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Jeff LaSee didn’t follow the traditional college path, but through heart, grit and the support of those who believed in him, he turned a lifelong dream into a degree and a legacy for his family.
UW-Platteville's Engineering Partnerships is offering a path for working adults to earn engineering degrees, allowing them to balance career, family and education. Students can advance their careers without relocating or sacrificing personal commitments.
UW-Platteville announces a new transfer agreement with UCLA Extension and adds an aerospace manufacturing engineering emphasis to its online Master of Science in Engineering.
Connor Trempe enrolled in UW-Platteville's Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathway, allowing him to graduate with two degrees in just five years and excel his career as a software engineer.
As the chief executive officer of the independent consultant firm, Seely Inc., Jean Seely is a professional of many interests. Wishing to further develop her skills, she returned to school in 2017, earning a master's in project management.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has hit another milestone in its storied history as a pioneer in distance education. This year marks the 45th year the university has provided high-quality distance education to students across the globe.
Imagine a world where you can travel to another country, immerse yourself in its culture and earn college credits simultaneously. At UW-Platteville, this is a reality through the Short-Term Faculty-Led courses.
Natalie Isensee's attraction to the military stemmed, in part, from the numerous leadership opportunities it presented. However, her time in service offered her much more than anticipated. Natalie has since utilized her skillset and experiences to give back to her fellow veterans, her community and the university.
The Office of Professional Program Support proudly announces the undergraduate distance students who made their academic department's respective honors list this past spring.
Dawson Keller is a current student in UW-Platteville's online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Program, but as an officer with the McFarland Police Department, he is already making an impact in his community.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team announces Director of Football Operations Kearstin Schweitzer has been selected to participate in the 2023 Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
UW-Platteville's newest master's program saw its inaugural class of graduates cross the stage this spring. But even before the first notes of pomp and circumstance played, many Master of Science in Sport Administration students had already realized career success.
Like many distance and graduate education alumni, Jeffrey Hole’s educational journey hasn’t followed a traditional path. His plan of earning a master’s degree started in high school and spanned decades as he served his country and community, raised a family and built a career.
For the third straight year, the UW-Platteville Master of Science in Project Management program has been named the nation's top value by GreatValueSchools.org. The rankings were based on several metrics, prioritizing yearly tuition and graduation rate.
Raelene Baker started as a passion project that is now on the verge of becoming a multi-state phenomenon. She serves as the director for the Minnesota Prison Doula Projects, a nonprofit organization that helps birth professionals train to become prison doulas for service in penitentiary institutes on the county, state and soon-to-be federal level.
Alumnus Dr. Michael O'Connor continues to add to his highly decorated resume. On March 27, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering inducted O'Connor into its College of Fellows.
The Office of Professional Program Support proudly announces the distance students who made their academic department's respective honors list this past fall.
When Alex Walechka and Rebecca Koble enrolled in the online Master of Science in Engineering program in 2021, they went in with the expectation to attain an advanced degree in their area of specialty to improve their current careers and future job prospects, but they also found something more than advanced learning during their time in the program.
Staff at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville congratulate the fall 2022 graduates of its distance education and master's degree programs.
When you think of project management, you likely think about the processes required to complete a project successfully. But UW-Platteville alumnus Anthony Toglia knows that the people involved are just as crucial.
For more than a century, UW-Platteville has distinguished itself in the realm of engineering education, cultivating a widely respected reputation in the process. Recently, the university's prestige was bolstered by earning several top rankings from College Factual, an independent data analytics firm based in New York.
As an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration, Donny Cone monitors and directs aircraft on the ground and in the air. It’s a job that’s taken him across the country – from West Virginia to Washington – in the span of 16 years, enabling him to build on his skillset with each new location.
A call to serve has fueled Ray LaVoie his entire life. That need to help others has led the M.S. in Organizational Change Leadership graduate to support his country by working for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) – although his journey to this career has been unique.
