1. Establishing, in consultation with departments and/or colleges, academic standards pertaining to graduate study, including policies for graduate admission, honors recognition, retention, probation, dismissal and readmission.

2. Determining the procedures and criteria for selecting members of the graduate faculty and annually approving an updated roster of members of the graduate faculty.

3. Formulating procedures for hearing graduate student appeals and petitions on academic policy matters not resolved by administrative offices of the university.

4. Studying long-range issues related to any aspect of graduate studies and recommending how and by whom these issues should be addressed.

1. Receiving, reviewing and acting on proposals for curricular changes from the various academic departments and graduate programs.

2. Initiating, developing and recommending changes in the design of curricula for experimental and research purposes.

3. Informing department chair/program directors, in writing, of proposals being considered that relate to experimental curricula or their programs, thus providing adequate opportunity for department/programs to be heard prior to committee and senate action on such proposals.

4. Evaluating various curricular proposals by an established set of criteria, taking into consideration the needs of students and of society, the mission of the university, the necessity for quality programs, and the availability of resources.

5. Coordinating the various curricula through formal consultation with the academic departments, graduate programs, and the Academic Program Review Committee.

6. Publishing the agenda of regularly scheduled meetings in the university newsletter.

The Academic Discovery Lab is a service jointly sponsored by the Counseling and Testing Center and the Office of Career Services. The lab provides students with a centralized location on campus that helps students identify a college major; learn about academic programs; access campus resources; and, work with the DISCOVER career decision-making software program. The Lab is located on the lower level of Wilder Hall.

The Career Services Office assists students and alumni in identifying their career options, and in developing job search strategies which can lead to meaningful employment. Many resources are available to assist in this process: experienced staff members, a Career Resource Center, and the Cooperative Education/ Internship program. Workshops on career-related topics are offered on an ongoing basis.

Career Services provides a web vacancy listing which includes current positions available according to job categories. The Career Services Office also offers an online resume service for students and alumni. Representatives from business, industry, government and education conduct on-campus recruiting interviews for graduating students.

All students are encouraged to explore these resources. It is recommended that students complete Career Services registration on the web the semester preceding graduation. Alumni and others are welcome to inquire about services appropriate to their needs.

The UW-L Counseling and Testing Center, accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc., offers services designed to help the typical college student adjust to the university environment, cope with academic and social pressures, and prevent more serious problems from developing. The staff helps students be more effective in their academic work, personal life, and their relationships with people.  Individual counseling provides an opportunity to talk with a professional counselor about any topic or personal concern. 

Groups and workshops help students learn new interpersonal skills, improve study skills or discuss personal concerns in a safe and supportive atmosphere. There are alcohol and drug abuse programs and Reach and Share, a student peer educator group that presents programs on topics that are critical health and social issues, which affect the UW-L campus.

Information shared in counseling sessions is confidential in accordance with Wisconsin Statutes. Counseling records, tests, and related information do not become part of the official university record.

National testing programs are administered for UW-L students and other persons in the surrounding area. Available tests include the ACT, Wisconsin Regional Placement Tests, CLEP, PPST, MCAT, and MAT. The GRE, GMAT, PRAXIS/PPST and TOEFL are available in computer-based format.

The professional staff consists of psychologists, counselors, counselor associates, program assistants, and supervised professionals in training. Staff members have considerable experience in working with college students and use various short-term methods of individual and group counseling to help students achieve their goals. The Counseling and Testing Center is also a training site for masters and doctoral level graduate students who work under the supervision of licensed professional psychologists.

Counseling Center services are available free of charge to currently enrolled students. Schedules permitting, non-UW-L students may use the fee-based career assessment services offered to the La Crosse community.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for all students. Students with disabilities on our campus are offered a variety of services to insure that both facilities and programs are accessible. The Office of Disability Resource Services assists the students in obtaining reasonable accommodations at the university.

In 1988, the Wisconsin Board of Regents passed an important non-discrimination policy for students with disabilities who attend the University of Wisconsin System schools. This policy mandates that students with disabilities will receive the accommodations necessary for them to have equal access to educational opportunities and programs in the integrated or main-streaming setting.

