August 2001

Chambers steps down as Phoenix athletics director

GREEN BAY - Otis Chambers, director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay since 1994, has stepped down from that position, effective Friday, Aug. 31, 2001.

The decision is announced today by Chambers and UW-Green Bay Interim Chancellor William Kuepper.

Kuepper said the University will begin an immediate search for a successor. In the meantime, administrative responsibility for the program remains with Associate Provost Sue Keihn, to whom the athletics director position currently reports. The new athletics director will report directly to the chancellor.

Chambers remains under contract with the University. He said he would take some time off before returning to work in an as-of-yet-to-be-announced capacity with the institution.

"I've had seven years as AD," Chambers said. "In this business, that's a long time. My health is fine and I think the program's health is fine, but at the same time this is an exceptionally demanding job, especially in NCAA Division I. I gave it absolutely everything I had, with the resources I had. I am very proud of what we've accomplished."

Kuepper thanked Chambers for his contributions to the program.

"Otis was part of the program during a time in which Phoenix Athletics accomplished some very good things," Kuepper said. "He is respected and well-liked on campus and in the community, and that carried over to the program. We look forward to his continuing association with the University."

Chambers took over as Phoenix athletics director in July 1994 on an interim basis, replacing Dan Spielmann. The appointment was made permanent in 1995. During his tenure the program moved quickly to sign Mike Heideman to fill the Phoenix men's basketball vacancy in 1995. In 1998 the women's basketball program hired Kevin Borseth.

"I am proud of the coaches here, the people I've had a role in helping recruit and develop," Chambers said. "Not just basketball, but our Olympic sports, the support staff, and most important, the students we've brought into the Phoenix program. I think they've been a credit to the University."

During his tenure, UW-Green Bay changed conference affiliations, from the Mid-Continent Conference to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, since renamed the Horizon League, and last spring Phoenix student athletes posted their best-ever cumulative gradepoint average (3.2 on a 4.0 scale).

Said Chambers, "UW-Green Bay runs an efficient, cost-effective program but there is no question that the financial challenge of major-college athletics has become a dominant factor. It became the major part of my day-to-day responsibilities as AD, and it will be that way for my successor."

A native of Green Bay, Chambers joined the Phoenix athletics training program in 1985 and assumed administrative duties with his appointment as assistant athletics director in 1991. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska and a master's in administrative science from UW-Green Bay.

GREEN BAY -- Five members of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay faculty and staff received Founders Association Awards for Excellence at a campus convocation on Wednesday, August 29. The awards were presented by Founders Association president Richard S. Beverstein, vice president of Aon Consulting.

Recipients and their awards are: William Conley, scholarship; Trudy Jacobson, academic support; Sherry Lacenski, administrative support; Lloyd Noppe, institutional development; and William Shay, teaching.

Conley, who received the award for scholarship, is a professor of Business Administration who joined UW-Green Bay in 1974. He was cited for scholarship that is prolific, global in reach, and path-breaking. His research seeks a general-purpose computer statistics solution technique that will work in a variety of business and engineering applications. He is the author of five books and more than 150 scholarly papers that have been published in journals in a wide array of fields in the U.S. and abroad. A reviewer called his 1984 book, Computer Optimization Techniques, "the definitive book in its field." His Multi-Stage Monte Carlo Optimization Technique has been described as "the mathematical version of Darwin's theory of evolution." Said a colleague, "He has blazed a new trail in research...but also has contributed to the modernization of curricula in math, engineering and business."

Jacobson, recipient of the academic support award, joined the Extended Degree program in 1994. She previously had served the University in several other areas. Jacobson helps develop curriculum, develops and teaches courses, and advises and is a liaison for adult students who earn their degrees outside of the regular on-campus program. "She has earned an exceptional reputation with students, faculty and colleagues," wrote the nominator. "The teacher in Trudy is what shines through." Students and former students describe her variously as "my guiding light," and "my true, honest, direct and constant adviser." A colleague noted that while Jacobson is supportive, she never misleads students. "She has the ability of blending the 'you can do it' with the reality," she said.

