The Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with A’Sharqiyah University in Athabia, Oman that will allow OSU to assist ASU in developing curriculum and academic standards for its newly developed College of Commerce and Humanities.

The ASU College of Commerce and Humanities will seek to promote community based research that will contribute to economic growth and development of society in Oman. By entering into a MoU, OSU will help ASU achieve these goals.

Robert Dooley, Spears School associate dean of graduate programs and research, traveled to Oman in early December to sign the MoU on behalf of OSU.

“We are happy to enter into a partnership with ASU and are looking forward to building a better relationship with the university,” Dooley said. “This is an opportunity for OSU to develop a university partnership in a very important region of the world.”  

The Spears School has a strong record of cooperation from universities around the world. The college has partnerships with universities in Mexico, China and Kenya, which range from dual degree programs to student exchange programs to programs that help build faculty capacity.

Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra member to perform and give free talk on entrepreneurship.

Oboist Tenly Williams, a member of the Boulder (Colo.) Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform Saturday, Jan. 30 at Oklahoma State University.

The recital, which is free and open to the public, starts at 2:30 p.m. at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. Williams, along with members of the OSU music community, will combine elements of art, literature and theater in the performance.

“In addition to being a great performer and musician, Ms. Williams is an entrepreneur,” said Celeste Johnson, a music professor at OSU. “She has extensive experience in speaking to musicians about freelancing, which will be valuable information for our music majors. Musicians often are only focused on performing so this is an interesting niche that will prove useful.”

Williams, a Colorado native, is the principal oboist of the Steamboat Springs Orchestra and is a founding member of the Mountain Music Ensemble. Her career has included positions with the Binghamton Philharmonic and Fort Collins Symphony, as well as performances with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Austin (Texas) Symphony, Cheyenne (Wyo.) Symphony and San Antonio Symphony orchestras.

She is a commercial reed maker for Midwest Musical Imports.

The Jan. 30 recital will include Williams, OSU music professors Celeste Johnson on oboe, and John Seesholtz as narrator. Sam Magrill, a faculty member at the University of Central Oklahoma, will accompany the group on the piano.

Lectures and the recital are free and open to the public. To learn more, phone (405) 744-4497 or e-mail johnscn@okstate.edu..

The activities are funded by the Arts and Humanities Lecture Series in the OSU College of Arts & Sciences.

Schedule of Events:
Lecture
Thursday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. in Room 118 of the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. “Freelancing Crash Course:  Freelancing Crash Course: Everything You Need To Know BEFORE You Win the Big Audition.”

Lecture
Friday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. in Room 107 of the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. “Oboe Reed-Making Class, Making Every Reed Work.”

Recital
Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2:30 p.m. in the concert hall of the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts.

DesignIntelligence magazine listed Oklahoma State University’s interior design program among the top ten undergraduate design schools in the country.  The OSU program was ranked 6th among its peer institutions.

“I think this ranking speaks to the dedication and commitment of the interior design faculty, and continued support from the College of Human Environmental Sciences,” said Randall Russ, the interim department head of design, housing and merchandising at OSU.  “We are pleased that our program has been recognized as one of excellence in design education.”

The 11th annual America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools study was conducted by DesignIntelligence on behalf of the Design Futures Council and allowed the industry’s leading practitioners to rank accredited undergraduate and graduate programs.  The professionals who ranked the schools were chosen based on their experience in hiring and evaluating the performance of recent architecture and design graduates.

“The interior design program in the College of Human Environmental Sciences is celebrating its 100th anniversary and this award represents a century of excellence,” said CHES Dean Stephan Wilson.

Over 380 of the leading design firms from across the country were also surveyed about which colleges and universities have best prepared recent graduates and new employees for professional practice.  The participants were also interviewed about admired educators, how programs rate in teaching various skill sets, and sustainability education trends.

Deans and chairs from 166 academic programs participated in the ranking survey, along with 1,978 design and architecture students who completed questionnaires about their satisfaction with design education.

The rankings were compiled using data from surveys conducted and analyzed by DesignIntelligence with supplemental information from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, the National Architectural Accreditation Board, the American Institute of Architecture Students, and design organizations in each discipline.

Other schools among the top ten undergraduate programs included the University of Cincinnati, the Pratt Institute, Kansas State University, Arizona State University, Cornell University, University of Oregon, the Fashion Institute of Technology, High Point University, the New York School of Interior Design, Syracuse University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Woodbury University.

The rankings were published in the November/December issue of DesignIntelligence. To view interior design graduate program rankings, results of the dean and student surveys, skills assessments for the top schools and rankings of top architecture, landscape architecture and industrial design schools visit http://www.di.net to purchase the magazine.

