Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president, will begin the convocation with his State of the University address, which will include his announcement of the theme for this academic year.

All university employees are encouraged to attend so that they can understand and appreciate strategies and goals for the year. "We hope this will help everyone see the big picture and better understand how each person's effort is essential for achieving institutional effectiveness," said Dr. Larry Gould, FHSU provost.

The event includes the presentation of several awards: Faculty Member of the Year, Edmund Shearer Advisor of the Year, National Academic Advising Association Outstanding Advising Award and President's Distinguished Scholar. Commerce Bank of Hays co-sponsors the prize money for the Faculty Member of the Year and the Shearer Advisor of the Year, and its president, Tom Thomas, will assist in presenting the awards.

New members of the faculty and staff also will be recognized. Gould will introduce new employees in the Division of Academic Affairs; Dr. Tisa Mason, vice president of Student Affairs, will introduce new employees in her division; and Mike Barnett, vice president of Administration and Finance, will introduce his new employees.

Gould will speak about academic affairs initiatives for the coming year. Dr. Stephen Donnelly, assistant professor of chemistry, will also speak in his role as incoming president of the Faculty Senate.

The event will include booths where faculty and staff can pay dues, buy tickets and purchase FHSU items. The booths include the American Association of University Professors, Athletic Department season tickets, Chartwell's Flexi-Cash program, season tickets for Encore, Tiger Gold on Friday shirts, season tickets for Music and Theatre events, and passes to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.