In May 2007, the UW-Platteville Distance Learning Center hosted a weekend of celebratory events to honor graduates of our distance learning programs who were able to travel to Platteville for commencement. For those students who could not physically attend, the Distance Learning Center hosts a virtual graduation web site at www.uwplatt.edu/disted/distedgrad/grad2007/index.html to help them celebrate their success.
Graduation weekend kicked off with our annual recognition banquet on Friday, May 11. UWP faculty, staff, and administrators greeted distance learning graduates and students as they arrived at the Governor Dodge Hotel and Convention Center. The banquet program opened with welcome messages from Chancellor David Markee, Provost Carol Sue Butts and Dawn Drake, Executive Director of Alternative Delivery Systems. Susan Hilal, assistant professor and coordinator of the undergraduate online criminal justice program, served as emcee of the program. Other presenters included the coordinators of each of the distance learning programs: Pat Bromley, Education; Cheryl Banachowski-Fuller, Criminal Justice; Lisa Riedle, Engineering; Bill Haskins, Project Management; and Susan Hanson, Business. The coordinators announced each graduate\'s name and presented those in attendance with a token of appreciation and congratulations.
At this year\'s banquet, 131 graduates were honored from the five distance learning programs (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Science in Adult Education, Master of Science in Engineering, and Master of Science in Project Management). Students, faculty, and staff finally had the chance to put a face with the names they\'ve heard and spoken so many times and enjoyed sharing stories of their experiences in person. For most, this was the first physical meeting they have had.
Each year we are able to recognize the academic excellence of more and more of our students through the presentation of distance education scholarships. Scholarship recipients at this year\'s banquet program included Kyle Konkol, the Walter Longacre Memorial Scholarship; Rachel Clark-Hindman, the Dawn Drake Excellence in Distance Education Scholarship; Stacey Schulz, the College of Business, Industry Life Science and Agriculture\'s Distance Learning Scholarship; and Ken Wiegman, the Distance Learning Center and GetEducated.com Distance Education Scholarship. The Department of Business and Accounting also named Pat Whitmore as the recipient of the Harry Mitchell Portfolio Development Award and Susan Rippen as winner of the Outstanding Business Student Award.
More than 80 graduates of the online UWP/DOJ First Line Supervisory Training and Leadership in Police Organizations for Criminal Justice Professionals certificate programs were also honored during the program. Ken Hammond, WI Law Enforcement Education Director, announced the graduates\' names and presented those in attendance with a certificate of completion.
On Saturday, May 12, the formal commencement ceremony took place at the UWP Williams Field House and was followed with a reception at the Alumni Lounge of the Pioneer Student Center. Graduates and their families had a chance to sit back and relax as they chatted with each other, faculty, and staff.
We look forward to celebrating with future graduates and hope all alumni will become an active part of the UWP Alumni Association. To find out more about the weekend, or for those graduates and families who were not able to travel to Platteville, please visit the UWP Distance Education site at www.uwplatt.edu/disted/distedgrad/grad2007/index.html. Feel free to post a message for one of the graduates, watch their interviews or those of the faculty, or view the entire banquet ceremony. While there, be sure to also visit our Alumni section.
The Distance Learning Center staff would like to extend congratulations to all the graduates of the 2006-2007 academic year. You\'ve reached an incredible goal. Best wishes with all your future endeavors!
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(m, gen, 'drake2','drake2','drake1', "Drums and Cymbals Project — Together we can make beautiful music", 'by Dawn Drake', '', 'During the past year, we have been reviewing a variety of technology enhancements to add to the online classes. In addition, we have been getting feedback from students about new forms of communication and delivery mechanisms that you would like to see in the online courses. While we have added a variety of new communication mechanisms to our student service and recruiting efforts, we will now work toward incorporating more of these technologies into the classes themselves.The \'Drums and Cymbals\' project is a technology enhancement project that we will be starting during the fall 2007 semester. This project will involve 10 classes (5 each semester) and 10 different technologies. In each course, we have determined a particular module, subject area, or assignment that could benefit from a technology enhancement. This enhancement will be added to the course and then assessments will be conducted to determine if this was a positive addition to the class. We will be looking for feedback from the instructors and the students as you use each of these technologies, along with making observations regarding improved individual work, group work, conceptual understanding, etc.
The 10 courses that will be testing the technology enhancements are as follows:
| Fall Semester | |
|---|---|
| Ginger Levin | PM 7060 Advanced Tools and Techniques |
| Phil Micech | ENGRG 7830 Advanced Cost and Value Analysis |
| Ryan Melbard | ENGRG 7070 Optimization with Engineering Applications |
| Amy Nemmetz | CJ 7430 Victimology |
| Patrick Montgomery | ACCT 2010 Financial Accounting |
| Spring Semester | |
| Susan Hansen | BSAD 1300 Global Business |
| BJ Reed | COMM 7330 Organizational Communication |
| Tom Kershaw | ENGRG 7840 Systems Engineering Management |
| Pat Bromley | PSYCH 7230 Crisis Intervention Theory |
| Tony Munos | PM 7020 Project Management Techniques II |
It will be very important that you utilize these technologies as fully as possible and give us the feedback that we ask for when you are in the class. We will also be asking for input from the Student Advisory Board and the Alumni Advisory Board, since they will be testing many of the technologies before we put them into the classes. This feedback from the students will be crucial in determining if we want to continue implementing a particular technology in future classes, discontinue use completely, or modify the use of the technology.
Since this project will drive our future online course design, it is imperative that we hear from you. As the title states: "Together We Can Make Beautiful Music," but it will take all of use working together to make the best use of the numerous technologies that are available in our ever changing world!!!!'); plexus[count++] = new entry(m, pm, 'nm','gen', 'profile', "Family Support Allows Dad to Earn Graduate Degree", '', '', 'After a 12 year lapse from school, Dirk Harper earned his undergraduate degree online through Bellevue University in Nebraska. He enjoyed studying at a distance so much that he decided to continue towards his graduate degree in engineering and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville\'s online program.
"Originally I chose distance learning because I live in a remote mountain community, about 100 miles from the nearest university," he recalls. "I also travel for my job so a traditional program just didn\'t fit. I love the flexibility of distance courses, and the fact that you can attend from anywhere in the world. Medical issues caused me to drop out of school about 15 years ago, but with distance learning, I can work around any issues that may arise and still achieve my goals. Online programs have been a God-send!"
Harper had to work his studies in between work and family obligations and he\'s quick to thank his understanding wife and his supportive employer for their patience while he was a student. "I think patience and persistence are the biggest skills I have had to learn," he recalls. "There is very little immediate gratification in distance learning, but when you finish, it is a wonderful feeling to know that you have been able to accomplish your goals."
