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Complimentary Desk Copy Service

Many faculty members have already been enjoying the complimentary desk copy service that is offered by simply providing on time course material requisitions. The Faculty Student Association (FSA) wishes to thank you for helping to ensure that the University is meeting compliance as it relates to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA).

This service brought to you by the FSA is implemented by the FSA Bookstore Liaison’s Office. As some of you may not be aware, the FSA employs over 400 students annually and this office is operated by one full time professional  Deborah DiFranco, the Bookstore Liaison and  eight  student staff  who diligently capture your course material information requests each semester and process your requests for “Desk Copies.”

The Fall 2014 semester was the first full semester that faculty utilized  the new Course Material Requisition (CMR) system. Previously, Desk Copy requests were made by checking a box, however, this past semester with the new system you now need to make your request in the comments section within the requisition.  Many professors assumed that this was a mandatory service and that they would simply receive desk copies every semester, not realizing that this was a complimentary service by request only. This service will be provided to all those faculty who not only submit their CMR on time, but submit their request using the new CMR System.

For those of you not familiar with the difference between a “Desk Copy” and an “Exam Copy,” a Desk Copy can only be requested once you place your course material requisition and commit to using this book for your class and  an “Exam Copy” is a free book that you would like to receive from a publisher because you are considering using it for your class. You must request an “Exam Copy” directly with a publisher; this is not a service that the FSA Bookstore Liaison can provide for you.

Reminders will soon be sent to faculty for the summer and fall 2015 semesters and it is important that you understand the process to have a better experience with this program.

Although it seems early to even consider providing your course material information by the designated due dates each semester, there are many reasons why this action provides the University and your students the assistance they need as it relates to their “Required & Recommended” course materials:

Meeting the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)

When the Bookstore knows that you will be using the same material next semester, they will pay students more during Buyback which in turn offers more used textbooks on the shelf to purchase the following semester. Used textbooks are the most cost effective way for students to purchase their textbooks.

Students who receive financial aid money and utilize a Bookstore Campus Account (BCA) to purchase their “Required & Recommended” course material  will need to buy their course material at our University Bookstore.

I hope you continue to enjoy this service and for those of you who will now be experiencing it for the first time, let me know if you need any assistance with utilizing our new Course Material Requisition system. My staff and I are always available to walk you through the process.

The Path to Success: Isha Sheth

Success is achieved through perseverance, determination, and commitment. Stony Brook University graduate Isha Sheth began the climb to success from the very bottom. She juggled an internship, being a full-time student, and a graduate assistant position, always keeping sight of the finish line. Recently graduating with her master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and starting a new position as a Product Manager for Motorola Solutions, Isha is a true example of what it means to travel along the sometimes bumpy, but always rewarding, path to success.

Isha traveled to the United States from Ahmedabad, India and enrolled at Stony Brook University as a business student in January 2013. Only a week after she arrived in America for the first time, Isha began working as a Staff Assistant at the Office of the Bookstore Liaison. Within two years, she worked her way from staff assistant to office manager then to graduate assistant for Kevin Kelly, Executive Director of the Faculty Student Association (FSA).

As a result of these job opportunities, she expanded her skills. “FSA helped me polish my skills, by practicing professional communication, presentation skills, and time management,” Sheth said. These opportunities have made her transition into the corporate world easier.

Despite her present success, Isha didn’t take any business classes until she arrived at Stony Brook. “Coming from an engineering background and never having taken a single business course, I was concerned before I began graduate school at SBU,” she said. “The structure and depth of MBA courses at the College of Business were just right, though.”

In her time as a student, Isha jumped at each and every opportunity that came her away and being proactive, she said, was extremely important. “No opportunity is small; you never know where it might take you with hard work and sincerity,” she elaborated. Networking and experience factored heavily into the opportunities that presented themselves to Isha.

“Employers consider real-world experience a top priority when choosing candidates,” Sheth said.

Undertaking special projects for the Office of the Bookstore Liaison, in conjunction with her day-to-day responsibilities as a graduate assistant, has allowed Isha to stand out as a unique candidate among millions of other young people.

“I could distinguish myself through high grades and relevant experience with FSA in my domain,” she said.

As a graduate assistant for the Faculty Student Association, Isha worked closely with the College of Business for special projects in marketing research.

“Defining the requirements of research problems, introducing it to students, facilitating collaboration of teams, and providing digital support to the class and professor through Blackboard were some of the tasks associated with my role,” she explained.