The award for administrative support noted that many faculty members regard Lacenski as a colleague, rather than a "support." Lacenski is assistant director and textbook manager for the Phoenix Bookstore, a post she has held since 1992. She was praised for going beyond ordering and organizing textbooks to seek out new ways to emphasize reading, thinking and intellectual engagement. Lacenski creates displays and events promoting reading and learning. She launched a "Maximize your learning - read the text" T-shirt campaign and inaugurated an event that enables faculty to review new publications and talk directly with publishers' representatives. "Sherry is tirelessly imaginative in her methods of promoting the bookstore in particular and reading in general," said a faculty member.

Noppe, a professor of Human Development, and recipient of the institutional development award, was described as "a quiet leader." The nomination noted Noppe's devotion of time and energy to the Human Development unit and to the University. He has chaired Human Development for nine years and has been instrumental in bringing in new faculty, reorganizing the curriculum, creating a community advisory board, promoting an internship program and writing the document that led to the selection of Human Development by UW System as the "Outstanding UW Department" in 1996. A member of the faculty since 1980, Noppe has served in faculty governance, including the University Committee and Faculty Senate. His participation on campus committees has run the gamut from facilities and grounds to the graduate faculty board of advisers, from student conduct policy to the library committee. "He has never turned down a request to serve, because he strongly believes in giving back to the institution in which he has made his academic home for so many years," said a colleague.

Shay, who received the award for teaching, is a professor of Information Sciences. He began teaching at the University in 1979. He was cited for not only the quality of his classroom teaching, but for his commitment to the computer science curriculum. "The curriculum exists because of his vision and succeeds because of the care he takes to keep it updated, not an easy thing in the fast moving field of computer science," said the nomination. Shay's philosophy of teaching cultivates both the science and the art of programming. "He tries to help students realize that computer science is much more than writing code," said a colleague. A graduate working in the field said he retains a copy of the textbook Shay wrote, because he still looks to it for information. Said a student, "Dr. Shay is always willing to help you figure out your problem, but does it in such a way that you find the answer...."

The Founders Association is a philanthropic organization that supports the University. The awards program was inaugurated in 1975.

GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay City Council and the Brown County Board have given the go-ahead for additional student housing on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus. Approval by both bodies was needed to sell bonds to finance the project.

The University will now seek approval for a land-use agreement from the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents at its meeting on September 6 and 7 and from the State Building Commission sometime later in September. Pending approval, groundbreaking is expected on October 1 for the first of three new 120-bed housing units on campus. The first will be completed in fall of 2002 and the others in fall 2003 and fall 2004.

The units will be "suite-style" apartments with private bedrooms and shared kitchens and bathrooms housing three or four students per unit.

A waiting list of hundreds of students each year for on-campus housing precipitated the need for more housing, according to Tom Maki, UW-Green Bay Vice Chancellor for business and finance. Presently first- and second-year students, who are easing into the transition to college, get preference in on-campus housing, forcing upperclass students to find off-campus accommodations.

"We feel we have some of the best on-campus housing in the System," says Maki. "Unfortunately we continue to turn students away due to inadequate number of beds."

University Village Housing Inc., a non-profit corporation will acquire the bonding and oversee the construction, as it has for all student housing on the UW-Green Bay campus since 1984.

GREEN BAY - Interim Chancellor William Kuepper today (Tuesday, August 28) announced steps to address concerns about the equality of women at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The concerns were raised in a campus Report on Equality for Women sent to UW System President Katharine Lyall on May 29. Today's action responds to sweeping recommendations made by the 48-member UW-Green Bay student, faculty and staff Task Force that worked on the report from October 2000 to April 2001.

"Today I am announcing the creation of a new position-a University ombudsperson for women's issues-and a new Chancellor's Advisory Council on Equality for Women," Kuepper said.

Both were key recommendations of the Task Force report that said lack of an accountability structure was a major deterrent to earlier efforts at improving the campus climate.

Kuepper said the Task Force recommendations were aimed at making the University "a better place for all of us," but especially for women and others who say they encounter a difficult environment. "I'm pleased that we have been able to act on them so quickly and comprehensively, which I think is appropriate to the gravity of the report," he added.

