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 Nov. 14, 2014.

• View proposed changes.

Fidelity consultant to be on campus Dec. 5

Fidelty consultant Paul Knigge will be available to share information with UW-Eau Claire staff members from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Oneida Room (320D) of Davies Center. Those interested are asked to bring relevant account statements or other documentation to help with specific questions. For more information or to make an individual appointment, call 800-642-7131 or visit getguidance.fidelity.com. More information.
 

Blugold women's basketball to honor faculty, staff during Nov. 18 game

The Blugold women's basketball team will honor UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff during its Nov. 18 game against St. Mary's University. During the game, which starts at 8 p.m. in Zorn Arena, faculty and staff will be recognized and have a chance to win prizes. Each player also is personally inviting a faculty or staff member, who will receive a T-shirt and be introduced on the court at halftime.
For more information, contact Clare Hohman, UW-Eau Claire athletics, at hohmancm@uwec.edu or 715-836-3062.

Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program to offer individual appointments Nov. 17

UW-Eau Claire staff members are invited to sign up for individual appointments to learn about the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program. WDC representative Ben Genz will be available to meet with staff members from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Potawatomi Room (320C) of Davies Center. For more information or to make an appointment, contact Genz at ben.genz@greatwest.com or 877-457-9327.

UW System offers guidance on holiday displays

The UW System Office of General Counsel offers the following guidance on holiday displays on campus:

Display of Christmas Trees and Religious Holiday Symbols on Campus
As the holiday season approaches, questions naturally arise concerning the permissibility of displaying Christmas trees and other holiday decorations on campus.  The concern is that certain types of holiday and religious displays may violate constitutional restrictions respecting the separation of church and state.

This guidance is intended to clarify what types of holiday displays are permissible on university property, including in employee offices and cubicles. If further clarification is needed, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of the General Counsel or your campus legal offices.

Christmas Trees
The display of Christmas trees on campus is generally permissible. Courts have recognized that Christmas trees have become simply a secular symbol associated with the winter holiday season.  All holiday displays must also be consistent with applicable fire and safety codes. For more information about what those codes require, contact your institution's safety or risk management office.  A list of safety and risk management contacts are available at: http://www.uwsa.edu/oslp/mastrlst.htm.

Nativity Scenes and Menorahs
The display of nativity scenes and menorahs has generally been upheld by courts against legal challenges if they appear as part of a larger display devoted to the celebration of pluralism and freedom, or are used to promote tolerance and respect for diverse customs. However, any holiday display with an overtly religious symbol (such as a nativity scene or a menorah) should include at least one other religious symbol from a different religious tradition. The legal validity of these displays is premised on the notion that they do not represent an endorsement of any particular religion or religion in general.

The university is not required, however, to display any particular symbol of a religious nature requested by students, staff or the public. For example, a public school's holiday display which included a menorah, crescent and star, Christmas trees and other holiday symbols was permissible, even though it did not include a nativity scene as requested by parents and religious leaders.

Messages Accompanying Displays
Any message that might accompany a holiday display should be secular. Courts have upheld messages that celebrate pluralism and liberty, and do not promote the observance of any religion.

Religious Symbols and Décor in Employee Offices and Cubicles
Displays of religious décor and symbols inside employees' offices and cubicles are generally permissible. In fact, prohibiting the display of religious decorations and symbols may be deemed an infringement on an employee's constitutional rights of free exercise of religion and free speech.  Under certain circumstances, however, restrictions on religious displays may be appropriate such as in the office of a high-ranking university official where the display may be interpreted as an endorsement by the university of a particular religion or religions.

Public Forums on Campus
If the campus has a public forum designated for free speech purposes available throughout the year, the university cannot restrict its use during the holiday season to prevent the display of holiday symbols or messages. Such actions have been deemed impermissible content-based restrictions on speech. However, university policies that reasonably limit use of public areas in time, place and manner still apply, including quiet hours during study and exam periods.

TIAA-CREF to offer investment counseling Nov. 12-13

TIAA-CREF consultant Jim Soholt will be available to discuss financial matters with UW-Eau Claire employees Nov. 12 and 13 on campus. Register online or call 1-800-732-8353 to schedule an appointment.

Inclement weather policy

With the impending arrival of winter weather, it's time to review UW-Eau Claire's practices in the event severe weather strikes.

Should a decision be made to cancel classes, close the university to the public or completely close the university, official information will be transmitted via UW-Eau Claire's emergency notification system, which includes announcements on the university homepage, Facebook page and Twitter feed, among other notifications.

Inclement weather policy details:
In accordance with Ch. 36, Wisconsin Statutes, and delegated authority from the Board of Regents and UW System president, a chancellor has the authority to cancel classes, close an institution to the public, or completely close an institution to the public and employees.

In general, when inclement weather threatens operations at UW-Eau Claire, the university will remain open to the extent possible. If necessary, the chancellor may close the university to the public or cancel classes, but state employees will be expected to report to work.

Employees who accrue vacation, compensatory time or personal holidays may use the accrued leave if they are unable to make it to work, or if they are excused from work because emergency weather conditions make it unsafe remain at work. Per the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees also may make up lost time within the same week of the weather emergency.

If a severe weather situation occurs, local media will be made aware of any cancellations/closings, but their announcements are advisory only.

Curricular changes in College of Business

The following curricular changes were approved by the College of Business Curriculum Committee on Oct. 20, 2014. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Tim Vaughan, College of Business associate dean, at vaughats@uwec.edu or 715-836-4408. You also may contact the appropriate department directly: Dr. Raj Aroskar at aroskar@uwec.edu or 715-836-2315; or Dr. Kristy Lauver at lauverkj@uwec.edu or 715-836-4427.