The FSA played a great role in facilitating the relationship Isha gained with the College of Business. Every semester, she undertook marketing research projects for Stony Brook’s BUS 358 class.

“I was able to apply, evaluate, and see the implications of the important business concepts that I learned in class,” Sheth said.

Isha was introduced to Motorola Solutions through Stony Brook’s Career Center job board. After undergoing three phone interviews and one on-site interview with seven senior product managers, she was offered an internship in the Product Management department for the summer. Most recently, she was offered a full-time position at the company as a product manager.

“This role essentially revolves around developing the roadmap and strategy for a product and taking it through its lifecycle,” she stated. “I was fortunate enough to have gained experience in these areas while working with the FSA and knowledge from my courses at the College of Business.”

It was the little things, she mentioned, that motivated her throughout it all. “Rewards at various stages were a strong motivation - inclusion in Dean’s list, outstanding performance award, and promotions at work,” she said.

Despite the challenging nature of her goals, Isha pushed through and came out on top. She is doing something that she loves very much and has met great people along the way. Ultimately the people she surrounded herself with were both encouraging and supportive.

By Jessica Williams

Liam Neeson is back for the latest installment of the Taken series, but this time, the tables have turned. Neeson’s character, Bryan Mills, is being set up for the murder of his ex-wife Lenore. With his ‘particular set of skills,’ Mills sets off to find who is responsible for Lenore’s death, while also protecting his daughter and the people closest to him. Secrets are revealed, lines are crossed and not everybody is exactly who they say they are.

Taken follows in the footsteps of its predecessors as an action/thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Through a series of plot twists, the audience is taken on an adventure that has us questioning who is truly good or bad. The movie is thoroughly entertaining, however at times confusing. I am a firm believer that less is more, and this plot became a little too difficult to understand at times. Taken packed in the action and suspense, but fell short in the pay-off. 

It is with great excitement that I would like to thank all Stony Brook University faculty and staff that have utilized the new course material requisition (CMR) system! With your cooperation and constant communication, the new CMR system has been a great success. On-time adoption rates have reached its highest in Stony Brook University history. We could not have done this without you!

We received textbook information from over 600 courses by our designated due date back in October and the University Bookstore currently has a whopping 93.4% of all textbook orders for the Spring 2015 semester! Getting your course material information on time is extremely beneficial for our students. For example, if the Bookstore knows that you intend on using the same book again next semester, students are paid more for their textbooks at buyback. Don’t we all want to save our students money?  

Sharing your course material information on time also ensures that students can see their “Required and Recommended” requirements for class at time of registration, which ensures that the University is in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). HEOA is a federal law that all state colleges must follow, and Stony Brook University is now leading by example!

Having worked at the Bookstore’s Liaison’s Office for close to six months, Alexis Nicholas has learned a lot about cooperating with a diversified team of students, managing her time and networking with colleagues who have greatly influenced her understanding of the professional world.

Alexis’s primary role as a Staff Assistant for the Bookstore’s Liaison’s Office is maintaining course material requisitions from faculty, managing the complimentary desk copy program and planning for Bookstore Campus Lifetime Events.

“These events help draw students, faculty, and staff from all around the campus for an hour of relaxation,” Nicholas said..

Alexis is also responsible for maintaining the Office of the Bookstore Liaison social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter, to promote upcoming events, educate the community about book buying options and create awareness for current bookstore promotions. As a more creative outlet for Alexis, these platforms have enhanced her skill set in communications and public relations.

Though Nicholas came into Stony Brook University as a Computer Science major, her career interests have evolved as a result of her experience as a student worker for the Faculty Student Association.

“I was able to gain career-related experiences while I clarify my goals, acquire self-confidence and skills, and build a network of contacts,” she explained.

Now the focus for her studies is Technological Systems Management, with a concentration in digital communications and marketing.

“What I enjoy most is interacting with employees on all different levels at the University,” Nicholas said. “My passion is people, so I like working for an organization or company that provides an opportunity to help and serve others.”

Being a Staff Assistant has also taught Alexis a great deal about time management and team building. With strict deadlines and a constant workflow, she has learned to de-stress and increase productivity with careful planning and time management, but also by utilizing her resources to the fullest.

“I’ve learned to request assistance from my colleagues so that I can achieve more and be more effective,” Nicholas said. “I enjoy the different style and approach each staff member brings to the table.”

