tuition, state
appropriation, gifts to the college, and
from savings in other areas of the
budge!.
Dr. South stressed the importance of
taking care of our current facilities to
maintain an environment where students
can learn and professors can teach. His
self-imposed goal is to see PSH
completely renovated by 1991. It is
already over 50% finished.
SEE RENOVATIONS on 2
PHOTO BY JANET VVIDOFF
PSU NAMES THOMAS
15TH PRESIDENT
The Pennsylvania State University
Board of Trustees named Joab L.
Thomas--former president of the
University of Alabama--as the 15th
president.
In a special session on July 23, the
Board approved the unanimous
recommendation of the Trustee
Presidential Committee. Thomas is the
former president of the University of
Alabama, former chancellor of North
Carolina State University and professor
of biology.
President Bryce Jordan will retire
August 31 and plans to work with
Thomas to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas will assume the presidency on
September 1.
After the board meeting, Thomas
answered questions regarding his
expectations and goals as president of
Penn State. Administration cannont
neglect undergraduate education in its
attempt to improve the quality of
research at the University, Thomas said.
Undergraduate education must continue
to be of the highest quality while the
University simultaneously continues its
growth in research.
Thomas plans to continue some of
President Jordan's initiatives, including
the strategic planning process Jordan
implemented in 1984.
Board members cited Thomas's
administrative experience at the
University of Alabama and North
Carolina State University and his
academic and research accomplishments
in the field of biology as reasons they
selected Thomas.
Dr. Thomas is a member of Phi Beta
Kappa and has a commitment to the
advancement of women and minorities.
Born in Holt, Alabama, he received
his A. 8., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in
biology from Harvard University. He
worked his way through the academic
ranks at Alabama State University--
assistant professor, associate professor
and then professor of biology.
He began his administrative career in
1964 when he was appointed assistant
dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.
In 1969 Thomas became dean for student
August 22, 1990
In 1976, he was appointed chancellor
of North Carolina State University and
remained . there until assuming the
presidency at Alabama in 1981.
Thomas is the author of several
monographs and books and numerous
papers published in scholarly journals.
Dr. Thomas also has various civic and
community accomplishments. He was
named Tuscaloosa Citizen of the Year in
1987, and serves on the board of
directors of the Tuscaloosa Chamber of
Commerce, the Industrial Development
Authority of West Alabama, the
Alabama Power Company, Blount Inc.
and the International Service for National
Agricultural Research.
He is a member of various
professional organizations including the
American Institute of Biological
Sciences, Botanical Society of America,
American Society of Plant Taxonomists,
International Association of Plant
Taxonomists, Alabama Academy of
Sciences, and North Carolina Academy
of Sciences.
Dr. Thomas and his wife--the former
Marly Dukes of Boise, Idaho--have four
children: Catherine, David, Jennifer and
Frances.