News Release Archive

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) Commission on Accreditation has voted to continue the University of Northern Iowa's School of Music in good standing through 2021. The School of Music has been an institutional member of NASM since 1942. More than 340 music majors are enrolled in degree programs in the School of Music, along with hundreds of other UNI students who participate in more than 15 ensembles. The UNI School of Music has the largest number of graduates teaching in Iowa’s schools. 

NASM, founded in 1924, is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges and universities with approximately 636 accredited institutional members. The major responsibility of the association is the accreditation of education programs in music; including the establishment of curricular standards and guidelines for specific degrees and credentials. NASM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all music curricula.

"Our faculty members are very pleased with the outcome after completing an extensive self-study and being assessed by NASM evaluators," stated John Vallentine, director of the UNI School of Music. "We are extremely proud of this continuing recognition of the success of our students and faculty at UNI."

In addition to the reaccreditation, NASM approved new degree tracks in Jazz Studies, Music Technology, Performing Arts Management and String Pedagogy, all part of an extensive Bachelor of Arts degree program.  A new Master of Music in Performance degree specializing in multiple woodwinds was also approved.

For additional information, contact Vallentine at 319-273-2024 or john.vallentine@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Accounting students at the University of Northern Iowa are providing free income tax assistance again this year through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program will run from Feb. 13 through April 11, excluding the week of March 12 through 16. Sessions are from 5 to 7 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays in the 223 Curris Business Building. No appointment is necessary. Taxpayers are encouraged to arrive at 5 p.m. to allow students sufficient time to complete returns.

VITA was established by the Internal Revenue Service to help low-income people who may find it difficult to pay for tax preparation services. The program also provides accounting students an experiential learning opportunity as they work with taxpayers.

Students will be available to electronically prepare federal and state tax returns for eligible taxpayers and e-file tax returns. These students have completed a one-semester comprehensive tax course, have received additional training and have access to a variety of federal and state reference materials.

Taxpayers seeking assistance should bring proof of identification; Form W-2, "Wage and Tax Statement," from each employer; Forms 1099 for such things as interest or dividends; social security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents; a list of other income and expenses; Form 1098-T, "Tuition Payment Statement"; Form 1098-E, "Student Loan Interest Statement"; a copy of last year's tax return; banking information if you want the refund automatically deposited; and all other information pertinent to the 2011 tax return. International students should also bring their passport, visas and Form 1042-S, "Foreign Persons U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding."

For more information, call the UNI Department of Accounting at 319-273-2394.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center (GBPAC) will continue its Inspirational Film Series with a showing of "Confessions of a Superhero" on Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the GBPAC Great Hall.

Films will be shown each month, which will include "Ten Questions for the Dalai Lama" in March, "Wretches and Jabberers" in April and "The Power of Two" in May. Each film includes free popcorn with beverages and other snacks available for purchase.

"The inaugural year of the Inspirational Film Series at the Gallagher-Bluedorn brings to the Great Hall stage another form of art…the visual art of film," said Janelle Darst, director of marketing and operations at the GBPAC. "The purpose of this film series is to bring to the Cedar Valley films that would otherwise not be shown in the area, or that have local significance."

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. UNI students get in free with their uCard. For more information, contact Darst, at 319-273-3676 or janelle.darst@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Environmental regulations are a complex and ever-changing challenge for almost every small-business owner, which is why the Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) at the University of Northern Iowa offers a free onsite review program for Iowa businesses with fewer than 200 employees.

"Being in compliance with environmental regulations not only saves your business from potential fines, but also can improve the overall efficiency of the business," said IWRC associate director Jim Olson. "We have conducted more than 3,500 onsite reviews all across the state during the last 20 years. We have seen just about every possible scenario in that time and have been able to help those businesses significantly."

Through the IWRC's free onsite review program, an environmental specialist from the IWRC visits a business and conducts a walkthrough to look at all processes that have an environmental impact. The specialist then generates a report with recommendations that pertain to environmental compliance and process improvements.

"The IWRC is committed to providing small business with free onsite reviews in order to improve environmental aspects of the business as well as ensure the business is in compliance with state and national regulations," Olson said.

Iowa small business owners can call Olson at 1-800-422-3109 or visit www.IowaEnviroAssist.org to schedule an onsite review with the IWRC.

The Iowa Waste Reduction Center is a program of Business and Community Services, a division of the College of Business Administration at the University of Northern Iowa.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center (RRTTC) will show the films "Crude Impact" and "Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives" as part of the Environmental Health and Sustainability film series.