University Counsel Melissa Jackson has been named ombudsperson. Jackson, who joined UW-Green Bay in February, previously was with the Milwaukee firm of Foley & Lardner where she was an employee benefits associate, following a three-year stint as a litigation associate. She completed a human resource management major at Syracuse University where she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. Jackson earned a Master of Public Administration, with honors, at the State University of New York at Binghamton, and a J.D. degree, with honors, at UW-Madison Law School.

Prof. Laura Riddle, co-chair of the Task Force along with Director of Health Services Karen Swan, said Jackson's knowledge, background and high-ranking position in the University will enable her to be effective, adding, "She is someone who can make a difference." Riddle said the Task Force study showed that when gender issues arose on campus in the past, "People were truly at a loss. They did not know where to go."

Swan said creation of a campus structure to deal with equity issues is the most critical aspect of the administration's action. "This is not just giving the issue back to another committee," she said.

As ombudsperson, Jackson will chair the new Chancellor's Advisory Council on Equality for Women. The Council will represent administration, faculty, staff and students at UW-Green Bay.

Kuepper also announced that responsibility is being assigned for implementing all of the nearly 50 specific actions recommended by the Task Force.

The Task Force developed the actions to meet four broadly defined needs that, if met, would improve the working and learning environment at UW-Green Bay, particularly for women, women of color, and those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered. The report called for specific actions ranging from developing a database to track the number of women employed by position and salary, to examining whether gender biases exist in teaching practices and course materials, to providing access to affordable high-quality child care, to redefining the campus definition of "difference" and "diversity."

Joanelle Jackson, president of Student Government Association (SGA), said student government has made child care a priority initiative for 2001-2002. The students will begin by creating a study committee to assess student support for child care.

Carol Pollis, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the administration will support SGA efforts and work with them. "We don't want to have duplicate efforts," she said. Pollis, with the help of members of the University leadership team, began working on responsibility assignments for Task Force recommendations in mid-July. She said the administration will take up the child care initiative in the event the students decide not to pursue it.

Assigning responsibilities for each action is "a work in progress," said Pollis. "Given that you can't do everything at once, we are still working out the priorities."

Riddle said she was "very excited" to see that each of the proposed actions was taken seriously and was thoughtfully directed to a specific place where it can be acted upon. "All of the implementation steps taken are very much in the spirit of what the Task Force proposed," she added.

Said Swan, "I'm very happy that there's already evidence that the Task Force report will be implemented. It's a great way to begin the academic year."

Kuepper and Pollis discussed the implementation plan with Task Force co-chairs last week and with chairs of campus governance groups on Monday (August 27).

"That the administration has moved so quickly is a great step forward," said Sherry Rasmussen, a member of the Administrative Support Committee who attended Monday's meeting.

Governance group members expressed confidence in the ombudsperson role and in Jackson's ability to carry it out. "I think this is an excellent merger of roles and responsibilities," said Dave Kieper, chair of the Academic Staff Committee. "It will allow us to quickly make progress on these issues."

The time line for implementing all of the Task Force recommendations is five years. Progress will be tracked through annual reports on each action.

The UW-Green Bay Report on Equality for Women was prepared in response to a UW System initiative on the status of women launched in 1998. Among goals of the initiative was Systemwide assessment of conditions and progress since 1980 when a UW Board of Regents Task Force on the Status of Women conducted a study.

GREEN BAY -- Suzette Pfeifer is the new director of major gifts in the Advancement Office at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

She formerly served as director of development at Encompass Child Care, Inc., for which she led capital campaigns that resulted in two new child care centers. Pfeifer served as president of the Encompass Board of Directors from 1992-1995 and in 1996, won the organization's Children's Benefactor Award.

Pfeifer was appointed to the UW-Green Bay Chancellor's Council of Trustees, a community advisory group, in 2000, and recently was a community representative on the search committee for the University's fourth chancellor.