Any student at UW-L who has a physical, sensory, emotional, or learning disability should meet with personnel from the Disability Resource Services during his/her first semester on campus. Students should contact personnel at the office immediately after acceptance into the university.

All classroom buildings have elevators, entrance ramps and at least one accessible rest room for students using wheelchairs. Academic accommodations are arranged on an individual basis between the student and the Disability Resource Services office staff.

Students with disabilities may be eligible for services such as: taped textbooks, classroom note takers, test accommodations, priority registration, equipment loan, peer support groups and advising.

Snack bars, vending machines, catering, and other food services are available in Cartwright Center. Contract board service is provided in Whitney Center. Food service is available year-round.

ITS provides computing, network and educational technology services to campus that are used to support instruction, research, student services and communication. A variety of services for students are available including computer labs, a help desk, training, e-mail, file storage and web services.

The ITS Support Center provides technical assistance and consulting for students on campus-supported applications and technology. Assistance with e-mail, course management tools, file storage, applications and more is available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Extended hours are available during the Fall and Spring semesters from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Online help resources and information can be found at: www.uwlax.edu/itssupport Technical Support Services works within the ITS Support Center and provides the institution with hardware consulting, diagnostics, upgrade, set-up, re-service and warranty repair.

General access computer labs are available in several locations on campus and are open at least 80 hours per week. Labs can be found in Murphy Library, Cowley Hall, Wimberly Hall and the newly-remodeled Wing Technology Center. Computers in the labs run Windows 2000 and Macintosh operating systems. A wide variety of application software including Microsoft Office is also available. A schedule of open hours and locations is available online at: www.uwlax.edu/gca

Students are eligible for free training through ITS. Training is available on Microsoft Office applications, HTML, JavaScript, Scanning and other common technology. A schedule of sessions is published each semester and individual sessions can also be scheduled. More information is available at: www.uwlax.edu/student

Network Services provides an Internet connection to campus offices, buildings and residence halls. They also support campus email and online file storage servers. E-mail accounts are created automatically for all students, and e-mail can be accessed through a web interface from any location. All students receive 20mb of e-mail storage. Many forms of official campus communication are sent through campus e-mail addresses, so it is critical that all students use their university e-mail accounts. Information and assistance with email is available through the ITS Support Center.

Online File Storage is provided on a central file server. This allows students to store documents and other files in a central location, which is available to them from home or from any campus computer lab. 50mb of storage is provided for each student. Information and assistance with Online File Storage is available through the ITS Support Center.

Information Technology Services provides a variety of other services including classroom technology support and campus Web servers (www.uwlax.edu). 

The campus Web server provides information on campus events, directories of people and services, and other information. ITS also supports course management servers such as Blackboard and WebCT.

ITS resources are provided to students, faculty and staff to support academic work and to create a community of shared inquiry. Principles of responsible use to which all users are bound are printed in the student and staff handbooks available electronically on the campus web server.

Murphy Library houses library materials, computer facilities, and curriculum collections. Specialized facilities for computer instruction, extended hours studying, and student support services are integral parts of the library resource center.

The remodeled building and 1995 addition contain over 650,461 volumes in open stack collections, including books, maps, periodicals and microfilm. An on-line catalog allows users to search Murphy Library and other University of Wisconsin and regional catalogs. Materials may be borrowed directly from other UW libraries.

The facility provides a variety of seating carrels and group study rooms in a pleasant surrounding. The Special Collections/Area Research Center contains the university archives, rare books, over 700 hours of oral history interviews, a 146,799-image photo collection, 6,099 books on Wisconsin history and a regional depository for State Historical Society records and documents.

There are more than 1,600 current periodicals shelved on the first floor with bound and microform volumes of periodicals. A searchable database lists title alphabetically for periodicals owned by Murphy Library, area libraries and available as full-text or full-image files. The microform holdings number more than one million. Hundreds of information databases are accessible through the library's web site.

The video collection with more than 1500 titles is located in the Curriculum Center. These materials can be checked out and viewing facilities are available.

The library is rich in foreign bibliographies, encyclopedias and reference volumes. It is a selective depository for state and federal documents. The inter-library loan/document delivery department provides prompt access to materials that may be available at other universities, but not at UW-L. By cooperative agreement, students may also use the libraries of Viterbo University, Western Wisconsin Technical College, the La Crosse Public Library and area medical centers.

The Rec includes a track, strength and conditioning center, aerobics room, martial arts room, four gymnasiums, climbing wall, racquetball courts, batting cages, TV lounge, vending area, Outdoor Connection, and the Child Care Center. The facility, funded entirely by student fees, is used for intramural sports, open recreation, and sport and activity club events.

The staff consists of Board Certified physicians, a certified nurse practitioner, five registered nurses with certification in college health nursing, physical therapists who are also certified athletic trainers, physical therapist's assistants, medical lab technologists, health information managers, and office staff. The Health Center staff is experienced in working with the health care needs of college students and is dedicated to providing high quality care and assistance.

Services are available to students who are registered for a minimum of seven credits during the fall or spring semester or a minimum of six credits during the summer session.. The student health fee is automatically included in the full-time student fee statement. There is a semester fee charge for allergy injections. Students enrolled for six credits or less may also use the Health Center if they pay the student health fee.

All information in a student's health record is entirely confidential and is not released to anyone without the student's written consent. Students may schedule an appointment to review their medical records.

Students are seen on an appointment basis 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays when school is in session. A nurse is available to screen urgent medical needs when an appointment is not available. Students who need emergency medical care when the Health Center is closed should go to the emergency department or walk-in clinic of either of the La Crosse hospitals.

Students are not required to have insurance to receive care at the Health Center. Payment of student fees covers this cost. However, students are strongly encouraged to obtain supplemental hospital-accident insurance to cover such expenses as hospitalization, emergency services, specialist care, X-rays, pharmacy, and ambulance transport. The student health fee does not cover these costs. If coverage is available through a family plan, students are urged to have the name of the insurance carrier and policy/subscriber numbers available on campus. For those students not covered under family policies, a supplemental insurance plan is available though the university.

Because the university residence halls are non-apartment style with two individuals to each room and centrally located bathrooms on each floor, most graduate students elect to live off campus. Baird Hall has been reserved for upperclass, graduate, and international students; single rooms are not available in Baird Hall. A kitchen on each floor is provided and the university meal plan is optional. Baird Hall is open during break periods and residents may stay in the hall for an additional charge.

On-campus housing fills very quickly. Students who are interested in this housing option should contact the Office of Residence Life immediately after being accepted for admission.

No university-owned housing is provided for married students. The Office of Residence Life does work closely with local landlords and rental agencies in compiling a list of apartments and rental spaces available off campus. The computerized list is updated weekly and available at a cost of fifty cents plus mailing costs. To obtain a copy of this list, call (608)785-8075.

The international student adviser is located in the Office of International Education. This adviser plays an important role in assisting new international students in their adjustment to UW-L and life in the United States. Although a primary function is advising students on the many issues that may affect their stay, the Office of International Education and the International Student Adviser provide other important services:

-- pre-arrival information containing details about transportation and arrival, health insurance, housing, life in La Crosse, and orientation.

-- orientation programs, scheduled each semester before classes, to acquaint new students with university academics, facilities, and procedures, life in La Crosse, money and banking, immigration laws, and campus and community organizations.

-- administration of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations in areas such as work authorization, transfer of schools, practical training authorization, and extension of stay.

-- referral services to other university offices and community agencies.

International Student Organization (ISO) is a recognized university student organization that offers membership to U.S. and international students, as well as interested non-student members. ISO sponsors an International Awareness Week and an international banquet. Other social events and activities are scheduled throughout the year.

La Crosse Friends of International Students (LFIS) is a community organization which is actively involved with the international students at UW-L. The group organizes cultural and social events, excursions, and other activities. It sponsors a Friendship Family program which arranges arrival greeting, temporary housing, as well as community interaction for new and continuing international students. See

The Student Association annually contracts with local attorneys to help students who need legal advice. By contacting the Office of Student Life, (608)785-8062, students can make appointments to see an attorney on campus. All information between attorney and student is kept confidential. It should be noted that legal service is limited to advice, not court appearances.