Currently a project controls consultant for a major national laboratory, Harper has been able to apply his UWP coursework to a wide variety of daily projects. "From Advanced Cost & Value Analysis to Systems Engineering Management, Quality Management, and Applied Statistics for Engineers, all my classes have been very valuable in furthering my knowledge and career," he says.
His coursework now behind him, Harper plans to spend a lot more time riding his motorcycle. He is also trying to make up for the family time that he lost while a student. "My family sacrificed a great deal while I was in school, so now it is time to help them realize the benefits of the sacrifices we all made," he says. "I plan to build a car—with my kids\' help—for my oldest daughter and re-build my RC helicopter for the mental challenge of flying it."
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(m, pm,'levin-th','levin', 'levin', "Project Management Instructor Receives New PgMP Certification", '', '', 'Dr. Ginger Levin, instructor for UWP\'s graduate project management program, recently received the Project Management Institute\'s newest credential, that of a Program Management Professional or a PgMP.Earning the certification was a difficult task, requiring Levin to fill out numerous forms (subject to an audit) detailing her program experience, including projects conducted for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition of the Food and Drug Administration and curriculum development work done for UWP\'s project management program. The next step in the certification process was a difficult 170-question exam. Finally, Levin was required to supply references from one manager, four peers, four subordinates, three personal references, and contacts from each project she submitted, for a total of 17 people. Each of these people was asked to complete a detailed multi-rating evaluation of her project management experience.
"I am thrilled (to earn the certification) as it was a difficult process to say the least," Levin says. "I was one of about 100 people in the pilot program for this credential. It soon will be available for anyone in the field."
For more information about the PgMP certification, go to www.pmi.org/prod/groups/public/documents/info/pdc_pgmp.asp.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(m, bs,'marge','karsten', 'karsten', "Karsten Recognized for Work on Race and Gender", '', '', 'Marge Karsten, coordinator of the print-based business administration program, was one of the nine-member Affirmative Action/Ethnic Studies/Multicultural Educational Resource Center Task Force that received the first College of Liberal Arts and Education Excellence in Teamwork Award in early 2007. The task force met during the 2005-06 academic year and in the summer to plan eight-hour workshops on race relations for faculty and staff at UW-Platteville. More than ten such sessions were held. As a result of the task force\'s recommendations, university search and screen procedures were changed to expand the pool of candidates to fill faculty and staff vacancies and to provide for candidate advocacy.Karsten was also the keynote speaker for the second annual Durrant Women in Engineering Banquet held on the UW-Platteville campus on April 19. Her speech titled "Why Aren\'t We There Yet?" discussed similarities in remaining challenges to women aspiring to careers in engineering and top management and suggested ways for effectively dealing with them. Other speakers included Charles R. Marsden, CEO of The Durrant Group, a global, full service architectural, engineering and project delivery firm based in Dubuque, IA, and a panel of women graduating from UW-Platteville\'s engineering program.
The theme of the evening was "Women in the Spotlight," and graduating women in engineering were recognized for their achievements. Other program sponsors included John Deere, and UW-Platteville\'s Women in Engineering Program.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(m, gen,'neals2','neals', 'so', "Business Administration Program Welcomes New Academic Advisor ", '', '', 'The Distance Learning Center is pleased to announce that interim academic advisor Shayla Neal-Bitwayiki has accepted a permanent position as the advisor for the business administration program. Neal will be advising matriculated undergraduate business administration students enrolled in both print and online courses about degree requirements, course descriptions and availability, financial aid and the credit-for-life- experience option."My goal is to make sure that students understand the many course options available which would help them achieve their dream of earning their business administration degree at a distance," Neal says. "By taking on these responsibilities, I hope to make their degree process as smooth as possible… My integrity and strong work ethic enable me to be committed to understanding and giving constant attention to the students\' needs."
Neal earned her MBA with a marketing specialization from Walden University and a B.S. in communication technologies management from UW-Platteville. Her professional background includes design, marketing, advertising, sales, and customer service. She brings knowledge of business curriculum, a strong customer service orientation, and excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills to the position. As an alumna of a distance education program herself, Neal can empathize with the challenges faced by adult students attempting to balance a number of important responsibilities.
A strong believer in the opportunities presented by distance education, Neal foresees increased enrollment in online programs as the format continues to gain acceptance. "As new technologies progress and new student needs develop, the Distance Learning Center will be looking at ways to combine these two areas to provide higher-quality educational opportunities in suitable formats for students," she notes. "The Distance Learning Center plans to have a stronger follow up practice, while streamlining and improving its processes and techniques. Faculty development for distance delivery best practice will become routine. The DLC will also continue to adopt changes to become more efficient and serve students even better."
When not advising her students, Neal enjoys jogging, playing softball, bike riding, reading self-management books, dancing, swimming, sightseeing, attending the theatre, traveling and playing with her daughter. "In general, I like to do challenging activities that are fun," she says.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(m, gen,'regis','gen', 'regis', "Fall 2007 Registration Information", '', '','Registration is now open for UW-Platteville\'s Fall 2007 online courses. Please refer to our web site at http://www.uwplatt.edu/disted for changes to this course listing and fee schedule. Courses that count toward certificates are also listed on the web site. All courses are three credits unless otherwise noted. Fall 2007 Registration Deadlines| June 1, 2007 | Registration opens for Fall 2007 online courses. |
| August 1, 2007 | Attention: Financial Aid Applicants--last day to register and choose the financial aid payment option. |
| August 14, 2007 | Last day to register and choose mail-in payment option. |
| August 21, 2007 | Last day to register (with credit card payment) and payment deadline for those who sent in payment by mail. |
| August 21, 2007 | Last day to cancel your enrollment and have the administrative fee refunded. |
| September 4, 2007 | First day of classes. |
| December 21, 2007 | Last day of classes. |
| Bachelor of Science in Business Administration | ||
| ACCT | 2010 | Financial Accounting |
| ACCT | 2020 | Management Accounting |
| BSAD | 1300 | Global Business |
| BSAD | 2330 | Leadership and Management |
| BSAD | 2630 | Introduction to Marketing |
| BSAD | 3030 | Human Resource Management |
| BSAD | 3120 | Retailing |
| BSAD | 3130 | Legal Environment of Business |
| BSAD | 3400 | Personal Financial Planning |
| BSAD | 3530 | Organizational Behavior |
| BSAD | 3540 | Quality Management |
| BSAD | 3620 | Financial Management |
| BSAD | 3650 | International Financial Management |
| BSAD | 4330 | Labor-Management Relations |
| BSAD | 4630 | Marketing Management |
| BSAD | 4840 | Business Policy/Strategy |
| *BSAD | 4950 | Portfolio Development |
| CJ | 1130 | Introduction to Criminal Justice |
| CJ | 2130 | The Police Function |
| CJ | 3630 | Juvenile Justice |
| COMM | 3010 | Business Communication |
| ECON | 2130 | Principles of Macroeconomics |
| *Contact advisor for prior approval and registration instructions. | ||
| (You may register for undergraduate print courses for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration any working day of the month. Contact us for information.) | ||
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice | ||
| Criminal Justice Major - Core Courses | ||
| CJ | 1130 | Introduction to Criminal Justice |
| CJ | 2130 | The Police Function |
| CJ | 3630 | Juvenile Justice |
| CJ | 4030 | Criminal Law |
| CJ | 4130 | Police-Community Relations |
| *CJ | 4500 | Directed Individual Studies (1-3 cr.) |
| *CJ | 4930 | Criminal Justice Seminar |
| Business Administration Minor - Core Courses | ||
| ACCT | 2010 | Financial Accounting |
| BSAD | 1300 | Global Business |
| BSAD | 2330 | Leadership and Management |
| BSAD | 2630 | Introduction to Marketing |
| Business Administration Minor and Elective Courses | ||
| BSAD | 3030 | Human Resource Management |
| BSAD | 3120 | Retailing |
| BSAD | 3130 | Legal Environment of Business |
| BSAD | 3400 | Personal Financial Planning |
| BSAD | 3540 | Quality Management |
| BSAD | 3620 | Financial Management |
| BSAD | 3650 | International Financial Management |
| BSAD | 4330 | Labor-Management Relations |
| BSAD | 4630 | Marketing Management |
| COMM | 3010 | Business Communication |
| ECON | 2130 | Principles of Macroeconomics |
| *Contact advisor for prior approval and registration instructions. | ||
| (You may register for undergraduate print courses for the minor in business administration any working day of the month. Contact us for information.) | ||
Master of Science in Criminal Justice | ||
| BSAD | 5030 | Human Resource Management |
| BSAD | 5530 | Organizational Behavior |
| CE | 7130 | At Risk Youth |
| CJ | 6330 | Criminal Procedure and Evidence |
| CJ | 7030 | Criminal Justice Systems |
| CJ | 7120 | Policing in a Democratic Society |
| CJ | 7130 | Criminal Justice Research and Statistical Methods |
| CJ | 7230 | Criminological Theory |
| CJ | 7430 | Victimology |
| CJ | 7630 | Contemporary Correctional Systems: Institutional and Community-Based Corrections |
| CJ | 7830 | Advanced Comparative Criminal Justice |
| *CJ | 7880 | Criminal Justice Internship |
| *CJ | 7920 | Seminar Paper Research |
| *CJ | 7980 | Independent Study in Criminal Justice (1-4 cr.) |
| *CJ | 7990 | Thesis Research (3-6 cr.) |
| PSYC | 7330 | Theories of Personality in the Criminal Justice System |
| *PSYC | 7980 | Independent Study in Psychology (1-4 cr.) |
| *Contact advisor for prior approval and registration instructions. | ||
Master of Science in Project Management | ||
| ACCT | 7000 | Managerial Accounting |
| BSAD | 5030 | Human Resource Management |
| BSAD | 5530 | Organizational Behavior |
| BSAD | 5540 | Quality Management |
| BSAD | 5620 | Financial Management |
| BSAD | 5650 | International Financial Management |
| BSAD | 6330 | Labor-Management Relations |
| BSAD | 6630 | Marketing Management |
| BSAD | 7110 | Management Decision Analysis (formerly BSAD 6110) |
| BSAD | 7540 | Advanced Quality Management |
| COMM | 5010 | Business Communication |
| COMM | 7330 | Organizational Communication |
| ENGRG | 7810 | Advanced Production and Operations Analysis (formerly MIE 7030) |
| ENGRG | 7830 | Advanced Cost and Value Analysis (formerly MIE 7830) |
| PM | 7010 | Project Management Techniques I |
| PM | 7020 | Project Management Techniques II |
| PM | 7050 | Project Procurement Management |
| PM | 7060 | Advanced Tools and Techniques for Project Management |
| PM | 7080 | Project Scope Management |
| *PM | 7840 | Project Management Capstone |
| *PM | 7980 | Independent Study in Project Management (1-4 cr.) |
| *PM | 7990 | Thesis Research |
| *Contact advisor for prior approval and registration instructions. | ||
Master of Science in Engineering | ||
| BSAD | 7110 | Management Decision Analysis (formerly BSAD 6110) |
| ENGRG | 5000 | Engineering Communications |
| ENGRG | 5030 | Linear Algebra (formerly MATH 5230) |
| ENGRG | 7070 | Optimization with Engineering Applications (formerly CEE 7830) |
| ENGRG | 7220 | Dynamics of Structures (formerly CEE 7220) |
| ENGRG | 7260 | Advanced Shallow Foundation Design with LRFD Applications (formerly CEE 7260) |
| ENGRG | 7290 | Earth Retaining Structure: Design, Analysis, and LRFD |
| ENGRG | 7320 | Modern Control Systems (formerly EE 7320) |
| ENGRG | 7510 | Design of Experiments (formerly MIE 7300) |
| ENGRG | 7540 | Advanced Finite Element Method (formerly MIE 7800) |
| ENGRG | 7550 | Product Design and Development (formerly MIE 7550) |
| ENGRG | 7810 | Advanced Production and Operations Analysis (formerly MIE 7030) |
| ENGRG | 7820 | Quality Engineering and Management (formerly MIE 7430) |
| ENGRG | 7830 | Advanced Cost and Value Analysis (formerly MIE 7830) |
| ENGRG | 7840 | Systems Engineering Management (formerly MIE 7840) |
| *ENGRG | 7930 | Special Topics in Engineering (1-3 cr.) (formerly MOE 7930) |
| *ENGRG | 7980 | Independent Study in Engineering (1-3 cr.) (formerly MOE 7980) |
| PM | 7010 | Project Management Techniques I |
| PM | 7020 | Project Management Techniques II |
| *Contact advisor for prior approval and registration instructions. | ||
Online courses must be paid for in U.S. dollars by check, money order, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Textbooks are also at the studentís expense. The cost will vary depending upon the textbook and the number of textbooks.
Undergraduate Level OnlineOnline courses must be paid for in U.S. dollars by check, money order, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Textbooks are also at the student\'s expense. The cost will vary depending upon the textbook and the number of textbooks.
