This Week

Weather Advisory Today The threat of severe weather – notably high winds and possible isolated tornadoes – is forecast for the Metro Atlanta area between noon and 5 p.m. this afternoon. Severe weather is currently forecast for Morrow starting around 3 p.m. These storms are very fast-moving and will have little thunder and/or lightning, so advance warning will be minimal. All Clayton State faculty, staff and students are advised to keep an eye on the weather, either through web sites like the Weather Channel (http://www.weather.com/), or through radio stations like WYAY-FM (106.7) or WSB-AM (750) for weather updates. If any changes in the status of Clayton State are warranted, they will be posted first on the Clayton State home page (www.clayton.edu). Go there first for information about the status of Clayton State classes and offices. Summer Graduation Deadline, Jan. 30 If you are planning to graduate at the end of summer 2013, the deadline to submit your graduation application to the Registrar’s Office is Wednesday, January 30, 2013.  Applications can be found on the website of your department.  Please refer to www.clayton.edu/registrar/graduation for further information. Homecoming Parade Deadline, Jan. 30 Clayton State University is preparing to celebrate Homecoming 2013, Feb. 3 to Feb. 9! One of our featured events for this year’s Homecoming is our Homecoming Parade. The parade will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, starting at 11 a.m. The parade will start at the Morrow Municipal Complex (Morrow City Hall) and proceed northbound on Hwy 54/Jonesboro Road, ending on the campus of Clayton State University, Parking Lots C & D.  It is our hope that this will be an event that our campus and local community can participate in and be proud to support. Student organizations and campus departments are encouraged to enter a unit in the parade!  You may build a float, decorate a truck/car, walk with a banner or any other expression of creativity and originality you can think of—the choice is yours! Please visit the Information Desks at the Student Activities Center or the Baker Center to pick up your Homecoming Parade Packet!  You may also visit the Campus Life website, www.clayton.edu/campus-life to download the Parade Packet and the full Homecoming schedule.  All parade entry forms are due by Wednesday, Jan. 30, to Natasha Hutson in Suite 223 upstairs in the Student Activities Center Administrative Suite. Please do not hesitate to contact Hutson via email at NatashaHutson@clayton.edu should you have questions or need additional information. Basketball Doubleheader, Jan. 31 The Lakers will host Georgia College in a basketball doubleheader on Thursday, Jan. 31, with the women’s game starting at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that the Bobcats are bringing Honey Boo Boo with them as a cheerleader. Boots UK Sale at The Loch Shop, Through Jan. 31 Through Jan. 31, 2013, all Boots UK products will be featured at 25 percent off the retail price in The Loch Shop. Boots is the UK’s most popular and trusted brand-name in skin care and makeup products. No other discounts can be accommodated. Not valid on prior or future receipts. Study Abroad Sign Ups, Deadline Feb. 1 Time is running out for students to sign up for 2013 Maymester and Summer semester study abroad programs. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Students should consider the applicable deadlines in making their decisions; most important, many students may need to sign up for the programs and make deposits while they still have available financial aid. Clayton State this year is offering a broad array of Clayton State Faculty-led study abroad programs for 2013, including the following: Costa Rica -– “Tropical Ecology” France – “Teacher Ed. – Language, Religion, and Immigration: Comparative Multiculturalism” Haiti – “Nursing/Service Learning Study Abroad” Italy – “Honors – Social Sciences” (spring break – enrollment is filled) Jamaica – “Social Sciences and Caribbean Literature” Mexico – Guadalajara – “Healthcare Spanish” Panama — “International Business / Global Management” Turkey – “International Business / Global Management” Through Clayton State’s participation in USG consortia (European and Asia Councils), there are also summer semester programs to Scotland (Maymester); London; Waterford, Ireland; Madrid; St. Petersburg, Russia; Berlin; Paris; China and Korea. For additional information, please consult the Office of International Programs website http://www.clayton.edu/international-programs/home. Clayton State’s Dental Hygiene Research Day, Feb. 1 In conjunction with the Georgia Dental Hygienists’ Association (GDHA) – Joanna Harris, instructor & SADHA advisor for the  Department of Dental Hygiene, has been planning Dental Hygiene Research Day at Clayton State for Friday, Feb. 1. Dental Hygiene Research Day will have students from four dental hygiene programs -- Atlanta Tech, West Georgia Tech, Georgia Highlands College, and Clayton State -- presenting posters and table clinics to attendees. There will also be several dental vendors for attendees to ask questions of and