Sustaining the Forest, the People and the Spirit, just published by State University of New York Press, began as a UW-Green Bay master's thesis project. The author is Tom Davis, now president of Lac Courte Orielles Ojibwa Community College, Hayward. Davis earned his degree in Environmental Science and Policy in 1996. Davis tells the story of the Menominee Indian Tribe and how they have sustained their 230,000-acre forest in ways that enhance, rather than degrade, the environment even in the face of development pressures. Davis credits his choice of thesis topic to a class with Michael Kraft and an independent study with John Stoll, both PEA. Davis says in all his reading on sustainability, "there didn't seem to be any literature on something 'real'. It struck me that we have a real example of sustainable development within our area." According to collective campus memory, Davis's book is the first to result from a UW-Green Bay master's thesis.

Neighboring St. Norbert College has selected William J. Hynes, academic vice president of St. Mary's College of California, to succeed Thomas Manion as college president. Hynes is a scholar in the history of American religious thought. The SNC website has his bio at http://www.snc.edu/pres-search/

Advocates say it's important at least once a year to be reminded of the persistent disparity in educational opportunity that is a function of household income. Michael Stearney, director of Educational Support and Multicultural Services for UW-Green Bay, shares some numbers: A student from a family in the top income quartile has a better than 70 percent chance of earning a college degree by age 24, while a child from the lowest quartile has less than a 10 percent chance. TRIO Week touts the potential of federal and local efforts to bridge the gap.

The Student Support Services program has been in continuous operation at UW-Green Bay for 25 years. It serves 225 students annually on a total annual budget of $265,000. (With federal grants for Upward Bound of $256,000 and Upward Bound RCMS of $263,000, the TRIO programs here combine to bring more than three-quarters of a million dollars to Green Bay each year.) SSS makes available tutoring, skill-development coursework and counseling to participating students. Other services are the Educational Opportunity Program providing intensive support for newly admitted students, and services for students with disabilities. Yarvelle Draper-King is SSS director.

The Upward Bound Regional Center for Mathematics and Science has operated at UW-Green Bay since 1992. The program brings together 50 high school students from our six-state Midwest region for a summer of intensive pre-college instruction in math, science and personal and career exploration. Michael Casbourne is RCMS director.

TRIO programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Nationwide, they give 730,000 Americans from low-income families motivation and skills needed to succeed in college. Nationally, two-thirds of TRIO students come from families with incomes of less than $24,000 per year. Two-thirds of TRIO students are members of ethnic minority groups: 36 percent are black, 35 percent white, 16 percent Hispanic, 5 percent American Indian, and 4 percent Asian. UW-Green Bay is one of 1,200 public and private institutions nationwide home to one or more TRIO offerings.

The brackets are set for next Saturday's opening round of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament in Chicago. No. 4 seed UW-Green Bay will play No. 5 seed UW-Milwaukee at 11:30 a.m. at the UIC Pavilion. Radio, as always, is WGEE-AM 1360, while television is expected to be UPN 32, but it is not yet known if broadcast will be live or tape-delayed. All tournament pairings are listed at http://www.mccsportsnet.com/ Tickets are $20 per session. Call Marilyn McCarey at the athletics ticket office, 2625, if you have questions.

Mark your calendars: the Humanistic Studies academic program, the Creative Writing program, and the Office of Student Life team up to host UW-Green Bay's first annual Faculty Reading on April 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Union's 1965 Room. Featured will be original works by faculty poets, authors, playwrights and musicians and some current students and alumni. The program is free and open to the community, with a reception to follow. Watch for details later, or contact Dee Sweet at 2727. (Is it Robert Pinsky?)

Faculty and staff are asked to encourage students to apply for the UW-Green Bay Alumni Association Outstanding Student Award. Candidates should have a 3.25 GPA and 60 credits or more here (not counting current semester credits). Applications are available in University Advancement, CL 820. Questions? Contact Grant Staszak, coordinator of Alumni Relations, at 2586. The recipient will be recognized at commencement and will receive a plaque and a $250 cash award.

Twenty-two staff members have enrolled in an information system training program instructed by a PeopleSoft representative. Training will be conducted over the next several months and additional staff training needs will continue to be evaluated. For more information about the training plan and other current project news, click on the following link: http://www.uwgb.edu/sis/Log_Update4.htm

Faculty and staff are invited to join Bible study meetings held Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. in Theatre Hall 380. The group is currently studying the book of Galatians. For more information, contact Terri Adsit.

The UW System Institute on Race and Ethnicity is issuing a call for proposals to fund grants for racial and ethnic studies. Research, curriculum development, minority faculty research awards and other miscellaneous projects are areas receiving increased financial support from the UW System for Plan 2008 initiatives. Proposals must be postmarked by April 3. For complete guidelines, contact the Institute office at (414) 229-4700/6701.

Course offerings, program development, bibliographical resources and syllabi and campus climate/student affairs are some of the workshop topics that will be held during a full-day symposium on Asian American Studies at UW-La Crosse on April 7. Registration is required. To register or if you would like to be a workshop presenter, contact Thomas Tonnesen at (414) 229-4700 or e-mail tonnesen@uwm.edu.

Student Services Program Manager for Students Serving Society Program - apply by March 10 to Dan Murphy; Education Outreach Program Manager - apply by April 10 to Jan Thornton; Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach - apply by March 7 to Debbie Kirch.

The UW-Green Bay women's swimming and diving team earned its second MCC title in three years thanks to strong individual performances at the Cleveland State Natatorium this past weekend. Coach Jim Merner was selected conference coach of the year, and sophomore Kaye-Lani Laughna of Marquette, Mich., set league records in the 50 (23.96) and 100 (51.99) freestyles en route to earning MCC swimmer of the year honors. The men's team finished a strong fourth.

LOG ONline is prepared for University of Wisconsin-Green Bay faculty and staff by the Office of Marketing and University Communication. To submit a Brief, a Publication, a news item, an announcement, or just plain feedback, UW-Green Bay employees can call ext. 2626 or e-mail us at Log@uwgb.edu.