UW-Platteville's Master of Science in Criminal Justice program was recently recognized as one of the Top 10 Online Criminal Justice Master's programs in the nation by Online Schools Guide. The rankings were based on affordability and reputation.
UW-Platteville is being recognized as offering the best online student services in the state by Intelligent.com.
Each year, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Distance Education Alumni Board provides two $300 scholarships to students in distance education programs.
The UW-Platteville Office of Professional Program Support would like to congratulate the 2022-23 distance education scholarships winners. The scholarships help cover tuition costs for students in online distance education programs.
Several students in online graduate programs at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville received Academic Excellence and Retention Scholarships for the 2022-23 school year.
There’s more to Becca Bartusewich than meets the eye. In addition to being an instructor, most know her as the advising manager for the Office of Professional Program Support, but she is also an archaeologist at heart.
For 20 years, Academic Advisor Joanna Muller has helped students reach their educational goals. On Sept. 29, that hard work will be officially recognized on the statewide stage when the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA) awards Muller the Advising Excellence Award.
Tassie Crews knows there is power in words. As a licensed master social worker and certified alcohol drug counselor, she's seen first-hand how a conversation with the right person can change someone's entire life. Crews has worked hard to earn the education and training to be that right person.
When Crystal Yang started UW-Platteville's Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership program in the fall of 2018, she was already leading a busy life. In addition to working full-time, she is mother to five children and adding graduate school while juggling the two wasn’t easy.
To best position its students to succeed in the workforce, UW-Platteville offers the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Pathway, expediting students seeking both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees through a process that takes less time than the more traditional route.
UW-Platteville congratulates the spring 2022 graduates of its distance education and master’s degree programs. Spring 2022
Some career paths are easily navigated – with a clear, straight road ahead. However, for recent Master of Science in Integrated Supply Chain Management graduate Kristy Knautz, her career path included a sharp right turn.
The Office of Professional Program Support proudly announces the distance students who made their academic department's Dean's List this past spring.
For Shar-Ron Buie, life isn’t about helping oneself, but enhancing the lives of others. This philosophy is evident in all three positions Buie holds.
Joanna Muller, an academic advisor in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Office of Professional Program Support, has earned the 2022 Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award for exemplifying the best qualities of academic staff advisors.
Students who take advantage of UW-Platteville's graduate-level certificate programs will now begin receiving a digital badge following the successful completion of the program.
In addition to welcoming several new members in 2022, the Distance Education Alumni Board elected new officers earlier this year – Mark Sidote and Shilo Wilkinson.
When one hears the words “project management,” some may envision a profession embedded in the construction, business or supply chain fields. These assumptions wouldn’t be wrong, as project management professionals play pivotal roles in each of these industries, but they wouldn’t form the full picture either.
Starting this May, UW-Platteville will participate in the Group Student Membership plan offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). This collaboration provides free PMI memberships for all degree-seeking students in the Master of Science in Project Management program, and all other non-MSPM students enrolled in PROJMGT-prefixed courses.
UW-Platteville's Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership program has reaffirmed its commitment to providing multiple avenues for students to join and thrive in the online master’s program. In April, the university renewed agreements on accepting professional credit transfers from multiple industry leaders.
Joslynn Day leads a busy life. As a supply officer in the Marine Corps and a member of the Department of State, she spends her days coordinating medevacs for U.S. personnel in foreign countries, which include politically-turbulent regions such as Afghanistan and, most recently, Ukraine.
To demonstrate that UW-Platteville is preparing students for the rapidly growing and highly demanded field of project management, the Master of Science in Project Management program has been reaffirmed by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC) through 2027.
The Master of Science in Integrated Supply Chain Management program has renewed agreements on accepting professional credits transfers from two industry leaders in supply chain management certifications. The agreements affirm the quality of these certifications and allow another avenue for students to join UW-Platteville’s online master’s program.
The Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership program is designed to cultivate leadership skills, preparing individuals to navigate the ever-changing business environment. Healthcare systems are known for rapid change, and there is certainly more to come in the post-pandemic world.
The University of Wisconsin -Platteville Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is pleased to announce its renewal of two transfer agreements which ensure students will have advanced placement with professional credentials in UW-Platteville’s highly-regarded online graduate program.
Learning while doing will be the new motto for Kishore Thota. The UW-Platteville Master's of Science in Organizational Change Leadership student was recently appointed by the Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, to serve as the chief deputy director of the Department of Professional Occupation Regulation, or DPOR.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville congratulates the fall 2021 graduates of its distance education and master’s degree programs. Fall 2021 commencement, which took place Dec. 11, 2021, was the first to be held in person on campus since fall 2019, due to COVID-19. The fall ceremonies included both summer and fall 2021 students.
This spring, UW-Platteville will host its first Pioneer Pitch: Master's Showcase competition. The competition is open to all graduate students completing a seminar, capstone or thesis course, and will give them the opportunity to share their exciting research and projects to a wider community.
Christopher Gordon knows the importance of preparing for a mission – his 18-and-a-half years in the military ensured that. Now, he's training for a mission that will take him outside of his comfort zone – life as a civilian.
Education has been the vehicle to a better life for Mickey Peasley. Last month, the soon-to-be 70-year-old earned her bachelor's degree in business from UW-Platteville. It's a journey that has spanned decades and is far from finished.
UW-Platteville's online and graduate programs are ranked amongst the best, according to Intelligent.com. The rankings are based on flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation.
Two alumni of UW-Platteville graduate programs were honored with a 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award. In addition to their master's degrees, both recipients also earned bachelor's degrees at UW-Platteville.
The Distance Education Alumni Board selected students Luis Cano and Wara Pirzada as the 2021 recipients of its scholarship. The scholarship was created by the board in 2016 to help provide additional financial support to distance education students as they complete their degree.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville online programs have earned national recognition once again. This month, the university was named one of the 50 Top Online Colleges by CollegeValuesOnline.com.
UW-Platteville announces another milestone achievement for one of its distinguished alumni. Dr. Michael O’Connor, a 2006 graduate of the Master of Science in Project Management program, was recently recognized as a winner of the 2021 Project Management Institute’s Eric Jenett Project Management Excellence Award.
Shawn Belling, project management instructor, regularly shares his expertise with organizations, including his most recent engagement at the PMI© Michigan Chapter’s Professional Development Day, which he attended as the keynote speaker.
UW-Platteville's Master's of Science in Integrated Supply Chain Management program has a reputation of providing students with the skills to succeed in a constantly evolving market. Now, the highly-respected degree program is recognized as one of the most affordable in the nation by GreatBusinessSchools.org.
With patience, passion and hard work, amazing things can happen. Estela DePaz discovered this fact recently when, against steep competition, her thesis paper won PMI’s ® prestigious Snyder International Student Paper of the Year award—an accolade that rewards excellence in the development of original project management concepts.
Change is always constant. For most people this statement rings true, but it’s a way of life for Jonathan Yancy. While many simply accept and react to change, Yancy is one who optimizes it – channeling change into progress on a daily basis.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville congratulates the spring 2021 graduates of its distance education and master’s degree programs.
The Office of Professional Program Support is proud to announce the distance students who made their academic department’s Dean’s List this past spring.
Three University of Wisconsin-Platteville student veterans will complete their college careers with more than a diploma. In addition to earning their master’s degrees this spring and summer, they will also graduate as members of the S.A.L.U.T.E. Veterans National Honor Society.
We all know earning a degree is important for enhancing one’s career, but it’s not the only step students can take to better position themselves for success. Knowledge of the workplace and the ability to make strong connections can prove just as valuable, which is why the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is pleased to offer the Alumni Mentee-Mentor Program—a resource for those seeking additional support outside of their studies.
