Due to expected rains on Saturday, Sept 6, the NightFest event will not be happening. The Network is currently working on a reschedule date and will post that information on Monday.

The Center will be serving brunch on Sunday, September 14, 2008. A selection of breakfast and luncheon items will be available including a carving station & dessert table. Brunch is served from 11:30am-1:30pm. Reservations can be made at x2217. See the full menu. Plan on joining us!!

A faculty/staff Yoga class may take place on T/TH 12-1 pm if enough interest is generated. It will be taught by Kim Rand, the instructor of the physical education Yoga classes. If interested or if you have questions, email Joan Perez before September 10th.

The UMasssFive College Credit Union is offering a loan to help you through the winter months. Call 1-800-852-5886 or visit for more details .

Receive a discount on tickets to see Elmo’s Green Thumb at MassMutual Center October 11-12. For details and user code click here.

The summer Alumnae Quarterly magazine is now available. Pick up your copy at: * Blanchard Campus Center (both entrances) * Library entrance * Skinner Hall (main level entrance) * Kendade Hall atrium (lower level) Or you can read the Quarterly online.

Due to the construction at Safford Hall, and for the safety of the Community, Blanchard Circle will now become one way from the north side of North Rockefeller Hall to Gateway Road. Any questions, please contact the Parking Office at x2514.

Auditions for the Flute Choir will be held on Thursday, September 11, from 5:30 to 7 pm in the Warbeke Room, Pratt Hall. Contact Alison Hale for more information.

Convocation is tomorrow at 11:30 in the Amphitheater. Following the ceremony is the community picnic on Skinner Green. Please join us in welcoming the class of 2012 to Mount Holyoke and a welcome back to the classes of 2010 and 2011 and our new senior class of 2009.

First-year students should have received an email invitation to participate in this year’s CIRP First-Year Survey. Thank you to the 41% who have already responded. Those who have not, please check your email for a link to the survey. For more information, please contact Alison Donta-Venman (x3143).

Students who need to make fall registration changes may use ISIS to do so starting Sunday, August 31. Advisor approval is required first. (Most non-new students already have approval. New students will meet with their advisors during Orientation.) For more information, please contact the Registrar’s Office (x2025).

Decals will be available in Gorse Lot for pickup on Sunday, August 31 and on Monday, September 1 from 10 am - 4 pm. The Parking Office will work extended hours, 8:30 am - 5 pm, from Tuesday, September 2 - Friday, September 5. For more information, please contact Charlyn Puza (x2514).

Students who receive financial aid from the College are eligible to apply for a grant to help pay for lessons. Applications are available on the bulletin board across from the Music Office and online. For more information, please contact Michele Scanlon (x2306).

The Music 100 Exemption Exam will be given on Friday, September 5, at 4 p.m., in Room 109, Pratt Hall. Students may enroll initially in performance study for one semester without pre-requisite but continued study is contingent upon successful completion of the Music 100 requirement by either passing the exemption exam or taking the Music 100 course. For more information, please contact Michele Scanlon (2306).

All students who wish to take individual or ensemble performance study must sign up for an audition/interview on the bulletin board across from the Music Office. Auditions will take place on Friday, September 5, from 1-4 pm. Details/expectations for auditions are posted on the bulletin board. For more information, please contact Michele Scanlon (x2306).

Skinner Museum staff have made significant progress in researching and documenting the Museum’s collections. In an effort to focus resources on core collections used by MHC faculty and students, a group of carriages will be sent to auction in August. More

We have been advised that the District 2 water advisory has been lifted. The water is officially safe to drink again.

Places are still available for Mount Holyoke’s new study abroad program in Costa Rica for spring 2009. This interdisciplinary program focuses on the challenges of global-local interaction in the cloud forest community of Monteverde. The program is open to all majors; at least one semester of Spanish language is recommended. Contact the McCulloch Center by Friday, September 5, at the latest if you wish to apply.

South Hadley Fire District 2 is currently conducting testing for E. coli bacteria in the water supply. In the meantime, residents of the district, which includes the Mount Holyoke campus, are strongly advised not to ingest the water. The water is safe for bathing. For the time being, it is not safe for tooth brushing, food preparation, and, needless to say, drinking. For such needs, please use bottled water or boil tap water for at least one minute. More information is available from the Town. We will alert the campus community once we have been advised that the problem has been resolved. In the interim, specific questions may be addressed to Facilities Management at x2012 or South Hadley Fire District No. 2 at (413) 532-9210.

