AUSTIN, Texas—Larry R. Faulkner, president of The University of Texas at Austin, will give his annual State of the University Address at 3 p.m., Friday (Sept. 14), at Jessen Auditorium in Homer P. Rainey Hall near the Littlefield Fountain as part of a celebration commemorating the university’s 118th birthday.
The university opened its doors on Sept. 15, 1883. Faulkner’s presentation on the eve of the 118th anniversary will provide an assessment of the university and a report on his goals for 2001-2002. It will be Faulkner’s fourth State of the University Address since he became president in 1998.
Free public parking will be provided in the university parking facility directly east of Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Shuttle service will be provided to Rainey Hall and back to the parking facility after the reception.
Several prestigious awards will be presented during the program, including the Civitatis Award to Waneen Spirduso, Ed.D., of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. The Civitatis Award is conferred upon a faculty member who has shown exemplary campus citizenship throughout a career of service at the university.
The Presidential Citation will be presented to Peter T. Flawn, president emeritus of The University of Texas at Austin; Harry J. Middleton, director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum; and Larry E. Temple, an attorney and distinguished alumnus. Award recipients must have achieved distinction in their fields of endeavor and be people of such integrity, stature, demonstrated ability and renown, that the university community will take pride in and be inspired by their recognition. Recipients also must have provided service that has made a profound and positive difference in the achievement of the university’s mission.
Other awards will include the 2001 Joe and Bettie Branson Ward Excellence Award for Research, Teaching or Demonstration Activities that Contribute to Changes of Positive Value to Society; the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Awards; and the Chancellor’s Council Outstanding Teaching Award. During the program, Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson will recognize new members of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. The academy is intended to recognize and enhance teaching, particularly at the undergraduate level.
A reception honoring award recipients will be held afterward in the Jessen Auditorium lobby.
Earlier in the day Friday, the 118th birthday celebration will get an early start when members of the university community and guests pause on the Main Mall south of the Tower to join in anniversary festivities sponsored by the Texas Exes Student Chapter. The 11:50 a.m. to noon event will include brief remarks, celebratory music and the pageantry of the large Texas flag being unfurled off the Main Building. Birthday cake will be served.
Recipients of the awards and recognition during the program include:
- The 2001 Joe and Bettie Branson Ward Excellence Award for Research, Teaching or Demonstration Activities that Contribute to Changes of Positive Value to Society — Loriene Roy, Ph.D., a professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science.
- President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Awards, 2000-2001 — David P. Birdsong, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of French and Italian; David M. Buss, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychology; Carol H. MacKay, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of English; and S. Martin Shankland, Ph.D., associate professor in the Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology. The award recognizes excellence in undergraduate teaching.
- Chancellor’s Council Outstanding Teaching Award, 2000-2001 — Leon E. Long, Ph.D., Department of Geological Sciences.
The new members of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers include:
- James B. Ayres, Ph.D., Department of English
- Anthony Bedford, Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
- Mia E. Carter, Ph.D., interim director of the Center for Asian American Studies
- Katherine M. Davis, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics
- Ross Jennings, Ph.D., Department of Accounting
- Robert D. King, Ph.D., Department of Linguistics
- Rebecca R. Richards-Kortum, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering
- David M. Rabban, J.D., School of Law
- Nancy L. Roser, Ed.D, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
- Harvey M. Sussman, Ph.D., Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
For additional information about the celebration, please view the UTexas@118 Web site, <http://www.utexas.edu/events/utexas118>
