Sept. 11 Remembrance Planned

Campus Ministries at UNO will host an all-day event Monday, Sept. 11, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The event will be held from 8:50 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. at the Henningson Memorial Campanile. All students are invited to attend.

The event will be led by a team of campus pastors from UNO Campus Ministries. From 10 minutes to the hour to 10 minutes past the hour, there will be four stations set up at the campanile. At the stations, those in attendance will be invited to pray one-on-one with a campus minister, light a candle, journal or read sacred text (Qu'ran, Hebrew Scripture and New Testament Scripture).

"Everyone is welcome to stop by and remember the terrible events of that day," said Marty Kalkowski, campus minister.

For more information, contact Kalkowski at 898.3221.

UNO Fall Enrollment Figures Announced

Enrollment figures for the fall 2006 semester at UNO show a slight increase in the number of credit hours taken by students, despite a small decline in students enrolled when compared to 2005.

UNO has 13,906 students compared to 14,093 from last year, a decline of 1.3 percent. Student credit hour production is up, however, to 152,753 credit hours compared to last year's 152,621 hours.

The decline in headcount, according to the UNO Office of Institutional Research, is due to a decline in the number of part-time undergraduate students and international students. More full-time graduate students more than made up the difference in credit hours. In 2005, UNO had 669 full-time graduate students. This fall, the number increased to 713.

For more information, contact University Affairs at 554.3502.

Tuition and Fees Billing and Due Dates Reminder

Billing statements were generated Aug. 25 for the fall 2006 term. Unless students requested a paper billing, students' E-Bill notification was sent to their UNO e-mail account. Payment for one-half of tuition and fees charges is due Sept.12. A second billing will be generated Sept. 15 for the remaining balance on students' accounts. The due date for that remaining balance will be Oct. 3. Amounts not paid by the appropriate due date are subject to late payment fees.

For convenience, the UNO cashiering/student accounts office will remain open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 12 and Oct. 3. To avoid waiting in line on the due date, payments may be made through the following options:

- Mail to the address listed on the payment stub (Please allow a few business days for mailing time, as payments must be in the Cashiering/Student Accounts Office on or before the due date to avoid late payment fees.);

- Deposit in the drop-box located at the north end of the Cashiering/Student Accounts Office (drop-box can be accessed from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.); or

- Pay by credit card on the Web at http://cashiering.unomaha.edu.

Information on billing and refund policies, along with information on other services of the Cashiering/Student Accounts Office, may be found on the Web at http://cashiering.unomaha.edu. For more information or questions about your account, call 554.2324.

Sept. 15 Seminar at UNO to Provide Tips on Mastering Learning

Saundra McGuire, director of the Center for Academic Success (CAS) at Louisiana State University, will be the featured speaker at an event designed to help individuals improve their academic performance. The seminar, titled "Metacognition: The Key to Acing Chemistry Courses (and Everything Else)!", will be held Friday, Sept. 15, at UNO.

The seminar is sponsored by a National Science Foundation STEP Grant awarded jointly to UNO and Metropolitan Community College (MCC), and by the UNO Department of Chemistry. It will be held from 11 a.m. to noon in 115 Durham Science Center (DSC). All students are invited to attend.

Dr. McGuire earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Southern University, a master of arts degree in chemistry education from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in chemical education from the University of Tennessee. As a chemical educator and director of CAS, her efforts involve engaging students in active learning in order to facilitate learning. The center was recognized as the "2004 Outstanding Learning Center in the Nation" by the National College Learning Center Association.

"She will speak to students on how to ‘immediately and dramatically improve academic performance' - especially in science," said Jack Heidel, chair of the UNO Department of Mathematics. "She has been invited to UNO to help us set up our own Science and Mathematics Learning Center, which has recently been funded by NU."

The hour-long seminar will introduce students to cognitive science findings that can be used to improve learning. Dr. McGuire will teach students how to learn, as well as provide concrete strategies that can be implemented to immediately improve academic performance.

For more information, contact the UNO Department of Chemistry at 554.3641, Chemistry@unomaha.edu or stop by 337 DSC.

Additional UNO/MCC STEP Grant information is available online at http://www.unomaha.edu/step/index.shtml.

UNO Art Gallery Announces Fall Exhibitions

The UNO Art Gallery has announced three exhibitions that will be on display this fall on campus. K.C. Kauffman: Making the Invisible Visible; J.J. L'Heureux: Etichette; and "The Floating Population in Guangzhou, China: A Visual Study" will run through Sunday, Oct. 15, at the UNO Art Gallery.

K.C. Kauffman: Making the Invisible Visible
K.C. Kauffman's "Muscle Movement" series records the subtle shifts of the body in hand-painted color photographs.  Each series of images focuses on a particular body part - a finger, a neck, an elbow - and traces its movement. 

