NESCent Scientists Come to UNK for Darwin Day Events

Within the scientific community, various groups gather each year to celebrate February 12, the birthday of Charles Darwin. One group, the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NEScent) sponsors Darwin Day events featuring special presentations from NEScent scientists. UNK, through the Biology department, was selected as the site of two special NEScent Darwin Day presentations this year, both taking place on February 10.

The first is a Times Talk, co-sponsored by NESCent, the New York Times, and UNK’s ADP. Dr. Gregor Yanega, Postdoctoral Fellow at NESCent, will present “How to Eat Meat When Your Beak is Built for Sweet” from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Room 310 of the Nebraskan Student Union. Dr. Yanega’s presentation relates to his research of the evolution of feeding in birds, and he will focus on the hummingbird beak as an example in his talk.

Then later in the day, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Dr. Craig McClain, Assistant Director of Science at NESCent, will present “Why Giant Squid and Giant Isopods are the Most Awesome Animals on Earth” at the Alumni House, an event sponsored by NEScent and Sigma Xi. Dr. McClain will be speaking about his research into deep-sea systems.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend both events.  

- written in collaboration with Dawn Simon, Assistant Professor of Biology 

UNK Theatre Presents My Sister in This House

Beginning February 16, with Jack Garrison directing, UNK Theatre will present Wendy Kesselman’s My Sister in This House (1988). The story is a fictional adaptation of a true sensational murder case and trial of 1933 LeMans,France. One evening, two sisters working as maids brutally murdered and mutilated their employer and her daughter. Now, eighty years later, no one has completely determined why the two sisters did what they did. They admitted to the killings but never explained their reasons. My Sister in This House is a psychological study of what may have led to the criminal act. The play is presented by a small cast, with only four female roles, but those roles are highly demanding and afford the actresses great opportunity to depict complex and dark characters on stage.

Production dates are February 16-19 at 7:30 p.m. and February 20 at 2:00 p.m. The play will be presented in the Studio Theater for limited audiences. The murders are not actually depicted on stage, but the play does contain mature subject matter. 

- written in collaboration with Jack Garrison, Associate Professor of Theatre 

Library - In Brief Online  

American Periodical Series now available online 

Written by Jon Ritterbush, Electronic Resources Librarian
ritterbushjr@unk.edu 

Calvin T. Ryan Library now offers online access to the American Periodical Series (APS Online).  This new digital collection provides access to 1,500 American periodicals published between 1740 and 1940.  APS Online provides access to a significant collection of primary source material, particularly valuable for research in history and literature.  Here are some samples of the material available in APS Online:

• 89 journals published between 1740 and 1800 offer insights into America’s transition from a British colony to an independent nation.  Titles include Massachusetts Magazine, which published America’s first short stories, a letter by George Washington on the crucial Battle of Trenton, and the thoughts of Benjamin Franklin are among the highlights of content from this period.
• More than 1,000 titles from the nineteenth century showcasing “the golden age of American periodicals.” Read an account of “A Sabbath at Fort Kearney” to learn more about pioneer life in Kearney.   Also available are letters and literary works by noted authors such as Edgar Allan Poe.

This new digital collection was partially funded by an eCampus grant in support of UNK’s growing online/distance education programs.   Look for APS Online under the “As” and under the subjects of “History,” “Literature,” or “Primary Sources” from the library’s “Articles & E-Resources” webpage.  A list of all the periodical titles within APS Online is available in Excel format.

Faculty document delivery service available 

Written by Sheryl Heidenreich, Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery Librarian
heidenreichs@unk.edu 

UNK faculty may request electronic delivery of articles from the library’s print periodical collection.  This service is being provided by the UNK Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery (ILL/DD) division.  Requests for document delivery should be placed using the “Request a Photocopy” form in the UNK Loper Loan ILLiad ILL/DD main menu.  Requested articles will be scanned and delivered electronically to your UNK Loper Loan ILLiad account.

UNK ILL/DD reserves the right to return requests that do not comply with United States copyright code.  The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.  Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction.  One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.”  If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Please contact Sheryl Heidenreich (308.865.8721 or heidenreichs@unk.edu) if you have questions or need additional information about UNK Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery services.  

Recognition   

2010-2011 Department Chairs

- Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

 Items to Note for Faculty and Faculty Committees

• Academic Affairs Committee 
  The link to the CAP ("Course Approval Process") information is located on the Academic Affairs Committee page. CAP is the electronic approval system that allows department chairs to initiate course proposals (create, alter, inactivate, or discontinue). Worksheets for both the creation of new courses and the alteration of existing courses are available on the CAP web site for faculty members to use as they gather the information department chairs will need to submit requests. Department chairs initiate program proposals (create, alter, or discontinue) using a paper form, which is available on the Academic Affairs Committee page, along with instructions.
  
  The schedule of Academic Affairs deadlines for the 2010-2011 academic year is available on the Academic Affairs Committee page. The page also contains a committee roster and a link to the approved Academic Affairs minutes. Department or program chairs needing to make curricular changes should be aware of these deadlines and instructions.
   
• Faculty Handbook 
  The online Faculty Handbook contains the most current policy information. The purpose of the handbook is to gather the documents and policies that inform and guide critical decisions, including the Collective Bargaining Agreement (2009-2011) and the Guidelines for Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure. 
   
• Faculty Senate
  To keep faculty informed and in the spirit of shared governance, the 2010-2011 Faculty Senate Roster is posted on the Faculty Senate home page. The page also contains links to meeting agendas and packets, meeting minutes of both the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Senate committees, and the Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws.
   
• General Studies 
  The General Studies web site contains a description of the new General Studies Program effective for students entering UNK in the Fall of 2010, as well as a list of the courses effective for the 2010-2011 academic year. 
   
• Graduate Council 
  The Graduate Council webpage contains information regarding changes to graduate courses or programs, as well as a list of the 2010 Graduate Program Committees.  
   
• WI/CD Committee 
  The WI/CD Committee has posted a schedule of deadlines for the spring semester on the WI/CD Committee page. The page also contains instructions for applying for WI or CD designation, as well as a committee roster, agendas, and minutes. These resources are provided for those wishing to offer courses as WI or CD. 

Deadlines Approach for Various Opportunities 

Looking Ahead - Spring Semester Events

ADP Reading Circle for Spring 2011 Semester
The ADP Reading Circle will discuss First Democracy: The Challenge of an Ancient Idea by Paul Woodruff in three meetings in the early part of the spring semester. See the reading circle description for more information.

NO LIMITS Student Research Conference (Women's and Gender Studies) - March 4-5, 2011
“NO LIMITS: Eco-Feminism & Artful Healing”

International Food Festival - March 6, 2011

 2011 James E. Smith Mid-West Conference on World Affairs - March 7-8, 2011
"Water and Survival:  from the Platte to the Nile"

Twenty Second Annual UNK Criminal Justice Conference and Career Fair - March 16, 2011
Topic: Human Trafficking

Student Research Day - April 7, 2011
Information Session - February 17, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Founders Hall 2147
Deadline - March 4, 2011

 Calendar of Events within the Academic and Student Affairs Division

Edited by Kim Elliott, Coordinator of Academic Publications 

A Publication of the
Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
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.