1. Holiday hours in effect Dec. 24, 2012, to Jan. 1, 2013

The university will be closed Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, for the Christmas holiday. Limited campus services, including Public Safety, Facility Services and the Rec Plex, will remain open. The university will re-open Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. Buildings and services with special hours of operation during the semester break include the Alumni Memorial Union, IT Services, Raynor Memorial Libraries, the Rec Center, the Rec Plex, the Spirit Shop and the Union Sports Annex. Complete holiday and semester break hours can be found online.

2. Cap and gown pick up for mid-year Commencement is Dec. 11

Cap and gown pick up for all mid-year Commencement graduation candidates is Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the AMU, 227. There is no charge or pre-ordering for pick up.

Undergraduates may keep their cap and gown. Graduates in Law, Health Sciences, Master's Program (MPA and DPT), Graduate School of Management and the Graduate School (master's and doctoral degrees) must return caps, gowns and hoods to representatives of the cap and gown company immediately following the ceremony. Tassels may be retained as a keepsake.

Contact University Special Events at 8-7431 for more information. A student's name, approximate height, degree and college are needed for a friend or relative to pick up caps and gowns for students who cannot pick up their graduation apparel.

3. Women's basketball to host legendary coach Pat Summitt at fundraiser

The women's basketball team will host legendary women's college basketball coach Pat Summitt as the guest of honor for "We Back Pat" Night Saturday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. at the women's basketball game against Toledo at the Al McGuire Center. Wristbands will be sold to benefit the Pat Summitt Foundation as part of the fundraiser. Information about Alzheimer's and early onset dementia will be distributed, and Summitt's son Tyler, an assistant coach at Marquette, will address the crowd at halftime.

"We Back Pat" t-shirts are now being sold at the women's basketball games for $15, which includes a general admission ticket to the Dec. 15 game. Tickets can also be purchased online.

4. James Wake Memorial Lecture to feature oncology expert

The College of Nursing's Institute for Palliative and End of Life Care will host the James Wake Memorial Lecture Thursday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m. in the AMU, Monaghan Ballroom. Dr. Betty Ferrell, professor and research scientist at the City of Hope Medical Center in Los Angeles, will present "Improving the Quality of Spiritual Care in Palliative Care."

Ferrell has practiced in the field of oncology nursing for more than 35 years and has focused her clinical expertise and research in pain management, quality of life and palliative care. Specifically, her research focuses on spiritual care as a critical component in palliative care situations where patients face serious and life-threatening illness.

A reception will follow the lecture. For more information, contact University Special Events at 8-7431.

5. Christmas holiday and spring semester parking available

Parking Services will be offering complimentary Christmas holiday parking for students. Students leaving campus for the holidays and leaving their vehicles behind can arrange for a no-fee permit after their last exam of the semester. Those interested can donate a few non-perishable food items or a small cash donation that will be given to Campus Kitchen in exchange for the permit. Students will need to complete an application with pertinent vehicle information and will be issued a dashboard permit for the holiday season.

Parking permits for the spring term will go on sale online Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. Students who purchased fall semester permits will need to reapply if they want parking for the spring term. Students are encouraged to sign up early to get the structure of their choice. Permits applied for by New Year's Day will be available to be picked up from the parking office beginning Thursday, Jan. 3. Parking Services office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Permits will not be sold directly out of the parking office until Monday, Jan. 14.

6. Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee hosting final office hours tomorrow

The Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee co-chairs and members will host the final office hours of the semester tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the AMU, 233.

Those interested in attending office hours should RSVP to Laura Hagan, office assistant in the Office of the University Architect, at 8-4439.

7. Dental faculty member recognized for community education

Dr. Brian Hodgson, assistant professor in the School of Dentistry, was one of 12 individuals recognized by the Wisconsin Dental Association for their outstanding contributions to dentistry and public oral health. He received the 2012 Media Relations Award for serving as a spokesperson on children's oral health and community water fluoridation.

Hodgson, who specializes in pediatric dentistry, worked to help promote the WDA's Baby Teeth Matter campaign — getting the word out about the connection between good oral health during a child's early years and their early physical, social and emotional development.

Hodgson also worked collaboratively with the WDA, Wisconsin's Division of Public Health, the Wisconsin Oral Health Coalition and the American Dental Association to counter objections to water fluoridation in Milwaukee. Through their efforts, in July 2012 after months of debate, Milwaukee's Common Council agreed to keep fluoride in the city's drinking water, at a reduced rate.

8. Seminar to address environmental pollution, human impact and microbes in action

The Biological Sciences Fall Seminar Series will host "Environmental Pollution, Human Impact, and Microbes in Action," Friday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences, 111. Dr. Krassimira Hristova, assistant professor of biological sciences, will lead the seminar.

Refreshments will be served prior to the seminar at 2:45 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences, 108. For more information, contact the Department of Biological Sciences at 8-7355.

9. Law School to hold information session

The Law School will hold an information session for prospective students Monday, Dec. 17, in Eckstein Hall, 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. For more information, contact Law School Admissions at 8-6767.

10. Register for Silent Directed Retreat

Members of the campus community seeking to grow their relationship with God in the New Year are invited to participate in a six-day Silent Directed Retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The retreat will be held Monday, Jan. 7, through Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, Wis. Along with daily meetings with a spiritual director to help process and guide the retreat, individuals will have freedom in forming the overall pattern of his or her retreat. As a silent, individual retreat, there are plenty of opportunities for personal prayer, reflection, rest and time outdoors. Communal prayer and worship opportunities will also be available.

The cost is $125 for undergraduate and graduate students and $175 for faculty and staff. Register online by Friday, Dec. 21. For additional information, contact Annie Devine, assistant director of Campus Ministry, at 8-3689.

11. Volunteers needed for Midnight Run's Noon Run over holiday break

Midnight Run's Noon Run is in need of volunteers over the holiday break. With the support of the Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Noon Run meal will continue to be served at the Redeemer Lutheran Church site on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. To volunteer or for more information, contact Shelly Bruehling, parish administrator at Redeemer Church.

12. News Briefs schedule to change during winter break

Due to the winter break, News Briefs will only be distributed on Mondays beginning the week of Dec. 17. News Briefs will resume its twice-weekly schedule Monday, Jan. 14. The submission deadline is noon Friday for Monday editions.