1. Marquette recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Colleges"

Marquette University ranks 83rd among the top national universities in the 2013 edition of America's Best Colleges, released by U.S. News & World Report. Marquette is listed among U.S. universities that offer undergraduate majors as well as master's and doctoral degrees, the premier category of institutions ranked by the publication. The university is again among the "A+ Options for B Students" and is one of only 50 universities recognized in the "Best Value Schools" category, which relates a school's academic quality, as indicated by its 2013 U.S. News ranking, to the 2011-2012 net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid. Marquette is ranked No. 63 by high school and private independent school guidance counselors.

The College of Business Administration's undergraduate program is ranked 87th. Its program in supply chain management is ranked 16th and finance is 17th. The undergraduate accounting program is ranked for the first time at 23rd. Business school rankings are based on a peer assessment survey of deans and senior faculty at each U.S. undergraduate business program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The College of Engineering is ranked at No. 120 among Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, up 10 spots from last year.

2. Dental school groundbreaking is Tuesday, Sept. 18

A groundbreaking celebration for the Marquette University School of Dentistry building expansion will be held next Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the dental school parking lot, 1801 W. Wisconsin Avenue.

Consisting of a lower level, first and second floors, the expansion will give the school the opportunity to increase its graduating class size to 100 students per year, and will include a clinic housing 24 operatories, a larger faculty practice clinic, additional classroom space and a research lab. The approximately 45,000 square foot expansion will also allow for the existing simulation lab to be expanded to accommodate additional students.

RSVP to University Special Events or call 8-7431. Go online for more information about the campaign and to monitor the progress of the expansion.

3. Deadline extended for MUSG Diversity Taskforce applications

MUSG is looking for students to join its new Diversity Taskforce for the 2012-13 academic year. MUSG's Diversity Taskforce will serve as representatives of student organizations and will strategize and implement plans to support campus diversity. The application for participation is available online and should be completed by Friday, Sept. 14. For additional information, contact Arica Van Boxtel, MUSG president.

4. Suicide prevention training offered Sept. 17

The Counseling Center will hold a "Question, Persuade, Refer" (QPR) suicide prevention training session Monday, Sept. 17, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in AMU, 227. QPR training is a nationally recognized program designed to save lives by teaching individuals to identify and refer someone who may be suicidal. During the training session, participants will learn about the risks and warning signs of suicide, how to talk to someone about suicide and how to facilitate appropriate mental health referrals to sites at Marquette and within the Milwaukee community.

For more information and registration, contact the Counseling Center at 8-7172. Those unable to make the training may schedule a private QPR training with a group of ten or more individuals.

5. Social innovation expert to give annual Burleigh Media Ethics Lecture

The Diederich College of Communication will host author and journalist David Bornstein for the 2012 Burleigh Media Ethics Lecture Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. Bornstein is an expert on social innovation and the author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. His book was described by the New York Times as a "must read" for "anyone who cares about building a more equitable and stable world."

6. Panel discussion will celebrate Constitution Day, Sept. 17

"What Does it Mean to 'Stick to the Constitution?'" a panel discussion in celebration of Constitution Day, will be held Monday, Sept. 17, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Raynor Memorial Libraries' Beaumier Suites. Panelists will include:

Dr. Gordon Hylton, professor of law
Dr. John McAdams, associate professor of political science
Dr. Paul Nolette, assistant professor of political science
Dr. Paul Gasser, assistant professor of biomedical sciences
Edward Fallone, associate professor of law

Light refreshments will be served. This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science, Marquette University Law School, Pi Sigma Alpha, the American Constitution Society and the Federalist Society.

7. Metcalfe Lecture Series continues with Dr. Robert Warrior

Named after Marquette alumnus Ralph H. Metcalfe, the Metcalfe Lecture Series for 2012 continues with Dr. Robert Warrior, the university's 2012-13 Metcalfe Chair and director and professor of American Indian studies, history and English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Warrior will present, "Beyond the Chief: Indian (Art) Hating on Campus," Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the AMU, Lunda Room. The lecture will focus on connecting the university to the broader history and ongoing indigenous communities through a public art meditation on the shared power of place. A reception will follow in the Henke Lounge.

The Ralph H. Metcalfe Chair program is administered by the Office of the Provost and supports a non-residential chair each semester at Marquette who is an African American, Latina/o or Native American scholar from any academic discipline. For more information, contact University Special Events at 8-7431.

