Campus Connection

 

Gow shares what state spending plan could mean UW-L and the UW System leaders will be watching closely when Gov. Scott Walker releases the 2015-17 state budget proposal on Tuesday, Feb. 3. As the state enters the next budget cycle with a large deficit, ranging from $800 million to $2.2 billion, depending on how you slice it, the outcome of the UW System receiving any additional funding isn’t likely, says UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow. Read more »

In this issue: Announcements & Notices Athletics Campus Kudos UWLDining In The News Murphy Library Notes Physical Wellness

Chem prof named UW System scholar   A UW-L associate professor of chemistry is among five faculty members statewide to receive Regent Scholar awards. Heather Schenck will receive a $36,706 grant for “Rotation barriers in hydroxamic acids: Optimization of metal-building molecules for medical and industrial applications.” She and the other recipients will be honored by the Research, Economic Development, and Innovation (REDI) Committee at the UW Board of Regents’ Feb. 5 meeting in Madison. Read more »	A lasting bond — Scholarship honors long-time Chem Prof Larry Nutter Larry Nutter was humble. When people asked him what he did, he replied, “a teacher.” Those meeting Nutter wouldn’t know he was a pillar in UW-L’s prestigious Chemistry Department. Nutter’s wife, Edie, wants to change that. Read more »
Intercollegiate Athletics to Participate in Coaches vs. Cancer Events   Fans are encouraged to join members of UW-L's  Intercollegiate Athletics Department in the fight against cancer. Coaches and staff from UW-L will serve hot dishes during a Coaches vs. Cancer event at HuHot Mongolian Grill at Valley View Mall. Dinner will be served from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27.  Read more »	Hypnotist to perform at UW-L Hypnotist and UW-La Crosse alumnus Chris Jones will return to perform on campus. Jones, who was a resident assistant while attending UW-L, will be making his third returning appearance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Admission is free. Read more »
Wisconsin comedian Pete Lee to perform at UW-L Wisconsin native and comedian Pete Lee will perform at UW-L. He will give a comedic spin while discussing the struggles of being from the cheese state and living in New York at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Read more »

 

Curriculum management goes online

It just became much easier for faculty and instructional academic staff to change curriculum. The Records and Registration Office earlier this month unveiled CIM — the Curriculum Inventory Management System. The new software is receiving high grades from instructional staff who have worked with it, says Registrar Chris Bakkum. “The new system makes it much easier on the front end, whether it’s a big or small change,” says Bakkum. “Our goal is to make this process as user-friendly as possible. If you do need help, there are helpful guides out there that are easy to find.” CIM works well for small tweaks to courses — changing a course name or requirements — to developing an entirely new course. Faculty no longer have to cut and paste changes into PDFs; rather, now they can enter curriculum changes into a system that works from start to finish. The new system pre-populates a majority of the fields in the form with course and program information available from WINGS. It also assures the form contains current and accurate information. Once changes are submitted, CIM automatically moves them through the workflow process — making sure departments chairs and others see and approve the changes before being presented to the Graduate or Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Changes are marked in green and red so changes can be easily recognized. “It definitely makes curriculum changes transparent,” explains Bakkum. Once the new curriculum is approved, CIM automatically updates all references to the course in the University Catalog, which is published each June after continuously compiling changes from the previous 12 months. The implementation of the Curriculum Inventory Management System follows last spring’s online catalog implementation. Staff members Sue Knudson and Victoria Rahn have spearheaded the campus implementation of the software, called Leepfrog from Courseleaf. Faculty and staff who need assistance with the new software can find help documents on the Records and Registration webpage under Faculty Resources/Curriculum. There is also a curriculum email — curriculum@uwlax.edu — where faculty and staff can send curriculum-related questions. In addition to CIM and the university catalog, previous software updates have improved student information (WINGS), provided updated student advising reports and electronic transcripts and diplomas, along with better course planning.  

Charity 'Jeans Day' is Friday, Jan. 30

UW-L is one of many local organizations that participates in “Jeans Day” each month and is sponsored by the La Crosse Tribune. In return for $1 (suggested donation), UW-L faculty and staff have the opportunity to wear jeans rather than usual business attire. Donations go to designated local, non-profit charities or organizations each month. The charities this month are ABLE (A Brighter Living Experience) and CROP Hunger Walk. Locate your building contact person on the list below, contribute your suggested $1, and collect your Jeans Day sticker. It is not necessary to wear jeans to participate. This is a great way to unite our campus in supporting local non-profit organizations in the Greater La Crosse area. In December the campus raised more than $160. Let’s show the community how generous UW-L can be. Building contacts:

• Marcee Peplinski, 117 Archaeology Center Lab
• Cindy Curran, 212 Cartwright Center
• Laurie Collison, 4206 Centennial Hall
• Christine Reed, 234 Center for the Arts
• Vickie Bain, Cleary Alumni & Friends Center
• Karen Ott, 2004 Cowley Hall
• Carol Beckerjeck, Eagle Hall
• Debra Gerke, 105 Graff Main Hall
• Jeanne Voss, 124 Mitchell Hall
• Maripat Coughlin, 235 Morris Hall
• Ingrid Iverson, 107 Murphy Library
• Ann Reman, Physical Plant
• Mo McAlpine, Recreation Eagle Center
• Karen Kindschy, 1030 Student Health Center
• Maureen Spencer, 404A Wimberly Hall
• Josh Kraft, 162 Wing Technology Center

For more information, contact Jeans Day Coordinator Maureen Spencer or call 608.785.8115. The next Jeans Day is Feb. 27.

Next Album Encounters is Jan. 30; Public Program begins in February

The next Album Encounters multimedia light and laser show will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, in 20 Cowley Hall. The feature is The War on Drugs' "Lost in the Dream." Admission is $5. The Planetarium’s Public Program resumes in February. The talk is followed by a multimedia audiovisual presentation. Admission is $3 for students, seniors and children, and $5 for others. For more information, contact Bob Allen at allen.robe@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8669. See more about the Planetarium at www.uwlax.edu/planetarium.

Want to lead a summer 2015 study tour to London? Info session set for Feb. 2

Gemma Proudley, International Officer at London South Bank University, United Kingdom, will host an information session for faculty interested in leading a summer 2015 study tour to London. Her presentation begins at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, in the Cameron Hall of Nations, Centennial Hall. The talk is sponsored by the Office of International Education. For more information, contact Susan Pham at spham@uwlax.edu. The latest news from the College of Science and Health is featured in the Winter 2014-15 issue of Science & Health News. Issue highlights include:

• Worldwide health hits close to home
• One person’s trash is … another person’s research
• UW-L senior faces fears, finds science

Science & Health News is published in January and July for alumni and friends. Professor Emeritus Phil Wilson is editor with editorial assistance and layout provided by University Communications staff.

Single stream recycling implemented at UW-L — What you need to know

— By Dan Sweetman, Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability Program Manager UW-L converted to single-stream recycling Jan. 20. Single-stream recycling is expected to create a simpler recycling process that will increase the amount of material being recycled, reduce the amount of trash that ends up in the waste stream and reduce the cost of handling trash. Single-stream recycling allows users to conveniently place all of their recyclable items such as newspaper, cardboard, mixed paper, magazines, glass, aluminum and plastics 1-7, in one recycling bin. The recyclables are sorted later at Harter’s Quick Clean Up recycling center. Through your participation, UW-L’s recycling program continues to improve. The latest data shows an overall recycling rate at about 40 percent of our total waste stream. Thank you for your past work in support of recycling. Through your work and the efforts of many others, UW-L will improve this recycling rate. Here's how to participate in this this new recycling system.

• All recyclable items, such as newspaper, cardboard (please flatten boxes), mixed paper, magazines, glass, aluminum, other metals and plastics 1-7, can be collected together. This collection method applies to recycling containers in your office, hallway, and all other campus collection containers.

• Residence hall students will continue to be responsible for managing their trash and recycling with the methods they currently use. The only difference is that students can now place their recyclables in white dumpsters. Residents in Reuter and Eagle halls can transition to using a single container for recyclables in their dedicated recycling rooms on each floor.

• The depicted label may be placed on office recycling containers and recycling dumpsters. Interior application in academic buildings will occur over the next few weeks. Modification to exterior dumpster labels will occur when the weather permits, likely in late March 2015. Alternate labeling may also be installed on hallway waste/recycling stations in academic buildings. Labels can be requested of the contact person listed at the bottom of this message.

• Residence halls, Cartwright Center, Whitney Center, the Recreational Eagle Center, Health Science Center and the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center recycling dumpsters will be white. The recycling dumpsters in all academic buildings, with the exception of the Cleary Center, will be blue. Trash will continue to be placed in green dumpsters.

• UW-L has contracted rubbish and recycling service to La Crosse based Harter’s. Harter’s will use the same truck to collect trash and recyclables. However, when Harter drivers complete their routes, they do not mix trash (green) dumpsters with recyclable (blue and white) dumpsters. All blue and white dumpsters are collected and transported to Harter’s state-of-the-art sorting facility. Green dumpsters are transported to the Xcel Energy refuse derived fuel facility with residual materials sent to the La Crosse County Landfill.

• Report dumpster overflows, unsightly conditions or other issues to the Facilities Management Help Desk at 608.785.8585. Examples of “other issues” may be mattresses, TVs or furniture placed in or next to a dumpster.

