Academic Affairs and Student Life Newsletter Volume 2, Number 5

HOME

eNews Vol. 2, No. 5

UNK Quick Links

Visit Campus!
Apply Today!

eNews

eNews: A Newsletter from Academic Affairs and Student Life

Preparing Students for Careers and Citizenship

Volume 2, Number 5

October 22, 2008

Status of GS Renewal: GS Council Holding Working Sessions

This fall, the General Studies Council is focusing on the renewal of the General Studies program. In addition to its regular monthly meetings, the Council is holding working sessions to review proposals and discuss different models, in an effort to renew the General Studies program in a way that would be most appropriate for UNK students. The work of the Council is reported in meeting minutes on the GS website. In October, the Council approved new academic standards to apply to all General Studies courses. The standards are included in the October minutes and posted online.

Center for Economic Education Hosts “$martMoney Week”

The 4th Annual “$martMoney Week,” November 3-8, will feature over 150 events designed to educate consumers to make wise financial decisions. The Center for Economic Education has partnered with organizations throughout the state to offer activities and seminars as a service to UNK and the surrounding communities.

The events begin on Monday, November 3, including The Financial Literacy & Education Summit 2008: “Preparing A Nation: Building the Financial Competency of Generation Y” from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Miriam Drake Theatre. Contact the UNK Center for Economic Education at 308-865-8707 or smartmoney@unk.edu to reserve seats.

At special request of the Chancellor, the UNK Student Body Government and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is hosting a discussion specifically for students regarding rational expectations of debt management. The $martMoney Week Chancellor Event: “What are the REAL Costs & Benefits of a College Education?” will take place Monday, November 3, at 4:00 p.m. in Copeland Hall, Room 142. The event will include a frank and open discussion of the costs and benefits associated with financial decisions college students have to make, as well as information to help students handle debt responsibly. There will also be door prizes.

The calendar of events for the week is posted online. Informational topics include insurance, renters rights, investing tips, home buying, business ownership, and global entrepreneurship. Consider participating in “$martMoney Week,” and contact Mary Rittenhouse at the UNK Center for Economic Education with questions or for more information.

In This Issue:

Two UNK Programs Sponsor Exhibit at MONA

UNK's Women's and Gender Studies Program and Center for Rural Research and Development are cooperating to sponsor an exhibit at MONA from October 21-November 30. The exhibit, entitled "Voices of American Farm Women," features the photography of Cynthia Vagnetti and portrays "women from across the United States whose alternative farming techniques promote environmental responsibility, economic stability, and community well-being" (http://www.maaa.org/exhi_usa/exhibitions/farmwoman/farmwoman.html).

In conjunction with the opening of the exhibit, Linda Van Ingen, Associate Professor of History and Director of Women's Studies, will present "Collection Connection": "Voice of American Farm Women: Validating the Experiences and Contributions of Women Who Work the Land" at MONA this afternoon, October 22, at 2:00 p.m.

For more information about the exhibit, view the exhibit website or MONA's exhibitions page.

Deadlines Approach for Various Opportunities

Opportunity	Deadline	More Information	Contact
OTICA - Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award	Friday, October 24	see Faculty Awards Information and Deadlines for 2008-2009 (.pdf)	Tami Plugge
UDTA - University-wide Departmental Teaching Award	Friday, October 24	see Faculty Awards Information and Deadlines for 2008-2009 (.pdf)	Tami Plugge
IDEA - Innovation, Development, and Entrepreneurship Award	Friday, October 24 and Friday, November 7	see Faculty Awards Information and Deadlines for 2008-2009 (.pdf)	Tami Plugge
Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award	Friday, October 31	see Leland Holdt Nomination Materials	Tami Plugge
Distance Education Grant	Monday, November 3	to develop or enhance distance education program or support service	Gloria Vavricka or Steve McGahan
Pepsi Experiential Learning Program	Monday, November 3	see Pepsi Experiential Learning Program	Tami Plugge
ORCA - Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award	Friday, November 7 and Friday, November 14	see Faculty Awards Information and Deadlines for 2008-2009 (.pdf)	Tami Plugge
Posters on the Hill Program	Friday, November 14	undergraduate research presentation opportunity - see http://www.cur.org/pohcall.html and http://www.cur.org/postersession.html	John Falconer
Summer Student Research Program	Friday, November 14	see SSRP Application information	John Falconer

