What's Ahead

Conference on Autism draws national experts

Local and national experts will discuss teaching strategies for children with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome at Grand Valley’s Statewide Autism and Training project (START) 2013 conference. The conference will be held April 22 in Lansing.

Erik Carter, associate professor of special education at Vanderbilt University, will give the keynote address on “Natural Support Strategies: Fostering Relationships and Community Connections for Transition-Age Students with Autism.” His research focuses on educational and transition services for adolescents with intellectual disabilities, autism, and multiple disabilities.

Grand Valley was designated by the Michigan Department of Education as the lead university in the development of resources and training for school personnel and parents of children with autism.

Faculty participating in the conference include START project director Amy Matthews and START project faculty Jamie Owen-DeSchryver. Matthews and Owen-DeSchryver helped draft the new Michigan Autism Spectrum Disorders Plan last month, which addresses the needs of the 16,000 students with ASD in the state’s public school system and 50,000 individuals and their families living with ASD in Michigan.

Health coach will visit campus

UMR Health Coach Karen Silber will visit the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses this week to meet with faculty and staff members who wish to set goals to accomplish desired behavior changes.

Silber will be on the Allendale Campus on Tuesday, April 23, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and the Pew Grand Rapids Campus on Wednesday, April 24, from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Call her directly at (800) 316-9946 or send an email to ksilber@umr.com.

‘Big Data’ conference will highlight analytics

The School of Computing and Information Systems will host its first Big Data Conference on Friday, April 26, from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center.

Jerry Scripps, assistant professor of computing and information systems, said big data refers to the sharp increase of the size, arrival rate and complexity of data that is being generated and collected by business, government and other organizations.

“In the coming years it will affect many people across most disciplines,” he said. “The rapid increase in data will also bring a variety of challenges including data storage, data management and data preservation.”

Faculty members with expertise in data collection, storage, protection and analystics will share their work. Students and faculty members are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact the School of Computing and Information Systems at x12060.

Happiness Club promotes positive thinking

A newly formed club for faculty and staff seeks to spread inner joy, peace and well being. The Happiness Club will meet once a month during the lunch hour on the Allendale Campus.

Linda Yuhas, director of Compensation and Employment Services, said she had the idea for the club and found that many companies and organizations around the world have similar clubs. “People want to be happy,” said Yuhas, “and we want people here to be happy and successful at their jobs. We all have times when we hit hurdles or feel stressed out or overwhelmed and it helps to be surrounded by positive people. Your attitude carries you through at work or at home. We want people who come to the club meetings to leave feeling uplifted.”

Sue Sloop, Work Life consultant, said emotional health impacts physical health. “It’s a known fact that happier people have better relationships, are more successful, are healthier and more productive. When you are happy and have a positive attitude, everything goes better in your life,” she said.

The meetings will include presentations or guest speakers, sharing of resources and a time for sharing. “It’s not meant to be like group therapy,” said Yuhas. “We just want to help people arm themselves to develop an attitude of gratitude and hear from those who are uplifting.”

Scheduled guests include Fred Peeples, who, at age 82, is an early morning regular at the YMCA where he performs aerobics and strength training.

The next meeting is May 2, at noon in the Kirkhof Center, room 1142. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.

Grand Valley will celebrate TC commencement

About 75 Grand Valley students will participate in the 16th annual Traverse City commencement ceremony May 2 at Grand Traverse Resort. Students will hear an address from a state senator who is a northern Michigan native.

Sen. Howard Walker, who has served in northern Michigan as a state representative and senator, will address undergraduate and graduate students. He has served on the Traverse City Area Public Schools board, and during a decade-plus career in Lansing, championed funding equity for public schools, renewable energy and legislation to protect the state’s agricultural heritage. He received a degree from Michigan Technological University and lives in Grand Traverse County.

The ceremony will start at 6 p.m.

Grand Valley serves approximately 250 students across northern Michigan with classes offered in Traverse City, Cadillac, Boyne City, and Sault Ste. Marie. Students from all of those sites will participate in the commencement.

Grand Valley became part of the Northwestern Michigan College University Center in 1996. The university offers undergraduate degree programs in education and liberal studies. It also offers graduate programs in education and social work. Grand Valley is the only institution at the University Center that holds a formal commencement ceremony in Traverse City.

Registration open for CLAS on the Green

Registration is now open for the second CLAS on the Green at the Meadows.

The golf outing, Wednesday, June 19, is hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with all proceeds to benefit CLAS scholarships. The event is open to all faculty and staff members, alumni, students and community friends.

The driving range and registration will open at noon, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner follows at 6 p.m.

For event questions, contact Paul Stephenson at stephenp@gvsu.edu with “CLAS on the Green” in the subject line.

Page last modified April 19, 2013