19th Annual Disability Awareness Week Activities November 12-16

"Spotlight on Abilities" is the theme of the 19th Annual Disability Awareness Week, sponsored by the Collegians for Integration and Accessibility and the Academic Success Offices, Division of Student Affairs. Activities are scheduled for each day, with the keynote speaker, Samuel Comroe on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. Comroe will speak about his experience with Tourette Syndrome and his career as a comic and entertainer. 

See the attached flyer for a complete schedule of the week's events.

- written in collaboration with David Brandt, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities

Win $250 in Prizes for Taking International Education Survey (UNK Faculty and Staff only)

Have you ever been frustrated by not being able to communicate effectively with international students? Do you have ideas on how to improve international student services or UNK policies related to international students?

The Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of International Education are conducting a survey of all UNK employees in order to better understand the needs of faculty and staff who deal with international students.

The results will be used to better assist members of the campus community in overcoming challenges related to the presence of international students on campus, and to provide more effective programs, such as intercultural communication workshops, for faculty and staff.

Those who complete the survey will be eligible to win four $50 and two $25 Antelope Bookstore credit vouchers. Please consider taking the survey today at: https://unk.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0ARh8CTgHKyW3f7 

- Dallas Kenny, Director of International Education

Longo recognized with Noddle award for development efforts

Political Science Professor Peter Longo has been recognized by the University of Nebraska Foundation for his role in helping the University of Nebraska at Kearney attract and steward private support. He is the 2012 recipient of the Harlan J. Noddle Distinguished Development Service Award. The award was presented on Oct. 26 at the foundation’s annual meeting of trustees in Omaha by Lucas Dart, the foundation’s campaign director for UNK. “Dr. Longo has said his students inspire him and his academic focus, and he has been a mentor to many a Loper over the years,” Dart said when surprising Longo with the award. “He is an excellent teacher, but he has also been instrumental to those of us who work in development, raising private funds on behalf of UNK.”

According to the foundation, Longo has played a major role in helping fund a number of initiatives at UNK, including the Maxine Morrison Lecture, the Honors Program and a new program the university is striving to fund related to free enterprise and civic leadership.

“What he has done in all of these instances is make new friends for the university, drawn old friends closer and helped us raise the profile and stature of our campus,” Dart said. “In the words of one of his former students, he teaches us all to think big.”

Longo came to UNK in 1988, and his teaching interests include public law and American government. He received the Leland Holdt–Security Mutual Life Distinguished Professor Award in 1999 for his excellence in teaching, research and service to UNK and the Kearney community.

The Noddle award is named in memory of longtime University of Nebraska supporter Harlan Noddle of Omaha, who served as chair of the foundation’s board of directors, among many other volunteer roles. Noddle died in 2005. Created in partnership with Noddle’s family, the award serves to recognize university or foundation employees who exemplify his initiative, honesty, integrity, compassion, commitment, foresight, tolerance and diligence.

- University of Nebraska Foundation

The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization raising private gifts to support the University of Nebraska since 1936. In 2012, the foundation provided the university $124 million in private funding for scholarships, medical research, faculty and academic support, capital projects and more. In October of 2009, the foundation announced the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, a comprehensive fundraising campaign—the largest in the university’s history. For more information, visit campaignfornebraska.org. 

New Frontiers Volume V Recognizes UNK Faculty's Research and Creative Activity

The fifth edition of New Frontiers was published this fall, with a reception to honor those featured in this issue on October 23.   

The 2012 edition features seven faculty members at relatively early stages of their university career who have realized great achievements in their innovative approaches to teaching and scholarship. Congratulations to those featured in New Frontiers, as well as the many faculty across campus who continue to engage in quality research and creative activity.

New Frontiers Volume V has been distributed across campus. For additional copies, contact the Graduate Dean's Office at 308-865-8843.

The Office of Graduate Studies and Research launched New Frontiers in the Fall of 2008. The goal of the publication is “to demonstrate how faculty research, scholarship and all forms of creative activity enhance the learning-centered mission of the University.” 

- written in collaboration with Kenya Taylor, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research

Recognition

2012-2013 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.
  
  **NOTE REGARDING CHANGES TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS**
  The form to alter a Catalog Course Description has been revised. Please note, in instances where a change in content is being requested through the CAP system, course description changes should be added to that request, and this form should not be completed.
  
  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 2012-2013 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 (2011-2013).
   
• Faculty Senate
  To keep faculty informed and in the spirit of shared governance, the Faculty Senate website contains links to the senate roster, 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. The site contains a list of the approved General Studies courses effective for the 2012-2013 academic year, a list of all of the approved Portal and Capstone topics, as well as lists of the Portals and Capstones offerings for the current semester.
   
• Graduate Council
  The Graduate Council webpage contains information regarding changes to graduate courses or programs, as well as a list of the 2012 Graduate Program Committees.
  
  **NOTE REGARDING CHANGES TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS**
  The form to alter a Catalog Course Description has been revised. Please note, in instances where a change in content is being requested through the CAP system, course description changes should be added to that request, and this form should not be completed.
   
• WI/CD Committee
  The WI/CD Committee has posted a schedule of deadlines for the fall 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

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.