In five years time, Alexis hopes to receive her Masters degree from Stony Brook University. She is still very much in the process of finding herself and where she wants to go in life, however she is hopeful for the future. She would love to travel one day, but for now she is content with her job and her academic goals.

From Book to the Big Screen: Divergent - By Jessica Williams

Divergent is the first in author Veronica Roth’s young-adult dystopian book series. In the post-apocalyptic Divergent Universe and what is the present-day city of Chicago, Beatrice Prior must struggle with a secret that threatens her life: she is Divergent. In a world that separates people based on five distinct personality traits, Beatrice does not properly fit into any of these. The five groups represented are Abnegation: selflessness; Amity: peacefulness; Dauntless: bravery; Candor: honesty; and Erudite: intelligence. Beatrice, or ‘Tris,’ chooses the path of Dauntless despite the fact that she does not fit in. Her journey explores the themes of identity, love, and conquering your biggest fears.

The Language of Curiosity

          Sometimes all it takes is a simple question to start a journey and to make a difference. Kamal Sridhar’s quest for answers began in a small town in India, where she grew up with her family. They spoke a transplanted minority language in her home, Thanjavur Marathi. While she also spoke the official language of India, Hindi, and the language of the neighboring state, Bengali, there were still so many different languages that existed, and still exist today, throughout India and within Indian culture. “Growing up, we spoke a language that no other person in my neighborhood did,” Dr. Sridhar explained. “We all spoke Hindi outside, but when we arrived home, we took off our shoes and our outside clothes, and left all of the other languages outside as well.”

 Dr. Sridhar received her Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She and her husband are both professors here at Stony Brook University, where they teach a variety of courses in Linguistics, Asian American Studies and India Studies. Her research interests include multilingualism in India, World Englishes, and language maintenance among Asian Indian communities both in India and the United States. They both began working at the Department of Linguistics. As Director of the Master’s program, she trained English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers for almost two decades. They are now faculty members in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, and she is Director of the Minor in South Asian Studies. She currently teaches courses about languages and cultures of Asian Americans, language and life in South Asia, and the Indian diaspora. “I like all of my courses,” she remarked. “It’s really the students that make the course.”

 Her research concerns how her family, along with millions of other Indian families around the world, continues to speak and preserve their mother tongues. While no census statistics are available on speakers of Thanjavur Marathi, rough estimates indicate there are approximately 200,000 speakers of this language around the world. Much of her work in the area of language maintenance has focused on how these languages are maintained in India and among Asian American communities. She is currently writing a monograph on how her own community has maintained its language over 350 years. In a broader context, her research and teaching focuses on the role of the mother tongue and English in the lives of the first and second generation immigrants; especially Asian Americans, whether they come to the United States for economic, educational, political, or social reasons. 

 As an educator, Dr. Sridhar believes that good teachers should not only share their knowledge, but instill good values in their students. She learned this as a college student, when she was asked to seek out the great teachers on campus and find out what made them great. “What I found is that great teachers are ones who make the students think, not just impart knowledge, but help them grow emotionally as well as academically,” she said. As a co-founder and Associate Director of the Mattoo Center for India Studies, she has invited many eminent scholars to speak at Stony Brook, including Robert Thurman, an authority on Buddhism, and Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of the great Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi. The goal is to expose students to the beauty and grandeur of other cultures by interacting with great minds.

“What I found is that great teachers are ones who make the students think, not just impart knowledge, but make them think; help them grow emotionally as well as academically"

 In addition to teaching, Professor Sridhar, along with her husband, founded the Center for India Studies at Stony Brook. The Center, as she sees it, is a place for students to come together and learn. “When we first came here there wasn’t a single regularly offered course on India,” she said, “but students wanted to learn about India.” Over the past 19 years, she and her husband Distinguished Professor S.N. Sridhar, built an activist team, enlisting students, faculty, administration, and community leaders to create a flourishing Center for India Studies, and help found the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies. They now teach approximately 30 courses on India per year educating thousands of students. They are about to complete a $5 million endowment for the Center. 

 Dr. Sridhar hopes to continue teaching, expanding her research on the use of Indian languages among second generation users, and expanding the role of the Center through conferences, lecture series, and dialogues among diverse students on our campus. She would like to shed light on Indian history and culture for students of all interests and backgrounds at Stony Brook. “In this globalized society, it is imperative that our students learn India, which is both an intellectual and cultural powerhouse as well as a mega consumer market,” she said. Professor Sridhar is actively involved in the community herself, conducting numerous outreach programs on campus as well as for school districts, libraries, museums, and civic groups.