to learn about new products. Attending the event, in addition to the students, will be faculty and some licensed dental hygienists. The event starts at 10 a.m., in room CE-101 of the Harry S. Downs Center. From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Poster Group 1 and Table Clinic Group 1 will “man” their areas for a Q&A. Then, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Poster Group 2 and Table Clinic Group 2 will present. At 1 p.m., lunch will be served and the winners of the best poster and best table clinic presentations will be announced and awarded. Alumna Paula Fagerberg to Headline Early Music Concert, Feb. 1 The early-music ensemble Armonia Celeste performs on the Musica Sacra concert series at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta on Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public, with a free pre-concert lecture on the group’s historical instruments and repertoire at 6:45 p.m. sponsored by The Atlanta Early Music Alliance. A reception will follow the concert. The featured instrumentalists will include Armonia Celeste co-founder Dr. Lyle Nordstrom, the former head of the music department at Clayton State, and Atlanta-based historical harpist Paula Fagerberg, a 2000 graduate of Clayton State, who plays a rare copy of the c.1630 Barberini Baroque triple harp for this concert tour. Nordstrom, who is retired from teaching and now lives in Maryland, plays lutes and baroque guitar in the group. Armonia Celeste specializes in rarely heard repertoire from the Italian Renaissance and early Baroque. The concert program, entitled “The Rebel Queen: Christina’s Swedish Court in Rome,” reflects the artistic life of Queen Christina of Sweden, a gender-bending, controversial figure in her time who abdicated the Swedish throne in 1654, shocking contemporary Europe. No tickets are required for the performance at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, 1328 Peachtree Street NE. The church also offers a dinner at 6 p.m., for $10/person. If you would like to attend the dinner as well, please make a reservation with Katharine Hamer at First Presbyterian: khamer@firstpresatl.org or (404) 228-7732. (Reservations are not necessary for the lecture and concert.) Volunteers Still Needed for Fifth Annual Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, Feb. 2 We are still in need of at least 22 more volunteers to assist with the Fifth Annual Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. There will be training sessions on Friday afternoon, Feb. 1, at 4 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 a.m. In addition, online training may be found at:  http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/hrrb/files/156A4B171A794D62AA7ED93F5546B2B2.pdf. All volunteers will need to be on campus by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. The competition will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday. Please come out and support our community. To volunteer, please contact Dr. Gordon Baker at (678) 466-4334 or gordonbaker@clayton.edu. For more information on the Competition please visit http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/hrrb/.

Free Tax Assistance from College of Business Accounting Students Starts this Saturday

Accounting students from Clayton State University will once again be participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, hosted by the University’s College of Business. This free service will be offered at the College of Business on the following Saturdays: Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 16, Feb. 23, Mar. 16, and Mar. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Taxpayers will be assisted on a first come, first serve basis. Students can benefit from having VITA volunteers prepare their taxes, because the volunteers are trained in the rules for the credits available for tuition and other school-related expenses. The VITA program also prepares state income tax returns and provides free e-filing options to ensure clients receive their refunds as soon as possible. Those who are eligible to receive this service are taxpayers who make under $49,000 a year and wish to receive help with their 2012 personal income taxes using Forms 1040EZ, 1040A, and simple1040s. The program does not provide assistance with out-of-state or small business returns, or for those who are self-employed. Those interested in receiving this assistance must bring the following items: ü      Photo identification, ü      Social security cards for themselves, their spouse, and dependents, ü      Birth dates for primary, secondary, and dependents on the tax return ü      Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1009-R, from all employers ü      Interest and dividend statements from bank(s), Form 1099 ü      Other relevant information about income and expenses

• Day care provider identifying number
• Total amount paid for day care

ü      A copy of last year’s federal and state income tax returns if possible, ü       Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit. Please note that both spouses will need to be present to file electronically.

