Campus Connection

 

Chancellor gives All-University Address Aug. 27   UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow gave UW-L’s All-University Fall Address Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the newly renovated Graff Main Hall Auditorium. Read more »

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

United Way campaign on campus underway     Local business owners Dave Skogen and Don Weber shared why they support the United Way and encouraged others at the All-University Address to do so too. Read more »	Happy Rain production offers an authentic look at life   Two UW-L alumni founded Happy Rain Theatre Co. in 2011. The group will perform its fourth annual show, the musical production of “Edges” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5 -6, in the Frederick Theatre in Morris Hall. Read more »
Eagle Guides help new UW-L students make transition to college New UW-L students will be guided through their first few days of college by about 80 UW-L student experts — called Eagle Guides. Read more »	Celebration of Campus Authors set for Oct. 21; sign up by Oct. 1 to participate UW-L faculty, staff and alumni are invited to participate in the Celebration of Campus Authors. Read more »
Film series to stimulate discussion on Politics in Film UW-L’s “Politics and Film” class will host public screenings and discussion on four films at the La Crosse Public Library during the month of September. Read more »

   

Campus community welcomes international students with Ice SCREAM Social

[caption id="attachment_35969" align="alignnone" width="770"] UW-L welcomed new international students from six continents with the annual Ice SCREAM Social, featuring the Screaming Eagles Marching Band, Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the gazebo. The social was an opportunity for faculty and staff to meet international students while enjoying entertainment from the marching band. Throughout the week, international students toured campus, took a group shopping trip, attended various information sessions and more. UW-L had 362 international students from 37 countries during the 2013-14 academic year. The latest international enrollment numbers will be determined after the school year starts.[/caption]

 FastTrack students get jump-start through summer program

[caption id="attachment_35966" align="alignnone" width="770"] Morgan Slaback, left, and Alexis Boraas-Stueber, on scooter, joined 46 other students last week to participate in UW-L's Hybrid FastTrack Program led by Associate Math Professor Robert Allen and Math Professor Jennifer Kosiak. The program gives participants a jump-start on mathematics for the fall semester. See more photos of this summer's group at http://goo.gl/Z5qshO.[/caption] Math counts for the 48 students who participated in the Hybrid FastTrack Program last week. They are the third cohort of FastTrack students who have participated in the hybrid summer mathematics enhancement program. The program is part of a UW System Growth Agenda grant through the Institute of Innovation in Undergraduate Research and Learning directed by Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Bob Hoar. FastTrack allows incoming freshmen to develop their mathematical skills online for six weeks before meeting on campus for a one-week campus stay. The goal of the program is for students placed into MTH 050 or 051 to increase their skills in order to place into a higher mathematics class in the fall of their freshmen year that will be required for their academic program. During the on-campus stay, students continue to participate in mathematical activities before they retake the University of Wisconsin System Mathematics Placement Exam and meet with academic advisers to further assist with their academic planning for the fall semester. Associate Professors Robert Allen and Professor Jennifer Kosiak, both Mathematics, led this summer's sessions. An additional 46 students are participating in an online only version of the FastTrack Program through the College Readiness Math MOOC.  

Conference on Teaching and Learning gets instructors, faculty back in the classroom

[caption id="attachment_35978" align="alignnone" width="770"] Communications Studies Associate Professor Tony Docan-Morgan talked about mingling successfully with students before class at UW-L's 16th Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning Aug. 26, 2014 in Centennial Hall. The event included posters, panel discussions and workshops by more than 40 UW-L instructors and staff with about 200 attendees. The conference is hosted by the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning. Photo by UW-L Student Hanqing Wu. For more photos of the event go to http://goo.gl/fo0dwQ.[/caption]     [caption id="attachment_35852" align="alignright" width="100"] UW System President Ray Cross[/caption]

UW System president to visit campus Sept. 5

UW System President Ray Cross will visit UW-L Friday, Sept. 5. Two open forums will allow students, faculty and staff a chance to meet Cross, who became UW System president in February 2014. Read more »

Peace vigils resume on campus Sept. 4

There’s still time to verify campus directory info; changes due Friday, Sept. 5

[caption id="attachment_35791" align="alignright" width="100"] Grand Mile Bluff[/caption]

Sign up now for discounts to participate in fun run to support scholarships

The run from campus that is only a mile long will go far in raising money for scholarships for new freshmen attending UW-La. The Grand Mile kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Veteran’s Memorial Sports Complex. General registration is $15 before Friday, Sept. 5, and $20 after that until the race. Registration is $12 for UW-L students until Saturday, Sept. 13, and $17 after that until race day. All registering for the race will receive a Nike dri-fit running shirt. Packet pick-up runs from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Grand Bluff Running, 509 Main St., La Crosse, or onsite the day of run between 8-9:45 a.m. Awards will be given to the top three overall men’s and women’s finishers, along with top three in each age group. Register at www.GrandMile.org or for more information, call Grand Bluff Running at 608.782.8227. If you go— What: The Grand Mile When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 Where: Veteran’s Memorial Sports Complex Admission: Before Friday, Sept. 5, registration is $12 for UW-L students and $15 for others. Beginning Sept. 6, registration is $17 for UW-L students and $20 for others. All registering receive a Nike dri-fit running shirt.