8. AMUW Boheim Lecture to address political unrest in Syria

Dr. Lisa Wedeen, the Association of Marquette University Women 2012-13 Women's Chair in Humanistic Studies, will deliver this year's annual Distinguished Eleanor H. Boheim Lecture, "Political Unrest: Notes from Syria," Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. in Raynor Memorial Libraries' Beaumier Suites.

The lecture will tackle issues of ongoing violence, the importance of ideology and the economic geography of protest, in an attempt to make sense of current events in Syria. Wedeen is the Mary R. Morton Professor of Political Science and the College at the University of Chicago. Her areas of specialty include comparative politics, the Middle East, political theory and feminist theory. She spent the first months of the Arab uprisings in Syria and recently returned from Beirut.

Registration is available online. For questions or special needs, contact Emily Wacker Schultz, senior engagement officer, at 8-8490.

9. Integrative Neuroscience Research Center hosting seminar on drug addiction

Dr. M. Behnam Ghasemzadeh, associate professor of biomedical sciences, will present, "The Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors and Drug Addiction," Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 3:30 p.m. in Schroeder Complex, 256.

The seminar is sponsored by the College of Health Sciences' Integrative Neuroscience Research Center. A full schedule of the INRC's fall seminar series is available online. For additional information, contact the Integrative Neuroscience Research Center at 8-7329.

10. Department of Math, Statistics and Computer Science colloquium series kicks off tomorrow

The Department of Math, Statistics and Computer Science will host a colloquium, "Statistical and Computational Challenges for Metagenomics Analysis Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Data," Friday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. in Cudahy Hall, 401. Dr. Hongmei Jiang, assistant professor in the Department of Statistics at Northwestern University, will lead the seminar.

For more information, contact the Department of Math, Statistics and Computer Science at 8-7573.

11. Flu vaccinations available at clinics throughout campus

Injectable influenza vaccinations will be available to faculty and staff for $20 at several locations throughout campus. Flu clinics will be held:

Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Eckstein Hall
Monday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the AMU
Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Dental School, second floor
Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the AMU
Monday, Oct. 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Schroeder Hall
Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the AMU
Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Dental School, second floor
Monday, Oct. 22, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the AMU, as part of Employee Benefits Day
Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the AMU

Employee spouses and dependents are also eligible for vaccinations. Employees and dependents participating in the Marquette health insurance plan are eligible to receive reimbursement for their flu shot. Reimbursement levels will vary based on the health insurance plan; EPO coverage is 100 percent reimbursement, while PPO coverage is 80 percent reimbursement. Reimbursement will occur by Monday, Dec. 31, and will be mailed to the employee's home.

Clinics are administered by Student Health Service in collaboration with the College of Nursing and the Department of Human Resources. The Marquette Neighborhood Health Center will also offer the influenza vaccination on a walk-in basis.

12. Apply for service immersion trip to Ecuador

Applications for Campus Ministry's I.M.A.P. immersion trip to Ecuador are now available online. A group of Marquette students and staff will travel as part of the program to Quito, Ecuador, to work and pray with The Working Boys Center from Friday, Jan. 4 through Saturday, Jan. 12.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m. More information on the program and a timeline of the application process can be found online.

13. Attend Campus Ministry info session on simple living, sign up for Campus Renew

Campus Ministry will hold an information session for Voluntary Simplicity, a five-week small group discussion course that will address ways to simplify life and make life choices more intentionally, Monday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in AMU, 252. Course meeting time and day will be decided by those participating. For additional information, contact Gerry Fischer, associate director of Campus Ministry, at 8-3687.

Students interested in joining Campus Renew, a Christian community open to all students that uses the wisdom of Ignatian spirituality to identify God's activity in one's life and discern how best to respond as a person for others, are invited to attend an information session on Friday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. in Campus Ministry, AMU 236.

Renew participants meet weekly for one hour with 8-9 other students in a small group environment. Students not able to attend the information session should sign up for Renew online. Sign-ups will be accepted until Monday, Sept. 17. For more information, contact Steve Blaha, assistant director of Campus Ministry, at 8-3686.

14. Individuals ages 18-26 needed for research study

Dr. Nakia Gordon, assistant professor of psychology, and Dr. Amy Van Hecke, assistant professor of psychology, are recruiting participants for a research study that investigates brain activity, heart rate and emotions. Volunteers should be in good health and 18-to-26-years-old. The two-hour research session will take place at Marquette.

