Don Chance
Professor,
William H. Wright Jr. Endowed Chair for Financial Services
Professor,
William H. Wright Jr. Endowed Chair for Financial Services
LSU'S Biweekly Newsletter for Faculty & Staff
April 13, 2007 |
VOL. 23, NO. 16 |
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| Don Chance Professor, William H. Wright Jr. Endowed Chair for Financial Services |
What was your previous position and where?
I was First Union Professor of Financial Risk Management at Virginia Tech for 23 years. This is my fourth year [at LSU].
What are your major accomplishments?
While at Virginia Tech, I founded the largest non-credit student-managed investment fund in the country. Also, I wrote one of the first textbooks in financial derivatives, now in its seventh edition. While I have written close to 100 articles, these two achievements probably had the greatest impact on the most people.
What is your research interest?
My expertise is in financial derivatives, which are financial transactions used to transfer risk, and in risk management, which is the manner in which organizations control their risk. I also work a lot on employee stock options.
What do you hope to accomplish at LSU?
I hope to be able to continue my research and to build my expertise in my field. I would like to publish some more articles in top-level journals and continue to increase my recognition in the finance practitioner community.
What do you enjoy most about LSU?
Here I have more time and freedom to work on the things I enjoy and find intellectually stimulating. I spend less time on paperwork. The environment in the finance department is outstanding for young scholars and even old ones.
Several of LSU’s post-graduate programs were highly ranked in the 2008 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” LSU’s rankings greatly improved in business and fared well in the areas of biology, engineering and veterinary medicine, as well as in areas at other LSU System campuses.
“The rankings are finally catching up to recognize the qualitative improvements in several LSU graduate programs coincident with our implementation of the national Flagship Agenda,” said LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe. “In the years ahead we can look forward to steady progress in reaching the upper levels of the national rankings in several fields and for the university overall.”
The magazine assesses more than 1,200 private and public college programs nationwide and factors numerous variables into its rankings formula, including peer school assessment, acceptance rigor, job placement and the quality of faculty, research and students.
The most significant jump in rankings came from LSU’s Flores MBA program at the E. J. Ourso College. The program moved up 26 spots to rank 55th out of the 405 programs surveyed. Since 2004, it has moved up from the rank of 109th.
Within the business rankings breakdown, LSU’s Flores MBA ties with Texas A&M for number one in the nation for getting 98.3 percent of MBA graduates hired within three months of graduation. In addition, LSU MBA students had the highest undergraduate grade-point averages among the 37 public schools that were ranked, indicating the quality of LSU’s admissions.
“LSU’s Flores MBA Program continues to achieve national prominence and accelerate the reputation of the E. J. Ourso College as a leader among business schools,” said Robert Sumichrast, dean of the E. J. Ourso College. “This ranking by U.S. News & World Report is validation of our top 10 position in the Wall Street Journal from last September when the program was ranked ninth among schools that draw corporate recruiters regionally. Recognition such as this enhances our ability to attract the best students and top faculty. It also proves we provide our future graduates with the tools necessary to enable their business success.”
In the category of engineering, U.S. News surveyed 199 engineering doctoral programs. Three programs in LSU’s College of Engineering were ranked as top discipline specialty programs because they received the highest number of nominations for excellence. U.S. News selects some specialty program disciplines for inclusion because of high enrollment, but the magazine includes others that are only offered at a limited number of schools, such as petroleum engineering, because of particular or emerging importance in that field. Only the top programs among those surveyed get ranked, so just making the list in itself is an accomplishment.
LSU’s Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering moved up from last year’s ranking of ninth to be ranked eighth this year out of the 16 petroleum engineering programs surveyed. LSU’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering ranked 60th out of 140. The Department of Mechanical Engineering moved up nine spots since 2004 to be ranked 73rd out of 164.
In addition, the Gordon A. and Mary Cain Department of Chemical Engineering placed 59th out of 123. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department placed 96th out of 167.
“The College of Engineering is clearly moving forward and we expect this trend to continue,” said David Constant, associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Engineering.
LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine ranked 22nd for the health discipline of doctoral programs in veterinary medicine, out of the nation’s 28 fully accredited programs in good standing.
LSU’s Department of Biological Sciences, which is within the College of Basic Sciences, ranked 105th in the category of top biological sciences doctoral programs, out of 253 such programs.
“LSU’s biological sciences has only been in existence since 1997, so I am particularly pleased that it has already developed a reputation that places it at 105 out of 253,” said Kevin Carman, dean of the College of Basic Sciences. “Sciences at LSU have a bright future, with our chemistry, physics & astronomy and geology & geophysics programs having well-established reputations and being nationally competitive.”
