1. Final provost search Opportunity and Challenge Profile available, candidate nominations sought

A letter from Dr. John Su, chair of the Provost Search Committee, to the campus community:

Dear friends and colleagues,

I'm writing to you today to provide two updates on the provost search and to ask for your help once again. First, the final version of the Opportunity and Challenge Profile is available online. This will be the foundation for the position description to be advertised in national media outlets. Thank you for your input on the draft version Isaacson, Miller provided us. We had input from many constituencies —faculty, staff, students (undergraduate and graduate), deans, vice presidents and the Office of the Provost.

President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., has endorsed the final Opportunity and Challenge document, as well. If you haven't had a chance to read Father Pilarz's letter to the campus community about what our institution needs in its next provost, it is available online.

If you compare the draft and final versions of the Opportunity and Challenge Profile, you will notice many changes based on your input and advice. The committee was not able to incorporate every suggestion, but we will do what we can to make sure during the next stages of the screening process that other issues are voiced to our candidates.

Having completed the Opportunity and Challenge Profile, we are now ready to begin identifying and screening candidates. We need you to nominate individuals you would like to see as our next executive academic leader. To nominate someone, please email the search firm of Isaacson, Miller using the following address: 4843@imsearch.com.

We want to ensure a fair and transparent process for all candidates, internal or external, so please direct all nominations to the Isaacson, Miller address. In my capacity as chair of the search committee, I will personally reach out to individuals who have been nominated by more than one member of our campus community but have chosen not to apply, encouraging them to reconsider. Isaacson, Miller will then solicit applications from the nomination pool and their own national database; they will then present the search committee with a selection of those applications. You can see the timeline for subsequent rounds of screening on the search timeline and protocol, both of which can be found on the Provost Search Committee website.

On behalf of the Provost Search Committee, I want to thank you all again for your input and advice during these initial stages of the search process. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me or call me at 8-3476.

Sincerely,

John Su
Chair of the Provost Search Committee
Professor of English and director of the University Core of Common Studies

A slightly longer version of this letter is available online.

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2. Department of Public Safety Chief Larry Rickard to leave Marquette

Larry Rickard, director and chief of the Department of Public Safety, is leaving the university effective September 29 to become director and chief of the Department of Campus Safety and Security at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

"Larry took tremendous pride in making sure we were doing everything we possibly could to keep our students and our campus community safe," said Art Scheuber, vice president for administration. "His leadership and efforts to continually improve and enhance our safety efforts over two decades will position us well for the future."

Rickard led more than 80 professional and 100 student staff members who make up the department, which is staffed year-round, 24 hours a day. He dedicated 21 years to DPS, including 13 as chief. Rickard started as a public safety officer working the night shift. He worked as a life safety officer improving the university's evacuation plans and was later promoted to lieutenant shift commander and associate director captain before being named chief in 2000.

Scheuber said the university will conduct a search for the new director and chief beginning this fall. Watch News Briefs for a celebration in Rickard's honor.

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3. Parking changes for Freshmen Arrival Day, Aug. 21

Some employee parkers are being asked to relocate Wednesday, Aug. 21 for Freshmen Arrival Day. Sixteenth Street Parking Structure (Structure 1) parkers are asked to park on levels four, five or six that day. Sixteenth Street will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, to accommodate move-in traffic. Employees parking in the 16th Street Structure must enter from the 17th Street entrance.

Employee parkers in the Wells Street Parking Structure (Structure 2) and those in Lots D, F, R and RR are asked to park on levels four through seven of the Wells Street Parking Structure.

Student Safety Programs will run a shuttle service from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on that day for displaced drivers to get back and forth to their cars. After 5 p.m., employees can use the LIMO service or call DPS at 8-6800.

All employees who park in the affected structure and lot locations also received a letter from Art Scheuber, vice president of administration, requesting their cooperation with this effort to make the arrival process for freshman students more efficient.

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4. Presentation on reaffirmation site visit and self-study available

Marquette's reaffirmation of accreditation process culminates with a site visit Monday, Sept. 30, to Wednesday, Oct. 2, by a team of Higher Learning Commission peer reviewers. To help prepare for the site visit, faculty and student groups can schedule a presentation during August and September with Dr. Gary Meyer, vice provost for undergraduate programs and teaching, and/or Dr. Toby Peters, associate senior vice president, the chair and co-chair of Marquette's reaffirmation of accreditation steering committee.