Participants will complete questionnaires, participate in a noninvasive EEG (electroencephalogram) scan, which is a non-harmful way to measure brain activity, have their heart rate measured, and will be asked to rate their emotional response to photos. All testing will occur at Cramer Hall.

This study has been approved by Marquette's Institutional Review Board for the protection of human subjects. For more information about research participant rights, contact the Office of Research Compliance at 8-7570. For further information or to participate, contact Kate Reiter, study coordinator, at 8-6134.

15. Students needed for research study about health and fitness habits

Subjects are needed for a research study about the health and fitness habits of college students. This research project is designed to determine if completing a college course, Personal Health and Fitness, can impact dietary intake, physical activity, physical fitness and attitudes toward dietary intake and physical activity among college students over the course of two semesters.

Two groups of undergraduate students are being recruited: students who are enrolled in this course and students who are not enrolled. All project participants will be asked to complete an hour long assessment of their attitudes, dietary intake, physical fitness and physical activity at the beginning and end of the fall 2012 semester and at the end of the spring 2013 semester. Participants will be paid $5 for completing each of the assessments.

This study has been approved by Marquette's Institutional Review Board for the protection of human subjects. For more information about research participant rights, contact the Office of Research Compliance at 8-7570. For more information, contact Robert Topp, professor and associate dean for research in the College of Nursing, at 8-3811.

16. Athletic Training Student Association to provide stretch tent at Al's Run

The Marquette University Athletic Training Student Association will provide a stretch tent at the 35th annual Briggs & Al's Run & Walk for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin this Saturday, Sept. 15. Participants in the run will be able to get stretched by Marquette athletic training students starting at 8:30 a.m. until the beginning of the run. The stretch tent will be located near the registration table by the AMU.

17. Gift sale to benefit physical therapy scholarship fund

The almost everything $6 gift sale will take place Wednesday, Sept. 12 through Friday, Sept. 14, in the AMU. The sale will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. The sale features gifts, jewelry and accessories, with 20 percent of the sale proceeds going to the Physical Therapy Faculty Student Scholarship Fund. Items will include both licensed merchandise greater than $6 and specials under $6.

Marquette Cash and credit cards are accepted. Those interested in making a contribution to the scholarship fund to assist graduate students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program can contact Kathleen Ludington, director of development for the College of Health Sciences, at 8-1410.

18. Campus buildings part of Doors Open Milwaukee tours

Historic Milwaukee, Inc. will present the second annual Doors Open Milwaukee event Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, as an opportunity to experience the city's "built environment" that is integral to Milwaukee's history, economy and culture – past and present.

Participants must pre-register for free tours at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., on the day of the tour. Tickets will be distributed for that day's tours starting at 9 a.m. Several campus locations will also be open for free tours as part of the event, with no registration needed:

Eckstein Hall – Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Raynor Memorial Libraries – Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Haggerty Museum of Art – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Joan of Arc Chapel – Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Engineering Hall – Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For additional information, contact Jacqueline Schram, governmental and community affairs associate, at 8-3039.

19. Volunteers needed for Brewers Mini-Marathon aid station

Parts of campus will be affected by the Brewers Mini-Marathon Saturday, Sept. 22, from 7 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Sections of Clybourn Avenue will be closed during race time. Also, certain parking and delivery services may be impacted for the Law School, Haggerty Museum of Art, College of Communication, Lalumiere Hall, Facilities Services, Wehr Life Sciences, ROTC, Rec Center and the Childcare Center. A complete course map of areas to be affected can be found online.

Volunteers are needed from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Marquette aid station, located at 16th and Clybourn. Interested volunteers should contact Jacqueline Schram, governmental and community affairs associate, at 8-3039.

20. Group fitness class registration still open, free classes Friday

Group Fitness class registration for students, members and non-members is still open for classes held at both the Rec Plex and the Rec Center. Classes are held two times a week at a variety of times during the day at both facilities. Information on the classes offered is available online.

The following classes will be offered free of charge this Friday, Sept. 14:

Rec Center: 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Spin
Rec Center: 1 p.m. Zumba and Hip Hop Fusion
Rec Center: 4 p.m. Hip Hop Fitness
Rec Plex: Noon Variety Hot Lunch class
Rec Plex: 3 p.m. Interval Cardio workout

For more information, visit the Department of Recreational Sports, call the group fitness office at 8-6979 or contact Shannon Bustillos, assistant director of recreational sports, at 8-7778.