Physics Department wins national award for improving education

UW-L receives $50,000 grant to to develop math online course

UW-L will lead the development of a new “massive open online course” – MOOC – at the developmental math level, with a $50,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Once developed, the free online course, available to everyone, has the potential to help students enter college and graduate in higher numbers, in less time, at lower costs.

Retired prof writes guide to reduce stress

Annual Swinging Yuletide set at UW-La Crosse

The annual Swinging Yuletide will return to UW-La Crosse for an upbeat performance of big band and vocal jazz holiday favorites. The concert will feature the LA CROSSE JAZZ ORCHESTRA, UW-L instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles, and La Crosse jazz combos. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition.

UW-L students turn out to vote. Increased turnout mirrors national increase in young voters at the polls.

   

Veterans honored on Veteran's Day and during UW-L's Freedom Week

The Second Annual Freedom Honor Flight Veterans Breakfast, pictured above, was held on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, at UW-L’s Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse as one of several activities to honor and thank veterans. UW-L student-athletes and ROTC cadets served free breakfast to veterans and their guests. A brief memorial ceremony was also held and UW-L Alum Jason Church was one of the featured speakers. Church, a former UW-L football player, received a Purple Heart during the football game Nov. 10 for injuries he sustained while serving in Afghanistan. Other events during the week included an art exhibit at UW-L’s Murphy Library honoring the Armed Services, a 24-hour veteran tribute run and a flag football tournament. See more photos of the breakfast here. Photos by UW-L student Mark Fei.

International students shared taste of home at International Food Tasting Nov. 12

[caption id="attachment_17206" align="alignright" width="250"] UW-L Japanese student Shizuka Ikeyama showed children and others how to make a Sushi California roll with a bamboo rolling mat at the International Food Tasting event Nov. 12. Photo by UW-L student Mark Fei.[/caption] International Food Tasting is a traditional event at UW-L. International students cook their national food, talk about their culture and share experiences — and tastes of their food for a minimal ticket fee. This year the event was held Nov. 12 in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Along with sampling the food, those attending also tried their hand at making a Japanese Sushi California roll — "Nori," which is dried seaweed sheets, sushi rice, crab meat, avocado strips and mayonnaise rolled with a bamboo sushi rolling mat, called a "Makisu." See more photos of the event here. Find out more about the International Student Organization here.

Thanksgiving schedule

Thanksgiving recess begins Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 5:30 p.m. Classes resume Monday, Nov. 26. Residence halls, with the exception of Reuter, will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21. Access to residence halls will open again at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 25. Dining will re-open on Sunday as well. Class schedule changes Thursday classes will be held Tuesday, Nov. 20, and Friday classes will replace Wednesday classes Nov. 21.

Campus Connection end-of-year schedule

The next Campus Connection will be published Monday, Nov. 26. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, Nov. 22, the deadline to submit copy is noon Tuesday, Nov. 20. The last Campus Connection for 2012 will be Monday, Dec. 10. The deadline to submit information is noon Wednesday, Dec. 5. The Campus Connection will resume publication Monday, Jan. 7. The deadline to submit information is noon Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Student debt, privatized education, the attack on unions, economic inequality to be discussed at Nov. 19 talk

Tom Hench, Management, will present "A Betrayal of Trust: Student Debt, Privatized Education and Economic Inequality" at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19,  in 332 Cartwright Center. In the Issues in Higher Education Series talk, Hench will discuss increasing student debt, the growth of for-profit universities, the attack on unions, and widening economic inequality and how they affect democracy and the future. The talk is sponsored by the United Academic Professionals of UW-L.

Transgender Day of Remembrance activities to be held Nov. 20

Transgender Day of Remembrance activities will be held Tuesday, Nov. 20, to remember those killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on Nov. 28, 1998, kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” Web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. A candlelight vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Hoeschler Tower. At 6 p.m. Trans* Panel will be held in the Cameron Hall of Nations, Centennial Hall. The activities are sponsored by the Pride Center. For accommodations, contact the Pride Center at pridecenter@uwlax.edu.  

Buy Bookstore items online Nov. 26-28 and get 20 percent off; faculty and staff get in-store discounts Nov. 27

University Bookstore customers can take advantage of two holiday sales. Buy University Bookstore items online Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 26-28, and get a 20 percent discount at its Cyber Sale. Faculty and staff can get a 20 percent discount on items bought in the store during the Bookstore's faculty, staff appreciation day Tuesday, Nov. 27. The event is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the University Bookstore in Cartwright Center.  The bookstore will give a 20 percent total discount on regular-priced clothing and gifts — excluding diploma frames — to faculty and staff with UW-L IDs. Refreshments will be served from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fall 'Peerspective' newsletter now online

UW-L's fall "Peerspective" newsletter is now online at www.uwlax.edu/advising/Peerspectives%20Fall%202012.pdf. The fall newsletter produced by the Academic Advising Center includes suggestions of activities and events to get through the upcoming cold weather, important dates, an update on UW-L's Advocates for Children, info on UW-L veteran services and more.

