|
October 9 , 2006
In this Issue:
- UW System President, UW-RF Chancellor to Address Growth
- UWRF Targets Energy Self-Sufficiency By 2012
- UWRF Career Services Seeking Mock Interviewers for Nov. 8
- Executive-in-Residence Features Allina CEO Presentation
- Community Classroom Events Set for October
- Understanding Age Diversity in the Workplace
- UWRF Sets Another Enrollment Record
- Food Microbiology Symposium Scheduled Oct. 14-17
- Key Business Contacts
1. UW System President, UW-RF Chancellor to Address Growth
Plans to grow UW-River Falls and the University of Wisconsin System will be the topic of discussion at presentations in the St. Croix Valley on Oct. 25-26.
Speaking will be UW System President Kevin Reilly and UW-River Falls Chancellor Don Betz.
Reilly will address the UW System's current "Growth Agenda for Wisconsin," that has been approved by the Board of Regents, and has been advanced to Gov. Jim Doyle and the Wisconsin Legislature for consideration.
They will speak at three sessions:
- Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in the St. Croix Falls Festival Theatre, 210 N. Washington St., St. Croix Falls. The evening presentation is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the City of St. Croix Falls and the Festival Theatre.
- Oct. 26 at 7:30-8:45 a.m., they will speak at a "Business Breakfast" session, sponsored by Associated Bank, at the West Wind Supper Club. Tickets are $15 and can be obtained through the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau by calling 715-425-2533, or visiting www.rfchamber.com . Tickets are available through Oct. 20.
- Oct. 26 at 11:30 a.m.- 1p.m. at a luncheon sponsored by the Hudson Rotary chapters. The location is the Hudson Golf Club, and the cost is $12. Tickets may be reserved after Oct. 9 by contacting the Hudson Star-Observer at 715-386-9333.
At the heart of the Growth Agenda initiative, which carries a $27.3 million price tag over the next state two-year budget, is the production of more bachelor's degrees in such critical areas as teacher education in math and science; engineering; nursing and health care professions; nano-technology; sciences, and business.
"The more Wisconsin citizens who hold college degrees, the more we can attract high-paying jobs, bolster the state tax base, and improve our quality of life," Reilly explained. "One of the reasons Wisconsin's economy has not been as robust as it could be is that, when compared to other states, a lower percentage of Wisconsin residents have four-year college degrees - just 25 percent, compared to 27 percent nationally and 33 percent in Minnesota."
U.S. Census Data from the last census shows that about 23 percent of Polk, Pierce and St. Croix residents hold a bachelor's degree. Reilly notes that there is a close correlation between the number of bachelor degree holders and per capita. Wisconsin trails the national average by about $1,200, and Minnesota by about $4,000.
Betz will speak to UWRF's ongoing extensive strategic planning process that will consider expanding the size of the student body. UWRF currently enrolls 6,100 undergraduate and graduate students. This year is the eighth time in the last decade that the campus has set an enrollment record.
"As UWRF's strategic planning process unfolds this fall, we'll consider expanding our enrollment to meet the increasing educational demands of the dynamic St. Croix Valley. We'll explore a range of initiatives: distance-learning classes; teaching at other locations; admitting more transfer students; adding undergraduates; and launching new graduate and certificate programs for adult learners. We'll be asking future Legislatures to help with those funding needs," Betz said.
University records show nearly 6,800 UWRF alumni reside in Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties. A total of 1,655 students are enrolled from those counties this year in undergraduate or graduate programs. The University also has been active in providing expertise to many communities across the three-county area as they address issues of growth and change.
For more information, call 715-425-3771.
2. UWRF Targets Energy Self-Sufficiency By 2012
Gov. James Doyle in a news conference at UW-River Falls on Sept. 27 announced that he is targeting the campus to become energy self-sufficient by the year 2012.
"With ongoing increases in the cost of energy, now is the time for Wisconsin to take control of our energy future. By committing four of our campuses to energy independence by 2012 we are tapping into the ingenuity of the UW System and laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more energy independent future in Wisconsin," Doyle said.
Doyle told about 200 persons who attended the announcement, "UWRF is obviously a natural to be selected for this pilot. This is a campus that has been devoted in so many different ways to conservation and to renewable energy.
"This is a campus that is a model in the country for recycling, and a model in the country for green building."