The Campus Store will be ordering Convocation Regalia on August 20. If you need to order Regalia for Convocation please contact Laurie at Ext. 2111.

Blanchard Cafe’s last patio BBQ will be Tuesday August 19th. The Cafe will be closed for cleaning on Thursday August 21st & Friday August 22nd. Thank you.

Over the summer a number of bicycles that were found to be unregistered have been confiscated by Public Safety. Any bicycles that are unclaimed by September 30, 2008 will be disposed of. Contact the Parking Office for further information at x2514. Any new bicycles brought on to Campus must be registered with the Parking Office.

Authorities from South Hadley District 2 have advised residents –including the Mount Holyoke campus– not to drink water out of faucets or fountains while they verify water quality. This is a precautionary measure, and there is no immediate cause for alarm. Water that has been boiled for at least one minute can be considered safe to drink. We will let the campus community know when the warning has been lifted.

Authorities from South Hadley District 2 have advised residents –including the Mount Holyoke campus– not to drink water out of faucets or fountains while they verify water quality. This is a precautionary measure, and there is no immediate cause for alarm. Water that has been boiled for at least one minute can be considered safe to drink. We will let the campus community know when the warning has been lifted.

Our TIAA/CREF representative will be available for free individual counseling appointments on 8/19 in Blanchard 213. If you are interested in meeting with Katie Klipstein, please call her assistant, Marion Morganti at 1-866-904-7802.

MEFA Loans will not be available for fall 2008 due to the difficult capital market conditions. Families waiting for the MEFA announcement to make a financing decision should consider alternative sources and make a decision in a timely fashion. The Federal Direct PLUS Loan is a fixed rate option with an interest rate of 7.9%. The PLUS Loan also has a deferral option. Visit PLUS Loan Details for more information.

The summer Alumnae Quarterly magazine is now available. Pick up your copy here: * Blanchard Campus Center (both entrances) * Library entrance * Skinner Hall (main level entrance) * Kendade Hall atrium (lower level) Or you can read the Quarterly online at www.alumnae.mtholyoke.edu.

Beginning tomorrow, July 30, and for the next three weeks, Porter Lot will be closed to parking except to construction vehicles. Alternatively, please use the Prospect, Greenhouse or Gorse Lots during this time. For more information, please contact Charlyn Puza (x2514).

Effective July 1, 2008, MHC has entered an agreement with Hampshire College for joint campus public safety services under the leadership of Paul Ominsky who is the current Director of Public Safety at Mount Holyoke. More

The entrance off of Gateway Road to Eliot House, which houses the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life, will be temporarily closed starting Monday, July 21 for approximately one month. You may enter Eliot House from the first floor entrance by walking up the side walk off of Lower Lake Road alongside the Art Building. For more information, please contact Gayle Higgings (x2054).

The New Residence Hall project will require the temporary shut-down of Lower Lake Road from July 19 to July 26. If an extension of time is required, then a second notification will be published. For more information, please contact Austin Martin (x3491).

Marlboro Music, a summer chamber music festival at Marlboro College in southern Vermont, has extended a special offer.

First time attendees from the Mount Holyoke community may purchase tickets at a 20 percent discount for July 12, 19 and 26, at 8:30 p.m.; July 13, 20 and 27, at 2:30 p.m.; and August 8, at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets and information, call 802-254-2394 or visit.

The handicapped ramp entrance is closed to Abbey Chapel while a permanent handicap ramp is put in place. You may still enter the Chapel through the handicap entrance on the south side of Abbey Chapel near the Registrar’s office. Handicapped access to Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary is unavailable at this time. Work is expected to be done by the end of August.

The New Residence Hall project will require the temporary shutdown of Lower Lake Road from July 9, 2008 through July 18, 2008. Work is expected to be completed during this period. If an extension is needed the road will remain closed July 21 through July 25, 2008. Please email Austin Martin, Facilities or call cell: 860-808-6118 or phone: 413-538-3491.