This intense focus on the part, rather than the whole, transforms the human body into distinct abstract forms of light and dark.  Contrasting action and stillness, these images capture the strength and power of the human body, making the invisible visible. K.C. Kauffman: Making the Invisible Visible was organized through Katharine T. Carter & Associates.

J.J. L'Heureux: Etichette
In her Etichette series, Los Angeles-based artist J.J. L'Heureux combines form and color in lyrical, almost pop art, collages constructed of etichette ("labels" in Italian) from Italian cheese wrappers.  The etichette are part of a visual tradition being replaced by digital media due to standardization in the marketplace. 

By making use of a species of commercial illustration that is endangered, L'Heureux redeems the often-overlooked beauty of these labels by elevating them into aesthetic objects with an inherent attractiveness in their own right.  The artist re-presents the labels in a lively environment, creating abstract objects that evoke personal feelings and responses. J.J. L'Heureux: Etichette was organized through Katharine T. Carter & Associates.

"The Floating Population in Guangzhou, China: A Visual Study"
In the summer of 2005 - with grant support from the University Committee on Research - Peter Szto, a professor of social work at UNO, conducted a visual study on the streets of Guangzhou, China, that focused on the "Floating Population".  This "floating population" refers to the illegal residency status of 150-200 million peasants that have mass-migrated since the 1980s from China's rural areas to major urban centers in search of work, economic freedom and material prosperity. 

Szto's photographs provide a visual typology of how and where these people exist, and document some of their often-extreme survival strategies.  These images combine academic research with the communicative power of photography to educate and persuade.  Szto will present a lecture about his research and photographic study Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. in the UNO Art Gallery.

The UNO Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Weber Fine Arts Building.  The exhibitions are free, handicapped accessible and open to the public.  Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 4 p.m.; Thursday from noon to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 554.2796.

New Book Clubs to Focus on Fitness for Women

Five new book clubs for women starting up the week of Sept. 11 will offer more to participants than a chance to read good books and meet people. The clubs may also impact the health and wellness of the readers.

The UNO professor organizing the clubs knows from past experience that there is a large audience of women looking for information and camaraderie.

"What we are setting up are book clubs that offer enjoyment, social support and education," said Jennifer White, a faculty member in the UNO School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation whose research and teaching efforts focus on fitness and wellness.  "A lot of what is going to be focused on is providing good fitness options and relapse prevention."

The book clubs, "Women Bound to be Active," will run for about nine months. The meeting days, times and locations of the clubs are listed below:

Monday, Sept. 11
- UNO
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (will meet on Mondays)

Tuesday, Sept. 12
- Urban League Family Resource Center, 3040 Lake St.
6 to 7 p.m. (will meet on Tuesdays)

- W. Dale Clark Library, 215 S. 15th St.
6 to 7 p.m. (will meet on Tuesdays)

- Maple Street YMCA, 7502 Maple St.
6 to 7 p.m. (will meet on Tuesdays)

Thursday, Sept. 14
- Shape Express, 2449 S. 132nd St.
6 to 7 p.m. (will meet on Thursdays)

Meetings will be weekly at first and then taper off to a less frequent schedule. 

"We've had a great deal of success with previous book clubs in Omaha and in the surrounding counties," White said.  "It's been an exciting project and one that continues to grow and expand."

Up to 20 women can enroll in each book club, for a total of 100 women.  The cost is $75 and covers books, pedometers and cholesterol screenings before and after the program.  Thanks to grants funding, the book club meeting at the Urban League Family Resource Center will be free for participants.

"The women who are interested need to be in generally good health and may have started and stopped a previous exercise program," White said. The age range in existing clubs runs from 19 to 70.

"I wish we could take everyone who wanted to join," White said.  "We're looking to match up women who most need this kind of support."

For more information, call 554.2670 or e-mail rscronce@mail.unomaha.edu.

Sustainability Topic to be Addressed at Sept. 13 Event

What is "sustainability"? How can we make our campus and our community more sustainable? How can I get involved? Students are invited to come find answers to these questions at a seminar titled "Exploring Sustainability: Greening our Campus - Greening our Minds" Wednesday, Sept. 13, at UNO. The seminar will be held from noon to 12:50 p.m. in 301 Allwine Hall.

At the event, the following topics will be discussed:

- Identifying opportunity sectors;
- Improving campus operations;
- Teaching sustainable concepts;
- Expanding research and outreach;
- Grant availability; and
- Determining levels of interest.

A survey is available online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=568322548636 for those who are interested but unable to attend.

For more information, contact Patrick Wheeler at 554.3921.

