Liz Williams, SMU Treasurer, has announced her retirement from the University after 19 years of executive service. Williams served as University Treasurer for 9 years, after 10 years as Vice President for Business and Finance and Treasurer. She will continue to serve as treasurer until her successor is named sometime before the end of 2008.

In a letter to the SMU community, President R. Gerald Turner wrote, "For almost 20 years, Liz Williams has deftly overseen the financial well being of SMU, helping steer the University to the strongest fiscal period in its history.... Now, Liz will soon retire to spend more time with her grandchildren and on various charitable pursuits.

"While we wish her all the best and know that she will enjoy seeing more of her family, we will miss her devoted service to SMU. As treasurer, she has been responsible for managing SMU's endowment and planned giving assets. Since she came to the University in 1989, SMU's endowment has grown from $351 million to $1.4 billion - a testament certainly to our fundraising efforts but also to Liz's smart stewardship.

"Previously, as vice president for business and finance/treasurer, Liz oversaw all fiscal operations, treasury functions, human resource management, information technology services, most auxiliary and business services, and physical plant operations and management. Her institutional knowledge is vast, and I'm grateful she has agreed to stay on through the hiring of a new treasurer.

"This fall at a farewell event, we'll have a chance to thank Liz for her service. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating her on a job well done and in wishing her well in the years ahead."

Three members of the SMU faculty have been named University Distinguished Professors, as announced by the Office of the Provost. The professorships have been awarded to Greg Warden, Art History; Sherry Smith, History; and Cordelia Candelaria, English.

The University Distinguished Professorships were created in 1982 by SMU's Board of Trustees to honor outstanding faculty members who meet the highest standards of academic achievement. University Distinguished Professors are appointed in perpetuity and receive cash awards of $10,000 per year for a five-year rolling term.

Greg Warden has taught at SMU since 1982, chairing the Art History Division for six years and serving as associate dean for academic affairs in the Meadows School of the Arts since 1998. Since 1995, he has directed the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project and the SMU excavations at the Etruscan site of Poggio Colla, about 22 miles northeast of Florence. The University's Poggio Colla field school in archaeology is open to students from around the world, and students from more than 60 universities have participated in it.

Warden's major interest is the art and culture of ancient Italy, but his expertise - as both an archaeologist and an art historian - extends to a broader range of art from the ancient Mediterranean. His research interests include ancient metalworking technologies; Greek, Etruscan and Roman bronzes and decorative arts; and Roman architecture and patronage. He was director of the SMU-in-Italy summer program in Florence, Orvieto and Rome from 1987 to 1998 and received a Rotunda Award for outstanding teaching from the SMU student body in 1985-6. In addition, he was named the 1996-97 Meadows Foundation Distinguished Teaching Professor. He holds a Ph.D. in classical and Near Eastern archaeology from Bryn Mawr College.

Sherry Smith joined the SMU faculty in 1999 and currently serves as director of graduate studies in the Clements Department of History and as associate director of the University's Clements Center for Southwest Studies. Her research focuses on the intersection of western, Native American and United States cultural history. She teaches courses on the American West in the 19th and 20th centuries, women in the West, and Native American history, among others.

Currently serving as president of the Western History Association, Smith is the author of Sagebrush Soldier: Private William Earl Smith's View of the Sioux War of 1876 (University of Oklahoma Press) and The View From Officers' Row: Army Perceptions of Western Indians (University of Arizona Press). Her most recent book, Reimagining Indians: Native Americans Through Anglo Eyes, 1880-1940 (Oxford University Press), won the 2001 James W. Rawley Prize from the Organization of American Historians for best book on race relations, as well as SMU's Godbey Authors Award. Smith is also editor of The Future of the Southern Plains, published by the University of Oklahoma Press in 2003. She received her Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington.

Cordelia Chávez Candelaria, currently a Regents Professor at Arizona State University, will become a University Distinguished Professor when she begins her new duties as SMU's dean of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences in July. As chair of ASU's Department of Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, she helped establish its Southwest Borderlands Initiative to strengthen studies in this discipline and to recruit and retain underrepresented faculty.

Candelaria's numerous publications include Seeking the Perfect Game: Baseball in American Literature and Chicano Poetry: A Critical Introduction. She also served as executive editor of the two-volume Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture and has been editor or co-editor of 10 books, monographs and periodicals. Among her numerous awards, in 2005 she received the Outstanding Latina Cultural Award in Literary Arts and Publications from the American Association for Higher Education Hispanic Caucus. In 2001 Candelaria was named Scholar of the Year by the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies. She received her Ph.D. in American literature and linguistics from Notre Dame.

