UW-Eau Claire to host American Mathematical Society meeting Sept. 20-21

The American Mathematical Society (AMS) Central Fall Sectional Meeting will be held Sept. 20-21 at UW-Eau Claire. The meeting is expected to bring 300-400 mathematicians from around the United States to campus.

The AMS, which helps further the interest of mathematical research and scholarship nationally and internationally, provides avenues by which to communicate and promote mathematical research, encourage math understanding and skills and support mathematical education at all levels.

For more information about the AMS meeting, contact Dr. Dandrielle Lewis, assistant professor of mathematics, at lewisdc@uwec.edu or 715-836-4821.

Eau Queer Film Festival set for Sept. 24-28

The Eau Queer Film Festival (EQFF) returns to UW-Eau Claire for its fifth year Sept. 24-28. The festival, which will be held in the Woodland Theater of Davies Center, offers audiences a wide cinematic range, from feature length comedies and dramas to documentaries and short films. All films and discussions are free and open to the public.

Founded by Ellen Mahaffy, associate professor of communication and journalism, and Pam Forman, associate professor of sociology, the festival stands out as one of a small group of university queer film festivals remaining in the U.S. The content of the EQFF is completely student driven. Students learn valuable skills in event planning and public relations — and use the power of cinema to build bridges between the UW-Eau Claire campus and local communities.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to consider listing the EQFF in their fall semester course syllabi.

For more information, contact Jerrika Christianson, EQFF director, at eqff@uwec.edu or 715-836-4762.

Parking changes beginning Aug. 18

As of Aug. 18, the parking stalls near the Haas Fine Arts and Phillips loading docks that previously were designated as "lights or flashers required" have been converted to "permit required" loading zone stalls. All stalls will now require loading zone permits; please watch for updated signage. For questions on obtaining a permit, contact the Parking Office at parking@uwec.edu.
  

UW-Eau Claire Blugold Breakfast, opening meeting set for Aug. 26

Chancellor James Schmidt has invited all UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff to attend the all-employee Blugold Breakfast and academic year opening meeting Aug. 26 in the Ojibwe Grand Ballroom of Davies Center.

Breakfast will be served starting at 7:30 a.m., and the opening meeting will begin at 8:15 a.m. Employees are welcome to come and go during the meeting as their schedules require.

During his state-of-the-university address at the opening meeting, Schmidt will discuss faculty and staff shared goals for the year. He also will present the annual faculty and staff excellence awards.

A live Web video stream of the event will be accessible during the meeting (video stream link will be "live" during the opening meeting Aug. 26).

University offices will remain open during the breakfast and opening meeting. Departments should make arrangements for student employees or designated staff or faculty members to provide office coverage while the meeting is in session.

An agenda for the opening meeting and a schedule of other campus activities for the opening days of the academic year can be viewed online.

Open forums set for director of Advising and New Student Initiatives candidates

Open forums have been scheduled for candidates for the position of director of Advising and New Student Initiatives at UW-Eau Claire. Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend the forums. Candidate curricula vitae and links to feedback forms will be available on the director of Advising and New Student Initiatives position Web page.

Following are the candidates and their open forum dates, times and locations:

• Julia Diggins: Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2-3 p.m., Centennial Hall 2304
• Andrew Cseter: Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2-3 p.m., Centennial Hall 2304
• Dr. Russel Potter: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2-3 p.m., Centennial Hall 2304
• Randa Hodges: Friday, Aug. 22, 2-3 p.m., Centennial Hall 2304

The candidates will respond to the following prompt and answer questions:

UW-Eau Claire is putting renewed emphasis on increasing our four-year graduation rate, which means we have to retain students. At the same time, we want students to engage in high-impact practices and be prepared for getting a job or going to graduate school. How can advisers help with these goals? How would you go about working with faculty and professional advisers to make sure students graduate in a timely manner while still taking advantage of high-impact practices and meaningful academic experiences?

Note: The open forums will be recorded and posted online following each session. A link to the recordings will be available on the director of Advising and New Student Initiatives position Web page.

Condolences

Condolences to Gretchen Hutterli, College of Business, whose father, Conrad Hutterli, passed away Aug. 11 in Eau Claire. Full obituary.

Condolences

Condolences to Dr. George Stecher, physics and astronomy, whose wife, Kay Stecher, passed away July 15 in Eau Claire. Full obituary.

On-campus writing retreat set for Aug. 4-8

The UW-Eau Claire Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) is offering an on-campus writing retreat from Aug. 4-8 for faculty, staff and administrators. The retreat will be held in the CWE in McIntyre Library 2003A from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9:30 a.m.-noon Friday.

The retreat will provide a quiet space on campus for participants to establish an individual workspace and write among other focused, productive faculty and staff. Participants should bring all materials needed for their projects (including laptops and data) and spread out at tables in the CWE. This is not an opportunity for research; in fact, the CWE recommends that participants turn off their phones, disconnect from WiFi and just focus on writing and revising. This is not a workshop, although opportunities for individual support will be available during the retreat.

During the first morning, the group will convene and individuals will describe specific goals for the day. Participants will write until lunch and then break to eat and socialize. At the end of the day, participants will reflect on their progress and report to the group. Resources on writing and individual afternoon consultations with CWE director Dr. Alan Benson (who will be writing as well), will be available. At the end of the week, individuals will report, reflect, celebrate their accomplishments and devise ways to sustain productivity beyond the retreat.

Register online by July 31. Registration is limited to 30 participants.

For more information, contact Dr. Alan Benson, CWE director, at bensonat@uwec.edu.

Finalists for university budget and resource planning director position to interview on campus

Finalists for the position of university budget and resource planning director at UW-Eau Claire have been invited to interview on campus. Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the finalists' open forums.

The finalists and the dates of their open forums are as follows:

• Michael Baer: July 8, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Council Oak Room (260), Davies Center.
• Kristen Hendrickson: July 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Ho-Chunk Room (320E), Davies Center.

More information about the position and finalists as well as links to feedback forms are available online.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Dr. Rodney Johnson. Johnson, UW-Eau Claire professor emeritus of education and former dean of university's School of Education, passed away June 8 in Eau Claire. Full obituary.

Call for 'Meals with Honors' presenters

UW-Eau Claire faculty and academic staff are invited to present a topic and lead a discussion for the University Honors Program's "Meals with Honors" series during the 2014-15 academic year. "Meals with Honors" provide 15-20 interested Honors Program students with an opportunity to learn from faculty and academic staff on a wide range of topics through presentation and discussion over a meal.

