https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/Campus ConnectionPosts tagged with 'Advancement':2023-10-12T11:03:56.26Zhttps://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/making-his-mark-on-campus-online/Making his mark on campus, online2023-09-06T12:57:41.87Z2023-09-01T08:00:00ZKyle Farrishttps://uwlax.edu/profile/kfarris/kfarris@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Sept.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>1</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>Jake Speer, director of Web & Design Services at UWL, is receiving the 2023 Academic Staff Excellence Award. “The work itself is very rewarding to me, so to get an official award for it too just makes it feel complete,” he says. </figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Jake Speer receives Academic Staff Excellence Award</h3>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Websites, and the people who work on them, often get noticed when something breaks down. </span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">But <a href="/profile/jspeer/" data-mce-href="/profile/jspeer/">Jake Speer,</a> director of Web &amp; Design Services at UWL, is being recognized for an entirely different reason.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Speer’s commitment to collaboration, relationship-building and creating a website that supports UWL’s vast array of programs and services has earned him the 2023 Academic Staff Excellence Award.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">The award was announced Wednesday, Aug. 30, during <a href="/news/posts/end-of-an-era/" data-mce-href="/news/posts/end-of-an-era/">Chancellor Joe Gow’s opening remarks</a> for the fall semester.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"> An official presentation ceremony will be held during the Academic Staff Council kickoff event, set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, in 1300 Centennial Hall.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“The work itself is very rewarding to me, so to get an official award for it too just makes it feel complete,” Speer says. “The web changes a lot. So to have this milestone, this kind of timestamp on my career, it means a lot to me.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“But it’s also not just me. I’m fortunate to work with a great team of developers, designers and specialists, which is one of the reasons I look forward to coming to work every day.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Speer started at UWL as a web content manager and designer in 2013. In 2020, he was promoted to his current position, in which he oversees web design and development, graphic design, visual brand strategy, and digital signage across campus.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Although much of Speer’s work happens behind the scenes, he plays a crucial role in establishing UWL’s reputation among the public, including prospective students and families.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“A lot of people tell me they appreciate the website because it’s really their first gateway to UWL,” Speer says. “The web is where they get their information, even if we can’t see them. When I look at reports and page views, it blows me away how many people are looking at the website at any given second.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Adds <a href="/profile/mwalz/" data-mce-href="/profile/mwalz/">Maren Walz</a>, chief communications officer: “Jake’s work is, bar none, the most visible and most consumed product of the entire institution.”</span></p>
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<figcaption>Speer was recognized Wednesday, Aug. 30, at Chancellor Joe Gow's opening remarks for the fall semester.</figcaption>
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<p><span data-contrast="auto">Because of the website’s essential function in marketing and communications, Speer is an important player in coordinating major events such as <a href="/event/eaglefest/" data-mce-href="/event/eaglefest/">Eagle Fest</a> and the WIAA State Track &amp; Field Meet, as well as the university’s response to crises such as COVID-19.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">But these significant responsibilities have not stopped Speer from being an engaged member of the campus community.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">In fact, Speer chairs <a href="/globalassets/committees/idac/idac-by-laws.pdf" data-mce-href="/globalassets/committees/idac/idac-by-laws.pdf" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">UWL’s Individuals with Disabilities Advisory Committee</a> — work that aligns with his efforts to make the website as accessible and user-friendly as possible.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“Most people utilizing UWL’s website will never understand the importance of Jake’s work at UWL,” says <a href="/profile/aives/" data-mce-href="/profile/aives/">Andrew Ives</a>, director of the <a href="/center/access/" data-mce-href="/center/access/">ACCESS Center</a>. “However, a user utilizing a screen reader to find information to support their learning will recognize Jake’s attention to accessibility. For this student, Jake’s commitment could mean the difference between success and failure.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Speer has also adopted a collaborative approach to updating the website. He has created dozens of tutorials and regularly hosts web workshops, with the goal of training and supporting the extensive community of web editors across campus.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“It is refreshing and motivating to work with someone like Jake Speer,” says <a href="/profile/lklein/" data-mce-href="/profile/lklein/">Lisa Klein</a>, <a href="/community/" data-mce-href="/community/">Community Engagement</a> coordinator. “His expertise and solution-based approach to new challenges can be felt across campus and in the community.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">This year, in addition to the Academic Staff Excellence Award, Speer received the <a href="/gel/friend-of-gel/" data-mce-href="/gel/friend-of-gel/">Friend of Graduate &amp; Extended Learning Award</a>.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">His ingenuity and helpfulness have even earned him a nickname in some circles on campus.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“I nicknamed the awardee ‘Wonder Jake’ after one of my first meetings with him, when he quickly and aesthetically solved a web design problem for my department,” <a href="/profile/bmorgan/" data-mce-href="/profile/bmorgan/">Provost Betsy Morgan</a> says. “My appreciation for his wonderfulness has done nothing but grow over the years. He is creative, practical and laser-focused on serving UWL.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/3g2a6618-copy-min7.jpg/Medium" alt="Jake Speer, director of Web & Design Services at UWL, is receiving the 2023 Academic Staff Excellence Award. “The work itself is very rewarding to me, so to get an official award for it too just makes it feel complete,” he says. " />
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<span class="title">Making his mark on campus, online</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Sept.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>1</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Jake Speer receives Academic Staff Excellence Award
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/campus-storyteller-writes-final-chapter/Campus storyteller writes final chapter2023-10-12T11:03:56.26Z2023-07-03T07:06:00ZKyle Farrishttps://uwlax.edu/profile/kfarris/kfarris@uwlax.edu
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<h2 class="head">Campus storyteller writes final chapter</h2>
<h3 class="subhead">Brad Quarberg to retire after 38 years with UWL</h3>
<p class="sr-only">Brad Quarberg, '85, director of News & Marketing at UWL, is retiring after 38 years with the university. “I’ve had the opportunity to know so many great colleagues and alumni who have gone on to do amazing things,” he says. “To hear their stories and write about them — and maybe inspire people who read it — is something I’m going to miss.”</p>
<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">7:06 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>July</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>3</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<p><span data-contrast="none">For nearly four decades, <a data-mce-href="/profile/bquarberg/" href="/profile/bquarberg/">Brad Quarberg</a> has told the story of UW-La Crosse.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Starting with an entry-level position in 1985 and culminating with his current role as director of News &amp; Marketing, Quarberg has penned countless campus news stories, capturing the spirit of the people, places and moments that have come to define UWL. As the university’s legislative liaison, he has also carried those messages to local and state politicians, advocating on behalf of the university.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Now, after 38 years — 42 if you count his time as a student here — Quarberg is retiring effective July 5.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">His modest sensibilities would object to the headline, “Storytelling stalwart completes remarkable career.” But that is exactly what he is, and exactly what he has done.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“I never planned on staying as long as I did,” says Quarberg, ’85 (mass communications and political science). “The job market was slow the year I got out of college. I thought I’d be here for a bit, and then I’d go someplace and do news for a radio station. To be honest, when I got here, I didn’t even know this arm of the university existed.”</span></p><h3><strong><span data-contrast="none">Storytelling through the years</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></h3><p><span data-contrast="none">It was a different world when Quarberg started with UWL <a data-mce-href="/ucomm/our-people/" href="/ucomm/our-people/">University Marketing &amp; Communications</a>, then called Information Services &amp; Publications.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">The internet was an abstract concept rather than an accepted component of everyday life.</span></p><div class="list-item-1 ">
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<figcaption>Quarberg in his old office in Graff Main Hall in the early 1990s.</figcaption>
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<p><span data-contrast="none">News releases were delivered by mail.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Phrases like “social media” and “livestream” were still 20 years from entering the public lexicon.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“A lot has changed, whether people realize it or not, in how people receive their news,” Quarberg explains. “Back then, feeding news releases to the La Crosse Tribune and local TV and radio stations was how we got our message out. We still do that, but now we have our website and four or five social platforms where we can share news. It’s made some things easier, and it’s made some things more challenging.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Whether the medium was fax machine or Facebook, Quarberg did what he has always done best: tell stories:&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><ul><li><span data-contrast="none"><a href="/globalassets/offices-services/foundation/alumni/news/light-reads/paying-tuition-in-1989.pdf" data-mce-href="/globalassets/offices-services/foundation/alumni/news/light-reads/paying-tuition-in-1989.pdf">An exploration of how college students make ends meet</a>&nbsp;through scholarships and part-time work (spring 1989).&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></li><li><span data-contrast="none"><a href="/globalassets/offices-services/foundation/alumni/news/light-reads/uwl-100-years.pdf" data-mce-href="/globalassets/offices-services/foundation/alumni/news/light-reads/uwl-100-years.pdf">A reflection on the university’s first 100 years</a>&nbsp;— complete with a timeline and a list of 100 things to love about the La Crosse Experience (summer 2009).</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></li><li><span data-contrast="none"><a href="/news/posts/it-all-starts-here/?r=199d56dd-d14d-4277-ad72-6dced27cde2a" data-mce-href="/news/posts/it-all-starts-here/?r=199d56dd-d14d-4277-ad72-6dced27cde2a">A check-in with UWL science alumni doing extraordinary work</a>, illustrating the importance of continued investment in research and science education (winter 2023).</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></li></ul><p><span data-contrast="none">Quarberg has written all that and much more, producing dozens of issues of campus and alumni news publications. These stories not only promoted UWL to a wider audience — they served as a sort of glue for those hoping to stay connected to the university, instilling a heightened sense of school pride among alumni, friends and community members.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“We play an important role in carrying the message of the Wisconsin Idea to all corners of the state,” Quarberg notes, referring to the principle that education should influence people’s lives beyond the walls of a classroom.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“I’ve had the opportunity to know so many great colleagues and alumni who have gone on to do amazing things,” he adds. “To hear their stories and write about them — and maybe inspire people who read it — is something I’m going to miss.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><h3><strong>Boosting colleagues, building community</strong></h3><p>Quarberg has also played a pivotal role in shaping the stories of those around him.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“I know Brad truly cares about the people he works with — their lives, their families and how they can grow in their professions,” says&nbsp;<a href="/profile/klang/" class="profile-tip-trigger" data-mce-href="/profile/klang/">Kjerstin Lang</a>, content marketing specialist. “I’ve had so many opportunities open because Brad made me aware of them.”</span></p>
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<figcaption>Quarberg serving as Maple Leaf Parade marshal during Oktoberfest in 2016.</figcaption>
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<p><span data-contrast="auto">Mike Lieurance, '02,&nbsp; former university photographer, adds: “A greater leader not only shows the way but also walks the way. From his community engagement to his commitment to UWL, Brad lives that quote every day. It’s one of the reasons I enjoyed working with him. He valued everyone and made people better. I will be forever grateful for the time working with him.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Quarberg’s desire to help others can be seen through his involvement on campus and in the community — work that has little or nothing to do with his job description.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">He has served on several campus committees, including two terms on the Academic Staff Council, highlighted by two years as council president. He was integral to the creation of the Academic Staff Excellence Award — recognizing outstanding Academic Staff and raising awareness of their work — and went on to receive the award in 2001. (The UW System Board of Regents would later create a similar award.)</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Quarberg is in his third term on the Board of Education for the School District of La Crosse, where he served as treasurer and currently serves as vice president.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">He is a longtime member of the La Crosse Valley View Rotary Club and received the group’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">And he is a preeminent historian on La Crosse’s largest community festival, Oktoberfest, having served as chief editor of a book about the celebration, “The Fest of Times.” He was president of the festival in 2001 and marshal of the Maple Leaf Parade in 2016.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none"><a href="/profile/jmorgan3/" class="profile-tip-trigger" data-mce-href="/profile/jmorgan3/">Janie Morgan</a>, executive director of strategic engagement, says she admires Quarberg for several reasons — not the least of which is his dedication to the community.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“I have had the pleasure of working with Brad for the past 25-plus years,” says Morgan, '85 &amp; '86. “He has taught me a lot about the written word (the famous red pen), how to navigate the UW System, how to participate in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (our professional organization), and how to be of service to the community. He is not only a great colleague but a wonderful friend.”&nbsp;</span></p>
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<figcaption>Through philanthropy, Quarberg and his wife, Gail, will continue to make a difference on campus and in the community.</figcaption>
