1. Commencement weekend includes Mass and free parking

More than 2,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students will participate in Commencement on Sunday, May 18, at 9:30 a.m. at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Baccalaureate Mass will be Saturday, May 17, at 4:30 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Tickets are not needed for either event.

Rev. James Martin, S.J., will be the Commencement speaker. Known as the "official chaplain" of The Colbert Report, Father Martin is a popular writer and a frequent commentator in national and international media. As part of the ceremony, Father Martin will receive an honorary doctor of letters degree. T. Michael Bolger, former president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin, will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree as part of the ceremony.

This year’s student speaker is Spencer Bonahoom, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Bonahoom’s speech, “The Search,” will highlight the culture of search and discovery at Marquette and the transformation students undergo throughout their college education. 

The Wells Street Parking Structure and 16th Street Parking Structure will be free of charge during Commencement weekend, May 16-18. Gates to most campus lots will open Friday afternoon and will remain open through Sunday evening. Structures will still be staffed with an attendant. For more information, contact Jay Sobota, manager of Parking Services, at (414) 288-6911.

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2. Inauguration of President-elect Michael R. Lovell is Sept. 18-19

The inauguration of Marquette University's 24th president, Dr. Michael R. Lovell, will be held Thursday and Friday, Sept. 18 and 19, 2014. Mass will take place Thursday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. at Church of the Gesu, with the inauguration ceremony following on Friday, Sept. 19, at 3 p.m. in the Al McGuire Center. A reception for the Marquette community and guests will follow Friday's inauguration ceremony. All faculty, staff and students are invited.

An Inaugural Steering Committee made up of faculty, staff, students, alumni and trustees has been named to oversee the inaugural events. Dr. Timothy Melchert, associate professor of counselor education and counseling psychology and chair of the University Academic Senate, is chairing the Inaugural Steering Committee. An Inaugural Planning Committee made up of faculty, staff and students has been named to coordinate and plan the inaugural events. Steve Frieder, assistant to the president and corporate secretary, and Ann Taghikhani, director of University Special Events, are co-chairing the Inaugural Planning Committee.

Other academic and student events are being planned in addition to the inaugural Mass and ceremony. Additional details will be announced when dates are confirmed.

The Office of the Provost, in collaboration with University Academic Senate and the deans, will cancel classes beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, so that all students and faculty have the opportunity to attend the inauguration ceremony. Please note that classes are not canceled for the entire day.

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3. Cap and gown pick-up is May 13-14

Cap and gown pick-up for all Commencement candidates is Tuesday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the AMU, 157 and 163, and Wednesday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the AMU, 157 and 163. There is no charge or pre-ordering for pick up. Undergraduates may keep their cap and gown. Graduates in law, health sciences, dentistry, master's programs (MPA and DPT), the 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.

If a student cannot pick up his or her graduation apparel, a friend or relative can pick it up if they have the student's name, approximate height, degree and college. For additional information, contact University Special Events at (414) 288-7431.

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4. Search committee formed for new vice provost for enrollment management position

The Office of the Provost has formed a search committee to fill a newly created position – vice provost for enrollment management – which will lead implementation of the university's enrollment management plan once it is approved by the Board of Trustees this fall, including developing and coordinating undergraduate, graduate, and professional enrollment and recruitment strategies. The vice provost for enrollment management will serve as a member of the University Leadership Council, the Dean's Council and the Academic Planning Team.

To advance the goals of the university-wide strategic plan, Beyond Boundaries, Marquette has made a commitment to strengthen and integrate its current recruitment and enrollment strategy. This vice provost for enrollment management position will work with academic units to set and achieve enrollment goals and to increase student quality and diversity. In collaboration with the deans, colleges and Office of Marketing and Communication, the vice provost for enrollment management will develop recruitment strategies for programs that advance the university's mission and are aligned with current and future student needs, university capacity and faculty expertise.

The dean of undergraduate admissions and the associate vice provost for academic support programs and retention will report to the vice provost for enrollment management. Because of this, the search for the next dean of undergraduate admissions and enrollment planning will begin after the vice provost for enrollment management position is filled.

The vice provost for enrollment management search committee is being chaired by Dr. James South, associate dean for faculty in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. Committee members include:

  • Dr. Marie Hoeger Bement – associate professor of physical therapy and University Academic Senate representative
  • Connie Bennett – senior assistant dean of admissions
  • Dr. Bob Bishop – Opus Dean of the College of Engineering
  • Dr. David Clark – professor of economics
  • Dr. Bill Donaldson – associate dean in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences
  • Dr. Joseph Green – director of the Educational Opportunity Program
  • Dr. Kim Halula – associate dean in the College of Health Sciences
  • Natasha Hansen – Marquette University Student Government representative
  • Dr. Jamshid Hosseini – associate professor of management and director of International Business Studies
  • Dr. Shaun Longstreet – director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
  • Alex Kaleta – senior associate registrar
  • Dr. Gary Meyer – vice provost for undergraduate programs and teaching
  • Cheryl Peterson – Graduate Student Organization representative
  • Craig Pierce – assistant dean of the Graduate School
  • Alix Riley – director of the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis
  • Susan Teerink – director of Student Financial Aid
  • Lori Montezon – administrative support for the search committee

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5. ROTC Commissioning Ceremony is May 17

The annual Tri-Service ROTC Commissioning Ceremony for the university's Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Class of 2014 will be held Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m. in the Varsity Theatre. The university community is invited to join in honoring 35 cadets and midshipmen as they accept their commissions as officers in their respective branches of service.

A short reception in the AMU will immediately follow the ceremony.

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6. Graduating Senior Survey will be sent to Marquette email accounts

Graduating seniors should check their Marquette email accounts for a link to the 2014 Graduating Senior Survey, administered by the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis. Seniors are asked to give feedback about their college experience to help make Marquette better.

For more information, contact Alexandra Riley, director of the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis, at (414) 288-8049.

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7. Suicide prevention training offered May 14

The Counseling Center will hold a "Question, Persuade, Refer" suicide prevention training session Wednesday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the AMU, 448. 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 (414) 288-7172. Private QPR training is available for groups of 10 individuals or more.

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8. Biological Sciences Seminar Series continues next Friday

The Biological Sciences Seminar Series will host "Hyperdiversity and Hypodiversity in Genome Evolution of Caenorhabditis Nematodes," Friday, May 16, at 3 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences, 111. Dr. Asher Cutter of the Toronto University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology will lead the seminar. The event will be hosted by Dr. Stephen Downs, professor of biological sciences.

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 (414) 288-7355.

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9. J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts to be shown publicly on Friday

The Raynor Memorial Libraries' Department of Special Collections will host a public showing of selected original manuscripts from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Friday, May 16, at 2:30 p.m. in Raynor Memorial Libraries' Prucha Archives Reading Room on the third floor. 

The presentation will last approximately 45 minutes and is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so participants should register by contacting William Fliss, associate archivist, at (414) 288-5906.

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10. Retirement reception for Dr. Edward Korabic is May 16

The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology in the College of Health Sciences is hosting a retirement reception for Dr. Edward W. Korabic, chair of speech pathology and audiology, Friday, May 16, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Cramer Hall's lower level lounge. Korabic has served at Marquette for the past 35 years.

RSVP to Jessica Payson, administrative assistant, at (414) 288-3428.

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11. News Briefs begins weekly schedule the week of May 19

The News Briefs e-newsletter will begin its once-a-week summer publication schedule beginning the week of May 19. Thursday, May 15, will be the last Thursday edition until fall semester.

The submission deadline for Monday publication remains noon on Fridays.

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