Sept. 16 Concert to Commemorate Mexican Independence Day

UNO will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month activities on campus Saturday, Sept. 16, with México Sinfónico 2006. The concert, which commemorates Mexican Independence Day, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.

The UNO Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Stanichar, will perform selections by Latino composers. The concert will feature a guest artisit - guitarist Javier Castellote, who is also a UNO Department of Music alumnus. 

The concert – sponsored by the UNO Department of Music, the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) and The Mexican Consulate – will be followed by a reception sponsored by La Mesa Mexican Restaurant. Partial funding for this event has been provided by OLLAS through the U.S. Department of Education.

For more information, contact Lucy Garza at 554.3835 or lgarza@mail.unomaha.edu.

Pulses Series: University Library Offers Streaming Videos

As a student, do you know what services your library has to offer? The following is the second in a series of informational articles designed to introduce students to services and activities at University Library. Library staff is providing the Pulses articles. The topic of this week's article is streaming video services at the library.

Pulses: Access to the National Archives Streaming Videos @ Your Library
Looking for footage for a presentation? The U.S. National Archives and Google are collaborating on a project digitizing old films and newsreels. Topics cover a variety of events from World War II to NASA's space program and dates ranging from the mid-1890s to the early 1980s. The footage is available free of charge. 

Patrons may now access the digitized collection through the library catalog. From the catalog, you can retrieve a complete list of the video records with either of the following searches:

- Search the SuDocs call number "AE 1.130/2"; or

- Search the Subject "National Archives/Google videos."

When you find something that interests you, and once in the record, click on "view video online" link. The video will begin streaming within seconds. Headphones or speakers are required to hear the soundtracks. Google also allows downloading of the videos. Additions to the catalog will continue as items are made available.

Evening Yoga Class Offered

The Wellness Stampede and Campus Recreation announce the addition of an evening instructional Yoga Class.

Classes will be held Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 230 Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Building. The cost is $15 for students, $20 for faculty and staff activity cardholders, and $25 for non-activity cardholders. The schedule is listed below.

Session One
- Sept. 11, 18 and 25
- Oct. 2, 9 and 23 (Class will not be held Oct. 16)

Session Two
- Oct. 30
- Nov. 6, 13, 20 and 27
- Dec. 4

The instructor will be Amy C. Anderson, a certified instructor with the Omaha Yoga and Bodywork Center. Anderson's class will cover relaxation and warm-up Yoga postures.

Individuals may sign up in 100 HPER. For more information, call 554.2539.

Nominations Sought for Strategic Planning Awards

The UNO Strategic Planning Steering Committee is currently accepting nominations. These awards are designed to recognize units, both academic and non-academic, and cross-disciplinary initiatives that exemplify a commitment to furthering UNO's strategic goals. UNO students are invited to submit nominations for the Strategic Planning Awards.

"Please nominate units that you feel are deserving of these awards, as well as encourage faculty and staff to nominate units or apply for a 2006 Strategic Planning Award," said Lindy Gustafson, graduate assistant supporting the committee.

The nomination/application form can be found on the UNO Strategic Planning Web site (http://www.unomaha.edu/plan/documents/awards_06.pdf) and is due by Monday, Sept. 18. Past recipients are also listed online at http://www.unomaha.edu/plan/previous_winners.php.

For more information, contact B.J. Reed (breed@mail.unomaha.edu) or Deborah Smith-Howell (dsmith-howell@mail.unomaha.edu), co-facilitators of the UNO Strategic Planning Steering Committee.

School of Social Work Student Organization Garage Sale

The Student Social Work Organization (SSWO) will sponsor a garage sale Saturday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be held at 6929 Seward St. in Omaha. The proceeds will benefit SSWO and the Open Door Mission. Items not sold will be donated to Goodwill.

"We welcome your patronage and support!," said Nancy Kelley-Gillespie, SSWO faculty advisor.

For more information, contact Dr. Kelley-Gillespie at 554.4886 or nkelleygillespi@mail.unomaha.edu, or Sarah Cox, SSWO president, at uno_sswo@yahoo.com.

Latino Parent Conference Sept. 23

The first annual Latino Parent Conference is set for Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Omaha Public Schools Teacher Administration Center (TAC), 3215 Cuming St.  Registration for the event is free, and transportation is available.

The conference, titled "Strengthening the Family Unit," will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Workshops with local experts will focus on:

- Parent and child relationships;
- Family communication and discipline;
- Understanding the U.S. school system;
- Planning and funding a college education;
- Healthy marriages and relationships; and
- Starting a business.

The conference is sponsored by the Chicano Awareness Center in

collaboration with Metropolitan Community College, the Omaha Public Schools and the UNO Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS).