• View changes.

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 Nov. 9, 2014.

• View proposed changes.

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 Nov. 9, 2014.

• View proposed changes.

T. Rowe Price to host webinar Nov. 3 and 6

UW System employees are invited to participate in a free, one-hour webinar titled "Another Way to Save: Roth Contributions" at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Nov. 3 — and 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Nov. 6. T. Rowe Price is one of the investment companies in the UW System tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) program. Those interested in participating are asked to register online. For more information, call T. Rowe Price at 1-800-922-9945.

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 Oct. 27, 2014.

• View proposed changes.

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 Oct. 27, 2014.

• View proposed changes.

Host friends sought for international students

The Center for International Education at UW-Eau Claire invites Chippewa Valley community members to become host friends for international students. Host friends provide a three- to four-day home stay for international students before they move into their residence halls.

Host friends are accepted on a rolling basis and are given the choice as to whether or not they can accommodate new international students when they arrive. New international students arrive for both fall and spring semesters. Host friends currently are needed for the spring 2015 semester; home stay dates are Jan. 17-21.

To apply, please follow this link: https://uweauclaire.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_afw1gD08G4xRJNX

For more information, visit the Host Friend Program Web page or contact Sarah Vowels, community outreach/host friend coordinator, at vowelssj@uwec.edu or 715-836-4181.

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 Oct. 23, 2014.

• View proposed changes.

Upcoming ORSP programs

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will host the following presentations:

Faculty/Staff Forums, 12:10-12:50 p.m., Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), Old Library 1142:

• Oct. 29: Dr. Laura Suppes, Watershed Institute, "Diarrheal Disease Risk from Swimming Pool Water Ingestion."
• Nov. 5: Dr. Paul Thomas, physics and astronomy, "Intercepting Hazardous Asteroids."

Grants Educational Series, 12:10-12:50 p.m., Distance Education Classroom, OL 1132:

• Nov. 11: Jeremy Miner, ORSP, "Writing a Compelling Problem Statement."

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 Oct. 22, 2014.

• View proposed changes.

Condolences

Condolences to Dr. Marjorie Bottoms, professor emerita of nursing systems, whose husband, William Bottoms, passed away Oct. 13 in Chippewa Falls. Full obituary.

Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup now available for students, advisers

Learning and Technology Services and the Admissions Office have collaborated in creating the Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup system to be used by current and prospective students as well as academic advisers who wish to look up transfer equivalencies.

The new Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup complements the already-existing UW-Eau Claire Transfer Credit Wizard. Below are descriptions of both systems:
 
Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup
Use the reverse lookup to enter a UW-Eau Claire course and see which courses at other institutions transfer here as that equivalency. For example, enter UW-Eau Claire’s course ECON 103 to determine which courses at other institutions have an equivalent for that course. UW-La Crosse’s equivalent course is ECON 190. The Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup provides transfer equivalencies for in-state, out-of-state and international schools.

The reverse lookup can be helpful for currently enrolled UW-Eau Claire students who want to take a course at home during Summer Session or Winterim that will count toward UW-Eau Claire degree requirements.

 

Access the new Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup as follows:

• At http://transfermycredits.uwec.edu. (Note: Users must be logged off CampS to view this public link.)  
• From the Admissions website at http://www.uwec.edu/Admissions/transfer.htm. (Click on the Transfer Credit Wizard icon.)
• From CampS: Under Self Service, select Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup.

Transfer Credit Wizard
Use the Transfer Credit Wizard to enter courses from another institution and see how they should transfer to UW-Eau Claire. The Transfer Credit Wizard provides transfer equivalencies for in-state, out-of-state and international schools.

The Transfer Credit Wizard can be helpful for prospective students to determine how courses at another institution should transfer to UW-Eau Claire.
 
Access the new Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup as follows:

• At http://transfer.uwec.edu. (Note: Users must be logged off CampS to view this public link.)
• From the Admissions website at http://www.uwec.edu/Admissions/transfer.htm. (Click on the Transfer Credit Wizard icon.)
• From CampS: Under Self Service, select Transfer Credit Wizard.

Feedback and suggestions on the Transfer Credit Reverse Lookup are welcome. For information on scheduling a departmental tutorial, contact Katie Strope in the Admissions Office at hoeschkl@uwec.edu or 715-836-4194. For technical questions, contact Joey Bohl in the Admissions Office at gibbonje@uwec.edu or 715-836-2311.

'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' to be offered to faculty, staff

FranklinCovey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" training, based on Dr. Stephen Covey's best-selling book of the same title, will be made available to all interested UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff.

According to the FranklinCovey website, training participants learn to take initiative, balance priorities, improve interpersonal communication, increase creative collaboration and apply principles for achieving a balanced life.

The training will be led by the following facilitators affiliated with UW-Eau Claire:

• Dr. Beth Hellwig, vice chancellor for student affairs
• Dr. Joseph Abhold, dean of students
• Dr. David Jones, professor of English and women's studies
• Shelley Mather, chair, Classified Council, and university services program associate in nursing
• Laura Manydeeds, learning and development/employee wellness coordinator, Human Resources
• Jake Wrasse, Student Senate vice president

Those who might be interested in the "7 Habits" training are asked to complete a brief survey to help organizers gauge campus interest.

 

The Covey training will be offered through the UW-Eau Claire Chancellor's Office and Human Resources. For more information, contact Laura Manydeeds at 715-836-2514 or manydeel@uwec.edu.