CST 350 class to sponsor Giving Tree fundraiser

Krista Belanger's Communication Studies (CST 350) class will sponsor a Giving Tree fundraiser from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Students are making ornaments with gift ideas for those in need and will be at the K-Mart located on State Road and Shopko in Onalaska. Donors can pick up an ornament, purchase the suggested gift and return it to the students for delivery.  

Give thanks, give to United Way

Campus campaign continues Looking for a way to give thanks? Give thanks and LIVE UNITED! by donating to the United Way. All UW-L donors receive a coupon for 20 percent off an item at the University Bookstore. Donations of each $52 have chances to win a $500 gift card or 50” flat-screen TV. Employees and retirees have been sent pledge forms. Simply return completed forms to University Communications, 115 Graff Main Hall. (For U.S. mail return to UW-L University Communications, 1725 State St., La Crosse WI 54601.) The Great Rivers United Way funds more than 60 programs in Houston, Trempealeau, Monroe, Vernon and La Crosse counties. See the impact at: http://www.greatriversunitedway.org/our-community/success-stories LIVE UNITED!

 UW-L Athletics

 

Upcoming events

Men’s Basketball Crosstown Classic UW-L vs. Viterbo Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m. Mitchell Hall Gymnasium Free schedule poster giveaway to the first 500 fans Youth in Sports Day: Kids in youth team uniform free with adult ticket purchase Women's Basketball Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic Eagles vs. Luther College Saturday, Nov. 24 7 p.m. Mitchell Hall Free poster to the first 500 fans Eagles vs. Loras College Sunday, Nov. 25, 3 p.m. Mitchell Hall Wrestling Candlewood Suites Duals Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. Mitchell Hall Schedule poster giveaway to the first 500 fans Car magnet giveaway to the first 100 fans Eagles Eat & Greet Tuesday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Howie's on La Crosse Street Featuring the UW-L Wrestling Team 50 percent of food sales made from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. go to benefit the L-Club Gymnastics Intra-Squad Meet Maroon vs. Gray Friday, Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m. Mitchell Hall Schedule poster giveaway to the first 500 fans Eagle back sack giveaway to the first 100 fans Junior Eagle recognition night Follow your Eagles anytime! ... uwlathletics.com Facebook (Friend/Like today!)

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  William Barillas, English, will receive the 2013 MidAmerica Award for distinguished contributions to the study of Midwestern literature from the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature at its annual conference in May 9-11, 2013, at Michigan State University, East Lansing. Mark W. Chavalas, History, his co-authored book, "IVP Bible Background Commentary, Old Testament," went through its 13th printing. Nearly 60,000 copies are now in print. Julia Johnson, College of Liberal Studies and Communication Studies, published “Bordering as Social Practice: Intersectional Identifications and Coalitional Possibilities” in the book "Border Rhetorics: Citizenship and Identity on the US-Mexico Frontier," 2012, Dr. Robert DeChaine (Ed.), U of Alabama Press. UW-L student Alexa Kleingartner, Clinical Exercise Physiology, had her thesis "Toning Pants: Too Good to be True?" published in the November issue of the American Council on Exercise Certified News. Faculty advisers were Scott Doberstein, Carl Foster and John Porcari, all Exercise and Sport Science. James Longhurst, History, published two essays in Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies 79: 4 (Autumn 2012). The two essays in the special issue of the journal, "Environmental Histories of the Mid-Atlantic," are "Typically American: Trends in the History of Environmental Politics and Policy in the Mid-Atlantic Region," and "Archival Power and the Future of Environmental Movement History."    

Healthy holiday survival strategies

By University Dining Dietitian Sarah Nicklay Holidays are a time for treats and indulgence. You can enjoy the festivities and still fit into your skinny jeans if you are smart about what you eat. There are a few simple things you can do to avoid feeling deprived without overdoing it.

