Campus Connection - August 25, 2008

UW-L ranked again among 'best universities'

Best Colleges

Campus climbs to No. 2 among Midwest public masters universities

UW-L has again been ranked among the Midwest's best universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 "America's Best Colleges."

UW-L tied with the University of Northern Iowa for the No. 2 ranking in the Midwest among public universities that offer bachelor's and master's degrees. Last year, UW-L was No. 3.

When public universities and private colleges were combined, UW-L and Northern Iowa are listed 17th among all Midwest institutions.

This marks the second time UW-L has achieved a second-place rating in the report. In 2006, the campus was also tied with Northern Iowa among Midwest campuses in the same category. The university has appeared on the U.S. News list each of the past 10 years and has been among the top three every year since 2002.

In addition, the report notes in its "Great Schools, Great Prices" survey of Midwest master's campuses that 62 percent of seniors who graduated from UW-L carried an average debt load of $12,145 - second lowest on its "Debt Load, Class of 2007" list for the Midwest.

U.S. News rankings system relies on quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality, as well as a nonpartisan view of what matters in education.

"We're delighted to be included in the Top 20 master's universities in the Midwest," says Chancellor Joe Gow. "This is wonderful recognition of the high quality learning experience and outstanding value we offer to our students. As we implement our Growth, Quality and Access plan over the next few years, we look forward to even greater gains in the highly regarded U.S. News rankings."

The Centennial Campaign ... making history for the next 100 years

By UW-L Development Officer Jackie Jensen-Utz

"Centennial Hall," it's not just about bricks and mortar, it's about people. It is about where and how we learn and where and how we teach. That is what this new academic building will bring to UW-La Crosse. It's because the quality of a facility makes a difference. Just as the first academic building, "Old Main," marked the beginning for UW-L, building "Centennial Hall" in UW-L's second century will herald new opportunities for teaching and learning.

Everyone will benefit from "Centennial Hall." The 180,000 square feet of additional space for teaching and learning within "Centennial Hall" means more students can attend UW-L. It means more faculty and staff can be hired.  It's about UW-L's Growth, Quality & Access.

Right now! This is the time UW-L needs to have "Centennial Hall." It's been 34 years since a new classroom building was erected on campus. Can UW-L wait another 34 years? Wait until 2042 for a new classroom building? No. Right now! Today is when UW-L needs "Centennial Hall." 

Today is the time to make history for the next 100 years for UW-L by making a pledge to the Centennial Campaign. Visit www.uwlax.edu/campaign to learn more about "Centennial Hall." Print  and fill out your pledge form to be a part of history for UW-L's second century of teaching and learning.

Why have members of the Centennial Campaign Leadership Team donated to the campaign and why have they chosen to join the Leadership Team to be advocates for the campaign? Find out in this and upcoming Campus Connections. Discover more by talking to team members or go to www.uwlax.edu/campaign.

Carla Burkhardt, College of Science and Health • 785.8156 • burkhard.carl@uwlax.edu

Why did you give to the campaign?
I gave to the Centennial Campaign as a way to honor my brilliant colleagues (present and former) who have mentored me and supported me on a daily basis. I also am pleased to honor my education at UW-La Crosse. I am a double-alum who attended UW-L just as computer technology was starting to impact our lives. I think of the classrooms and chalkboards of "then" as I look at the technology at my fingertips (literally) now - vastly different in such a short span of time!

I donated to Centennial Hall in particular because of my excitement for its addition to the campus. This is a BIG deal! This building will make its home in the center of campus and take its place among well-worn and beloved halls. Our students will greatly benefit from this and other new structures; the additional teaching and office space will enhance the educational environment, while other new structures will greatly impact their overall college experience. I am fortunate to be part of the growth and advancement of UW-La Crosse and hope that others join me in supporting these ventures.

C.R. Kistner • Faculty Emeritus, chemistry • 788.4942 • kistnerCRK@centurytel.net

Why did you give to the campaign?

In our case, our gift to the Centennial Campaign is in appreciation of 44 years (10 as retired) as part of the UW-L family. We feel fortunate to be in a position to help.

Many people include the UW-L Foundation in their annual (or near annual) giving. That being the case, I urge potential donors to consider what they would likely give to the Foundation between the present through mid-2012 - then respond with a multiyear pledge. This should increase the funding raised, contribute to a successful campaign and increase campaign participation.

Two more have joined the Campus Campaign Leadership Team for the new academic building, Centennial Hall: Larry Ringgenberg, University Centers; and Gloria Wiener, Career Services.

Talk with team members about why they have chosen to be advocates of the campaign. For a complete list of the team, go to www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/campusconnection/2008/fall/25/LeadershipTeam.pdf

Hear more about the campaign on Thursday, Aug. 28.:

  • Joe Heim will speak at the College of Liberal Studies 12:30 p.m. dean's meeting.
  • Lise Graham will speak at the College of Business Administration 1 p.m. dean's meeting.
  • Jim Wiener will speak at the College of Science and Health at the 1:30 p.m. dean's meeting.

Make directory changes now!

Interim Directory sent as a PDF, info due Sept. 5

It's time to verify information for the 2008-09 UW-L Student & Staff Directory. The 2008 Interim Faculty/Staff Directory is being distributed via e-mail to all employees as a PDF (see: www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/campusconnection/2008/fall/25/UWLInterimDir08.pdf). Make a printed copy or keep the PDF file on your computer for use until the published directory arrives. Campus departmental offices will receive one paper copy of the interim directory.

What: Review the 2008 Interim Faculty & Staff Directory
When: Changes due 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5
Make changes at:
• www.uwlax.edu/hr/directory_changes.htm (employee info)
• www.uwlax.edu/hr/directory_changes_BDO.htm (building/offices/departments)
New this year: Interim directories are being sent as a PDF via e-mail

Follow instructions on the cover to make corrections to names, addresses and phone numbers. If your home address is not in your listing, give approval for it to be included.

Make changes to employee information at: www.uwlax.edu/hr/directory_changes.htm

Make changes regarding building, offices or department information at  www.uwlax.edu/hr/directory_changes_BDO.htm

Or, complete the form on the first page of the interim directory and send it to: Human Resources, 144 Graff Main Hall.

Changes are due by 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5. This is the only opportunity to make changes to the 2008-09 directory being published in October.

Theatre season tickets now on sale

Season tickets for the 2008-09 theatre season are on sale. The season begins Friday, Oct. 10, with "The Diviners," by Jim Leonard.

UW-L Theatre has been creating live theatre in the Coulee Region for over 30 years. Season tickets include ticket vouchers for all five productions, postcard reminders and early ticket reservation privileges. 

Season tickets are $15 for UW-L students; $35 for senior citizens and other students; and $45 for others. Purchase tickets by calling the theatre arts department at 785.6701. This year's productions include:

The Diviners
 by Jim Leonard
Oct. 10-11 & 16-18 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 & 19 at 2 p.m.
Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts		 Shelter Dance
Shelter Repertory Dance Theatre Company & UW-L Theatre Arts
March 26 & 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts
A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare
Dec. 5-6 & 11-13 at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 & 14 at 2 p.m.
Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts		 Click, Clack Moo**
(a children's show)
by Doreen Cronin
Saturday, April 4 at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Frederick Theatre, Morris Hall
Little Women: The Musical
by A. Knee, J. Howland & M. Dickstein
Feb. 27-28 & March 5-7 at 7:30 p.m.
March 1 & 8 at 2 p.m.
Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts		 The Balkan Women
by Jules Tasca
April 24-25 & April 30-May 2 at 7:30 p.m.
April 26 & May 3 at 2 p.m.
Toland Theatre, Center for the Arts

** Not included in season ticket 
For box office information, see www.uwlax.edu/theatre/production-and-box-office.html

Adopt-a-Highway crew fall cleanup date is Aug. 25

New members welcome

The Adopt-a-Highway crew fall cleanup date is Monday, Aug. 25. A car pool leaves old Hardee's South parking lot, 2505 State Road, at 5:30 p.m. Participants pick up litter along the approximately two-mile route on Highway 33 from Middle Ridge to Korn Coulee Road, near the La Crosse-Monroe county line. Cleanup gets underway around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Korn Clements Road and Highway 33. The group will meet for a potluck reception following the cleanup.

The crew is open to all university employees and their families. Wear appropriate clothing and gloves. To sign up, or for more information, contact Brad Quarberg, quarberg.brad@uwlax.edu, or 785.8572.

Oral defenses

Amy Menchl, master's degree in school psychology candidate, "Teacher Perceptions of Pre-Referral Intervention Teams," 9:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25, 305 Graff Main Hall. Adviser: Robert Dixon, psychology.

Ryan Brubaker, master's of software engineering degree candidate, "An Automated Refactoring Tool for C++ Programs," 2:30 -4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 102 Wing Technology Center. Advisers: Kenny Hunt and Kasi Periyasamy, both computer science.

Hien Nguyen, master's of software engineering degree candidate, "Web-Based Admission System for UW-La Crosse Physical Therapy Graduate Program," 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, 102 Wing Technology Center. Advisers: Tom Gendreau and Kasi Periyasamy, both computer science.

Long-time campus social group welcomes newcomers

The Campus Dames will hold a Newcomers Potluck at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, at the home of Kelly Verrall.

The group's roots date back to 1925 when faculty wives met at the home of the president of the La Crosse Normal School. The purpose of the Campus Dames organization was to provide members opportunities to become acquainted with each other, the school, and the community; to share common interests; and to serve the school.

Although the school's name has changed, the Dames opted to keep their historic name. The group still has the same purpose and has opened membership to all interested individuals, men or women, who are affiliated with UW-L. The Dames hold several social functions each year, sponsor an annual scholarship, and offer ways to get acquainted with the college community, including interest groups for bridge players, readers and parents and tots.

To RSVP for the Newcomers Potluck contact 787.8199 or ksverrall@centurytel.net.

Records and Registration announces new Website

The Records and Registration Office has launched its Website using the new campus template. The URL for the main page remains the same: www.uwlax.edu/records. Included in the update is the 2008-10 Graduate Catalog. Check links to make sure they still work. Please note: Graduate Catalog links have changed. Within the next month, Records and Registration will add a site to post new and revised academic policies and new academic programs and subprograms. Feedback is welcome. E-mail Sue Knudson at knudson.susa@uwlax.edu.

Bus U-PASS continues into 2008-09

Faculty and staff can ride La Crosse City buses for only $70 a year. The university's U-PASS contract with the La Crosse MTU will continue for 2008-09. Faculty and staff can purchase an MTU bus pass that gives unlimited use on any of MTU's six routes throughout the greater La Crosse area. Those purchasing passes can take advantage of pretax payroll deduction. Passes are available in the Cashier's Office, 121 Graff Main Hall, and are valid Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2009.

The U-PASS program offers daily unlimited fare-free passage on all MTU routes for students, faculty and staff. From the fall of 2000 through 2007, MTU buses have provided 730,000 rides for students, faculty and staff. The program is a joint effort by the UW-L Student Association, UW-L Administration and MTU. For more information about U-PASS and city bus routes, visit: http://www.uwlax.edu/af/upass/

Alum with Team Denmark at the Olympics

Alumna Dorte "Duke" Nielsen, a UW-L athletic training student who graduated in 2001, earned a physical therapy degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003. Since then she has been employed in her home country with Team Denmark as an athletic trainer/physical therapist/strength and conditioning specialist. She's pictured here at the Olympics. See more photos and details at www.uwlax.edu/Advancement/connectx/web_images/HelloFromBeijing1.pdf.

Thank you

Dear UW-L Community,
I would like to thank everyone for their congratulations and best wishes. I truly appreciated and was deeply moved by the campus reception a few weeks ago. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as the assistant to the Chancellor for Affirmative Action and Diversity. I wish UW-L the very best in the coming years.
          Warmest regards,
          Al Thompson

Common themes unite UWL100 fall 2008

Eleven common themes unite the 15 sections of first-year student seminar UWL100 classes to meet this fall:
1. What does it mean to be an educated person?
2. Learning what a university has to offer
3. Expanding aesthetic experiences
4. Connecting to each other
5. Connecting to the larger community
6. Values and ethics
7. Learning to recognize and respect diversity
8. Career development as related to university resources and options
9. Information literacy
10. Fiscal responsibility
11. Wellness

Additionally, all UWL 100 students will participant in three common events, including "Behind the Scenes With the Screaming Eagles Marching Band," "Involvement Fest" and the presentation of speaker Firoozeh Dumas on her book "Funny in Farsi." To find out more about UWL100, contact course co-coordinators Sharie Brunk at brunk.shar@uwlax.edu or 785.6951, or Betsy Morgan at morgan.bets@uwlax.edu or 785.8159.

Scott Cooper getting award
Scott Cooper, biology, left, received the 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award at the annual Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching meeting in Minneapolis Aug. 8 from MERLOT Executive Director Gerry Hanley.

Kudos

Gary D. Gilmore, Graduate Community Health Programs, has been appointed by the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services to serve on the Strategic Leadership Team for the development of the Healthiest Wisconsin 2020 statewide framework for the improvement of the health of the public. The comprehensive planning effort involves public and private partners from across Wisconsin and includes the development of implementation and evaluation strategies. Gilmore also has been appointed to the Data Expert Advisory Group, which will develop the population health improvement model and data sets to be used in guiding the statewide framework.

Jon Hasenbank and Jennifer Kosiak, both mathematics, along with undergraduate student Andy Belter, co-presented "The Impact of a Teaching for Understanding Experiment in 8-12th Grade Mathematics" at the 2008 MathFest Conference of the Mathematical Association of America at the  Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison July 31-Aug. 2. Belter's work on the project was supported by a summer 2008 Dean's Distinguished Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the College of Science and Health.

Bob Hoar, mathematics, and Jim Jorstad, Educational Technologies, were guest speakers at the international Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching Conference held in Minneapolis, Aug. 7-10.

New grants, contracts awarded article correction
The grant of Scott Cooper, biology, was incorrectly cited in the Aug. 11 Campus Connection. The grant is "Effects of Hibernation on Hemostasis in 13-lined Ground Squirrels."

Human Resources

New employees

  • Maureen Wermedal, Student Status Examiner 1, Admissions, Aug. 18.
  • Rebecca Lee, office associate, Student Centers Scheduling, Aug. 21.

Promotion

  • Beth Dummer to Student Status Examiner 2, Admissions, Aug. 17.

Transfer opportunity

UW-L has the current transfer opportunity: full-time University Services Program Associate A/B in Continuing Education and Extension. This position is pay schedule and range 02-10/11.
Interested individuals at or above the pay range indicated apply by contacting Kathy Ring at ring.kath@uwlax.edu or 785.6499. For additional information, including a full position description, visit www.uwlax.edu/vacancies 
Deadline to sign up for transfer is noon, Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Retirement

Susan Larkin, university services program associate in Continuing Education, Oct. 31.

Classified

For sale

Electric bicycles: Charger "bionic" electric bicycle, pedelec, excellent condition, $650 OBO. Mongoose CB24V450 electric comfort bicycle, power on demand, $200 OBO. 785.8049

Oak Board Store entertainment center in excellent condition, bevelled glass doors, 58" w, 48" h, 19" d, $95; walnut-stain media stand 49" w (can be configured to more width), 29" h, 19" d, with 38" h shelf on top, $25. 788.8012.

For rent

Two-bedroom upper apartment, spacious, lots of light and storage. Centrally located, near La Crosse Public Library. $550 plus utilities. Available now. 608.397.5971.

Spacious two-bedroom apartment, high ceilings, original woodwork, pocket doors, porch, dishwasher, laundry, quiet neighborhood, close to campus, cats OK. Month-to-month lease. $600 plus heat. Available Sept 1. 785.8520 days, 784.8201 evenings.

Campus Connection and Eagle Connection schedule

The first Eagle Connection student newsletter will be online Wednesday, Sept. 3. Contact Campus Connection and Eagle Connection Editor Sue Lee to have information included in either or both Connections. Call 785.8497 or e-mail connectx@uwlax.edu. Information for the Campus Connection is due by no later than Wednesday noon for the next Monday's edition. The deadline for the Eagle Connection is noon on Monday preceding the Wednesday edition.