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AAUP seeking faculty nominees for new excellence awards
The American Association of University Professors, UConn chapter, has announced four awards in teaching and research excellence. The teaching excellence awards are offered in three categories: teaching promise (open to faculty with three to six years' service); innovation in teaching, including new methods and curricular design; and teaching mentorship, including both teaching and advising. The criteria for a research excellence award are: nationally and internationally recognized research and scholarship; outstanding service in promoting research at UConn; impact on UConn research; and long-term impact on UConn's research infrastructure. The awards are open to all UConn faculty. Nominations, including self-nominations, should be sent with supporting documentation, which should include a curriculum vitae and four letters of recommendation, to the AAUP office by Friday, February 27.

Surprise find halts
warehouse construction

Site work for the new central warehouse has stopped temporarily while an environmental research firm conducts tests on a quantity of debris found at the sit.

Workers for the firm of Haley & Aldrich took test samples from the site, located at the rear of F-Lot, during several days last week. Officials expect to have results from the tests within a week.

The material, which includes construction debris, soda bottles and incinerator ash, was unearthed earlier this month when workers began excavating the site for the 60,000-square-foot, $3.8 million central warehouse.

Kraus and other facilities personnel are interviewing long-time UConn workers, hoping somebody will remember how the material arrived at the site. One worker, he said, thought the debris was brought there by crews involved in the construction of Northwest residence halls.

The warehouse building, which will also house the departments of purchasing and accounts payable, is scheduled to be completed by July.

Richard Veilleux

Community service award nominations now sought
Nominations are being sought for the sixth annual Connecticut Higher Education Community Service Awards. Each campus in the state may submit nominees for consideration in the categories of individual students, student groups, and special awards. The special awards category honors faculty, staff or community leaders for personal contributions and institutional commitment. For a nomination form, contact the Center for Community Outreach, U-Box 211, or call (860) 486-1165.

Big Band benefit scheduled to raise funds for scholarship
Former students and friends of Allan Gillespie will host a benefit concert featuring the 18-piece Gillespie Alumni Big Band, March 1, to raise money for the Gillespie Scholarship Fund. Gillespie, a former professor in the School of Fine Arts, who touched the lives of thousands of UConn students with his passion for music, died last year. The concert will be held at von der Mehden Recital Hall on Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m. Admission is free but tax-deductible donations will be accepted during the event. Donations may also be sent to the Gillespie Scholarship Fund, Dept. of Fine Arts, 875 Coventry Road, Storrs, CT 06269-1128.

Income tax preparation help available at no charge
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program run by IRS-trained, volunteer accounting students in the School of Business Administration, provides free assistance in income tax return preparation to members of the University community and Mansfield residents, Mondays, from Feb. 16 through April 13 (except March 16), 7-9 p.m., in Room 302B of the Student Union. VITA volunteers are not trained to answer international tax questions, or to complete form 1040NR. Representatives of the IRS will discuss taxation of scholarships and fellowships for international faculty, students and scholars on Friday, March 6, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom.