Vol.
56,
No. 17
• Seventeenth
Week • Fall
Semester • Dec. 8, 2008 |
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Featured Articles UW-Eau Claire ranks among national leaders in number of physics graduates Regents approve materials science major Scholarship recipients invited to write thank-you's EDI task force to focus on immersion experiences Li-Ying Bao co-authors environmental Urban Experience Day benefits education majors Fundraisers to offer ceramics, international crafts |
Study: UW-Eau Claire ranks among
national UW-Eau Claire has graduated an average of 11 physics majors per year during the three-year timeframe (2005-07) included in the American Institute of Physics study. Just 23 of the 510 bachelor's degree-granting departments at U.S. colleges and universities graduated more physics majors during that same time period, the study states. Eight students graduated from UW-Eau Claire in physics in 2005, 14 in 2006 and 13 in 2007. The 11 graduates-per-year average is well above the national average of 4.5 physics graduates per year from other comparable institutions, according to the institute's study. Full story. Regents approve materials science major The major in materials science — the study of condensed matter (solids and liquids) and how it can be applied to fabricating devices and structures — is the first new academic program resulting from the state-approved $3 million NanoSTEM initiative. Nearly $2 million of the funds support materials science at UW-Eau Claire. The NanoSTEM initiative, which was designed to enhance economic development in the Chippewa Valley and the state, demonstrates how higher education can be a catalyst for economic growth through targeted programs that benefit students and businesses. The new materials science major will provide Wisconsin businesses with employees who are prepared to work in the newer fields of materials science and nanotechnology. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment of materials scientists is expected to grow by 9 percent from 2006-16. Read a related UW-Eau Claire media memo and news release. For details on other business during the regents' December meeting, see the Day 1 and Day 2 news summaries.
• Music education majors to perform at Carnegie Hall: Two UW-Eau Claire music education majors have been named to the National College Wind Ensemble, an honor that will allow the students to perform this spring at Carnegie Hall in New York. Tyler Adam, a sophomore from Chanhassen, Minn., who plays the flute, and Megan Pattarozzi, a freshman from Middleton, who plays the clarinet, will make their Carnegie Hall debuts in May 2009. They are two of the 70 students chosen from colleges and universities throughout the country for the ensemble. • Psychology students place first at research event: Two psychology students from UW-Eau Claire received first place for their research project and presentation at the sixth annual Seven Rivers Undergraduate Research Symposium held earlier this month in La Crosse. Sophomore Jessica Sprain, Woodbury, Minn., and junior Randy Lim, Hopkins, Minn., presented "Tray-less Dining and its Effects on Student Behavior." They also answered questions from the judges. The project was conducted as part of their "Research Methods" class with Dr. Blaine Peden. Full story.
• ENPH student receives scholarship: A UW-Eau Claire environmental public health student is one of five recipients of a $1,000 scholarship from J.J. Keller & Associates Inc. Senior Celina Cooper, Ladysmith, was chosen to receive the Keller Scholarship based on her grade-point average, a personal essay and correct identification of a number of safety hazards related to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations in two photos taken from an industrial setting. She also made suggestions about creating a safer workplace. Full story. • Travel grants go to mathematics students: For the first time, four UW-Eau Claire mathematics students have received travel grants from the Mathematical Association of America to present their student-faculty collaborative research results at the national Joint Mathematics Meetings, slated for Jan. 5-8, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Senior Mitch Phillipson, Chippewa Falls, and junior Emily Klungtvedt, Moorhead, Minn., each received $450. Junior Kaitlyn Hellenbrand, Middleton, and sophomore Mark Patrick Bauer, Spencer, each received $300. "We are excited that our students have reached the national level in undergraduate research and had three posters accepted by the conference, and also that they have received travel funding from the MAA," said Dr. Simei Tong, associate professor of mathematics and faculty mentor. Full story. Scholarship recipients invited to write thank-you's The UW-Eau Claire Foundation and Sigma Gamma Zeta II, the nontraditional student honor society, will host the gatherings and provide contact information, holiday cards, stamps and sample messages, along with cookies and hot cocoa. Students may bring photos of themselves to include in the cards if they wish. Following are the times and locations of the gatherings in Davies Center:
PEEQ Evaluation Team selected Team members from academic programs are Rose Battalio, Lori Bica, Mike Carney, Gloria Fennell, Rodd Freitag, Carmen Manning, Scott Oates, Don Reynolds, Jim Rundall, Carter Smith, Sheila Smith and Larry Solberg. Team members from administrative and support services are Marilyn Bergmann, Terry Classen, Julia Diggins, Karen Havholm, Stephanie Jamelske, Jennifer Lee, Craig Mey, Suzanne Olson, Alternates are Kate Lang and Mike Wick from academic programs and Kris Anderson and Deborah Wright from administrative and support services. Learn more about the PEEQ Evaluation Team and PEEQ process.
