1. Graduation and Baccalaureate Mass are this weekend

More than 450 Marquette University graduates will be recognized at the mid-year commencement on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
 
The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will feature a keynote address by Dr. Steven Goldzwig, professor of communication studies in the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication, as well as remarks from Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., and student speaker Emily Rodier, Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. Graduation events will also include a Baccalaureate Mass at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Gesu Church, celebrated by Father Wild and other members of the Marquette Jesuit community.

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2. Board of Trustees approves new biology major

The Marquette University Board of Trustees Wednesday approved a new major, Biology for the Professions, specifically designed for middle and secondary school majors in the College of Education. The new major will be available in fall 2009 and addresses the need for middle and high school science teachers locally and nationally and meets the content standards required for teacher licensure by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
 
The biology for the professions major will require six, three-credit biological sciences courses, plus an additional biology lab course and nine credits of electives in biological sciences. Students will also be required to take chemistry, mathematics and physics courses.
 
The trustees also approved the elimination of majors in human biology, social sciences, broad field social sciences, broad field social sciences major in history, broad field social sciences major in political science, broad field social sciences major in sociology and interdisciplinary major in social sciences. Most of the majors eliminated have not been offered in recent years.
 
At the graduate level, the trustees approved the termination of the Master of Arts degree in Teaching (Spanish). The board also received information about new specializations in computational science at both the Ph.D. and master’s levels. The new specializations will replace discrete specializations in algebra, biomathematics, statistics and logic and foundation at the Ph.D. level and in computer science and mathematics at the master’s level. In addition, two graduate certificates in nursing — adult clinical nurse specialist and gerontologic nurse specialist — have been offered but are now formally recognized.

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3. Register for Christmas Party by Tuesday

Faculty and staff are invited to share the spirit of the season at the All University Christmas Party from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, in the Monaghan Ballroom, AMU.
 
Departments and offices should notify University Special Events, 8-7431, of the number of attendees planning to attend by Tuesday, Dec. 16.  

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4. Freshman experience task forces start work in January

Eight task force groups are being formed to review the results of the freshman experience survey in which employees and students recently participated. The Office of the Provost and the Division of Student Affairs are working with the Foundations of Excellence project of the Policy Center on the First Year of College, Ashville, N.C., to develop an action plan for campus-wide improvement.
 
Marquette’s faculty/staff survey response rate was 64.4 percent and the response rate for students was 56.3 percent.
 
The task forces, which will begin their work in January 2009, and their chairs are:

All Students — Mary Janz, associate dean for residence life
Assessment — TBD
Faculty — Dr. Jim Marten, chair and professor of history
Diversity — Dr. Terry Miller, director of international education
Learning — Dr. Scott Reid, Wehr professor of chemistry
Organization — TBD
Roles and Purposes — Dr. Stephen Saunders, associate professor of psychology
Transitions — Dr. Kris Ropella, chair and professor of biomedical engineering

Marquette is one of 20 four-year institutions participating in a comprehensive, campus-wide self-assessment of the first year college experience during the 2008-09 academic year.
 
Task force chairs will work together to identify a comprehensive first-year vision. Deans, directors and other supervisors have recommended task forces members. Others interested in serving on a task force, including students, should contact Tina Rodriguez, office associate, Office of the Provost, at 8-8030.

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5. US Bank customers targeted for phishing scam

The US Bank on campus has received reports of cell phone users receiving text messages from US Bank, asking the user to contact a number and give account information to reactivate an account. These messages are a fraudulent attempt to access customer accounts and are being sent randomly to US Bank customers and non-US Bank customers to phish for account information. Do not use the number given by the e-mail or text message. Phishing is a common method used to commit fraud.

According to US Bank: There has been no breach in security. US Bank will never request information by e-mail or by text message. Any request for financial or personal information should be verified by contacting the financial institution directly. US Bank customers who have provided information as a result of these text messages should see a representative at the US Bank branch on campus for more information and to limit damage.

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6. Monday is FACHEX deadline for children of employees

The certification deadline for FACHEX eligibility for current high school seniors applying to other Jesuit colleges and universities is Monday, Dec. 15.

FACHEX (Faculty, Administrator, and Staff Children Exchange Program) is an undergraduate tuition remission program that allows dependents eligible for full tuition benefits at the “exporting” institution to apply for the same benefits at participating “importing” institutions. It was established by the Association of Jesuit Colleges in 1971 and continues under the sponsorship of the Chief Academic Officers’ Conference.

Complete the Parent Request for Certification and send it to Kimberly Newman, executive administrative assistant in the Office of the Provost. For more information about the guidelines, call the Provost’s Office at 8-7511.

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7. Easy Pass deadline is tomorrow

The deadline to participate in the Easy Pass payroll deduction program is tomorrow, Dec. 12. The Easy Pass offers unlimited Milwaukee County bus rides, including Freeway Flyers and special event shuttles, to the Bradley Center, Miller Park and other locations.

The program costs $198 per quarter and can be deducted before taxes to save money. Sign up between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Union Station, AMU, for passes that will be good during January, February and March. Those who wish to drop must also do so in Union Station by Friday, Dec. 12.

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8. Annex hosting men’s basketball viewing party

The Annex will host a viewing party for the men’s basketball game against Tennessee on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 8:30 p.m. The first 100 fans will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Doors open at 5 p.m.

All fans will have a chance to enter the “Best Seat in the House” contest to watch the game from a La-Z-Boy chair with a free Annex pizza and pitcher of soda. There will also be opportunities to win Marquette gear at half time. Check the Annex’s Web site or Facebook site for more information.

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9. Office of Finance closing early tomorrow

The Office of Finance will close at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 12. This includes the Office of the Bursar and the Office of Student Financial Aid.

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