Admissions to share student stats at Sept. 4 event

Find out more about UW-L’s fall 2014 first-year and transfer class at an Admissions Office get-together. Admissions staff will share info from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center. Refreshments will be provided.

Tom Petty featured at Sept. 5 Album Encounters

The next Album Encounters multimedia light and laser show will feature Tom Petty's "Hypnotic Eye" at 8 p.m., Friday Sept. 5, in 20 Cowley Hall. Admission is $5. For more information contact Bob Allen at 608.785.8669 or allen.robe@uwlax.edu. Visit the Planetarium website at http://uwlax.edu/planetarium.

Take your innovation to the marketplace

WiSys Technology Foundation visits UW-L Sept. 5

WiSys, a foundation dedicated to identifying UW System-developed technologies and bringing them to the marketplace, will visit UW-La Crosse Friday, Sept. 5. During the visit, UW-L faculty and staff are welcome to attend an open forum and participate in one-on-one consultations with members of the WiSys Technology Foundation Team. The open forum will be from 10–10:50 a.m. in 150 Murphy Library. The small group or one-on-one consultations will be from 11 -11:50 a.m. in 152 and 153 Murphy Library. The one-on-one consultations are an opportunity to discuss individual research projects, funding and collaboration with WiSys. At the forum, UW-L faculty and staff will have an opportunity to ask questions about WiSys. Participants will learn how to interact with WiSys, how to better identify faculty and industry partnerships, the advantages of working with WisSys, the foundation’s funding priorities and more. WiSys, Inc. identifies innovative technologies developed throughout the UW System and brings them to the marketplace for the benefit of the inventors, their colleges, Wisconsin's economy and society as a whole. Learn more online at www.wisys.org/.

Volunteers wanted to read from banned/challenged books Sept. 24

As part of Murphy Library's Banned Books Week events, the library is looking for readers for this year's Freedom To Read read-out. What: Read from a challenged or banned book for up to five minutes. There are no microphones, no sitting audiences; instead, each person reads in a normal speaking voice to passers-by. You may choose the passage and book from which you wish to read. Who: Students, faculty and staff When: Noon-2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 Where: Murphy Library first-floor landing of the central staircase How: Sign up using the Freedom to Read Volunteer Form with preferred time and the title of the book (if possible, readers should bring their own books).  Library staff will try to accommodate readers' preferred time on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more and see titles of banned and challenged book here: http://librarynews.uwlax.edu/freedom_to_read_2014/.

Make requests for donations from Dining Services and Pepsi Funds well before event date

Requests for donations from dining service/catering and the Pepsi Fund for Pepsi products and merchandise/giveaways are reviewed for approval by the Event Funding Assistance Committee. Criteria for requesting donations and the request form are available at: http://www.uwlax.edu/University-Centers/Other-Services/#Promotions. Forms and information are also available from University Centers, 212 Cartwright Center. Requests should be submitted well in advance of the date needed to allow for committee review and ordering/processing time. The committee generally is scheduled to review requests on the first and third weeks of each month. Once requests are approved, a minimum of two weeks is required to accommodate the timelines required by vendors providing these services. The committee reviews requests for the current semester only. Requests for future semester events will be reviewed at the beginning of that semester. Requests can be submitted on the request form in paper copy to University Centers or electronically to ccurran@uwlax.edu. For more information, contact Cindy Curran at 608.785.8867 or Tricia Aleckson at 608.785.8890.

Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus now available for UW-L students

In late 2013, Microsoft announced that universities with existing Microsoft Office licenses for faculty and staff would also be allowed to provide students use of Microsoft Office products. The new service is called Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus for Students and allows students to download, install and use Microsoft Office at no cost. To take advantage of this new service follow these steps:

1. Visit portal.microsoftonline.com and enter your UW-L email address where prompted (ex: doe.john@uwlax.edu). You will then be redirected to UW-L's login screen.
2. When prompted enter your UW-L NetID password. Your email address will already be in the username box and should be left there. If you have forgotten or need to reset your NetID password visit www.uwlax.edu/password.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the software for your device.
4. When launching the software the first time you will be asked to log in to activate Microsoft Office. Use your full UW-L email address and NetID password to activate Office.

