University System of Maryland at Hagerstown H1N1 Flu Preparations for the 2009-2010 Academic Year

USMH Planned Response

•  The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH) response to an occurrence of H1N1 flu will be managed by the Crisis Management Team (CMT). The CMT will meet when necessary as issues develop. The CMT will provide guidance in accordance with the CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education During the 2009 – 2010 Academic Year. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/guidance/

• USMH will use the alert message line on the center’s homepage to post regular updates on campus conditions. The Director of Marketing and Public Relations will be responsible for notifying the media as an additional means of disseminating information.

• USMH is a multi-institutional campus and, as such, will communicate with all partners, including the six University System of Maryland (USM) institutions and the Washington County Public Schools that offer classes at the center, as well as long- and short-term renters as necessary. When appropriate, the CMT will enact the communication tree developed for the Emergency Preparedness Plan.

• So that the USMH Executive Director and staff can provide the proper precautions and notifications to the campus, we ask that any suspected or confirmed case of H1N1 be reported.

—Students and faculty should notify their program coordinators.

—Staff and program coordinators should notify:

Erin Harman

Phone: 240-527-2728

Email: eharman@hagerstown.usmd.edu

• USMH encourages all students, faculty and staff to follow the treatment and prevention methods described by the CDC when dealing with the H1N1 virus.

Information from the CDC

How do I know if I have Swine Flu?

According to the CDC, symptoms for swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include some combination of:

 Fever, greater than 100 degrees F,

Sore throat,

Cough,

Stuffy nose,

Chills,

Headache,

Body aches and/or fatigue.

How can I prevent the spread of Swine Flu?

To prevent the spread of swine flu, the CDC suggests:

 • Avoid contact with ill persons.

• When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or  your sleeve (if you do not have a tissue). Throw used tissues in a trash can.

 • After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.

• If you think you are ill with flu, avoid close contact with others. Stay home. Seek medical care if you are severely ill, such as having trouble breathing.

Additional Resource

 Center for Disease Control (CDC)- www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

Due to the overwhelming response, the Graduation Celebration has been moved to accommodate the large crowd. The entire event will be held in University Plaza, the courtyard next to the USMH building, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on May 27th. Leiters' Downtown will provide the meal under a large tent, and the festivities will take place as planned.

USMH Atrium
3:00pm- 5:30pm

A great opportunity to meet fellow USMH students from all programs! Relax, create an original cup of hot chocolate from our Hot Chocolate Bar. 

Bring a carved or decorated pumpkin for a prize!

Raffle for a Netbook!

The brand new USMH sweatshirts will be on sale. Wear them with pride!

All USMH students invited!

 Happy Holidays from USMH!

USMH is opening as usual today, Saturday April 14th at 9:00am.

Mark Halsey, Administrator from Virginia Tech, Named USMH Executive Director

Mark Halsey, associate director for Finance and Administration for Distance Learning at Virginia Tech, has been named the new executive director of the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown. 

“Mark’s experiences in higher education administration at Virginia Tech and throughout a 30-year career make him an ideal selection as the next director of the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown,” said Dr. William E. “Brit” Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. “Mark has clearly demonstrated strong consensus-building and organizational skills, working with numerous constituencies. I know this critical regional center in Western Maryland will thrive under his leadership.”

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead the team of talented individuals that comprises the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown. Since its inception, USMH has afforded the people of Washington County and the surrounding areas with significant access to higher education,” said Halsey. “Its establishment in Western Maryland is a testament to the vision of Chancellor Kirwan, the University System Board of Regents and, most particularly, the civic and legislative leaders of Hagerstown and Washington County. There is no doubt about our growth potential, and I’m excited to get started!”

In his current position, Halsey is responsible for distance learning, including budgeting, purchasing, facilities and contract management. He coordinates with academic departments and faculty participating in the Enterprise Fund, an innovative approach to incentive budgeting for new program growth.  He works with departments and faculty to identify and assess the financial feasibility of new distance learning programs.

“We look forward to working with Mark as the next leader of USMH as he builds on the strong foundation that has been established so that we can continue to grow higher education opportunities for area residents,” said Tim Palkovitz, USMH Advisory Board Chair.