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<p><span data-contrast="none">Even in retirement, Quarberg will continue to change lives through philanthropy.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Quarberg and his wife, Gail, established an endowment to fund band and choral initiatives at Logan High School, using the pay he receives for serving on the school board.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">More recently, the couple established the Brad and Gail Quarberg Scholarship Fund at UWL. Each year, the fund awards a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior from Mondovi High School, Quarberg’s alma mater. It will be fully endowed through a future estate gift.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Quarberg hopes students transitioning from Mondovi to UWL will feel the same sense of belonging he felt as an incoming student all those years ago. For someone who made UWL his home, it’s hard to imagine a more appropriate legacy.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“We came down in December of 1980, and I remember my Vanguard and everyone being so friendly and personable,” Quarberg says. “You can tell when someone is faking it, and it never felt fake here. It stuck with me. After that visit, I decided I didn’t want to be any place else.”</span></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/3g2a1448-copy-1-min.jpg/Medium" alt="Brad Quarberg, '85, director of News & Marketing at UWL, is retiring after 38 years with the university. “I’ve had the opportunity to know so many great colleagues and alumni who have gone on to do amazing things,” he says. “To hear their stories and write about them — and maybe inspire people who read it — is something I’m going to miss.”" />
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<span class="title">Campus storyteller writes final chapter</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">7:06 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>July</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>3</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Brad Quarberg to retire after 38 years with UWL
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/healthcare-on-wheels/Healthcare on wheels2023-05-19T09:33:54.967Z2023-05-20T07:00:00ZKyle Farrishttps://uwlax.edu/profile/kfarris/kfarris@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">7 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Saturday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>May</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>20</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>From left to right: Rotarians Josh Mansee, '10; Janie Morgan, ’85 & ’86; Marissa Dickinson; and Dean Dickinson, ’68; show off St. Clare Health Mission's new Rotary Mobile Clinic. UWL alumni were critical in securing funding for the project.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Alumni the driving force behind Rotary Mobile Clinic </h3>
<p><span data-contrast="none">A new mobile clinic is delivering healthcare to those who would otherwise struggle to get it — thanks in large part to the support of UW-La Crosse alumni.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">The Rotary Mobile Clinic, owned and operated by St. Clare Health Mission in La Crosse, provides vital services to people who are uninsured or underinsured, as well as those living in rural areas who cannot easily make it to a clinic or hospital.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">The clinic-on-wheels — a 25-foot, 260-square-foot truck equipped to handle primary care, wound care, vaccinations and more — was made possible through fundraising by area Rotary Clubs.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Janie Morgan, ’85 &amp; ’86 (La Crosse-Valley View), Josh Mansee, ’10 (La Crosse After Hours), and Dean Dickinson, ’68 (La Crosse-Downtown), were instrumental in bringing the clinic to life.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“Just hearing the stories and understanding the need that is out there — it just blew me away,” says Morgan, executive director of strategic engagement at UWL. “St. Clare is wonderful, but it’s a stationary site, and there are all these people in our area who can’t get there for a physical or a toothache or whatever their issue is. I think that struck everybody.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Area Rotary clubs selected the project from a handful of proposals submitted by area nonprofit organizations. They did the bulk of the fundraising amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Mansee notes that local Rotarians have a long history of supporting projects in the La Crosse community and around the world. But not all of these projects have directly served the more outlying communities in Western Wisconsin and Southeastern Minnesota.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">That’s one reason the idea of a mobile clinic was so appealing.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“Rotary is more than park benches and shelters and things people see every day in La Crosse,” Mansee explains. “We help around the world a lot, and in La Crosse, so we wanted to find something we could do to reach out to the surrounding communities. This really tells a great story of what Rotary can do.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Initially, the group hoped to raise $40,000 from Rotary Club members and another $40,000 from community members — $80,000 that would be tripled through matching gifts from Rotary District 6250 and the Rotary International Foundation.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span class="TextRun SCXW79162423 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79162423 BCX0">They </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79162423 BCX0">ultimately </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79162423 BCX0">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79162423 BCX0">urpas</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79162423 BCX0">sed</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW79162423 BCX0">their fundraising goal, generating $160,000 through local gifts and another $170,000 through matching gifts.</span></span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">These funds covered not only the fabrication of the vehicle; they also allowed for the creation of a legacy fund, which will cover maintenance and equipment costs for years to come.</span><span id="_mce_caret" data-mce-bogus="1" data-mce-type="format-caret"><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"></span></span></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/rotary-mobile-clinic.jpg/Large" alt="" />
<figcaption>The Rotary Mobile Clinic is equipped to handle primary care, wound care, vaccinations and more.</figcaption>
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<p><span data-contrast="none">The mobile clinic, with its vibrant decals, now serves as a rolling billboard for local Rotary clubs.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">It has also made an immediate impact in local communities. In its first six months of operation, the clinic delivered health care to more than 300 people.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Jason Larsen, executive director of St. Clare Health Mission, remembers that during the clinic’s first official run, there were 19 cars lined up with children in need of sports physicals. If there had been any doubt about the need for a mobile clinic, the sight of those families removed every trace.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“It was an incredible start,” says Larsen, a Rotarian himself. “The doctors couldn’t believe how many people they were seeing.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Local Rotarians and leaders from St. Clare hope the mobile clinic will continue to gain steam, providing more services to more communities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Dickinson says this kind of transformational project is only possible in a place like La Crosse, where there’s a strong sense of community and philanthropy — as well as many UWL alumni seeking to make a difference.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“I’ve always felt a strong affection for the greater La Crosse community, and the university is a big part of that,” Dickinson notes. “La Crosse as a community is historically significant, safe, warm, inviting, culturally rich and a place where everyone in our community is welcome. People here take care of themselves, and they also take care of each other.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/clinic-group-photo.jpg/Medium" alt="From left to right: Rotarians Josh Mansee, '10; Janie Morgan, ’85 & ’86; Marissa Dickinson; and Dean Dickinson, ’68; show off St. Clare Health Mission's new Rotary Mobile Clinic. UWL alumni were critical in securing funding for the project." />