SMU Continuing Studies is now known as SMU Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE). The name change took effect June 1. Continuing Studies Director Amy Heitzman leads the new division.

Under the new, expanded CAPE, the Meadows Community Education program merges with the SMU Informal Courses for Adults program. The department also will expand its liberal and fine arts offerings and be home to community outreach initiatives and noncredit professional development programs, including the certificate programs in financial planning, nonprofit leadership and Spanish for the workplace.

Continuing education efforts of the Center for Counseling and Mediation and the School of Engineering will be offered through CAPE beginning in fall 2008.

The new name recognizes new strides in continuing education at SMU, wrote Leon Simmons Dean David Chard in an e-mail to the SMU community. As part of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development, "CAPE is well positioned to offer expanded noncredit continuing education in the liberal and fine arts to our campus and community in addition to its growing emphasis on professional development," he added.

• SMU Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE)

An SMU alcohol education program has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the NCAA. Mustang Winning CHOICES aims to reduce high-risk drinking behaviors, encourage responsible decision-making, and teach students skills to help peers make better choices.

The grant will allow for the expansion of alcohol education and increased outreach to athletes as well as the broader student body.

• More about NCAA CHOICES grants

William B. Stallcup Jr., who rose through the academic ranks to serve as SMU's president ad interim during one of the most crucial periods in its history, died Saturday, June 7, at his home in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, following a long illness. He was 87.

A biology professor who never intended to be an administrator, Stallcup served in various administrative positions for half of his four decades at SMU. The most critical of these was when he was named SMU's president ad interim in 1986 following the sudden retirement of SMU President L. Donald Shields and SMU's sanctions for NCAA football rules violations. Stallcup provided leadership and integrity during this period by presiding over sweeping reforms in SMU's athletics programs and governance structure, and helping restore public confidence in the University.

"A dedicated teacher, Bill Stallcup repeatedly answered the call to serve as an administrator in times of special need," said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. "He provided leadership most importantly as interim president during a troubled time. SMU's transition to brighter days would not have been possible without his leadership, integrity and dedication. He also was instrumental in helping to develop SMU-in-Taos as a unique educational resource. In the history of SMU, he stands out as an exemplary steward of positive change."

• Stallcup left mark as student, teacher, administrator

The U.S. Navy's highest award for engineers and scientists has been officially named in honor of Delores M. Etter, TI Distinguished Chair in Engineering Education and director of SMU's Caruth Institute for Engineering Education. The honor was announced in early June by John S. Thackrah, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (RDA).

The Department of the Navy includes more than 35,000 scientists and engineers pursuing research, development, acquisition and sustainment. The Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers Award was established to honor those who reached superior technical achievements and to promote continued scientific and engineering excellence. Prior to joining SMU's School of Engineering, Etter served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for RDA.

Etter: "Truly proud" to be honored

SMU's New Student Programs and Division of Enrollment Services invite the entire University community for ice cream and community bonding at the 3rd annual AARO Kick-Off Celebration in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Commons, 1-2 p.m. June 26.

The event also kicks off the 2008-09 academic year as SMU welcome hundreds of new students through its Academic Advising, Registration and Orientation programs. The festivities will open with brief remarks by members of the SMU administration and AARO staff at 1:15 p.m.

May 30 marks the last full issue of SMU Forum for the 2007-08 academic year. The newsletter will return from summer vacation in August.

Meanwhile, we'll continue to post updates throughout the next few months. Keep up all summer long - subscribe to our RSS feed through your web browser or a news reader such as FeedDemon for Windows or NetNewsWire for Mac.

See you soon!

Four outstanding educators have been named 2008-10 Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professors by SMU's Center for Teaching Excellence. This year's honorees are Olga Colbert, Foreign Languages and Literatures; Ian Harris, Statistical Science; Larry Ruben, Biological Sciences; and David Willis, Mechanical Engineering.

The four new members will join four returning members of SMU's Academy of Distinguished Teachers: Christine Buchanan, Biological Sciences; Mark Chancey, Religious Studies; John C. Holbert, Theology; and Bonnie Wheeler, English and Medieval Studies. Read more.

