• the University has recently reaffirmed its commitment to interdisciplinarity;

• it has achieved demonstrable success in regional engagement;

• the idea of an interdisciplinary management resource center has drawn some interest;

• UWGB, "the next" or otherwise, will fail if diversity efforts fall short;

• the University has a proud tradition of commitment to environmental awareness;

• further internationalizing the campus, curriculum and student experiences would hold many positives;

• the University must continue its strong commitment to serving first-generation students from diverse socioeconomic and other backgrounds;

• UW-Green Bay would achieve a valuable "best of class" in academic excellence by maintaining and growing its capacity to move students further along than do other universities admitting similar students.

For the full text of Chancellor Shepard's mid-year convocation remarks, see http://www.uwgb.edu/chancellor/convocation/convjan08.htm.

• Mai Lo of the American Intercultural Center), whose seminar group will read and discuss First Person, First Peoples: Native American College Graduates Tell Their Life Stories by Andrew Garrod and Colleen Larimore (editors); and

• Prof. E. Nicole Meyer of French, Humanistic Studies, and Women's Studies, and Prof. Christopher Martin of philosophy, whose group will read and discuss Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki; When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön; and Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Participants in the groups may include faculty members, academic and classified staff, students, and people from the community. For background on the program, go to: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/IRE/grant_programs/reading_seminars.html.

• The entire cast of "A Dream Play" presented in October in the Jean Weidner Theater won an Award of Merit for Excellence in Ensemble Acting. "This is the first time we have received an ensemble award," says director Laura Riddle. "I am very proud."

• An individual Award of Merit went to Adina Weinig for scenic design for "Five by Tenn"

• An individual Award of Merit to Amanda Scholz for lighting design for "Five by Tenn"

• An individual Award of Merit to Paul Heim for sound design for "Five by Tenn"

• A second individual award to Heim for sound design for "A Dream Play"