eNews: A Newsletter from Academic Affairs and Student Life
Preparing Students for Careers and Citizenship
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Opportunities for Academic Engagement Increase for Thompson Scholars in New Learning Community
Each year, the Buffett Foundation awards the Susan Thompson Buffett Scholarship to students attending Nebraska public colleges or universities. Beginning in the Fall of 2008, freshmen and new award recipients at UNK, UNL, and UNO are also participating in the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community, which is designed to enhance the Thompson scholars’ academic experience through community living, common coursework, and mentorship.
At UNK, the majority of the 47 freshmen and first-time award recipients in the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community are living on the same floor of Randall Hall. The goal of the shared living experience is to provide support for the student scholars as they adjust to college life and learn to balance their academic responsibilities. Coordinator Jennifer Harvey has observed the students taking responsibility for one another and encouraging participation in community life. The learning community peer mentors are also living in Randall Hall, which aids in their goals of spending one-on-one time with the scholars and planning group activities.
In addition to living in the same residence hall, the scholars are enrolled together in a Political Science course this semester; some are in Dr. Peter Longo’s section of PSCI 110, Introduction to American Politics, and the rest are in one of Dr. Satoshi Machida’s sections of PSCI 140, Introduction to Comparative Politics. Dr. Machida has already seen the positive effects of the learning community. “Since they already know each other, they are comfortable studying together,” Machida said.
Faculty director Dr. Robert Luscher expects the learning community to increase the scholars’ academic success. Luscher believes that the more students participate in college life, the stronger they grow as scholars and individuals. “An engaged student is a successful student,” Luscher said, and the Thompson Scholars Learning Community will be an instrumental means of increasing the student scholars’ engagement through the shared living and studying experience.
Harvey desires to get students involved in opportunities early in their academic career by finding out their interests and directing them to appropriate resources. Similarly, Luscher hopes that the scholars will be able to develop research interests early in their academic career, both taking advantage of and contributing to the strong undergraduate research program at UNK. Luscher will be working to provide the students opportunities to participate in research, potentially receiving research stipends and working with UNK faculty members on their research projects.
In order to offer the Thompson scholars a well-rounded college experience, the learning community staff will also plan social programs. The next event will take place on September 19th with pizza at the Alumni House followed by attendance at the UNK volleyball game. In October, the scholars will engage in a service project with the peer mentors.
The Thompson Scholars Learning Community Staff have greeted the community members with enthusiasm and optimism at the beginning of this academic year. Luscher said, “It is exciting to be in on the ground floor of something that is expanding, especially an opportunity to work with students to enhance their academic success.”
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Library - In Brief Online
- Credo Reference
Credo Reference is a new online reference collection available via the Library’s home page. Contents include full-text dictionaries, encyclopedias, subject-specific titles, and more. For further details see: Credo Reference
- Library Instruction
Do your students know how to use resources on the Library’s home page? Does their idea of “research” start and end with Google? Library instruction sessions taught by liaison librarians can show them how to do proper research and utilize the numerous indexes and databases available from the Library. Sessions are tailored for each course and its requirements. Based on questions fielded at the Library's reference desk, even students in upper level courses can benefit from subject-specific guidance. Contact your liaison librarian to arrange for a session that will teach students to do the type of research you want.
- New Book Display
Looking for relevant and timely reading materials related to a variety of subjects? Check out the new book display. It can be found on the main floor, across from the reference area. The “new book” context often puts unlikely subjects near each other and can lead to fascinating browsing! New additions to the Curriculum Collection can be found on the lower floor, outside the Microforms Room. A display of selected new government documents is located near the staircase on the second floor. Check them out!
- New Librarian
Toné Mendoza has joined the staff of Calvin T. Ryan Library as a temporary User Services librarian. Toné has considerable experience as a librarian, and will be helping with reference, instructional development and selection of Spanish-language materials. She will also work with student groups and programs on campus. Her background includes experience at the University of Kansas Medical Center library, Morgan Library at Colorado State University, and Hale Library, Kansas State.
HPERLS Hosts 5th Annual Nebraska Kids Fitness and Nutrition Day
On Friday, September 12, 560 elementary school students and 48 elementary school teachers visited UNK’s campus as part of the 5th annual Nebraska Kids Fitness and Nutrition Day. 155 HPERLS students, faculty, and staff also participated in the event.
Kate Heelan (HPERLS) and Kaiti Roeder from the Nebraska Beef Council developed the program five years ago, and it has now expanded to an annual event held in six communities besides Kearney, including Hastings, McCook, Chadron, Sidney, Scottsbluff, and Gering. The Kearney event draws students from Kearney Public Schools, as well as Elm Creek, Alma, Wilcox-Hildreth, Overton, Holdrege, Shelton, and Franklin.