Left, the new Altshuler Professors were honored by the SMU Board of Trustees at its May meeting. Left to right: SMU Trustee Ruth Altshuler, Harris, Colbert, Ruben and Willis.

Five innovative SMU researchers have received the University's 2008 Ford Research Fellowships. This year's recipients are Rhonda Blair, Theatre; Marc Christensen, Electrical Engineering; Rajani Sudan, English; Kumar Venkataraman, Finance; and Steven Vik, Biological Sciences.

Established in 2002 through a $1 million pledge from Gerald Ford, chair of SMU's Board of Trustees, the fellowships help the University retain and reward outstanding scholars. Each recipient receives a cash prize for research support during the year.

Read more about this year's recipients. Right, the new Ford Fellows were honored by the SMU Board of Trustees at its May meeting. Left to right: SMU Trustee Gerald J. Ford and his wife, Kelli; Vik, Blair, Christensen, Sudan and Venkataraman.

Dr. Robert Ware Haley, whose research has helped improve hospital care and define the symptoms of Gulf War syndrome, was honored as the 2008 Dedman College Distinguished Graduate during the Dedman College Celebration May 7.

The ceremony also honored Anthropology Professor Caroline Brettell for her service as Dedman College interim dean from 2006 to 2008.

Dennis Foster, D.D. Frensley Professor of English, was named the Dedman Family Distinguished Professor. English and history major Jessica Erwin was honored as the Robert and Nancy Dedman Outstanding Senior Student.

Right, Robert W. Haley (second row center) gathers with SMU President R. Gerald Turner (fourth from right) and a few of the 21 Haley family members who have graduated from the University.

Haley: SMU faculty among "formative influences"

SMU faculty and staff members from across the University have received 2008 President's Partners grants to implement their ideas for everything from improving the orientation experience for new faculty members to enabling graduate students in education to receive mentoring via video. Learn more about this year's projects.

Nine distinguished faculty members with 300 years of combined service to SMU have retired or will retire with emeritus status in 2007-08:

• Annemarie Weyl Carr, University Distinguished Professor Emerita of Art History, Meadows School of the Arts

• Steven Daniels, Associate Professor Emeritus of English, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

• David Hausman, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

• Paul Hook, Associate Professor Emeritus of Wellness, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development

• John Mylan, Professor Emeritus of Law, Dedman School of Law

• Bryan Robbins, Associate Professor Emeritus of Wellness, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development

• John Slocum, O. Paul Corley Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Management and Organizations, Cox School of Business

• Edwin Sylvest, Associate Professor Emeritus of History of Christianity, Perkins School of Theology

• Vigdor Teplitz, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

Staff members flocked to the Clements Hall south lawn May 22 for SMU's 2008 Staff Appreciation Day and President's Picnic. Hundreds of SMU community members gathered to eat hamburgers, play games, and watch campus teams vie for the Tug-O-War trophy. See a slideshow.

Ruth P. Morgan, political science professor emerita and former SMU provost, will appear on "Sharing the Power: A Voter's Voice Special" to air on KERA TV (Channel 13) at 8 p.m. May 28 and on KERA Public Radio 90.1 at 6 p.m. May 29.

The program, hosted by Sam Baker, will examine the filing of the lawsuit in Dallas that led to single-member district government and how this concept is becoming increasingly important in the North Texas area.

Morgan also will be interviewed by Baker on the KERA Morning Edition news casts through May 29.

Listen to the radio broadcast via streaming audio at the KERA website.

The SMU men's basketball team has begun a 12-day journey through the continent of Africa that will last through June 5. The Mustangs will take part in a number of games while in Senegal and South Africa.

The team, which plays its first game against the Senegalese national team May 27, will be sending daily reports back to the Hilltop. Find the latest journal updates, photo galleries and more at SMUMustangs.com.

Right, junior center Bamba Fall at the Mustangs' first practice in Marius N'Diaye Stadium, Dakar, Senegal. Fall is one of SMU's three Senegalese players, along with first-year forward Papa Dia and red-shirt sophomore forward Mouhammad Faye.

Three faculty members were honored with SMU's annual Distinguished University Citizen Award at the Faculty Breakfast held May 17 before Commencement. The 2008 recipients:

• Lynn Jacobs, Wellness
• Jeffery Kennington, Engineering Management, Information and Systems
• Harold Stanley, Political Science

SMU awarded nearly 2,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees as part of this year's graduation celebration. Dr. Allen Weinstein (above), the noted historian who oversees the nation's presidential libraries, spoke at the all-University ceremony.

