eNews: A Newsletter from Academic Affairs and Student Life
Preparing Students for Careers and Citizenship
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Oracle and CedarCrestone to Provide New Student Information System for NU, State Colleges
This afternoon at their meeting, the Board of Regents approved the selection of Oracle USA to provide the new student information system for the four university campuses and the three state colleges. The Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise Campus Solutions application will provide the basis of the system, and CedarCrestone Consultants will work with the university and the state colleges on implementation.
In order to arrive at the recommendation, a steering committee involving representatives from all seven campuses has been reviewing and discussing the options since the request for proposals went out in February of 2008. Evaluation of the proposals involved a number of aspects including implementation, flexibility, functionality, decision support, and cost effectiveness.
Plans will now be underway to begin implementation of the system, which is expected to be complete by August of 2010.
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Political Analyst to Deliver First E.N. Thompson Forum Lecture of Semester
David Gergen will deliver the E.N. Thompson Forum lecture, "Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership" on September 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Leid Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln. This lecture will be simulcast at six locations throughout Nebraska, including the Communications Center, Room 101 at UNK.
Gergen's resume details a vast array of experience, including work in the news media, academia, and the government. Currently he is the editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report as well as a senior political analyst for CNN. In addition, he is professor of public service at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and director of its Center for Public Leadership. In the fall of 2000, he published the best-selling book Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton.
Additionally, Gergen has worked directly in politics as the director of communications for President Ronald Reagan, advisor in the administrations of presidents Nixon and Ford, counselor to President Clinton on both foreign policy and domestic affairs, and special international adviser to the president and to Secretary of State Warren Christopher.
UNK Moves up in U.S. News and World Report's Annual Best Colleges Ranking
On August 22, U.S. News and World Report announced its ranking of America's Best Colleges for 2009. As last year, the University of Nebraska at Kearney appeared in the top 15 Midwestern public schools at the Master's level. UNK also received its highest ranking ever - #59 - among the public and private Master's universities in the Midwest.
Library - In Brief Online
- Additional information about expanded library reference services: Ask Us 24/7: Information Help Through Question Point
- Ordering materials for the Library
The Library buys books and other resources which it believes will be useful to the university community. How are acquisitions decisions made? A significant portion of the new materials added annually is purchased because faculty members requested the materials. Each department is initially allocated $1,000 which can be spent immediately. Later in the semester, department heads will receive information about their full departmental allocation that will be available to purchase materials for the library collection. Please take this opportunity to build a collection that will be useful to you and your students. Have your requests signed by your department chair and forward orders to Mary Heater, Acquisitions, Calvin T. Ryan Library. Every effort will be made to acquire the requested materials and make them available in a timely manner. Get shopping!!!
- Electronic reserves
Electronic Reserves are a service that allows instructors to place class information online. Electronic reserves allow students to access the information 24/7 wherever access to a computer is available. This is in addition to the Reserve Collection located in the Calvin T. Ryan Library. The Electronic Reserves Policy, copyright restrictions, and how to submit materials can be found at http://eres.unomaha.edu/unkcpolicy.htm
- Library's new home page
We welcome comments and suggestions about the Library's new home page, <http://rosi.unk.edu/>. Click on "Library Information," then on "Library Suggestion Box" to send feedback.
The New York Times Now Available on Campus .jpg "ADP logo")
The New York Times is now available for free on campus. The American Democracy Project (ADP) has partnered with The New York Times to make this opportunity available at UNK, and the arrangement also includes the Sunday edition of the Times, which will be available on Monday mornings. The ADP at UNK is working to involve student government in this program.
Students will be able to find the newspapers on racks in West Center, the College of Education Building, the Fine Arts Building, C.T. Ryan Library, Copeland Hall, and the Nebraskan.
The New York Times is a co-sponsor of the national American Democracy Project. The ADP mission is “to create a greater intellectual understanding and commitment to participate in the civic life of the United States,” and providing The New York Times for students is just one means of accomplishing this mission.
University of Nebraska Faculty Awards
In the spring, Theresa Wadkins (Psychology) was named as a 2008 recipient of the Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (OTICA), one of four annual awards presented by the University of Nebraska:
- IDEA (Innovation, Development, and Entrepreneurship Award)
- ORCA (Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award)
- OTICA (Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award)
- UDTA (University-wide Departmental Teaching Award)
Each award represents university-wide recognition for outstanding efforts in teaching and scholarship, as well as a substantial monetary award. Deadlines for nominations vary for each award and occur throughout the fall. Refer to the deadline schedule in order to ensure timely submission of nominations.
Lists of past UNK award winners are available online.