Breakfasts are typically held Tuesday or Wednesday mornings from 7-7:50 a.m., and include coffee, juices and baked goods. Lunches and dinners usually feature pizza or sandwiches, with lunch held from noon-12:50 p.m. Dinners can begin anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

If you are interested in presenting, please email the information requested in the form below to Pam Golden at goldenp@uwec.edu. If you are unsure of specific times or dates, please indicate your preferences for presenting: time of year; at breakfast, lunch or dinner; and which day(s) are best for you.

For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Vahlbusch, Honors Program director, at vahlbujb@uwec.edu or 715-836-4490.

Temporary parking changes in Phillips lot

From June 23-July 31, 2014, a portion of student S-permit parking in UW-Eau Claire's Phillips lot also will be open to faculty and staff with F permits. The temporary conversion involves 34 stalls in the southeast corner of the lot; new signage reflecting the change is in place. Hours of enforcement will remain unchanged. For more information, contact Becky Shannon, parking coordinator, at shannora@uwec.edu or 715-836-2726.

Chancellor seeks nominations for two university commissions

Chancellor Schmidt is seeking nominations for service on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the Chancellor's Diversity Advisory Commission (CDAC). If you are interested in serving on either of these commissions, please email a short statement of interest to Teresa O'Halloran at ohallote@uwec.edu.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Cleo Powers. Powers, UW-Eau Claire associate professor emerita of library services, passed away May 22 in Eau Claire. Full obituary.

Flags to be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day, May 26

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has directed that the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the state May 26 in honor of Memorial Day. More information.

'Grant Writing: Secrets of Success' set for May 29

Miner

Jeremy Miner, ORSP director of grants and contracts, will present "Grant Writing: Secrets of Success" from 9 a.m.-noon May 29 in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in Old Library 1142.

Flags to be flown at half-staff May 19

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has directed that the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the state May 19 as a mark of respect for Sgt. Heidi Lynn Ruh of the U.S. Army, who lost her life May 9 while serving her country in Kosovo. More information.

Flags to be flown at half-staff May 13

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has directed that the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the state May 13 as a mark of respect for former Wisconsin Gov. Patrick Lucey, who passed away May 10. More information.

Proposed new or revised graduate course offerings

The following courses have been proposed as new or revised graduate course offerings in the graduate curriculum.  If you have questions or objections, contact Dr. Margaret Cassidy at cassidml@uwec.edu or 715-836-3152 within 30 days of this notice, posted May 12, 2014.

New Course Proposals
BIOL 515 Reproductive Physiology, 3 crs
CJ 700 Communicating to Lead in Health Organizations, 3 crs
CJ 707 Group/Team Communication-Healthcare Contexts, 3 crs
CJ 714 Communication and Health Policy, 3 crs
CJ 752 Leading Organizational Change, 3 crs
CJ 774 Health Campaigns and Population Health, 3 crs

Revision of Existing Courses
AIS 644 Theory and Methodologies in American Indian Studies, 3 crs (change of enrollment restriction)
BIOL 506 Infectious Disease Ecology, 3 crs (change of prerequisites)
BIOL 561 Biology of Microorganisms, 5 crs (change of prerequisites)
BIOL 580 Endocrinology, 4 crs (change of prerequisites)
CHEM 653 Biochemistry Laboratory I, 3 crs (change of Catalog title)
CJ 614 Mass Media Law, 3 crs (change of prerequisites)
ENGL 609 Grant Proposal Writing, 3 crs (change of prerequisites)
ENGL 655 Seminar in Scientific and Technical Communication, 3 crs (change of Catalog title, Catalog description, prerequisites, and enrollment restriction)
GEOG 536 Geospatial Field Methods, 3 crs (change of enrollment restriction)
MATH 524 Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory, 4 crs (change of Catalog description)
MATH 535 Introduction to Point-Set Topology, 3 crs (change of prerequisites)
MATH 551 Numerical Analysis I, 3 crs (change of prerequisites)
MATH 651 Teaching Mathematics with Technology, 3 crs (change of credit restriction)
PSYC 575 Physiological Psychology, 3 crs (change of title, Catalog description, when typically offered, prerequisites, and course content timetable/outline)
WMNS 535 Transnational/Global Feminisms, 3 crs (change of Catalog description)

Flags to be flown at half-staff May 15

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has directed that the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the state May 15 as a mark of respect for peace officers who have given their lives in the line of duty. More information.

New website design to launch at start of fall semester

Mockup of what a portion of the newly redesigned UW-Eau Claire home page will look like as of late August, as viewed on a desktop computer and a smartphone.

A redesign of the UW-Eau Claire website is underway, with goals to (1) more effectively provide relevant information to the university's key audiences and (2) through the use of responsive design, make the university's Web pages more accessible on newer digital devices, like tablets and smartphones. The redesign is being conducted in conjunction with the recent launch of UW-Eau Claire's new brand, The Power of AND.

The Web redesign project is led by a team of staff from Learning and Technology Services and Integrated Marketing and Communications, in collaboration with units and departments across campus as their areas of the website are redesigned. CommonSpot will continue to be the software used to support UW-Eau Claire's website.

A noticeable change for faculty and staff will be the revised focus of the university's home page.

"Our home page will take on a recruitment focus, its primary purpose being to get our prospective students to the information they need to learn more about us and apply to attend," said MJ Brukardt, director of marketing, communication and strategic planning. "Meanwhile, other key audiences, including faculty and staff, current students, alumni and donors, and business and community, will have customized home pages of their own -- easily accessible from the home page -- that will contain information of specific relevance to them."

The university's top-level Web pages and several pilot department websites will launch in the new branded format in late August. Following that, LTS and IMC will continue working with departments across campus to convert their websites to the new design. The goal is to have all department and unit websites converted to the new design within 18 months.

In addition to the website redesign, LTS is leading Web improvement projects over the summer related to the relocation of faculty and staff "people" pages and updating Web forms.

Additional details about the university website redesign process and other Web improvement projects is available on the LTS website.

Investment counseling to be offered June 3-4

A TIAA-CREF consultant will be available to discuss financial matters with UW-Eau Claire employees during the following dates and times:

• June 3, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., McIntyre Library Study Room 3013
• June 4, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., McIntyre Library Study Room 3013

Schedule an appointment online or by calling 1-800-732-8353. More information.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Charlotte B. Hubert. Hubert, UW-Eau Claire associate professor emerita of music, passed away May 3 in Eau Claire.

