The application for standing committee seats for the 2009-2010 academic year has just been posted online! Application guidelines have also been updated and posted. The application will be due on April 3, 2009, and interviews will take place in the middle of April.
As a reminder, Shared Governance Committee seats are a one-year appointment - every seat is open for you to apply for! If you have any questions reply to this post and I'll write back, otherwise email me!
Check out the application here!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Library and Childcare Committees
University Libraries Committee:
The main issue highlighted at this month's University Library Committee meeting was anticipated budget cuts coming down the road. There is still some question about what form these will take. Nonetheless, the ULC is being proactive in looking at where the libraries can increase efficiency while maintaining services and what could be eliminated if need be. The anticipated cuts are somewhere in the range of 5-10% of the overall budget. What the numbers are will not be entirely clear until everything is worked out with the revised State budget and what impact the federal stimulus package will have. What the directors of the General Library System have committed themselves to, however, is to maintain innovation to meet the university's information needs. While the library system will have to slim down in some places, the overall attitude remains positive and hopeful for the future.
University Child Care Committee:
At the University Child Care Committee meeting we discussed broad array of issues, but perhaps the most prominent one was the problem of a lack of available child care on campus. There are many great programs at this university, such as the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program which makes it possible for parent students to better focus on their studies, but clearly more could be done. One of the concerns I raised with the committee was the difficulty of using the current after care program for students. After care is a service for parents who need to take evening classes, and it is something that may need more attention as graduate programs increasingly migrate their classes to evening timeslots to accommodate students who work full time. The facilities used for the after care program are excellent (the Little Chicks Daycare on Whitney Way and University), but they are also inconveniently located far from much of the campus. We discussed the possibility of finding another daycare east of campus that could provide services for students who live in that part of town. Ultimately, however, many agreed that there is a glaring need for modern daycare facilities located near the heart of the campus. When new buildings are drawn-up for campus the feasibility of having a daycare located in them is supposed to be explored. It seems, however, that increased pressure on decision-makers would help move this forward, since there are no solid prospects at this point. If UW-Madison wishes to continue to attract a diverse array of students they will have to invest more in child care infrastructure.
Perhaps this is an issue the Campus Planning Committee could be willing to take up?
The main issue highlighted at this month's University Library Committee meeting was anticipated budget cuts coming down the road. There is still some question about what form these will take. Nonetheless, the ULC is being proactive in looking at where the libraries can increase efficiency while maintaining services and what could be eliminated if need be. The anticipated cuts are somewhere in the range of 5-10% of the overall budget. What the numbers are will not be entirely clear until everything is worked out with the revised State budget and what impact the federal stimulus package will have. What the directors of the General Library System have committed themselves to, however, is to maintain innovation to meet the university's information needs. While the library system will have to slim down in some places, the overall attitude remains positive and hopeful for the future.
University Child Care Committee:
At the University Child Care Committee meeting we discussed broad array of issues, but perhaps the most prominent one was the problem of a lack of available child care on campus. There are many great programs at this university, such as the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program which makes it possible for parent students to better focus on their studies, but clearly more could be done. One of the concerns I raised with the committee was the difficulty of using the current after care program for students. After care is a service for parents who need to take evening classes, and it is something that may need more attention as graduate programs increasingly migrate their classes to evening timeslots to accommodate students who work full time. The facilities used for the after care program are excellent (the Little Chicks Daycare on Whitney Way and University), but they are also inconveniently located far from much of the campus. We discussed the possibility of finding another daycare east of campus that could provide services for students who live in that part of town. Ultimately, however, many agreed that there is a glaring need for modern daycare facilities located near the heart of the campus. When new buildings are drawn-up for campus the feasibility of having a daycare located in them is supposed to be explored. It seems, however, that increased pressure on decision-makers would help move this forward, since there are no solid prospects at this point. If UW-Madison wishes to continue to attract a diverse array of students they will have to invest more in child care infrastructure.
Perhaps this is an issue the Campus Planning Committee could be willing to take up?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Athletic Board Meeting- February 20th, 2009
Hello fellow SGers,
We recently had an athletic board meeting and touched on many important things. The meeting began with an approval of the agenda and previous minutes from the January meeting. After this the new Men's Track & Cross Country coach Mick Byrne, spoke to the board about his journey to becoming the new UW coach and also his plans while coaching at UW.