"Crude Impact" will be shown Monday, Feb 13, and "Scarred and Wounded Lives" will be shown Tuesday, Feb. 21. Both films will begin at 7 p.m., in the auditorium at the Center for Energy and Environmental Education, on the UNI campus.

"Crude Impact" will look at the interconnection of human domination of the planet, the use of petroleum and offer solutions to better live sustainably. Catherine Zeman, associate professor at the RRTTC, will be available for answering questions following the film.

"Scarred and Wounded Lives" will look into the effects of war on our environment and how the effects are underestimated and underreported.  

The films are free and open to the public. The Environmental Health and Sustainability film series is co-sponsored by the Healthy Cedar Valley Coalition. For more information, contact Jenny Bruss, program and community outreach coordinator at RRTTC, at 319-273-3689 or jennifer.bruss@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The fourth annual Darwin Week will be held on the University of Northern Iowa Campus Feb. 13 through 16. The annual event celebrates science through a series of faculty and visiting speakers. All activities are held in UNI's Center for Multicultural Education (CME) and are free and open to the public. Each day will feature a different theme including skepticism, sexuality, diversity and origins.

This year's speakers include Joe Nickell, world-renowned investigator of the paranormal; Clint Kelly, professor of biology at Iowa State University; Jamila Bey, National Public Radio journalist and secular activist in the diverse atheist movement; and Lawrence Krauss, Massachusetts Institute of Technology theoretical physicist graduate and professor of physics at Arizona State University.

The event is hosted by UNI Freethinkers and Inquirers (UNIFI), a campus student organization affiliated with the Center for Inquiry, a transnational organization that encourages evidence-based inquiry into science, pseudoscience, medicine and health, religion, ethics, secularism and society.

"Darwin Week provides an opportunity for students to hear interesting and engaging talks outside of the classroom," said Cory Derringer, president of UNIFI. "It's a celebration of education, in the true spirit of a university."

For a complete schedule of events, visit www.darwinweek.com.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- John Pappajohn, Iowa's premier venture capitalist, has announced the launch of the 2012 John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition. This is the seventh-annual business plan competition for Iowa sponsored by Pappajohn. Since 2006, more than $300,000 in prizes has been awarded to start-ups across the state. This year, a total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three submitted business plans: $25,000 for first prize, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third.

The competition is designed to stimulate business development and provide support for outstanding business plans. The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is open to new and start-up businesses (in business for less than four years). Rules, eligibility, timelines and assistance information are available at the competition website, www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com.

The first round of the business plan competition will take place between March 1 and April 30. During this time, businesses are invited to submit business information via Gust (formerly Angelsoft). A link to Gust is available at www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com.

In May, selected companies will be contacted and invited to submit full business plans through Gust. The competition will then be narrowed to seven to 10 companies to present to judges in August. The winners will be recognized at a special awards luncheon on Sept. 27 in Des Moines.

Assistance with business plan entries is available at the Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa; the Small Business Development Centers throughout the state; and the business accelerators in Des Moines, Red Oak, Spencer, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Mason City.

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers provide entrepreneurial education and business support, partnering with agencies like the Small Business Development Center, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Entrepreneurial Development Centers and local entrepreneurs to assist with funding and other business needs.

For additional information about the competition visit www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com or contact one of the JPEC centers via the contact information below.

Drake University John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Debra Bishop
515-271-3818 deb.bishop@drake.edu

Iowa State University John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Judi Eyles
515-296-8283            eyles@iastate.edu

North Iowa Area Community College John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Jamie Zanios
641-422-4111            zaniojam@niacc.edu

University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
David Hensley
319-335-3999            david-hensley@uiowa.edu

University of Northern Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Randy Pilkington
319-273-5732            randy.pilkington@uni.edu

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art and the UNI Department of Art will present "Times, Interludes and Actions: Performances in Response to the First Decade of the New Millennium" from Wednesday, Feb. 8 through Thursday, Mar. 1.

An artist lecture by exhibitor Jiawei Gong will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, in 111 Kamerick Art Building, and an opening reception will follow. Following the lecture, Gong will begin a four-day long performance in the gallery titled Sweet Salvation.