Mount Holyoke College has voluntarily joined a program to curtail electric use during peak periods this summer. Testing will occur June 18th. See link for details.

Interested in regional sustainable energy? UMass Amherst Office of Research and Co-op Power are sponsoring a conference at UMass Amherst on June 20 and 21. For details, visit the Co-op Power web site.

The Route 47 bridge will be closed on or around Thursday, June 12, and will remain closed possibly until December. Detour signs will be posted. The western half of Pearl Street and all of Woodbridge Street will be used for the detour. Heavy truck traffic is expected on Route 9 and 116. For more information, contact the Mass. Highway Department at (413) 584-1611 or the South Hadley Department of Public Works at (413) 538-5033.

Blanchard summer patio BBQ’s start Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 - Look for our menus on line. Price remains $5.99. Hope to see you all come on by!

Blanchard Cafe summer hours start Monday June 2nd, 2008. Summer hours are: Monday through Friday 11:30 am-1:30 pm.

South Hadley is sponsoring a regional hazardous waste and drug disposal day on Saturday, June 28. A great opportunity to clean out your garage and medicine cabinet. Preregistration is required, see their announcement for details.

Great selection of perennials, shrubs, houseplants and more. Sunday, May 25, and Sunday, June 1, from 9-3 on the west side of the greenhouse. Open to the public.

The rain location for the Senior BBQ has been changed to the tent on Skinner Green.

Special ticket prices for the Augusten Burroughs reading at MHC on June 18 are available for the Mount Holyoke community: $5.00 OFF per ticket, when ordered in advance. Order in person at the UMASS Fine Arts Center Box-Office, by telephone at 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS, or online. Maximum four tickets per order. Use code MHC before placing order. More info, including pre-discount ticket prices, at:
http://www.wfcr.org/WFCREVENTS/index.php

Conference & Event Services is getting ready for another busy summer. Mount Holyoke College will welcome 27 conferences and events. Our summer visitors include young women and men, alumnae, parents, and faculty from institutions worldwide. For more information visit Conference Services, call X2333 or email.

The US Gymnastics Training Centers and the USSC Swim camps have generously offered scholarships for children of faculty and staff for this summer. For more information, please visit Conference Services, call X2333, or email.

Members of the Mount Holyoke community can now use Google’s technology to search the College’s Web sites! The new search box, powered by Google Custom Search, is available at the main search page, the homepage, and nearly all other official pages.

The Community Lunch Buffet at Willits will be coming
to a close for the academic year this Friday, May 16. We hope you’ll have occasion to stop in this week. The staff at Willits-Hallowell wishes all wonderful summer.

Due to the closing of Lower Lake Road May 14 - May 18, 2008, the Five College Bus will not be able to access the Blanchard Bus Stop or the Mary Woolley Bus Stop during that time. The bus will make its normal stop on Park Street near Reese, travel back to Route 116 via Morgan Street, and make its normal stop at the Library Bus Stop on Route 116. Please call the PVTA at 545-0056 with any questions about their schedule.

Friday, May 9: The Gallery. Sterling Silver jewelry, Textiles
$5 - $25

See the Vendor Calendar to find out when your favorite vendor is coming to Blanchard. Brought to you by the Office of Student Programs.

An instructor may not accept exams or papers due in lieu of exams after 5:00 PM on Tuesday, May 13, unless the instructor has approved an extension authorized by the Director of Health Services or of the Counseling Service or one of the academic deans. The deadline for students to request an extension for incomplete work is May 13, at 5:00 PM.

Repaving Lower Lake Road is part of the New Residence Hall project; a temporary shutdown of the road will be required May 14-18. Lower Lake Rd will be shutdown between Morgan St. and Blanchard Circle Road, with no access to Lower Lake Road from either direction and no access to Lower Lake Road from Woolley Circle during this time. For more information visit, email or call 860-808-6118.

The deadline for Campus telephone directory updates is July 7. To update your individual information visit http://www.mtholyoke.edu/go/teldir. Sign in with your username and password to check that all the information is correct or to make changes. Departmental assistants should add telephone and office room numbers for new faculty and/or staff via the web form.