Chair, Walter Dickey, presented information about the recent Big Ten Conference and noted that the main topics discussed all focused on the economy and how to save money in this tough economic climate. Later in the meeting, the board revised and discussed the proposed budget. Some things to note in the budget are that the support department cut their budget by 5%, capital projects were cut by 53%, operational sports budgets were reduced, salary increase requests were put on hold, and at the same time there were no ticket price increases. An interesting item of note is that of the 11 schools in the big ten, UW football ticket prices are third cheapest.
The AD, Barry Alvarez noted that the college game day here at UW for the Saturday night Ohio State game went extremely well. The staff at ESPN was thoroughly impressed with our fans behavior and cooperation. It also was important to host game day because the set and crew were broadcasting and reporting throughout the day from the center of the Kohl Center.
The itmes of most importance from this meeting are that on March 31st, there will be a public meeting to discuss the NCAA Self-Study Certification. This was the review of the operations of the UW athletic department. This meeting will allow for the public to voice concerns and ask questions about the certification process and results.
Finally, on March 9th at 5pm, in the Nicholas Suites at the Kohl Center we will be having a student focus group to discuss football ticket policies. It is extremely important that you show up and voice your opinions about the issues. On top of this it will be very informative to hear about the previous policies, current proposed policies, and why things are the way they are. Adam will send out an email and if you plan on attending you will need to RSVP to Megan Lee. Thats all folks see you soon.
Jake McGhee, Athletic Board Rep.
We recently had an athletic board meeting and touched on many important things. The meeting began with an approval of the agenda and previous minutes from the January meeting. After this the new Men's Track & Cross Country coach Mick Byrne, spoke to the board about his journey to becoming the new UW coach and also his plans while coaching at UW.
Chair, Walter Dickey, presented information about the recent Big Ten Conference and noted that the main topics discussed all focused on the economy and how to save money in this tough economic climate. Later in the meeting, the board revised and discussed the proposed budget. Some things to note in the budget are that the support department cut their budget by 5%, capital projects were cut by 53%, operational sports budgets were reduced, salary increase requests were put on hold, and at the same time there were no ticket price increases. An interesting item of note is that of the 11 schools in the big ten, UW football ticket prices are third cheapest.
The AD, Barry Alvarez noted that the college game day here at UW for the Saturday night Ohio State game went extremely well. The staff at ESPN was thoroughly impressed with our fans behavior and cooperation. It also was important to host game day because the set and crew were broadcasting and reporting throughout the day from the center of the Kohl Center.
The itmes of most importance from this meeting are that on March 31st, there will be a public meeting to discuss the NCAA Self-Study Certification. This was the review of the operations of the UW athletic department. This meeting will allow for the public to voice concerns and ask questions about the certification process and results.
Finally, on March 9th at 5pm, in the Nicholas Suites at the Kohl Center we will be having a student focus group to discuss football ticket policies. It is extremely important that you show up and voice your opinions about the issues. On top of this it will be very informative to hear about the previous policies, current proposed policies, and why things are the way they are. Adam will send out an email and if you plan on attending you will need to RSVP to Megan Lee. Thats all folks see you soon.
Jake McGhee, Athletic Board Rep.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Union Design Committee 2-23-2009
The Union Design Committee met Monday to discuss decorating themes in the club, meeting rooms, WUD area, Badger Hall, the theater, student activity center, and the information technology center. Also, last week the Building Commission approved construction on the new South Campus Union, and construction has officially begun.
In the basement club area, ideas were presented of a vintage themed room with old badger memorabilia and pictures. Color schemes include chocolate browns, deep reds, and gold.
Color scheme ideas for the following rooms included:
- Meeting Rooms: Cool colors such as greens and blues
- WUD area: Cooler colors accented with chocolate brown
- Student Activity Center: Funky colors; possibly purple
Badger Hall is set to have wood floors, detailed light fixtures, and wood-paneled dividing walls. The walls separating Badger Hall and the pre-function area may be designed to lift into the ceiling to open the area between the pre-function space and Badger Hall. Currently, the pre-function space is set to have a lightly patterned carpet of a color yet to be determined.
