Almanac

(Almanac lists facts, figures and miscellany of campus interest. Know something, or want to know? Call us: 262-3846, or e-mail: wisweek@news.wisc.edu.)

Resources: Teaching Academy
The Teaching Academy invites faculty and staff to utilize its Teaching Ideas Network. The Network is an outgrowth of recommendations included in a task force report, “Perspectives on Being New and Teacher Scholar Preparation” recently presented to the Faculty Senate. The UW Teaching Academy carries a Teaching Ideas Network on its site at: http://www.wisc.edu/teaching-academy/teaching_ideas_network.html.

Members listed at this site are interested in working with faculty and staff who are searching for assistance with any aspect of their teaching, such as tips on effective teaching with 200-plus students, cultivating interest and commitment in non-major courses, tailoring reading and assignment loads, effective use of instructional technologies, and how to make the most of small group work.

Sorting out the retirement issue
As anticipated, the Department of Employee Trust Funds and the Employee Trust Funds Board have requested that the Wisconsin Supreme Court issue a ruling to sort out legal issues surrounding the recently signed state retirement bill. A complete summary of the provisions of the law is on ETF’s web site at http://badger. state.wi.us/agencies/etf

Workers may calculate benefit projections with and without the changes due to Act 11 using a new Internet calculator available at: http://badger.state.wi.us/ agencies/etf/prp/disclaim.htm .

Student research to be highlighted
The “Undergraduate Research Symposium 2000: Celebrating Research, Creative Endeavor And Service Learning,” will be held Wednesday, April 5, at Memorial Union. This event, sponsored by the Office of the Provost, is modeled on the successful Sesquicentennial Undergraduate Research Symposium held in February 1999. The committee welcomes submissions of undergraduate projects in the visual and performing arts as well as research posters and oral papers of creative endeavors in the biological sciences, humanities (creative writing and general humanities), physical sciences and social sciences. Faculty and teaching staff are asked to spread word of the symposium to undergraduate students and their research mentors/advisors. Advising offices across campus have application materials and background information. Application deadline: Friday, Feb. 11. Send to: Provost’s Office, 150 Bascom Hall.

Backward glance
From Wisconsin Week, Jan. 17, 1990: A judge ruled that the university must release the names of applicants for the positions of athletic director and football coach, raising the possibility that the university may have to do the same in other job searches. … A new program, Alternative Spring Break, offers students more constructive ways to spend the spring vacation than the usual inebriated revelries in sunnier climes. … National searches are underway for deans in the schools of business, education and law. … A renovated 272 Bascom will be the new home of Faculty Senate meetings.

Quotable
“Seeing all these Wisconsin colors out here in the middle of California, it really attracts me to the place even more.”

– Ross Wittman, a senior at L.A.’s Aquinas High School (see pages 1, 14 and 16 for more on the Rose Bowl)