Campus & Community

Update Coronavirus

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Paul Erickson

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The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is a top priority, especially in response the COVID-19. This site tracks all the messages and updates sent to the university community during the pandemic. Links to fall 2020 policies and procedures are included in this site as well as a dashboard that is updated each business day.

Pioneer Spotlight: Demi Vetesnik

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Eric Herbst

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After growing up in Canada, Demi Vetesnik, program manager for the UW-Platteville Continuing Education Institute, made the jump to the United States for college when a soccer scholarship led her to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 2019, she joined the CEI team at UW-Platteville Richland Center. As part of her responsibilities, Vetesnik provides quality programming for the community she now lives in.

UW-Platteville to celebrate Pioneers Day of Giving

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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UW-Platteville will celebrate 154 years since becoming an institution on Friday, Oct. 9. In honor of Founder’s Day, alumni and friends are invited to participate in the annual Pioneers Day of Giving. The all-day event raises funds to support student success.

UW-Platteville Online Advisor Earns Award for Excellence

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Stephen Kelley

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Nicole Ruchotzke may be one of the newest advisors to join the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for Distance Operations, but she’s already left her mark. This week, Ruchotzke will officially be awarded the Advising Profession Impact Award by the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association.

Highly-competitive federal grant to bring $1.1 million new investment to region

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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The University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWWRPC) have been selected as co-applicants to receive a highly competitive grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration that will bring nearly $1.1 million of new investment to the region.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Carolyn Keller

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Dr. Carolyn Keller joined UW-Platteville in 2018 as the director of Academic Assessment. While she still oversees the area of Academic Assessment, Keller is now interim assistant provost. Her background is in the field of sociology – a discipline that she still teaches every chance she can.

Two advisors honored with statewide awards

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Dr. Anne-Marie Lerner, assistant department chair and associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Karen Brenner Drees, academic advisor and coach, are both being recognized by the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association for excellence in advising.

Student volunteers help bring learning outside

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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As UW-Platteville welcomes students back to campus this week, faculty and staff are rethinking concepts of traditional learning space and bringing classrooms outside. Earlier this week, a group of 30 student volunteers built and installed 50 wooden benches, over a two-day period, to create a series of outdoor class spaces in time for the first day of the semester.

Pioneer Spotlight: Gretchen Bockenhauer

Authored on: Sep 09, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Gretchen Bockenhauer grew up in the field of construction, learning from her family’s business. But it was her experience as a student at UW-Platteville that cemented her interest in the field. Now, as lecturer and co-program coordinator for UW-Platteville’s Building Construction Management program, she enjoys sharing her experience with students and helping them find their own passion in the construction management field.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Sharon Klavins

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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After growing up in south Florida and spending summers at her grandparents' North Carolina farm, Dr. Sharon Klavins, professor of biology, was drawn to the natural world. Her passion led her to the field of paleobotany, where her specialty is plant structure and evolution. She began her career teaching high school. Klavins then earned her doctorate degree in plant biology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She started at UW-Platteville in 2005.

Nancy Ware’s giving legacy lives on

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Paul Erickson

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Nancy Ware was one of the most visible citizens in Platteville, whether at sporting competitions, at the swimming pool or taking her dog out for a walk. It was only fitting that in her will, she ensured her impact would live on in the city for years to come.

Drees honored with award for outstanding advising

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Karen Brenner Drees, an academic advisor and coach, is the recipient of UW-Platteville's 2020 Outstanding Professional Advising Award. The award is presented annually to academic staff whose primary responsibility is advising.

UW-Platteville awarded more than $3 million to help students succeed

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is the recipient of two federal Student Support Services grants, totaling more than $3.4 million over the next five years. The grants are critical for UW-Platteville’s TRIO Student Support Services to carry out its mission of supporting and retaining underserved populations.

Livingston to be honored with Academic Staff Award for Excellence

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Victoria Livingston, executive director of Enrollment and Student Success, has been selected to receive the University of Wisconsin-Platteville 2020 Academic Staff Award for Excellence.

UW-Platteville partners with College Pads to provide an off-campus housing marketplace

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is partnering with Rent College Pads, an off-campus marketplace and search engine for students navigating their housing options. The UW-Platteville Off-Campus Marketplace helps students with rental resources, including connecting with landlords, off-campus pricing, finding roommates and subleasing options.

Pioneer Spotlight: Tom Antczak

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Jason Piddington

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Tom Antczak is in his 29th year as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women’s and men’s cross-country programs, making him the longest tenured coach in the athletic department. In the past 20 years, Antczak has seen the men’s program have great success, qualifying for the NCAA III national meet eight times, having three individual champions and a program best fourth-place team finish in 2010.

High ranking reaffirms university’s commitment to sustainability

Authored on: Aug 08, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Reaffirming the institution’s long-term commitment to sustainability, UW-Platteville recently earned a silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Douglas Selent

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Dr. Douglas Selent, assistant professor of computer science and software engineering, joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2018. He also serves as the software engineering program coordinator. His interests include bringing active learning into his classroom through different activities and gamification.

Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Brandon Fetterly

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: John Christensen

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Dr. Brandon Fetterly is dean of the UW-Platteville Richland campus. As dean, he leads the operation of the campus, from academics and student affairs, budget and administration, and management of facilities and other operations; to external relations with alumni, the campus’ Foundation, local government, and other stakeholders.

Lerner receives Outstanding Faculty/Instructional Academic Staff Academic Advisor Award

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Dr. Anne-Marie Lerner, University of Wisconsin-Platteville assistant department chair and professor of mechanical engineering, calls advising her students one of the most gratifying parts of working in higher education. Lerner is being honored with the 2020 Outstanding Faculty/Instructional Academic Staff Academic Advisor Award.

Gurira recognized with Outstanding Woman of Color Award

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Josephine Gurira, reference services librarian at the UW-Platteville’s Karrmann Library, is being honored with the university’s 2020 Outstanding Woman of Color Award.

Montgomery honored with Woman of the Year Award

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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Dr. Tera Montgomery, professor of dairy and animal science at UW-Platteville, was selected for the 2020 Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award.

Halfmann honored with Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Dr. Kameko Halfmann, assistant professor of psychology, is this year’s recipient of the Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.

Foundation breaks $4 million in donations for first time

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Alison Parkins

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The UW-Platteville Foundation is celebrating a new milestone, as it recently announced record fundraising for the 2020 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. UW-Platteville alumni, friends and corporate partners donated more than $4 million for the first time ever, exceeding the previous year’s total by $1 million.

Udelhofen receives University Staff Award for Excellence

Authored on: Jul 07, 2020, Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

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Amy Udelhofen, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville academic department associate for Performing and Visual Arts is receiving the 2020 University Staff Award for Excellence.