Print-Based Undergraduate CoursesPrint-based courses must be paid for in U.S. dollars by check, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express). Textbooks are also at the student’s expense. The cost will vary depending upon the textbook and the number of textbooks.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, bs,'honors','gen','honors', "BSAD Students Invited to Join Honor Society", '', '', 'Each year the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society inducts several undergraduate students into its membership. This year the following business students, studying at a distance, were invited to join: Jennifer Schumann, Susan Van Helden and Holly Wieland.Phi Kappa Phi promotes academic excellence in higher education and recognizes outstanding scholastic achievements by students, faculty, and staff. Selection is made on the basis of superior academic achievement, supported by good character. The national standards to be invited to join Phi Kappa Phi include: rank in the upper 10% of the senior class or rank in the upper 7.5% of the junior class, having completed at least 72 credits.
The Platteville Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi is #147 and was established and installed on November 17, 1973, largely due to the leadership of the late Dr. Bjarne Ullsvik, President of UW-Platteville at that time.
Congratulations to Jennifer, Susan and Holly on their academic accomplishment!
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, bs,'excell','gen', 'excell', "BSAD Coordinator is Recipient of the Abughalous Award for Excellence", '', '','Marge Karsten, coordinator of UWP\'s print-based business administration program, has been selected as the recipient of the Abughalous Award for Excellence in Scholarly Research for 2007. This award is given annually to a UW-Platteville faculty or instructional academic staff member who has demonstrated significant career achievement in scholarly activity; communicated results of scholarly activity to students, colleagues, and society; and affected students\' intellectual development. It was named to honor the late Professor Mansour Abughalous, a dedicated teacher and scholar in the Department of Mathematics.Karsten\'s scholarly endeavors include the editing of a three-volume set on the impact of gender, race, and ethnicity on the workplace and publication of three books about women and people of color in management. Her other publications include many papers in conference proceedings, several articles in books and professional journals, and two case studies. These have dealt with human resource management topics such as the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act on job evaluation, performance appraisal; exempt status and overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act; and teaching and learning, particularly at a distance.
"Due to examples from my role models and mentors, from the beginning of my career at UW-Platteville, I believed that a professor, by definition, should be engaged in scholarly activity," said Karsten. "Teaching and research are complementary. Whenever possible, I involve students in scholarly activity as a way to engage them with the material they are learning and contribute to their intellectual growth. For example, students in a Compensation Management class I taught earlier in my career did secondary research on incentive pay systems for O\'Brien Brothers, a Richland Center firm in the apparel industry and then studied effects of the introduction of immediate feedback on performance. Twelve former students became published authors when, with their permission, I edited case studies they had written for inclusion in my books.
Conducting primary and secondary research has allowed me to serve as a role model for my students, as others did for me. As an engaged learner, I am more credible when promoting active learning in the classroom."
In a letter of support for Karsten\'s nomination, Stacy Blake Beard, Associate Professor of the School of Management and faculty member at the Center for the Study of Gender in Organizations at Simmons College, commented on the 3-volume set, Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in the Workplace, as follows: "Margaret\'s work on this series is impressive for a number of reasons…Because Margaret was able to attract the top scholars who are studying these topics, her series is one that I and many others will turn to as we conduct our own research efforts."
Joan Riedle, UWP Professor of Psychology, said, "In some of her pursuits, Marge has directly contributed to the empirical body of knowledge. In the majority, she has helped make the expansive body of literature in the area of diversity issues in management accessible to other professionals, students, and the general community. Marge has chosen a path which befits the nature of our teaching university."');
plexus[count++] = new entry(s, pm,'instructor','dietsche', 'dietsche', "New Project Management Instructor Brings Practical Experience Online", '', '', 'Mark Dietsche has worn many hats during his project management career. He\'s about to add a new one: online instructor for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville\'s graduate project management program.
Dietsche earned both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in industrial technology management from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. He also earned his certificate in project management via UWP\'s online program and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute (PMI).
"We\'re all here to learn and add \'tools to our tool boxes\' that we can take out and apply in the real world," Dietsche says as he looks forward to his new teaching position. "My role as instructor is to facilitate that learning and help create a connection for students between the concepts of the course and their real world experience."
Forging that connection between the academic and work worlds will be no problem for Dietsche, who has been employed by the John Deere Company in Iowa for eight years and currently holds a management position within the training center. He has implemented several project management practices into his AOR, most recently installing a Project Management Office (PMO) and project management methodology into John Deere\'s service information department. He has also been involved with designing distance learning training courses for John Deere.
Learning to communicate effectively is crucial for today\'s project manager, according to Dietsche. "Business is spreading out and project teams are working more at a distance," he notes. "It\'s essential to be able to communicate in a virtual environment. Also, project teams are expanding into different countries and cultures. Project managers need to have a high degree of cultural awareness and the ability to adjust their communication accordingly."
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, pm,'connect','gen', 'haskins', "California Calls: UWP's Connection to the West Coast", '', '','Regular readers of this newsletter hear all the time about UWP\'s diverse student population, which reaches around the world. That same outreach extends to other educational institutions as well. For example, UWP\'s M.S. in Project Management program has transfer relationships with a number of other schools around the United States.Those institutions include the University of California campus locations in Irvine, Berkeley, and Davis. The MSPM program accepts for transfer certain credits that students at those schools earn in pursuit of project management certificates offered at each school. The transfer credits can be applied toward a full master\'s degree at UWP.
While the agreements have been ongoing for several years in each case, reaching back to the early part of the decade, program staff members from UWP have rarely met face to face with their counterparts from the UC campuses. Since the UC programs are an important source of new students for UWP, and since the virtual connection goes only so far toward maintaining such relationships, program staff have been looking for an opportunity for some time to make the trip and see these good folks.
In May 2007, that opportunity presented itself. Program director Bill Haskins was asked to substitute for a panel presenter at a Bay Area symposium (see article elsewhere in this issue), so the arrangements were made and he was underway. Bill visited Lori Munoz-Reiland and Jane Welgan at UC-Irvine, near Los Angeles; Clara Piloto, Josh Ertl, and Jim Connor at UC-Berkeley; and Sue Sanders, Joan Rött, and Signe Wetteland at UC-Davis. Each visit was productive and turned up more opportunity for collaboration among the institutions.