Pfeifer has an extensive record of community activities. She has served on the boards of The Samaritan House, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Green Bay Symphony, United Way of Brown County, Start Smart of Brown County, Service League Auxiliary, and Union Congregational Church.

She formerly was a retail executive/buyer for major retailers including the May Co., New York; Target, Minneapolis; and Shopko, Green Bay. Her bachelor's degree in education is from Indiana University.

GREEN BAY -- Gifts of $25,000 each from the Morley-Murphy Foundation and U.S. Paper Mills Foundation Inc. will provide teleconferencing capabilities in the distance learning suite in the new Mary Ann Cofrin Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The 120,000 square-foot building opens in September.

"These gifts help us to provide capabilities we otherwise would not be able to have," says Interim Chancellor William Kuepper. "We are most pleased to receive them."

The teleconferencing room will be equipped for small-scale meetings and classes using traditional telephone conference equipment or satellite downlink teleconference technology. The room is located adjacent to a distance learning classroom and to state-of-the-art facilities for audio and video production and editing.

Both Foundations have been long-time supporters of UW-Green Bay initiatives, including the Founders Association, Phoenix Fund and Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. The relationship with Morley-Murphy Foundation began in the University's second year. Support from U.S. Paper Mills began under its founder, the late Walter R. Cloud and continues under present leaders Thomas L. Olson and Robert J. Cloud.

In recognition of their gifts, one lecture hall in Mary Ann Cofrin Hall will be named for the Morley-Murphy Foundation and another will be named in honor of U.S. Paper Mills Foundation.

GREEN BAY -- UW-Green Bay Prof. Sarah Meredith will spend the next year teaching at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia, under the auspices of a Rotary Foundation grant program that makes awards to faculty to teach in low-income countries where there are Rotary Clubs. Meredith is a member of and is sponsored by the Green Bay-West Rotary Club.

A member of the UW-Green Bay music faculty, Meredith will teach diction for singers, American women composers, vocal health and other topics. "They will be tapping my English skills and knowledge of American repertoire," says Meredith. She will leave for Slovakia on September 12 and return to the U.S. in summer 2002.

Meredith has had extensive international experience. While a student, she won a Rotary International Scholarship to study for two years at the Hochschule fŸr Musik in Hamburg, Germany. In 1989 she was a Fulbright Scholar in Germany. The following year she spent a semester as an exchange professor at the University of Kassel in Germany. In the early 1990s, she took UW-Green Bay students on a performance tour to Poland, Ukraine and Romania. Meredith has performed at the famed Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. She has traveled several times to the Czech Republic to participate in the Antonin Dvorak International Vocal Competition, accompanying UW-Green Bay student competitors and serving as an adjudicator.

A mezzo soprano, Meredith joined the UW-Green Bay faculty in 1988. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Iowa, a Master of Music at Northwestern University, and two bachelor's degrees from Iowa State University.

GREEN BAY - Francine Tompkins, director of the Institute for Learning Partnership located at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and chair of the University's Education program, will spend the next year working in Madison.

Tompkins will be interim director of the Pre-kindergarten Through 16 Initiative in the University of Wisconsin System Office of Academic Affairs beginning September 4. She was selected for her experience with pre-kindergarten through grade 16 partnerships and new state standards for undergraduate teacher preparation.

"This is a great opportunity for me to learn more about the nature of PK-16 partnerships across the state and how we can expand our efforts in Northeast Wisconsin," Tompkins says. "I will continue to work with a diverse constituency at the state level and will expand my involvement at the national level on behalf of the System."

Tompkins has been director of the Partnership and chair of the University's Education program since 1998. She was recently was elected by the faculty to another three-year term as Education chair. Tompkins joined the UW-Green Bay faculty in 1990.

John Crubaugh, who retired in June after 11 years as superintendent of schools in Manitowoc, will be interim director of the Institute for Learning Partnership for the next year. He has been involved in the Partnership since its inception and presently was on its steering and research advisory committees. Crubaugh previously served the Wausau school system in various capacities.

Timothy Sewall, associate provost for academic affairs and associate professor of Human Development, will be chair of the UW-Green Bay Education program. Sewall is a long-time member of the UW-Green Bay faculty and formerly served as director of educational testing and development.

