Campus Connection

   

Two UW-L buildings awarded prestigious green building certification UW-La Crosse’s new residence hall and academic building have both received prestigious national awards for their sustainable and energy-efficient designs. Eagle Hall and Centennial Hall opened in fall 2011 and recently received LEED® Gold certification. Read more

In this issue: Announcements & Notices Athletics Campus Kudos In The News Classifieds

UW-L makes list of 100 ‘Best Values in Public Colleges’ The university is one of only two public colleges in Wisconsin to make “Kiplinger's Personal Finance” magazine’s list of top 100 values in public education. Read more »

UW-L international students add $9.2 million to local economy International students at UW-La Crosse in 2011-12 contributed more than $9.2 million to the local economy. Read more »

MVAC awarded for Hwy. 35 collaboration For MVAC’s commitment and dedication to the Hwy. 35 reconstruction project, the team was recognized with the 2012 Wisconsin Department of Transportation Tribal Excellence Award. Read more »

UW-La Crosse professor emeritus offers adventure to South Africa UW-L Professor Emeritus Burt Altman will lead a fall tour to South Africa. Altman, a retired teacher education professor, has led numerous cultural tours to exotic places during the past decade, including Vietnam, India, Tanzania and Cuba — twice. He and his wife, Norma, will lead the adventure to South Africa Oct. 7-21, 2013. Read more »

[caption id="attachment_20091" align="alignright" width="302" caption="UW-L student Kristin Lillie volunteers in an Emerson Elementary School classroom. She manages a 17-credit load, sports and a heavy volunteer schedule."][/caption]

Students connect to community through service

Volunteer fair Feb. 7 connects students to local volunteer opportunities

Students, faculty and staff — sign up now to be an NCUR volunteer

UW-L has been selected to host the National Conference on Undergraduate Research from April 11-13. Nearly 3,000 undergraduate students from across the nation will be on campus to present their research. Volunteers are needed to assemble name tags, stuff conference bags, move tables, serve food, staff information tables, provide directions, and serve as ushers and greeters, and to help with other conference needs. To volunteer, sign up for times and tasks you're available to help with Monday through Friday, March 25-29, and Tuesday through Sunday, April 9-14. Enter your email address in the link at http://vols.pt/Pbq6gU and select the day(s) on the calendar you want to volunteer. Then select from the list of volunteer opportunities for that day. Then submit your name and phone number. Sign up multiple times to volunteer, if you're available. Those signing up to volunteer will be contacted with a confirmation at a later date. For more information, contact NCUR Volunteer Chair Nick Nicklaus at nnicklaus@uwlax.edu.

Join the La Crosse health challenge

Make a commitment to your health. Sign up now to participate in the “Biggest Health Challenge-La Crosse.” The fitness challenge runs from Monday, Feb. 4, through Wednesday, March 27. Sign up now and make an eight-week commitment to greater health and fitness through healthy eating, exercise and living habits. Anyone who is at least 18 years old and has registered for the challenge can participate in organized boot camps, Pilates classes, fitness center trials, grocery store tours, weigh-ins, interactive yoga demonstrations and cooking demos at no cost. Activities are offered mornings, afternoons and evenings. Those who join the free challenge are eligible to win gym memberships, gift certificates to area business and more. For those who want to push themselves further, a weight-loss challenge is offered for $10. Participants have the chance to win cash prizes based on the percentage of body weight lost. Participants must attend at least five of the eight weekly weigh-ins scheduled. To register for the “Biggest Health Challenge-La Crosse,” go to www.getactivelacrosse.org and click on the events tab or call 785.9865. To find out more, download a PDF of HealthChallengeLa Crosse.”

Women in Black Thursday peace vigils resume on campus

Weekly peace vigils of Women in Black have resumed for the semester and are held Thursdays from 12:30-1 p.m. by the Hoeschler Tower. Anyone is welcome to participate in the silent vigils to help raise awareness about war and violence in the world and to mourn all who have been victims of war. Women in Black is an international network of women who seek to promote peace. A peace vigil will not be held Thursday, March 21, during spring break. For more information, contact Deborah Buffton at 785.8359 or dbuffton@uwlax.edu.