The primary goals of the Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS) are to increase the undergraduate and graduate enrollment of American minority and disadvantaged students, to improve the quality of their educational and social experience, and to increase the number of graduates. To accomplish these objectives, the OMSS sponsors retention services, such as tutoring and academic early intervention, and other special academic support programs and services. The OMSS also sponsors numerous cultural events, supports diverse student organizations, promotes community outreach efforts, consults and holds joint programming sessions with support services offices, and encourages staff and faculty involvement in multicultural student assistance programs. In addition, the OMSS staff assists students with financial, academic, postgraduate, and personal matters. The Office administers the Academic Summer Institute, an eight week intensive program in college level English, mathematics, history and academic skills designed for minority freshmen.

The protective services unit exists for the protection of people and property within and adjacent to the University community. The staff of certified (commissioned) police officers strive to provide a safe and secure campus environment. This is done through enforcement as well as engaging in activities with the office of student life and residence life to promote safety and responsible behavior. Protective Services is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This unit also is responsible for campus parking. Space is very limited. Lots designated as commuter parking for students and staff are controlled by permits sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Office of Student Life staff strive to serve as advocates to promote the interest of students within the university. Their goal is to help facilitate student success by maximizing the use of the services available and to intervene on students' behalf when requested and appropriate. Staff are prepared to address the following issues:

-- advising and referral of students who experience personal crises

-- investigation of student complaints (ombuds role)

-- advocacy and advisement for returning adult students (non-traditional aged)

www.uwlax.edu/Returning Adults

In addition, the staff can provide mediation services to students who may experience interpersonal conflict(s) and are interested in working toward resolution.

In 1989, the Board of Regents adopted an administrative code Chapter UWS 14, which covers academic misconduct. Its principles state that "The Board of Regents, administrators, faculty, academic staff, and students of the University of Wisconsin System believe that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education and of the University of Wisconsin system. The University has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty. Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others' academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards must be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions."

The Board also revised Chapter UWS 17, which covers non-academic misconduct. In it, they state that "The Board of Regents, administration, faculty, academic staff and students of the University of Wisconsin system believe that the teaching, learning, research and service activities of the university can flourish only in an environment that is safe from violence and free of harassment, fraud, theft, disruption and intimidation. The university has a responsibility to identify basic standards of non-academic conduct necessary to protect the community, and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of misconduct while observing the procedural and substantive rights of students. Any person who violates state or federal laws on university property may face prosecution in the appropriate courts. In addition, students, faculty or staff who violate university standards are subject to university disciplinary action."

The procedures in both Chapters 14 and 17 describe the actions that the university may take in response to student misconduct; they define the conduct that is prohibited; and they outline the procedures that are to be used to resolve allegations of misconduct. The UW-L student disciplinary procedures are identical to those in UWS 14 and UWS 17. These documents can be found in the UW-L Eagle Eye, available at the Office of Student Life Web site, www.uwlax.edu/StudentLife/main2.html It also includes UWS Chapter 18, "Conduct on University Lands", which describes prohibited behavior and parking regulations.

The students at UW-L have adopted the following honor statement: "We, the students of UW-La Crosse, believe that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education. We, as students, are responsible for the honest completion and representation of our work and respect for others' academic endeavors. We, as students, and responsible citizens of the city of La Crosse, will aim to uphold the integrity of the University throughout the La Crosse community. It is our individual responsibility as students to uphold these ethical standards and to respect the character of the individuals and the university."

There are many opportunities for campus and community involvement at the graduate level. The Involvement Center, 222 Cartwright Center, is a service that promotes volunteerism and involvement. The staff has access to a wide variety of resources to match opportunities with students' interests. They also present programs to classes and organizations.

The Diversity Resource Center, 223A Cartwright Center, can assist student organizations and individual students in understanding and valuing diversity. It provides resources and educational programs that encourage the acceptance, respect, and appreciation of diversity in relation to race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical capabilities, socioeconomic status, and religious affiliation.