Don’t Gamble With Your Benefits! Come to the Benefits Fair on May 15th in Chapin Auditorium! 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Stop by and meet the vendors, ask questions, fill out paperwork. Raffles and giveaways!

May is Open Enrollment month! Employees may make changes to their benefits (health insurance, dental insurance, life and long term disability) during the month of May. Changes will take effect July 1, 2008. Visit the HR website for more information.

The UPS Store will be on campus in Auxiliary Services May 9 - 14 from 10am - 4pm (excluding Sunday) to assist you with your packing and shipping. From computers & stereos to books and furniture, The UPS Store can solve all your packing and shipping problems. Domestic and international shipping available. Shipping supplies available. Accepting cash, check and credit cards. For more information email or call ext. 2462.

Lockers can be kept through the summer and next academic year. Please re-register at the Info Desk between May 5th and June 1, 2008. Any lockers not re-registered by June 1st will be cleared out and items donated to charity. For more information call ext. 2284.

An instructor may not accept exams or papers due in lieu of exams after 5:00 PM on Tuesday, May 13, unless the instructor has approved an extension authorized by the Director of Health Services or of the Counseling Service or one of the academic deans. The deadline for students to request an extension for incomplete work is May 13, at 5:00 PM.

Microsoft has extended the Ultimate Steal Program until Friday, May 16. You can purchase a full license for the Office Suite at the reduced price of $59.95. For more information, please contact LITS - Community Technical Support (x2027).

Spanish professor Alberto Sandoval–and other contributors to a new
anthology of essays challenging conventional notions of Latina/o
identities, histories, and cultures by historicizing and differentiating
the multiple discourses of Latinidad–will gather at an event to note the
anthology’s publication. Friday, May 9, 2008 7:00 p.m. at Food for Thought Books Collective, 106 N Pleasant, Amherst, MA. More information at www.foodforthoughtbooks.com

A Service of Remembrance will be held for Holocaust victims and all victims of genocide on Friday, May 2 at 12:15 pm in Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary. Please join us for this service as the Mount Holyoke bells toll in remembrance of all who have lost their lives to genocide. For more information email or call ext. 2054.

The local MHC alumnae club will hold its second silent auction, Saturday, May 3, starting 6:30 p.m. at the brick church across from Dwight. Entrance donation - $15. Variety of items for every taste. All welcome! Proceeds benefit MHC student scholarships. For more information email or call 532-1864.

An alternative form of community breakfast! Engage with students, staff, and faculty in a dialogue about how each person’s labor contributes to the Mount Holyoke community. May 1 in the Blanchard Great Room from 8 to 9 am. Celebrate International Labor Day! Sponsored by the Student Coalition for Action (SCA). For more information email or call ext. 537-1970.

A limited number of residence hall rooms will be available for summer rental in Dickinson House and Persons Annex to current Mount Holyoke students. Housing is available Wednesday, May 14th through the start of school in September. Applications are available in the Office of Residential Life or online, and are due to the Office of Residential Life by Monday, May 5th. For more information email or call ext. 2088.

There’s still time! Students, staff and faculty can teach J-Term 200 non-credit classes or workshops. Proposal forms are available at the Blanchard Info Desk or online. Share your skills, hobbies, interests and expertise. $100 stipend paid to instructors. The new deadline for proposals is Friday, May 2. For more information email or call ext. 2478.

Got Loans? Do you have a strategy for meeting your finances now and in the future? Come learn about default prevention, choosing a loan, establishing good credit, successful budget planning and even what you need to know about identify theft. Location: Blanchard 108, 7:30pm. For more information email or call ext. 2291.

All MHC students must have lockers cleared out by June 1, 2008. Any remaining items will be donated to charity. Locker issue for MHC students will begin September 11, 2008. For more information call ext. 2310.

Due to a system update, the campus store located in the Blanchard Campus Center, will be closed Tuesday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. We will reopen as soon as the update is complete. For more information call ext. 2111.

Seniors’ applications for the Five College African Studies Certificate must be made by Thursday, May 1, to Matt McKeever, John Lemly, Holly Hanson, or Samba Gadjigo. Applicants should supply a current transcript in support of their application by that date. The African Studies Certificate applications are available on the bulletin board outside Skinner 312, or on the Five College African Studies website.