U.S. News does not provide new rankings for each graduate discipline every year, but it does republish previous years’ rankings for those not surveyed this year. The magazine will rank undergraduate college programs in its August issue. For more information, visit www.usnews.com/grad.
LSU alumna Donna Brazile, widely considered to be one of the most influential African American women in modern American politics, will deliver the keynote address during LSU’s 262nd commencement exercises May 18 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Brazile, a Democratic political strategist, made history as the first African American woman to lead a major presidential campaign when she headed the Gore-Lieberman campaign in 2000. She is currently the chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute, an organization established in 2001 to help protect and promote the rights of all Americans to participate in the political process.
She is a weekly contributor and political commentator for CNN, a political consultant for ABC News, and a contributor to NPR’s “Political Corner.” She is also a columnist for Roll Call newspaper and Ms. Magazine, and is the author of a syndicated column. In addition, Brazile is the author of “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics,” a memoir about her life in the political arena, and co-author of “What We Do Now,” published by Melville House in 2004.
Brazile is also the founder and managing director of Brazile and Associates, a political consulting and grassroots advocacy firm based in Washington, D.C.
A 1981graduate of LSU, Brazile was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from LSU in May 2005, and, in March, kicked off LSU’s celebration of Women’s History Month by delivering a talk on campus titled “Political Action, Engagement and Leadership.” She is a native of New Orleans and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, the agency that is overseeing the state’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
“We are honored that Donna Brazile has accepted our invitation to deliver the spring commencement address,” LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said. “She is a distinguished alum, political strategist and community leader certain to inspire our graduates to pursue a life of activism.”
Prior to joining the Gore campaign, Brazile was chief of staff and press secretary to Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, where she helped guide the District’s budget and local legislation on Capitol Hill. Brazile has worked for numerous national and statewide campaigns, including several presidential campaigns for Democratic candidates, including Carter-Mondale in 1976 and 1980, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s first bid for the presidency in 1984, Mondale-Ferraro in 1984, Rep. Dick Gephardt in 1988, Dukakis-Bentsen in 1988 and Clinton-Gore in 1992 and 1996.
Brazile also has experience in the higher education arena, currently serving as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She has served as a senior lecturer at the University of Maryland, resident fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics and as the Senator Wyona Lipman Chair at Rutgers University Center for American Women in Politics.
She has been recognized with several awards and honors, including Washingtonian magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington, D.C.; Essence magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Women in America; and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Award for Political Achievement.
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| Ganelle S. Bullock |
The LSU AgCenter has established an endowed scholarship to honor a longtime employee who completed her career as its director of corporate relations.
The scholarship, which was set up in the LSU School of Human Ecology, is a memorial to Ganelle S. Bullock. The endowment was funded by a portion of the proceeds from the “Serving Louisiana” cookbook – an LSU AgCenter fund-raising project that was originated by Bullock when she served as Director of Corporate Relations for the AgCenter, which helps support scholarships, professorships and other LSU AgCenter initiatives.
The Ganelle S. Bullock Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student, a junior or a senior, enrolled in the family and consumer sciences curriculum. The recipient will be selected based on outstanding grades and a commitment to community service.
“Ganelle loved the LSU AgCenter and worked hard to help the organization accomplish its mission of service,” LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson said. “She served the LSU AgCenter for 43 years with tireless energy, love, hope and dedication.”
Bullock also worked for the School of Human Ecology as staff assistant to the director for a short time, and she received a degree in family, child and consumer sciences from the School of Human Ecology in 1993.
The cookbook was published in 2002, shortly before Bullock’s death. So far, approximately 25,000 cookbooks have been sold, and it is in its third printing.
“Ganelle was a very giving person and the ‘Serving Louisiana’ cookbook is part of her legacy,” Richardson said.
Annual Enrollment for employee benefits in health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts and premiums only plan is going on now until April 30. Employees wishing to switch health plans will be able to do so electronically via their PAWS accounts.
Employees wanting to make changes to level of coverage for health insurance or enroll in the dental, flexible spending accounts or vision plans, can access the forms through the benefits Web site at www.lsu.edu/benefits.
To change a health plan for July 1, 2007, employees may access their personalized enrollment forms through their PAWS accounts any time during the month of April; employees will have to remit a paper copy to HRM if they were hired after March 2, 2007, because they will not be able to access their personalized enrollment through PAWS. To change plans on-line, simply log on to PAWS, select “Employee Resources,” then select “INS Open Enrollment” and choose your desired plan. You may change your plan as often as you like during the month of April. The last plan election made during the month of April will be your insurance carrier for July 1, 2007. If employees do not have a PAWS account, their HR contact will have their enrollment form.