'Battle of the Books' district competition to be held Feb. 8

Approximately 80 fourth and fifth grade students in the La Crosse school district will compete in teams to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of selected young adult literature. The district competition of "Battle of the Books" will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 8, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. UW-L's English Department is hosting the competition.

Pink Floyd is featured band at Feb. 8 Album Encounters

The Album Encounters multimedia light and laser show will feature Pink Floyd's "Animals" at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, in 20 Cowley Hall. Admission is $4. To find out more, contact Bob Allen at allen.robe@uwlax.edu or 785.8669. Find out more about the Planetarium at www.uwlax.edu/planetarium.

Gender researchers social for UW-L faculty and staff set for Feb. 12

Explore collaboration possibilities with other faculty and staff working on gender-related issues at a 4 p.m. social Tuesday, Feb. 12, in the Cameron Hall of Nations, Centennial Hall. Light snacks will be available. The social is sponsored by the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department. For more information, contact Mahruq Khan at mkhan@uwlax.edu.

Especially for students: etiquette dinner set for Feb. 21

Professional success is more than just working hard. Manners and etiquette count – especially for students just entering the workforce. The 2013 Spring Etiquette Dinner will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Cameron Hall of Nations, 1300 Centennial Hall. Nationally-known etiquette consultant Lyn Hulgan will present the evening’s program. Hulgan and her event management company, Essential Details LLC, have 26 years of experience providing on-site management for events with guest lists that have included President George W. Bush, President Jimmy Carter, the Dalai Lama, Jesse Jackson, Harley Davidson, Milwaukee Auto Show, NAACP, and numerous clients in the entertainment industry. Participants will learn: · Simple rules to achieve etiquette success · How to properly respond to invitations · What to eat and drink and what not to eat and drink · Place settings and how to handle all of the silverware · Technology etiquette at the table · Networking tips Cost is $5 for students and includes a three-course served dinner with choice of entrée and an etiquette booklet prepared by Hulgan. Professional dress is strongly encouraged. Register online. For more information, contact Career Services at 785.8514.

Don't forget the 2012-13 Student + Staff Directory!

Most coupons good through academic year Tired of searching for campus contacts and information (like mailing addresses and calendars)? You'll find all kinds of campus information in the 2012-13 Student + Staff Directory. Copies are available for free at the Information Counter and outside 115 Graff Main Hall. Along with vital campus info, the directory includes listings of student-friendly businesses — and lots of coupons for great deals on Cold Stone ice cream, Iguana's Mexican Street Cafe meals, Image World custom clothing, Jade Cafe food and more. Check out the 13 pages of great deals! The publication is coordinated through University Communications, with cooperation from various campus departments.

Watch your campus email for the Campus Climate survey

It’s not about the weather; it’s about whether you feel included, valued and safe at UW-L! Every four to five years UW-L launches a Campus Climate survey to take a pulse of the campus and look for ways to improve the experiences of students, faculty and staff. Responses from previous surveys in 2004 and 2008 have led to the creation of new campus services and increased funding for diversity and inclusion initiatives such as the Campus Climate Office, Awareness through Performance, Employee Morale Retreats, Hate and Bias mechanisms, Violence Prevention resources and more. Check your UW-L email account for a link to access the survey or email campusclimate@uwlax.edu to request the link. Those who complete the survey have the opportunity to win one of several prizes through a random drawing. For more information, visit www.uwlax.edu/campusclimate/survey2013.htm

What’s our brand?

