Faculty, staff invited to join Experts Directory

All faculty and staff are invited to become members of UW-Eau Claire's online Experts Directory, which is a listing of university faculty and staff experts who can comment to the news media on a variety of topics and issues and who may be available to speak to service and professional groups.

The News Bureau hopes to offer a more extensive list of topics and a wider representation of UW-Eau Claire's faculty/staff expertise. By signing on as experts, faculty and staff will help make the Experts Directory a more comprehensive and valuable resource for the news media and members of the area community.

Those interested in participating are asked to fill out the online Experts Directory form. For more information, contact Ann Hoffman, News Bureau, at hoffmaa@uwec.edu or 715-836-2029.

Proposed changes in College of Education and Human Sciences

The following curricular changes were approved by the College of Education and Human Sciences Academic Curriculum Committee on Oct. 15, 2010, and are to be effective with the 2010-11 University Catalogue. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Marie Stadler at stadlema@uwec.edu or 836-4186 within 15 days of this notice, posted Oct. 19, 2010.

• View proposed changes.

Academic Affairs seeks faculty research fellow

Academic Affairs announces the creation of a faculty research fellow position to support liberal education curriculum reform at UW-Eau Claire. The faculty research fellow will work with Academic Affairs beginning Jan. 2, 2011, to conduct research to support the development, implementation and evaluation of liberal education curriculum reform. Results of this research will help inform decisions regarding implementation of integrated teaching/learning models. The position description provides more complete information. Those interested in the position are asked to contact Dr. Susan Turell at turellsc@uwec.edu or 715-836-4353. The application deadline is Nov. 8.

New Children's Center plans to be presented

Plans for the proposed new UW-Eau Claire Children’s Center will be presented to students, faculty and staff at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Wisconsin Room of Davies Center. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Following the plans presentation will be a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. regarding the proposed new facility's draft environmental impact assessment. See related notice.

For more information contact Jodi Thesing-Ritter, UW-Eau Claire associate dean of students and chair of the Children’s Center Steering Committee, at 715-836-2325 or thesinjm@uwec.edu.

Meeting to discuss proposed new Children's Center project environmental impact

A public meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Wisconsin Room, Davies Center, regarding the draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed new Children's Center project on the UW-Eau Claire campus. Parking will be available free of charge in the nonmetered portions of the Phillips lot directly south of Davies Center.

A description of the project and findings of the EIA will be presented, and all persons will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to identify both orally and in writing any support, issues or concerns they believe should be addressed during the EIA process for this proposed project.

The project manager is the state Department of Administration’s Division of State Facilities. Ayres Associates was retained by the DSF to prepare an EIA on behalf of the UW System.

Beginning Oct. 12, 2010, the draft EIA document will be available for download from the project website, http://www.ayresprojectinfo.com/UWEC-NewChildrensCenter-EIA.

Comments and inquiries raised during the draft EIA comment period will be used to develop the final EIA. Those who are interested in this project or who have any information relevant to it are welcome to offer comments, suggestions or other input. Those interested may attend the public meeting to present oral comments or submit written comments no later than Oct, 26, 2010, to:

Dennis L. Johnson, PE
Supervisor–Environmental Services
Ayres Associates
3433 Oakwood Hills Parkway
Eau Claire, WI 54701
johnsond@ayresassociates.com

Comment forms also can be obtained via the project website. Read the official meeting notice.

Proposed changes in College of Business

Following are proposed changes in the College of Business. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Bob Sutton at suttonr@uwec.edu or 836-4187, within 15 days of this notice, posted Oct. 14, 2010.

• View proposed changes.

'Block Party' prize winners announced

Academic Sklls Center staff members wish to thank everyone who participated in the "Block Party" Oct. 7 in the Old Library. The event was sponsored by the Academic Skills Center, Counseling Services and Services for Students with Disabilities.

Winners of the door prize drawings were Deanna Brion, Amy Hobbs, Eric Houle, Richard Insteness, Maisee Lee, Laura Lipinski, Kristen Lorentz, Houa Moua, Faith Pawelski, Kayla Piper, Richard Stangl, McKenzie Toellner and Becky Vang.

Eric Houle won a UW-Eau Claire T-shirt for the best guess on how many students are employed by the Academic Skills Center this semester. (The answer was 118.) Tor Lee won a UW-Eau Claire T-shirt for the best guess on how many students were served by the Academic Skills Center during 2009-10 academic year. (The answer was 1739.)

Continuing Education offerings

Connecting campus and community. Continuing Education serves a wide variety of nontraditional students. Following are links to news releases about upcoming Continuing Education programs.

• Small Business Development Center to offer QuickBooks workshops.
• Continuing Education to offer ACT Prep Course in spring 2011.
• Courses for the Essentials of Business Administration Certificate to be offered.
• Supervisory management workshops to be offered.
• Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network to partner with Defense Alliance of Minnesota.
• Still time to register for program on childhood apraxia.

Additional information can be found on the Continuing Education website or by calling 715-836-3636.

Drop-in sessions for Blugold Commitment proposals set for Oct. 8, 11

Faculty and staff are invited to attend drop-in sessions for assistance on the Blugold Commitment differential tuition proposal process. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 8 and from 3-5:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Old Library 1142. Those with technical questions (using the new online proposal form), proposal questions (what makes a successful proposal) or budget questions are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 715-836-2033.

