DECEMBER 11, 2008

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Graduation and Baccalaureate Mass are this weekend

More than 450 Marquette University graduates will be recognized at the mid-year commencement on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will feature a keynote address by Dr. Steven Goldzwig, professor of communication studies in the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication, as well as remarks from Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., and student speaker Emily Rodier, Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. Graduation events will also include a Baccalaureate Mass at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Gesu Church, celebrated by Father Wild and other members of the Marquette Jesuit community.

2. Board of Trustees approves new biology major

The Marquette University Board of Trustees Wednesday approved a new major, Biology for the Professions, specifically designed for middle and secondary school majors in the College of Education. The new major becomes available in fall 2009 addresses the need for middle and high school science teachers locally and nationally and meets the content standards required for teacher licensure by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The biology for the professions major will require six, three-credit biological sciences courses, plus an additional biology lab course and nine credits of electives in biological sciences. Students will also be required to take chemistry, mathematics and physics courses.

The trustees also approved the elimination of majors in human biology, social sciences, broad field social sciences, broad field social sciences major in history, broad field social sciences major in political science, broad field social sciences major in sociology and interdisciplinary major in social sciences. Most of the majors eliminated have not been offered in recent years.

At the graduate level, the trustees approved the termination of the Master of Arts degree in Teaching (Spanish). The board also received information about new specializations in computational science at both the Ph.D. and master’s levels. The new specializations will replace discrete specializations in algebra, biomathematics, statistics and logic and foundation at the Ph.D. level and in computer science and mathematics at the master’s level. In addition, two graduate certificates in nursing — adult clinical nurse specialist and gerontologic nurse specialist — have been offered but are now formally recognized.

3. Freshman experience task forces start work in January

Eight task force groups are being formed to review the results of the freshman experience survey in which employees and students recently participated. The Office of the Provost and the Division of Student Affairs are working with the Foundations of Excellence project of the Policy Center on the First Year of College, Ashville, N.C., to develop an action plan for campus-wide improvement.

Marquette’s faculty/staff survey response rate was 64.4 percent and the response rate for students was 56.3 percent.

The task forces, which will begin their work in January 2009, and their chairs are:

Marquette is one of 20 four-year institutions participating in a comprehensive, campus-wide self-assessment of the first year college experience during the 2008-09 academic year.

Task force chairs will work together to identify a comprehensive first-year vision. Deans, directors and other supervisors have recommended task forces members. Others interested in serving on a task force, including students, should contact Tina Rodriguez, office associate, Office of the Provost, at 8-8030.

4. US Bank customers targeted for phishing scam

The US Bank on campus has received reports of cell phone users receiving text messages from US Bank, asking the user to contact a number and give account information to reactivate an account. These messages are a fraudulent attempt to access customer accounts and are being sent randomly to US Bank customers and non-US Bank customers to phish for account information. Do not use the number given by the e-mail or text message. Phishing is a common method used to commit fraud.

According to US Bank: There has been no breach in security. US Bank will never request information by e-mail or by text message. Any request for financial or personal information should be verified by contacting the financial institution directly. US Bank customers who have provided information as a result of these text messages should see a representative at the US Bank branch on campus for more information and to limit damage.

5. Public Safety offers vacant house watch over break

The Department of Public Safety encourages students residing in the nearby off-campus neighborhood to take advantage of its Vacant House Watch. Students can register their residences with Public Safety prior to leaving campus for Christmas break, and DPS officers will monitor the vacant residences during routine patrols. The information provided to Public Safety remains strictly confidential.

Students must complete a form, which is available online, and return it to Public Safety by Monday, Dec. 22.
Students concerned about leaving their vehicles unattended can also obtain free on-campus parking during the break. Students can register vehicles and obtain a parking pass with Parking Services after their last final exam. For more information, contact Parking Services at 8-6911.

6. Annex hosting men’s basketball viewing party

The Annex will host a viewing party for the men’s basketball game against Tennessee on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 8:30 p.m. The first 100 fans will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Doors open at 5 p.m.

All fans will have a chance to enter the “Best Seat in the House” contest to watch the game from a La-Z-Boy chair with a free Annex pizza and pitcher of soda. There will also be opportunities to win Marquette gear at half time. Check the Annex’s Web site or Facebook site for more information.

News Briefs is published for Marquette students, faculty and staff every Monday and Thursday, except during summer and academic breaks when only the Monday edition is published. The deadline for the Monday edition is noon Friday. The deadline for the Thursday edition is noon Wednesday. Highest priority notices as determined by university leadership are also sent periodically.