For more information about the transfer programs mentioned above, or to learn more about the UC certificate programs, contact your advisor or Bill Haskins at projectmgmt@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1691.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, pm,'rocks','gen', 'haskins2', "New Curriculum Rocks Project Management!", '', '','It\'s here - it\'s now - it\'s new! A new curriculum is on the way for project management students!The M.S. in Project Management Program has maintained essentially the same core and foundation curriculum since its inception in 1999. The discipline, however, has undergone substantial change and maturity, as gauged by its dominant professional body, the Project Management Institute (PMI). The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) is currently undergoing its third revision since UWP initiated the MSPM degree program. During that time, PMI\'s membership has expanded from around 50,000 to in excess of 230,000. Industries and disciplines represented by official PMI Specific Interest Groups (SIGs) now number 30, with hundreds of local geographic chapters worldwide.
What all this points to is that the variety of industries and jobs influenced by project management continues to grow rapidly, as business enterprises look for ways to gain a competitive edge and make the most of their core competencies. The needs and demands of project managers have also continued to evolve.
The MSPM program staff at UWP is responding to these changes in the discipline, along with your input and comments, by offering a new curriculum. This redesigned program retains the existing format and best design aspects of the existing curriculum but provides additional flexibility developing your degree plan.
First, we\'ve reduced the foundation requirements for the degree by moving the finance and marketing courses to the elective category. To ensure an appropriate level of writing ability, we\'ve added a business communication course.
Second, the core course group remains as it was, but with some choice added to the mix. Coursework in communication, that quintessential skill of project managers, is available now by way of Organizational Communication or Interpersonal Skills…for Project Teams. We\'ve also added a new course, Project Scope Management, as an available substitute for the current Advanced Quality Management. The new course will address a skill deficit which is common among many new and experienced project managers.
Finally, the program now features an optional thesis track for those students interested in a greater focus on research, or for those who intend to pursue a terminal degree (PhD or other doctorate program). If you are thinking about this direction, please check with your advisor for more information and guidance.
The new curriculum will roll out officially for the spring term 2008. As an existing student, you may opt for the new curriculum, but you are required to seek approval from your advisor and commit to the new degree plan in writing. We\'re really interested in your comments and feedback - please share accordingly!
This is exciting news for project management students everywhere! If you have questions or simply want more information, please contact your advisor or the program director, Bill Haskins, at 608.342.1961, or projectmgmt@uwplatt.edu.
And remember! Project Management rocks!!
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, pm,'pmi','pmi', 'haskins3', "UWP Attends PMI Project Risk Conference; Students and Instructor Present", '', 'UWP in San Francisco: (L to R) Dr Ginger Levin, Dave Butz, Byron Stecklein, Bill Haskins','The Project Management Institute (PMI®) held its annual Project Risk Symposium in mid-May in downtown San Francisco. Representing UWP at the event were Dr Ginger Levin, PMP, PgMP, UWP\'s lecturer and program specialist in project management; Dave Butz, a student in the MS Project Management program from Madison, WI, and your program director, Bill Haskins. The UWP attendees presented a panel discussion during the symposium entitled "Critical Incidents and Risk Management."The panel topic arose out of a group project undertaken in Dr Levin\'s section of PM 7040 Interpersonal Skills for Virtual and Co-Located Project Teams. The group members included students Michael Jirinec, Tonya Peterson, and Butz; Dr Levin liked the result so well that she suggested to the group that they submit the project paper for presentation at PMI\'s Risk event. The project was accepted and arrangements made for all to attend. Unfortunately, life and career events got in the way of attendance for Jirinec and Peterson, and Dr Levin called for backup, calling on program director Haskins.
Haskins had delayed plans several times for a visit to the university\'s articulation partners in California, so travel plans were quickly drawn up and the problem was solved, leveraging the program\'s travel budget in a highly productive way.
The symposium was very well attended, with about 75 B and C level executives from all around North America, and it provided UWP with its first exposure to the decision-makers in the project risk community. A bonus for the UWP crew was a visit to the conference venue by student Byron Stecklein, who lives in the San Francisco area.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'progress', 'gen','drake2', "Student Advisory Board Continues to Make Progress", '', '', 'Reaching mid-year is always a good time to review the progress that has been made on projects. As I review the work that the Student Advisory Board (SAB) has conducted during the first half of this year, I continue to value the ongoing input that is obtained from this group. This happens in a variety of ways, mainly through our monthly meetings. I encourage you to visit the SAB website each month to review the meeting minutes and give feedback to your program representatives on the topics that have been discussed (www.uwplatt.edu/disted/studentcent/sab/index.html).However, the meeting minutes only show one aspect of the work that this group is involved with throughout the year. There are numerous times when current students contact SAB members to get advice and guidance on a particular issue they are dealing with in a class, with a group member, or to get help staying motivated. This group also talks with prospective students who want to know \'the real story\' about being a student at a distance. The type of examples and assurances that these prospective students hear from the SAB members is invaluable in our recruitment efforts.
The SAB is also used as a focus group for testing new technologies, reviewing websites, and/or giving input on new services before they are brought to the overall student body. This \'test run\' is very beneficial in getting the \'bugs\' worked out of new initiatives before you see them. This focus group format has been used at both the campus and UW System level.
Lastly, the SAB members are extremely beneficial in helping UWP share its distance education success stories with the world. They have been contacted to answer questions associated with accreditation approvals, award nominations, audits, newspaper articles, and a variety of other initiatives. Many times, these requests come up very quickly and the group is always willing to help out.
So, please take some time to thank your SAB representatives. They volunteer their time to help UWP continue to improve in distance education, which helps all of you. Keep informed as to the topics they are addressing and respond to their requests for feedback from you. Together, we can all continually improve the courses, services, and communication that is a part of distance education at UW-Platteville!!!!!
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'level','gen', 'drake3', "Alumni Advisory Board Goes to the Next Level", '', '', 'The Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) continues to be a very active and exciting group to work with on a variety of activities. The AAB website is the best place to keep up to date on the information that is discussed at the monthly meetings and to suggest agenda topics and/or projects the group should consider. You are encouraged to visit the website frequently to stay connected with your alma mater at www.uwplatt.edu/disted/alumni/aab/index.html.Even though the Alumni Advisory Board is only in its second year of existence, the decision has been made to apply to become an officially recognized constituent chapter of the UW-Platteville Alumni Association. This includes developing a set of bylaws, electing officers, and presenting this proposal to the Alumni Association Board of Directors for approval. We are hopeful that by the time you are reading this article, we will be in the final stages of this approval process.
The activities of the AAB will not change dramatically once this approval has been obtained. Since we are already doing many of the activities that other constituent chapters do, the current members of the AAB felt it made sense to go through the official process for becoming a chapter. This will give us more visibility within the campus, as well as within the Alumni Association.
