University of Nebraska Kearney

2008 Pratt-Heins and SAFE Awards Presented at Fall Convocation 

The 2008 Pratt-Heins and SAFE Awards were presented this morning at the 2008 Faculty/Staff Opening Convocation.

Recipients of the 2008 Pratt-Heins Awards are:

• Dr. Anne Foradori, Department of Music & Performing Art - Teaching
• Dr. Susanne Bloomfield, Department of English - Scholarship/Research
• Dr. Max McFarland, Department of Counseling and School Psychology - Service

The Pratt-Heins Awards, sponsored by the Pratt-Heins Foundation, are presented annually  to recognize UNK faculty who have demonstrated outstanding work in the areas of Teaching, Scholarship/Research, and Service. Students, alumni, faculty colleagues, department chairs/program directors, or college deans may nominate individuals for consideration. 

Recipients of the 2008 SAFE Awards are:

• Dannien Jones, Administrative Associate, Natural and Social Sciences
• Lisa Neal, Assistant Director, Institutional Research

The SAFE (Staff Awards for Excellence) Awards, sponsored by TIAA-CREFF, are presented annually to honor UNK staff members for outstanding service to students, UNK, and education in general.  Individuals are considered upon nomination and a maximum of three peer references. 

Nester Hall Open to Student Residents for the Fall 2008 Semester 

Residential and Greek Life has the distinct privilege of opening another new residence hall to welcome new and returning students for the Fall 2008 semester.

The second phase of the Antelope/Nester Complex was completed this summer, offering 172 more housing spaces for on-campus residents in two- and four-bedroom suites. Student residents will enjoy brand new independent living accommodations in Nester North and Nester South, including a kitchenette area with a full sized refrigerator/freezer, microwave, sink, and kitchen stools; a living area furnished with a settee, chair, and end table; private bedrooms each with an extra long twin lofted bed, desk and chair, dresser, and closet; and one vanity area and bathroom for every two people.  All students in the complex will also have access to University View, a large multipurpose room over the bridge connecting Nester North and Nester South, as well as second floor study rooms in each of Nester North and Nester South.

Antelope's Ludden Courtyard, Nester North's Case Courtyard, and Nester South's Courtyard all provide semi-private backyards for resident interaction while the East-West mall will facilitate lively activity between the on-campus and off-campus community of students, further complementing the residential mission of UNK. Contractors are completing the landscaping and sidewalk surrounding the Antelope/Nester Complex, and there are plans to create a memorial to Dr. William R. Nester, the seventh and last Kearney State College President and UNK’s first Chancellor from 1983 to 1993, for whom Nester Hall is named.

Bruner Hall of Science Construction Update 

Contractors have been at work on the addition to and renovation of the Bruner Hall of Science since the spring. Upon completion, the project will provide updated facilities for the departments currently housed in Bruner Hall, including a new state-of-the-art planetarium.  Details of the construction project are available on the Facilities website.

Currently all floors of the east half of the building are being renovated; this renovation is scheduled to be completed by December of 2008, at which time the west half of the building will be renovated. The foundation and basement walls of the addition are currently being poured, and soon steel beams will be visible rising from the basement hole. The anticipated completion date for the entire project is December of 2009, and in the intervening time, several temporary changes had to take place in order to accommodate the disruption. Several departments have had to rearrange office and classroom space due to the demolition that took place earlier in the year and renovation of existing space. Some courses will remain in Bruner Hall throughout the construction, while others have relocated to other buildings, including Otto Olsen, Copeland Hall, and the Library.  Additionally, the Health Sciences Program offices have temporarily moved to the second floor of the Library.

Though the construction project has created temporary adjustments and minor inconveniences, faculty, staff, and students can anticipate an up-to-date and attractive addition to campus when the new facility is complete.

Library - In Brief Online

• Library hours during the Fall semester are generally:
  
  

  Monday - Thursday	7:30 a.m. - midnight
  Friday	7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  Saturday	10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  Sunday	2:00 p.m. - midnight

  
  Specific information about the schedule is available online. 
  
  
• Library liaison program:  Library faculty are liaisons to specific academic departments and programs.  They can provide library instruction, research assistance, and answer questions about the Library.  The list of liaison librarians is linked from the Library's "Faculty Services" page. 
  
  
• The Library has redesigned its home page and will be making additional changes in the future. Visit the home page to view the new look. We invite comments and suggestions. To send an e-mail with feedback about the new page click on "Library Information," then on "Library Suggestion Box."
  
  
• In May, the Library began offering 24/7 reference service using e-mail and chat.  See the 24/7 Help Page for additional details.   More detailed information will be published in a future issue of eNews.

Recognition

Calendar of Events within the Academic Affairs and Student Life Division

A Publication of the
Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Student Life
University of Nebraska at Kearney
905 West 25th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
Phone: (308)865-8209

For questions or submissions,
contact the Coordinator of Academic Publications at 8935 or academicpublications@unk.edu.