"Times, Interludes and Actions" is an invitational exhibition curated by Jeffery Byrd, head of the UNI Department of Art, and Joe Meiser, assistant professor of art at Bucknell University. Exhibitors include: Marilyn Arsem, Eun Woo Cho, A. Jacob Galle, Nestor Armando Gil, Jiawei Gong, performance team Hillerbrand + Magsamen, Jeanne Jo, Kyoung Eun Kang, Jordan McKenzie, Takeshi Moro, Jennifer Seibert, Gary Setzer, Bradly Dever Treadaway and Jordan Tynes. The exhibition also features Rachel Rosenthal's limited edition artist book "Soldier of Fortune."

There will be performances by Meiser at 12:30 p.m. each day, Feb. 13 through 17; and by Byrd at 12:30 p.m. each day, Feb. 20 through 24.

According to the curators, "The past decade has been eventful and has given rise to new possibilities, new questions and new challenges. With the continuing expansion of globalization and technological innovation, new platforms for human interaction and exchange have emerged. At the same time, we have seen an increase in terrorism, an energy crisis and global economic instability. These problems have generated heated political debate about how we should best prepare for the future. Can we continue to employ the same solutions that worked in the past, or must we fundamentally change the way that we understand and approach these issues? How will this decade be remembered in the future? What will be the longest lasting impressions?"

All events are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is located at the northeast corner of Hudson Road and West 27th Street, Cedar Falls, on the main floor of the Kamerick Art Building. For more information, contact Darrell Taylor, director of the UNI Gallery of Art, at 319-273-6134 or darrell.taylor@uni.edu, or visit www.uni.edu/artdept/gallery/Home.html.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Teaching and Learning Mathematics (CTLM) has partnered with Waterloo Community Schools (WCS) to provide instructional coaching in Walter Cunningham and Irving Elementary Schools through June of 2013.

UNI mathematics faculty will collaborate with teachers and district math coaches to provide intensive modeling, coaching and professional development to better aid classroom practices.

Project goals include an increase in teacher content knowledge of mathematics, improvement in teachers' instructional strategies of the district's mathematics curriculum and an increase in mathematics achievement by the elementary students.

This project is a unique partnership that benefits both the WCS district and the University of Northern Iowa," said Vicki Oleson, assistant professor, UNI Department of Mathematics. "UNI faculty members are learning more about the current classroom experience from their visits to WCS, and WCS teachers are accessing valuable support from mathematics education experts at UNI. Together, UNI faculty and WCS teachers are working to improve elementary children's understanding of mathematics."

For more information, contact Oleson at 319-273-7650 or vicki.oleson@uni.edu. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – University of Northern Iowa College of Education is hosting a Hot Topics in Education webinar, "Iowa's Research & Development School-Strategic Directions and Iowa Connectivity," at 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23.

This webinar will present the vision of Iowa's Research & Development School (R&D), research currently occurring at the R&D School, existing collaborative partnerships with K through 12 school districts and new partner opportunities with the R&D School to build a statewide learning network.

This webinar will be presented by Lyn Countryman, interim director and professor at Malcolm Price Laboratory School (MPLS) and Jody Stone, professor at MPLS. For more information on these webinars or to register, visit www.uni.edu/coe/webinars.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Michael Walter, a biology professor at the University of Northern Iowa, is giving UNI students some real world lab experience that could save lives.

Walter, along with UNI undergraduate students, has developed an instrument that detects deadly spores through their work with bacteriophages, a group of viruses that can infect bacteria. Walter and the students discovered that they could use bacteriophages to trap safe strain spores in an electronic instrument. This allows spore detection and helps defend against bio-terrorism attacks.

"These viruses are the most abundant form of life on the planet, viruses that infect bacteria that can kill you," Walter said. "I do work that detects bio-agents that make you sick."

For more information on Walter's research, contact him at 319-273-6490 or michael.walter@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education (CHGE) will sponsor the traveling exhibit "Who Am I? Young Minds Forced to Choose, "in the Browsing Room on the 2^nd floor of the Rod Library on the UNI campus. The exhibit will be on display from Wednesday, Feb. 15, through Wednesday, Feb. 29.

"Who Am I? Young Minds Forced to Choose" tells the true story of young Jehovah's Witnesses who were thrust into a political firestorm of Nazi propaganda. Against the tide of coercion and terror, these youths took a firm stand of conscience, oftentimes facing severe reprisals, despite their age. The exhibit, designed by the Arnold-Liebster Foundation, assists educators on how to address contemporary student issues, such as bullying, gang prevention and prejudice.