Halsey will be charged with leading the Hagerstown center to continue to meet the needs of students in the region by broadening existing programs, developing new programs and maintaining and expanding relations with area community colleges.

“I look forward to working with the community colleges in Hagerstown and Frederick as we collaborate to provide educational pathways for students to complete their first two years at HCC or FCC and then go on to earn bachelor’s and possibly master’s degrees through programs offered at USMH,” said Halsey.

Prior to joining Virginia Tech in 2007, Halsey was a regional director of distance learning at Old Dominion University. Additionally, he served as an associate professor of management and department chair with Eastern University in Pennsylvania. He also served as a director with two management consulting firms, and has continued a part-time practice in the areas of nonprofit strategic planning and organizational development. He has been invited as a visiting professor and/or consultant to institutions in Lithuania, China, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Guatemala, Bolivia and South Africa, among others.

Halsey has an MBA from the University of Georgia, a bachelor’s degree in management and public administration from James Madison University, and he has done extensive coursework toward a Ph.D. in public policy at UMBC.

 “I am so pleased with the appointment of Mark Halsey to be the next executive director of USMH,” said Jonathan Gibralter, president of Frostburg State University, which is the coordinating institution for USMH. “He brings with him solid experience in working collaboratively within a community to develop substantive academic programs. I want to thank the members of the search committee for their role throughout this process. I truly believe they have identified a person who will lead USMH to the next level in its evolution.”

Halsey was selected from a field of 69 candidates in a national search. He succeeds Dr. David Warner, who became vice president for Academic Affairs at Hagerstown Community College after leading USMH since it opened in 2005. Dr. John Stoothoff, a member of the FSU faculty, has been serving as interim director.

The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown is a regional higher education center offering upper-level undergraduate and graduate programs from six respected universities within the University System of Maryland. More than 23 programs of study are available to area students in one convenient downtown Hagerstown location.

 Both Graduate and Undergraduate Towson University Nursing orientations scheduled to begin today, Thursday, Jan. 27 at 9:00am,  HAVE BEEN CANCELED due to weather delays. The orientations will take place during normal class time.

 Earn your bachelor's, master's, or doctorale degree in Hagerstown! Come learn about the colleges and programs at USMH. Faculty and staff from Coppin State University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, University of MD College Park, and the University of MD University College; as well as USMH staff will be available to answer any questions.

 All students attending a fall 2011 program at USMH may apply!

      Résumé-Writing Workshop

Thursday, April 7, Rooms 124/125

7:00 – 10:00pm

FREE!

Registration is required!! Seating is very limited.

§  How has format changed?

§  How to influence your message to the reader

§  How to develop CCAR stories to illustrate your skills, challenges, and accomplishments

§  How a good résumé can help you perform better in an interview

§  How to create a strong professional profile that gets your résumé to the top of the pile

If you plan to develop and/or update your résumé, this hands-on presentation with worksheets, exercises, and sample documents will help you create a rock solid résumé.

Norine Dagliano, ekm Inspirations, is Maryland's only Nationally Certified Résumé Writer.

**Bring a copy of your résumé (if you have one) and 2-3 job announcements that represent the types of positions you are targeting.**

Register at Student Services office, or e-mail jbushong@hagerstown.usmd.edu

Thank you to the following sponsors:

Dukes and Duchesses:

STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES FOUNDATION

STATE FARM WEST CENTRAL AGENCY FIELD OFFICE 

Tom Bredienstein, Sharon Elbin, Dwight Guyton, Gaye McGovern Insurance Agency, Inc., 

Larry Michaels, Tim Panther, Steve Swayne

BOWMAN HOSPITALITY 

Bulls and Bears, Holiday Inn Express, Homewood Suites

CITY OF HAGERSTOWN

FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON COUNTY FREE LIBRARY

Lords and Ladies:

ANONYMOUS

ELLSWORTH ELECTRIC

GREG AND RUTH ANN SNOOK

RIDGERUNNER PUBLISHING

Beefeaters and Royal Guards:

DOT FOODS 

ENHANCED PRINTING AND PROMOTION

HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 

THE HAGERSTOWN-WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SCHMANKERL STUBE

SUSQUEHANNA BANK

TOWSON UNIVERSITY DEPT. OF NURSING

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Troubadours and Jesters:

BIG CORK VINEYARDS

B.P. LESKY DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC.