Drs. Meyer and Peters will explain the reaffirmation process, summarize the self-study document and share what the campus community can expect during the site visit. To schedule a presentation, contact Lori Montezon in the Office of the Provost at 8-6456.

Hundreds across campus were involved and more than 1,200 pieces of evidence were collected to produce the self-study, which is available online. Additional information and background, including a self-study briefing document, are also available on the accreditation website.

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5. 2013-14 Marquette Theatre season announced

Marquette Theatre has announced its 2013-14 season, which will begin Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Helfaer Theatre. This year's five productions will explore the many ways people reach out to one another. Shows include: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; The Boys Next Door; The Quiltmaker's Gift; Almost, Maine and Hamlet.

Individual and season tickets are available with discounts for students, employees and alumni, and can be purchased online or by calling the Theatre Box Office at 8-7504.

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6. Register for the second annual real estate conference

The Center for Real Estate will host its second annual Real Estate Strategies Conference Thursday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. in the AMU, Monaghan Ballroom. "Real Estate Opportunities – A New Frontier" will include presentations, panel discussions, an economic forecast and a networking reception. Those interested in attending the half-day event should register online.

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7. Annual Mass of the Holy Spirit is Sunday at 4 p.m.

The Marquette community is invited to celebrate the beginning of the academic year at the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit, which will be held Sunday, Aug. 25, at 4 p.m. at Church of the Gesu. Rev. Jeff LaBelle, S.J., will celebrate Mass and President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., will deliver the homily.

For more information, contact Timothy Johnston, assistant director of liturgical programs, at 8-0522.

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8. Season tickets for volleyball, soccer on sale now

Season tickets for the 2013 women's volleyball and men's and women's soccer teams are on sale now.

If the women's volleyball team sells more than 200 season tickets, the team will do an additional 200 hours of community service throughout the academic year. Tickets cost $40 for general admission and $80 for new courtside seats, and can be purchased online.

A custom Marquette soccer scarf will be given with the purchase of soccer season tickets, which are available online.

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9. Wellness Program offering guided meditation, Weight Watchers program and Heart Walk challenge

The Employee Wellness Program offers employees a variety of ways to increase their physical and emotional wellness, including a Weight Watchers program. Meetings take place every Thursday in Raynor Memorial Libraries from 12:20 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Employees who register before Sept. 6 will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 Visa Gift Card.

Fall group fitness classes begin Aug. 26. A full schedule and prices are online. Discounts have also been added for individuals who participate in more than one class.

Three guided meditation sessions will be offered throughout the fall semester. Each session will be four weeks, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 18, and will be held every Wednesday from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Coughlin Hall, 001.

Register with Marquette's team for the 2013 Milwaukee Heart Walk to compete in the Heart Walk – Deans' and Vice Presidents' Cup Challenge. The college and department with the highest percentage of participants will win a traveling trophy, and the first 100 people to register will receive an Employee Wellness drawstring backpack. The Milwaukee Heart Walk will take place Sunday, Sept. 29, at Veteran's Park. Registration can be completed online.

Employees are eligible to participate in "Fall Into Fitness," the YMCA of Metropolotian Milwaukee's six-week corporate challenge. Rules and further information are online.

For more information or to register for the Weight Watchers program, fall group fitness classes or Heart Walk challenge, contact Kristin Kipp, wellness coordinator, at 8-5607.

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10. Internal communication vehicles being updated, Marquette Matters publication schedule changing

This fall, the Office of Marketing and Communication will be evaluating best practices for relaying internal communication updates in a timely, engaging manner while maximizing efficiencies. OMC will examine best practices from peer institutions on how to better integrate print and online communication, as well as the best ways to share faculty research stories, student profiles and brand-building stories that reflect the themes of the university-wide strategic plan.

As OMC evaluates best practices and efficiencies for internal communication, the Marquette Matters publication schedule for the fall 2013 semester will be reduced from four to two print issues. There will be two combined issues: September/October and November/December. Marquette Matters will continue to provide feature content about major campus initiatives, as well as event information and human interest content on employees.

For questions or to share a story idea, contact Lynn Sheka, associate director of university communication, at 8-6712.

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11. Participants needed for Marquette's International Friendship Program

Marquette's International Friendship Program is currently looking for individuals and families interested in spending time once a month over the course of the academic year with an international student. Applications are online and due to the Office of International Education, Holthusen Hall, fourth floor, or via email.

For additional information, contact Erin LeMoine, international communication and marketing coordinator, at 8-5762.

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