The theater will consist of a darker color palette including badger red seats, concrete floors beneath the seats, dark grey acoustic walls, and soft seating with cup holders. It is set to hold more than 350 people.
Because of the rapid rate at which technology is changing, not much time was spent discussing the information technology center. Group study areas with large LCD screens, as well as a computer bar were among the ideas that were brought up, along with relaxed cool colors and soft seating along the windows. Sustainable materials were brought up to be used for the desk counter top.
Any questions or comments would be greatly appreciated as this information can then be relayed back to the committee. Thanks!
In the basement club area, ideas were presented of a vintage themed room with old badger memorabilia and pictures. Color schemes include chocolate browns, deep reds, and gold.
Color scheme ideas for the following rooms included:
- Meeting Rooms: Cool colors such as greens and blues
- WUD area: Cooler colors accented with chocolate brown
- Student Activity Center: Funky colors; possibly purple
Badger Hall is set to have wood floors, detailed light fixtures, and wood-paneled dividing walls. The walls separating Badger Hall and the pre-function area may be designed to lift into the ceiling to open the area between the pre-function space and Badger Hall. Currently, the pre-function space is set to have a lightly patterned carpet of a color yet to be determined.
The theater will consist of a darker color palette including badger red seats, concrete floors beneath the seats, dark grey acoustic walls, and soft seating with cup holders. It is set to hold more than 350 people.
Because of the rapid rate at which technology is changing, not much time was spent discussing the information technology center. Group study areas with large LCD screens, as well as a computer bar were among the ideas that were brought up, along with relaxed cool colors and soft seating along the windows. Sustainable materials were brought up to be used for the desk counter top.
Any questions or comments would be greatly appreciated as this information can then be relayed back to the committee. Thanks!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
University Assessment Council
The Assessment Council met last Tuesday, we discussed the mission of the committee, not much to report.
Last semester I remember discussing use of clickers in classrooms, here is an interesting article on the issue. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/02/24/bruff
Last semester I remember discussing use of clickers in classrooms, here is an interesting article on the issue. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/02/24/bruff
Friday, February 20, 2009
PACE Coalition 2/17/09
The PACE Coalition met on Tuesday, February 17th. Several issues were discussed:
The Recovery Foundation, an organization that funds treatment for financially needy people suffering from alcohol and other drug addiction, is hosting Jam Fest next Friday, February 27th at 6pm at the Loft. This fundraiser will feature a raffle and performances by several bands. Tickets are $10 and there is a $5 student discount.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate funds a grant supporting late-night events on campus, with the goal of providing fun alternatives to drinking. However, a recent survey of funding recipients revealed that most of these events end before midnight. WUD members hope to determine why this pattern has arisen and what can be done to encourage alcohol-free events that run later into the night.
After hosting a successful campus symposium this past fall, the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Taskforce is planning another symposium to be held at the Pyle Center in September. This event will be open to the public.
Revisions are being made to the annual College Health Behaviors survey, which addresses binge-drinking on campus. The survey will be pared down to encourage more participation and questions are being formulated to determine how much students spend on alcohol, as available data on this subject is extremely outdated.
University police have already begun a dialogue with students and Mifflin Street residents concerning the annual Mifflin Street block party. Issues discussed at the first meeting include whether to have a band, whether to pursue sponsorships, and what the police role should be.
The Recovery Foundation, an organization that funds treatment for financially needy people suffering from alcohol and other drug addiction, is hosting Jam Fest next Friday, February 27th at 6pm at the Loft. This fundraiser will feature a raffle and performances by several bands. Tickets are $10 and there is a $5 student discount.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate funds a grant supporting late-night events on campus, with the goal of providing fun alternatives to drinking. However, a recent survey of funding recipients revealed that most of these events end before midnight. WUD members hope to determine why this pattern has arisen and what can be done to encourage alcohol-free events that run later into the night.
After hosting a successful campus symposium this past fall, the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Taskforce is planning another symposium to be held at the Pyle Center in September. This event will be open to the public.
