Dr. Mariesa Crow, the transition dean of the University of Missouri-Rolla School of Materials, Energy and Earth Resources (SoMEER) since October 2003, was named dean of the school effective Jan. 1.

Enrollment on the first day of classes at the University of Missouri-Rolla is expected to be 4,699, slightly up from last year’s first-day enrollment, says Laura Stoll, UMR registrar.

As part of its campaign to deter online music theft, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is again targeting college and university campuses, where the incidence of illegal distribution of copyrighted music is high.

The Havener Center, the new University of Missouri-Rolla student and campus center, will welcome UMR students back to campus in grand style this January.

During his Dec. 18 commencement address, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond told University of Missouri Rolla (UMR) graduates that they are society’s problem-solvers. He thanked them for the contributions they will make to every sector of the economy, particularly to our nation’s defense systems. Bond also received an honorary engineering degree from UMR.

Jerry Bayless of Rolla, Mo., associate dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla and a 45-year member of the UMR faculty, was awarded the University of Missouri-Rolla Chancellor Medal during UMR’s commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 18.

Dr. Farouk El-Baz of Boston, research professor and director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University and a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla, received an honorary degree from UMR during winter commencement ceremonies held Saturday, Dec. 18, on the UMR campus.

Dr. Richard K. Brow, chair of materials science and engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla, was named Curators’ Professor of ceramic engineering during UMR commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 18.

Dr. Abdeldjelil "D.J." Belarbi, professor of civil engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla, was named a Distinguished Teaching Professor during UMR commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 18.