UW System Clipsheet

January 16, 2009

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On Campus

"Textbook swap offers cut-rate prices," Capital Times, Jan. 16.

...Over the past two academic years alone, UW-Madison students have seen the average amount paid for textbooks and supplies jump $100 -- from $890 during 2006-07 to an estimated $990 this year, according to a UW System review unveiled at a Board of Regents meeting in December. When these and other figures were presented, many regents expressed both concern -- and frustration...Instead of waiting for the powers-that-be to take significant action to address the issue, UW-Madison students are continuing to take steps themselves to lessen the burden of soaring costs...

"Early applicants to UW must wait longer for acceptance decisions," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 16.

Students who applied to the University of Wisconsin-Madison by the early November deadline in the hope of getting big news by Jan. 15 might have to wait a few more days. The university started a new admissions process this year, saying it would make decisions by Jan. 15 for students who applied by Nov. 15. The school met its deadline, but the admissions office delayed posting the decisions online because officials prefer the students get the news through the mail - either with a big, fat acceptance packet that screams yes, or a sensitively worded denial that comforts while saying no, said Director of Admissions Robert Seltzer...

"Chicago annexing Wisconsin for 2016 Olympic bid," NBC Chicago, Jan. 15.

The Chicago Olympic committee and officials from the State of Wisconsin will announce a change Friday in the Chicago Olympic Venue plan. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle will be joined by Doug Arnot, the Vice-President of Sport, Venues, and Games Operations for Chicago 2016, along with representatives of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to talk about collaborations involving the city of Madison and the surrounding area...

"UW-Parkside hosts job search essentials workshop," Racine Journal Times, Jan. 15.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside and other private and public organizations will host a free Job Search Essentials Workshop on Jan. 31 in the Student Center Ballroom. This workshop is designed to help participants sharpen resumes, hone job-seeking skills and market themselves to potential employers...

"Social work masters program now available at UW-Eau Claire," Business North, Jan. 15.

Human service professionals in western Wisconsin will soon be able to earn a master's degree in social work by taking weekend classes at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The UW System recently approved a plan that will allow the UW-Madison's master of social work program to be available on the UW-Eau Claire campus, a program that will help meet the needs of human service professionals throughout western Wisconsin, said Dr. Gloria Fennell, associate professor of social work and the program's co-director at UW-Eau Claire...

"Medtronic paid researcher more than $20,000 -- much more," Blog, Wall Street Journal, Jan. 16.

Public disclosures about financial ties between doctors and industry can be imprecise — to put it mildly. Take Thomas Zdeblick, a prominent spine surgeon and researcher at the University of Wisconsin, who told the university in each of the five years he received payments from Medtronic that he’d received $20,000 or more from the company. One year, he reported getting $40,000 or more...

"In the Winterim: UW-Baraboo has it down cold," Baraboo News Republic, Jan. 16.

The possibility of frost burn did not stop students of the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County from learning during their winter-break on Thursday. The campus is offering three condensed classes over the "winterim" this year that will wrap up before the beginning of the spring semester in about a week...

"UW hosts education night for financing," Marshfield News Herald, Jan. 16.

College-bound students and their families searching for ways to pay for college are invited to attend "Funding Your Education Night" at 6 p.m. Feb. 3 at University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County...

State

"Beloit College president finalists named," Janesville Gazette, Jan. 15.

Beloit College announced a list of finalists to take over the job of college president...

National

"Admissions officials anticipate a spring of uncertainty," Chronicle of Higher Education, Jan. 16.

...It is too soon to say exactly how the recession will shape admissions outcomes this spring, as most application numbers are still preliminary. At many colleges whose application deadlines have passed, admissions officials are still sorting their mail, while other institutions’ deadlines have not yet arrived. Yet the consensus is that at most campuses, yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) will prove at least as difficult to predict as it was last year, widely described as one of the most nerve-racking in memory.. (paid subscription required)

"Manna from heaver (er, Washington)," Insider Higher Ed, Jan. 16.

As colleges and students around the country struggle with the effects of the worldwide economic downturn, help appears to be on the way from the nation’s capital. And plenty of it, to judge from a draft of a massive, $825 billion stimulus package released by Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives Thursday...

"Stimulus bill includes billions of dollars in help for students and colleges," Chronicle of Higher Education, Jan. 16.

Students, researchers, and colleges would benefit from new spending and tax breaks included in an $825-billion economic-stimulus plan that Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled on Thursday. Higher-education lobbyists gushed over the legislation, which includes billions of dollars for scientific research, university facilities, and need-based student aid. It also sets aside money for states to limit the cuts that budget downturns might otherwise cause them to make to key services, including public colleges... (paid subscription required)

"Fund raisers predict that gifts to education will decline in 2009," Chronicle of Higher Education, Jan. 16.

After years of steady growth, fund raisers predict that the final tally on giving to education will be relatively flat for 2008 and that giving will decline slightly in the year ahead, according to a forecasting survey by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education... (paid subscription required)

"Forecast adjusted ... downward," Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 16.

While it’s not surprising that college fund raisers expect giving to decline this calendar year, a new report shows just how dramatically development officers’ outlooks have changed in the last few months...