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<span class="title">Healthcare on wheels</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">7 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Saturday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>May</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>20</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Alumni the driving force behind Rotary Mobile Clinic
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/uwl-community-engagement-launches-newsletter/UWL Community Engagement launches newsletter2022-12-13T09:56:20.407Z2022-12-13T09:39:00ZYoo Mee Howardhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/yhoward/yhoward@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9:39 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Dec.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>13</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></p>
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<figcaption>A new online quarterly newsletter highlights how the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is impacting the community.</figcaption>
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<h3>Publication highlights how UWL boosts the community</h3>
<p>La Crosse area residents can learn more about how the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is impacting the community.</p><p>The university has begun publishing an online quarterly newsletter highlighting stories written by the <a data-mce-href="/ucomm/" href="/ucomm/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">UWL University Marketing and Communications staff</a>. Emails sent to area businesses, organizations and subscribers will include links to stories sharing many of the positive ways the campus is improving the region’s economy and quality of life.</p><p>“There are many ways UWL reaches into the La Crosse area community and is having a positive impact,” says <a data-mce-href="/profile/lklein/" href="/profile/lklein/">Lisa Klein, Community Engagement coordinator</a>. “This is a great opportunity for residents to see firsthand how we are working together to contribute to the public good.”</p><p>The newsletter will be emailed to numerous neighborhood associations, non-profit organizations, civic groups and others. People may opt-in to receive the quarterly at: <a href="http://uwlax.edu/go/ce-newsletter-opt-in" data-mce-href="http://uwlax.edu/go/ce-newsletter-opt-in">uwlax.edu/go/ce-newsletter-opt-in</a></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/cenewsletter-news-release.jpg/Medium" alt="A new online quarterly newsletter highlights how the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is impacting the community." />
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<span class="title">UWL Community Engagement launches newsletter</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9:39 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Dec.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>13</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></span>
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Publication highlights how UWL boosts the community
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/why-build-prairie-springs-science-center-phase-ii/Why build Prairie Springs Science Center phase II?2022-04-24T10:08:46.067Z2022-04-20T10:07:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10:07 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>20</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></p>
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<figure><div class="video-container"><iframe data-src="https://youtu.be/AUnUW0r5liE" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AUnUW0r5liE?rel=0" title="Business and political leaders share the top 10 reasons to build Prairie Springs Science Center Phase II on the UWL campus." allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen></iframe></div><figcaption aria-hidden="true">Business and political leaders share the top 10 reasons to build Prairie Springs Science Center Phase II on the UWL campus.</figcaption></figure>
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<h3>Reason No. 1: It's time to put politics aside. &nbsp;</h3><p>Former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson says people can run as Democrats or Republicans, but, once elected, they should work together and belong to the “Wisconsin party.” That party is in the process of building new buildings, creating new opportunities, building the state's economy and diminishing the worker shortage. Building a new science building on the UWL campus is a good choice, he says. &nbsp;</p><h3>Reason No. 2: Campus needs to get ahead of the time. &nbsp;</h3><p>Dan Kapanke, a former Republican Wisconsin state senator, says businesses must constantly evolve to avoid becoming stagnant. Similarly, the university must grow and change to be able to move forward. Prairie Springs Science Center Phase II would replace Cowley Hall, a 1960s era facility.&nbsp;</p><h3>Reason No. 3: Now's the time to invest in tomorrow's employees and leaders.&nbsp;</h3><p>Former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson says the university is investing in students who will become leaders of tomorrow. The proposed phase II of the Prairie Springs Science Center will provide a space to train “fantastic students” who will help fill a shortage of workers in the state, says Thompson. &nbsp;</p><h3>Reason No. 4: Campus needs to attract the brightest to Western Wisconsin. &nbsp;</h3><p>If the university becomes stagnant, it can't attract the brightest and best to the UW-La Crosse campus to stay in the community and in Wisconsin, says La Crosse business leader Dan Kapanke. &nbsp;</p><h3>Reason No. 5: Because a classroom out of the 1960s doesn't cut it anymore. &nbsp;</h3><p>Without a better facility, how will the university draw students nationally and internationally, asks La Crosse business leader Don Weber. Some local students will stay, he says, but many will venture out. The university must be able to attract students as well.&nbsp;</p><h3>Reason No. 6: It's time to support the university and its students. &nbsp;</h3><p>La Crosse business leader Don Weber asks where the community would be if it didn't have the university. He says business leaders need to get behind the system and support this project, giving students opportunities to grow. &nbsp;</p><h3>Reason No. 7: It's vital for the university's future. &nbsp;</h3><p>La Crosse business leader Don Weber asks where UW-La Crosse would be if we hadn't constructed some of the facilities that have been built in the last 20-30 years, indicating that buildings help prepare a university for the future. &nbsp;</p><h3>Reason No. 8: UWL students make a big difference for Wisconsin businesses. &nbsp;</h3><p>La Crosse business leader Dan Kapanke says interns from UW-La Crosse have helped his business over the last 20 years. "We help them, and they help us," he says. "It has been immeasurable, the success we have had with interns from the university."</p><h3>Reason No. 9: UWL is the key to prosperity. &nbsp;</h3><p>La Crosse business leader Don Weber says, without the university, we wouldn't be the region that we are.</p><h3>Reason No. 10: Build it now or pay more later. &nbsp;</h3><p>Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompon says there will never be a better time to construct a building than when interest rates are at 2 %. "I want people to realize that now is the time to build that building," he says. Waiting means that materials are going to cost more. “And if interest rates go up, you're going to say, ‘I made a terrible mistake.’” &nbsp;</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p><h3>About the Prairie Springs Science Center project</h3><p>The Prairie Springs Science Center project was divided into two construction phases for an eventual replacement of Cowley Hall, a 1960s-era science facility. Phase I, directly north of the current Cowley Hall, was completed in summer 2018. Phase II would construct a new facility connected to Phase I, in the location of the current Cowley Hall. Phase II will include offices, classrooms, instructional labs, research labs, and a number of highly-specialized spaces critical to the overall delivery of science instruction and learning at UWL.</p></div>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2019-fall-aerials-of-campus-drone-cowley-hall-0058.jpg/Medium" alt="The Prairie Springs Science Center project was divided into two construction phases for an eventual replacement of Cowley Hall, a 1960s-era science facility. Phase I, directly north of the current Cowley Hall, was completed in summer 2018. Phase II would construct a new facility connected to Phase I, in the location of the current Cowley Hall. Phase II will include offices, classrooms, instructional labs, research labs, and a number of highly-specialized spaces critical to the overall delivery of science instruction and learning at UWL." />