She was a member of the UW-Eau Claire faculty from 1952 to 1983, teaching courses in music education, string techniques, class piano and eurhythmics, and directing the University Bellringers. She also taught at the former Campus Elementary School.

Funeral services are pending. Friends and family may offer condolences and find funeral details when available online.

Spring and summer utility outages announced

This spring's planned steam outage will occur from 6 p.m. May 17 through 4 p.m. May 27. As a result, hot water will not be available on campus, except in the following locations: Ade Olson addition, all hall directors' apartments, Brewer Hall, Chancellors Hall, Crest Wellness Center, Haas Fine Arts Center (isolated areas), Hibbard Hall, Human Sciences and Services Building, McIntyre Library, Murray Hall, Nursing Building, Phillips Hall, Thomas Hall and Zorn Arena.

This summer's planned electrical outage will begin at 7 a.m. May 18 and will last for approximately eight hours. The following buildings will be affected: McIntyre Library, Old Library, Putnam Hall and Thomas Hall. McIntyre Library has generator power for emergency use. Thomas Hall has minimal emergency generator power and Putnam Hall has none. Because the central chiller that serves the lower campus chilled water distribution system is in the library, all buildings on lower campus (except Haas Fine Arts Center and Human Sciences and Services) will be without air conditioning during this outage as well.

These annually occurring utility outages allow for preventive maintenance and repairs that prevent unplanned emergency outages due to breakdowns. For more information, contact Terry Classen at classetl@uwec.edu or 715-836-5278.

Reception to honor retiring employees, those reaching career milestones set for May 7

UW-Eau Claire's Service Recognition and Retirement Reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. May 7 in the Ojibwe Ballroom of Davies Center. Retiring employees and those celebrating the anniversary of their "milestone" years of service will be honored. The event is open to all faculty and staff. See reception program for list of faculty and staff to be honored.

Classified staff election results available online

From April 16-23 elections were held for classified staff committees as outlined in the classified staff bylaws. Election results are now available online.

Finalists for athletics director position to interview on campus

Finalists for the position of director of intercollegiate athletics at UW-Eau Claire have been invited to interview on campus.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the finalists' open forums.

The finalists and the dates of their open forums are as follows:

• Rick Goeb: 10:45-11:45 a.m. Monday, May 5, in the Ho-Chunk Room, Davies Center.
• Charles Gross: 10:45-11:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, in the Menominee Room, Davies Center 320F
• Dan Schumacher: 2:45-3:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, in the Menominee Room, Davies Center 320F
• Robin Baker: 10:45-11:45 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, in the Menominee Room, Davies Center 320F

More information about the position and finalists and links to feedback forms are available online.

Faculty/academic staff spring meeting minutes available online

The draft minutes of the April 22, 2014, UW-Eau Claire faculty and academic staff spring meeting now are available for review. As per the Faculty and Academic Staff Rules and Procedures, the minutes will be presented to the University Senate for approval at the May 6, 2014, meeting. For more information, contact Tanya Kenney, University Senate, at 715-836-3419 or kenneytk@uwec.edu.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Tina Emerson. Emerson, a clinical instructor in UW-Eau Claire's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, passed away April 20 in Eau Claire. Full obituary.

College of Education and Human Sciences dean finalists to interview on campus

Finalists for the position of dean of UW-Eau Claire's College of Education and Human Sciences have been invited to interview on campus.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the finalists' open forums, where they will address the following topic: "Please discuss the challenges facing a College of Education and Human Sciences today. Explain how you would lead our college to maintain its excellence and move forward to create new opportunities for students, faculty and programs."

The finalists and the dates of their open forums are as follows:

• Dr. Carmen Manning (on campus April 17-18); open forum: 3-3:50 p.m. April 17 in Hibbard Hall Room 102
• Dr. Christopher Duffrin (on campus April 28-29); open forum: 3-3:50 p.m. April 28, Centennial Hall Room 1614
• Dr. Jim Powell (on campus May 5-6); open forum: 3-3:50 p.m. May 5, Hibbard Hall Room 102

More information about the position and finalists, links to feedback forms, and videos from each open forum will be available online.

Campus tornado drill set for April 24

April 21-25 is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. State agencies, including UW-Eau Claire, have been asked to conduct a tornado drill on Thursday, April 24.  In Eau Claire County the drill will include a mock tornado watch at 1 p.m. upgraded to a mock tornado warning at 1:45 p.m. Outdoor sirens, broadcast stations and weather radios will sound the warning.

The purpose of a tornado drill is to ensure that faculty, staff and students know what to do and where to go should a tornado or severe weather arise. To avoid disrupting classes, actual evacuations are not recommended.  Faculty who are teaching at the time of the drill are asked to announce the planned drill and read the following information:

What to do in the event of severe weather or tornado

1. Evacuate to the lowest level of the building, if time permits.
2. Go to an enclosed windowless area in the center of the building.
3. Do not use elevators.
4. Stay away from windows, glass, or large open areas.
5. Monitor weather by radio or weather alert radio.
6. Stay in the sheltered area until the “all clear” is sounded.

It is the goal of this university to ensure the safety of everyone who works on or visits our campus. 

If you have questions regarding severe weather or tornados, contact Randy Saheim (36-3999), saheimrd@uwec.edu) or John Baltes (36-4414), jbaltes@uwec.edu).  

For information regarding severe weather, tornado procedures or the location of safe areas in campus buildings, visit UW-Eau Claire's loss prevention and safety website.

Condolences

Condolences to Dr. Margaret L. Cassidy, associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences, whose mother, Harriette Cassidy, passed away April 8 in Spokane, Washington. Full obituary.

Fidelity consultant to be on campus April 14

A Fidelity Investments consultant will be available to share information with UW-Eau Claire staff members from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. April 14 in Centennial Room 320A of Davies Center. Those interested in meeting privately with the consultant are asked to call 800-642-7131 or make a reservation online. More information.

Proposed Changes in College of Education and Human Sciences

Following are proposed changes in the College of Education and Human Sciences. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Cathy Thorsen, chair of the college curriculum committee, at thorseca@uwec.edu or 715-836-2575 within 30 days of this notice, posted April 8, 2014.

• View proposed changes. 

Academic Staff Nominating Committee seeks nominations by April 11

The Academic Staff Nominating Committee seeks nominations for openings on several university committees. The spring meeting of the university faculty and the university academic staff is scheduled for April 22. Nominations are presented at that meeting for the spring elections. Nominations will also be taken from the floor.

