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April 3 , 2007
In this Issue:
- Alumni Services and the Career Services seeks Mentor Network members
- UWRF plan will be ‘Living the Promise’ through 2012
- Community Classroom explores connections of culture and nature
- UWRF, RF Chamber offer employee motivation workshop April 26
- Conversation Spanish class to be offered in May
- Discover U Summer registration open for youngsters
- CBE’s Nemecek named to International AACSB Board
- Green ideas growing at UW-River Falls with energy agreements
- College of Business and Economics Establishes Links with Global Educators
- Young Entrepreneurs Conference To Be Held
- Economic Research Center sets presentations April 20, 27
- Key Business Contacts
1. Alumni Services and the Career Services seeks Mentor Network members
Share your expertise and advice with UW-River Falls students by registering with the Mentor Network.
The Mentor Network is an online resource to help students and alumni connect with other alumni and friends of the university while researching major choices, career options or gaining insight into various career paths and vocations.
All friends and alumni of UWRF are invited and encouraged to sign up to become a mentor. You need not be an alum to register and the registration process takes only minutes.
Mentors provide information related to their career path or chosen vocation when requested by a currently enrolled student or alumnus of UWRF. Only UWRF students and alumni have access to contact you as a mentor.
Mentors have the option to decide how many times students may contact them each month. Students and alumni are advised to be respectful of your time.
One of the most common forms of participant requests is to conduct an informational interview which can be performed in person, over the phone or by e-mail. The interview usually takes 20-30 minutes to complete.
Among the information mentors share are:
- General career information (request by phone or e-mail)
- Informational interview
- Job Shadow (half or full day)
- Conduct mock interview of student
- Guest speaker at a club or meeting
- Provide tour of current organization or business
To sign up to be part of the UWRF Mentor Network visit the web site at https://www.myinterfase.com/uwrf/mentor/home.aspx..
2. UWRF plan will be ‘Living the Promise’ through 2012
UWRF has adopted a new strategic plan titled “Living the Promise.”
The product of three months of collaboration across campus led by Chancellor Don Betz during the fall semester, the plan was unanimously endorsed by the Faculty Senate in January.
The plan will focus on three areas through 2012: an overall, pervasive commitment to continuous improvement and assessment; cultures of learning; and operational objectives that will allow UWRF to move forward.
The overarching umbrella of the plan is a commitment to continuous quality improvement and assessment, define priorities, and use solid information to make future decisions about how to use resources. We will use this paradigm to inform not only our work in fulfilling the goals of the plan but in all we do at the institution.
The other goals were categorized into two main areas: creating a culture of learning; and organizational objectives.
UWRF has a culture of learning and the plan will strengthen and expand that culture. The expansion will be in four areas: modeling sustainability principles; expanding global literacy and engagement; developing engaged leaders; and fostering a culture of inclusiveness.
The organizational objectives are are to create and implement an integrated marketing strategy; invest in the present and future quality of the human resources of the University; enhance the use of technology; invest in facilities to support our mission; and secure financial resources.
Complete details about the plan can be found on line at http://www.uwrf.edu/strategy/.
3. Community Classroom explores connections of culture and nature
How is an evening of poetry, music and rivers relevant to how we connect to nature? Beethoven could not have written The Pastoral Symphony without having spent hours walking in the forest. Carl Sandburg shared his fascination with the Mississippi River and the jazz bands that performed on steam boats in his Jazz Fantasia.
On Monday, April 16, Carol Bjorlie, a professor in the UWRF music department, will lead a discussion of this confluence of the arts, including performances of Bach, Beethoven and Smetana as well as the poetry of Carl Sandburg, Langston Hughes and Kate Green - all inspired by connections to the natural world.
UWRF Outreach Programs and the College of Arts and Sciences offer the Community Classroom series each fall and spring. University faculty share their expertise through informal presentations on a variety of topics. All lectures are free, begin at 7 p.m. and are held at the River Falls Public Library, lower level, on the corner of Main and Union streets.
A list of scheduled sessions is on the web at http://www.uwrf.edu/ogs/ or contact the Outreach office at outreach@uwrf.edu.
4. UWRF, RF Chamber offer employee motivation workshop April 26
Join the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, the Outreach office of University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the Chippewa Valley Technical College for workshops throughout the year. These Lunch N’ Learn workshops are a fun, dynamic way for employees to develop and refine new skills.
April 26 - Power Up! How to Motivate Yourself and Your Employees. 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Motivate yourself and your employees to a new level of productivity. Look for a happier work group, improved quality, and an increase in productivity. Whether experienced or new to the job, employees from all levels of the organization can benefit from developing job skills essential to succeed in a competitive market.
This workshop will be presented by Dave Vollmer from the Chippewa Valley Technical College. Dave has amassed experience in various business industries. Workshop participants praise him for his mix of insight, humor, and content. He has worked extensively in areas of quality and leadership with large and small companies alike, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Marshfield Clinic, and Phillips Plastic.
The workshop is held in the RDI Building on the UW-River Falls Campus and the cost is $30 per participant; includes a box lunch. Space is limited and reservations are requested by Friday, April 20. Register online at www.rfchamber.com, events; or call 715/425-2533 to register or for more information.
5. Conversation Spanish class to be offered in May
The UW-River Falls Outreach office will offer a Spanish language class for adults beginning in May.
The noncredit classes are held on six consecutive evenings and are designed to give adults the skills to successfully communicate and enjoy travel, whether for business or pleasure. The class fee is $85 plus the cost of books. All classes will take place on the UWRF campus with free parking.
