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August 24, 2007 > News > News in Brief

News in Brief

By The Rice Thresher Editorial Staff | Thresher Editorial Staff

Remembering Norman Hackerman

Former Rice University President Norman Hackerman, who served from 1970 to 1985, died June 16 in Temple, Texas at age 95. Hackerman, who was Rice’s fourth president, oversaw the founding of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management and the Shepherd School of Music.

Under Hackerman, Rice increased faculty by 229 members and added 39 endowed chairs. He stabilized the finances of the university, quadrupling the endowment and instituting the Brown Challenge Grant, which provided millions of dollars in matching donations to Rice.

Hackerman also served as president of the University of Texas from 1967 to 1970.

Hackerman began his academic career at Johns Hopkins University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1932 and a doctorate in chemistry 1935. During World War II, he worked on the Manhattan Project, helping to enrich uranium for the Little Boy nuclear bomb. He joined UT in 1945 as an assistant professor in chemistry, becoming a full professor in 1950, department chair in 1952, dean of research in 1960, vice president and provost in 1961 and vice chancellor for academic affairs for the UT system in 1963.

After he left Rice in 1985, Hackerman served on several committees and advisory boards, including the National Science Board, the Texas Governor’s Task Force on Higher Education and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Welch Foundation. He was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

— Evan Mintz

Search continues for University Librarian

News and Media Relations Director BJ Almond released a statement Wednesday indicating that newly appointed Vice Provost and University Librarian Tyler Walters withdrew his acceptance of the position. The statement said Walters, whose position was slated for an October 2007 start, cited personal reasons as justification for his withdrawal.

Walters will remain in his current position as associate director for technology and resource services at Georgia Institute of Technology. He could not be reached for comment.

Interim University Librarian Sara Lowman will remain in her position indefinitely, and the search for a permanent university librarian has resumed.

— Julia Bursten

FAMIS: new work-order system

In an effort to make work order requests more efficient, Facilities, Engineering and Planning has instituted a new management system called FAMIS. This program will provide Rice with a new and superior method for obtaining facilities assistance and maintenance.

In the past, individuals needing support had to fill out paper requests for work orders through the Facilities Service Center. Now, those in need of maintenance can request assistance online via request forms on FAMIS. This new Web-based system will essentially allow for a more accessible maintenance staff on campus.

Most work orders go directly to the staff members who will carry out the requests. This avoids potential delays that could result from having to reroute work orders through the Facilities Service Center, Director of Enterprise Applications Andrea Martin said. The new system allows users to check the status of their work requests online.

Will Rice College sophomore Vanessa Johnson said she is thankful for this new service.

“It was a bit unpredictable [before] when they’d show up and assess the problem,” Johnson said.

Martin said she believes FAMIS will facilitate work- order processing.

“Think about all the buildings on campus,” Martin said. “It is truly a huge facility to maintain.”

With such a large infrastructure, FE&P has accepted a great challenge, and from all indications it seems FAMIS will be an exciting and useful improvement for Rice, Martin said.

Students and faculty can access FAMIS by logging onto the Web-based system at https://famisweb.rice.edu using their Rice ID and password.

— Caroline May

Introduction of the Q-Card

This year, the METRO U-Pass is being replaced with the METRO Quick Card, or Q Card, which is printed with students’ names and photos. Like its predecessor, the Q Card allows undergraduates to ride Houston public transportation for free during the academic school year. Students will keep the same Q card through graduation, and the Q Cards will display the photos taken for students’ Rice ID cards.

Unlike the flat-rate U-Pass, which cost the university $55 per student per year, Houston public transportation will charge the university more or less for each student according to how often he or she uses the Q card. Associate Vice President and Budget Director John Richard said each card starts off with an initial balance of $25 and will be recharged automatically as needed so that a student’s balance is never zero.

“Rice undergraduate students can ride METRO all they want during the academic year and the university will pay for it,” Center for Civic Engagement Executive Director Stephanie Post said.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas initiated the change and no longer offers the U-Pass. Richard said the cost ot the Q Card program is expected to be consistent with prior years’ costs.

Students can pick up their cards from their college coordinators before Sept. 28. At the time of pick-up, students will receive information on how to use the card and a METRO map. After Sept. 28, unclaimed cards will remain available at the CCE office in the Rice Memorial Center.

— Diana Lee

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