GS IMAGES

HAGERSTOWN-WASHINGTON COUNTY INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION, INC.

WILLIAM AND MONICA LINGENFELTER

MINNICH FUNERAL HOME

ROOSTERVANE FLORIST

JOHN SCHNEBLY

THE COLUMBIA BANK

THE HAGERSTOWN-WASHINGTON COUNTY INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION, INC.

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

A renaissance evening of merriment, dining and entertainment! Enjoy an evening under the stars with the "Queen" and her sword-fighting court.

Witness the knightings of Lady Mary Baykan and Squire Brien Poffenberger!

USMH is excited to host this unique student scholarship fundraising event.

To purchase tickets, click here.2012FeasteandFrolic.eventbrite.com

Friday, October 5, 2012

5:30 - 8:30 pm

USMH Courtyard

$75.00 per person

Scholarship building opportunities:

All  include recognition at the event and a thank you ad in the Herald-Mail.

$2,500 - Dukes and Duchesses (Includes admission for 8)

$1,000 - Lords and Ladies (Includes admission for 6)

  $500 - Beefeaters and Royal Guards (Includes admission for 4)

  $250 - Troubadours and Jesters (Includes admission for 2)

Please make checks payable to the University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc.

Mail to:

USMH

32 W. Washington Street

Hagerstown, MD 21740

Contact Jamie or Erin for more information:
240-527-2060

 Salisbury University Monday and Tuesday classes are CANCELLED! The main campus is under evacuation due to the hurricane. No classes will be held August 29th or 30th.

Upon reevaluating, USMH has decided to close today, Monday, March 25 due to inclement weather. All classes and activities are canceled for today.

 http://www.hagerstown.usmd.edu/pdfs/scholarship_application_updated.pdf

Deadline: March 15

 SOCY 436 class, with instructor Gary Austin has been canceled for meeting in the building this evening; however the class will be ONLINE.

 Health Information Management (B.S.) will begin this fall at USMH. For information re: the program and admissions, please visit, www.coppin.edu.

 New Student Orientation

Wednesday, January 16th

10:00am-12noon

Are you starting at USMH this spring? Attend our New Student Orientation to learn about parking, library and student services; meet staff; take a tour! Start the first day of class as a "Student-in-the-know!" After the session, enjoy lunch discounts at downtown restaurants offered just that day for you!

Contact Jamie with any questions and to RSVP:

jbushong@hagerstown.usmd.edu or 240-527-2722

 Thinking about earning a Master of Social Work degree? Salisbury University is hosting an information session at USMH.

Topics will include:

* Application process

* Advanced standing qualifications

* Admission committee process

* Letters of recommendations 101

* Field education review

* Hints and help for writing personal statements

A question and answer session will follow.

Wednesday, October 24

7:00pm

USMH, room 424

Due to the inclement weather, USMH will close at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 18.

If you did not receive an alert for today's (Monday) closed building, then you do not have an activated account. To sign up: https://www.e2campus.net/my/hagerstown/   Please follow all steps including the validation code at the end.

This is the quickest method to learn about USMH weather related closings, and emergencies.

 Student Wind-down TONIGHT!

Chill with your students a bit before finals — enjoy a snack from a downtown restaurant, be in a sack race, watch "Christmas Vacation" with your friends...OR grab some extra library time, group study, or meet again with your instructor for some extra Q&A.

5-9:00pm

All USMH students are invited!

 Doors open to the public at 5:30pm. Come visit with these employers:

Berkeley County Public Schools

Citi

First Data

Frederick County Public Schools

Hagerstown Community College

HPG Windows and Doors

Meritus Health

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Target

Volvo

Washington County Public Schools

US Army

US Navy

Learn what tools Washington County Free Library has to help you find that special job!