The purpose of NE Kids Fitness and Nutrition Day is to encourage students to begin developing lifelong healthy habits. Those involved in the program demonstrate that physical activity can be fun, and they work to increase the nutrition knowledge of the students. Sixteen physical activity stations on Foster Field included parachutes, step aerobics, hula hooping, cup stacking, a human ladder, an obstacle course, and many others. The students also engaged in two hours of interactive nutrition education in the Field House, including an energy balance demonstration where students run to burn calories associated with different food options. Event participants also enjoyed a free lunch together.
The department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies values the opportunity to educate the surrounding communities regarding a healthy lifestyle. Heelan said, “It was a great day watching our HPERLS students interact and have a great time with the kids.”
Recognition
Outstanding Student Achievements
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| Ryan Nienhueser (HPERLS) |
worked the Democratic National Convention in Denver as part of his internship
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| Matt Noffke (Physics) |
received first prize in the undergraduate student paper competition for presentation of "Characterizing Rain Field Sub-pixel Variability in the Great Plains" at the 12th annual NWS/AMS High Plains Conference in Hays, KS on September 4-5 - faculty mentor is Mike Larsen
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| Kelly Spiegel (Marketing) |
one of six out of 900 chosen to receive the "extra step award" after being nominated by a customer while working as an intern with TierOne Bank during the summer of 2008 |
| Pi Nu Chapter |
UNK’s local Phi Alpha Theta chapter (History Honor Society) was awarded the national Best Chapter Award for 2007-2008 |
Publications and Honors
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| Kim Carlson (Biology) |
selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Marquis’ Who's Who In America |
| Sherri Harms (Computer Science) |
“Temporal Event Sequence Rule Mining,” published in the Data Warehousing and Mining Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition. J. Wang, ed., Idea Group Inc., August 2008, pp. 1098-1102 |
| John Hertner (Biology) |
selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Marquis’ Who's Who In America |
| Cynthia Houlden (Safety Center) |
presented "Regional Comparative Analysis of Agricultural Products Transported by Truck 1997 and 2002" at the National Social Science Association's National Technology and Social Science Conference, April 2008
paper of the same title submitted for publication in the proceedings journal, co-authored with Vani Kotcherlakota, Frank Tenkorang, Bruce Elder, Bruce Schanbaucher
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| Rick Miller (Psychology) |
selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Marquis’ Who's Who In America |
Rick Miller (Psychology),
Theresa Wadkins (Psychology), and
Steve Davis (Texas Wesleyan) |
"Contrasting Perspectives on Mentoring New Faculty" published in the Journal of Faculty Development, 22, 135-143 |
Calendar of Events within the Academic Affairs and Student Life Division
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| August 25 through September 26 |
The Walker Art Gallery Presents Robert Atwell: New Paintings and Works on Paper - Gallery Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment - contact John Fronczak at 308-865-8084 |
| September 20 |
UNK Family Day |
| September 22 |
Concerts-on-the-Platte Series presents: Faculty Showcase Season Sampler - 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building, Recital Hall - contact Nathan Buckner at 308-865-8608 or bucknern@unk.edu |
| September 23 |
County Government Day events, UNK will host over 500 high school students - 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - contact John Anderson at 308-865-8171 or andersonj@unk.edu |
September 25
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Writing Center Workshop: "'In 300 Words or Less': Writing Fabulous Paragraphs for Papers, Exams, and Applications" - 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Jennings Room on the second floor of C.T. Ryan Library - online registration for UNK students, faculty and staff at www.unk.edu/acad/writing_center |
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Reynolds Series Presents: Carol Moldaw reading Performance - 7:30 p.m. in Copeland Hall, Room 142 - contact Allison Hedge Coke at 308-865-8672 or hedgecokeaa@unk.edu
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| September 26 |
The Walker Art Gallery Presents Robert Atwell Artist Talk and Reception - 5:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building, Room 312 - contact John Fronczak at 308-865-8084 |
| October 1 |
Luncheon Presentation: Results of the NCA Visit Sponsored by The Center for Teaching Excellence - 11:30 a.m. in the Nebraskan Student Union - RSVP to teachingcenter@unk.edu - April Becker at 308-865-8495 or teachingcenter@unk.edu
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NCUR Information Sessions - 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. in Founders Hall, Room 2147 - contact the Graduate Studies and Research Office at 308-865-8843
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| October 2 |
UNK Fall Career Fair - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - for more information visit http://careers.unk.edu or contact Joni Weed at weedj@unk.edu
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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.
