April 2009

Patricia Kleine named provost/vice chancellor

Kleine

Dr. Patricia A. Kleine, currently the dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Conn., has been named provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UW-Eau Claire. Kleine will begin her new duties July 1.

"Dr. Kleine brings to Eau Claire both a firm understanding of professional education and a very strong commitment to the liberal arts and sciences," said Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich. "She displays an enthusiasm for the present and the future of UW-Eau Claire, and a strong respect for the core values and traditions that have made this university great."

Professor Tess Onwueme receives prestigious award

Onwueme

Dr. Tess Onwueme, distinguished professor of English at UW-Eau Claire, has received the African Literature Association's prestigious Fonlon-Nichols award.

The award is given annually to an African writer whose works have demonstrated a commitment to democratic ideals, humanistic values and literary excellence in Africa.

"The award elevates Dr. Onwueme to a new level among world-class writers," said Jack Bushnell, chair of the English department. "It's an honor that will put her on the radar screen for groups that make decisions about other prestigious awards, including the Nobel committee. It's a very big deal." Full story.

Contest aims to end quest for Blugold mascot

A contest to select an official mascot for UW-Eau Claire may finally answer the often-asked question, "What is a Blugold?"

The Blugold Mascot Design Contest, sponsored by the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association, will start April 15 and run through June 15, with the winner announced by July 15. The winner will receive $500.

The contest was created after a 2008 survey of the university community showed strong support for a mascot. Nearly 7,000 people responded to the survey, with 69 percent of the respondents indicating that they favored having a mascot. The survey was initiated by a committee of students, faculty, staff and community members charged by Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich to research the mascot issue. Full story.

Alumna is state's outstanding elementary principal

Schmidt

A UW-Eau Claire education graduate has been named the 2009 Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.

Bobbie Schmidt, who graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1976 with a degree in elementary education and special education, is currently the principal at Richmond Elementary School in Appleton. Full story.

College of Business maintains accreditation

UW-Eau Claire has maintained its business accreditation by the Associations to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.

AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools. Just 559 schools of business — or fewer than 5 percent worldwide — have earned the distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education.

Student Research Day features record number of displays

UW-Eau Claire students will display their faculty-mentored student research, scholarly and creative projects at the 17th annual Student Research Day April 27-29.

A record number of research posters will be on display a day longer this year from noon to 5 p.m. April 27, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 28, and from 8 a.m. to noon April 29 in Zorn Arena. Judging will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27.

The event, sponsored by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, will highlight student research accomplishments and the important role faculty and academic staff play as mentors in the scholarly activity process. The diverse nature of research being conducted on campus can be viewed through the poster exhibits included in this year's Student Research Day. Full story.

Lecture, award to honor Leonard Gibbs

Gibbs

Dr. Leonard Gibbs, an emeritus professor of social work at UW-Eau Claire who retired in 2005 and passed away in June 2008 after a three-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer, is still being honored for his contributions to the field of social work and related human service areas.

An internationally recognized leader in the evidence-based practice movement, Gibbs will be honored in April with a lecture in his memory at his alma mater, UW-Madison, and in May, the Campbell Collaboration Social Welfare Coordinating Group will present the first Leonard E. Gibbs Award during the Campbell Collaboration Colloquium, "Better Evidence for a Better World," May 18-20 in Oslo, Norway.

The UW-Madison lecture, "Evidence-Informed Practice: Antidote to Propaganda in the Helping Professions," will be presented from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the Waisman Center Auditorium. The speaker will be Dr. Eileen Gambrill, Hutto Patterson professor of child and family studies in the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. Full story.

New Web page is budget information source

A new UW-Eau Claire Web page has been created to facilitate timely communication about the university's budget reduction process. The new budget update Web page includes links to all budget-related campus e-mail messages from Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich, budget background documents, budget-reduction recommendations from university employees and budget-related media reports. As they become available, new budget-related information and messages will be posted on the site, which is linked from the UW-Eau Claire home page.

UW-Eau Claire drops summer commencement

UW-Eau Claire will no longer hold an August commencement ceremony.

With fewer than half the candidates for graduation participating in the August ceremony, eliminating the ceremony has been discussed for several years, Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich said. Given the fiscal challenges currently facing the university, it made sense to make the change now, he said.

UW-Eau Claire was the last campus in the UW System to offer a summer commencement, Levin-Stankevich said, noting that only about 215 students typically graduate in August, significantly fewer students than the number who graduate in December and May. Full story.