There are 150 student organizations which focus on departmental/professional interests, social organizations, honor societies, human diversity, religious and spiritual areas, service, special interests, social activism, sports and activities. The Recognized Student Organizations Guide, available in Student Activities and Centers Office, 212 Cartwright Center, has descriptions of each organization. The Student Senate, the Faculty Senate-appointed Graduate Council and Graduate Curriculum Committee each have graduate student representation.

The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) is a recognized university student organization for all graduate students, which is led by elected student officers. Each year the GSO implements a variety of professional development activities such as graduate research orientation, use of instructional technology, and career counseling. Travel fundsare available on a competitive basis from the GSO for students enrolled in a degree program who are presenting or attending professional conferences. A competitive Graduate Student Research Grant program is also available. Contact the Office of University Graduate Studies (608)785-8124, for information about the GSO or funding opportunities.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Alumni Association builds relationships with alumni, students and the university. These lifelong relationships are the foundation of our program.

When you graduate, you will join more than 53,000 alums, living in 59 different countries that have earned degrees from UW-La Crosse. One of the easiest way to stay connected to the university is through The UW-La Crosse Alumni Association. The Alumni Association organizes events all over the world to bring alumni together. Our goal is to connect alumni to the university and to each other. Any graduate, former student, faculty and friend of the university is eligible to join.

CEE works with faculty and departments to extend the instructional, research and public service resources of UW-L to individuals and organizations in western Wisconsin communities and in other parts of the state. Some programs attract national and international audiences.

Graduate and undergraduate credit courses are offered off-campus for part-time students, primarily K-12 educators and health and human service professionals. Some courses are offered in partnership with the Cooperative Education Service Agency (CESA) #4. CEE also administers the Learning Community program within the Master of Education-Professional Development Program (ME-PD) in partnership with the School of Education.

Conferences, workshops and other non-credit instructional programs are conducted for selected professional audiences, as well as for the general public. The Learning in Retirement programs are offered specifically for older adults. Continuing education units (CEUs), Department of Public Instruction clock hours or health education continuing education contact hours (CECHs) are awarded when appropriate.

Science, humanities, and arts enrichment classes are also offered for upper elementary, middle and high school students.

Credit outreach courses and most non-credit instructional programs are offered in partnership with UW-Extension. Distance learning technologies are used for selected audiences.

CEE staff work with faculty and off-campus individuals to host conferences and annual meetings of professional associations and other organizations.

MVAC is an archaeological research, preservation, and public education organization that conducts excavations and surveys, presents programs and speakers, and works with archaeologists in the Sociology/ Archaeology Department to provide opportunities for student participation in archaeological research. MVAC has its administrative office in room 310 Wimberly Hall (785-8463). The Archaeology Center and Laboratories Building is used to train students in archaeological methods. The archaeology laboratory is a location for much course-related student research, and contains space to curate artifacts recovered from field projects. The Center also provides archaeological and historical consulting services for developers and governmental agencies. Field Studies are conducted annually to learn about the prehistoric and early historic cultures of the upper Mississippi River Valley. The MVAC Web site contains much information on the archaeology of the upper Mississippi River.

The University of Wisconsin System sponsors summer programs at Pigeon Lake Field Station near Drummond, Wis. Appropriate course work successfully completed at Pigeon Lake is credited as resident study by the university.

Pigeon Lake Field Station is a natural laboratory in the heart of the Chequamegon National Forest. Sixteen rustic cabins (each accommodating eight students), a dining hall, recreation hall, and three classroom/ laboratory buildings are situated near the lake's 1,400-foot shoreline. Excellent facilities are available for boating, swimming and fishing.

The station is used principally for programs in field biology, the natural sciences, outdoor recreation, outdoor education and art. Courses vary in length from one to three weeks.

Graduate and undergraduate courses are publicized in the early spring. For further details, contact the Dean of the College of Science and Allied Health.

