1. Mission Week begins Sunday with All-University Mass

Mission Week 2009 will kick off Sunday, Feb. 1, with an All-University Mass at 4 p.m. at Gesu Church. Rev. Douglas Leonhardt, S.J., associate director of the Office of Mission and Identity, will serve as the presider and homilist, and the Campus Ministry Liturgical Choir and MU Gospel Choir will also sing. Regularly scheduled evening Masses at the Chapel of the Holy Family are cancelled in place of the Mission Week Mass.

Tickets for Dr. Shirin Ebadi's keynote address, "Human Rights and the Consequences of Faith," Thursday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m. are no longer available. Individuals interested in tickets can put their name on a waiting list in Brooks Lounge, AMU. There will also be a simulcast of Ebadi's speech in AMU. No tickets necessary to attend the simulcast.

The RSVP deadline for the Heartland/Delta "Class Reunion," 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 2, is today, Jan. 29. Over the past 15 years, Marquette has sent hundreds of faculty, staff and administrators to the regional Jesuit university gatherings, Heartland/Delta. Heartland/Delta alum and those interested in creating a vibrant community of Ignatian educators are invited to a simple meal and a talk on "Current Jesuit Conversations and the Invitation to Partnership in Mission" by Rev. John Fitzgibbons, S.J., of the University of San Francisco (and former Marquette faculty member).

Faculty and graduate students are invited to "Faculty Commons: iTeach, iResearch, iServe: Unity of Faith and Reason" Monday, Feb. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Raynor Library Beaumier Conference Center. Dr. Alberta Gloria, AMUW chair of counseling and educational psychology; Dr. Edwin Yaz, chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Dr. Sarah Bonewits Feldner, assistant professor of communication studies, will be the featured panelists discussing a topic on Jesuit education and the unity of faith and reason.

Watch for daily Mission Week News Briefs next week, Feb. 2-6, featuring Mission Week activities and daily reflections written by students, faculty and staff.

The complete schedule for this year's Mission Week, Feb. 1-8, "iAct: Consequences of Faith," is available online.

Back to Top

2. Marquette selected to participate in scholarly integrity project

Marquette University has been selected by the Council of Graduate Schools as one of 20 universities to participate as an affiliate partner in its three-year Project for Scholarly Integrity. The purpose of the program is to create an instructional program in research ethics for faculty and graduate researchers and build a community of researchers who will be prepared to create an institutional environment in which ethics is embraced as an integral part of good research.

Research affiliates initiate programs for scholarly integrity but are not one of seven institutions receiving funding to do so. For Marquette’s participation, the university’s Committee on Research and the University Board of Graduate Studies have established an ongoing program of research ethics by building a permanent infrastructure.

A committee of faculty from both councils has been appointed and will work to:

• Familiarize researchers with basic ethical issues in research.
• Help researchers develop and refine methods of analyzing and dealing effectively with those issues.
• Provide an interdisciplinary forum for constructive dialogue about research ethics issues facing universities like Marquette.
• Enable participants to play a leadership role in promoting research ethics within their disciplines.

Marquette also plans to provide a seminar through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin. The CTSI is a new effort to support and advance education, research collaboration and clinical and translational science through a partnership among the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Blood Research Institute, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Milwaukee School of Engineering.

The Council of Graduate Schools’ mission is to improve and advance graduate education through advocacy in the federal policy arena, research and the development and dissemination of best practices.

Back to Top

3. Open forum for arts & sciences finalist is tomorrow

Dr. Diane Michelfelder, provost and dean of the faculty at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn., will interview this week for the dean of the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts & Sciences position. An open forum for the entire Marquette community will take place tomorrow, Jan. 30, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in AMU 157, in addition to the open forum taking place today, Jan. 29, 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in Raynor Library Beaumier Suites B & C.

Michelfelder follows Dr. Tim Machan, professor of English at Marquette, who interviewed earlier this week.

Candidate CVs and cover letters are available at https://www.marquette.edu/klinglerdean/candidates.shtml.

Back to Top

4. Incoming freshmen to visit for scholarship competitions

Thousands of incoming freshmen and their families will visit Marquette for open houses and competitions for $500 to $5,000 renewable scholarships Jan. 31 to Feb. 21. Each of Marquette's seven colleges will host an open house and scholarship competition:

Jan. 31 — business, nursing, health sciences

Feb. 7 — arts & sciences

Feb. 14 — communication, education

Feb. 21 — engineering

These visits are very influential in decision-making for prospective students and their families, so Marquette community members are encouraged to offer assistance and warm welcomes to the visitors.

Back to Top

5. Milwaukee’s Sick Leave Ordinance will require tracking, reporting of sick leave

Milwaukee voters approved a referendum Nov. 4, 2008, requiring the city to enact a sick leave ordinance. The ordinance, which is scheduled to take effect Feb. 10, 2009, requires employers in the City of Milwaukee to provide a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked – up to a maximum of 72 hours of sick leave in a calendar year.

While Milwaukee businesses are challenging the ordinance, the implementation date for the ordinance is fast-approaching. As one of Milwaukee’s largest private employers, Marquette University is subject to the ordinance and various offices within the university are preparing for the record-keeping changes that are required.