If you are interested in nominating yourself or a colleague (if they are interested) for a committee listed below please contact Katie Ritland-Clouse (ritlanka@uwec.edu) or Kristi Herbenson (rassbakl@uwec.edu) directly. The nomination deadline is April 11.

Vote Code explanation:
Vote Code 4: University Faculty, Instructional Academic Staff with faculty status and Academic Staff
Vote Code 5/7: University Academic Staff, Academic Staff and Administrative and Professional Academic Staff
Vote Code 6: University Academic Staff, Academic Staff and Instructional Academic Staff without faculty status

UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC STAFF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
2 vacancies
2-year terms; non-consecutive
Vote Code 5, 6 or 7       
 
ACADEMIC STAFF COMPLAINT, GRIEVANCE AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
7 vacancies
(4) APAS vacancies: (3) 3-year terms and (1) 2 -year term
(3) IAS vacancies: (1) 2-year term and (2) 1-year terms
3-year terms
APAS: Vote Code 5 or 7
IAS: Vote Code 6
        
ACADEMIC STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
2 vacancies
3-year terms
Vote Code 4, 5, 6 or 7
               
UNIVERSITY SENATE ACADEMIC STAFF PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
2 vacancies
(1) APAS and (1) either APAS or  IAS
(1) 3-year term and (1) 1-year term
IAS Vote Code: 4 or 6
APAS Vote Code: 5 or 7
 
UNIVERSITY SENATE
2 vacancies
UAS vacancies
(1) 4-year term and (1) 3-year term
Vote Code: 5, 6 or 7

ADMINISTRATOR REVIEW COMMITTEE
2 vacancies
3-year terms
(1)  APAS: Vote Code: 5 or 7
(1)  IAS:  Vote Code: 4 or 6

UNIVERSITY LIBERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
1 vacancy
1-year term
Meets from 2-3 on Mondays
Vote Code: 4, 5, 6 or 7
          
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
University Academic Staff vacancy
3-year term
Vote Code 5, 6 or 7

ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIC STAFF AWARDS
2 vacancies
3-year terms
Appointed by the Chancellor from names submitted by the Nominating Committee
Vote Code: 5 or 7

Condolences

Condolences to Chancellor James Schmidt, whose grandmother, Elizabeth “Bette” Mae Schmidt, passed away April 2 in Winona, Minn. Mrs. Schmidt was in attendance at Chancellor Schmidt's inauguration in November. Full obituary.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Jim Mishefske. Mishefske, a UW-Eau Claire alumnus and former director of the Small Business Development Center at UW-Eau Claire, passed away April 3 in Madison. Full obituary.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Karen Rothbauer. Rothbauer, a retired UW-Eau Claire classified staff member who served the university from 1989-2011, died April 1 in Cadott. During her time at UW-Eau Claire, she worked in several positions within Business Services from 1989-98 and then in the Center for International Education from 1998-2011. Full obituary.

Condolences

Condolences to Franny Meyer-Briggs, political science, whose husband, Brian Briggs, passed away March 25 in Eau Claire. Full obituary.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Bonnie Willkom. Willkom, UW-Eau Claire lecturer emerita of communication sciences and disorders, passed away March 22 in Chippewa Falls. Full obituary.

Condolences

Condolences to Diane Walkoff, News Bureau, whose father, Richard Walkoff, passed away March 26 in Westport, Conn. Full obituary.

Open forums set for associate vice chancellor for strategic enrollment candidates

Open forums have been scheduled for candidates for the position of associate vice chancellor for strategic enrollment at UW-Eau Claire. Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend the forums.

Candidate résumés are available on the associate vice chancellor for strategic enrollment position Web page, where a link to a feedback form for each candidate also will be available soon.

Following are the candidates and their open forum dates, times and locations:

• Matthew Aschenbrener: Monday, March 24, 10-11 a.m., Woodland Theater, Davies Center
• Diane Walleser: Friday, March 28, 10-11 a.m., Woodland Theater, Davies Center

Open forum scheduled for Ramsey Endowed Chair in Health Science candidate

An open forum is scheduled for Monday, March 24, from 3-4 p.m. in the Menominee Room (320F) of Davies Center for Dr. Mel Kantor, a candidate for the Oliver M. Ramsey Endowed Chair in Health Science at UW-Eau Claire. Dr. Kantor will speak on the topic “Multidisciplinary Health Education and the Liberal Arts.” The position description and the candidate's curriculum vitae are available on the Ramsey Endowed Chair in Health Science position Web page.

Open forums set for director of admissions candidates

Open forums have been scheduled for candidates for the position of director of admissions at UW-Eau Claire. Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend the forums.

Candidate résumés, as well as a link to a feedback form, are available on the admissions director position Web page.

Following are the candidates and their open forum dates, times and locations:

• Heather Kretz: Wednesday, March 26, 1-2 p.m., Centennial Room (320), Davies Center
• Brian Weber: Thursday, March 27, 1-2 p.m., Menominee Room  (320F), Davies Center
• Matthew Jurvelin: Friday, March 28, 1-2 p.m., Menominee Room  (320F), Davies Center

Investment counseling to be offered March 25-27

A TIAA-CREF consultant will be available to discuss financial matters with UW-Eau Claire employees during the following dates and times:

• March 25, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Menominee Room (320F), Davies Center.
• March 25, noon-4 p.m., Little Niagara Room (211), Davies Center.
• March 26, 9 a.m.-noon, Mohican Room (310), Davies Center.
• March 26, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Room 3115B, Centennial Hall.
• March 27, 9 a.m.-noon, Centennial Room 320A, Davies Center.
• March 27, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Room 3115B, Centennial Hall.

Schedule an appointment online or by calling 866-843-5640. More information.

Condolences

Condolences to Dr. Adam Bors, professor emeritus of German, whose wife, Ada Smalley Bors, special events coordinator emerita, passed away March 6 in Eau Claire. Full obituary.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Dennis A. Martin. Martin, a retired UW-Eau Claire facilities management staff member, passed away Feb. 8. Full obituary.

Human Resources to offer brown bag retirement presentation March 5

UW-Eau Claire Human Resources staff members Sue Pettis and Kathi Lee will present "Thinking of Retiring? Come Learn How to Use the WRS Retirement Calculator!" from 12:15-1 p.m. March 5 in the Ojibwe Room (330B) of Davies Center. All UW-Eau Claire employees are welcome to attend the brief presentation and open discussion. For more information, contact Laura Manydeeds, Human Resources, at manydeel@uwec.edu or 715-836-2514.