He said the initiative's intent is to have the campus produce as much energy as it consumes. By using innovative energy generation methods and buying "green" energy produced by local utilities without the use of fossil fuels, the campus is expected to break even on its energy costs in five years.
According to the Governor, his staff will work with UW-RF to develop an energy plan and then seek money from the Legislature as a front-end investment in technologies and research. He said the money will be recovered by cost savings.
Chancellor Don Betz responded, "We couldn't be more pleased with Gov. Doyle's announcement that he has designated us to become a self-sustaining campus.
"Sustainability is a way of life at UW-River Falls. We believe that sustainability is a core value as well as a practical objective that should be pursued in many ways both on our campus and in the St. Croix Valley region that we serve.
"This designation will motivate us to rededicate ourselves to modeling the way on sustainability, whether the benefit is to other institutions or to communities. We embrace the trust that has been placed on us to lead the way, to achieve success, and to share our successes with others," the chancellor said.
Doyle's backdrop was a new $35 million UW-RF Student Center, which is scheduled to open in January. Doyle cited as an example of UW-RF's innovative commitment to sustainability.
The facility will be 40 percent more efficient than similar contemporary student centers. It includes a 48,000 gallon storage capacity of collected rain water that is used for grey flush water. The structure incorporates natural building materials, with a white roof to reflect sunlight, along with many other features. An educational kiosk will also be on display in the Great Hall, which will monitor various elements of the building's resource consumption.
For more information about UWRF's efforts, visit www.uwrf.edu/sustain.
3. UWRF Career Services Seeking Mock Interviewers for Nov. 8
The UWRF Fall Recruiting Season is off to a great start! The UWRF Career Fair is less than two weeks away and we are fortunate to have more than 100 employers coming to campus. The Etiquette Dinner is sold out and we are continuing to assist employers fill their on-campus recruiting schedules as well.
As an office we seek to prepare our students with critical skill sets for their career development. To increase our student's success in interviewing we offer Mock Interview Events for students to gain valuable feedback.
We need your help!
This semester we have more than 150 students signed up to participate in mock interviews, which will not be possible without your support. Mock interviews will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Hagestad Student Center. If you are interested in conducting mock interviews please contact Nancy Pace in Career Services at nancy.i.pace@uwrf.edu or at 715-425-3572.
4. Executive-in-Residence Features Allina CEO Presentation
Richard "Dick" Pettingill, president and CEO of Allina Hospitals and Clinics, will speak at UW-River Falls on Tuesday, Oct. 17, as part of the College of Business and Economics Executive-in Residence Program.
Pettingill's presentation, "Allina's Strategic Journey: Revolutionizing Health Care," will be held in the River Room of Rodli Commons from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The presentation is free and open to the public.
When Pettingill arrived at Allina in 2002, he knew that the health care system needed radical change but thought it would be incremental and evolutionary. He set his sights on transforming Allina--taking it from a decentralized holding company to a high performing operating company, poised to be a national model for quality, community benefit and low-cost health care. Pettingill will cover the innovations implemented by Minnesota's largest health care organization to improve health care for patients and communities.
Pettingill has a bachelor's degree in public administration from San Diego State University, a master's degree in health care administration from San Jose State University, and completed the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership program in 2001.
President and CEO of Allina Hospitals and Clinics since 2002, Pettingill has a diverse background that includes spending several years at a premiere academic medical center, a district and community hospital system, and Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation's largest integrated health care systems.
Pettingill serves on the board of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and belongs to Rotary International, a global network of community volunteers.
The CBE Executive-in-Residence Program is sponsored by the Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services.
For more information on the program, contact CBE Dean Barbara Nemecek at 715-425-3335 or barbara.nemecek@uwrf.edu.
5. Community Classroom Events Set for October
On Thursday, Oct. 26, Timothy Lyden will present “Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Biology at UW-River Falls.” This discussion will cover the significance that stem cell research may have for basic scientific research and how they are being used on the UW-River Falls campus. Lyden has more than 15 years of experience in the field of developmental and reproductive cell biology.
Community Classroom events are sponsored by the College of Arts and Science and the Outreach office of UW-River Falls. All events are free and open to the public. The lectures begin at 7 p.m. in the lower level of the River Falls Public Library on Division and Union Streets in River Falls. No reservations are required. For more information, visit the web site at www.uwrf.edu/outreach or contact the Outreach office at outreach@uwrf.edu or call 800-228-5607.