GREEN BAY -- A gift of $250,000 from the Byron Walter Family Trust will support a state-of-the art distance learning classroom in the new Mary Ann Cofrin Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The 120,000 square-foot building opens in September.

"The gift enables us to meet the need for advanced distance learning technology that is so necessary today," says Interim Chancellor William Kuepper. "We are most grateful for the continued support of the Walter Family Trust."

The Trust has supported significant projects at UW-Green Bay for nearly two decades, including scholarships, student housing, academic programs and the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. Byron L. Walter, who died in 1954, was the president of Green Bay Hardware and a co-founder of Paper Converting Machine Company. One residence hall at UW-Green Bay bears his name and another the name of his daughter, the late Arlene B. Walter. The institution also has an Arlene B. Walter Scholarship.

Distance learning classroom facilities will enable students at UW-Green Bay to see, hear and participate in classes taught by faculty at other locations. Conversely, faculty members teaching in the UW-Green Bay classroom will be able to present courses to students at remote sites. The room is equipped with two 61-inch video display monitors and other equipment so students can see and participate in the action in multiple class sites.

The gift also helps to provide advanced audio and video production and editing capabilities to support distance learning. Faculty members and technicians will be able to produce distance learning materials using the computers, editing equipment, high-quality scanner, digital camera and other equipment.

MADISON - W. Bruce Shepard, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Eastern Oregon University, was today named the fourth chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Shepard's appointment is effective Nov. 1 and was recommended by a special committee of the UW System Board of Regents, which interviewed four finalists for the position on Monday (Aug. 6) in Madison. The recommendation was adopted unanimously today by the Executive Committee of the Board during a teleconference meeting.

"I am grateful to the campus/community search and screen committee for providing such excellent candidates for us to consider," said UW System President Katharine Lyall, who also interviewed the finalists. "All four were well-qualified, but for this campus at this stage in its history, Bruce Shepard is an exceptional leader who is ready for a challenge of this kind. The Board and I will support Dr. Shepard in every way we can, and I look forward to him serving UW-Green Bay for many years to come."

Board of Regents President Jay L. Smith added, "It's important that the university in Wisconsin's third-largest city have a chancellor who can keep building connections between the campus and community. I am confident that Bruce Shepard can do this and will also make further progress in advancing the UW-Green Bay Learning Experience — a strategic plan designed to improve retention and graduation rates and provide well-educated graduates for Wisconsin."

Shepard will succeed Mark Perkins, who resigned earlier this year to become president of Towson University in Maryland. William Kuepper became interim chancellor on July 1 and will serve until Shepard takes office on Nov. 1.

Shepard has served as provost since 1995 at Eastern Oregon University, where he is also a professor of political science. During this tenure as provost, Shepard helped lead Eastern Oregon through a strategic planning process that resulted in EOU being known as "Oregon's Selective Undergraduate University." He has also led the effort to revise EOU's general education program; created an honors program and other new academic programs; and was instrumental in securing $33 million for a new Science Center.

Under Shepard's leadership, Eastern Oregon has seen historically high retention rates, enrollment increases that have led the Oregon University System the past two years, and high ranking in U.S. News & World Report as Oregon's only public "top tier" university.

Prior to joining EOU, Shepard spent 23 years at Oregon State University, earning tenure as a faculty member in the Department of Political Science before moving into university administration. His administrative positions at Oregon State included state government liaison specialist, special assistant to the provost, assistant vice president for undergraduate studies and director of undergraduate academic programs.

Shepard has also served as a visiting scientist at the Population Study Center in Seattle; policy analyst for the USDA Forest Service; and visiting fellow in the School of Communication and Liberal Studies at the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst, Australia.

Shepard's academic background includes bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of California, Riverside. His scholarship and teaching focuses on American government, public policy and policy analysis, research methods, and environmental and natural resource politics and policy. He has published widely and is active in numerous professional and community organizations locally and nationally.

A native of California, Shepard is an avid sailor who is married to Cyndie, a special education administrator. They have one son, Paul, who is 13.