Proposed changes in College of Arts and Sciences

Following are proposed changes in the College of Arts and Sciences. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Louisa Rice at ricelc@uwec.edu or 715-836-5276 within 15 days of this notice, posted Feb. 24, 2014.

FROM:  Page 182 of the 2013-14 Catalog
TO:  MINOR: PSYCHOLOGY, Liberal Arts (Code 440-401)
Twenty-four semester credits, including:
Psyc 100 Introduction to Psychology
        265 Statistical Methods in Psychology I
        271 Methods of Research in Psychology
Remaining credits to total 24 selected from any Psychology courses.
NOTE 1: At least 6 credits from 300- and 400-level courses are required for the minor
NOTE 2: A maximum of 3 credits from Psyc 395, 396, 397, 399, and 499 may count toward the minor.
NOTE 3: No credit may be earned under the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option for any of the requirements listed above.

Feb. 20 classes beginning at 5 p.m. or later canceled

UW-Eau Claire evening classes beginning at 5 p.m. or later on Thursday, Feb. 20, are canceled.

The university remains open Thursday evening and decisions about whether scheduled events are held will be made by the individual organizations hosting them. The following cancellations/rescheduled events have been announced:

• Feb. 20 'Inequality for All' screening rescheduled for Feb. 25
• Feb. 20 performance of "A Man of No Importance" canceled
• Feb. 20 'Spoken Word Showcase' canceled

The forecast calls for heavy snow this evening and overnight, with a winter storm warning in effect until noon Friday. A decision whether to hold classes as scheduled Friday, Feb. 21, will be made Friday before 6 a.m. That decision will take into consideration current weather conditions, regional road conditions, and whether campus sidewalks, roadways and parking lots are sufficiently cleared.

If classes are canceled Friday, information will be sent via e2Campus, UW-Eau Claire's emergency notification system.

Investment counseling to be offered Feb. 25-27

A TIAA-CREF consultant will be available to discuss financial matters with UW-Eau Claire employees during the following dates and times:

• Feb. 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mohican Room (310), Davies Center.
• Feb. 26,  9 a.m.-4 p.m., Oneida Room (320D), Davies Center.
• Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Centennial Room (320A), Davies Center.

Call 866-843-5640 to schedule an appointment. More information.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Dr. Frederick H.C. Schultz. Schultz, UW-Eau Claire professor emeritus of physics and astronomy, passed away Feb. 7 in Kennewick, Wash. Full obituary.

Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program information sessions set for March 4

UW-Eau Claire staff members are invited to attend information sessions about the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program March 4 in Ojibwe Room A (330A) of Davies Center. Individual sessions can be scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. For more information or to schedule an individual appointment, call WDC representative Ben Genz at 608-461-0567. More information and an enrollment form are available online.

Proposed changes in College of Arts and Sciences

Following are proposed changes in the College of Arts and Sciences. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Louisa Rice at ricelc@uwec.edu or 715-836-5276 within 15 days of this notice, posted Jan. 31, 2014.

MINOR:  MUSIC,  Liberal Arts (Code 060-401 )
FROM: Page 155 of the 2013-14 Catalog
TO: … Music Electives: minimum of four credits elected from any courses with an MUSI prefix (MUSI 182/382 and MUSI 193/393 may be used only with approval), with a maximum of two credits from ensembles elected from 180/380, 181/381, 184/384, 186/386, 188/388, 190/390, 191/391, 192/392, 253/453 – 268/468 or 280/480, and maximum of two credits from applied music for a minimum total of 24 credits.

Proposed changes in College of Arts and Sciences

Following are proposed changes in the College of Arts and Sciences. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Louisa Rice at ricelc@uwec.edu or 715-836-5276 within 15 days of this notice, posted Jan. 31, 2014.

MINOR:  AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES, Liberal Arts (Code 530-401)
FROM: Page 76 of the Catalog Year 2013-14
TO: Include AIS 444 Theory and Methodologies in American Indian Studies, 3 crs, in the list of remaining credits from which students may select.

COMPREHENSIVE MAJOR:  COMPUTER SCIENCE, Liberal Arts (Code 170-030)

FROM: Pages 101-102 of the Catalog Year 2013-14

TO:  …  For a degree in Computer Science, a student must:

1. Complete CJ 202 or Engl 305 or Engl 308 (satisfies GE-IA);

2. Complete Phil 308 (satisfies GE-IVB);

3. Complete one lab science sequence chosen from:

a. Phys 211 and 212 (nine crs.), plus a minimum of three additional credits of science courses chosen from the list of allowed courses, or

b. Phys 231 and 232 (ten crs.), plus a minimum of two additional credits of science courses chosen from the list of allowed courses.

Allowed science courses: Biol 110, 111 or 221, 222, 223, 320, 326, 330, 33, 356, 392; Chem 103, 104, 115,; Geog 104, 178, 345, 368; Geol 110, 115, 301, 303, 308; Phys 226, 229.

Winter weather-related facts

Over the course of the past 30-plus hours, the university has received extensive feedback via email, telephone and social media regarding the decisions on whether to hold classes yesterday and today. That feedback has ranged from strong disapproval to appreciation that classes went on as scheduled. 

The purpose of this message is to share facts.

First, facts about the weather conditions experienced in our region in recent weeks: As every  Blugold — and every Midwesterner —knows all too well, it's been an abnormally cold month. Here are the January facts from the National Weather Service Twin Cities weather forecast office (all temperatures are Farenheit):

• 19 of 28 days have had below-zero temperatures.
• 13 of 28 days have had double-digit below-zero temperatures, including today.
•  Of the 13 double-digit, below-zero days, 11 have occurred during Winterim and spring semester instructional days.
•  Every instructional day of spring semester has had below-zero temperatures with double-digit, below-zero temperatures five of the six days, including today.

Second, facts about other UW System campuses that closed or remained open yesterday and today: In addition to UW-Eau Claire (with the exception of Monday classes that started at 5 p.m. or later), the following UW System four-year campuses held classes on Monday and Tuesday:

• UW-Green Bay
• UW-La Crosse
• UW Oshkosh
• UW-River Falls
• UW-Stevens Point
• UW-Stout
• UW-Whitewater

Third, facts about how the decision whether to cancel classes is made at UW-Eau Claire:  The university takes several factors into account when making a determination about cancelling classes. Those include (in no particular order):

• Air temperature and sustained wind chill
• Whether there is heavy snowfall and/or icy conditions
• Road and sidewalk conditions leading to campus (ice covered or snow covered)
• Campus road, sidewalk and parking lot conditions (Are they clear and ready for classes?)
• Visibility issues caused by falling or blowing snow or fog
• Whether conditions are improving or worsening
• Other factors that may be present

A number of people are consulted before making a decision whether to cancel classes. UW-Eau Claire staff are in touch with local safety officials to assess the factors above. The past two mornings, a member of the facilities staff personally surveyed area roads to see if drifting snow was an issue. Monday evening classes were cancelled due to dropping temperatures and an increase in expected winds. Generally, it is less safe to travel (drive, ride or walk) in the darkness because of reduced visibility. People in trouble are less likely to be seen and helped.