Announcements

Laker Spotlight Postponed The Laker Spotlight originally scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31, has been postponed. Chemistry Club to Visit the Clayton County Water Authority, Feb. 22 One of the missions of the Clayton State Chemistry Club is to help students with career orientation. For that purpose, the Club has organized a trip to visit the Clayton County Water Authority on Friday, Feb. 22, leaving campus at 12:30 p.m. “We want to organize the trip to give students some ideas of how it is to be a working chemist: what are their roles and duties,” says Chemistry Club President Gloria Le. “We also want to help students learn about environmental sciences and help students learn how water is treated.” This trip is available to all Clayton State students. However, Le emphasizes that only students who truly are interested in Chemistry and/or Biology should attend. Le needs all interested students to email her at gle@student.clayton.edu, so that she can send them the forms that they have to fill out for insurance purposes so that the University can approve their attendance. 2013 Recruitment Begins for Peer Mentoring Program: F.I.R.S.T. Step The Office of Orientation & New Student Programs will begin recruitment for its 2013-2014 “F.I.R.S.T. Step Peer Mentors” - Fostering and Initiating Relationships for a Successful Transition. The F.I.R.S.T. Step Peer Mentoring program promotes and supports academic success, social adjustment and development and retention for its first-year student participants. F.I.R.S.T. Step Peer Mentoring will welcome its second group of freshman students in fall 2013. Recruitment for Peer Mentors will take place during this semester; please visit the Orientation & New Student Programs website for more information.  Students who are interested in becoming a Peer Mentor should plan to attend at least one information sessions. The information sessions are as follows: Thursday, Jan. 31           3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.                 NBS 139 Wednesday, Feb. 6        6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.                 NBS 139 Friday, Feb. 22               1 p.m. - 2 p.m.                                NBS 139 If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Darius Thomas, Programs Assistant:  dariusthomas@clayton.edu or (678) 466-5443 or visit http://www.clayton.edu/orientation/newstudent/peermentoring. Applications will be available on Feb. 4. Health & Fitness Management Program to Provide Free Student Personal Trainers Health & Fitness Management is initiating a new program whereby members of the SAC Fitness Center will be able to make use of the skills of Clayton State student personal trainers at no cost. Starting in February 2013, this personal training program will be put on by the students in the HFMG4999 course. The 12 senior students in the course will be providing clients with a free, one-on-one, eight-week weight training program (twice a week), cardio program, pre/post test, and goal setting. The training (and trainers) will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, depending on the individual trainer’s schedule. Any members of the Fitness Center who are interested in the free training can go to the front desk of the SAC after Jan. 31 to sign up for training. All that’s required is filling out the proper paperwork, including selecting a student personal trainer, and having a membership at the Fitness Center. Participants in the initiative who are not Fitness Center members will need to purchase a Fitness Center membership. For more information, contact Jeremy Galloway at jeremygalloway@clayton.edu. Bursar’s Office to Close Early, Feb. 15 The Bursar’s Office will close at 12:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15. Normal business hours will resume on Monday, Feb. 18. Alternate Link to GaView Desire2Learn In the event that the SWAN portal goes down, faculty and students can use the following URL to access GaView Desire2Learn… http://clayton.view.usg.edu/. Clayton State Football Shirts Now at The Loch Shop The Loch Shop is now stocking “Clayton State Football: Still Undefeated” t-shirts. They retail for $9.99 and are available for purchase now in The Loch Shop.