Recognition

Outstanding Student Achievements
Nick Barta and Danielle Policarpio (Chemistry)	co-presented with Jonathan Thompson: "Development and Characterization of a Fixed Frequency Aerosol Albedometer" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
John Blecha (Chemistry)	co-presented with Haishi Cao: "A Novel Fluorescent Sensor for Mercurry Ion" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
Jared Clay (Political Science)	"Media Framing on the Issue of Illegal Immigration in the United States" presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Great Plains Political Science Association at the University of Northern Iowa, September 2008
Leendert Ferdinand de Die (Political Science)	"American Politics of Floods, Hurricanes and droughts: A Dutch Solution" presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Great Plains Political Science Association at the University of Northern Iowa, September 2008
Anatole Mirasano and Jirí Olejnícek (Chemistry)	co-presented with Christopher Exstrom and Scott Darveau, as well as Rodney Soukup, Natale Ianno, and Chad Kamler: "Preparation and Characterization of Mixed Indium-Gallium-Selenium Nanocrystalline Materials" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
Jirí Olejnícek, Anatole Mirasano, Megan L. Schliefert, Ashley R. Vandeventer, David S. Paprocki (Chemistry)	co-presented with Scott Darveau and Christopher Exstrom, as well as Rodney Soukup, Natale Ianno, and Chad Kamler: "Investigation of Non-Vacuum Annealing Process Applied on Cu(In,Ga)Se2, Cu(In,Al)Se2 and Cu(In,B)Se2 Nanocrystals Prepared by Solvothermal Reaction" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
David Paprocki, Andrea Martinez-Skinner, Matt Ingersoll, Jirí Olejnícek, Ashley R. Vandeventer, Anatole Mirasano, Adam T. Haussler (Chemistry)	co-presented with Christopher Exstrom and Scott A. Darveau, as well as James Huguenin-Love, Chad Kamler, Martin Diaz, Natale Ianno, and Rodney J. Soukup: "Reaction Pathway Investigations of the Solvothermal Preparation of Nanocrystalline CuInSe2 in Chelating Amine Solvents: Effects of Added Salts and Solvent Coordinating Ability" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
Anthony Reznicek (Geography)	co-presented with Vijay Boken: “Service-learning in a senior-level water resources course at University of Nebraska-Kearney” poster presentation at the annual conference of the Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Brookings, South Dakota, September 2008
Megan L. Schliefert, Ashley R. Vandeventer, Anatole Mirasano, David S. Paprocki, Jirí Olejnícek (Chemistry)	co-presented with Christopher Exstrom and Scott A. Darveau, as well as Rodney Soukup, Natale Ianno, and Chad Kamler: "Use of Surfactant-Based Solvents in the Preparation of Nanocrystalline CuIn1-XMxSe2 (M = Ga, Al, B) Materials" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
Ashley Vandeventer (Chemistry)	co-presented with Christopher Exstrom and Scott Darveau: "Use of Stearate Complexes as Metal Sources in the Preparation of Nanocrystalline CuIn1-XMxSe2 (M = Ga, B) Materials" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
Pi-Nu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society)	received the Nels A. Cleven Award for Division III, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a chapter chapter advisor is Professor Roger Davis

Publications and Honors
Cheri A. Barta (Chemistry)	co-presented with Catrina Kim, Kristina Sachs-Barrable, and Kishor Wasan: "Effects of Monoglycerides on P-Glycoprotein (Pgp)-Mediated Transport and Membrane Permeability Studies within Caco-2 Cells" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
Kurt Borchard (Sociology)	co-authored with D. R. Dickens: "Mystification of the Labor Process in Contemporary Consumer Culture" published in Cultural Studies-Critical Methodologies 2008, 8(4):558-567
	book review of Into the Tunnel: The Brief Life of Marion Samuel, 1931–1943 by Götz Aly published in Sociological Inquiry 2008, 78(4): 592-593
Diane Duffin (Political Science)	"Red State, Blue Tendencies: Senate Elections in Nebraska, 1976-2006" presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Great Plains Political Science Association at the University of Northern Iowa, September 2008
Christopher Exstrom (Chemistry) and Scott A. Darveau (Chemistry)	co-presented with UNK students Jirí Olejnícek, Megan Schliefert, David Paprocki, Ashley Vandeventer, Anatole Mirasano, as well as Rodney Soukup, Natale Ianno and Chad Kamler: "Incorporation of Aluminum and Boron into CuInSe2 Chalcopyrite Structures: Preparation and Characterization of the First Nanocrystalline CuIn1-XMxSe2 (M = Al, B) Materials" at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008
Keith Geluso (Biology)	co-authored with Jason P. Damm (former student): ”Use of a mine by eastern pipistrelles (Perimyotis subflavus) in east central Nebraska” published in the Western North American Naturalist, 2008, 68(3):382-389
Peter Longo (Political Science) and Claude Louishomme (Political Science)	"The Politics of Mascots: Racism or constitutionally Protected Expression" presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Great Plains Political Science Association at the University of Northern Iowa, September 2008
Gene Wubbels (Chemistry)	"New Perspectives on Nucleophilic Aromatic Photosubstitution Mechanisms: SN2Ar* and SN(ET)Ar*" presented at the 2008 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society hosted by the UNK Chemistry Department in at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, October 2008