"We are proud to be sponsoring and to have Rod Library hosting this exhibit and are confident it will have the same positive effects that other schools and libraries have seen in young people to understand and respond to challenges facing their generation," said Stephen J. Gaies, director of the CHGE. "We anticipate that UNI students, as well as members of the public, will be inspired by these accounts, that they will view as positive role models the young Jehovah's Witnesses who resisted the persecution of the Nazi regime, and that most of all, they will see the value of standing up for what they believe."

It will continue traveling to other Iowa schools through the end of April 2012. For viewing information, contact the Rod Library at 319-273-2462 or http://library.uni.edu.

For more information about the exhibit or the UNI Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education, contact Stephen Gaies, director of the CHGE, at 319-273-3870 or chge@uni.edu. Information is also available at www.uni.edu/chge.

The Arnold-Liebster Foundation, based in Karben, Germany, began in 2002 and is dedicated to the history and story of Jehovah’s Witnesses during World War II, who also suffered intense persecution and reprisals by the Nazis because of their religious stand. The foundation fosters understanding and education worldwide of the experience of Jehovah's Witnesses during that time, and highlights how their strong faith helped them to endure, even though they had the ability to seek relief by signing a declaration recanting their beliefs. For more information, visit www.alst.org.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host a variety of events in February to celebrate Black History Month. Through the events, UNI's Black Student Union hopes to advance African-American culture on campus.

Some highlights include:

A march against segregation will take place from noon to 12:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6. The march will begin at UNI's Maucker Union and end at the Center for Multicultural Education.

From 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Feb. 11, there will be a Valentine's Day dance called "Stepper's Ball" in the UNI Commons Ballroom. Tickets are $5 dollars, and can be purchased at the Student Involvement and Activities Center (SIAC) in Maucker Union.

PinPoint Theatre, from Washington D.C., will present a play from 7 to 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13, in the Lang Hall Auditorium. The play, "1,001 Inventions," looks at what America would be like without African-American inventors.

A fashion show will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16, in Lang Hall Auditorium. Que, an American singer who was featured on an episode of MTV's "Making the Band," will host and give a special performance following the show.

Teju the Storyteller will perform from 7 to 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 27, in Lang Hall Auditorium. Teju entertains his audience with folk stories that relate to education and how things in American culture relate to African culture.

For additional information and a complete list of events, visit www.tinyurl.com/blackstudentunion or contact Darvel Givens, co-president of the Black Student Union at UNI, at 319-529-8116 or givensd@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Michele Devlin, professor of health, physical education and leisure services at the University of Northern Iowa, will present "Darfur to Denison: Iowa's Newest Refugees from Africa and Implications for Women's Health Professionals," at noon, Monday, Feb. 6, as part of the Current Research on Women and Gender (CROW) Forum. The forum will be held at the Center for Multicultural Education, 109A Maucker Union, on the UNI campus.

Iowa is experiencing one of the nation's fastest growth rates of immigrants. The presentation will provide background information on the more than 8,000 Sudanese in Iowa and the unique cultural, health, socioeconomic and family patterns within this population.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Barbara Cutter, director of the UNI Women's and Gender Studies Program, at 319-273-7102 or barbara.cutter@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Kenneth Lyftogt, a lecturer in the history department at the University of Northern Iowa, will present "The Flag of the 2^nd Infantry," from 7 to 10 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, in 115 Seerly Hall.

The lecture will discuss the Battle of Fort Donelson, which was the first great Union victory during the Civil War. The presentation will highlight how soldiers of the 2^nd Iowa Infantry went into the battle with a cloud of disgrace, but came out as heroes and were given the name "bravest of the brave."

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Lyftogt at 319-273-3927 or ken.lyftogt@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa Museums will be among select museums in the country to confront the issue of race and racism in the United States. The exhibit "RACE: Are We So Different?" will be on display, Monday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, June 9. An opening reception, featuring a discussion with Dwight Watson, dean of UNI's College of Education, will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9. The event is free and open to the public.

The exhibit will encourage museum visitors to explore the science, history and everyday impact of race.  The exhibit is a project of the American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota.

"We're proud to present innovative, cutting-edge exhibits," said Jori Wade-Booth, public affairs coordinator at UNI Museums. "Our visitors know we are a place for hands-on learning that appeals to all ages. 'RACE' gives us an opportunity to step up and be a leader in the museum community when it comes to helping visitors explore race and racism and tackle an issue that's important to our community and our country."

"RACE is a powerful exhibit experience," adds Robert Garfinkle, program director for special projects at the Science Museum of Minnesota. "We hope its content will challenge our community to increase the quantity and quality of their conversations about race and racism and the experiences they've had in their lives."