Seniors, Undergrads, Faculty and Staff, please join the MHC Religious Advisors and the Class of 2008 in sharing the spiritual side of graduation on Wednesday, April 30, at 4:30 pm  in Abbey Memorial Chapel. This is an opportunity for all to look back with the Seniors on their years here at MHC and anticipate the great futures that await them. For more information, please contact Gayle Higgins (x2054).

The spring Alumnae Quarterly is ready for pickup at the entrances to Blanchard, the Library, and Skinner, and in Kendade atrium (lower level, near lunch counter). For more information, please contact Emily Harrison Weir (x2301).

Friday, April 25: India Cottage. Jewelry, clothing and gift items
$10-$130, Cash, M/C, VISA,Checks

See the Vendor Calendar to find out when your favorite vendor is coming to Blanchard. Brought to you by the Office of Student Programs.

May 9 - May 13 the MHC van will provide trips to Bradley Airport. Departure times each day are 5:30 am, 8 am, 11 am, and 2 pm. The cost is $12 per person. Payments made in cash or by check to the Office of Public Safety, prior to departure. For reservations contact Amanda Florek (x2826) or email. First Come, First Served.

The community lunch buffet at Willits will not be offered on Friday, April 25. Plan on joining us again before the end of the semester. For more information, please contact the Willits-Hallowell Center (x2220).

The entire Pangy Day Community Festival program will run from 11:30 (not 11) am until 7 pm. The all-campus Pangy Day Picnic at Pageant Green will be held from 11:30 am until 1:15 pm.

Do you have an idea for a project or event related to diversity? Do you want to enrich the MHC community? Apply now to the Inclusiveness Initiatives Fund. Available to all students, faculty, and staff. The deadline is April 29, 2008. Visit us at: Call for Proposals. For more information email. Sponsored by the Multicultural Community and College Life Committee.

Employees & their guests are invited to attend one of the following Red Sox games this summer. The games are Friday, July 11 vs Baltimore for $50 per person; Saturday, August 8 for $50 per person; and Sunday, August 17 for $75 per person. If you have any questions or want to sign up, contact the Fleet Officeor call ext. 2826.

There will be a Spring Lighting Walk on Thursday, April 24, 2008, starting from Public Safety at 9pm. The Lighting Walk is sponsored by the Public Safety Advisory Committee. This is your opportunity to get updates on campus lighting projects and give feedback about lighting on campus. For information, contact Kelley Murray or Elizabeth Cahn.

Gorse has afternoon openings (12:45 - 3:15) for Preschool (ages 3 1/2 - 4 1/2) 3, 4, or 5 days/wk. and Pre-K & Kindergarten (age 5 by Dec. 31st), 5 days/wk. If interested, please call (x2039) or apply online.

Friday, April 18: MA Storage.  Summer storage solution with the convenience of door-to-door service to thousands of valley students.

Submissions of work to be considered for English department prizes and awards are due by 4 pm, Friday, April 25, in the English department office, 111 Shattuck Hall. For more information, please contact the English department (x2146).

Employees & their guests, bus trip to NYC on Saturday, May 17. The cost will be $20 per person. Departure is from Kendall Lot at 6:30am. Arrival in NYC around 10:30am at 53rd & Broadway. Departure is from the same location in NYC at 6:30pm. Sign up at the Fleet Office or email Amanda Florek. For more information, please contact Amanda Florek (x2826).

This Friday-Saturday, Relay for Life is being held at Amherst College. The event is from 6:30 pm to 9:30 am April 18-19. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Dana Stuehling.

Got Loans? Do you have a strategy for meeting your finances now and in the future? Come learn about default prevention, choosing a loan, establishing good credit, successful budget planning and even what you need to know about identify theft. Location: CDC Workshop room, 4-6pm. For more information call ext. 2291 or email.

The English Deparmtent will host its 85th Glascock Poetry Competition on Friday & Saturday, April 18 & 19. Meet poet-judges John Koethe, David Lehman, and Larissa Szporluk at 3, Friday, Stimson Room; hear student-contestants compete at 8 in Gamble; listen to judges read their work 10:30, Saturday, Stimson Room. Free and open to the public. For more information visit the Intercollegiate Poetry Contest webiste, or call x2444 or email.