6. Understanding Age Diversity in the Workplace
As Baby Boomers edge closer to retirement, new generations of leaders and workers are changing the way we do business. The UW-River Falls and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College are offering a ground-breaking seminar with solutions to overcome the challenges of working in a multi-generational workforce.
This workshop is Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hudson Hospital. Registration is $39 and may be made by check or credit card. Get more information and register online at www.uwrf.edu/ogs/registration or contact 715-425-3256 for a registration form.
7. UWRF Sets Another Enrollment Record
For the third semester in a row, UW-River Falls has posted the largest enrollment in its history, accompanied by a record incoming freshman class.
The official headcount for the fall semester stood at 6,105 students, with 1,296 freshmen on Sept. 20. This surpasses the previous record, respectively, by 104 and 87 students.
During eight of the last 10 years, UW-River Falls has posted record enrollments.
This year's 2 percent increase in its enrollment represents a trend that should continue into the foreseeable future, according to Chancellor Don Betz.
"UW-River Falls is situated perfectly in the St. Croix Valley, which is the fastest growing region of Wisconsin," says Betz. "We intend to continue to increase our student enrollment to meet the educational needs of our region."
The university, like the community of River Falls, straddles two counties: Pierce and St. Croix. St. Croix County again in 2005 was the fastest growing county by percentage of increase of Wisconsin's 72 counties. It was the 37th fastest growing county in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Overall, it posted the fourth largest increase in new residents in the state, with 15,000 newcomers.
Despite the record enrollment, according to Alan Tuchtenhagen, executive director of enrollment services, every incoming freshman was provided with housing and a full class schedule.
UW-River Falls, which currently requires incoming freshmen and sophomores to reside on campus, has filled all 2,568 residence hall beds, with 120 students assigned to temporary housing. Returning sophomores were given the option to live off campus this year to open up rooms for incoming freshmen.
The Wisconsin Legislature in its January 2007 session will take up a proposal to double the size of the new George R. Field South Fork Suites, which would house at least another 240 students. To be completed by 2010, the new addition would be paid for in its entirety by students.
8. Food Microbiology Symposium Scheduled Oct. 14-17
This will be the 26th year of the Food Microbiology Symposium at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, which focuses on food safety and quality problems.
The Food Microbiology Symposium is Oct. 14-17 and features speakers from academia, industry and regulatory agencies that will provide an overview on various topics including the pathogens, toxins, and contaminants that may occur in food, water, and the environment. The emphasis will be on practical application of food and quality problems.
Keynoting the Symposium will be Sec. Rod Nilsestuen of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Speakers include: Vijay Juneja - USDA, David Gombas - International Fresh-Cut Produce Association; Kathy Sullivan Gombas - Dean Foods; Bruce Applegate - Purdue University; Reginald Bennett – FDA; Scott Russell - University of Georgia; Mark Carter - Silliker Labs; Michael Robach – Cargill; Roy Betts - Campden & Chorleywood Research Association; George Paoli – USDA; D. H. Kang - Washington State University; and Karen Silbernagel - AOAC.
The symposium attracts a diverse community of attendees. The program is suitable for food scientists and technologists, quality assurance supervisors, food laboratory directors, microbiologists, consultants, researchers and graduate students interested in food microbiology.
Registrations for the symposium are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The $600 fee includes conference manual, abstracts of the presentations, meals, breaks, and the banquet on Oct. 16.
For additional information on the symposium, email foodmicro@uwrf.edu or visit the Web site at http://www.uwrf.edu/food-science, click on the links to workshops and then the link to the Food Microbiology Symposium. For more information, contact Professor P.C. Vasavada, conference director at 715-425-3150.
9. Key Business Contacts
Don't know where to start to find help on business matters?
Try these contacts:
Area Resource Center: www.uwrf.edu/current/info/AtoZ.phtml
Career Services: www.uwrf.edu/ccs/
Center For Economic Research: 715/425-3335
Center for Economic Education: 715/425-3269
College of Business and Economics:
www.uwrf.edu/cbe/
Outreach and Graduate Studies: www.uwrf.edu/ogs/
Small Business Development Center:
715/425-0620
Survey Research Center: 715/425-0701
UW-RF BizNews is produced by the College of Business
& Economics, Outreach and Graduate Studies, Career
and Counseling Services, and the Office of Public Affairs.
Questions, comments or suggestions about this BizNews
E-mail? Contact Mark.A.Kinders@uwrf.edu.
Suggest
a BizNews topic for an upcoming article |