• Information on UW-L’s recycling program is available at www.uwlax.edu/fpm/recycling/. This website will be updated soon to reflect UW-L’s conversion to single-stream recycling.

For more information on this transition, contact Dan Sweetman at 608.785.6800 or dsweetman@uwlax.edu. Thanks for your work in continuing to improve UW-L’s recycling program. Your individual efforts help sustain the environment!  

News and upcoming events

• Men’s Basketball will play UW-Stevens Point at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. This game will support Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society as part of Coaches vs. Cancer week.
• Gymnastics will host the Gershon/McLellan Invitational Alumni Reunion at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30.
• Men’s and Women’s Swimming will compete against UW-Stevens Point and UW-Oshkosh at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31.
• Women’s Basketball will host UW-Whitewater at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. This special game will feature a pre-game carnival from 1-3 p.m. For a list of all game-day promotions, click marketing promotions.
• Coaches vs. Cancer week is Jan. 27-31. The week’s events will start out with UW-L coaches grilling up your dinner at HuHot Mongolian Grill from 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. Ten percent of the proceeds from this event will support the fight against cancer. Other events during Coaches vs. Cancer week will occur during Men’s Basketball on Jan. 28, Gymnastics Invitational on Jan. 30, and the finale of Coaches vs. Cancer week will include a pre-game carnival before Women’s Basketball on Jan. 31. To view all the details, click here.
• The second Eagles Eat & Greet is from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3. Join the Gymnastics team for lunch at Howie’s and enter into a drawing to win prizes.
• The spring 2015 session of Junior Eagle Gymnastics is Feb. 2-April 30. A variety of classes available for all ages will provide children in the Coulee Region with the best gymnastics in a fun, safe and progressive environment. Sign up now to ensure a spot in this year’s program.
• The Winter 2015 Baseball Camps are Feb. 7, 15, 22 and 28. Register for the Youth Fundamentals Camp, Winter Hitting Camp, and/or the Winter Pitching/Catching & Infield Camp designed to improve players' performance in specific areas including physical, mental, and strategic aspects of the game. Click to view the brochure.

Eaglez Kidz Klub | Group Outings | Get Involved | Maroon Platoon | Mascot | Tickets | Events & Promotions | L-Club | Donate Tony Docan-Morgan, Communication Studies, co-authored a book chapter, "Nonverbal firsts: When nonverbal cues are the impetus of relational and personal change in romantic relationships," in Social Psychology of Nonverbal Communication, 153-172, published by Palgrave Macmillan. David Hart, English, has published a book review of "The Last Warner Woman" by Kei Miller in Callaloo: A Journal of African Diaspora Arts and Letters, 37.5, fall 2014. Tom Kernozek, Health Professions, along with UW-L alumni Stacey Meardon and Tiffany Switlick, published "Differences in joint-position sense and vibratory threshold in runners with and without a history of overuse injury" in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 2015, 24, 6–12.   What’s Happening In Dining Services — By Registered Dietitian Katie Callahan Maintaining New Year’s resolutions It’s not too late to come up with resolutions for yourself. With a start of a new year, people generally like to start off on the right foot. An estimated 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each year, but only 8 percent actually reach their goal. What can you do to be a part of this 8 percent? Follow these simple steps and you are sure to have a happy (and healthy) 2015! Reflect. Before you set your resolution(s), take time to think about what areas of your life you would like to improve on. Are you getting the USDA recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy? Do you take time out of studying to do some form of physical activity? Do you get enough sleep (seven to nine hours a night)? Are you taking time away from school work to reach out to family and friends? Record. Write down the areas in which you think you need improvement. Simplify. Narrow down your list to one to three resolutions. New Year’s Resolutions by no means need to be large. Something as simple as drinking more water throughout the day is an excellent goal. Quantify. Goals are generally more attainable if there is a number associated. For instance, if your goal is to drink more water throughout the day, write down how many glasses or water bottles you hope to drink every day. Record in multiple places. Once you have set your goals, write your goal on post-it notes and put them on places like your kitchen counter, desk or laptop. Or set alarms on your phone to remind yourself to take time to tend to your resolution. Work together. Find a friend or family member to hold you accountable to your resolution(s). For example, if a friend of yours also wants to establish an exercise routine, set up a workout schedule together that is manageable for both of you. Forgive. Don’t be too hard on yourself! If you happen to eat a large dessert one night, that's all right. One small back step will not ruin you. Remember the big picture. Changes do not happen overnight. Be patient with yourself and focus on making small steps rather than large ones. Eventually, those small steps will lead to large achievements. Welcome to Fit Fest! Learn about health and fitness at UW-L's Fit Fest Monday, Jan. 26, through Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Recreational Eagle Center. Read more.