1. Include lots of fruits and vegetables. Strive to make half of your plate fruits and vegetables to balance out richer dishes. Fruits and vegetables will also fill you up and are full of vitamins and fiber.
2. Savor the smells, presentation and non-food fun. You don’t have to stuff yourself to enjoy a holiday meal. Meals are a celebration of all of your senses. Pay attention to the colors, textures and smells of foods. Holiday meals are also about gathering with friends and family and spending quality time together.
3. Choose your foods carefully and stick to one dessert. Avoid the temptation to get seconds or snack all afternoon.
4. Try making your favorite holiday foods healthier. Make substitutions like using skim milk instead of cream and applesauce instead of oil in baked goods. Use less cheese and sugar than the recipe calls for. Try egg nog flavored soy milk instead of egg nog.
5. Exercise! Burn off some of those extra calories.

Check out my bulletin board by the Whitney Center dish return for more suggestions and a healthy holiday recipe.  

Resignation

 

• UW-La Crosse honors veterans, WKOW 27: Madison, Nov. 11. Two veterans were honored at Saturday's Eagles football game. www.wkow.com/story/20064386/uw-la-cross-honors-veterans
• "UW-L athletes honor veterans," WXOW-TV, Nov. 11. Athletes at the UW-La Crosse spent part of their morning on Sunday, honoring veterans. Eagle student athletes hosted a breakfast in conjunction with Freedom Honor Flights, and more than 400 former service members attended ... (video clip)
• "Wounded veterans honored at UW-L game; father gives son Purple Heart," La Crosse Tribune, Nov. 11. ... At the last home football game of the year at the University Wisconsin-La Crosse, veterans -- both on the field and off -- stood and were honored with a moment of silence. In the midst of everything, 2nd Lt. Jason Church struggled to find the right words. His father, a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, had just presented him with a Purple Heart; his mother and girlfriend held him tightly as he stood up from his wheelchair, unsteady on his new prosthetic legs ...
• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to develop math MOOC to boost ... Nov. 13. University of Wisconsin System officials today announced that UW-La Crosse will lead the development of a new “massive open online course” – MOOC – at the ... www.wisconsin.edu/news/2012/r121113.htm
• "UW-L to offer online math courses open to anyone," La Crosse Tribune, Nov. 13. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will give students a leg up in math with online classes designed to bridge the gap between high school and college. A $50,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will fund a seven-week series of online math classes this spring, according to a Tuesday announcement from the university ...
• "New online course could cut need for math remediation in college," Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 13. A free new online math course being developed by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse could dramatically cut the need for students to take remedial math when they enter college, and put them on a faster, less expensive track to graduation, the UW System announced Tuesday ...
• "UW-La Crosse gets $50K to improve remedial math," Associated Press, Nov. 14. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has received a $50,000 grant to help incoming students who need remedial math courses. The UW System says one in five incoming freshmen needs remedial math. And for under-represented minority students, that figure is double. To bring those students up to speed faster, the La Crosse campus is using the grant money to develop an online math course ...
• "Gates Foundation grant awarded to UW System for online math course," Capital Times, Nov. 13. Incoming UW System students lagging in math skills got a big boost with the announcement of a new online course that has the potential to get more students to graduate in less time and at lower cost ...
• UW-La Crosse gets grant to help incoming students in math Nov. 14, WHBL Sheboygan. UW-La Crosse is getting some help as it tries to help incoming students who need to be better at math. The Bill and Melinda Gates ...
• UW-La Crosse gets $50K to improve remedial math Nov. 14, WFTV Orlando.The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has received a $50000 grant to help incoming students who need remedial math courses.

   

UW-L's ARC celebrates 50 years of its leadership role in collecting, sharing Wisconsin memorabilia

[caption id="attachment_17301" align="alignnone" width="770"] UW-L can be proud of what the Area Resource Center brings to the campus and the community, said Ed Hill, former director of Special Collections and the ARC, to a group gathered in the center Nov. 15 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Hill retired from the position in 1998. Paul Beck is the current director. The ARC, housed with Murphy Library's Special Collections, is one of 14 regional repositories of the Wisconsin Historical Society. The collection totals approximately 900 linear feet of public records and manuscripts and 450 reels of microfilm. Unlike other collections within this department, most ARC materials may  be transferred within the State Historical Society network to another ARC or to the State Historical Society in Madison for use there. Find out more about ARC at the Special Collections & Area Research Center home page at www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/departments/archome.html.[/caption]    

 Thanks for making Employee Morale Retreat a success

[caption id="attachment_17279" align="alignleft" width="300"] From left, Karmin Van Domelen, Matt Evensen and Barbara Stewart, all Campus Climate, greeted faculty and staff with smiles at the Nov. 6 Employee Morale Retreat.[/caption] Thanks to everyone who came out for the UW-L Employee Morale Retreat on Tuesday, Nov. 6! The event attracted more than 170 faculty and staff who enjoyed pet therapy, art therapy, massage therapy and more.