UW System Clipsheet

April 17, 2009

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UW System

"Guest editorial by Thomas C. Pleger: A liberal arts education will prepare you for future," Column, Baraboo News Republic, April 17.

...Often parents and potential college students are trying to predict what the "hot" majors or fields will be. But my response is a stand-by field of study that has served me and generations of people in every imaginable career field: Liberal arts...Not all higher ed schools offer this type of education. Some specialize in technical or vocational training, while others focus on a very narrow field of study. However, all University of Wisconsin institutions offer a liberal arts curriculum that is taught by professors who specialize in this type of education.(Author: Thomas C. Pleger, Campus Executive Officer and Dean at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County)...

"Anti-campus violence efforts need to preemptively target troubled students, says safety officials," Wisconsin Public Radio, April 16.

Two years after a Virginia Tech student shot and killed 32 of his classmates and teachers, security systems have been upgraded around the nation. The 26 University of Wisconsin campuses have more armed campus police, more high-tech emergency notification systems, and mass casualty training. But some say the changes may have been misdirected...

On Campus

"UWSP Faculty Senate OK with chancellor," Stevens Point Journal, April 17.

The Faculty Senate at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will invite the university's private fundraising arm to discuss its problems with the chancellor. The Senate, made up of representatives of university academic staff members, passed the motion Wednesday to invite members of the UWSP Foundation to its May 6 meeting...

"Soldier's father challenges UW-Eau Claire on veterans issues," Leader-Telegram, April 17.

The father of a west-central Wisconsin soldier wants to see UW-Eau Claire give veterans more college credit for their military service and open a veterans service center on campus, but the university says it already is working on those issues...

"On Campus: Study finds income doesn't influence who gets in to University of Wisconsin-Madison," Wisconsin State Journal, April 17.

You don't need to be rich to get into UW-Madison if you're from Wisconsin or Minnesota, according to the results of a new study. An analysis conducted by researchers at the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison found that the relative family income of Wisconsin and Minnesota applicants to UW-Madison has remained flat over the past few decades...

"UW admission not affected by incomes," Daily Cardinal, April 17.

A recent study by the La Follette School of Public Affairs says family income of potential students will not affect their chances of acceptance into UW-Madison. "Nationally, the percentage of college students from families in the top income bracket has been increasing faster than students from the bottom bracket," political scientist and public affairs scholar John Witte said in a statement. "The good news is that the University of Wisconsin-Madison's admissions process is not becoming more elite in terms of income, even as it has become more selective"...

"Ground breaks today for new UWS building," Superior Telegram, April 16.

The University of Wisconsin-Superior's academic building got the go-ahead after the governor found $3.5 million in savings on other UW System projects. And Friday, Gov. Jim Doyle joins other officials and dignitaries to break ground for the $32 million, 144,000 square foot building to be constructed on the northwest corner of the campus near Weeks Avenue and North 17th Street...

"Enrollment up at University despite tuition increases," Student Voice, April 16.

The number of applications the UW-River Falls admissions office has received is above average, despite the fact that tuition is increasing next year...

"Company operating UWSP food services to shut down," Associated Press, April 17.

The company that operates the food services at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point notified the state it will shut down and lay off 239 people...The total employees being laid off include 146 temporary part-time student workers...

"Number of Hispanic citizens up," Badger Herald, April 17.

...At the University of Wisconsin, there are 1,335 Hispanic American undergraduate students as of the 2008 fall semester, according to the university's Data Digest report. The number has increased since the 1998 fall semester. There are 250 graduates at the university as well, a number that has remained relatively constant over the past 10 years...

"Biddy's plan to improve advising," Column, Badger Herald, April 17.

...The truth is, there aren't enough advisers to go around...Increasing the numbers of academic advisers, thereby creating more access, is one excellent way to enhance the quality of the undergraduate experience for all...(Author:Becky Ryan, Associate Director, Cross College Advising Service, UW-Madison)...

National

"Campus officials seek building efficiencies, one square foot at a time," Chronicle of Higher Education, April 17.

...Space is a serious, expensive business on college campuses. There is a saying: "Academics will fight over money and kill over space." Now, following a decade-long building boom, a crippling recession, a spike in energy prices (with further increases probable), and in some regions fierce competition for a shrinking pool of students, the stakes of managing campus space have never been higher... (paid subscription required)

"Why reverse transfer?," Inside Higher Ed, April 17.

Administrators have long suspected that most students who "reverse transfer" from four-year institutions to community colleges -- given that they are typically from low-income families -- do so for financial reasons. A new report, however, argues that parents' level of education has a bigger impact than does income, and that academic difficulty in the first years of college is more likely to be the reason behind reverse transfer...