• Read text of Weinstein's Commencement speech.
• See a video.
• Download the address to your iPod.
• More from Commencement 2008.

S. Leon Bennett, SMU's General Counsel, Vice President for Legal Affairs and Government Relations, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, will retire from the University effective Dec. 31, 2008. Bennett will work on special projects for SMU during the summer and fall.

In a letter to the SMU community, President R. Gerald Turner wrote, "For 25 years, Leon has led SMU's Office of Legal Affairs during a time in which legal issues affecting colleges and universities have grown in number and complexity. Typically working behind the scenes, he has handled challenging and sensitive issues with professionalism, discretion and wisdom. As Secretary to the Board of Trustees, he has supported the work of the Board through its restructuring in the late 1980s and continued refinements for greater organizational efficiency.

"As the University has worked to implement its Centennial Master Plan for campus development, Leon has been instrumental in facilitating SMU's acquisition of nearby property, working closely with the cities of University Park, Highland Park and Dallas on development issues. He has built important relationships as well with the Texas legislature, the U.S. Congress and government agencies on public policy issues affecting higher education in general and SMU in particular. Most recently, he played a critical role in preparations and negotiations for the George W. Bush Presidential Library, helping to craft the detailed and historic documents of SMU's agreement with the Bush Foundation.

"In all areas of his leadership, Leon's primary concern has been representing the University's best interests. Looking at the span of his service - from 1983 to the present - it is not difficult to imagine the range of activity, adaptations, growth and challenges that SMU has experienced. Leon has been there every step of the way as attorney, vice president, corporate officer and trusted colleague.

"I know you will join me in thanking Leon and wishing him well."

As Treasurer of the United States, Anna Escobedo Cabral's signature appears on all paper currency printed since 2005. But the first time she was asked to draft the signature, her hands shook so badly with nervousness she could not write her name.

"Then I thought of my grandparents and great grandparents who came to the United States from Mexico," she told an SMU audience. "My hands quit shaking when I realized my signature was really honoring them."

Cabral spoke to SMU students, faculty and staff on May 22 at the invitation of SMU's Office of Multicultural Affairs.

U.S. Treasurer since 2004, Cabral is the highest ranking Latina in the Bush administration. She heads the Department of the Treasury, which includes the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the United States Mint, the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of the Public Debt.

• Read a Q&A from SMU News.

Twenty-one outstanding faculty members received tenure as associate professors or were named to full professorships in May 2008. Read more.

Two Fondren Library Center staff members have been commended by the SMU Police Department for helping to identify a suspect in a campus assault case.

Cindy Gautreaux, Public Services, and Joel Eatmon, Collection Development and Management, each received an SMU PD Crimebuster Award for their assistance. Read more.

The Faculty Senate honored three exemplary SMU staffers with the 2008 Faculty Senate Outstanding Staff Award at its last meeting of the academic year May 7.

This year's recipients:

• Kimalee Rene Grace, Dedman School of Law
• Julian Guevara, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
• Vicki Hill, Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center

Right, Faculty Senate President Gary Evans presents the award to Kimalee Rene Grace.

The SMU Libraries honored some of its indispensable associates, as nominated by the SMU community, at its 2008 Libraries Staff Awards ceremony May 9 in DeGolyer Library. Staff members from Central University Libraries, Bridwell Library, Underwood Law Library and the Business Information Center were eligible to be nominated for the awards, which carry a cash prize of $500 each.

This year's recipients:

• Employee of the Year - Cindy Gautreaux, Central University Libraries

• Outstanding Achievement - Sam Ratcliffe and Ellen Buie Niewyk, Central University Libraries

• Continuing Excellence - Maria Isabel Lopes Garcia, Central University Libraries

• Effective Use of Information Technology - Robert Walker, Central University Libraries

• Outstanding Student Assistants - Thien Ho, Business Information Center, and Valencia Pan, Underwood Law Library

In addition, the following staffers received Central University Libraries Awards:

• Dean's Eureka Award - Cindy Gautreaux

• CUL Team Award - The Digitization Advisory Group: Stacey Beach, Jorge Cruz, Michael Seifi, Robert Walker and Brad Wehring

Due to cost increases, faculty exam answer sheets and course evaluation forms purchased from the SMU Testing Center will increase from 25 cents to 27 cents per sheet, effective June 1, 2008.

