Featured Articles

UW-Eau Claire faculty receive $1 million grant to help educate history teachers

UW-Eau Claire graduates finding jobs in Wisconsin

Rebecca Wurzer named director of UW-Eau Claire Children's Center

Music therapy plays on — UW-Eau Claire to continue program

Flutist Peter Phippen to perform free concert July 12

Work in progress

UW-Eau Claire faculty receive $1 million grant to help educate history teachers
More than 200 elementary and secondary teachers from 39 school districts in northern and western Wisconsin will learn new ways to teach American history thanks to a $1 million federal grant awarded to UW-Eau Claire history department, in collaboration with CESA 10 and 11 and the Chippewa Valley Museum.

Patricia Turner, associate professor of history and project director, and John Mann, visiting assistant professor of history, will teach content-based courses in American history and provide hands-on learning opportunities for the 200+ teachers in the "Learning by Doing" certificate program. (Photo by Rick Mickelson, TLTDC.)

The “Learning by Doing: Public History in the Classroom” program enables teachers to earn certificates in public history, earn up to 15 graduate credits (at no cost), and bring new skills and resources to students and colleagues in their districts. It’s possible because of a three-year $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

“There are many excellent history teachers in our schools but there is no money for professional development for those teachers,” said Patricia Turner, associate professor of history at UW-Eau Claire and project director. “This program is for teachers who want to teach more creatively and effectively, giving their students a better understanding of American history.” Full story.

UW-Eau Claire graduates finding jobs in Wisconsin
Despite a tight job market and struggling economy, UW-Eau Claire graduates are finding jobs, a Career Services survey found.

Ninety-seven percent of the 2002-03 UW-Eau Claire graduates responding to the survey were employed or continuing their education a year after graduation, said Jeanne Skoug, director of Career Services.

And a majority of the graduates included in the survey - 56 percent - are working for businesses and organizations in Wisconsin, Skoug said, noting that 21 percent are working in the Chippewa Valley.

"UW-Eau Claire students are choosing to remain in Wisconsin after graduation, adding to the state's brain gain," Skoug said. "Wisconsin's businesses and communities are benefiting from the graduates' talent, energy and knowledge." Full story.

Rebecca Wurzer named director of UW-Eau Claire Children's Center
Rebecca Wurzer began her duties as director of the Children's Center at UW-Eau Claire July 1, said William Harms, associate vice chancellor of student services.

"Ms. Wurzer has 30 years of experience in the field of early childhood education, 28 of them at the Children's Center on campus," Harms said. "She's taught in every classroom and has done an excellent job as the interim director for the last three years." Full story.

Music therapy plays on
UW-Eau Claire to continue program

After several months of good, healthy and robust dialogue, UW-Eau Claire has decided not to cut the music therapy program, said Steve Tallant, interim provost and vice chancellor.

The UW-Eau Claire music therapy program, the only one in the UW System, has been in existence for nearly 30 years. Despite budget cuts, historically low student enrollment and the retirement of Professor and Program Director Dale Taylor, the program will remain open.

This is particularly good news for the 57 students who plan to be in the program this fall, Tallant said. "Although small, this program does meet a genuine need in the community, region and state."

Flutist Peter Phippen to perform free outdoor concert July 12
Ethnic flutist Peter Phippen will present a free outdoor concert on the UW-Eau Claire Campus Mall at 7 p.m. Monday, July 12.

A professional musician for the past 25 years, Phippen spent his early career days as a bass guitarist and recording artist. But in 1987 his first flute — a 25-cent bamboo whistle — found its way into his hands, and wooden flutes became his solo instrument of choice.

Also plan to attend "Fargo" (1996), a Coen brothers film playing Tuesday and Thursday, July 13 and 15, at noon and 7 p.m. in Davies Theatre.

Summer Session Programs continue through Aug. 5. A complete schedule of events is available online.

Work in progress

Last week workers were busy replacing brick around the area of the Gantner Concert Hall fly loft. Another building improvement project in progress is a $146,000 roof replacement on Schneider Hall. (Photo by Rick Mickelson, TLTDC.)

Summer Bulletin
Published weekly during the summer session by the UW-Eau Claire News Bureau. News items and notices should be sent to the News Bureau, Schofield 201, by 10 a.m. Monday for publication in the following week’s issue. E-mail submissions to Liz Wolf Green at greenew@uwec.edu are encouraged. Faculty/staff news items are published on a space-available basis.