University Professor Introduces Poetry Selections

The May 12, 2008 issue of The New Yorker magazine features selections from Mihyar of Damascus: His Songs, by world-renowned poet Adonis (Ali Ahmad Said), translated from the Arabic and introduced by Adnan Haydar, University of Arkansas professor of comparative literature, and Michael Beard, published by BOA Editions, Ltd. and scheduled for release in July 2008.

Herman Featured in The Things They've Done

Architecture professor Greg Herman is among 68 alumni of Rice University’s School of Architecture who is celebrated in a new book, The Things They’ve Done, by longtime Rice professor William T. Cannady. The richly illustrated profiles demonstrate a wide range of career choices among the group: architectural design, to be sure, but also teaching, painting, acting, photography, real estate development and space craft design.  Herman is in good company: among the others profiled are classmate Charles H. Renfro, a partner with Diller Scofidio + Renfro of New York and Los Angeles architect Randall Stout, who was the Fay Jones Visiting Professor at the University of Arkansas School of Architecture last year.

After earning his M. Arch. from Rice, Herman practiced in Boston and became a licensed architect. Since coming to the University of Arkansas in 1991, he has taught design at every level of the curriculum, led studio classes in Mexico City, and helped students succeed in challenging technology courses. He also has developed a diverse series of courses that reflect his research interests, ranging from a history of American building technologies to the exploration of modular construction in design/build initiatives. The School of Architecture has honored Herman with the Mott Outstanding Teacher Award an unprecedented three times (in 2000, 2003 and 2004); he was elected a Fellow in the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy in 2005.

UA Professor of Rehabilitation Writes Book on His Experiences

Richard T. Roessler

Ensuring that people with disabilities have a chance at living the most productive and independent life possible - that's what the sixth edition of a vocational rehabilitation textbook and 30 years of experience boil down to for Richard T. Roessler.

The University of Arkansas professor of rehabilitation education and research and his co-author, Stanford E. Rubin, professor emeritus at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, recently released the sixth edition of Foundations of the Vocational Rehabilitation Process published by Pro-Ed.

"Since the first edition in the mid-1970s, our text has generally grown to span over three decades of advances in our field," the authors say in the book's preface. "We have learned a great deal; we hope our readers will have the same experience."

The book addresses legislative mandates that emphasize not only vocational, independent living, social and educational rehabilitation services, but also the removal of environmental barriers and the civil rights of people with disabilities. This dual focus on individual and environment to maximize participation of people with disabilities into mainstream American society is the essential message of the latest revised edition, the authors say.

"We believe that disability often places people with disabilities in our society in negative situations and that these situational factors are often far more limiting than are any medical, intellectual or emotional conditions," according to Roessler and Rubin.

The book, which contains more than 1,200 references to research and other scholarly work, offers both theoretical and practical information to help rehabilitation professionals translate legislative mandates into practice. It also includes a new chapter on women with disabilities.

Designed for an introductory course at the master's level or a senior-level course in an undergraduate program on vocational or independent living rehabilitation, Foundations also offers valuable information to practicing counselors dedicated to staying abreast of developments in the field. It also could be used by in-service training directors to develop informative training programs for their staff members.

Roessler has won national awards for his teaching and research contributions to the field of rehabilitation. The American Rehabilitation Counseling Association has recognized four research studies in which he has participated. His recent research activities address the employment discrimination experiences and the reasonable accommodation needs of people with severe chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis.

Rubin coordinated the doctor of rehabilitation program at the Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for 25 years. In addition to his collaboration with Roessler, he has authored several widely used, comprehensive in-service training packages for practicing rehabilitation counselors.

Computing Services Working to Help Those With Locked Accounts

Unfortunately, over the weekend, some user UARK accounts were inadvertently locked. UARK accounts include e-mail, logging in to the wireless network, logging in to the General Access Computing Lab machines, ISIS and other University systems.

If staff or faculty members or students previously re-set their password using the question/answer method, they can go to http://www.uark.edu/passweb and renew the account. If, however, a question and answer has not been established recently, students will need to go to the registrar's office to have their account reset.

Faculty and staff members can go to the registrar or to Computing Services' Help Desk, located in the Administrative Services Building on Razorback Road to get their account renewed. University Information Technology Services and Computing Services apologize for this inconvenience.

For questions, comments or concerns, please phone the Help Desk at 575-2901.

Recycling Surplus University of Arkansas Property

The university's surplus equipment office at the University of Arkansas is committed to recycling out-dated university-owned property, but the office is required to follow Arkansas state surplus regulations when doing so. The office reminds the university community that recycling programs such as the Green-Fed II, sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the Recycling Business Group, are for personally owned equipment, only.

"University faculty and staff are required to dispose of university-owned equipment only through the surplus equipment office," said Jim Hashbarger, university business manager. "That has not changed. We support the Green-Fed II project as a means to reduce electronic waste from Arkansas landfills. We strive to do this with surplus university-owned equipment as well by working with state and private vendors to recycle as much as possible."

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Jim Hashbarger, business manager
University of Arkansas
(479) 575-9301, jhashba@uark.edu

Steve Voorhies, manager of media relations
University Relations
(479) 575-3583, voorhies@uark.edu