As in years past, the includes the cost of the form, scanning fees and reports generation, says Testing Coordinator Lori Krone.

For more information, contact Lori Krone at 8-2269.

SMU will confer honorary degrees upon four men and women for achievements in science, education and philanthropy during its 93rd Commencement.

Television producer Paula S. Apsell, climate studies pioneer Wallace S. Broecker and philanthropists Edith and Peter O'Donnell will be honored at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony May 17 in Moody Coliseum. Honorary degrees, a tradition at SMU since 1918, are awarded to individuals for uncommon personal accomplishments at home or abroad, for service to society and the public good, and for enlarging human understanding and enriching human life.

A symposium honoring the O'Donnells will be held 11 a.m.-noon May 16 in 110 Dedman Life Sciences Building. The SMU community is invited to attend.

Broecker will be welcomed with a presentation and reception at 4:30 p.m. May 16 in 153 Heroy Hall. The event is sponsored by the Provost's Office and hosted by SMU's Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Department of Anthropology and Institute for the Study of Earth and Man. The SMU community is invited to attend.

• Read more about the 2008 honorees.

Some major Commencement Weekend events at a glance:

• May 16-17 - Class of 1958 golden reunion
• May 16 - Baccalaureate and Rotunda Recessional
• May 17 - Faculty Breakfast and Distinguished University Citizen Awards presentation
• May 17 - All-University Commencement
• May 17 - School diploma presentations

Find more information at the Registrar's Commencement 2008 website.

Engineering education at SMU took a major step forward May 9 with groundbreaking for the School of Engineering's new Caruth Hall. To date, commitments totaling more than $18.4 million toward a goal of $22 million have been received for the building project.

The W. W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation of Communities Foundation of Texas has committed $7.5 million toward the new building, which will be constructed on the site of the original Caruth Hall, the home of SMU's School of Engineering since 1948. New gifts include $4 million from Robert Palmer of Houston, $2 million from the Hillcrest Foundation of Dallas and $1.5 million from the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa.

The building will be constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Standards of environmentally conscious design and will include more than 64,000 square feet of space for teaching, research and innovation - nearly double the size of the current facility. It will serve as home to the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education at SMU, as well as the Department of Engineering Management, Information and Systems, and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

"The new Caruth Hall will provide visible evidence of the growing national significance of SMU's School of Engineering," said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. "We are deeply grateful for the vision and generosity of these donors in providing facilities that support our efforts to develop a national center for educating engineers who will be future leaders in the global economy."

• Read more from SMU News.
• Watch video from the groundbreaking.

Forbes Magazine's May 19, 2008 edition features the Center for College Affordability & Productivity (CCAP) rankings. Among national universities, SMU ranks 13th, ahead of such schools as Duke, MIT and Rice.

CCAP uses several factors in determining its rankings that include student evaluations, college graduation rates and the percentage of students winning awards such as Fulbright grants or Rhodes scholarships.

• Read more from SMU News.
• See coverage of the story by NBC 5 News

William B. Stallcup Jr., who served as SMU president ad interim during a crucial period in the University's history, was honored with the Trustee Distinguished Service Award at the SMU Board of Trustees' meeting on May 9.

In fall 1986, when SMU's football program received the NCAA "death penalty," the Board of Trustees called upon Stallcup to serve as president ad interim. He helped to guide athletics reforms and a complete restructuring of SMU's governance system.

In its resolution honoring him with the Distinguished Service Award, the board commended "the strength of his integrity and earned respect" and stated that "his conduct of the University's affairs during this troubled period restored the confidence of the faculty, students, staff and alumni in the administrative leadership of the University."

After serving as president ad interim from November 1986 to August 1987, Stallcup returned to teaching until his retirement in 1989. He then served as resident director of SMU-in-Taos from 1990-92. He was honored in 2002 as a recipient of SMU's Distinguished Alumni Award.

• Read more from SMU News.

William M. Finnin Jr., SMU's chaplain and minister for 28 years, has announced his intention to retire effective Dec. 31, 2008.

Appointed by SMU President James Zumberge in 1980, Finnin founded the SMU Wesley Foundation, a United Methodist campus ministry. He also helped develop the University's Civil Rights Pilgrimage and the Journey of Remembrance, a human rights seminar to the Nazi death camps of Poland.