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<span class="title">Why build Prairie Springs Science Center phase II?</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10:07 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>20</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></span>
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Business and political leaders share the top 10 reasons
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/crowdfunding-boosts-campus-causes/Crowdfunding boosts campus causes2022-03-18T14:55:39.907Z2021-03-23T09:15:00ZBritney Heinemanhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/bheineman/bheineman@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9:15 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>March</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>23</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>UWL's Pride Center used a new crowdfunding platform offered by the UWL Alumni Foundation to raise $9,400 for scholarships last fall. “The software was very easy to use, and we were able to make it our own," says Will Van Roosenbeek, director of LGBTQA Services. "Overall, it came together wonderfully, and it was definitely not something I could have done by myself.”</figcaption>
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<h3>UWL programs find online fundraiser success</h3>
<p>Since taking the helm of UWL’s Pride Center in 2001, <a data-mce-href="/profile/wvanroosenbeek/" href="/profile/wvanroosenbeek/">Will Van Roosenbeek</a> has often wanted to start a fundraiser to support LGBTQ+ students.</p><p>There was one problem: He didn’t know where to start.</p><p>But a new service offered by the UWL Foundation allows offices and programs on campus to launch online crowdfunding campaigns tailored to their unique needs. The Pride Center was among the first offices to take advantage of the tool, <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/pridecenter25thanniversary" data-mce-href="https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/pridecenter25thanniversary">raising more than $9,400</a> for scholarships last fall.</p><p>“Our crowdfunding event was a huge success — we got alums to give, and we also got a lot of donations from faculty and staff and people in the community,” says Van Roosenbeek, noting that they easily eclipsed the original $6,000 goal. The funds will support current scholarships and help create a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students of color.</p><p>“Last year, the Pride Center also celebrated 25 years, so we thought it was a perfect time to ask for donations,” Van Roosenbeek explains. “The software was very easy to use, and we were able to make it our own. Overall, it came together wonderfully, and it was definitely not something I could have done by myself.”</p><p>The campaigns are run through Blackbaud’s JustGiving software, which allows users to add photos and text that illustrate the importance of their cause.</p><p>The Foundation purchased the software last year, and has already used it for a number of campaigns, including the inaugural Giving Day that raised $228,000 for programs and projects across campus.</p><p><a data-mce-href="/profile/jives/" href="/profile/jives/">Jenna Ives, major gifts specialist</a>, says crowdfunding is a highly effective way for an office or program to raise money for a special purpose.</p><p>“We were looking for a way to help campus partners with specific projects or initiatives that may get overlooked during larger campaigns,” she notes. “It could be new sweatsuits for the athletic teams, or maybe there’s an event or conference you have to pay to attend. We’ll work with offices to get things started, and then we’re there on the backend in case they have any questions.”</p><p>This spring, the Office of Multicultural Student Services has <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/50-years/" data-mce-href="/news/posts/50-years/">raised more than $6,000</a> through its own <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/2021OMSSCrowdfunding?success=true" data-mce-href="https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/2021OMSSCrowdfunding?success=true">crowdfunding campaign</a>, which will also support student scholarships.</p><p>The Student Association is also <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/uwlwocscholarship" data-mce-href="https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/uwlwocscholarship">raising money</a> — nearly $2,000 so far — for its Women of Color Scholarship.</p><p>Ives says she is happy to work with offices or programs looking to start a campaign. To maximize success, she says, it’s important to set an ambitious but realistic fundraising goal and lean on storytelling when making your pitch.</p><p><a data-mce-href="/pride-center/" href="/pride-center/">The Pride Center</a>, for example, provided a brief history of its scholarship efforts, as well as photos of students and events through the years.</p><p>“Some of our alums reached out to say how cool it was to see pictures from when they were younger,” Van Roosenbeek says.&nbsp; “It was wonderful to connect with them again, and it was great to see everyone who donated.”</p><p>Those on campus interested in starting a crowdfunding campaign should contact Jenna Ives at <a href="mailto:jives@uwlax.edu" data-mce-href="mailto:jives@uwlax.edu">jives@uwlax.edu</a>.</p><p>The Foundation is currently accepting crowdfunding proposals for fall 2021. To find more information and apply, visit <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/foundation/about-giving/crowdfunding/" data-mce-href="/foundation/about-giving/crowdfunding/">www.uwlax.edu/foundation/about-giving/crowdfunding/</a>.</p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2021-uwl-will-van-roosenbeek-pride-center-crowdfunding-0028-1.jpg/Medium" alt="UWL's Pride Center used a new crowdfunding platform offered by the UWL Alumni Foundation to raise $9,400 for scholarships last fall. “The software was very easy to use, and we were able to make it our own," says Will Van Roosenbeek, director of LGBTQA Services. "Overall, it came together wonderfully, and it was definitely not something I could have done by myself.”" />
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<span class="title">Crowdfunding boosts campus causes</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">9:15 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>March</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>23</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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UWL programs find online fundraiser success
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/new-semester-brings-challenges-opportunities/New semester brings challenges, opportunities2021-02-22T14:12:11.333Z2021-01-29T16:35:00ZKyle Farrishttps://uwlax.edu/profile/kfarris/kfarris@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">2:12 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Feb.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>22</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>Chancellor Joe Gow used a new format to give his Opening Remarks to campus Friday, giving viewers a tour of Graff Main Hall and checking in with UWL's five vice chancellors. “It’s so exciting to know that on Monday we’ll have classes back and get things moving again,” Gow said.</figcaption>
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<h3>UWL leaders addressed the campus community Friday</h3>