The AAB is never at a loss for topics to discuss and activities to be involved with throughout the year. However, if you believe there are additional issues, projects, and/or activities you would like this group to undertake, please do not hesitate to let us know. Also, we will be developing some sub-committees to help out with some of the initiatives that are in the planning stages. We have had a number of our alumni who want to stay connected and be involved in some small projects, but do not want to serve on the board. If this level of involvement is of interest to you, again let us know.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'design','swigartc', 'cs', "Graphic Designer Accepts Media Specialist Position", '', '', 'If you have received any of the DLC\'s promotional brochures or seen any of our print ads lately, than you are already familiar with the graphic designs of Christal Swigart, our new media specialist. Her work will soon be more evident as her role expands to include more marketing responsibilities.Swigart graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville in 2002 with a degree in communication technologies management, with an emphasis in graphic design and photography. Since then she has been employed as a graphic designer for both the DLC and UWP\'s Alumni Office. She has contributed her creative talents to the 25th anniversary flash program, the graphics for the graduation banquet, the virtual orientation and DLC alumni sites, UWP\'s holiday card, and various surveys, logos and flyers.
In her new position, Swigart will continue to share her design skills by creating more promotional items, including brochures, fact sheets, ads, and multimedia marketing presentations. One of her main projects in the future will be developing interactive activities -such as virtual tours - for use by visitors to the distance learning website.
"I see the DLC growing in numbers over the next few months and updating its technology to remain current, "Swigart says. "I know that in the upcoming years we\'ll be constantly developing even more ways for our distance students to connect online. I look forward to trying new design techniques and software formats as they become available to make the online experience for our students even better!"
When not working at the DLC or for her own graphics company, Swigart can be found spending time with friends and family, especially her nephew Jarren. She also enjoys riding her scooter around town and snapping photos of her friends\' children as they participate in sports activities. Not just a passive photographer, she also enjoys playing sports herself and has even assembled a staff basketball team to participate in UWP\'s intramural competition.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'computer','veithj', 'jv', "New Staff Member Brings Computer Expertise to DLC", '', '', 'As the Distance Learning Center and its online programs have grown and expanded, keeping current with technology has always been of paramount importance. In order to meet its goal of constantly offering the most relevant programs with the most up-to-date technology, the DLC has added John Vieth to its staff to assist with computer hardware/software support and web development.Vieth will be helping the office staff be more productive and more responsive to student needs by providing them with reliable computer hardware/software and training on information technology-related skills. He will also be joining the website committee and looks forward to providing students with even better web resources to help them navigate through their higher education journey.
A graduate of UW-Platteville, Vieth earned his undergraduate degree in business administration. While a student at UWP, he also studied computer science and worked on campus as a computer lab assistant and web developer. Since graduating, he has worked as a computer hardware/software support technician and as a developer of websites for online retailers and other businesses.
"I am very excited about working for a distance education institution," Vieth says. "Education is going to be delivered online more and more, and the richness of the online education experience is going to be developed beyond most peoples\' imaginations, utilizing animation and multimedia content and technologies that haven\'t even been invented yet. It\'s going to be very exciting to watch the developments. Certainly the Distance Learning Center will be utilizing these new technologies more and more to strive for constant improvement and continue to provide our students with a great value in distance education."
When not at his computer, Vieth enjoys spending time with his wife Lila, daughter Meghan (10), and son Barrett (2). "There are always family/school activities to attend, which I like," he says. "I play trombone in the Mineral Point City Band, I try to teach myself to play guitar, and the whole family enjoys music together. I also like working in the yard at home, reading about things like information technology and philosophy, and playing sports like disc golf. And I try to sneak some time to watch my favorite TV show The Office."
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'professional','cooleys', 'sc', "Part-Timer Earns Full-Time Position", '', '', 'Stephanie Cooley, the Distance Learning Center\'s new university services associate, is no stranger to distance learning. She has been working \'behind the scenes\' as a part-time employee at the DLC for several years and has developed a great deal of respect for adult students who earn their degree at a distance. "I am amazed at the amount of work it requires to take a student from the inquiry stage through to graduation," she says. "It takes a lot of discipline and determination."In recognition for her years of dedication to the DLC, Cooley has recently been promoted to a fulltime position processing the paperwork associated with purchases made by the DLC -- including office supplies, marketing materials, training and travel expenses -- and balancing the books for the office accounts. Additionally, she assists executive director Dawn Drake by answering her phone, filing and scheduling meetings.
Cooley predicts continued growth for the DLC in the near future and is looking forward to the department\'s scheduled move to a larger office on the UWP campus in late 2007. When away from the DLC, she enjoys reading and watching movies, especially mysteries and science fiction. She also spends a lot of time at sporting events and concerts as all three of her kids are involved in these activities.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'apple','neals', 'neal', "Undergraduate Academic Advising", 'by Shayla Neal', 'Business Administration Program Advisor', 'I just want to start by saying I am excited to join UW-Platteville\'s Distance Learning team, but most importantly, I am looking forward to working with students as their academic advisor as they journey through their academic experience at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.Getting through college can be challenging, especially if you have other responsibilities besides school. Since time is less structured, you have to focus and study and study more. Even if you are a full-time student without job or family commitments, it can be difficult to find the right balance between studies and personal time for activities such as exercise, sleep, social interactions, and maintaining a healthy diet. If even more responsibilities come into play, managing to complete your degree program can become an extreme commitment to regulating priorities, managing time effectively, and testing your personal boundaries.
More responsibilities can sometimes hinder the process of acquiring a postsecondary degree. This is why I want to continue to incorporate a systematic process of perpetual interactions between the student and the advisor. Academic advising is an essential component of the educational experience. I believe that students should achieve educational and personal goals by utilizing an inclusive range of institutional and community resources. It is essential for students to know how to view themselves as learners, to analyze how they learn and are taught, to establish goals, to aggressively employ strategies, and to examine themselves as they progress toward a goal. Self discipline is an absolute necessity.
Following up with students, their recommendations and feedback must be an organizational priority. This is why the Distance Learning Center is setting up a committee to dedicate ourselves to effective follow-up with students that would therefore increase student recognition. Although our growth is a remarkable achievement, I am positive that our leadership, faculty, staff and students will continue striving to achieve our goal of making UW-Platteville an internationally recognized distance learning institution of higher education. We have an increasing team of support staff to help students with their individual matters. The recruitment of new faculty and staff, the quality of our current faculty\'s research, progressively rising student enrollment, and an expansion of the Ullsvik Center that will house our increasing number of staff beginning in November 2007 are clear signals that the Distance Learning Center is on the peak of advancing the student follow-up and recognition process, and upholding its vision for the future. We want to continue to work diligently to deliver noteworthy educational programs for the students we serve.'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'plag', 'gen', 'drake4', "Hey, I didn\'t Know I Was Doing Anything Wrong", '', '', 'There are many important aspects to obtaining a college education. People are ultimately interested in learning about a particular topic area so that they can improve their skills, get a job promotion, earn more money, develop new ideas, feel more secure, provide for their family, change careers, feel personally fulfilled, etc. The list could go on and on, since each person has their own individual reasons why they are involved in a formal college education.