ROTC pilot program comes to UW-Eau Claire

The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps is establishing a partnership with UW-Eau Claire to provide a one-year pilot program on campus, Interim Provost Marty Wood said.

For the 2009-10 academic year, ROTC classes will be offered through UW-Eau Claire's Continuing Education program, Wood said. After the pilot phase, if the ROTC program is approved through the university's shared governance system, it will become a series of courses offered through the College of Business, he said.

Given the ROTC's focus on leadership development, the program will be aligned with the College of Business' Center for Leadership, said Dr. Robert Sutton, associate dean of the College of Business. Starting in the fall, ROTC office space will be housed in Schneider Hall, he said. Full story.

Economist to discuss recession during 'Let's Do Lunch' presentation

A UW-Eau Claire economist will discuss the current recession and implications of the recent economic downturn during an Alumni Association luncheon this month.

Dr. Wayne Carroll, professor of economics, will present "The Great Recession of 2008-09: Starting to Build the Historical Perspective" from noon-1 p.m. April 29 at Sweetwater's Restaurant in Eau Claire.

Carroll will examine the history of previous recessions and the Great Depression, and apply those lessons to today's economic crisis during. He will discuss similarities and differences between today's economic picture and those of the past. Full story.

Football alumni to gather in Woodbury, Minn.

UW-Eau Claire football alumni are invited to a get-together at Ray J's American Grill in Woodbury, Minn., April 30 from 5-10 p.m. Enjoy great food and door prizes, all compliments of Blugold Football and the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association. Register by April 27 by e-mail, or call 715-836-3266. View invitation.

Alumni success stories

Read about the accomplishments of these and other UW-Eau Claire alumni on the Alumni Success Stories Web pages:

	James Butman '80, a UW-Eau Claire business finance graduate and an executive at Madison-based TDS Telecommunications Corp., has been elected treasurer of the national trade association for the competitive local telecom industry (COMPTEL). Full story.
	Kathy Anderson '82, a UW-Eau Claire elementary education graduate, recently joined the Northeast Bank Insurance Group in Auburn, Maine. Full story.
	Mary Ellen Leicht '83, a UW-Eau Claire management graduate, has been named acting director of the National Junior College Athletic Association. (Photo by Sandra J. Milburn of The Hutchinson News) Full story.
	Tamara Hughes '92, a UW-Eau Claire mathematics graduate, is one of two finalists in "American Title V," an "American Idol"-style writing contest run by Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. Full story.
	Claire B. Lang '76, a UW-Eau Claire journalism graduate and Green Bay native, covers NASCAR for Sirius Satellite Radio as host of the show "Dialed In." Full story.
	Deb Tackmann '88, who received a master of education-professional development degree from UW-Eau Claire, leads the award-winning health curriculum at Eau Claire's North High School. (Photo by Steve Kinderman of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
	Reggie Bicha '92, a UW-Eau Claire social work graduate and secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, is a recipient of a Commissioner's Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Full story.
	Nick Prueher '98 and Joe Pickett '99, both UW-Eau Claire communication-electronic media graduates, are hosts and curators of the traveling "Found Footage Festival." Full story.
	Mary Hilfiker '67, a UW-Eau Claire history graduate, Ray Hilfiker '65 (history) and Alice Hilfiker Butler '67 (elementary education) were recently featured in the magazine Mammoth Tales, a publication of the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation.
	John Hecht '80, a UW-Eau Claire accounting graduate, is president and chief executive of WPS Community Bank of Monona, which opened its doors in January. Full story.

Show how much you know about UW-Eau Claire — AND win great Blugold prizes! E-mail your answer to this month's question to the Blugold Trivia mailbox (trivia@uwec.edu). Those sending correct responses to this month's question will be entered in a drawing for a Blugold stadium cushion. The name of this month's Blugold Trivia winner will be published in the May issue of e-View.

April Blugold Trivia question:

A contest to select an official Blugold mascot is currently under way at UW-Eau Claire. The Art Club also sponsored a mascot contest in 1956. What was the name of the mascot receiving the largest number of votes in that contest?

Know the answer? E-mail it, along with your name and class year, to trivia@uwec.edu. You'll be notified by e-mail if you are this month's winner!

March's winner:
Congratulations to Karen Lehner, a 1977 UW-Eau Claire special education graduate! Karen has won the March Blugold Trivia prize in a drawing from among those who correctly answered that the two UW-Eau Claire music ensembles performing in the Viennese Ball's Ceremonial Room are the University Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble I.