Editor’s note: This series introduces the new UW-La Crosse Branding Initiative and provides effective tools to help you brand your UW-L program effectively. See the whole toolkit. It’s important to have a consistent message when relaying the message about UW-La Crosse to all of our constituents. Here are some brief answers to potential questions you might get about the university … Who are we? (or, what is our “elevator speech?”) We are the top-rated, comprehensive University of Wisconsin campus. Well known for our scholarship and academic rigor, we challenge students and others in a friendly, natural environment. We offer 88 undergraduate and 25 graduate programs to more than 10,000 students on an attractive, traditional campus in western Wisconsin’s beautiful driftless area. What are we doing? We’re keeping students in college and helping them graduate quicker. In fall 2010, our retention rate was 85 percent. Our six-year graduation rate for students beginning in fall 2005 was 69 percent (nationally, the six-year graduation rate from four-year institutions is about 58 percent.) Both statistics put UW-L at the top for UW comprehensive campuses.

Upcoming news and events

Monday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.-close

Maroon Mondays at Buffalo Wild Wings 3132 Market Place in Onalaska Event coupon here

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Eagles Eat & Greet at Howie’s 1128 La Crosse St. in La Crosse Featuring UW-L Women's Basketball

Wednesday, Feb. 6

Men's Basketball vs. UW-Stout, 7 p.m., Mitchell Hall Special Olympics Night Free Eagle back sack to first 100 fans Post event meet & greet and poster signing

Friday, Feb. 8

Beauty & the Beast, 6:30 p.m., Mitchell Hall Gymnastics vs. UW-Stout Wrestling vs. UW-Stevens Point Black out/pack the house challenge event Youth in Sports Day: All youth in sports uniform will receive Free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket Free T-shirt to first 250 fans Free car magnet to first 100 fans Fan drawing: you could win two tickets to the Beauty and the Beast Broadway musical at the La Crosse Center on Saturday, Feb. 16! Follow your Eagles any time! ... uwlathletics.com Facebook (Friend/Like today!!)

• La Crosse Eagles
• Facebook: UW-L Maroon Platoon

Twitter 

• UWLEAGLEFAN (UWL EAGLE FAN)
• Follow the Athletic Director on Twitter: @UWLAXAD

Eaglez Kidz Klub | Group Outings | Get Involved | Maroon Platoon | Mascot | Tickets | Events & Promotions | L-Club | Donate Manny Felix and Garth Tymeson, both Exercise and Sport Science, presented the national webinar "Legal Issues and Advocacy Strategies for School-Based Adapted Physical Education Programs" for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance — American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation on Jan. 24. Kate Parker, English, had her article "Communal Sexuality: Mutual Pleasure in Sade's 'La Philosophie dans le boudoir'" published in the peer-reviewed journal Eighteenth-Century Fiction (winter 2012-13).    

UW-L in the news

A summary of some of the stories about UW-La Crosse spotted in the news. "State honors UW-L's archaeology center," La Crosse Tribune, Jan. 29. Archaeologists at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse are being honored by the state transportation department after uncovering Native American artifacts and human remains during local highway construction ... "On Campus: UW-La Crosse's first online class double the number of students it expected," Wisconsin State Journal, Jan. 28. On a thousand computer screens in 40 states and dozens of countries, a UW-La Crosse math class is in session. The school's first MOOC, or "massive open online course," starts this week with more than 1,000 students, double what the school expected, including a student from the La Crosse area who said on her application that she's looking for a college-level math challenge ... "Free, Online Math Class Launches at UW-L ," WXOW.com, Jan. 28. Taylor Watson is a junior at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and admitted she needs ... "UW-La Crosse makes Kiplinger list," WXOW-TV, Jan. 29. More evidence tonight that the UW-La Crosse offers high quality at a fair price. Kiplingers Personal Finance magazine puts UWL at number 73 on the list of "100 Best Values in Public Colleges." The University is one of two public colleges in Wisconsin to make the list. UW-Madison came in at number 13. Chancellor Joe Gow says UW-L's student-faculty ratio is a big factor ... "UW-Madison and UW-La Crosse again make Kiplinger's best value list," Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 29. The February issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine once again ranks two University of Wisconsin campuses on its annual list of top 100 values in public education, based on academic quality and affordability. UW-Madison ranked No. 13 among the nation's public four-year schools, and UW-La Crosse ranked No. 73. No other public university in Wisconsin made the list. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earned the No. 1 spot ...

For sale

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