UW System updates guidance on political activities

With political campaigns gearing up for the November elections, UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff are encouraged to review the recently updated UW System guidelines on political campaign activities at system institutions. The guidelines are available on the government relations pages of the UW System website.

SHOW research team to visit Eau Claire

A research team from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health involved with the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin will be working in Eau Claire in October. SHOW is an ongoing statewide public health research project designed to measure the health of Wisconsin residents. Researchers from SHOW will visit 1,000 households around the state each year to recruit adults; 28 households in Eau Claire will be invited to participate. For more information, visit the SHOW website or contact Mary Farrell Stieve, SHOW community releations coordinator and media contact, at mfarrell@show.wisc.edu or 608-821-1249.

Investment counseling to be offered

TIAA-CREF consultants will be available to discuss financial matters with UW-Eau Claire employees from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 5 in the Maple Room of Davies Center and from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7 in the Birchwood Room of Davies Center. Call 800-732-8353 to schedule an appointment. More information.

UWA opening meeting slated for Oct. 4

The University Women's Association, an organization for women faculty, staff and spouses, will hold its opening meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 in Phillips Recital Hall of the Haas Fine Arts Center. At 7:30 p.m. Dr. Namji Kim of the music faculty will perform on piano, and Dr. Charlene Wu will demonstrate tai chi. More information about UWA and the opening meeting is available online.

'Authors Celebration' set for Oct. 6

UW-Eau Claire will recognize the hard work and self-discipline it takes for university faculty and staff to bring scholarly work to the level of publication or performance with an "Authors Celebration" from 4:30-6 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Tamarack Room of Davies Center. Works by approximately 50 authors will be featured, but the event celebrates the publishing accomplishments of all university staff by highlighting representative successes. Faculty and staff are invited to join their colleagues for conversation and celebration. The event is sponsored by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, McIntyre Library and Academic Affairs.

'It's Your Choice' period begins Oct. 4

Each year employees enrolled in one of the state group health insurance plans have the opportunity to change from one health insurance carrier to another or to add eligible family members who are not currently covered. This year, the "It's Your Choice" enrollment period is Oct. 4-29. The effective date of any change is Jan. 1, 2011. Detailed benefit information currently is available online and through the My UW System portal. A benefits fair will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 6 in Council Fire Room of Davies Center. Additional information about "It's Your Choice" and the benefits fair is available through Human Resources News. Human Resources also will be sending an "It's Your Choice" newsletter to eligible employees during the first week in October.

Open meetings with candidates for assistant dean of students

Faculty, staff and students are invited to meet the two candidates for UW-Eau Claire assistant dean of students during open meetings Thursday, Sept. 23, and Friday, Sept. 24, in the Eagle Room of Davies Center:

• An open meeting for Jacqueline Bonneville, currently the coordinator for new student orientation at UW-Eau Claire, will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 23. 
• An open meeting for Melanie Wilson, currently the director of student services at Mohave Community College in Arizona, will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 24.

During each open meeting, the candidate will give a short talk on how she inspires students to take ownership of their educational experiences. A period for questions and comments will follow.

Faculty, staff invited to ORSP open house

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will host an open house from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 23 in Schofield 17. Faculty and staff are invited to enjoy refreshments while meeting ORSP staff members and learning about their services. More information is available online.

'Meet a Fulbright Ambassador' set for Sept. 23

Interested in learning about Fulbright opportunities? The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will host Dr. Brian Sajko, a Fulbright ambassador, Sept. 23. ORSP will offer several events to enable faculty and students to learn about the many Fulbright opportunities that exist. A tentative schedule is as follows:

• Noon-1:30 p.m. — Lunch and presentation, CETL, Old Library 1142. 
• 2:30-2:55 p.m. — Visit with Dr. Sajko at ORSP open house, Schofield 17.
• 4-5 p.m. — Student session, Badger Room, Davies Center.

If you are not available to attend the above sessions and are interested in additional opportunities, e-mail Dr. Mary Canales, ORSP faculty fellow, at canalemk@uwec.edu. More information about 'Meet a Fulbright Ambassador' is available online.

Design plans for new student center to be shared Sept. 15

The UW-Eau Claire community is invited to join the steering committee, the project manager from the Department of State Facilities and a major planner from Bray Architects for a presentation and Q&A session about design plans for the new university student center. Sessions will be held at noon and 4 p.m. Sept. 15 in Schofield Auditorium. Plans for the new university student center interior design, floor plans, exterior views, sustainability features and proposed timeline will be shared. View invitation.

Blugold Commitment differential tuition proposal forms now online

Blugold Commitment differential tuition proposal forms now are online. Proposal workshops and drop-in sessions also are planned. Learn how to use the online forms, hear tips for preparing a successful proposal and work with Academic Affairs staff to refine your proposal idea.

Workshops will be held during the following days and times:
• Sept. 14, 4-5 p.m., Presidents Room, Davies Center.
• Sept. 15, 2-3 p.m., Arrowhead Room, Davies Center.
• Sept. 16, 8-9 a.m. Arrowhead Room, Davies Center.

Informal drop-in sessions will be held during the following days and times:
• Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., CETL (Old Library 1142).
• Sept. 22, 2-5 p.m., CETL.