Health Plan Changes:
*FARA MCO will no longer be offered to state employees. Employees enrolled in FARA must change to one of the other health plans during Annual Enrollment. Failure to change from FARA will result in being defaulted into OGB’s PPO Plan effective July 1, 2007; there will be no exceptions.
*There is no longer a separate lifetime maximum for prescription drugs. There is one lifetime-maximum limit for all health care costs which has increased to $5 million for both health and prescription drug costs.
*Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and Physicians is considered in-network for all the health plans effective July 1, 2007.
*Baton Rouge General will no longer be a part of the Humana Network effective June 15, 2007. Humana will no longer have a formulary as part of its prescription benefit.
LSU System Health Plan (Definity)
The brochure of the enhancements for the new plan year can be found on the benefits Web site at www.lsu.edu/benefits.
The LSU System Health Plan administered by Definity Health will hold its final meeting on April 24 at 10 a.m. in the LSU Union Atchafalya Room to discuss plan enhancements.
LSU Supplemental Life Insurance (ING)
Those enrolled in the LSU Supplemental Life Insurance through ING may increase their employee coverage amount by $10,000 without any medical underwriting during the month of April only, provided the increase does not go above three times their annual salary, with a maximum amount of $500,000.
Flexible Spending Account
ProcessWorks Inc. will continue to be the administrator on the plan. Remember there is a debit card feature provided by ProcessWorks at no additional monthly charge. This card may be used at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, clinics, daycare providers, etc., provided they are approved vendors and there is a balance in the FSA accounts. Employees currently enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (Health Care or Dependent Care) must re-enroll for the new Plan Year. Failure to re-enroll in an FSA for July 1, 2007 will result in no FSA benefit for the 2007/2008 plan year. Remember that the grace period for the 2006/2007 plan year runs through Sept. 15, 2007. Participants may continue to submit claims incurred through this date for their 2006/2007 plan year.
Discount Prescription Drug Program (Agelity)
In an effort to make prescription drugs more affordable, the LSU System is offering the Your Rx Card Program to LSU System employees and their families. This prescription drug savings program is offered through Agelity. The program is designed to give LSU System employees, particularly those with no or limited insurance coverage for prescription drugs, access to discounts for prescription drugs.
Dental
The premiums for the Enhanced Option have increased for the new plan year. The premiums for the Basic option will remain the same. Employees do not have to re-enroll if they wish to remain in their existing plans. The new rates are attached on the Dental enrollment form.
For more information on the above changes please visit the benefits Web site at www.lsu.edu/benefits.
LSU students now have 24-hour access to free, one-on-one tutoring with academic experts through SMARTHINKING, a virtual learning assistance center accessible through PAWS.
SMARTHINKING connects students to live tutors from any computer with Internet access and also has an online writing lab where e-structors critique and return essays within 24 hours.
Outside tutoring is available in accounting, biology, chemistry, economics, finance, human anatomy and physiology, math (from basic math to Calculus II), physics, Spanish, statistics, writing and English. More than 80 percent of e-structors have master’s degrees or Ph.D.s in their fields.
Students may access SMARTHINKING by logging onto their PAWS accounts and clicking on “Student Services” and then onto “SMARTHINKING.” First-time users will be directed to create an account before beginning their first tutoring session.
Faculty and staff may train in SMARTHINKING either Friday, April 20, or Tuesday, April 24, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in 133 Himes Hall. Registration is available through the Centers for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, or CELT, at 225-578-1135 or facdev@lsu.edu.
“We were getting increasing numbers of students who needed tutoring in subjects we were not able to provide at the Center for Academic Success or who needed tutoring outside the hours we were open. We wanted to provide 24-hour access to students for tutoring in as many subjects as possible,” said Saundra McGuire, director of LSU’s Center for Academic Success, or CAS.
“I was interested in SMARTHINKING because their tutors use a metacognitive approach to helping students,” McGuire said. “They just don’t give answers to questions.”
Students work in real-time with an e-structor and may submit questions or essays for next-day response, or pre-schedule online appointments. Students communicate with e-structors using a virtual whiteboard technology. Scientific and mathematical notation, symbols, geometric figures, graphing and freehand drawing can be rendered quickly and easily.
Current funding for the program is through the LSU Student Technology Fee.
“We are very grateful to the students for the support they provided for CAS services,” McGuire said. “Our tutoring program has gotten significant funding from Student Government and other student organizations.”
For more information, contact McGuire at smcgui1@lsu.edu or Melissa Brocato, CAS associate director, at 225-578-5293 or mbrocato@lsu.edu.