Dear Alumni,

Fall weather is finally upon us. If you are looking for indoor things to do this fall, why not consider joining the Alumni Book Club? There is no charge to join.

So much happens each month here on campus. If you're a College of Health and Human Service grad, be sure to save the date for the Career Fair on November 28. And you definitely don't want to miss the alumni Valentine event on February 8. Read below for more details.

For more information, call the Alumni Relations Office at 708.534.4128. Feel free to visit the alumni website to view past editions of the e-connections newsletter and our annual print newsletter, Alumni Connections and to get up-to-the-minute details.

Sincerely,

Cheri Garey
Interim Director of Alumni Relations

Join the Alumni Association for our annual Valentine dinner and show on Wednesday, February 8. Following the buffet dinner, enjoy a performance of the widely acclaimed play, "The Color Purple," in GSU's Center for Performing Arts. What a great way to celebrate an early Valentine's Day, mingle with fellow alumni and enjoy a wonderful show all in one.

Tickets: $58 (Alumni with Premium member status and their guests)
             $65 (All other alumni and their guests)

Tickets include a buffet dinner, dessert, coffee and tea, and main floor seating at the performance. Cash bar. To order tickets, mail in an order form or call the Alumni Relations Office at 708.534.4128.

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GSU begins $22.6 million science renovation project

Last week, Governors State University celebrated a new era in science education with a ceremony marking the start of a $22.6 million renovation project. The project will bring world-class laboratories and classrooms to the University Park campus' science buildings. Read more here.

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The Alumni Association will host the third annual Alumni Awards program, which honors graduates who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments and careers deserve to be recognized. The Outstanding Community Service Award and the Distinguished Professional Achievement Award will be presented at the Alumni Dinner Theatre event on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. The Alumni Award Criteria and the Alumni Awards Nomination forms are now available. Deadline to nominate or apply for these prestigious awards is January 7, 2012.

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November 14 to 18 is Global Entrepreneurship Week. To celebrate, CenterPoint at GSU wants to showcase/publicize GSU Alumni Entrepreneurs. CenterPoint is creating posters with pictures of alumni and their companies, which will be located around the University and on an electronic notice board that will be a part of its website. What a great way to promote your business at no cost!

To participate, please contact Hilary Burkinshaw, Director of CenterPoint, at hburkinshaw@govst.edu.

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Join other book enthusiasts in a lively discussion. Books to be reviewed are chosen by the Alumni Book Club members. Call the Alumni Relations Office at 708.534.4128 to join or e-mail alumnirelations2@govst.edu and say "sign me up for the Book Club." Meeting invitations and notices will be sent via e-mail. Visit the Book Club's website for details and book descriptions.

Next Meeting: 

Thursday, November 17, 2011 Five High by Janet Evanovich
No meeting December

The Addictions Studies Alumni Club will have a meeting and general elections on Saturday, November 5 at 3:30 p.m. in room D2447 on campus. Come voice your opinion and hear what's happening with the Addiction Studies club. Please RSVP: 708.534.4128. (There is no charge to join Alumni Clubs.)

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The GSU Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association will screen "The King's Speech" on Tuesday, November 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the lobby of GSU's Center for Performing Arts.

Admission is free, but donations benefiting the Stuttering Foundation are encouraged. A question and answer session, led by Dr. Stephanie Hughes, assistant professor of Communication Disorders at GSU, will follow the movie screening. According to Hughes, "The King's Speech" deserves top grades for realism in its presentation of general counseling and specific behavioral techniques demonstrated by the film's speech therapist. For more information, contact Dr. Hughes at shughes@govst.edu, or 708.534.4594.

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Prospective undergraduate students, with the proper transcripts, can be admitted on the spot to GSU at Instant Admission Day on Saturday, November 5. GSU will host the free open house event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on GSU's main campus, for students interested in transferring into one of GSU's bachelor's degree completion programs.

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The Alternative Teacher Certification program at GSU offers three ways to earn certification and embark on a new, rewarding career in education. The Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) leads to a master's degree in education and teacher certification. TQP provides an opportunity to co-teach for a year with a certified teacher, a $30,000 stipend, and a 25 percent reduction in tuition. TQP is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Alternative Certification Program also offers the opportunity for teachers to teach full-time as they earn a salary and their teacher certification. In addition, there are reduced paid resident opportunities, which also lead to teacher certification.

This program is open to college graduates with five years' work experience after receiving a bachelor's degree. The application deadline for the Alternative Certification program, beginning Spring 2012, is December 15, 2011. For more information, contact Eileen Lally at 708.534.4399.

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GSU's Civil Service Senate is sponsoring its annual Arts and Crafts Fair on November 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Hall of Governors. Proceeds benefit the Civil Service Senate Educational Assistance Fund. The event is free and open to the public.

Artisans and crafters are needed for the fair. Set-up time begins at 9 a.m. on the 15^th. Contact Kathy Miller at 708.534.4561, or Karen Stuenkel at 708.534.4120 for details.

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CenterPoint at GSU is hosting its semiannual, award-winning Veterans Entrepreneurial Boot Camp on Wednesday, November 16^th, from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m.

The Veterans Entrepreneurial Boot Camp is free for veterans. Families and business partners of those serving in the military may attend for only $25. Event co-sponsors include Phoenix Business Solutions, CenterPoint 504 nfp, and the Illinois Small Business Development and International Trade Centers at Governors State University. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact CenterPoint at Governors State University at (708) 534-4929 or visit www.centerpointgsu.com for details. Read more here.

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The GSU Office of Career Services is holding a Health and Human Services Career Fair on Monday, November 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts Lobby at GSU.

Confirmed Participating Employers: American Senior Communities, ATI Physical Therapy, Consonus Healthcare, Cook County Health & Hospital Systems, CSL Behring, Elim Christian Services, FHN Memorial Hospital, Genesis Rehab Services, Home Bound Healthcare, McDonald Physical Therapy, METT Therapy Services, Olivet Nazarene University, Palos Community Hospital, Riverside Medical Center, Therapy Staff, LLC, and Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN).

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GSU's magnificent new wind turbine, operational for the last few weeks, was formally introduced to the university community during a dedication event on Friday, October 14.

GSU is committed to sustainability on campus. The wind turbine, built with assistance from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is providing power to the Family Development Center.

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The GSU Library is offering four genealogy workshops this fall. Workshops are free and open to the public:

Using Probate and Inquest Records in Your
       Genealogy Research            Friday, November 11   2-3:30 p.m.      D2430

Using Libraries in Your Genealogy Research 
                                                      Friday, November 18   2-3:30 p.m.      D2430

Register in person at the Reference Desk or contact Judy Hanacek, Workshop Coordinator. Phone: 708.534.4114. Walk-ins are welcome, but space is limited to 25 participants.

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The Alumni Book Club is recognizing our growing list of alumni who have authored books. We will post this distinguished list on the Book Club's web site. If you are an alumni and have authored a book, please email you name, address (for identification purposes - will not be posted), the title of your book, the publisher and date of publication to alumnirelations2@govst.edu.

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