We take student safety seriously; it is our primary concern. In the case of the weather Monday and Tuesday, it was the judgment of the university that it was possible for students to properly prepare themselves for the cold.

We know that there are students who have underlying health concerns and that some have unreliable transportation, making travel unwise. Therefore, we ask students to make a judgment about their own circumstances and their ability to come to campus safely.

 

Classes to be held as scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 28

UW-Eau Claire is open and classes will be held as scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

There have been a number of inquiries about why the university is open and holding classes as scheduled despite sub-zero temperatures.

The university rarely, if ever closes.  A number of criteria are considered when deciding whether to hold classes, delay the start of classes, or cancel select classes.

Those criteria include, but are not limited to, excessive snowfall and/or drifting, icy conditions, temperature, wind chill, visibility and condition of sidewalks and roadways both on campus and in the community.  The university makes the decision based on actual real-time weather conditions, not what the forecast is predicting the day before.

Naturally, one of the most important considerations is safety of students, faculty and staff.  If the conditions are deemed obviously unsafe for travel to and from the university, and to and from facilities on campus, classes are canceled or delayed.  This can be a subjective judgment – but it is based on the best information available at the time the decision is made.

The university recognizes that some individuals have specific medical or physical conditions that prevent them from being able to venture out into the cold, or may have a lengthy commute to campus that may not be safe to undertake because of weather conditions where they live.  That is why students, faculty and staff are instructed to exercise their best judgment in deciding whether to attend classes or report for work.

Input sought on classified staff shared governance draft documents

In September 2013, the UW System Board of Regents enacted rules that extended shared governance to the classified staff within UW System. The rules provide classified staff members the opportunity to be active participants in policy development for their institution; to fully participate in the formulation and review of policies and procedures concerning classified staff members, including personnel matters; and the right to structure themselves in a manner they determine.

UW-Eau Claire classified staff recently received a copy of the Classified Staff Shared Governance Draft Documents. These documents are the structure under which classified staff shared governance will work. UW-Eau Claire's Classified Staff Council is seeking questions and feedback on these documents.

Below are three ways classified staff can provide feedback to the Classified Staff Council:

 

Open forums

All classified staff will the opportunity to discuss the Classified Staff Constitution and Bylaws at the following open forums:

• Thursday, Jan. 30 | Centennial Hall 3314, 9-10 a.m.
• Friday, Jan. 31 | Nursing Building 119A, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (with connection to Marshfield nursing site)
• Monday, Feb. 3 | 315 Hibbard Hall, 1-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 4 | Hilltop Center, 6-7 a.m. 

Members of the Classified Staff Council will be in attendance at each of the meetings to answer  your questions and hear your comments. 

 

Complete the survey

Please complete this survey to provide your feedback about the documents. You may follow this link or copy and paste this address into your web browser: https://uweauclaire.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2r8OqHsROb1nb49

 

Contact Classified Staff Council

You may send email to csc@uwec.edu or contact any member of the Classified Staff Council to provide feedback.

 

Jan. 27 classes beginning at 5 p.m. or later canceled

UW-Eau Claire evening classes beginning at 5 p.m. or later on Monday, Jan. 27, are canceled.  A decision whether to hold classes as scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 28, will be made Tuesday before 6 a.m.

The university remains open Monday evening and decisions about whether scheduled events are held will be made by the individual organizations hosting them.

The Children’s Nature Academy is open as scheduled until the end of business Monday.

There have been a number of inquiries today about why the university is open and holding classes as scheduled despite sub-zero temperatures.

The university rarely, if ever closes.  A number of criteria are considered when deciding whether to hold classes, delay the start of classes, or cancel select classes.

Those criteria include, but are not limited to, excessive snowfall and/or drifting, icy conditions, temperature, wind chill, visibility and condition of sidewalks and roadways both on campus and in the community.  The university makes the decision based on actual real-time weather conditions, not what the forecast is predicting the day before.

Naturally, one of the most important considerations is safety of students, faculty and staff.  If the conditions are deemed obviously unsafe for travel to and from the university, and to and from facilities on campus, classes are canceled or delayed.  This can be a subjective judgment – but it is based on the best information available at the time the decision is made.

The university recognizes that some individuals have specific medical or physical conditions that prevent them from being able to venture out into the cold, or may have a lengthy commute to campus that may not be safe to undertake because of weather conditions where they live.  That is why students, faculty and staff are instructed to exercise their best judgment in deciding whether to attend classes or report for work.

Classes to be held as scheduled Jan. 27

UW-Eau Claire is open today, Jan. 27,  and classes will be held as scheduled. Students, faculty and staff are advised to dress warmly for the cold conditions and to use best judgment in deciding whether they can get to campus safely. Employees are referred to UW-Eau Claire's inclement weather policy for guidelines on reporting to work: http://www.uwec.edu/hr/weather.htm.

UW-Eau Claire extreme weather advisory

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for the Eau Claire region starting today through midday Tuesday, Jan. 28. The forecast is for low temperatures of 15 to 25 below zero and wind chill readings of 35 to 50 below zero.

The Weather Service notes that exposure to such extreme cold can cause frostbite in five to 10 minutes, and taking appropriate precautionary measures is appropriate. The following links provide information on how to prepare for extreme cold: 

• Extreme Cold — A Prevention Guide, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Weather “Triple Whammy” ready to strike (Ready Wisconsin news release)

It is anticipated all UW-Eau Claire operations and classes will take place as scheduled Monday, Jan. 27. Individuals should always use their best judgment about the safety of traveling to and from campus. Students should contact their instructor if they cannot make it to class, and employees should contact their supervisor if they cannot report to work. For additional information, please review the UW-Eau Claire inclement weather policy.

In the unlikely event classes are canceled or delayed on Jan. 27, the university will provide information through e2Campus, UW-Eau Claire's emergency notification system, which sends notifications via email, the university home page, pop-up messages on all university-owned computers, social media and, for those who have signed up, text messages. If you have not signed up for text message notifications, you may do so at www.uwec.edu/emergency/index.htm. Every effort will be made to provide such notification before 6 a.m.