The ordinance requires employers to track both the accrual and usage of sick leave. Full-time faculty and administrators will accrue six hours of paid sick leave per monthly pay period, thus reaching the maximum 72 hours over the course of the calendar year. While the ordinance requires that employees receive one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of 72 hours in the calendar year, Marquette’s full-time support staff actually already accrue paid sick leave of 12 days per year (one day per month). Since this is greater than the ordinance requirement, the university does not need to increase or change our current accrual procedures. Accrual of sick leave for part-time employees will be prorated.

There are many questions as yet unresolved – for all employers. However, unless there is action on a legal challenge to the ordinance, beginning Feb. 10, all employees will be asked to report to their departmental timekeeper any absence that can be considered sick leave under the ordinance. This reporting is necessary to comply with the provisions of the ordinance.

Back to Top

6. Registration is open for pediatric behavioral health conference

Behavioral scientists and graduate students in psychology, social work, counseling, medicine, nursing and public and allied health are invited to the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary Pediatric Behavioral Health Research Conference on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009.

The conference, "Collaborative Projects and Promising Innovations in Southeast Wisconsin," will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wauwatosa. Dr. Joan Austin, distinguished professor emerita at the Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness, Indiana University School of Nursing, will give the keynote address, “Lessons Learned from Quality of Life Research in Children.” There will also be breakout sessions highlighting local research in family involvement, the intersection of mental and physical health, health promotion and quality of life.

Register online.

The conference is sponsored by the Children's Research Institute, which is a member of Children's Hospital and Health System and affiliated with Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University College of Nursing and UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing.

For more information, contact Dr. Astrida Kaugars, assistant professor of psychology, 8-3665.

Back to Top

7. Excellence in University Service Awards nominations available

Nominations for Excellence in University Service Awards will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 20. Candidates should be nominated based on meritorious service that is above and beyond the duties normally assigned to their positions. Two support staff members and two administrators will be selected.

Nomination forms and additional information are available online.

Back to Top

8. W-2 forms for 2008 are on MyJob

Annual W-2 tax forms for employees are now available on MyJob. Printed W-2 forms from the Web page are an acceptable copy for attaching to annual tax returns. Traditional paper forms will be mailed to permanent (home) addresses beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28. The postal service asks recipients to allow up to 10 days to receive W-2 forms by mail.

For more information about your W-2, contact the Payroll Department.

In addition to W-2s, MyJob centralizes other employee information in a single location and allows faculty and staff to view and update personal information collected by the university as part of employment.

Back to Top

9. Student employee of the year nominations now accepted

The Student Employee of the Year Committee is accepting nominations for the 2009 Marquette Student Employee of the Year. Employees are encouraged to nominate any student employees they believe are deserving recipients of this award.

Undergraduate and graduate students on student employee payroll, performing student employee jobs, are eligible. Students must have been employed for a minimum of three months full-time or six months part-time from June 1, 2008, to May 31, 2009. Students will be evaluated on reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and uniqueness of contribution.

Marquette’s student employee of the year will also be nominated for the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrator’s Student Employee of the Year. Members will select one winner from each state in the region. State winners will be considered for the regional and national award. The award is in conjunction with Student Employment Week, March 29 to April 4.

Nominations are due Feb. 11. For more information or to obtain the nomination form, contact Annette D’Amato, coordinator of student development, at 8-7390.

Back to Top

10. College of Engineering offering classes for young students

The College of Engineering will offer several engineering academies for students ages 6 through 18 this semester, covering basic engineering principles, robotics and physics:

• “ENERGY!” — Saturday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for ages 10 to 18. Students learn the physics of energy by designing and constructing working models of wind turbines and solar-powered cars.

• “Electrical Engineering — A Shocking Experience!” — Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for ages 10 to 18. Students learn how electricity is produced and controlled in electric circuits.

• “Mechanical Engineering — CATAPULTS” — Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for ages 8 to 16. Students build three types of catapults and learn about physics principles.

• “The Physics of CARS!” — Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for ages 8 to 16. Students learn the physics of cars and build cars powered by pneumatics, rubber bands, mousetraps, motors, propellers and solar energy.

• “Civil Engineering — Trusses, Bridges & Towers” — Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for ages 8-16. Students design wooden trusses, bridges and towers and a model home that will be tested for earthquake endurance.

In addition to the Saturday sessions, the College of Engineering will also offer week-long classes during spring break, April 13-17. Registration and additional information are available online.

Back to Top

11. Law School to hold information session

The Law School will host an information session for prospective students tomorrow, Jan. 30, at 12:30 p.m. in Sensenbrenner Hall. The session will provide information about admissions and financial aid, curriculum, intellectual and student life. A brief tour of the Law School will be led by a current law student. No registration is necessary.

Back to Top

12. College of Professional Studies to hold information session

The College of Professional Studies will hold an undergraduate information session for prospective adult students Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Cudahy 414. Information to be presented will include accelerated bachelor’s degree programs; Saturday, weeknight and online course offerings; the application process; and financial aid opportunities.

Register online or by calling 8-3153.

Back to Top

13. Library newsletter includes Mission Week and research guides

Raynor Memorial Libraries’ spring semester newsletter has been posted online. This issue includes a letter from the dean, upcoming events, Mission Week resource guide, new electronic resources, digital collections, research guides and staff news.

Back to Top