For more information including registration instructions, contact Cynthia Wells-O’Malley at 715/425-3261 or by email.
6. Discover U Summer registration open for youngsters
Discover U provides opportunities to explore fun and fascinating topics in a university environment. The program is open to all kids and teens who are entering grades 4 through 9 next fall.
Classes are taught by university faculty and other specially selected instructors. Classes are held Monday through Thursday, in the mornings from 9 a.m. to noon and afternoons from 1-4 p.m. Register for morning or afternoon classes; or both morning and afternoon classes! Join us for one or both weeks.
Remember the College for Kids and Teen University programs offered by UW-River Falls? Discover U is a "new and improved" opportunity for your child or teen.
Tuition for each participant in each class is $105 and covers all materials and supplies. Scholarships for tuition reimbursement may be available. Visit the web site at www.uwrf.edu/discoveru to view a catalog and registration materials, or contact Cynthia Wells-O’Malley at 715/425-3256 or by email.
7. CBE’s Nemecek named to International AACSB Board
Barbara Nemecek, dean of the of the College of Business and Economics, has been elected to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International Board of Directors.
"Barb's election to the AACSB Board of Directors is a meaningful honor and opportunity for her, our College of Business and Economics and for UWRF," Chancellor Don Betz said. "With more than 900 institutional members from many counties, AACSB is the premier business school accrediting agency."
Betz added that Nemecek's reputation among her peer business deans is confirmed by her selection to this term of service. Her three-year term on the 28-member board will begin on July 1.
Betz said that Nemecek will be in a position to accelerate UWRF contacts with other possible international partner institutions.
"Those contacts can produce intriguing opportunities for our faculty and for our students," Betz said. "We are all proud of Barb and her leadership of the College."
8. Green ideas growing at UW-River Falls with energy agreements
River Falls' energy future is now brighter - and greener - thanks to a collaborative effort between UWRF, community-owned River Falls Municipal Utilities, and power supplier Wisconsin Public Power Inc.
The three entities recently signed a memorandum of understanding outlining their intentions to develop mutually beneficial renewable energy and energy conservation programs, projects and educational activities within the community of River Falls and on the UW-River Falls campus. The collaborative effort was sparked in September 2006, when Gov. Jim Doyle selected the UW-River Falls campus as one of four UW schools that will participate in his "Off-the-Grid Initiative," which sets a goal of achieving energy independence within five years through the use of innovative energy generation methods and the purchase of "green" energy provided by local utilities without the use of fossil fuels.
UW-River Falls will work with the utility companies to explore a number of energy independence options, including:
- Purchasing energy generated by renewable resources, such as wind, biofuel and hydroelectric power;
- Increasing efforts to identify conservation opportunities and reduce overall energy consumption on campus; and
- Developing renewable energy projects on the UWRF campus.
The campus’s sustainability initiatives are outlined at www.uwrf.edu/sustain.
9. College of Business and Economics Establishes Links with Global Educators
Three faculty members from the College of Business and Economics recently embarked on a trans-Atlantic trip in order to develop working partnerships with educational institutions in United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Turkey, and Denmark.
Dean Barbara Nemecek, business administration professor Ozcan Kilic, and finance professor Reza Rahgozar reached memorandums of agreement with the educational institutions that will open the door for student exchanges, and joint research projects in the future.
"I am very pleased with the continuing internationalization of opportunities here at UWRF for both faculty and students," UWRF Chancellor Don Betz said. "The contacts confirmed by Dean Nemecek and professors Kilic and Rahgozer will prove to be most useful to use as we continue to meet our objective of internationalizing learning so our graduates will be productive, creative and effective in a global knowledge economy."
Nemecek said that the memorandums of agreement and future cooperation with these institutions are "part of a bigger strategy to internationalize the curriculum of the college."
The institutions that the CBE reached memorandums of agreement with are the University of Southern Denmark, Dokuz Eylul University (Izmur, Turkey), Istanbul University, Istanbul Kultur University, and Ahlia University (Kingdom of Bahrain).
10. Young Entrepreneurs Conference To Be Held
The 3rd annual Young Entrepreneurs' Conference will take place April 13-14, presented by the UWRF College of Business and Economics and sponsored by Xcel Energy.
A conference highlight is the UW Student Business Plan Competition. Other activities include presentations by successful entrepreneurs, sessions with leading business executives, and networking opportunities.
According to Steven Dewald, UWRF lecturer and director of the Small Business Development Center, students from various UW schools will work in teams to develop business plans, presentations, and posters.
There will be competitions for best business plan, business plan presentation, and poster with members of the local business community involved in the judging.
"It's a good experience, and some of these ideas may get off the ground," Dewald said. "They could take the concepts all the way."
For more information on the Young Entrepreneurs' Conference contact Steven Dewald by email.
11. Economic Research Center sets presentations April 20, 27
The UWRF Center for Economic Research is sponsoring two more installments of its Friday Seminar Series featuring professors from the College of Business and Economics.
Upcoming seminars by CBE faculty include Mary Tichich on April 20 with "An Empirical Study of Value-Based Management Measures, Stakeholder Satisfaction, and Stock Prices" and Glenn Potts on April 27 with "Immigrant Support Network."
A social and refreshment time will take place from 3 to 3:15 p.m. in 317 South Hall, followed by the seminar in 321 South Hall from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. The seminar is free and open to the public.
For more information on the Friday Seminar Series, contact economics Professor Hamid Tabesh by email.
12. 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.
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