Spring opening meeting set for Jan. 21

All UW-Eau Claire employees are invited to attend a spring opening meeting led by Chancellor James Schmidt from 3:45-5 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Woodland Theater of Davies Center. Chancellor Schmidt will provide opening remarks, followed by an open-floor question-and-answer session. For more information, contact Tanya Kenney, University Senate, at kenneytk@uwec.edu or 715-836-3419.

Open forum on transportation and commuter issues set for Jan. 28

University Senate will sponsor an open forum on transportation and commuter issues from 3-5 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Dakota Ballroom (Room 340) of Davies Center. Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to attend. Information about the UW-Eau Claire bicycle and pedestrian plan; bus routes within Eau Claire and with other cities; ride sharing; and on-campus parking for faculty, staff, students and visitors will be presented.

An open session to allow those in attendance to ask questions, make comments and offer suggestions will follow. Free parking will be available in any F or S stall (not G) on lower campus after 3 p.m. Visitors who arrive before 3 p.m. should stop at the Visitor Center at 127 Roosevelt Ave. to obtain a parking permit. View campus map for building and parking locations.

For more information, contact Mitch Freymiller, University Senate chair, at 715-836-3074 or freymima@uwec.edu.

D2L upgrade rescheduled for Jan. 15-16

The D2L upgrade to version 10.1 originally scheduled for Jan. 8-9 has been rescheduled for Jan. 15-16. To accomplish the upgrade, a complete D2L outage will take place from 10 p.m. Jan. 15 through 10 a.m. Jan. 16. The upgrade will include extensive redesigns of the content and user progress tools as well as enhancements to the dropbox and discussion tools. Faculty and staff are invited to join D2L administrators for demos of version 10.1 in January — with practice time available. Those interested in participating in a demo session may register online. Text and video documentation will be available soon.

The D2L upgrade will feature the following:

• One content interface that is editable for instructors and read-only for students.
• Easier editing. Edit-in-place capability with an upgraded HTML editor and an improved bulk edit feature reduces clicks to accomplish tasks. A drag-and-drop functionality helps to re-order modules and topics.
• New course overview feature for an introduction to course concepts.
• New module description feature to introduce unit concepts.
• User progress redesign. A redesigned user progress dashboard includes more data with graphical information.
• A new class progress dashboard provides instructors with data and graphics about the progress of the class as a whole.
• Dropbox due date. Instructors may set a folder due date independent of start/end dates when creating dropboxes to communicate more clearly when dropbox submissions are due.

For more information, contact Roxie Muldoon at muldoorr@uwec.edu or 715-836-2700; or Gene Leisz at leiszgj@uwec.edu or 715-836-6004.

UW-Eau Claire extreme cold weather advisory

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for the Eau Claire region starting late this weekend and extending into early next week. The forecast is for low temperatures of nearly 30 below zero and wind chill readings of 40-60 below zero, with the coldest readings expected Sunday night and Monday morning.

The Weather Service notes that exposure to such extreme cold can cause frostbite in five to 10 minutes, and taking appropriate precautionary measures is appropriate. The following links provide information on how to prepare for extreme cold: 

• Extreme Cold — A Prevention Guide, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Life-Threatening Cold Air to Grip Wisconsin (Ready Wisconsin news release)

It is anticipated all UW-Eau Claire operations and classes will take place as scheduled Monday, Jan. 6. Individuals should always use their best judgment about the safety of traveling to and from campus. Students should contact their instructor if they cannot make it to class, and employees should contact their supervisor if they cannot report to work. For additional information, please review the UW-Eau Claire inclement weather policy.

In the unlikely event classes are canceled or delayed on Jan. 6, the university will provide information through e2Campus, UW-Eau Claire's emergency notification system, which sends notifications via email, the university home page, pop-up messages on all university-owned computers, social media and, for those who have signed up, text messages. If you have not signed up for text message notifications, you may do so at www.uwec.edu/emergency/index.htm. Every effort will be made to provide such notification before 6 a.m.

Mock grant proposal review workshop set for Jan. 9

Miner

Jeremy Miner, ORSP director of grants and contracts, will present "Mock Grant Proposal Review" from 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 9 in Old Library 1142 (CETL).

Perhaps the best way to learn how to write a successful grant proposal is to become a reviewer first. Via a simulated proposal review, workshop participants will experience the grants process from the sponsor's point of view. After the mock review, the details will be consolidated to help participants improve the quality, competitiveness and persuasiveness of their grant proposals in the future.

For more information, contact Jeremy Miner at minerjt@uwec.edu or 715-836-5514.

Proposed changes in College of Business

Following are proposed changes in the College of Business. If you have questions or concerns, contact the individuals noted below or Dr. Tim Vaughan, College of Business associate dean, at vaughats@uwec.edu or 715-836-4408, within 15 days of this notice, posted Dec. 20, 2013.

• View accounting and finance changes. Contact: Dr. Raj Aroskar (aroskar@uwec.edu).
• View Entrepreneur Program changes. Note: New entrepreneurship certificate has been created. Contact: Dr. Kristy Lauver (lauverkj@uwec.edu).
• View economics (business) changes. Contact: Dr. Wayne Carrol (carrolwd@uwec.edu).

Proposed changes in College of Arts and Sciences

Following are proposed changes in the College of Arts and Sciences. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Louisa Rice at ricelc@uwec.edu or 715-836-5276 within 15 days of this notice, posted Dec. 16, 2013.

MAJOR:  MATHEMATICS, Liberal Arts  Liberal Arts Emphasis (Code 180-201)
FROM:  Page 147 of the 2013-14 Catalog
TO:  This emphasis requires the core courses and at least one of Math 317, 335 or 426.

Proposed graduate curricular changes in College of Arts and Sciences

The following courses have been proposed as new or revised graduate course offerings or for deletion from the graduate curriculum. If you have questions or objections, contact Dr. Margaret Cassidy at cassidml@uwec.edu or 715-836-3152 within 30 days of this notice, posted Dec. 12, 2013.

