UW System Clipsheet

"Outbreak could alter study abroad plans for students," WISC-TV, April 28.

Concerns about swine flu are prompting possible travel changes for some University of Wisconsin students...

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"Group opposes new aid plan," Badger Herald, April 29.

A group representing the University of Wisconsin faculty voiced opposition toward the proposal to reallocate the Faculty and Staff Retention and Recruitment fund toward student financial aid Tuesday. The Public Representation Organization of UW's Faculty Senate decided the $15 million in question would be more effectively spent toward faculty retention and recruitment, though it does care about college affordability, said Louise Robbins, director of the School of Library and Information Studies...

"Swine flu spreads caution, confusion," Post-Crescent, April 29.

Rising numbers of swine flu infection on Tuesday and heightened concerns about a pandemic have sparked mass fear in would-be travelers to Mexico, where 159 people have died. "It really is kind of surreal," said Danielle Smith, a Town of Menasha college student who this spring has been studying in Monterrey, more than 400 miles north from the epicenter of the outbreak in Mexico City...Smith, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire junior, is cutting her semester short and flying home Friday to be with family, she said in an e-mail...

"Swine flu causes schools to revisit study abroad plans," Leader-Telegram, April 28.

Chippewa Valley college students studying abroad in Mexico might be coming home early because of the swine flu outbreak. Five UW-Eau Claire students are studying in Mexico. One UW-Stout student is taking classes there...

"UW-Madison head charts higher ed future," Journal Times, April 28.

The new head of the state's largest university made the case for her proposal to fund UW-Madison's future in a talk Tuesday. In her first year as chancellor, Carolyn "Biddy" Martin's "Madison Initiative" called for implementing a differential tuition for undergraduates that will be phased in during the next four years, starting with an additional $250 per year for in-state students. It would increase to $1,000 per year. It was a tuition increase at a time when talk of increasing anything in the state was considered by many off-limits...

"Students flock to journalism school despite tanking news industry," Capital Times, April 29.

...While the economy in general is slumping, the newspaper industry in particular is tanking...And yet, young adults continue to flood journalism schools across the country, with many of these students still dreaming of writing for a print publication one day...Professor James Baughman, director of UW-Madison's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the flow of applications to his school has remained strong. Over the past three academic years, nearly 1,400 people have applied to enter the school, with 55 percent being turned away due to space limitations...

"Follow the money: Key position goes unfilled in oversight of millions in students' funds," Daily Cardinal, April 29.

...Even when simply looking at how student groups use the money given to them, questions arise over whether student funds are being spent as responsibly as possible. ASM is supposed to fill the position of GSSF accountability liaison. GSSF stands for General Student Services Fund, the pool of money used to fund service-providing registered student groups. The liaison position is intended to make sure student groups are using their funds responsibly and in accordance with university guidelines. However, the position has remained unfilled this year...

"University cuts staff," Royal Purple, April 29.

Three UW-Whitewater faculty members will not return to their positions in July including Director of Alumni Relations Tommie Jones. Contracts for Jones, Randall Upton and Megan Matthews will not be renewed for the next fiscal year due to the $7.5 million UW-Whitewater is facing in cost reductions during the next two years...

"$20 new fee for sports complex a done deal," The Racquet, April 29.

At Student Senate last Wednesday, Dean of Students Paula Knudson and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Bob Hetzel defended a new $20 segregated fee for the maintenance of the new sports complex. This new fee, which has been decided without a Senate vote, will cover the upkeep costs for the building and field. The money will be used to pay for electricity, janitorial services, and irrigation of the new field, to name a few of the management costs...

"State tests 30 possible swine flu cases," Capital Times, April 29.

There have been no confirmed cases of swine flu reported in Wisconsin as of Tuesday afternoon, but 30 possible cases have been referred to the state lab for testing...On the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, officials are monitoring local, national and international developments. The pandemic has had no immediate impact on the university...

"Bonds elected president of MPS board," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 28.

Michael Bonds, an education policy professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was elected president of the Milwaukee School Board on Tuesday night...

"Institute of Medicine calls for doctors to stop taking gifts from drug makers," New York Times, April 28.

In a scolding report, the nation’s most influential medical advisory group said doctors should stop taking much of the money, gifts and free drug samples they routinely accept from drug and device companies...In the wake of the association's report, many schools and medical societies toughened their policies. The institute’s imprimatur is certain to accelerate this process...

"Reject drug industry perks, doctors urged," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 29.

With the integrity of the medical field at stake, the influential Institute of Medicine said financial deals between the drug industry and doctors, medical schools and the medical profession need to be restricted. The institute's sweeping recommendations call on medical professionals -- from university professors to family doctors -- to shun financial arrangements with companies that flourished over the past three decades...

"Without cafeteria trays, colleges find savings," New York Times, April 29.

...Scores of colleges and universities across the country are shelving the trays in hopes of conserving water, cutting food waste, softening the ambience and saving money. Some even believe trayless cafeterias could help avoid the dreaded "freshman 15" -- the number of pounds supposedly gained in the first year on campus (and on all-you-can-eat meal plans)...

"Rejection: Some colleges do it better than others," Wall Street Journal, April 29.

Members of this year's record-size high-school graduating class applied to more colleges than ever -- and now, that's resulting in a heavier than usual flurry of rejection letters...

"College recruiters are Twittering, too," USA Today, April 29.

College admissions officials, keenly aware that their target audience grows more tech-savvy with every passing year, appear to be getting the hang of social media such as Twitter and Facebook...

"Debate over cost of college starts with who gets to define the problem," Chronicle of Higher Education, April 29.

College leaders, faculty members, and financial officers agree that the cost of higher education amounts to a crisis, but they have different ideas about how to resolve it, says a report released today by the nonpartisan research group Public Agenda... (paid subscription required)

"Swine flu prompts more colleges to cancel study-abroad programs in Mexico," Chronicle of Higher Education, April 29.

At least four additional American universities have canceled study-abroad programs in Mexico, citing concerns about the spread of swine flu there...The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire said it would suspend its six-week summer program, which was to have started on May 26. The 23 students scheduled for the trip will be given the option of going instead to Costa Rica, the Associated Press reported... (paid subscription required)

"Schwenn inauguration Friday," Daily Citizen, April 28.

John O. Schwenn will be inaugurated as the fourth president of Dalton State College on Friday...A native of La Crosse, Wis., Schwenn received a bachelor of science degree in 1971 from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a master of science degree in 1973 and the doctorate in rehabilitation and special education with a minor in educational psychology in 1976, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Schwenn was presented the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.