"My wife and I are excited about joining a university with a strong foundation and bright future," said Shepard. "It was the people — those on campus and throughout the community — and their kindness, commitment, and energy that convinced us that great things are ahead for Green Bay and for Green Bay's University."

Regent Patrick Boyle of Madison chaired the Special Regent Committee for the UW-Green Bay Chancellor Search. Other members were Regents Frederic Mohs of Madison and Phyllis Krutsch of Washburn.

Shepard will be introduced by Lyall to the UW-Green Bay community at the university's opening convocation Aug. 29. His salary and other terms of his appointment are still being negotiated.

GREEN BAY - Schools in Northeastern Wisconsin districts of Algoma, Clintonville, Denmark, Green Bay, Kohler, Manitowoc, Mishicot, Oconto Falls, Oostburg, Pulaski, Sturgeon Bay, Wausaukee, West De Pere and Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 7, will share more than $80,000 in research grants from the Institute for Learning Partnership located at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

This is the third year the Institute has made applied research grants.

John Crubaugh, superintendent of schools in Manitowoc and Michael Marinetti, coordinator of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Institute for Research, were co-chairs of the Institute's research grant committee. Nine educators from Northeastern Wisconsin served on the selection team.

A total of $80,111 was awarded to 17 recipients. The winning grants were selected from among 51 proposals.

Grants went to:

Algoma High School, led by teacher Annette Walaszek, received $2,800 for "Developing Inquiry-Based Labs Using New Technology." The project is designed to improve science scores and increase student interest in science by providing current data collection equipment and developing new lab activities. Science teacher Eric Nelson and principal Lance Basting are additional proposers.

Clintonville High School, led by teacher Kristan Mazemke, received $1,500 for "Student Authors: Building Cultural Relationships." Spanish students will write children's stories that are school, age and culturally appropriate. High school students will write for grade school English-as-a-Second-Language children.

Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 7, led by Jeanne Schuldes, received $10,000 for "Using FirstClass OnLine to Enhance Learning." The project will train teachers to integrate technology into their curricula by using FirstClass software. Teachers will connect with peers from other CESA 7 districts, University of Wisconsin faculty, and the Educational Communications Board in Madison, to develop units and lessons.

Denmark Middle School, led by teacher Phil Knier, received $ 4,955 for "Designing Concept-Based Constructivist Middle School Science Units." The funding will provide for developing a middle-level science curriculum incorporating the latest research on how students learn, best teaching practice, constructivist classroom techniques, sound learning, and literacy strategies. Additional proposers are teachers Diane Lutz and Shelly Engel and literacy coordinator Susan Meaney.

Green Bay School District Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, led by principal Michael Reinert, received $3,000 for "Using Videotaped Playback to Promote Self-directed Learning." Videotaped playback sessions with elementary-age students will promote self-directed learning strategies. Additional proposers are special education teacher Paul Orlich and school social worker Gerald Schwan.

Green Bay School District Howe Elementary School, led by teacher Donna Janquart, received $4,996 for "Storytelling as an Educational Tool." This project will develop writing skills in elementary students using storytelling. It includes a storyteller-in-residence and ethnic storytellers. The entire student body will be involved. Howe principal Edward Dorff; Howe speech and language pathologist, Frances Neilitz and UW-Green Bay Prof. Linda Tabers-Kwak, are additional proposers.

Green Bay School District Jackson Elementary School, led by principal Kathy Costello, received $8,848 for "Teachers Helping Teachers to Improve Student Writing." The effort engages teachers in defining what improves student writing. The project will develop partnerships with Howe, Martin, and Wilder elementary schools. Additional proposers are Jefferson Elementary principal, Mary Ann Anderson; Chappell Elementary principal, Teri Willems; Beaumont principal, Mary Pat Mallien; Elmore principal, Kathy Tilo and director of curriculum for academics and the arts, Louise Lochner.

Kohler High School, led by curriculum director Susan Jaberg, will receive $1,450 for "Six Traits in the Science Curriculum with Multiage Applications." This project is designed to improve student writing by implementing "Six Traits Writing" for multiage students in science.