Ana Croegaert, FP ‘97, an anthropologist who studies refugees, migration, and urban social networks, will offer two new courses for the Department of Gender Studies this fall. For more information, visit the Gender Studies website.

UBU Roi is about a nobody and his exploits in Poland. Come see this French classic brought to life by an ensemble cast. Warning: For mature audiences only! To reserve tickets, please email. Dates are: Fri, April 18 @ 8pm; Sat, April 19 @ 8pm; Sun, April 20 @ 8pm, MHC amphitheater, please bring a blanket! PROJECT Theatre.

Please join us at Willits for our “Spring Bounty” Brunch on Sunday, April 20, 2008. A wonderful selection of breakfast and luncheon items will be offered including a carving station and dessert table. Brunch is served from 11:30am-1:30pm. Reservations can be made at x2217. See full menu.

Applications for Fall ‘08 Orientation Board Members are being accepted through the Dean of Students Office. Applications can be obtained from the Dean of Students website or picked up from the Blanchard Info Desk. For more information contact Andrea at ext. 2550.

The deadline for students to withdraw from spring courses is Tuesday 4/15. Withdrawal forms are available for printing from the Registrar’s website. After securing her instructor’s signature, the student must submit the form to the Registrar’s Office by 5pm Tuesday. A “W” grade will be assigned. Call 538-2025 or email for more information.

Deadline for requesting Ungraded Option is Tuesday 4/15
Tuesday 4/15 is the deadline for any first-year student to request the Ungraded option (to get “pass/fail” grading) in a current course. The request form is available online through a link on the front page of ISIS. Call 538-2025 or email for more information.

Registration for fall semester Mount Holyoke and Five-College courses begins Monday 4/14. Students should consult ISIS “Approvals…” display to see their individually assigned start dates/times. Registration requests for Five-College courses must be submitted by 11:59pm on Friday (4/18). Registration for Mount Holyoke courses continues through Friday, May 2. Call 538-2025 or email for more information.

Become the champion for reducing the environmental footprint of your department. Add up what out collective efforts can do, read “By the Numbers” MHC’s’Green’ Challenge.”

Check out the new Public Safety Blogs and get the “inside scoop.”

• Public Safety
• Fleet Office
• Parking Office
  

Blogs are updated frequently and each includes an ask the office option.

The Human Resources department has tickets for Six Flags. Daily passes are $25 and season passes are $64.99, they can be picked up at the front desk. For more information, call 538-2503 or email.

The community lunch buffet at Willits-Hallowell will be canceled on both Thursday and Friday of this week, April 10-11, as the Center will be accommodating luncheons in all of our available areas.

From April 7-May 14, Archives & Special Collections is featuring an exhibit about noted journalist Edward R. Murrow to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth. The display includes material relating to his wife, Janet Brewster Murrow, Class of 1933. For more information, please contact Archives & Special Collections (x3079).

Thursday, May 8, 5:00 pm, Skinner Green. Please email Laurie Kamins (lkamins) no later than Friday, April 25 if you’re planning to attend. Note: please indicate if you prefer a vegetarian entree. For more information, please contact Laurie Kamins (x2162).

Marrow Donor Registration Drive, Mt. Holyoke College, Monday, April 14, from 12- 5pm in Betty Shabazz Cultural House. Cosponsored by Student Health Committee and College Health Services. To register you must be 18-60, in general good health, and willing to donate to any patient. Tissue typing costs are covered by health insurance or Michael’s Fund of Fall River, MA. Please bring your health insurance information with you. For more information, please contact Karen Jacobus (x2466).

Seniors, Chappell Studio’s will be doing the photographing of seniors at the Commencement ceremony. Please go onto the Commencement webpage and pre-register for the photos. Here is the contact information if you have any questions. Customer Service at 1-800-424-3686 or by email. Families may sign up also, so please let your parents know. For more information, please contact Penny Silveira (x2663).

Not an Education Major? Interested in K-12 Teaching? Math, Science, English, History, Education Majors: We want you to bring your talents to Holyoke! Come to our information session to hear about teaching opportunities for September 2008 on Monday, March 31, Career Development Center’s Workshop Room, 4:15 p.m. For more information, please contact the Career Development Center (x2080)