Upcoming

Banner Upgrades, Feb. 3 The SWAN, Banner and the DUCK will be unavailable due to system upgrades on Sunday, Feb. 3, from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. However, email and GA View will still be accessible from the SWAN login page. Black History Health Awareness Week, Feb. 4 to Feb. 8 During Black History month, on the week of Feb. 4 to Feb. 8, the Nontraditional Student Organization would like to raise awareness of health issues that plague the African American population by providing preventative information to the Clayton State Community from the various departments and student organizations. The NTSO will have an information table set up Monday, Feb. 4 through Friday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in the Baker Center. If your department or student organization would like to participate please email dharrell2@student.clayton.edu. In your email please tell me what health issue that you would like to provide preventative information about and which day of the week that you would like to be at the table. One area of health will be focused on each day of the week. The table on Main Street will be set up for visitors to the table to enter their names into a drawing for fruit basket. Promotional items will be given out daily. Tickets on Sale for Clayton State Idol The annual Clayton State Idol competition will kick-off the University’s 2013 Homecoming on Monday, Feb. 4. Sponsored by the Office of Orientation & New Student Programs, Clayton State Idol will be held in the ballroom of the Student Activities Center from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. as Clayton State students show off their vocal talent in competition to become the next Clayton State Idol. The winner will be voted on by the audience members through text voting. Tickets are available to be purchased in the Office of Orientation & New Student Programs, room 218 of the Clayton State Student Center. Tickets are $5 and will also be sold at the door to the general public. Campus Life Laker Market Day, Feb. 6 The Department of Campus Life is pleased to announce the creation of Laker Market Day, a special opportunity designed to allow local businesses and Clayton State offices and organizations to showcase their products or services to the Clayton State community. This unique experience will allow businesses direct contact with approximately 7,000 students, faculty and staff and will create opportunities for additional partnerships, sponsorship and support of both the Clayton State campus and student organization initiatives. Laker Market Day will take place during the University’s Homecoming, on Wednesday, Feb. 6, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Activities Center. Laker Market Day is open to local vendors as well as Clayton State departments and student organizations. Additionally, student organizations will be fundraising during this event. Organizations wishing to sell products or services on Laker Market Day, should email Associate Director of Campus Life Lakiesa Rawlinson at lakiesacanteyrawlinson@clayton.edu by Wednesday, Jan. 30. Recruitment and Admissions Schedules Virtual Open House, Feb. 7 The Clayton State University Office of Recruitment and Admissions’ next Virtual Open House is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 7, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. According to Associate Director, Recruitment and Marketing Penny Brooks, the Virtual Open House will have five virtual booths with staff providing chat opportunities for participants throughout the event.  Prospective students, their family members, and others will be able to click into the booths and receive answers to their questions in real time. The booths are:

• Admissions
• Financial Aid
• On-Campus Housing and Student Life
• First-Year Program
• Academics

There will also be live webcasts scheduled throughout the event. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Clayton State faculty members will speak about their major programs, academic opportunities available at Clayton State, and future career options. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., admissions staff will discuss Clayton State in general and admissions requirements and policies in particular.  Participants will be able to text questions to the presenters and get their answers in real time. Homecoming Step Show, Feb. 7 The 2013 Homecoming Step Show will be held on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m., in the Athletics & Fitness Center. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Clayton State students/Greeks pay $5 in advance, and $7 at the door. Non-Clayton State students pay $8 in advance. Tickets are $10 at the door. Tickets can be purchased from the Department of Campus Life (Suite 223, Student Activities Center), the UC Info Desk or any Clayton State Greek (Note: That’s Greek, not Geek.) Clayton State students must show Laker ID to purchase a ticket at the student rate. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Campus Life at 678-466-5433 or campuslife@clayton.edu. Teacher Education Middle Level Education Information Session, Feb. 7 The Clayton State University Department of Teacher Education has announced two new information sessions for students seeking information about Clayton State’s Middle Level Education degree program. Interested individuals are invited to attend the Information Sessions on Thursday, Feb. 7 and Tuesday, Apr. 9. Faculty will host a one-hour dialogue on the nature of the programs, admission criteria, course scheduling, and other items of interest to prospective students, allowing them to discover how to make their dreams real — what it takes to earn a degree in teacher education. The Feb. 7 session will take place in the Arts & Science Building, room G-227, from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. The Apr. 9 sessions will be in the