Riverview School of Manitowoc, led by teachers Margie Joanis and Kelly Gates, will receive $1,500 for "Implementation of Constructivism in a Public School Setting." The project helps teachers focus on improving student learning by improving teachers' questioning and documentation skills, learning to create stimulating learning environments, and developing stronger parent partnerships.

O.H. Schultz Elementary School of Mishicot, led by teacher Sandy Tulachka, received $1,800 for "Kid's News," a collaborative plan between the Library Media Specialist and a staff of fourth grade teachers incorporating current technology standards and the existing language arts curriculum. Students will produce video news segments that will reach approximately 500 students school wide. Additional proposers are teachers Kristen Nebel, Allen Kliment and Dave Herzog; and library media specialist, Melanie Reineke.

Oconto Falls School District, led by district reading specialist Louise Powers, received $7,620 for "Every Child — a Reader." This project will help district primary teachers develop a small-group guided reading instructional model. Additional proposers are teachers Mandy Zelinski and Carol Hartin from Abrams Elementary and Lory Styczynski and Aleta Young from Oconto Falls Elementary.

Oostburg Elementary School, led by teacher Jackie Puerzer, received $1,480 for "Developing and Integrating Self-directed Learning Centers for Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Math into Second Grade Classrooms." Reading, writing, spelling and math learning centers will be developed in second grade classrooms. Additional proposers are teachers Kris Rogers and Curt Bretall.

Pulaski Community Middle School, led by principal Julie Brilli, received $4,800 for "Improving Reading and Writing Skills in Content Areas." The project will integrate communication arts standards and benchmarks in eighth grade content areas and focus on improving writing and reading scores on eighth grade standardized tests. Teachers Ann Barszcz and Sue Clark; staff members, Darlene Godfrey and Sharon Ellner; CESA 7 Standards and Assessment Director, Judy Sargent; and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay teacher-in-residence, Nancy Swanson, are additional proposers.

Sturgeon Bay School District, led by reading specialist Gretchen Lichter-Montee, received $10,000 for "Ensuring a Consistent Literacy Framework." The project will develop a comprehensive kindergarten through grade three literacy program to reduce referral rates to special education and to provide"good first teaching."

Wausaukee School District, led by director of instruction Jerry McNeill, received $9,703 for "Improving Learning By Integrating the Basal and Guided Reading." It will investigate instructional methods for grades one and two to increase student engagement in learning. Additional proposers are Wausaukee teachers Sandra Miller and Sarah Bengry and principal Charles Poches; and Crivitz teacher Diane Sherman and principal Gene Chapman.

Two projects received funding at Westwood Elementary School, in West De Pere. Led by teacher Peggy Loritz, "Guided Reading Partnership with Parents," received $3,195. The project provides for purchase of additional books for guided reading instruction and forms partnerships between second-grade teachers and parents of second graders. Teachers Paula Buildings, Laurie Stelmach, Heidi Hansen, Katy Corcoran and Kathy Van Offeren, are additional proposers.

Teacher Heide Diekvoss received $2,464 to implement "Singing Your Way Into Reading." Music, rhymes, and other activities will improve reading readiness, phonemic awareness, and concepts of print for full-day kindergarten students. Title I teacher, Nancy Pawelczyk, is also involved in the project.

The Institute is a collaborative effort by educators, teacher unions, educator organizations, educational institutions, business people, legislators and the Department of Public Instruction to provide quality teachers.

GREEN BAY - A gift from Mrs. Josephine B. Lenfestey will enhance the courtyard of the new Mary Ann Cofrin Hall that opens for classes this fall at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The courtyard will be named the Lenfestey Family Courtyard. A dedication is planned for spring after plantings are completed.

"Everyone who uses or visits Mary Ann Cofrin Hall will enjoy the courtyard," says Interim Chancellor William Kuepper. "We are delighted with and grateful for the gift that made it possible." A glassed-in Winter Garden that looks out toward the courtyard will be a gathering space for students. Most offices and other spaces on the building's interior will have windows to the courtyard.

