For the Record

Grants and fellowships

Call for Preproposals — Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment

The Office of the Provost Office is soliciting proposals from faculty, staff and students for the second annual Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment.

This endowment is intended to advance The Wisconsin Idea through the development of new and innovative initiatives, and new dimensions to existing outreach activities, by creating and strengthening partnerships and collaborations, sharing and applying knowledge, and expanding access to lifelong learning. Such efforts will help to create partnerships and extend the knowledge, resources, research expertise and services of UW–Madison students, faculty and staff to community and governmental organizations, business and industry, the general public, and K-12 schools.

This year approximately $500,000 will be granted for projects that begin on or after Jan. 12. Proposals for initiatives up to $100,000 total funding are encouraged, and projects may last for up to three years. The endowment will support people and projects rather than facilities. Proposals should advance the campus Strategic Plan, particularly the Amplify the Wisconsin Idea priority, and contribute to the outreach mission of the school(s)/college(s)/ unit(s) involved. The fund is not intended to support or to duplicate existing projects, or replace activities that are part of a unit’s normal operation.

Priority will be given to Wisconsin Idea initiatives in the following areas:

• Extending students’ expertise off campus
• Fostering biological and physical sciences outreach
• Engaging the arts and humanities
• Addressing a societal opportunity or problem

The Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment call for proposals involves two steps: 1) UW–Madison faculty, staff or students must first submit a preproposal; and 2) individuals whose preproposals are accepted will be invited to submit a full proposal. Preproposals and full proposals must be signed by the department chair/unit director and a dean’s/director’s representative before submission to the Office of the Provost.

Timeline:
Oct. 3 Preproposals due in dean’s office

Oct. 10 Signed preproposals due in provost’s office

Oct. 28 Preproposal finalists announced

Dec. 1 Full proposals due in dean’s office

Dec. 8 Signed proposals due in provost’s office

Jan. 12 Awards announced

Preproposals should be no more than two double-spaced pages. For complete preproposal guidelines, cover page, budget submission form, directions and a list of 2003 funded programs, visit http://www.provost.wisc.edu/baldwin/.

Please note that proposals from individual students or student organizations must have a sponsoring university department/unit. Students interested in applying who do not have a sponsoring department/unit should contact Mary Rouse, director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service Learning, 262-0787/263-2432 or mkrouse@wisc.edu

Additional questions should be directed to Peyton Smith, assistant vice chancellor for extended programs, 262-8214 or plsmith@bascom.wisc.edu.

Brittingham Viking Scholarships
The Brittingham Viking Organization is currently accepting applications for 2004 scholarships. Three opportunities are available.

• Oslo, Norway: Two students will be chosen to attend the International Summer School (ISS) in summer 2004. The ISS welcomes students from nearly 100 countries and offers a variety of classes, not only in Norwegian language and culture, but also in economics, political science and international relations, among other topics.
• Copenhagen, Denmark: Two students will be chosen to study at the Copenhagen Business School in summer 2004. Classes are taught in English and are for both business and non-business majors.
• Helsinki, Finland: Two students will attend their choice of university in Helsinki for spring semester 2004. The Helsinki University of Technology offers classes in paper technology, industrial management, electronics, computer science and telecommunications. The Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration is geared toward marketing and finance. Those applying for the Helsinki Viking Scholarship must have at least junior standing; seniors and grad students are especially encouraged to apply. Students applying for the Helsinki scholarship must be studying business, engineering (electrical, mechanical, industrial) or computer science.

All scholarships include tuition, room and board at the appropriate school, a travel stipend to help defray the cost of the transatlantic flight, and arranged travel in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland to meet members of the Brittingham Viking Organization.

For the history of the scholarship programs and an application form, visit http://www.uwalumni.com/brittingham-viking/ scholarship.html. The application is due both electronically and in hard copy by midnight, Sept. 29.

For more information: Kristin Haakenson, kristinhaakenson@uwalumni.com.

Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Program
Applications are sought for two-year fellowships designed to enhance research, leadership and action to address the broad range of factors affecting health. Those who have completed doctoral training in disciplines ranging from behavioral, social, biological and natural sciences to health professions are eligible. Up to 18 selected scholars will begin training in August or September 2004 at one of six universities, including UW–Madison. Deadline: Oct. 15.