UW-Platteville, in partnership with UW Extended Campus, will offer two new online certificates starting in September 2021. The graduate-level, semester-based certificates in Applied Bioinformatics and Senior Living and Services Leadership were intentionally designed to align with industry needs and high-growth occupations.
UW-Platteville's reputation as a destination for online learning has been bolstered again. The school has been recognized as one of the top five Technology Savvy Online Schools in 2021 by Online Schools Center.
It's fair to say Scott Upton's head has always been in the clouds – or rather – above them. A passion for aerospace was sparked as a youth and has driven his career and educational journey. He received a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota before earning a Master of Science in Project Management degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He currently works for Blue Origin, a company Upton said is "paving the road to space."
It's not often two alumni from the same university but different fields find themselves working together, yet this is exactly the case for Jeff Busch and Jane Traffalis.
The Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership is a relatively new degree program offered at the UW-Platteville, but its curriculum addresses a growing trend to prepare future leaders amidst rapidly changing business environments. UW-Platteville offers four emphasis areas to help students reach their individual career goals. Of particular note is the Safety Risk Control emphasis, introduced in 2018, which focuses on producing safety and risk control measures for businesses and their teams.
Wishing to sharpen both her change and project management skills, Kat Damiano enrolled in the Master’s in Organizational Change Leadership program in 2018. She is now a business change manager with SoCalGas in Los Angeles, California, and works as an internal consultant on the SCG enterprise change management team, overseeing a five-year, 300-plus stakeholder initiative.
Since its creation in 2006, the Distance Education Alumni Board has been committed to supporting alumni and students of UW-Platteville’s distance education programs.
As a continuous improvement analyst at Ortho Molecular Inc., a nutraceutical company, Laucke works as a project manager in company teams, trying to reduce waste in core processes. Yet there’s more to Laucke besides an impressive STEM career. In addition to being an accomplished project manager and engineer, she’s also a self-published author of the children’s book, “Arabian Horses at Play, I Could Watch Them Every Day.”
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership program is once again recognized as one of the best and affordable master's degree programs in the nation, according to the 2021
After growing up in rural Sabula, Iowa, Nicole Ruchotzke attended UW-Platteville, earning a degree in biology. From there, she went on to earn her master’s in public health at Concordia University before returning to her alma mater in 2017, where she joined the Office of Professional Program Support as an advisor.
UW-Platteville's Master’s of Science in Project Management is recognized as the best value in the country in 2021, according to BestValueCollege.org.
The win in NASCAR's biggest race came down to a few key seconds for lead engineer Chris Yerges and his team at Front Row Motorsports. But behind each of these winning seconds were countless hours of precise preparation and planning days before the rubber ever met the pavement. The work was certainly worth it for the UW-Platteville Master of Science in Engineering student, as driver Michael McDowell finished first at the Daytona 500.
Forty-two years after its first correspondence course was introduced and administered via postal mail, UW-Platteville's distance education programs surpassed 3,000 graduates.
In 2018, Dr. Carolyn Keller joined UW-Platteville as the director of Academic Assessment. As a result of some recent university restructuring, Keller has additionally become the interim assistant provost. It’s a position that oversees many areas, including the Center for Distance Learning, now re-named the Office of Professional Program Support.
While an undergraduate student at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Christopher Jefferson fell in love with the thought of working in the space launch industry. This simple idea would launch his academic and professional career to outstanding heights.
Ashley Pratt has had an educational experience many would say isn’t standard. After earning her bachelor's degree while working full-time, she is now earning her Master of Applied Biotechnology degree, while working for a company that has a significant role in the COVID-19 response.
The UW-Platteville Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership program is ranked as the fourth best value in the country, according to the 2021 BestValueCollege.org ratings.
The UW-Platteville community offers a fond farewell to Dr. Susan Hansen, interim dean of the Division of Professional Studies, who retired from her position on Jan. 31.