The courtyard will model values that have been a part of UW-Green Bay since it began in 1968 as an institution with a special commitment to the environment. A cistern holding rainwater trapped from the roof will enhance the setting and provide a practical use. The water will recirculate to a pond to provide the sound of running water and will be used to water courtyard plantings. The trees, shrubs, ground covers and perennials will be species native to the region. Various beds will serve as demonstration plots of different vegetation communities, including water plants, ferns and mosses, a butterfly garden, a prairie plot, an heirloom vegetable area, and others.

"The courtyard creates a connection between the academic pursuits within the building and our natural environment, which continues to be an important element of UW-Green Bay's institutional mission," says Prof. Robert W. Howe, director of the Cofrin Arboretum Center for Biodiversity. The Center for Biodiversity, the Richter Natural History collections, the University Herbarium, and other natural science-related endeavors will be located in the building. Howe notes that a walkway along one side of the courtyard starts a new gateway to the Cofrin Arboretum encircling the campus.

The courtyard concept meshes with that of the building itself. Energy cost in the 120,000 square-foot Mary Ann Cofrin Hall is projected to be half that of a comparable building designed to meet Wisconsin energy codes. A number of recycled, recyclable and environmentally responsible materials were used in the building's construction.

Mrs. Lenfestey's own interests include plants and gardening. In addition to designing gardens at her homes, she has had a lead role in developing the garden at Pilgrim Congregational Church and was active with the Garden Club des Peres.

Mrs. Lenfestey and her late husband, Frederick J. (Ted) Lenfestey, long associated with the F. Hurlbut Company of Green Bay, both supported UW-Green Bay actively from its earliest days and were among the first members of the University's Founders Association. Two campus residence halls bear their names. In the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, dressing rooms are named in Mrs. Lenfestey's honor.

The couple's philanthropy includes the National Railroad Museum of which Ted Lenfestey was a founder. A new $2-million Frederick J. Lenfestey Center at the museum had its grand opening on July 14.

Mrs. Lenfestey's civic activities have included serving as president of the League of Women Voters and on the organization's state board of directors, working toward historic preservation including Heritage Hill State Park, and many others.

A native of Appleton, Mrs. Lenfestey was a speech re-education teacher before her marriage. She graduated from Vassar College and did post-graduate work at Northwestern University.

GREEN BAY -- Registration is open for a trip to the exhibit, "Van Gogh and Gauguin: Studio of the South," at the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 27. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Curator of Art Stephen Perkins will be the trip leader.

The $65 fee includes round trip bus fare, tour leader, museum admission, audio tour of the exhibit and morning refreshments. Meals are not included. Tickets are not refundable. The group will meet at 7 a.m. in the Studio Arts building cafeteria at UW-Green Bay. Buses will leave from the Studio Arts parking lot at 7:30 a.m. and return at about 11:30 p.m. The group's exhibit tour begins at 1 p.m.

The exhibit focuses on a brief period in 1888 when Van Gogh and Gauguin spent eight weeks working together in Arles, France. The two continued an intense debate about art by letter until Van Gogh's death. For the occasion of this exhibit, the Art Institute has placed special labels on works throughout the museum by artists mentioned in their letters.

A native of London, tour leader Perkins attended art schools in England and after moving to San Francisco, earned a master's degree in art history at San Francisco State University. He is completing his dissertation requirement for the Ph.D. in art history at the University of Iowa.

The number to register for the trip sponsored by the UW-Green Bay Office of Outreach and Extension is (920) 465-2642 or (800) 892-2118.

GREEN BAY -- A free seminar on a fall semester evening course leading to certification as a Microsoft Systems Engineer (MCSE) is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 15 in Rose Hall room 250 at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Dr. To register for the seminar, the numbers are (920) 465-2462 or (800) 892-2118.

The Microsoft Windows 2000 MCSE course is sponsored jointly by UW-Green Bay Outreach and Extension and LAN Masters Technical Services, Green Bay. The course will meet from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning September 4 and continue through November.

The seminar will discuss career opportunities in information technology and answer questions about the MCSE course.