ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Young readers needed

Puget Sound area children in the fifth and sixth grades who love to read are being sought as volunteers by UW researchers trying to help other children with learning disabilities improve their reading and language skills.

Members of the UW’s multidisciplinary Learning Disabilities Center are looking for 30 boys and girls who had no problem learning to read to help try out new tests that will be used in on-going studies with children who have learning disabilities.

Volunteers will do a short reading and language test and perform some reading and language tasks while their brain is being scanned by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The process takes two hours and children will be paid at least $25 for participating.

To be eligible, children must not be wearing braces and must be right handed. The metal in braces interferes with the imaging signals. Only right-handed youngsters are being sought because their language center is located in the left side of their brain. The language center of left-handed people can be in either brain hemisphere.

The Learning Disabilities Center, which is directed by Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology, is investigating treatments for dyslexia and specific writing disorder. The center also is engaged in outreach to help schools teach children with these genetically based disorders more effectively.

Parents interested in having their children participate in the study or those who have questions about the study may contact Richards at 598-6725 or by e-mail at toddr@u.washington or Elizabeth Aylward, professor of radiology, at 221-6610 or eaylward@u.washington.edu.

Summer learning guides available

”Summer Learning 2001" guides are available in the Work/Life Office. Produced by NW Publishers, this is a comprehensive guide for summer activities for children and articles on how to make good choices. Call Work/Life at 543-6963 for more information. Also visit our Web site for even more choices for great summertime care for school-aged children at http://www.washington.edu/admin/worklife.

Library survey

It’s time for the University Libraries triennial survey on library use and needs. The Libraries has conducted these surveys since 1992 and the information provided by faculty and students have been used to improve library programs and services. More than 1,500 faculty returned surveys in 1998.

Each member of the University faculty will receive a survey about library resources and services about May 1. The survey will provide a forum for faculty to express their opinions and concerns about the University Libraries. By responding, faculty have an opportunity to help the Libraries serve faculty library and information needs. Please assist the Libraries by completing and returning your survey.

Blood drive

Tuesday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1:45 to 4 p.m. in the Health Sciences Lobby.

DEGREE EXAMS

Members of the graduate faculty are invited to attend the following examinations. Chairpersons are denoted in parentheses.

General Examinations