It is the job of each educational institution to provide this opportunity to students through classes that are designed with academic rigor, solid information, and taught by qualified faculty. It is equally important that these courses be designed and taught with integrity and that integrity and high standards are maintained as a part of the courses by both faculty and students.
Each year, universities across the globe continue to struggle with issues associated with plagiarism and cheating that occurs in courses (both online and on-campus). This is not a new issue, but one that has grown and has been a topic of major concern for campuses to deal with as the incidents continue to expand. In the past few years, this topic has been on nearly every major TV news program and paper throughout the United States.
In many of the interviews that have been conducted, students blatantly admit that they cheat and/or plagiarize in their college classes and they don\'t expect to get caught. If they do get caught, they don\'t expect their punishment to be harsh. This could not be further from the truth.
At many institutions, including UW-Platteville, being caught cheating and/or plagiarizing on assignments or exams can result in anything from flunking that assignment, to flunking the class, to expulsion from the institution. Make no mistake, this is a serious issue and one that is enforced. We have had examples of students receiving each of the punishments mentioned above. To review the UW-Platteville academic misconduct policy, go to the following link: www.uwplatt.edu/university/documents/student_policies/chapter14.html.
When a student is confronted with this situation, many respond that they did not know that what they were doing was wrong. This is not an excuse. The concept of cheating (and plagiarism is a form of cheating), is quite simple. You do not use and/or represent other people\'s work as your own, unless you give the appropriate credit for it.
It is important that you find out from your faculty member the type of documentation that they expect in their classes, when it comes to citing sources. Most faculty already have this identified in their course documents, but if this information is not there, ASK!!!!! As indicated above, not knowing is not an excuse. If you need a refresher on what constitutes plagiarism, there are a variety of online resources that you can use.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'money', 'gen', 'finaid', "Reminders For Financial Aid For The 2007-08 Academic Year", '', '', 'To receive financial aid for the fall and spring semesters, please complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible. If you would like to apply electronically, the web site is www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you prefer to complete a paper application, please contact Sheila Trotter, trotter@uwplatt.edu. When you receive your award letter, please sign and return one copy to the Financial Aid Office. If you have questions on the financial aid process, please contact Sheila Trotter in the Financial Aid Office. '); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'roundup','hollingsworth', 'hollings', "Recruitment Roundup", '', 'Les HollingsworthOur biggest event of the Spring was the 2007 Society of American Military Engineers conference in Philadelphia. UW-Platteville\'s distance learning center was one of 500 exhibitors meeting with 10,000+ attendees. Our goal for this event was to spread awareness about UW-Platteville\'s online Master of Science in Engineering and online Master of Science in Project Management degrees.
The marketing and recruitment group will maintain a high pace as we implement more advertising, attend more events, and roll out a brand new corporate development initiative. We will be conducting on-site information sessions for employers across the country to increase our sphere of influence and find out exactly what employers want from our graduates. A second piece of the corporate development will be establishing formal educational relationships with companies, much like we did with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Training and Standards Bureau. If you would be interested in discussing these opportunities at your company, please call me at 1 (800) 362-5460.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'communicate','gen', 'davis', "Student Services Update", '', '', 'Greetings to all! As a member of the Student Services Committee, I can tell you that we have been very busy the past few months!Beginning in March we have been doing student services process review sessions. Each session has given us a chance to go step by step through our daily processes. We have also been having open forum discussions on a bi-weekly basis. In our discussions, we are reviewing everyone\'s role in the various areas of the marketing/recruiting, admission and advising process. Essentially we are looking for improvements and identifying possible changes to make our processes run smoother. Also a big reason for doing this is to inform others in the office of what and how each individual impacts each other\'s workload.
The sessions are still ongoing and have been very successful. Overall, we have learned a vast amount about what each other does on a daily basis. We are striving to become more efficient in our daily tasks so we can serve our student population better!
Results to the Student Services Survey.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'d2l', 'ftuescher','d2l', "Have You Visited Your Advising Site Lately?", 'By Francie Tuescher', 'Associate Advisor Project Management and Business Administration', 'Happy summer!! As a student and an advisor, I believe that one of the most underused tools available to students is their personal advising site. I\'d like to take a moment to talk about what is available to you via the advising site and challenge you to get in there and take a look. If you\'ve already visited, visit again, and again!The username and password that you will use to access your personal advising site is the same username and password that you use for your campus e-mail account, to access library resources and other student services. It is not your registration username and password and it is not your course username and password. If you need assistance with your username and password, please contact Pam Knox at the Distance Learning Center at knoxp@uwplatt.edu.
Once you have your username and password, please remember that it is set to expire every 90 days. Upon receipt of your username and password, you should complete the challenge and response questions at http://www.uwplatt.edu/go/email. This will allow you to have control over resetting your password.
Now, we\'re ready to visit! Please go to https://uwplatt.courses.wisconsin.edu/. You now have a wealth of information at your fingertips. The specific information available to you may vary from program to program, but here is an idea of what you might expect to find.
One of the most frequently used purposes of this site is to access your grades and your degree plan. You can find this under your "Personal Dropbox." Look for your "Personal Degree Plan" and then an excel spreadsheet labeled "Feedback." You can also request to have grade cards uploaded to this site. This function is most often used when employer reimbursement is indicated.
Take another look around the site. Under your course homepage, you can personalize with your own home page, change preferences, and edit your profile. The content area will introduce you to a plethora of resources including access to Student Advisory Board information, library resources, information on student discounted software purchases, skills for success, and much more. There is a wealth of advising information available here as well, including information on transfer credits, course selection, portfolio, test outs and the student handbook.
Under the discussion tab, you will find various discussion areas ranging from "What\'s Important for a New Student to Know" to "Discuss Graduation Requirements" to Tutoring and Mentoring.
A "Frequently Asked Questions" area addresses financial aid, graduation requirements and learner services including information on tutoring and course delivery. Finally, a "Links" tab can take you to some additional related resources.
The key is to get familiar with your username and password, the contents of the advising site and to visit frequently. I encourage you to get into the discussion areas and meet other students. I encourage you to become familiar with your degree plan and to take ownership over it. Know where you need to go and how you are going to get there. My job is to help you along the way. Please don\'t be a stranger. I\'d love to hear from you!
