1. New phased retirement option for faculty approved

A new, phased retirement option for faculty was endorsed today by University Academic Senate and approved by the provost. This new retirement option is being offered in addition to the existing retirement benefit.

To be eligible for phased retirement benefits, a tenured faculty member must be eligible for retirement under University Policy and Procedure 4-18, including being at least 55 years of age and having a combined total age and years of full-time service with the university that equals at least 70.

In the phased retirement option, the faculty member is appointed to a nonrenewable three-year, part-time faculty position. Salary is paid at 50 percent of what his/her salary was in the academic year in which he/she applied for phased retirement, plus a $14,400 supplement, intended to help offset benefit costs. Those choosing the phased retirement option are eligible for all benefits of part-time faculty, including purchasing university-sponsored medical, dental and vision benefits with pre-tax dollars, purchasing life insurance, participating in flexible spending accounts and matching portion of the retirement plan, and tuition remission.

Tenured faculty can apply for the phased retirement benefit for the 2012-13 academic year beginning tomorrow, Oct. 18. The deadline for tenured faculty to apply for the phased retirement benefit for the 2012-13 academic year is 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. In the future, applications may be made beginning Sept. 15.

For more information contact Suzanne Abler, assistant provost for division operations, at 8-1563.

2. New York Times best-selling author to present Burleigh Media Ethics lecture

Jane McGonigal, game designer and New York Times best-selling author of Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How they Can Change the World, will present the 2011 Burleigh Media Ethics lecture Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. McGonigal will discuss how the principles behind gaming can be applied to solving many of the world’s greater social and economic issues.

Drawing on the latest findings in psychology, cognitive science and sociology, McGonigal is turning gameplay to socially positive ends by developing new reality-based games that are being used to find solutions to business, personal, community-based and worldwide problems. McGonigal has advised companies such as Microsoft, McDonald’s, Intel, Disney and Mattel, and has created games for organizations such as the World Bank and the American Heart Association. She is director of game research and development at the Institute for the Future and the creative director at SocialChocolate.com, a game development startup that is using scientific findings to create new social adventure games.

The annual Burleigh Media Ethics lecture honors William R. Burleigh, Jour ’57, and addresses the ethical issues today’s communicators report on, as well as those they wrestle with in their own work.

3. U.S. Rep Gwen Moore to speak at Law School

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, Arts '78, will discuss the critical issues facing the nation and today’s political climate at “On the Issues with Mike Gousha,” Thursday, Oct. 20, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Eckstein Hall.

After serving 16 years as a state lawmaker, Moore was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004. The Milwaukee Democrat represents Wisconsin’s 4th District, which includes Milwaukee and her alma mater, Marquette. Moore is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Budget Committee.

4. Sorby and Wadsworth to screen Louisa May Alcott documentary

Raynor Memorial Libraries will present “Louisa May Alcott: The woman behind Little Women” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Milwaukee Public Library, Krug Rare Book room, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Drs. Angela Sorby and Sarah Wadsworth, associate professors of English, will screen the first half of the American Masters 2008 documentary film about Alcott, plus scenes from the 1994 film Little Women. They will lead a discussion about how Alcott changed details of her life for Little Women, and how her life story was further edited for the mass film audience

The program is the third event in this fall’s grant-funded Alcott series focusing on the woman behind Little Women.

5. Workshops to address hybrid courses and service learning

In addition to one-on-one consultations and department-specific programming, The Center for Teaching and Learning is offering two workshops next week:

• “Designing Hybrid Courses” Thursday, Oct. 27, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Raynor 320h.

• “New Service Learning Faculty Debriefing” Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Raynor 320h.

The CTL is offering programming for faculty in thematic series this fall, beginning with an inclusive excellence program, “We are Marquette;” a series on best practices, “Teaching at Its Best;” and a series centered on creating feedback in courses, “In the Loop and in the Know.”

The CTL also offers an e-learning certificate in which participants integrate instructional technology in their courses. Manresa for Faculty is hosting “One Thing Led to Another” forums and the Service Learning Program is offering a series to assist and orient faculty to programs with community based-research and service learning.

To register, email Mary Grant, CTL office associate, at the Center for Teaching and Learning.

6. Spring registration begins Nov. 7

Student registration for spring semester begins Monday, Nov. 7, and spring advising begins Monday, Oct. 31, as determined by students’ college advising policy. Spring registration appointments have been assigned — students may register at that time or thereafter. Advisers and students are encouraged to use Academic Advisement in CheckMarq to enhance the advising experience.

Bulletins are now accessible online for the 2011-12 academic year. The new site is searchable, more up-to-date, easier to use, more cost-effective and improves the university’s manual, paper-based process of changing and updating the curriculum. This site is the most up-to-date source of course, degree and policy information for all students. As a result of the new bulletin software application — with the ability to access degree requirements, course and policy information online — the printed bulletins will no longer be produced.

7. INRC to host Society for Neuroscience Milwaukee Chapter

The Integrative Neuroscience Research Center will host the fall meeting for the Society for Neuroscience Milwaukee Chapter on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Cramer Hall 087.

Dr. Reza Shaker, Joseph E. Geenen professor, senior associate dean and director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will be the keynote speaker. A reception will follow.

8. Law School to hold information session

The Law School will hold an information session for prospective students Friday, Oct. 21, in Eckstein 263. The session will cover admissions, financial aid, curriculum, intellectual and student life, and information from current students.

The session begins at 11:45 a.m. and lasts approximately one hour, followed by a brief tour. Register online.

9. Books, blankets and stuffed animal donations benefit homeless children

Project Night Night will hold an open house Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Marquette Hall 003 from noon to 1 p.m. in recognition of Milwaukee’s first-ever Homeless Awareness Week, which runs Oct. 15-22. Project Night Night is collecting books, blankets and stuffed animals for the totes along with hats, scarves and mittens for the homeless children at area shelters.

10. $7 massages available at Massage-A-Thon

Physical therapy students are holding their Massage-A-Thon from Monday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Nov. 11, at Schroeder Health Complex 397. Cost is $7 for every 15 minutes, up to 60 minutes. Appointments can be scheduled by email or online. Walk-ins are also welcome. Gift certificates are available.

Hours are:

Mondays and Tuesdays — 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesdays — 9 p.m. to 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursdays — 9 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Fridays — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A special price of $5 for every 15 minutes, up to 60 minutes, will be offered Oct. 24 and 26. Massage-A-Thon will be closed Tuesday, Oct. 25.

11. Gesu hosting organ dedication concert Saturday

Church of the Gesu will celebrate the completion of its organ project with a 7:30 p.m. dedication concert Saturday, Oct. 22, featuring organist Isabelle Demers. Gesu's historic pipe organ has been extensively rebuilt and enlarged by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio, into a new instrument of 6,804 pipes, which now includes pipes from all the previous renovations as well as new pipes built by Schantz.

The concert is co-sponsored by Schantz and The American Guild of Organists, Milwaukee Chapter.