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ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ will begin upgrades to the Walter C. Latham Park baseball facility following the 2010 baseball season. The improvements are made possible by a group of generous donors led by trustee Dr. Bryan Latham and his wife, Janet, of Miami, who made a $250,000 commitment to fund the work.

John G. Sullivan, Powell Professor of Philosophy Emeritus will offer a workshop Coming to God through Stories at Healing Ground Retreat Center, Summerfield, NC 27358 on Friday, September 24, 2010 -- 10 am - 4 pm.

While Hurricane Earl will not impact the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ campus or central North Carolina, the storm does serve as a good reminder about ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ's emergency and severe weather resources. Read this note for details.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ trustee Jeanne Robertson, a nationally renowned speaker with a reputation for her family-friendly and engaging humor, has signed an agreement with Comedy String Entertainment and Outback Concerts in Nashville for a 20-city tour in 2011. While the veteran speaker has a long history of success in speaking to groups and organizations, this will be her first solo comedy tour, as she performs in theaters across the country.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ President Leo M. Lambert opened the annual planning week by focusing on the goals of The ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Commitment strategic plan. "At the dawn of a new decade and this new strategic plan, I ask you to continue to give serious thought to how your program, department, or division and each of you personally will take ownership of the idea of leading ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ to national prominence," Lambert said in addressing faculty and staff who were assembled in McCrary Theatre.

EdTech, a magazine focused on technology applications in education, features ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ in its September/October edition. The article, titled "Building the Smarter Classroom," says that ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is "taking instructional technology to the next level," with "pioneering collaborative classrooms and teaching students real-world skills."

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ faculty and academic programs earned numerous top national honors in the 2011 “America’s Best Colleges” rankings released Aug. 17 by US News & World Report. In the magazine's "Focused on Their Undergrads" ranking, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is named the #1 Southern University and among the top 86 colleges and universities in the nation "where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching," as measured in a survey of college presidents, provosts and admissions deans.

Bobby Morris, automotive maintenance assistant at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ more than eight years, died Aug. 23. For the past three years, he had been handling automotive duties along with driving ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ shuttle buses for special events and field trips. Visitation for family and friends will be Friday, Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. at McClure Funeral Home, 1030 South Main Street, Graham, N.C. The funeral service will be held at McClure Funeral Home at 7 p.m. following visitation hours.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ's residence halls open for new student move-in day beginning at 8 a.m., Aug. 27. If you live more than four hours from campus, check-In begins at 8 a.m. If you live less than four hours from campus, check-In begins at 10 a.m. Orientation Staff will be available to assist you with parking and unloading. Your cooperation in using the following directions and designated parking areas will help Move-In Day run smoothly. Traffic congestion may become an issue with over 1,400 new families entering the campus at once. Read this note for details.