[254]MTSU SPRING SEMESTER CLASSES, ACTIVITIES START THURSDAY

Release date: Jan. 13, 2009


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Student Affairs/Enrollment Services contact: Dr. Deb Sells, 615-898-2440

MTSU SPRING SEMESTER CLASSES, ACTIVITIES START THURSDAY


(MURFREESBORO) — A new year, new semester and new outlook await MTSU students and faculty as they return to campus Thursday, Jan. 15, for spring semester classes with an eye toward the May 9 commencement, which may see the university’s largest ever graduating class.
Sells, interim vice president for student affairs who replaced Dr. Bob Glenn (now president at Athens State University in Alabama) in August, said priority items for the spring will include “working to communicate effectively with students about upcoming changes in tuition and fee structures” and sharing regular updates on President Sidney A. McPhee’s strategic workgroups working on the “Positioning the University for the Future” project.
“There will, of course, be a strong focus on recruitment and enrollment issues, including moving to a direct-lending program for financial aid,” Sells said. “We also expect to continue to focus on important student initiatives, including opening the new pharmacy at Student Health (Services), which will also be open to faculty and staff; making continued progress on the Student Union project; and supporting a healthy spring fraternity program.”
Along with classes, the spring semester will feature distinguished lectures and the Spring Honors Lecture Series, “Searching for Athena: An Exploration of Honors and Gifted Education” (full schedule at mtsu.edu/ honors/Spring_Lecture_Series.shtml), as well as many other activities.
For example, a full schedule of Black History Month events is available by visiting mtsu.edu/~aahm or calling the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at 615-898-5812.
The 37th annual Groundhog Day Luncheon for the MT baseball program is planned on Monday, Feb. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Murphy Center Monte Hall Arena floor. Tickets will be $20 each. For reservations, call the MT Ticket Office at 615-898-2103 or 1-888-YES-MTSU, or the Blue Raider Athletic Association office at 615-898-2210.
For the Jazz Artist Series, pianist and composer Donald Brown will appear Thursday, Feb. 12, to headline a busy February for the School of Music. Call 615-898-2493 or visit the School of Music Web site at mtsu.edu/~music for more details and other music events.
MTSU’s Office of Financial Aid once again will participate in College Goal Sunday, which will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in the Business and Aerospace Building’s State Farm Lecture Hall. MTSU personnel will assist prospective students and answer questions. For more information, call 615-904-8414 or visit http://financialaid.web.mtsu.edu.
Some of the region’s sharpest young minds will visit campus and participate in the Invention Convention on Thursday, Feb. 26, and the Science Olympiad on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The 10th annual Up ’til Dawn finale will be held from 7 p.m. Feb. 20 until 3 a.m. Feb. 21 in the Campus Recreation Center. Senior Jameel Braddock is director for the event, which raises money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For information, call 615-898-8270 or the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership at 898-5812.
The Admissions Office’s Spring Preview Days, which are open to prospective students and their families to tour the university, are set for Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, April 18, beginning at 10 a.m. each day at the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center.
National Women’s History Month activities through March can be found by visiting mtsu.edu/womenstu or calling the Office of Women’s Studies at 615-898-5910.
Scholars Week activities will be March 30 through April 3. For more information, call 615-898-2071.
In addition to MT basketball, baseball, softball and track and field action in the next five months, many of the state’s top girls’ and boys’ basketball teams head for Murphy Center for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association tournaments March 11-14 and March 18-21. The BlueCross Spring Fling will be May 18-23. Visit tssaa.org or call 615-889-6740 for ticket and other information.
First Friday Star Parties will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, March 6, April 3 and May 1 in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. Call 615-898-5946 or 898-2483 for more details.
MTSU will serve as host for the International Horse Show Association Nationals April 23-26; contact Anne Brzezicki at 615-904-8481 for more information.
Spring also will mark the return of the Tennessee Labor Management Winter Conference March 11-13 in Memphis, the Jennings A. Jones College of Business Executives in Residence event on Wednesday, April 8, and the President’s Celebration of Excellence on Saturday, April 18.
For spring semester theater and dance events, visit mtsu.edu/~theatre.









Spring 2009 academic dates to remember

• Jan. 15—Classes begin

• Jan. 19—Martin Luther King holiday (no classes)

• March 9-14—Spring break

• March 13—University closed

• April 29—Last day of classes

• April 30—Student study day (no classes)

• May 1-7—Final exams

• May 9—Commencement (9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ceremonies in Murphy Center)

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

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