Aside from Finnin's many contributions to SMU's programs and services, "it is the personal relationships and hours of pastoral care for which he will most be remembered," wrote SMU President R. Gerald Turner in an e-mail to the University community. "During difficult times, countless numbers of students and their families, faculty, and staff have received an encouraging word, a warm and understanding spirit, and a strong shoulder."

Finnin will be on study leave beginning July 1 and plans to remain active as a United Methodist minister after his SMU retirement. The search for a new University chaplain will begin later this summer.

Memorial Day weekend will be more than just a work holiday: Texas shoppers will also get a break from state and local sales and use taxes on purchases of some energy-saving products. The 2008 Energy Star sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 24, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day).

Qualifying products will display the Energy Star logo (left), which may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the Energy Guide label. Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. A product that earns the Energy Star has met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by these two federal agencies.

There is no limit on the number of qualifying items one can purchase during the sales tax holiday, and an exemption certificate is not required, says Michael Vangeli, P.E., SMU's associate director of energy management. Planning new purchases around the tax holiday "will help save people money and energy," he adds.

Find more information at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website.

Advertising legend Liener Temerlin (left), a member of the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame, is donating to SMU's DeGolyer Library his collection of business papers chronicling most of his 56 years in the communications business as well as his long philanthropic history.

Temerlin's donation will join other significant collections of business papers at DeGolyer from such sources as Stanley Marcus, JCPenney, Roger Horchow, Ebby Halliday and Texas Instruments. The gift will be presented at an evening reception May 14 in DeGolyer Library.

"We are simply delighted to add Mr. Temerlin's collection to the growing business history archives at DeGolyer Library," said Director Russell Martin. "His collection is virtually a walk through the Fortune 500, from American Airlines to Zale Corporation, account by account. The Temerlin papers will be useful for both teaching and research, for students of advertising and for historians of American culture as well."

"Liener's reputation in winning and keeping clients is remarkable. For our faculty and students to have access to a 50-year record of that success is remarkable," said Patricia Alvey, Distinguished Chair and Director of the Temerlin Advertising Institute at SMU. "The original pitch wherein he won the American Airlines account is legendary. And the resulting 30-year history of building that business and many others will make great research fodder for both practitioners and scholars."

• Read more from SMU News.

With temperatures expected to remain in the 70s and low 80s all week, take advantage of the moderate weather and join the 2008 SMU Faculty/Staff Golf Scramble May 16 at Stevens Park Golf Club in Kessler Park, Oak Cliff (right). The $31 entry covers greens fees, cart, after-round beverages and door prizes.

The four-person scramble will have randomly assigned teams; participants must meet at the course by 12:45 p.m. on the day. Golfers of all skill levels are welcome. To participate, e-mail your name and average score by 3 p.m. May 15 to Jack Harper in Recreational Sports or call 8-3367.

SMU observes its 93rd Commencement May 16-17 with events for students, faculty, alumni and the entire community.

Dr. Allen Weinstein, the noted historian who oversees the nation's presidential libraries, will speak at the all-University ceremony at 9:30 a.m. May 17 in Moody Coliseum. The University expects to award nearly 2,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.

Some major events at a glance:

• May 16-17 - Class of 1958 golden reunion
• May 16 - Baccalaureate and Rotunda Recessional
• May 17 - Faculty Breakfast and Distinguished University Citizen Awards presentation
• May 17 - All-University Commencement
• May 17 - School diploma presentations

Find more information at the Registrar's Commencement 2008 website.

• Read more about the 2008 Commencement speaker.

SMU is the top-ranked Conference USA school in the final Winter 2008 Division I standings for the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup. The numbers were announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) May 1. The University has been ranked as the top school in its conference for 10 straight years in the Directors' Cup standings.

The Mustangs have tallied 202.5 total points so far this season based on the performances of the women's basketball team, men's soccer team and men's and women's swim teams.

The Sports Academy Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. The program is sponsored by the United States Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Alabama,. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports - 10 women's and 10 men's. Final standings will be published upon the completion of the spring season.

• See the complete standings at the NACDA website.

The Dallas Morning News praised the "common-sense ideas" of SMU's Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention and President R. Gerald Turner's approval of new University policies and procedures to fight substance abuse in its "Hits and Misses" editorial column May 3, 2008.

"{SMU] should be a healthier place with the new measures, especially if parents get the message that the university can only do so much and that they have a major role to play, too," wrote the newspaper's editorial board. Read more from the DMN website.

• Read more on President Turner's decision.
• Visit the Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention website.