This information is also available in the ITS FAQ system at https://support.uwlax.edu/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk.woa/wa/FaqActions. A direct link to Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus for Students installation instructions is available at https://support.uwlax.edu/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk.woa/wa/FaqActions/view?faqId=235.  Some information to be aware of when using Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus for Students.

• Students will be able to download and install Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus for Students on up to five personal devices.
• The software is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and other mobile operating systems.
• The features of Office 365 ProPlus for Students mirror the same Microsoft Office 2013 currently on campus. Students now have access to Office through Office 365 Pro Plus on their personal computer or mobile device, on ITS computers located in Murphy Library, and from anywhere using UW-L's Virtual Desktops at virtual.uwlax.edu.
• Devices must check in with Microsoft at least once every 30 days to retain their activation.
• Students will lose access to the free software once they discontinue enrollment at UW-L. They may purchase a subscription to Microsoft Office if they would like to continue to have access to the software after graduation.

For more information, contact the Eagle Help Desk at 608.785.8774 or helpdesk@uwlax.edu.

Volunteers wanted to serve on wellness subcommittees

The UW-L Wellness Committee has undergone drastic changes this past year and needs faculty, staff and students to serve on various subcommittees. Each subcommittee meets monthly for about an hour. Subcommittees are:

• Physical — Optimal physical wellness requires eating well, exercising, avoiding harmful habits, getting enough sleep, recognizing the signs of disease, getting regular physical exams, and taking steps to prevent injury.
• Emotional — the ability to share and understand feelings of fear, anger, sadness or stress, hope, love, joy and happiness
• Spiritual — the ability to establish and develop peace and harmony in our lives by possessing a set of guiding beliefs, principles or values that give meaning and purpose to life
• Financial — being aware of your financial situation and managing it wisely
• Career and academic — the desire to contribute in our careers to make a positive impact on the organizations we work in while still maintaining balance in our lives
• Social and cultural — the ability to establish, relate and connect positively with other people (family, friends, co-workers, others)

There is also an Employee Wellness Committee that will continue to work with initiatives such as the worksite wellness challenges, holding a farmers market on campus, community supported agriculture (CSA) and more. To serve on a subcommittee or for more information contact Wellness Coordinator Jason Bertrand at jbertrand@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8977.

Accepting nominations for outstanding alumni

Know outstanding alumni? You can nominate them for the UW-L Alumni Association Awards Program. Submit their name by Wednesday, Oct. 1, to be considered for the 2015 awards. Awards include:

• The Maurice O. Graff Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes those who attended UW-L at least 20 years ago and have achieved honor and distinction with recognition that extends well beyond the immediate environments where they live and work.

• The Rada Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alums who have graduated within the last 20 years who are making exceptional contributions to their professions and/or communities.

• The Parker Multicultural Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have significantly contributed to or advanced multicultural understanding.

Submit the name of person you’d like to nominate here or contact the Alumni Association at alumni@uwlax.edu. Refer questions to 608.785.8489.

MTU, Safe Ride bus routes altered

Due to upcoming construction for the new student center and Cowley Hall projects, the MTU and Safe Ride bus routes for campus have been altered. The bus stop locations on Badger Street between East Avenue and Oakland Street are no longer in service. Stops on Oakland Street and Badger Street near the Health Science Consortium building have remained unchanged. The new bus route provides pick-up and drop-off shelters on East Avenue in front of Cowley Hall and Sanford Hall with an additional stop on the south side of La Crosse Street at the corner of 16th Street near the parking ramp. The new routes are currently available for use. Visit the following websites for updated maps and schedule information.

•   La Crosse MTU route map and timetable: http://www.cityoflacrosse.org/index.aspx?NID=980
•   Safe Ride: http://www.uwlax.edu/U-Pass/Safe-ride/

If you have any questions regarding these bus route changes, contact Mike Gasper, Administration & Finance, at mgasper@uwlax.edu.