Recognition
Outstanding Student Achievements
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Dani Butterfield
Sara Brady
Satoko Hoshino
(Psychology Students)
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presented posters at the annual Nebraska Psychological Association meeting in May
| Dani Butterfield: |
"The Effects of Mortality Salience on Group Entitivity: Benefits of Group Membership," |
Richard Miller, faculty mentor |
| Sara Brady, received 3rd Place: |
"Stereotype Threat and Athletic Performance Using Positive and Negative Self-Elevant Stereotypes,” |
Krista Fritson, faculty mentor |
| Satoko Hoshino, received 1st Place: |
"The Effect of Parenting Style on Identity Development in American, Japanese, and Hispanic Cultures," |
Robert Rycek, faculty mentor |
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Will Cabrera (Physics Student)
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co-presented with L. Kreminska (Physics): “Material Research of Nematic Properties of IR-806 dye” at the Third International Workshop “Relaxed, nonlinear and acoustic optical processes; materials – growth and optical properties” in May in Lutsk, Ukraine |
Publications and Honors
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| William Aviles (Political Science) |
"U.S. Intervention in Colombia: The Role of Transnational Relations" published in the Bulletin of Latin American Research, Vol. 27, No. 3, July 2008: p. 410-429 |
Paul Burger (Geography)
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John Bauer (Geography) |
contracted by the National Forest Service for “Tree Diversity Assessment: Research Plot Generation and Mapping in GIS” |
| Kim Carlson (Biology) |
co-authored with DJ Carlson, Anjeza Pashaj, and K Gardner: "Advances in age old questions" published in Fly 2008, 3(2) 149-151
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co-authored with S Wagoner: "DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis in a forensic teaching experiment" published in The American Biology Teacher 2008, 70(6) |
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co-authored with JN Derr and TL Smith: "Effects of blueberries on mortality rates and Indy gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster" published in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 2008, 31: 61-67 |
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co-authored with CR Spresser and S Marshall: "OTK18: A transcriptional suppressor and putative anti-retroviral molecule with a potential role in regulation of innate immunity" published in Journal of Genetics 2008, 87: 109-117 |
| Roger Davis (History) |
"The Heard Voice: The Emergence of the Hispanic across the Mid-West, 1971-1985" published in The Journal of Latino-Latin American Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring 2008, p. 4-15 |
| Mike Larsen (Physics) |
Discrete Fluctuations in Atmospheric Physics published by VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller e.K., 2008 |
| Rick Miller (Psychology) |
organized "Student Engagement: Opportunities, Techniques and Consequences" symposium at the Third International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he also presented "Promoting Student Engagement in the Classroom," co-authored with UNK alumnus Marty Demoret and delivered an invited address, "Things that go bump in my head: Overcoming Students' Beliefs in Paranormal Phenomena"
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"Reflections on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning" published in Insight: A Journal of Scholarly Teaching, 3, 7-10 |
| Christopher Stevens (Political Science) |
co-authored with William Ruger (Texas State-San Marcos): "Ruger & Stevens: Stay out of Russia's backyard," editorial on the Russian-Georgian conflict published in the Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com) July 2 |
Grant Recipients
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Vijay Boken (Geography)
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Marc Albrecht (Biology) |
$12,000 grant from the Kelly Funds for ''Acquisition of instruments to improve water quality studies at UNK" |
| Gordon Brooks (Safety Center) |
$1,500 grant from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles for Motorcycle Safety Education and Research |
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$5,880 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety & Health Administration for the Mine Safety & Health Training Program 2007-2008 |
Chris Exstrom (Chemistry) and
Scott Darveau (Chemistry)
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$934,800 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for CIBS Solar Cell Development |
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Bruce Forster,
Deborah Murray, and
Mary Rittenhouse
(Center for Rural Research and Development; Center for Economic Education)
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$6,296 grant from the U.S. Department of Education - Business & International Education Program for "Global Gardening: An alliance for business and international education in rural Nebraska (BIE)" |
| Keith Geluso (Biology) |
$26,050 grant from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for Survey of Reithrodontomys Montanus and Perognathus Flavescens in Eastern Nebraska |
| KrisAnn Sullivan (Frank House) |
$1,000 grant from the Kearney Area Community Foundation for Frank House Collection Conservation and Service Learning |
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 8 |
William R. Nester Hall Dedication - beginning at 1:30 p.m. at 26th Street and 9th Avenue |
| September 11 |
eLuncheon co-sponsored by eCampus and the Center for Teaching Excellence, "Strategies to Enhance Student Engagement in the Online Classroom" presented by B. Jean Mandernach, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology and Online Learning, Park University - 12:30 p.m. in the Cedar Room at the Nebraskan Student Union - contact Heather Rhinehart at 308-865-8927 or rhineharthj@unk.edu
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"Beginning Wimba Tech Session" - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Communications Center, Room 243 - contact Karen Premer at 308-865-8840 or premerk@unk.edu |
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Reynolds Series Presents: Arthur Sze poetry reading - 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 12 |
7th Annual Fall Symposium for UNK’s Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room at the Nebraskan Student Union - contact John Falconer at 308-865-8496 or falconerj@unk.edu
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| September 17 |
Constitution Day events throughout the day - contact John Anderson at 308-865-8171 or andersonj@unk.edu |
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Student Organization Fair - 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Nebraskan Student Union - contact Sharon Pelc at 308-865-8523 or pelcs@unk.edu |
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Global Scholars: "A Sharing of International Experiences" - 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. at the Ockinga Conference Room - contact Carrie Stithem at 308-865-8199 or stithemcl@unk.edu
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| September 18 |
E.N. Thompson Forum: "Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership," David Gergen - 7:30 p.m. at the Leid Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, available live on the web with live satellite broadcast and follow-up discussion in the Communications Center, Room 101 - students can contact Joan Blauwkamp to sign-up for free admission to speech, available on first-come first-serve basis |
| September 20 |
UNK Family Day |
| 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 |
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.