<p><span data-contrast="none">UW-La Crosse leaders stressed the importance of weathering another semester amid COVID-19 while looking ahead to a brighter future during Chancellor Joe&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">Gow’s</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://mymedia.uwlax.edu/Mediasite/Play/ac8e2a15f3894b049b32e8a61e4dadc81d" data-mce-href="https://mymedia.uwlax.edu/Mediasite/Play/ac8e2a15f3894b049b32e8a61e4dadc81d"><span data-contrast="none">Opening Remarks</span></a><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="none">Friday</span><span data-contrast="none">, Jan. 29</span><span data-contrast="none">.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Instead of his typical address in a crowded auditorium,&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">Gow</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;kicked off the spring semester by giving&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">viewers a&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">virtual&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">tour of Graff Main Hall and checking in with UWL’s five vice chancellors.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“It’s so exciting to know that on Monday we’ll have classes back and get things moving again,” said&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">Gow</span><span data-contrast="none">, noting that the key to a successful&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">spring&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">semester includes masking, distancing, testing and smooth vaccine distribution. “If we can all do these things through next semester and hold that together, I think we’re in pretty good shape to come back in</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">the</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">f</span><span data-contrast="none">all</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;and be at a much more regular&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">state of affairs</span><span data-contrast="none">. We’re looking forward to that.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">But COVID-19 is far from the only storyline around campus.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Barbara Stewart, vice chancellor for Diversity &amp; Inclusion, showed off D&amp;I’s new home in 145 Graff Main Hall. She also touched on&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">several</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;new projects, including the development of D&amp;I’s strategic plan and the distribution of a campus climate survey&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">for students&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">later in the semester.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“It’s been a very, very difficult couple of semesters trying to stay connected with students,” she explained. “But (D&amp;I and other campus partners) are doing it, and they’re doing it well.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">A few doors down, Vitaliano Figueroa, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, announced a few pieces of good news on the COVID-19 front.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">For the spring semester, UWL will have the capacity to test resident students once per week, as well as off-campus students and university employees once every two weeks.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Elsewhere, campus is slowly but surely returning to normal.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">UWL’s&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">Campus&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">Child Center is increasing its capacity by roughly 15%, and Murphy’s Mug will once again</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;be open for business</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;in Murphy Library.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Move-in, which started on Monday, has also gone smoothly.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“We’re optimistic that the staggered move-in and the return to testing will keep our (case) numbers low,” Figueroa said.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Greg Reichert, vice chancellor for University Advancement, shared how his division is adapting and thriving&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">during</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;COVID-19.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">With in-person events on hold, university fundraisers have found creative ways to&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">inspire</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">and secure donations for critical programs. The most notable example</span><span data-contrast="none">:</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">UWL’s inaugural</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;Giving Day</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">Dec. 1,&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">which&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">raised more than $22</span><span data-contrast="none">8</span><span data-contrast="none">,000 from nearly 1,500 donors.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">The Alumni Association also launched a new project,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/alumni/events/whats-new-wednesdays/#:~:text=The%20UWL%20Alumni%20Association%20is,how%20many%20guests%20to%20expect." data-mce-href="/alumni/events/whats-new-wednesdays/#:~:text=The%20UWL%20Alumni%20Association%20is,how%20many%20guests%20to%20expect."><span data-contrast="none">What’s New Wednesdays</span></a><span data-contrast="none">, a monthly webinar featuring campus happenings and local experts on&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">various</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;topics.</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;And this winter’s</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/alumni/lantern/" data-mce-href="/alumni/lantern/"><span data-contrast="none">Lantern</span></a><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">publication for alumni and friends moved&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">exclusively&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">online.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“The pandemic has changed the way our core businesses operate,” Reichert explained. “We’ve had to pivot and do some things differently.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Betsy Morgan, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, praise</span><span data-contrast="none">d&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">staff and faculty</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;for making</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;the transitions between virtual and in-person instruction as s</span><span data-contrast="none">eamless</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;as possible.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Morgan says UWL’s staff and faculty have been a driving force behind student achievement and strong enrollment numbers.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“Our enrollment is almost to 100% of what we thought it would be in a normal spring. During a pandemic, that is truly extraordinary,” she said. “It’s important for our students and their persistence with retention.&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">I</span><span data-contrast="none">t’s also important for keeping the faculty and staff that we have, in terms of keeping the budget healthy and being able to go forward as a university.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Bob Hetzel, vice chancellor for Administration and Finance, reported that the budget is in good shape, all things considered.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Freezes on hiring and travel, in addition to strong enrollment, have helped the university avoid furloughs and</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;programming</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;cuts.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">In fact, UWL isn’t just holding on during COVID-19; it’s continuing to grow and&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">evolve.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Hetzel outlined&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">several&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">projects and new facilities that will transform campus — from the $49 million student fieldhouse (set to open in 2022), to the $93 million second phase of the Prairie Springs Science Center (still awaiting government approval).