News and upcoming events

This week’s highlights:

• Eagles Eat & Greet events will kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Howie's. Meet, greet and eat with UW-L Football coaches, staff and athletes for the first Eagles Eat & Greet event of the season beginning at 11:30 a.m.
• Mascot Tryouts are scheduled to take place on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Mitchell Hall. More information is available at http://uwlathletics.com/sports/2009/10/6/Mascot.aspx?tab=stryker,theeaglemascot
• Women's Tennis opens fall home regular-season events on Saturday, Sept. 6
• Football tickets and All-Sport passes are now on sale for the 2014-15 season
• Eaglez Kidz Klub registration now available for youth in sixth grade and under
• Fall Swimming Lesson registration is now open for Sept. 13- Oct. 11
• Fall Eagle Baseball Instruction League Camp is now open for registration for September-October
• Lil' Eagles Girl Basketball Camp is now accepting registration for October
• The Fall Junior Eagles Gymnastics Program is now open for registration for Sept. 15-Dec. 4

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 Cecilia G. Manrique, Political Science/Public Administration, had her review of "Integrating Self-explanation Functionality into a Complex Game Environment: Keeping Gaming in Motion" by Deanne M. Adams and Douglas B. Clark published in the July 15 issue of Computing Reviews. Jörg Vianden, Student Affairs Administration; along with main author UW-L Alumnus Richard Anderson, area coordinator at the University of New England and 2012 Student Affairs Administration graduate; published "Restricted and Adaptive Masculine Gender Performance in White Gay College Men?" in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (Aug. 22, 2014). Gary L. Willhite, Educational Studies, has been selected as a 2015 Association of Teacher Educators Clinical Fellow based on his commitment to clinical practice in teacher education.   University Communications: the go-to communications resource for advancing UW-La Crosse 115 Graff Main Hall (the southeast corner) UW-L's Campus Connection is always online in the Campus News section of the UW-L website at http://news.uwlax.edu/campus-connection. Each issue is listed by date. For example last week's Connection is at http://news.uwlax.edu/campus-connection-aug-25-2014/. You can find the previous editions in the Archives section in the left-hand column of the Campus News page. You can also subscribe to receive news  shortly after it's published to the Campus New site. To do so, click on "Show More" at the bottom of the Campus News section on UW-L's homepage. Then on the left-hand column of the Campus News page, enter your email address in the "SUBSCRIBE NOW" box. Submit information to be included in the Campus Connection to connectx@uwlax.edu by noon Wednesday preceding the next Monday's Campus Connection.   What’s Happening In Dining Services [caption id="attachment_35926" align="alignright" width="134"] Katie Callahan[/caption]

Meet the dietitian

Hello. My name is Katie Callahan and I am the new registered dietitian on campus. I was born in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in nutrition with a concentration in dietetics from the College of Saint Benedict. I then went on to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, to complete my required dietetic internship. Here, I had different rotations in hospital, public health, and food service settings. In my spare time I like to attend aerobics classes (Zumba rocks!), hike, bike, travel (especially to Duluth, Minnesota), be on the water, read, cook and bake. My favorite aspects of nutrition are establishing relationships with others via health and wellness promotion, counseling individuals with dietary needs and/or nutrition concerns, and conducting group presentations. Luckily, I get to carry out my passions in my position here at UW-L. I could not be more excited to serve you, the UW-L campus, in any way I can. Do not hesitate to stop by my office in the Whitney Concourse to say hello and introduce yourself. — Dietitian Katie Callahan

Walk-in tours available during opening week of classes

The library offers fast, no-registration tours for students, faculty and staff during the first week of the semester. Tours start in the library lobby at noon Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 2-5. Tours last about 20 minutes and cover the basic layout of the library, useful services, library collections and tips to effectively use the library. Everyone is welcome to participate in these informal tours.

Start the semester right starting Day  No. 1 … eat breakfast

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Your body needs energy to perform well throughout the day. Breakfast gives your body energy and boosts your metabolism. A healthy breakfast is linked to health benefits such as weight control and improved performance.  Do not skip breakfast to lose weight. Studies have shown that breakfast eaters tend to weigh less than breakfast skippers. Not all breakfasts are created equally though. It is important to eat a healthy, well-balanced breakfast consisting of protein and/or whole grains instead of one loaded with fat and calories (i.e., donut, bagel with cream cheese, Danish, muffin, etc.). Try these quick breakfast ideas:

• Yogurt with fruit and whole grain cereal
• Whole grain cereal with low-fat milk and a banana
• Whole grain bread with peanut butter and a glass of orange juice
• Oatmeal with fruit and nuts
• Scrambled eggs with whole grain toast and a piece of fruit
•  Egg white omelet with vegetables
• Whole grain bagel and a glass of low fat milk

Or these ideas for breakfast on the go:

• Gogurt, individual serving yogurt or cottage cheese or string cheese
• An apple, orange, banana, pear or plum with cheese or nuts
• Granola bar with at least four grams of protein and fiber
• Whole grain cereal in a baggie
• Make-ahead smoothie
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Egg sandwich on whole grain bread or a tortilla
• Whole grain bagel