“I had always wanted to go back to school, but it was always either life, distance or motivation that prevented me from taking those steps,” said alumna Sara Booth. However, in 2016, Booth made the leap and returned to UW-Platteville after 22 years to complete her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, ending her final semester with a 4.0.
Dion Shaw is a strong believer in developing your mind – even as the UW-Platteville graduate fights a disease that’s attacking his. In 1991, Shaw was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but that didn’t stop him from living an active life and giving back to others.
The change of the calendar will also mean some changes for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. As part of a larger restructuring taking place at the university, the Center for Distance Learning will now have a new name: Office of Professional Program Support.
UW-Platteville's online Master of Science in Project Management program was ranked as a Top 25 Best Value Online Graduate Programs for 2021 by Value Colleges. The ranking is based on the cost of the program and student-to-faculty ratios.
Alison Thompson, an instructional designer for the Office of Professional Program Support, began her career in higher education after starting at a local community college in the Chicago area. Here, Thompson began assisting faculty in course design and quickly found that instructional design allowed her to combine her interests in teaching, design, and technology to help create powerful learning experiences for students.
UW-Platteville has reached credit transfer agreement extensions with the University of California-Los Angeles. The partnership extension ensures UCLA Extension students will continue to have the opportunity to join one of UW-Platteville’s highly-regarded online graduate-level programs.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announces it will now award graduate-level credits for certificates earned through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Two-time UW-Platteville graduate and Criminal Justice Instructor Chris Polzer was named one of the university’s 2020 Distinguished Alumni. Recipients of the honor, which is presented by the Alumni Association, are chosen for their contributions to and recognition in their professions and communities, and continued engagement with the university.
UW-Platteville is known as the Pioneers, but the moniker is much more than a nickname. The university has been a pioneer and industry leader in distance education since 1978, when it began offering degrees through its print-based program.
The Center for Distance Learning is proud to announce the 2020 winners of the Dawn Drake Excellence in Distance Education Scholarship, Gary Apperson Memorial Scholarship, and Ruth Miller Challenge Scholarship. The scholarships, which are awarded each year to students enrolled in distance education programs, were created to provide additional financial support for UW-Platteville students.
As the lead admissions specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for Distance Learning, Clint Nemitz works with his team to connect prospective students with their desired academic programs.
Shawn Belling, like so many others, had to make some adjustments when the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded last March. Between Belling’s responsibilities as a project management instructor, professional speaker, consultant, and as the Chief Information Officer at Madison College, however, this new task wasn’t without some difficulty—yet Belling was more than up for the challenge.
When it comes to managing time and balancing coursework, different things work for different people. The members of your Student Advisory Board would like to share some tips and ideas that work for us, and we hope it will spark some ideas for you.
As we continue to navigate through the challenging times posed by COVID-19, it’s not hard to notice the lessons we can learn from a viral pandemic as it relates to prevalent cyber-attacks. Just as a real virus can spread among people, cyber viruses can easily spread between computers and systems in today’s interconnected digital world, which has given rise to exponential growth in cyber-attacks every year.
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.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's reputation as a leader in distance education has been cemented again, as Online School Report recognizes the criminal justice program as one of the Best Online Master's Degrees in Criminal Justice in the country.
Amy Foley is the Student Affairs Manager for the Center for Distance Learning, where she works to promote student development and the university community. She is also the latest participant of the Division of Professional Studies’ Pioneer Profiles—a series of Q&A’s with members of the division’s dedicated staff.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announces a new partnership with the California Curriculum Alignment Project (CAP). The partnership recognizes that UW-Platteville’s curriculum meets the high standards of the CAP, allowing California’s early childhood educators to take advantage of UW-Platteville’s innovative and engaging online courses.
The Distance Education Alumni Board selected students Maria Hutmacher and Isaac Dolan as the 2020 recipients of its scholarship. Created by the board in 2016 to help provide financial support to distance education students as they complete their degree, it provides two $300 scholarships each year.
