1. Mission Week 2013 to honor Opus Prize recipients

The new year will bring newfound inspiration to campus as Marquette prepares for Mission Week 2013, which will honor recipients of the annual million-dollar Opus Prize for faith-based social entrepreneurship. Opus Prize recipients have been recognized for fighting global issues such as poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease and violations of human rights. This year's Mission Week theme is "The World is our Home," and several Opus Prize recipients will visit campus to share their stories and bring their expertise to local issues. 

Highlights of Mission Week, which will be held February 3–9, include: 

  • Mission Week Mass: Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 4 p.m. at Church of the Gesu. President Scott Pilarz, S.J., will be principal celebrant, and Rev. Trevor Miranda, S.J., the 2005 Opus Prize recipient, will deliver the homily.

  • Keynote event: Thursday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. at the Varsity Theatre. The event will feature a discussion with all visiting Opus Prize recipients. A reception will follow on the second floor of the AMU.

  • Dinner and evening program: Thursday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the AMU, Monaghan Ballroom. Marguerite "Maggy" Barankitse, the 2008 Opus Prize recipient, will be the featured speaker.

A full schedule of events will be shared with the campus community in early January.

Each year, the university devotes Mission Week to the exploration of its Catholic and Jesuit mission. A series of academic, spiritual and social events provides an opportunity for members of the Marquette community to reconnect with the deeper purposes and mission that animate our work each and every day. Please join the events of Mission Week 2013 to enrich your own understanding and experience these wonderful events.

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2. Mid-year Commencement is this Sunday

Nearly 500 Marquette University graduates will be recognized at Mid-year Commencement Sunday, Dec. 16, at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The program will begin at 9.30 a.m. and will feature a keynote address by Dr. Lisa Hanson, associate professor of nursing, as well as remarks from Marquette President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., and featured student speaker Meghan Bachtel, who is graduating from the College of Education. Graduation events will also include a Baccalaureate Mass at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Church of the Gesu.

Hanson, whose address is titled "Answering the Call to be Men and Women for Others," is a certified nurse-midwife who helped establish Marquette's College of Nursing nurse-midwifery program 20 years ago, the only such program in Wisconsin.

Bachtel, an Ohio native, will graduate with a triple major in secondary education, French and English. One of the key reasons she chose Marquette was the opportunity to serve and volunteer in the community.

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3. New audit deadline to take effect

Effective for the spring 2013 semester, the deadline for students to select the audit option for a class has changed to coincide with the last day to register for classes. Previously, the deadline coincided with the last day to withdraw from the class, which occurred much later in the semester.

This change was necessitated by federal financial aid regulations that require inclusion of audited classes in students' attempted credits when the audit option is selected after the last day to register in the given session. Without this change, each student's full or part-time status and thus financial aid, loan deferments and satisfactory academic progress could be negatively affected.

This decision was made in consultation with the colleges, schools and Academic Senate Executive Committee and with the nest interest of the students in mind. This change is also consistent with best practices at other universities. The new deadline will be reflected in the Academic Calendars and in registration communication sent to students throughout the term.

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4. Holiday hours in effect Dec. 24, 2012, through 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, Student Health Service and the Union Sports Annex. Complete holiday and semester break hours can be found online.

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5. Vacant house watch available over winter break

Students living in off-campus houses can register their properties with the Department of Public Safety for Vacant House Watch while they are away from campus during winter break. DPS officers will discreetly monitor the property periodically during their routine patrols of the neighborhood. This service is available for houses only, not apartments.

Students must fill out the Vacant House Watch form and return it to the DPS office in Parking Structure 1, on 16th Street. Students are also encouraged to discontinue mail and newspaper service over extended absences and to activate alarm systems if they are available.

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6. Christmas holiday and spring semester parking available

Parking Services will be offering complimentary Christmas holiday parking for students. Students traveling 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 are on sale online. Students who purchased fall semester permits will need to reapply 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.

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7. 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.

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8. Applications for summer 2013 study abroad programs open Jan. 1

The Office of International Education will offer summer 2013 study abroad programs in Bolivia, China, Estonia, Finland, Jordan, Peru, Spain and South Africa. Marquette faculty-led summer programs are an ideal opportunity for students to build on their global experiences. Applications will be accepted beginning January 1, 2013. More information is available on the OIE study abroad website and brochures are available at the Info Desk.

The spring Study Abroad Fair will be held Friday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second floor of AMU. It will highlight all summer study abroad options available to students. Students will have the opportunity to chat with advisers, program coordinators and study abroad alumni.

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