Rock Andre, Haiti graduate student and Fulbright Scholar, and Bolor Bayarsaikhan, vice president of the International Student Organization, man a table in the Student Union Atrium to collect donations in conjunction with the Red Cross to help the people of Haiti. ISO and the Office of International Students and Scholars have a special Web site for people wanting more information on the earthquake and how to donate, http://union.okstate.edu/iss/HaitiEarthquake.htm. Also, for those interested in helping immediately, click here or text “HAITI” to “90999” and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.

(Stillwater, Okla. – Jan. 14, 2010) The production of biodiesel has increased tremendously in the last 10 years. The National Biodiesel Board has estimated that 700 million gallons of biodiesel was produced in the United States during 2008.

With the increase in alternative fuels, especially biodiesel, specialists at Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center and the biosystems and agricultural engineering department want to make sure biodiesel producers and consumers are aware of some of the issues associated with purchasing and storing biodiesel.

“It was brought to my attention that some companies in Oklahoma are being sold fuels, specifically diesel, with no quality certification,” said Nurhan Dunford, FAPC oil/oilseed specialist and biosystems and agricultural engineering associate professor. “It is very important for both petroleum diesel/biodiesel blenders and consumers to know the quality of the product they are getting.”

Blending biodiesel with petroleum diesel is very common. Although the most common biodiesel/petroleum diesel blend is B2, which contains 2 percent biodiesel, blends with higher biodiesel content also are available.

Consumers need to make sure they are using a blend that is approved by their vehicle manufacturer, Dunford said. Use of an unapproved biodiesel blend may result in void of engine warranties.

“I highly recommend that petroleum diesel/biodiesel blenders purchase their biodiesel from BQ-9000 certified producers and marketers,” Dunford said. “This would ensure the quality of the product.”

A list of the certified biodiesel producers can be found at the following Web site: http://www.bq-9000.org/companies/producers.aspx.

Biodiesel quality deteriorates quickly if it is not stored properly. However, biodiesel will store longer if it is kept in a low moisture, temperature and oxygen environment.

If biodiesel is stored in tanks that are clean, lined and sparged with nitrogen, it can be stored for one year; otherwise, the biodiesel could be out of standard quality specifications in a short time.

Biodiesel stability also depends on the fatty acid composition of the oil or fat used to make it.

Biodiesel made from animal fat, which contains high concentrations of saturated fats, would be more stable than the biodiesel made from soybean oil. However, biodiesel made from highly saturated fats or oil will cause fuel injection and engine problems during cold weather.

Dunford said it is important to understand that oxidative stability of petroleum diesel and biodiesel blends will be lower as the biodiesel amount increases in the blend.

“I recommend that diesel blenders plan their biodiesel purchase, so they do not have to store biodiesel for extended time,” Dunford said.

(OKMULGEE, OK, Jan 13, 2010) – Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology President Bob Klabenes announced today that he is retiring effective January of 2011. He will remain in his position this year as OSU conducts a national search and then help with the transition of his successor.

Since becoming president in 1983, Klabenes has transformed campus facilities and strengthened OSU Institute of Technology’s programs on a variety of fronts and helped the school expand and enhance its many partnerships with business and industry.

“Bob has done an outstanding job guiding OSU Institute of Technology to new levels of success,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “The school is a leader in providing students the technical skills they need to excel across many industries. Bob has helped OSU IT form partnerships with numerous industry heavyweights that enable graduates to obtain well-paid jobs.

“We are glad he will remain as president until we find a successor and appreciate his willingness to help with the leadership transition. We will conduct a national search for a new president who will continue our mission of delivering high-quality programs that address emerging educational and labor market needs,” Hargis said.

Under Klabenes’ leadership, OSU IT has expanded its reach and offerings through collaborations with the Green Country Technology Center and the College of the Muscogee Nation, as well as other outreach initiatives, including the establishment of a technical training center located in the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor.

OSU IT is recognized for its leadership in providing highly skilled technicians for the global workforce in a variety of occupational areas. Current and new programs of study are reviewed by more than 600 employers who meet with the faculty and staff on a continual basis to keep each program’s outcomes aligned with the needs of business and industry.

“I am proud of the OSU Institute of Technology team,” said Klabenes. “I deeply appreciate our skilled faculty and staff and commend them for all their hard work and dedication. I look forward to OSU IT continuing its vital work of preparing students to have a competitive edge in today’s global economy.”

Klabenes is a native of Chambers, Nebraska and earned his undergraduate degree from Wayne State College, and his graduate degrees from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He previously served in a research capacity at The Ohio State University and as President of the Milford Campus of Southeast Community College in Nebraska for 10 years.