In 1997, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville started its multidisciplinary Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program. Now in its 23rd year, the program has proven to be a vital and essential part of graduate education at UW-Platteville, with more than 400 students graduates and counting.
This spring, the Division of Professional Studies celebrated 155 graduates of distance education and graduate programs. Among them were the first two students to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's online Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing program.
We all know earning a degree is important for enhancing one’s career, but it’s not the only step students can take to better position themselves for success. Knowledge of the workplace and the ability to make strong connections can prove just as valuable, which is why the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is pleased to offer the Alumni Mentee-Mentor Program—a resource for those seeking additional support outside of their studies.
As the lead admissions specialist for the Center for Distance Learning, Clint Nemitz works with his team to connect prospective students with their desired academic programs.
What does it take to lead change in the 21st century workplace? I remember my first time being trained on how to lead change while working for a U.S. automobile manufacturer. Everything focused on ensuring each step enabled activities that won the hearts and minds of the workforce and empowered leaders to lead the change efforts.
This June, Michelle Zasada assumed the role of interim executive director for the Center for Distance Learning, a department she’s worked in for 13 years.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for Distance Learning is pleased to announce Jesse Ruegsegger as this year’s Outstanding Business Student of the Year.
For more than 40 years, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been an institutional leader in distance education. In 1978, UW-Platteville started a print-based program and then in 1999 the institution became the first public university in Wisconsin to offer degrees online. This experience in leadership helped make a smooth transition when the university and the branch campuses went into alternative delivery mode in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 12, Dr. Susan Hansen stepped into the role of interim dean for the Division of Professional Studies, which together is comprised of Continuing, Distance, and Online Graduate offerings. Previously, Hansen served as the associate vice chancellor of Academic Affairs at UW-Platteville, among other leadership roles.
From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, supply chain is the beating heart of a company's operations and is essential for its success.
Over a decade ago, Jesse Ruegsegger found himself at the lowest point of his life, but a journey of recovery ended with him receiving not only the strength to forgive himself, but also academia’s highest honor.
Eason Sharpe is used to working under pressure. While in the U.S. Air Force, he coordinated the movement of weapons all over the world. This piqued his interest in logistics and got him thinking about his next steps. He found the Master of Science in Integrated Supply Chain Management from UW-Platteville in a review from U.S. News and World Report, and though intrigued, he was a little nervous.
It was an early calling to serve his community and country that led Master of Science in Criminal Justice alumnus Eduardo Jany on his career path, an intermingling of service and education.
Distance and Continuing Education at UW-Platteville are undergoing a transformation. After months of consideration and research, Alternative Delivery Systems is being renamed and rebranded as the Division of Professional Studies.
Over the course of his career, service and leadership have been common threads for Buck Robertson, a Deputy Sheriff Sergeant with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
On the other side of the world, Travis Spaeth spends his days working as an environmental engineer on the island of Saipan. He is also enrolled in the online Master of Science in Engineering program at the UW-Platteville.
Matt Halambeck is always looking for the next opportunity. He started college in the 1980s, but when he was offered a management position at the restaurant where he worked, he jumped at the chance. This decision led him on a successful path in the foodservice and retail industries.
Ever since Michael Sullivan took a high school history class, he has been passionate about education.
Dr. Craig Wilson will be the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s first dean of distance, continuing, and graduate education. Following a national search by an internal committee, Wilson will officially join UW-Platteville on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018.
Our students often tell us they are motivated to work in criminal justice because they want to serve their communities and use their talents and skills to make a difference. Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice student Emily Hamstra has that same passion, but also brings a unique skill to her service—she is a registered American Sign Language Interpreter.
Kelvin Akehurst often marvels at the complexities that make up a successful supply chain. Any number of processes and procedures must take place to advance the products, goods, and services that are a part of our everyday lives. Over the years, Akehurst has used his experience and education to understand and steadily improve these intricate practices.