Elsewhere

(Elsewhere summarizes developments on other UW System campuses and in the system administration. For more system news, visit: http://www.uwsa.edu/univ_rel/wn.htm.)

Teachers recognized for excellence
A pair of faculty from the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus were honored Oct. 13 with the Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award from UW System.

Charles W. Byers, professor of geology and geophysics and Jonathan E. Martin, associate professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, each receive $5,000 for their dedication to and mastery of the craft of teaching.

Described by his students as having the ability to make sand interesting, Byers uses many avenues to learning. His teaching ranges from a popular 100-level course in evolution to a graduate seminar in paleontology. He was elected to the UW–Madison Teaching Academy in 1995.

Whether the course is a basic Introduction to Weather and Climate or an upper-level cyclone dynamics course, Martin uses a “wow” then “how” instructional technique to make students want to learn. He has been a member of the Teaching Academy for two years.

The other Alliant Energy Underkofler Award winners for 2000 are Rea H. Kirk, assistant professor of education and Madonna J. Perkins, assistant professor of business and accounting. Both are on the UW-Platteville faculty.

Committee begins search for La Crosse chancellor
UW System President Katharine C. Lyall has appointed a 19-member committee to search for a successor to UW-La Crosse Chancellor Judith Kuipers, who resigned earlier this year to become president of the Fielding Institute.

James Gallagher, professor of archaeology, will chair the committee. Nine other faculty members, two academic staff members, two students, two university administrators and three community members will join him.

The committee will conduct its work during the fall and winter, and will recommend at least five candidates to the president in February.

Economic summit planning continues
Regional “listening sessions” have been scheduled in preparation for the Wisconsin Economic Summit, set for Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee under the auspices of the UW System and a number of statewide partners.

“Momentum for the summit is building,” says Jay Smith, president of the Board of Regents. “I hear people all over the state talking about it, and a great deal of thought is going into the preparation of the listening sessions, the white papers and the meeting itself. I think the end product is going to be a useful game plan for the new Wisconsin economy.”

Nationally recognized speakers have been invited to address the summit, which will be attended by Gov. Tommy Thompson, legislative leaders, top Wisconsin CEOs and community leaders. Among the planned outcomes is development of a collection of “Best Ideas for Wisconsin’s Future” that can help guide the state’s strategic economic planning. The local chair is Mark Bugher, director, University Research Park, 262-3677.

Grant underwrites online geography course
Geography is enjoying a revival in America’s schools, and a faculty member at UW-Superior is playing a role in its comeback while also helping students at several schools in northwestern Wisconsin.

Randy Gabrys-Alexson is using an AOL Foundation grant to teach an online university geography course to high school students in Washburn, Bayfield, Maple, Port Wing, Solon Springs and Minong. The students get an opportunity to take a challenging course and earn university or high school class credits without spending hours traveling back and forth to campus.