</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">“Let’s get through COVID,”&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">he</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;said. “But let’s also focus on the future and what happens on the other side.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="none">Gow</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;closed the presentat</span><span data-contrast="none">ion with a visit to Hesprich Auditorium, where nearly all alumni have&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">had&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">a class.&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">It</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">ended with a special&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">online performance&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">by UWL theatre students.&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">You can find the performance at the</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;59-minute mark&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">of</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://mymedia.uwlax.edu/Mediasite/Play/ac8e2a15f3894b049b32e8a61e4dadc81d" data-mce-href="https://mymedia.uwlax.edu/Mediasite/Play/ac8e2a15f3894b049b32e8a61e4dadc81d"><span data-contrast="none">add</span><span data-contrast="none">ress</span></a><span data-contrast="none">.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2021-uwl-joe-gow-spring-remarks-2.jpg/Medium" alt="Chancellor Joe Gow used a new format to give his Opening Remarks to campus Friday, giving viewers a tour of Graff Main Hall and checking in with UWL's five vice chancellors. “It’s so exciting to know that on Monday we’ll have classes back and get things moving again,” Gow said." />
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<span class="title">New semester brings challenges, opportunities</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">2:12 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Feb.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>22</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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UWL leaders addressed the campus community Friday
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/country-class/Country class2021-08-16T10:14:14.79Z2020-10-25T06:00:00ZBritney Heinemanhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/bheineman/bheineman@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10:14 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Aug.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>16</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>UW-La Crosse senior Elyse Weber enjoyed painting in the outdoors earlier in October in rural La Crosse County when the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration opened the gate to 200 acres in Saint Joseph. The visit, along with others from UWL faculty and students, initiated future classes on the land, opening a new collaboration between the university and FSPA. </figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Students head to rural La Crosse County for COVID safe haven</h3>
<p>UW-La Crosse senior Elyse Weber knew the fall semester impacted by COVID-19 would be different. But the exercise science major and art minor didn’t expect it would include an opportunity to paint outdoors amid radiant autumn colors of rural La Crosse County.</p><p>While the pandemic closed the door on most in-person educational opportunities, the La Crosse’s Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration opened the door to 200 picturesque acres in Saint Joseph. The locale, just east of La Crosse gave UWL students an elaborate outdoor classroom of agricultural land, forest and prairie restoration.</p><p>“It was just so nice to get a break from all the virtual meetings and be able to enjoy the outdoors,” explains Weber, a Tuscan, Arizona, native. “Drawing from life is also super beneficial to improve your skills. There were countless areas to set up and observe.”</p><p>Along with fine-tuning her artistic skills, Weber gained an appreciation for the Coulee Region — among not only the land, but those who care for it.</p><p>“They keep the land so well kept,” she notes. “The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the trees were in the perfect condition to draw.”</p><p>Weber says the change of scenery gave her a new appreciation for her roots as well.</p><p>“I have realized over the past couple years that I always took Arizona's landscape for granted,” she says. </p><p>“I now appreciate all sorts of landscapes.”<br></p>
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<figcaption>UW-La Crosse Art Professor Jennifer Williams sought an inspiring and safe place for students in her painting classes. She found it in rural La Crosse at the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration property in Saint Joseph. The university and FSPA are working on partnerships for faculty and students to visit the area for classes throughout the year. </figcaption>
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<p><a data-mce-href="/profile/jwilliams/" href="/profile/jwilliams/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Art Professor Jennifer Williams</a> sought an inspiring and safe place for Weber and others in her painting classes, allowing them to make art "en plein air," French for “in the open air.” &nbsp;She’s thankful to FSPA for their spirit of collaboration and partnership.</p><p>“The site allowed for students to make a personal connection with the land, mindful of its significance to the FSPA community for generations,” explains Williams. “While our work would have taken us outdoors to work en plein air anyway this fall, pandemic or not, being able to connect with a place that others consider sacred brings a special connection to our work, an honoring.”</p><p>Williams hopes to bring her students back to site throughout the upcoming academic year, knowing that with Wisconsin’s winters it may be just a short visit.</p><p>“Artists benefit from making repeated visits to a place as inspiration for nature-related creative work,” she notes. “A brisk hike can include pauses for photography or quick sketches that inform studio work.”</p><p>FSPA Integral Ecology Director Beth Piggush says FSPA is opening the grounds to UWL and the city’s other higher ed institutions, Viterbo University and Western Technical College. She says they hope to introduce faculty and students to the land, along with planting the “seed” for additional research and educational opportunities.</p><p>“The visits this fall offered an opportunity to show the potential of the FSPA land on St. Joseph Ridge as a site for collaboration,” Piggush explains. “I was energized following each visit with UWL faculty because they understood our sustainability work to date and shared ideas about potential work together that might benefit the land and their students.”<br></p>
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<figcaption>A UWL art painting class student takes in the beautiful settings of rural Saint Joseph for her assignment.</figcaption>
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<p><a data-mce-href="/profile/lklein/" href="/profile/lklein/">UWL Community Engagement Coordinator Lisa Klein</a> says one of her favorite parts of the new relationship is that both the FSPA and UWL are entering into the partnership without any particular goal in mind.</p><p>“FSPA has beautiful, private land that they would like to make available for future educational opportunities and research, and UWL has experts in many different disciplines who can create meaningful learning experiences for students, as well as develop their own scholarship,” she explains. “This is a unique opportunity for two community organizations to co-create future projects and imagine possibilities together.”</p><p>Klein says along with the Art Department, FSPA has welcomed faculty from the Biology, Earth Science &amp; Geography, and Recreation Management &amp; Therapeutic Recreation departments. She and Piggush were first introduced by <a data-mce-href="/profile/aremsburg/" href="/profile/aremsburg/">Alysa Remsburg, an instructor in the UWL Environmental Studies Department</a> who had already cultivated a relationship with FSPA.</p><p>Klein says the partnerships are what the <a data-mce-href="/info/strategic-plan/" href="/info/strategic-plan/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Increasing Community Engagement pillar of the university’s strategic plan </a>is all about. She is excited about the tremendous opportunities these relationships mean for UWL faculty and students, as well as the sisters and community.</p><p>“They have opened the door for discussion and exploration of how we can work together to maintain the integrity of the land while offering an opportunity for learning, study and research for our students and faculty,” Klein explains. “We are working together to imagine how we can learn from — and give back to — this beautiful property."<br></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2020-uwl-art-painting-fspa-land-st.-josephs-ridge-0151.jpg/Medium" alt="UW-La Crosse senior Elyse Weber enjoyed painting in the outdoors earlier in October in rural La Crosse County when the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration opened the gate to 200 acres in Saint Joseph. The visit, along with others from UWL faculty and students, initiated future classes on the land, opening a new collaboration between the university and FSPA. " />