same building and room, from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. In addition, on Monday, Jan. 28, the Department of Teacher Education will be holding a Secondary Education Information Session G-127 of the Arts & Sciences Building from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Representatives from the Clayton State departments of English, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Humanities and Teacher Education will share information with individuals who are interested in making dreams real and teaching grades six through 12 in the subjects of biology, English, math and history. For more information, contact Joy Bryant in the Teacher Education Department at joybryant@clayton.edu. Clayton State Homecoming 2013 to be Highlighted by Parade, Basketball Doubleheader, Feb. 9 Clayton State University’s annual Homecoming, where both students and alumni will gather to celebrate their dreams made real, is fast approaching. This year’s event, which will run from Monday, Feb. 4 to Saturday, Feb. 9, will be highlighted by the return of the Clayton State Homecoming Parade and a basketball doubleheader against Montevallo University. Also among the “Don’t Miss” events will be a 5K race and the Annual Alumni Breakfast – all on Saturday. Various student-related activities will take place early in the week – Clayton State Idol (Feb. 4), the Annual Student Choice Awards (Feb. 5), a Hump Day Party and a faculty/student basketball game (athletic trainer John Zubal promises to stand by for that one) on Feb. 6, a Homecoming Step Show (Feb. 7) and the Homecoming Pep Rally and Bonfire on Friday. Feb. 8. Even though the bonfire will be the day before, Homecoming will really get hot on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. with the 5K Run/Walk, “Run Clayton State.” The race will run entirely on the University’s campus, starting and finishing in front of the Harry S. Downs Center. Actually, check-in for the race will begin at 7:45 a.m. in front of the Downs Center with the race beginning at 9 a.m. All runners will receive a T-shirt and age group winners will be recognized with awards. A special grand prize will be awarded to the top female and male winners. As an added bonus, the race will also include admission to come-one, come-all Annual Alumni Breakfast, which starts at 9:30 a.m., and runs to 11 a.m., also at the Harry S. Downs Center. At the end of the breakfast, the Homecoming Parade will return for the first time since the fall of 2006. This year’s parade will be a first, as the parade will not be held on campus, but will start (at 11 a.m.) at the Morrow Municipal Complex and will run on Jonesboro Road to Clayton State Boulevard before turning on campus. The parade will be followed by the Tailgate/Homecoming Festival, which will run from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the parking lot of the Student Activities Center. That’s a warm-up for a couple of high-level basketball games, which are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. In the first game, the Clayton State women, the 2011 NCAA Division II national champions and currently ranked fourth in the nation, will take on Montevallo. In the second game, the 2012 NCAA Division II runner-up Montevallo men will take on the Lakers in a 5:30 p.m. start. The men’s game will include the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen at halftime. For more information, go to the Homecoming web page at www.clayton.edu/homecoming. Run Clayton State 5K Run/Walk, Feb. 9 The Clayton State Department of Athletics and the Atlanta Southside Runners, a local running club, will team up to hold the second 5K Run/Walk, “Run Clayton State.” The race, which will take place in conjunction with Clayton State’s Homecoming festivities, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, and will run entirely on the University’s campus, starting and finishing in front of the Harry S. Downs Center. Check-in for the race will begin at 7:45 a.m. in front of the Downs Center with the race beginning at 9 a.m. All runners will receive a T-shirt and age group winners will be recognized with awards. A special grand prize will be awarded to the top female and male winners. The race will also include admission to the Annual Alumni Breakfast, which starts at 9:30 a.m., also at the Harry S. Downs Center. In addition, participants will receive complimentary tickets to the Saturday afternoon’s NCAA Division II women’s and men’s basketball games at Clayton State’s Athletics & Fitness Center. Clayton State’s women’s team will play Montevallo at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the men’s game against Montevallo at 5:30 p.m. The entry fee for the race is $15 per person with the registration fee increasing after Feb. 6 to $20 per person. The race day entry fee is $25. A family rate (minimum of three, maximum of six participants) is also available. The family rate is $40 and increases to $55 after Feb. 6. The race day family rate is $75. To be guaranteed a race T-shirt, participants must be registered by Feb. 1. For more information about the 5K Race/Walk or to register online, please visit www.claytonstatesports.com\RunClaytonState. Proceeds from the race will benefit the fundraising efforts of the Clayton State Department of Athletics. Gifts — regardless of the size — support student- athlete success both on and off the playing fields, and helps Laker teams compete in the elite Peach Belt Conference of NCAA Division II. The Homecoming Parade, Feb. 9  One of our featured events for this year’s Homecoming is the return of the Homecoming Parade.  