Task force to focus on immersion experiences The task force members were nominated from each of UW-Eau Claire's four colleges:
Learn more about the work of the Intercultural Immersion Pilot Task Force. Li-Ying Bao co-authors environmental Santa book "Riding with Santa" tells the story of how Santa, while flying over the earth, sees some surprising changes in the landscape. Santa meets children who share his concern about melting icebergs and smoggy cities. Together they decide to make changes to help solve the environmental problems. The book, available in English, Chinese, German and Spanish, will be on sale from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11 and 12, in the east lobby of Davies Center. Co-authors Bao and Webb, along with main illustrator Paul Modjeski, will be available to sign copies of the book from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday. For each book sold, $10 will be donated to UW-Eau Claire's Campus Sustainability Initiatives Fund. 'Riding with Santa" also is available online. Full story. Urban Experience Day benefits education majors
Some 60 students in UW-Eau Claire's College of Education and Human Sciences take part in an "Urban Experience Day" field trip to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area each semester. Many education students come from small towns in Wisconsin and Minnesota where populations tend to be racially and ethnically homogeneous, said Dr. Deb Pattee, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction. One way Pattee helps prepare these students to teach in more diverse, urban environments is by including the "Urban Experience Day" in her middle level methods class. She has offered the field experience since she joined the faculty in 2004. During visits to Washington Technology Magnet Middle School in St. Paul, Minn., and Richfield Middle School in Richfield, Minn., the students focus half their attention on what they've learned about the components that make a true middle school and document how the schools carry out those mandates. They also observe and address questions to teachers and students about school culture and classroom environment, and student/teacher and student/student interactions, paying particular attention to how the various ethnic groups relate to one another and express themselves. Full story.
Fundraisers to offer ceramics, international crafts
Event offers chance at free semester's tuition Students can register at the arena entrance for a chance to take a basketball-shooting challenge to win a semester's tuition. At halftime, the student selected in a drawing from all entrants will be timed while attempting to make a layup, a free throw, a three-point shot and a half-court shot. The student can win the tuition prize by making all four shots before the time is up. The UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association is sponsoring Pack Zorn Night. Inclement weather policy In response to local weather conditions, the chancellor may release employees. In such instances, no employee will be required to remain at work. Employees covered by a labor agreement should check their respective bargaining agreements for specifics about excusing employees from work and related issues. Employees not covered by a labor agreement may use vacation, compensatory time, personal holidays or leave without pay to cover time lost if they are ordered to leave work or if they request or are allowed to be excused from work when they believe that weather conditions or emergency situations make it unsafe to get to or remain at work. Local media will be notified if the chancellor decides to cancel classes. However, announcements by local media are advisory only. For official information concerning university operations, check the UW-Eau Claire Web site, call the Chancellor's Office at 836-2327 after 7 a.m. or call your supervisor.
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Julie Poquette, Editor, UW-Eau Claire News Bureau, Schofield 201, 715-836-4741
Diane Walkoff, Assistant Editor. Updated: July 28, 2008.
UW-Eau Claire graduates more physics majors than most other colleges in the country, according to a recent American Institute of Physics study.
At its Dec. 4-5 meeting at UW-La Crosse, the UW System Board of Regents approved UW-Eau Claire's new interdisciplinary materials science comprehensive major.
Members of UW-Eau Claire's Program to Evaluate and Enhance Quality (PEEQ) Evaluation Team have been announced. The team was selected by Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich, in consultation with his executive staff and the 
Li-Ying Bao, UW-Eau Claire associate professor of art & design, and Eau Claire entrepreneur Michael Webb have co-written a children's Christmas book with an environmentally friendly message. 
In general, when inclement weather threatens operations at UW-Eau Claire, the university will remain open to the extent possible. If necessary, the chancellor may close the university to the public or cancel classes, but state employees will be expected to report to work.