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'library', 'librarian','library', "Ask-A-Librarian", 'John Leonard-Berg', '', 'I would like to introduce UWP\'s ILLiad service. ILLiad is the electronic system used to request items through InterLibrary Loan. The name ILLiad is an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.You will soon discover that ILLiad is a superior product that adds convenience and efficiency to all your research needs. Here are just a few points illustrating ILLiad\'s exceptional features.
ILLiad is conveniently linked off the Karrmann Library homepage at www.uwplatt.edu/library. Locate the InterLibrary Loan button, hit enter, and select the ILLiad option. Remember ILLiad is available to all UWP distance education students. Once in the ILLiad system you will be prompted to enter your username and password. The login screen will look similar to the image below.
This is a multifaceted service with many additional bells and whistles. Explore, experience, and enjoy this convenient research utility. If you have any additional questions about ILLiad do not hesitate to use our toll-free line at 1.888.450.4632, for library assistance. You may also want to contact our ILL manager directly. Her name is Lori Wedig and her email address is wedigl@uwplatt.edu.
John Leonard-Berg is the distance education librarian for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He has been at UWP for seven years, where he also holds the position of public services coordinator at the UWP Karrmann Library. His major responsibilities are to provide daily assistance to patrons at the public service desk and to select reference materials essential to the teaching and research mission of the university.
'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'fagers', 'fagers', 'fagers', "Pomp and Circumstance", 'by Susan Fager', '', 'I just finished reading the song list for the top ten graduation tunes on about.com. As I reviewed and listened to each one, I concluded that (for me) the event of graduation begs for the lyrics of Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield. It speaks of dreams and beginnings as well as the need to respond to those dreams and the encouragement to reach for the unknown. Many of the other songs herald memories or applaud accomplishments of the past. While it is important to give recognition where it is due, I still believe that graduations should be more about the future than the past. If we can only look at what has been accomplished, then what is there to look forward to? If my happiness depends on what I have already accomplished, then what joy is there in my future?That being said, please visit our graduation site and note not only the accomplishments of our graduates but also the promise of the future found in their eyes and hearts. Our website features each graduate in the yearbook with a page dedicated to them. Here you find names, current address and occupation, photos, personal comments on their experience with distance learning and congratulatory messages from faculty, friends and family. In addition, the yearbook provides an overview of distance education at UWP, as well as program-specific articles and profiles of students and faculty within each degree program. This year we also added audio messages from faculty, administration and distance learning staff.
The following is an index of what is included in the Graduation 2007 website (an asterisk designates a new feature):
With classes at a distance-- as in face-to-face classes-- active participation as a learner is a key stepping stone to being a successful online learner.
To get the most out of online courses, students need to actively participate in class discussions. Learning is most effective when you have the opportunity to interact with other students. Interaction leads to group problem solving, sharing, and collaboration. Meaningful participation supports the building of community. By interacting with each other you and your classmates become more than a collection of individuals --- you become a group pursuing a common goal. Learning is enhanced when students share examples and experiences. This is a primary reason why we have team projects and team assignments designed into our courses.
Online participation begins with you posting your profile and reviewing the profiles of your classmates. In most of our courses this is the first assignment in your class. The profile is one means of introducing yourself to your classmates. Your profile is found in the class list. Clicking on the question mark to the left of your name will open your profile for editing. Clicking on the question mark for the instructor or other classmate will open their profile for reading. Knowing who your instructor is and who your classmates are and letting them know who you are is the first step in decreasing the distance between you and them.
The heart of our courses lies in the discussion area. Here is where the majority of course communication takes place. The discussion area is divided into major areas called forums. The forums are divided into topics. The topics areas are where the actual postings are made. A topic is associated with lesson assignments. All courses have an open forum area. The topics in the open forum --titled "the hallway" or "the water cooler" - are designed to allow you and your classmates to communicate outside of the working forums. The open forum area also contains a topic called "raise your hand." Use this to post questions and comments to the instructor and remember to check back for their response.
Take time to consider your response to messages posted in the discussions and to reflect on the words and ideas that others have presented. Sharing ideas with others in the discussion forums expands your learning experience. By bringing in your own experiences you make your learning more authentic and more relevant.'); plexus[count++] = new entry(s, gen,'announcements', 'gen', 'announ', "Announcements", '', '', '
Online Assistance for Building A BibliographyEach semester, students struggle with research associated with their classes. One of the most common concerns that have been expressed over the years is the confusion associated with citing references and developing an appropriate bibliography. The Karrmann Library has purchased a service called RefWorks, which:
This is a very powerful tool that can be accessed through the online library. To access this service, go to www.uwplatt.edu/disted, click on current student, then online library. When you get to the library homepage, click on reference resources, then citation guides and writer resources. Refworks is at the top of the page. You can use your library password to get into this system. The service is quite intuitive and there are several online help areas available. In addition, you can contact the Karrmann Library staff via phone or e-mail (as indicated on the website). We will be offering an online training session for using RefWorks early in the fall semester.
Using Your D2L Advising SiteAll distance learning matriculated students have access to a great resource, the D2L Advising Site. D2L Advising is an online tool that provides advising resources for UW Platteville\'s online degree seeking students. The link to this site is the following: https://uwplatt.courses.wisconsin.edu. To gain access to this site, you must enter the username and password that was sent via email to all degree seeking students.
Once you gain entry to this site, you will locate several key tools and resources that are very important to your success as a distance learning student. A few of these tools include the ability to retrieve and view your degree plan, track your academic progress, confirm the grades earned for each term you completed one or more courses and obtain updated program and industry specific information related to the degree you seek.
If you have questions or experience any difficulties accessing the D2L Advising Site, please contact the UWP Distance Learning Center at:
Phone: 608.342.1468Independent Study, Capstone, Seminar Paper Research, Thesis Research, Internship, Special Topics Courses
Toll Free: 800.362.5460
Email: disted@uwplatt.edu
If you are planning to take an independent study, capstone, seminar paper research, thesis research, internship, or special topics course this fall, you need to be in communication with your advisor immediately! Remember, your course topic needs to be approved before you may register for these courses, so please allow extra time for the registration process.
Also, if you are a financial aid applicant and are planning to use any of these courses to count toward your eligibility, be aware that the deadline for the financial aid registration/payment option is August 1!
Attention Undergraduate StudentsIf you are planning to take online classes with UW Colleges, please note that the registration and financial aid deadlines are earlier than the deadlines posted for UW-Platteville. Contact your advisor and get registered early.
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