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<span class="title">Country class</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10:14 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Aug.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>16</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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Students head to rural La Crosse County for COVID safe haven
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/kicking-off-an-unconventional-year/Kicking off an unconventional year2021-08-30T15:47:13.85Z2020-09-03T08:59:53.127ZBritney Heinemanhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/bheineman/bheineman@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">3:47 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Aug.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>30</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>Chancellor Joe Gow, shown in this 2018 photo, delivered his opening address virtually on Wednesday, sharing how the university has prepared to face COVID-19 and other challenges. Gow was joined by the university's vice chancellors, who provided updates on their specialty areas.</figcaption>
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<h3>Gow, vice chancellors give opening address before fall semester</h3>
<p>UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow and other administrators detailed how the campus is preparing for an unconventional fall semester during the Chancellor’s Opening Address Wednesday afternoon.</p><p>Instead of the traditional hourlong address by Gow, this year’s virtual event featured comments from both the chancellor and the university’s vice chancellors. Each summarized the steps their teams have taken to keep students and employees safe, and to adapt to the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19.</p><p>“Were we under normal circumstances, we’d be talking about record enrollment and our strong financial picture, but COVID-19 has cast a cloud over that,” said Gow, noting that the university’s enrollment and finances are still strong.</p><p>Preliminary figures show that UWL is within 1% of last year’s enrollment, when the university set an enrollment record. Those numbers are encouraging, Gow said, at a time when some people are questioning the value of colleges reopening.</p><p>“We need to do this for students and families, and clearly, they want the UWL experience, even if it’s a modified one,” Gow said. “What we do — educating people at a crucial stage in their development — is certainly an essential job in the long run.”</p><p>Vitaliano Figueroa, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, shared how the campus is helping promote physical distancing — including opening 14 dining locations, offering grab-and-go meal options, and removing unneeded furniture around campus. &nbsp;</p><p>He also provided an overview of the campus’ health and safety procedures, such as when to isolate or quarantine and how often students will be tested. These procedures will be reiterated and updated throughout the fall semester.</p><p>It was also a busy summer for campus building projects.</p><p>Wittich Hall’s renovation was completed and the Badger Street Mall was constructed. And work is now underway on the $49 million Student Fieldhouse east of Roger Harring Stadium.</p><p>All 36 campus buildings have also been modified due to COVID-19.</p><p>Classrooms will be equipped with touchless hand sanitizer stations, and offices will be equipped with plexiglass barriers. Floor stickers and furniture decals will remind students and employees to keep their distance.</p><p>And the HVAC systems have been checked to ensure they are producing the necessary air flow.</p><p>“It’s going to be an unusual fall semester,” said Bob Hetzel, vice chancellor for Administration and Finance. “But we’re doing the best we can to make sure we’re mindful of the spread of the virus.”</p><p>Part of this mindfulness involves the blend of in-person, online and hybrid classes being offered this fall.</p><p>Provost Betsy Morgan shared that 64% of courses will be either hybrid or in-person, while 36% will be fully online.</p><p>Faculty will also be better prepared than they were during the spring semester, when the rapid spread of COVID-19 led to an equally rapid transition to virtual instruction. Approximately 90% of fall instructors recently completed an instinctive two- or three-week training on online and/or hybrid teaching.</p><p>“All of us have just been extraordinarily proud and humbled by the work of UWL staff, faculty and students, using the spring as a launch board for the fall,” Morgan said. “It has not gone unnoticed.”</p><p>The pandemic has also forced University Advancement, particularly the Alumni Association, to embrace new practices.</p><p>“Everything we do is about engaging people, building relationships with them,” explained Greg Reichert, vice chancellor for University Advancement. “Needless to say, the last six months have really changed the way we do business.”</p><p>Changes have included more stewardship calls and donor cultivation, more virtual events, and more efforts to engage the community.</p><p>One recent project, led by Community Engagement, will help ensure that off-campus students have access to personal protective equipment.</p><p>Finally, Barbara Stewart, vice chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion, shared how the university is promoting racial justice after the police killing of George Floyd and the police shooting of Jacob Blake.</p><p>The university has created a work group to address policies and practices that may serve as barriers to staff, faculty and students of color. The group plans to provide a mid-semester report, and to make recommendations to campus leadership during the spring semester.</p><p>Like everything else, Stewart said, efforts to foster diversity and inclusion on campus are made even more difficult by COVID-19, but the university can’t afford to put them off.</p><p>“We’ve tried to be creative in the way we provide services, programming and virtual events for our students,” she said. “We’re working hard to make sure we put students first and provide them as much of a normal experience as possible.”</p><p>Chancellor Gow and Provost Morgan also recognized a number of faculty and staff awards, including:</p><ul><li>Academic Staff Excellence Award: Abby Deyo, Student Health Center</li><li>University Staff Excellence Award: Kathy Thoen, CASSH</li><li>Eagle Excellence in Academic Advising Award: Virginie Cassidy</li><li>Eagle Excellence in Teaching Awards: Tushar Das, Christa Kiersch, Barrett Klein, Lisa Kruse, Greg Ormes and Megan Strom.</li></ul>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2018_uwl_prairie_springs_science_center_press_confernce_0010.jpg/Medium" alt="Chancellor Joe Gow, shown in this 2018 photo, delivered his opening address virtually on Wednesday, sharing how the university has prepared to face COVID-19 and other challenges. Gow was joined by the university's vice chancellors, who provided updates on their specialty areas." />
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<span class="section details">
<span class="title">Kicking off an unconventional year</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">3:47 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Monday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Aug.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>30</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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Gow, vice chancellors give opening address before fall semester
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