Grant Recipients
Wyatt Hoback (Biology)	$19,100 grant from USFWS for "Investigation of Pesticide Impact on the American Burying Beetle"
	$30,000 grant from USFWS for "Range-wide Assessment of Plains Topminnow Population Status and Potential Threats"
Ismael Torres (Counseling & Health Care)	$3,230.81 grant from City of Kearney Lottery Trust Fund for "OkSOBERFEST Comprehensive Promotional Campaign: An effort to reduce high-risk drinking at UNK"
Ismael Torres and Peggy Nyffeler	$3,991 grant from Buffalo County Tobacco Free Coalition for "Tobacco Prevention and Control at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (2008-2009)"
Gail Zeller (Student Support Services)	$286,372 grant from U.S. Department of Education for Student Support Services

Calendar of Events within the Academic Affairs and Student Life Division

Date	Event
September 29 through October 31	The Walker Art Gallery Presents Janet Williams: The Register Series - Gallery Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment - contact John Fronczak at 308-865-8084
October 18 through January 4	MONA presents NEBRASKA NOW: Marlene Mueller, Drawings - Museum Hours Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
October 22	MONA presents the "Collection Connection": "Voice of American Farm Women: Validating the Experiences and Contributions of Women Who Work the Land" featuring Linda Van Ingen, Associate Professor of History and Director of Women's Studies - 2:00 p.m. at the Museum of Nebraska Art
October 24	Reynolds Series Presents: Marvin Bell - 7:30 p.m. in the Nebraskan Student Union, Rooms 138 A&B - contact Allison Hedge Coke at 308-865-8672 or hedgecokeaa@unk.edu
October 25	Saturdays at the Frank House: "Holiday Card Stamping" - 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. - contact KrisAnn Sullivan at 308-865-8284
October 27	Concerts-on-the-Platte Series presents: Faculty Recital, David Nabb, saxophone - 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building, Recital Hall - contact Nathan Buckner at 308-865-8608 or bucknern@unk.edu
October 28	E.N. Thompson Forum: "Democracy and Religion: America and Israel," Ronald Dworkin - 7:00 p.m. at the Leid Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, available live on the web
October 29	Global Scholars: A Sharing of International Experiences - 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Ockinga Conference Room - contact Carrie Stithem at 308-865-8199 or stithemcl@unk.edu
	Reynolds Series Presents: Quncy Troupe - 7:30 p.m. in the Yanney Skylight Gallery at MONA - contact Allison Hedge Coke at 308-865-8672 or hedgecokeaa@unk.edu
October 30	Luncheon presentation by Ronald Wirtz, Ph.D., Head of User Services sponsored by The Center for Teaching Excellence - 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Nebraskan Student Union - RSVP to teachingcenter@unk.edu - contact April Becker at 308-865-8495 or teachingcenter@unk.edu
	"Roadmap to Choosing a Major": workshop to help students choose a major - 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Copeland Hall, Room 133 - contact Joni Weed at weedj@unk.edu
November 1	Saturdays at the Frank House: "Kearney Adult Flutes Performance" - 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. - contact KrisAnn Sullivan at 308-865-8284
November 3 through 7	Smart Money Week - programs presented all week - contact Mary Rittenhouse at 308-865-8707 or rittenhousem1@unk.edu
November 3 through 21	The Walker Art Gallery Exhibition: Senior Show, Visual Communication and Design Classes - Gallery Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment - contact John Fronczak at 308-865-8084 or fronczakje1@unk.edu
November 3	Concerts-on-the-Platte Series presents: Guest Recital, Zagreb Saxophone Quartet - 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building, Recital Hall - contact Nathan Buckner at 308-865-8608 or bucknern@unk.edu
November 8	Saturdays at the Frank House: "The Panic of the 1890s: A Frank Lesson for Today," part of $martMoney Week activities - 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. - contact KrisAnn Sullivan at 308-865-8284

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 acacademicpublications@unk.edu.