Information: http://www.rwjf.org/programs/hss/healthSocietyScholars.jhtml.

Lectures Committee Seeks Proposals
The Lectures Committee solicits applications from departments, academic programs and registered student organizations for support of public lectures to be held during the 2003-04 academic year.

As stated in Faculty Policies and Procedures, the function of the committee is to consider “requests for lectures of general interest that are not primarily supplementary to or extensions of programs of instruction provided by colleges, schools or departments.”

Applications must meet specifications in the document “Policies and Guidelines for Requesting Lectures Committee Support” and must be submitted on 2003-04 forms. For this document and the form, visit http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/secfac/lectures/lectcomm/General.htm, or call 262-3956.

The committee will review applications once each month. See schedule below for deadlines; applications are also accepted before these deadlines. Applications will be accepted as long as funds are available. Proposals that include an international speaker should allow additional preparation time for the visa application process. Information: Joe Farrenkopf, farrenkopf@mail.bascom.wisc.edu or 262-3956.

Deadline for Lecture may be proposed (for lecture date no earlier than):

Sept. 15 (Nov. 1)

Oct. 15 (Dec. 1)

Nov. 15 (Jan. 1)

Dec. 15 (Feb. 1)

Jan. 15 (March 1)

Feb. 15 (April 1)

March 15 (May 1)

April 15 (June 1)

Policies and Procedures

Religious Observances and Classwork
Faculty policy mandates that academic requirements should not be scheduled on days when a religious observance may cause substantial numbers of students to be absent. For the fall semester, the policy identifies Rosh Hashanah (Saturday, Sept. 27) and Yom Kippur (Monday, Oct. 6) as such days. Please note that Jewish holidays and observances begin at sunset on the evening preceding the given date, and some holidays are celebrated over more than one day. Please do not schedule mandatory exercises on these dates.

Due to our university’s multicultural community, there may be conflicts between mandatory academic requirements and religious observances other than those listed. Major religious observances celebrated by Muslim and Buddhist students, such as the Islamic holiday Eid al Fitr (Tuesday, Nov. 25) also occur during the semester. A listing, though not exhaustive, of religious holidays is at http://www.interfaithcalendar.org or Office of the Secretary of the Faculty, 262-3958, 130 Bascom Hall.

A student’s claim of a religious conflict should be accepted at face value. A great variety of valid claims exist for religious groups, and there is no practical, dignified and legal means to assess validity. State law mandates that any student with a conflict between an academic requirement and any religious observance must be given an alternative means to meet the requirement. The law also stipulates that students be given means by which they can conveniently and confidentially notify an instructor of the conflict.

Please adhere to the following three guidelines that have been developed to provide clarity for both students and instructors: 1) Announce early in the semester that students must notify the instructor within the first two weeks of class of the specific days or dates on which he or she requests relief. Including this information on your course syllabus is another appropriate method to inform students. 2) Make-ups may be scheduled before or after the regularly scheduled requirements. 3) Instructors may set reasonable limits on the total number of days claimed by any one student. Occasionally, students may not fully understand the necessity for prior notice, and under these circumstances we urge flexibility. Teaching assistants should be advised of this policy.

Finally, on a somewhat parallel topic, faculty are urged to use fairness, compassion and sensitivity when a student asks you or a TA for class time off due to a family emergency. Your understanding in these situations can help the student during the crisis.

Academic Calendar
Last day to drop courses or withdraw without notation on transcript: Sept. 10

Last day to add courses or enroll without department/ dean permission: Sept. 12

(also see Timetable)

Last day for 100 tuition adjustment on dropped classes: Sept. 12

Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 27

Yom Kippur: Oct. 6

Last day to drop courses (undergraduates, specials and professionals): Oct. 31

Last day to withdraw without academic penalty (undergraduates and specials): Nov. 21

Last day to drop courses (graduate students): Nov. 21

Eid al Fitr: Nov. 25

Thanksgiving recess: Nov. 27-30

Last class day: Dec. 12

Study day: Dec. 13