The planetarium has served the university, area schools, private groups, and the general public since 1965. Several thousand people attend presentations at the planetarium each school year. Bright stars and major constellations are pointed out in the simulated sky at public programs on Monday evenings. Each program also includes a multi-media presentation on various subjects in astronomy and space science. A music, light and laser show, "Album Encounters", features rock artists on Thursday evenings. For information on current programs, call 785-8669. www.uwlax.edu/planetarium

The RSC, created in 1972, is a non-curricular unit established to focus on research and informational programs pertinent to the Upper Mississippi River and its related resources. During the past 20 years, the RSC has expanded its activities to other aquatic resources in Wisconsin and the region, such as northern lakes. Specific areas of research include aquatic ecology, fisheries, aquatic microbiology, aquatic toxicology, and water quality. Research is conducted in laboratories in Cowley Hall including the recently renovated analytical chemistry and aquatic toxicology facilities.

The activities of the RSC are closely coordinated with the Department of Biology/Microbiology and a number of state and federal agencies and provide employment, internships, and valuable research training for undergraduate and graduate students in aquatic science.

The BDC helps business owners start and grow the businesses through research, on-site programs, advising and educational programming. The BDC is located in 120 Wimberly Hall.

As one of Wisconsin's Small Business Development Centers, the BDC uses a variety of resources to help business managers solve business challenges. It provides businesses with information and guidance in starting, maintaining and expanding a small business. Funding from the Small Business Administration supports the free counseling.

Case studies are sometimes conducted by advanced students under faculty supervision. There are also internship and independent study opportunities.

In partnership with UW-Extension, the BDC provides non-credit continuing education programs for business people in a 7-county region. Topics include marketing, sales, finance, human resources, and other small business concerns. The Supervisory Management certificate program provides practical training for both new and experienced managers. In addition, the BDC provides speakers, programs and trainers to individual firms and groups.

Some research is conducted for area businesses such as feasibility and impact studies. Economic information is collected and housed regarding such issues as the local labor market, housing, consumer preferences and export potential. Local economic data is accessed through the Web site.

This program is sponsored by the College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Teacher Education in conjunction with the La Crosse area medical profession. The program comprises two community service units, Adult Fitness and Cardiac Rehabilitation, as well as professional units in research and educational services. Based on laboratory evaluations, individualized programs of diet and exercise are developed by UW-L faculty and technicians in cooperation with area medical personnel. Graduate assistants and undergraduate fitness majors assist during exercise periods in the Mitchell Hall pool and fieldhouse or during individual testing sessions in the College of HPERTE's Human Performance Laboratory. Although it is not specifically instructional, the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program offers an opportunity for practical experience, particularly to students who major in exercise and sport science and health education. Both the graduate degree program in Adult Fitness-Cardiac Rehabilitation and the undergraduate program in Exercise and Sport Science-Fitness Emphasis enroll students who rely heavily on the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program units for their clinical work and supervision opportunities.

The Consortium was formed in the fall of 1993 and incorporated as an independent 501(C)3 not-for-profit corporation in the spring of 1994. The Consortium represents an alliance between UW-L, Western Wisconsin Technical College, Viterbo University, and Gundersen Lutheran and Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, two independent health care providers.

The activities of the Consortium were initially guided by a steering committee composed of senior level administrative representatives from each institution. Under the direction of the steering committee, the Consortium focused its efforts toward investigating collaborative initiatives to enhance primary care, strengthen allied health science education, and solidify interactive research initiatives in the clinical sciences.

The Consortium is now governed by a CEO level Board of Directors and managed by an executive director. The focus of the multi-institutional partnership is directed toward planning and implementing interactive programs that optimize the use of shared resources and take advantage of the strengths of individual consortium members.

The Consortium identified the need for additional physical facilities to support their collaborative efforts and, with UW-L taking a leadership role in the initiative, constructed a jointly-owned and operated facility identified as the La Crosse Medical Health Science and Education and Research Center. The multidisciplinary center furnishes much needed space for expanded, integrated allied health science programming and provides the physical facility to support collaborative, clinically focused research in human physiology, microbiology and rehabilitative services.

On behalf of the University, the Center supports academic programming in physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical technology, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, physician assistant education, clinical microbiology, human physiology, and reading. In conjunction with these interactive educational programs, the Center contributes significantly to the economic and higher educational well-being of the region and is a superb asset in support of the University's focus on health professions programming. The facility was opened in September 2000.