To register or for more information, call 733.2720.

UNO Fall Job Fair Sept. 27

Career Exploration and Outreach will host a fall job fair Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. The job fair will feature employers who are actively seeking candidates for open positions and internships.

Professional interview attire is expected, and students can pre-register to attend the fair through Friday, Sept. 22.

To register for the job fair, students must have a profile on the UNO CareerConnect system. Students can visit the Web at http://unoceo.unomaha.edu and scroll over the "CareerConnect" link to create a profile and register for the fair.

For more information about the job fair, CareerConnect and other services, contact Career Exploration and Outreach at 554.3672 or stop by 211 Eppley Administrative Building.

Job fair sponsors are Union Pacific, Applied Underwriters, FirstComp, Streck, Walgreens, ConAgra, First National Bank of Omaha, Gallup, National Indemnity, US Bank, UPS, Northwestern Mutual, Interpublic Group, PayPal, Alegent Health and Enterprise.

Library Friends to Host "Dessert and Java with Kava" Sept. 28

To celebrate the One Book One Nebraska Project, the UNO Library Friends are sponsoring an event featuring acclaimed and bestselling Omaha author, Alex Kava.

Hear Kava share her experiences in the writing of One False Move at "Dessert and Java with Kava" Thursday, Sept. 28. The evening will start with dessert and coffee at 7 p.m. at the William H. and Dorothy Thompson Alumni Center. The cost of the event is $15, and proceeds will benefit the UNO library. Books will be available to purchase and for Kava to sign.

"It promises to be a robust blend of mystery and conversation," said Kathy Tooker, president of the UNO Library Friends board.

To make a reservation or for more information, contact Diane Rockhold at 554.3205 or drockhol@mail.unomaha.edu. A reservation form is also available on the Web at http://library.unomaha.edu.

UNO Health Fair Oct. 5

Mark your calendar for the fall UNO Health Fair. The 2006 event will be held Thursday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. 

The event is free for all students, faculty and staff. A comprehensive blood draw will also be available at a low cost through Student Health Services. 

Watch UNO What's Up for more information as the event nears or contact Lori Tostenson at 554.3917.

UNO Campus Food Policy Reminder

Food Services at UNO has the responsibility to ensure proper handling of food and beverages with regard to the health and safety of all individuals on campus.  As always, Food Services can assist you with all of your catering needs.  With the start of the fall semester, Food Services would like to remind students, faculty and staff of the UNO food policy (below).

UNO Food Policy
All food served on campus must be furnished by the University Food Services due to health safety concerns. Exception(s) to this policy must have the approval of the Manager of Food Services or the Director of the Student Center, or their designees.  This policy relates to the entire campus with the exceptions of the Alumni Center and Student Housing.

Bringing in food and beverages, from any outside source, for meetings (including potlucks) is prohibited.  It is not the intent of such a policy to prohibit anyone from "brown bagging" for personal consumption. This policy prohibits the sale or giveaway of food items on campus unless it is for an approved bake sale. 

Food Services may, however, grant exceptions to the policy on a case-by-case basis.  Those wishing to serve food at UNO that was purchased off campus will be required to fill out a food policy exception form and submit it to Food Services, located on the second floor of the Milo Bail Student Center (MBSC).

Exceptions to the policy will be considered if:

- The function is internal to a department or organization with no outside or other involvement;

- Food Services is satisfied that the group knows and adheres to health department regulations; and

- The group has an approved exception form.

To access an application for exception to the food policy, click on the link below.  Exceptions to the campus food policy must have the approval of the manager of Food Services, the director of the MBSC or their designees.

Application for Exception to UNO Food Policy

For more information call 554.2400.

Writing Center Satellite at University Library

University Library announces its partnership with the Writing Center to provide professional writing consultations at the library.

"We are continually striving to offer valuable services to UNO students," said Audrey DeFrank, director of Public Services. "This is a great opportunity for students to do their research and get writing assistance at one location in the library."

The Writing Center Satellite Desk is located on the main floor adjacent to the Reference Desk. No appointment is necessary, and writing consultants are available from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Sessions vary from 15 to 30 minutes, but will be limited to 15 minutes if others are waiting.

Carol Dillon, English faculty and Writing Center consultant, said, "Hopefully, students working on their papers, in the library, will find the Writing Center satellite convenient for quick questions about writing or documentation."

For more information about the Writing Center, visit the Web at http://www.unomaha.edu/writingcenter/ or contact the library's Reference Desk at 554.2661.

Maverick Watch

There are no Maverick home games this week. To catch up on the latest statistics or keep tabs on your favorite team on the road, visit the Web at http://gomavs.unomaha.edu/.