The parade will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, starting promptly at 11 a.m. The parade will start at the Morrow Municipal Complex (Morrow City Hall) and proceed northbound on Hwy 54/Jonesboro Road, turning right on Clayton State Boulevard, and ending on campus in parking lots C & D. It is our hope that this will be an event that our campus and local community can participate in and be proud to support. Student organizations and campus departments are encouraged to enter a unit in the parade. You may build a float, decorate a truck/car, walk with a banner or any other expression of creativity and originality you can think of — the choice is yours! Please visit the Information Desks at the Student Activities Center (SAC) or the Baker Center to pick up your Homecoming Parade Packet. You may also visit the Campus Life website, www.clayton.edu/campus-life to download the Parade Packet and the full Homecoming schedule. All parade entry forms are due by Friday, Jan. 25, to Natasha Hutson in Suite 223 upstairs in the Student Activities Center Administrative Suite. Please do not hesitate to contact Hutson via email at NatashaHutson@clayton.edu should you have questions or need additional information, or check out the Homecoming web page at www.clayton.edu/homecoming. We look forward to your participation in this event and a successful Homecoming 2013. Recreation & Wellness to Host AFAA’s APEX Event, Feb. 8 to Feb. 10 The Clayton State University Department of Recreation & Wellness is proud to host the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America’s (AFAA) semi-annual APEX event in the University’s Student Activities Center from Feb. 8 to Feb. 10, 2013. During APEX, AFAA, the world's largest fitness and TeleFitness® educator, offers certifications and workshops in multiple cities for the special price of only $99 per day, per program. The training is targeted to primary group exercise instructor and kickboxing instructors seeking certification for the first time, or renewing a certification. The primary group exercise instructor certifications will take place on Friday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, while the kickboxing instructor certification will take place on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Registration is currently available on AFAA’s website http://www.afaa.com by clicking on the APEX link and searching the Atlanta area. For more information, please visit AFAA.com or contact Williamson at (678) 466-4975 or email lisawilliamson@clayton.edu. Visiting Writer’s Reading Series Returns, Feb. 12 The Spring 2013 Visiting Writer’s Reading Series will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m., in room L-200 of the Library, featuring young adult fiction author Terra McVoy. Liberty Mutual Employer Information Session, Feb. 12 The Office of Career Services sponsors the Liberty Mutual Employer Information Session on Tuesday, Feb .12, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in room UC322 of the James M. Baker University Center. Liberty Mutual Insurance is committed to providing broad, useful and competitively-priced insurance products and services to meet their customers' ever-changing needs. They are committed to providing employees with challenging work and opportunities for growth. Liberty Mutual seeks Interns, Entry Level and Experienced Professionals RSVP is required through Laker CareerZone. Starting Your Business Workshop, Feb. 12 SBDC’s Starting a Business Workshop will be held in the Natural & Behavioral Sciences Building, room 139, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 12. If you are considering starting a small business, and want to make your dream real, this workshop is a crucial first step. Since lack of planning is one of the top reasons new businesses fail, attending this comprehensive workshop is one of the most important decisions to make prior to opening a business. A detailed business start-up book, "How to Start a Business: A Guide for Georgia Entrepreneurs," and other handouts are provided. The cost of the workshop is $69 per person, with a 50 percent discount for current Clayton State students, faculty and staff, who should contact Heather Chaney for discount code. Also, there is 50 percent off each additional person who registers with an individual when the first person pays the full fee of $69 (discounts cannot be combined). To register, go to www.georgiasbdc.org. Care & Majors Fair, Feb. 13 FYARC’s annual Care & Majors Fair will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., on Main Street in the James M. Baker University Center. Women’s Forum Scholarships, Applications Due, Feb. 15 Clayton State Women’s Forum is accepting applications for the organization’s annual scholarship awards.  Applications are due by Feb. 15.  For more information visit http://www.clayton.edu/womens-forum/scholarships or contact Dr. Angelyn Hayes.  The Women’s Forum Scholarship Committee considers applications for the General Student Scholarship and for the Staff Member Professional Development Scholarship. Writing an Effective Business Plan, Feb. 19 SBDC’s Writing an Effective Business Plan will be held in room 139 of the Natural & Behavioral Sciences Building, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 19. This workshop is for those who have already established a business, since running a business without a plan is like going on a road trip without a map. A sample business plan and other handouts will be provided. The cost of this workshop is also $69 per person, with a 50 percent discount for each additional person who registers with an individual when the first person pays the full fee of $69. No code is required for this discount. To register, go to www.georgiasbdc.org. Sexual Health Expo, Feb. 20 It’s a party! Get love or get lust. You don’t want to be the only one missing out on all the fun. University Health Services will sponsor a Sexual Health Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the SAC ballroom. Come join in the fun and get informed. Games, giveaways and more… 11^th Annual South Metro Development Outlook Conference, Feb. 20 The 11^th annual South Metro Development Outlook Conference (SMDO) will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Georgia International Convention Center located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse in College Park, Georgia.  