Revisions are being made to the annual College Health Behaviors survey, which addresses binge-drinking on campus. The survey will be pared down to encourage more participation and questions are being formulated to determine how much students spend on alcohol, as available data on this subject is extremely outdated.
University police have already begun a dialogue with students and Mifflin Street residents concerning the annual Mifflin Street block party. Issues discussed at the first meeting include whether to have a band, whether to pursue sponsorships, and what the police role should be.
University Honors Committee 2/19/09
The University Honors Committee met on Thursday, February 19th. Several issues were discussed:
Applications for the undergraduate research symposium are due TODAY. Participants will present their research at the Memorial Union on Thursday, April 16th. An additional poster session will be held at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 22nd, where several students will be selected to represent the University at a system-wide event.
The Churchill Scholarship funds one year of post-baccalaureate research in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at the University of Cambridge. A UW-Madison student has not received the award since the 1980s, due in part to the fact that most eligible students already have plans to attend graduate school and regard a year-long research hiatus as a break they cannot afford to take. These recruitment problems have caused the Churchill Foundation to consider revoking UW-Madison's invitation to nominate students for the award. A representative from the foundation is visiting campus on Thursday, March 5th to gauge the situation and will hopefully jump-start some interest in the program. An information session will be held for students, and the foundation representative will visit various campus laboratories that host undergraduate researchers. The ultimate goal is to find new ways to enhance our recruitment efforts and ensure that this awesome opportunity is not lost to students.
About 500 students have responded to the first of three online surveys addressing the Honors experience at UW-Madison (about a 25% response rate, which is fairly high considering that no incentive was offered for completing the survey). This is part of an Honors Program assessment that seeks to determine how the Honors experience aligns with student expectations. Subsequent surveys will be targeted towards incoming students and alumni.
A proposal for a campus-wide Honors commencement reception was drafted. Such a reception would offer greater recognition for the achievements of Honors graduates and would provide an opportunity to create good will among a population of prospective donors to the University. The next steps will be to find funding sources and to coordinate a workable time for all of the programs involved. We hope to organize the first Honors reception for fall commencement in December.
The Pathways Scholars Program is an 8-week intensive summer research program for upper-level undergraduates. Applications are due by Friday, March 13th. For more information, contact Amy Sloane at alsloane@wisc.edu or visit the program website: http://www.lssaa.wisc.edu/psp/
Applications for the undergraduate research symposium are due TODAY. Participants will present their research at the Memorial Union on Thursday, April 16th. An additional poster session will be held at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 22nd, where several students will be selected to represent the University at a system-wide event.
The Churchill Scholarship funds one year of post-baccalaureate research in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at the University of Cambridge. A UW-Madison student has not received the award since the 1980s, due in part to the fact that most eligible students already have plans to attend graduate school and regard a year-long research hiatus as a break they cannot afford to take. These recruitment problems have caused the Churchill Foundation to consider revoking UW-Madison's invitation to nominate students for the award. A representative from the foundation is visiting campus on Thursday, March 5th to gauge the situation and will hopefully jump-start some interest in the program. An information session will be held for students, and the foundation representative will visit various campus laboratories that host undergraduate researchers. The ultimate goal is to find new ways to enhance our recruitment efforts and ensure that this awesome opportunity is not lost to students.
About 500 students have responded to the first of three online surveys addressing the Honors experience at UW-Madison (about a 25% response rate, which is fairly high considering that no incentive was offered for completing the survey). This is part of an Honors Program assessment that seeks to determine how the Honors experience aligns with student expectations. Subsequent surveys will be targeted towards incoming students and alumni.
A proposal for a campus-wide Honors commencement reception was drafted. Such a reception would offer greater recognition for the achievements of Honors graduates and would provide an opportunity to create good will among a population of prospective donors to the University. The next steps will be to find funding sources and to coordinate a workable time for all of the programs involved. We hope to organize the first Honors reception for fall commencement in December.
The Pathways Scholars Program is an 8-week intensive summer research program for upper-level undergraduates. Applications are due by Friday, March 13th. For more information, contact Amy Sloane at alsloane@wisc.edu or visit the program website: http://www.lssaa.wisc.edu/psp/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)