New office

The new Office of University Outreach, Professional Development and Distance Education at North Carolina A&T State University will provide programming and community engagement activities toward the goal of becoming a premier engaged institution in alignment with the university’s strategic plan, A&T Preeminence 2020. The office is headed by Dr. Linda T. Adams, associate vice chancellor, and includes continuing education, distance and online education, K-20 engagement and professional development, STEM advancement and academic engagement, and summer sessions and certificate programs.

Votes needed to win

N.C. A&T’s Natuculture: Biomimicry in Urban Landscapes project is competing to win a $10,000 grant in Rain Bird’s The Intelligent Use of Water™ Awards contest.

Based in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services. The Intelligent Use of Water Awards, now in its fifth year, is an interactive grant program that awards funds in $1,500, $5,000 or $10,000 categories to water conservation and environmental sustainability projects that promote green spaces. Rain Bird will be awarding a total of $50,000. The winners will be announced on World Water Day, March 22, 2012.

To read about A&T’s project and to vote for A&T, click on this link: Natuculture. For other details about A&T’s project, contact Dr. Manuel R. Reyes, professor of biological engineering in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, at 336-334-7787 or reyes@ncat.edu.

NC FIRST LEGO®

The North Carolina FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) will hold its state championship tournament at North Carolina A&T State University on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Corbett Sports Center. The tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. and will open to the public at 12:30 p.m. with the opening ceremony and parade of teams.

The Office of University Outreach at N.C. A&T serves as the FLL operational partner for North Carolina. A&T manages all regional and state FLL competitions.

FLL is an alliance between FIRST and the LEGO® Company where students solve real world engineering challenges and learn to make positive contributions to society. Teams of up to 10 players focus on team building, problem solving, creativity, and analytical thinking to develop a well thought out solution.

By combining a hands-on, interactive robotics program with a sports-like atmosphere, FLL allows students ages 9-14 to exercise their math and science skills. All teams competing in the state championship qualified at one of the regional qualifiers in November.

An ‘Introduction to FLL’ tour and information session will be held the day of the tournament beginning at 10 a.m. To participate in the tour and to reserve seating, contact Shayla Sharpe at (336) 273-5575 or legoplanner@sp3.us. Additional information about the North Carolina FIRST LEGO® League is available online at www.usfirst.org and www.ncfirstrobotics.org.

BPI certification training

The Building Performance Institute (BPI) Energy Audit Certification training class will meet Monday, Jan. 30–Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., at the 1020 Wendover facility. This training is offered by the N.C. A&T Department of Construction Management and the Office of University Outreach: Continuing Education.

In addition to covering home and light commercial energy inspection topics, the class prepares participants for the two-hour, 100-question written exam and the two-hour one-on-one field exam that are included as part of the course. The acquired skill set is transferable to many areas including energy conservation, construction and design.

For more information, contact Pat White in the Office of Continuing Education at 336-334-7607 or ceprodev@ncat.edu. Register online at www.ncat.edu/~contstud.

Center for International Understanding

Effective Jan. 9, 2012, Adam Hartzell, senior attorney general for consumer affairs at the N.C. Department of Justice and former executive director of InterAct in Raleigh, will serve as executive director of the University of North Carolina system’s Center for International Understanding. Its mission is to help make North Carolina one of the most globally engaged states in the nation. Hartzell will succeed Millie Ravenel, who retired this summer after 32 years in the post.

As head of the center, Hartzell will advance a key goal articulated in the UNC Tomorrow strategic planning process: increase North Carolina’s global readiness. He will lead a team of professionals charged with helping North Carolina students, teachers and leaders become more globally engaged. Hartzell will report to UNC Vice President for International, Community and Economic Engagement Leslie Boney and will work in concert with the University Council on International Programs.