This year’s theme is Collaborate to Compete. Recognized as the largest event of its kind in south metropolitan Atlanta, SMDO will focus on critical topics of interest that impact growth in South Metro including Economic Forecasting, “Aerotropolis,” Economic Development, the film Industry and more!  The Conference highlights the City of Atlanta and the following counties: Clayton, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Henry, Spalding and South Fulton. Admission is $40 early registration, $50 registration and $55 on-site registration. For more information visit www.smdoconference.com or call (404) 684-7031. The Sixth Ogden/N.Y. Times First Amendment Essay Contest, Entries Due, Feb. 22 The Fifth Annual Civic Engagement Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research Conference at Clayton State University announces The Sixth Ogden/N.Y. Times First Amendment Essay Contest. This is the sixth time that an award will be presented to a currently enrolled student for literary achievement in the area of First Amendment rights, and free speech, in particular. The award is named in memory of James H. Ogden, Jr., late husband of Professor Judith Stilz Ogden, who was a lifelong supporter of First Amendment Rights. It is underwritten by the N.Y. Times. Any currently enrolled undergraduate student is eligible. The authors of the first and second place papers will be required to present their papers at The Fifth Annual Civic Engagement Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research Conference on Mar. 22, at the National Archives at Atlanta. This year’s topic is:  “Should Corporations Have a Constitutional Right to Political Speech?” The essay requirements: Student submissions are limited to 2000 words, with a minimum of 750 words required. Students should follow MLA or APA writing guidelines. The Internet should not be the only source for the essay. Wikipedia should not be used. Reference to the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, and related U.S. Supreme Court cases is recommended. The essay must be solely the work of the entrant. Students must submit an electronic copy of the essay. It should be sent via email, and the email message should include the student’s name, address, phone number(s), and email address, to Professor Judith Ogden, 2013 Project Chair, College of Business, JudithOgden@clayton.edu. Information about the student should appear nowhere on the essay, or the essay will be disqualified. The essay should be typed and double-spaced using 12-point font. Entries must be received by 5 p.m., E.S.T., on Feb. 22. CIMS to Host Regional MathCounts Competition, Feb. 23 The College of Information and Mathematical Sciences (CIMS) at Clayton State University is hosting the MathCounts state regional competition on Saturday, Feb. 23. The event is run by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, with Clayton State as the site host and Dr. Catherine Matos, associate professor of Mathematics the Clayton State coordinator. Matos expects to have about 100 middle schoolers for the competition, plus their team coaches and parents. In addition to the competition, Associate Director of Recruitment and Marketing for the Clayton State Office of Recruitment and Admissions Penny Brooks will be speaking to the students. Clayton State Academic Research Conference, Mar. 15 Clayton State’s Academic Research Conference will be held on Friday, Mar. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. Research. Made Real. Here’s your chance to learn about research from all academic departments on campus as presented by the University’s exceptional students. All students are welcome to apply. Poster presentations will be made from noon to 2 p.m. in the James M. Baker University Center. Oral presentations will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. Go to www.clayton.edu/ARC2013 for more information. The Fifth Annual Civic Engagement Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research Conference, Mar. 22 The Fifth Annual Civic Engagement Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research Conference, “Getting Engaged: The Realities of Pursuing Your Passion for Civic Engagement” will be held at the National Archives at Atlanta on Friday. Mar. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students in the University System of Georgia are encouraged to develop an individually compelling sense of social and civic responsibility, community leadership and service to society. To support this goal, Clayton State University and the National Archives at Atlanta announce the Fifth Annual Student Research Conference on Civic Engagement. Undergraduate and graduate students attending USG schools are invited to submit papers and panel-session proposals on the broad subject of civic engagement beyond the vote. For more information about conference activities and how to participate contact Dr. Joe Corrado at joecorrado@clayton.edu. Clayton County Community Emergency Preparedness Seminar, Mar. 27 Please mark your calendars for the second annual Clayton County Community Emergency Preparedness Seminar, taking place on Wednesday, Mar. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Morrow Center (1180 Southlake Cir., Ste. 100, Morrow). This year's seminar focuses on "Making Vulnerable Populations Less Vulnerable." Businesses and individuals who care for indigent, medically fragile, elderly, disabled, or non-English-speaking persons will want to attend this free seminar. Vendor opportunities are available for emergency preparedness related businesses and businesses that cater to vulnerable populations. Please see our flier and registration form and contact Doug Dugger at (678) 610-7467 or duggerf@dhr.state.ga.us for more information.