To facilitate snow removal this winter, no overnight parking is allowed in gated lots except for the yellow-striped student section of North Lot.

Core-lot (“C”) permit-holders will be given first preference for spaces in the 510-car parking garage, which is scheduled to open in January 2004. If you have core parking and would like garage parking, e-mail parking@rpi.edu by Nov. 14. After this date, garage parking will be available to all other faculty and staff on a first-come, first-served basis. If all the spaces have not been claimed by Jan. 1, 2004, post-doctoral and graduate students will be offered the option of garage parking. Any remaining parking would then be opened to all other students on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have questions, visit the Parking Office Web site at http://www.pt.rpi.edu/ or call ext. 6616. 10/27/03

Preregistration Now Required for Traincaster Courses

Due to high demand for Rensselaer’s Professional Development Program and the associated online learning management system, Traincaster, preregistration is now required for all of the courses in the program, including the Management Development Series, Staff Development Series, and Environmental Health and Safety courses. Preregistration will ensure that appropriate facilities and presentation materials are available for each session.

To register for Environmental Health and Safety courses (denoted by HR(EHS) in the course title), select the course desired from the assigned course curriculum on the “My Traincaster” page or from the course catalog. Follow the prompts to register.

To register for Management Development Programs, Staff Development Programs, and Focused Workshops (denoted by HR(MD), HR(SD), and HR(FW) in the course titles), complete the same process as required for registration for the Environmental Health and Safety courses. In addition, a Professional Development Program hard-copy registration form must be completed and submitted to Human Resources. This form, as well as submission instructions and the related course fees, can be reviewed on the Human Resources web-site at http://www.rpi.edu/dept/hr/pubs/prodevcatalog.html

If you have questions about the registration process or the Professional Development Program, contact Beverly Pruitt, director of employee relations and development, at ext. 6038 or pruitb@rpi.edu; or Will Fahey, training and program development specialist, at ext. 2318 or faheyw@rpi.edu 10/27/03

Forum on Ethical Issues in Biotechnology Oct. 27

A forum on “Ethical Issues in Biotechnology,” sponsored by RPI-Sage Hillel, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 pm in Room 3602 of the Rensselaer Union. Panelists include Professor Robert Palazzo, Rensselaer’s Department of Biology, who will discuss “Cloning and Stem Cells: Conflict Between Ideology and Science”; Professor John Kaplan, Albany Medical College, discussing “What Are the Ethical Issues in Biotechnology Research?”; and Dr. Carmen Mannella, Wadsworth Center, discussing “Proper Conduct of Research: How to Prevent Ethical Dilemmas in the Laboratory.” Professor Georges Belfort, Rensselaer’s Department of Chemical Engineering, will moderate the discussion. The public is invited. 10/20/03

Save the Date: Memorial for Coach Bill Cahill Nov. 21

A memorial service will be held Friday, Nov. 21 to honor Bill Cahill, Rensselaer’s women’s hockey coach who died Oct. 5. The memorial will begin at 9 a.m. in the Chapel + Cultural Center. The campus community is invited to attend. Cahill was entering his fourth season as Rensselaer's women's hockey coach. He also had served seven years as an assistant coach with the men's Division I program. 10/20/03

Save the Date: Annual Benefits Fair Nov. 7

The Division of Human Resources will host the 2003 Benefits Fair Friday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Heffner Alumni House. The Benefits Fair gives faculty and staff the opportunity to meet and ask questions directly to the vendors who provide benefits.

The Benefits Fair marks the beginning of the Open Enrollment period, which is the only time during the year that employees can elect to enroll in or change benefits without a qualifying event. The Open Enrollment period is Nov. 7-21. 10/13/03

Sale of Quilt Squares To Support Habitat for Humanity Project

A fund raiser for Rensselaer’s Habitat for Humanity student chapter is now on display in the Rensselaer Union’s piano lounge: a handmade quilt put together by more than 90 students, staff, and members of the Rensselaer community. The quilt was created by the volunteers during several Community Service Day events held during the past year.

The 100 squares that make up the quilt are being sold for $100 each to raise $10,000 for the student club to use in building a house. The squares will be “personalized” with the names of individuals, departments, or other groups who wish show their support by purchasing a square.

If you or your group would like more information or would like to purchase a square, contact Beth Carlile at the Union, ext. 6505 or carlib@rpi.edu. 9/29/03

Streetscape Improvement Projects Begin on North Side of Campus: Temporary Parking, Traffic Restrictions in Effect

As part of the ongoing improvements to the campus, work has begun on Ninth Street between Peoples Avenue and Sage Avenue. The west side of Ninth street will be completely reconstructed with new curbs, pavement, sidewalks, and landscape. Parking is prohibited on the west side of the street while this work is under way; work is expected to take three to four weeks. When completed, there will be approximately 15 new parking spaces available on the street.

Commuters are asked to use the shuttle parking lots and not to park on neighborhood streets. Seven parking spaces in the Black Cultural Center lot will be made available to student residents of that block of Ninth Street. See the Parking Office for more information.

On Oct. 13, a complete reconstruction of the intersection of Sage Avenue and Fifteenth Street will begin. New curbs, crosswalks, sidewalks, and traffic signals will be installed. This work will require the closure of Sage Avenue in two phases. Phase One will close the west side of the intersection from Oct. 13 through Nov. 3. Fifteenth Street will remain open at all times. The Ricketts Gate off Sage Avenue will be open but will have to be approached from the west.

On Nov. 3 the west side will open up and work will switch over to the east side of the intersection, closing Sage Avenue access to the east. All surface work is planned to be completed by Nov. 24.
During Family Weekend, Oct. 24-26, work will be temporarily stopped and the intersection will be opened for access. Fifteenth Street will remain open to two lanes of traffic at all times during this work. Some parking on Fifteenth will be restricted during the work so that traffic lanes can be maintained open.

“These projects complement the extensive streetscape work happening on the east side of campus,” said Barb Nelson, project manager in campus planning & facilities design. “We appreciate your cooperation in obeying all restrictions and passing through these work zones with caution while work is under way.” 9/29/03