New Course Proposals
ENGL 512 Topics in Rhetoric and Science, 3 crs
ENGL 513 Topics in Rhetoric and Technology, 3 crs
ENGL 514 Topics in Rhetoric and Culture, 3 crs
ENGL 515 Visual Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture, 3 crs
ENGL 597 Writing Center Theory & Practice, 3 crs
ENGL 681 Seminar in Film, Video, and Moving-Image Culture, 3-4 crs
HIST 527 Preparatory Study for Central European Travel Seminar, 1-4 crs
IDIS 540 Central European Travel Seminar, 3 crs
PSYC 549 Psychology of Stigma, Prejudice and Intergroup Relations, 3 crs

Revision of Existing Courses
ENGL 613 Writing for Children, 3 crs (change of Catalog title, Catalog description, repeatability, prerequisites, and course content timetable/outline)

Deletion from Curriculum
ENGL 581 Topics in Film, Video, and Moving-Image Culture, 4 crs
FREN 680 The French Novel, 3 crs
FREN 682 The Theatre in France, 3 crs
MUSI 606 Canon and Fugue, 2 crs
MUSI 608 Theory Pedagogy, 2 crs

W: drive to be unavailable Dec. 27-28

The W: drive will be unavailable Friday, Dec. 27, and Saturday, Dec. 28, when Learning and Technology Services will update folder permissions on the drive to minimize the risk of a CryptoLocker-type exploit.

Why is this happening?
Over time, permissions on the W: drive have become very inconsistent. Unfortunately, this makes the millions of files stored on the W: drive vulnerable to a CryptoLocker-type exploit. To limit the exposure of W: drive data to malware and other security risks, LTS will be resetting the W: drive permissions to a more consistent and secure state over a two-day period (Dec. 27-28). During these two days, the W: drive data will be unavailable.

What happens after the permissions have been reset?
Once the permission reset process is complete, LTS will work with you to customize the permissions of your folders so that they are ready for your classes and other collaboration needs. Please contact the LTS Help Desk at 836-5711 for any permission questions or requests. We will have extra staff on hand to assist with managing folder permissions.

About CryptoLocker
The CryptoLocker exploit (and others like it) encrypt any accessible files, essentially making the files unreadable. If a student, staff or faculty member's files were to become infected with CryptoLocker, the results could be devastating: Any network drives mapped at the time could become encrypted and completely inaccessible to the rest of campus. While we do make backups on a regular basis, this could still leave many directories unavailable for hours or even days as we restore over nine terabytes of backed-up data. This is why we are taking precautionary measures to minimize the risk of this happening on our campus.

Call for proposals: Faculty-led International Immersion Experiences program

Academic Affairs, the Office of the Provost and the Council on Internationalization and Global Engagement solicit proposals for the Faculty-led International Immersion Experiences (FLIIE) program. The deadline for proposals is Jan. 31, 2014.

Details about the program, a budget sheet (and sample), and the proposal format can be found on the Undergraduate Studies website.

Proposed changes in College of Arts and Sciences

Following are proposed changes in the College of Arts and Sciences. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Louisa Rice at ricelc@uwec.edu or 715-836-5276 within 15 days of this notice, posted Dec. 9, 2013.

MINOR: ART, Liberal Arts (Code 020-401)
From: Page 68 of the Catalog Year 2003-04
Twenty-four semester credits, including Art 107, 240, 244; 264 or 357; ArtH 111 and 112. Six credits of electives in Art History or Studio Art.
To: Reinstate the code of the former minor and to revise its requirements as follows:
Twenty-four semester credits, including:
Six credits of 100-level Art courses: 107, 108, 110
Nine credits of any entry-level Art courses: 240, 241, 244, 247, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 264, 274, 275, 276, 278, 281, 312, 357, 358.
Nine credits of any intermediate and/or advanced Art courses: 332, 340, 341, 342, 344, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 364, 365, 366, 373, 374, 375, 376, 378, 381, 382, 383, 402, 405, 441, 443, 458, 474, 476, 477, 478, 481.

NOTE: Art minors are encouraged to take Art History (ArtH) courses to meet the GE-IV requirement.

Dr. Aina Galejs, longtime supporter of Latvian international students, passes away

Dr. Aina Galejs

The UW-Eau Claire Foundation is sad to share the news of the passing of Dr. Aina Galejs, who since 1991 donated more than $500,000 to the Foundation to fund scholarships to students from Latvia to study at UW-Eau Claire. Dr. Galejs died Dec. 3 at her home in Minneapolis.

Dr. Galejs was born in Riga, Latvia,  in 1925. In her teens, she lost her father to Soviet Russian terror. As the Red Army returned in 1944, she fled Latvia with her mother. After the war, she studied at the University of Hamburg and earned her medical degree. In 1951, she came to the United States, becoming a Minnesota licensed physician in 1952 and specializing in pathology. She practiced pathology in the Twin Cities from 1956 to 1976 and continued to serve as a pathologist in a number of states until her retirement in 2002.

In the early 1990s, in connection with the newly established UW-Eau Claire study-abroad program at the University of Latvia, Galejs established an annual scholarship program for Latvian students for study at UW-Eau Claire. More than 50 students from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been recipients of the Dr. Aina Galejs Scholarship.

In 2006, Dr. Galejs received UW-Eau Claire's Honorary Alumnus Award, which is presented to nonalumni who have demonstrated great love of and service to UW-Eau Claire.

"The selfless generosity and the commitment of Dr. Galejs to supporting the international education of these young individuals is a compelling testimony to her humanity," wrote Dr. Karl Markgraf, director of the UW-Eau Claire Center for International Education, in a letter to the award nominating committee.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to education and health in Latvia, Galejs was awarded its highest civilian honor, the Order of the Three Stars, by the Latvian government in 2002. She also was recognized for her selfless service with the extraordinary national award "The Pride of Latvia," and the University of Latvia named her an Honorary Member for her generous support of its students.

A full obituary for Dr. Galejs, including funeral service information, can be viewed online.

Flags to be flown at half-staff through sunset Dec. 9

By order of the president of the United States, the United States flag at all state and government offices shall be flown at half-staff through sunset Dec. 9 as a mark of respect for the passing of former South African president Nelson Mandela. More information.

Condolences

Condolences to the family of Richard "Dick" Kirkwood. Kirkwood, UW-Eau Claire professor emeritus of English, passed away Dec. 2 in Eau Claire. More information.

Ecumenical Religious Center to hold faculty/staff open house

In appreciation of their work with students, UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff are invited to a pre-holiday open house at the Ecumenical Religious Center (the white building adjacent to campus, immediately west of Hibbard Hall) from 2-5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9. The event, hosted by the Newman Catholic Parish and University Lutheran Church, also is sponsored by the Newman Student Association and the Lutheran Student Association. Guests will enjoy light refreshments and food and music of the season, and will have the opportunity to meet the staffs of Newman and ULC.