The RACE exhibit is part of a larger public education project from American Anthropological Association and funded by the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation. The project is intended to inform and shape the national dialogue about race.  In addition to the exhibit, the initiative includes a website, www.understandingrace.org, educational materials and conferences designed to share research and information with the public.  

The exhibit is locally funded in part by the City of Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau and sponsored by Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The University Museum is located at 3219 Hudson Road in Cedar Falls. It is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Wade-Booth at 319-2732188 or jori.wade-booth@uni.edu. For a complete listing of programs and events, visit www.uni.edu/museum. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa will welcome Heather Hackman as the guest speaker for this year's annual Town Hall Meeting on Diversity sponsored by UNI's Diversity Council. The meeting will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, in the Slife Ballroom, Commons. A Diversity Fair will precede the town hall meeting from 1 to 2 p.m., in the Georgian Lounge and Porch. Five UNIfaculty, staff and students will be honored with the Diversity Matters Award during the meeting.

Hackman, a human relations and multicultural education professor at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, will be discussing ways individuals can contribute to diversity efforts as the institution moves forward with its own initiatives. She has been teaching and training on social justice issues since 1992. Hackman consults nationally on issues of deep diversity, equity and social justice, and has focused most of her recent training work on issues of racism and white privilege, gender oppression, heterosexism and homophobia and classism.

"Hackman's expertise and experience will be useful as we seek to advance our efforts on campus," said Terry Hogan, chair of UNI's Diversity Council. "She encourages individuals to realize that diversity matters on campus because it enhances our social connections to people and allows our students to prepare for careers in a world in which globalization and diversity are a reality." 

For more information, visit UNI's Diversity Matters website at http://www.uni.edu/diversity/.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The outdoor recreation program at the University of Northern Iowa provides many outdoor and environmental opportunities for students, faculty, staff and community members. Community members can rent a variety of equipment including canoes, kayaks and skis, to name a few.

The outdoor recreation program also hosts hiking, camping, rock climbing trips and more, open to anyone 18 years and older with an adventurous spirit. All outdoor trips are based on a "common adventurer" philosophy, which states that the goal of any adventure is to achieve an enjoyable and worthwhile experience while displaying the greatest respect for the natural environment.

"Our goal at UNI Outdoors is to offer something for everyone," says Andy Martin, outdoor recreation coordinator at UNI. "We only ask that you bring an adventuresome spirit as we challenge you to walk a different path."

Community members interested in renting equipment or learning more about trips can visit www.uni.edu/wellrec/outdoor_recreation or contact Martin at 319-273-7164 or andrew.martin@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Iowa Teacher of the Year award honors exceptional educators who help to redefine education. The 2012 award went to Charity Campbell, a Norwalk Middle School physical education teacher who will be visiting the University of Northern Iowa to speak about her work.

Campbell will speak at Malcolm Price Lab School (MPLS), Iowa's Research and Development School, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, in the library. She will also give a short presentation, followed by an informal discussion from 2 to 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2, at 244 Schindler Education Center. Both events are free and open to the public. Guests attending the event at MPLS need to contact Lyn Countryman, interim director and professor at MPLS, at 319-273-2614 or lyn.countryman@uni.edu.

"Great teachers and leaders are the heart and soul of great schools," said Jason Glass, director of the Iowa Department of Education. "As educators, we look to the example set by tremendous teachers such as Campbell to help move Iowa's education system forward."

For additional information, contact Rip Marston, professor of health, physical education & leisure services, at 319-273-6882 or ripley.marston@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will offer a workshop focused on exploring systems of race, privilege and difference in an effort to support the creation of multicultural classrooms that celebrate respect for diversity. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, at Schindler Education Center.

Eddie Moore Jr., the director of diversity at the Brooklyn Friends School, will speak at the workshop. His mission is to encourage and stimulate thoughts, ideas and actions focused on complex social issues facing students and educators of all backgrounds and experiences.

This workshop will utilize the "RACE: Are We So Different?" exhibit at the UNI Museums, which will be on display Monday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, June 9. The exhibit gives visitors the tools to recognize racial ideas and practices in contemporary American life by exploring the everyday experience of race and the contemporary science that is challenging common ideas about race. Students can earn one hour of UNI graduate credit by attending the workshop.

The cost of the workshop is $50. To register, visit www.uni.edu/continuinged/enroll. Enrollment forms must be submitted by Friday, Feb. 17. For additional information about the workshop, contact Stephanie Logan, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at UNI, at 319-273-2167 or stephanie.logan@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- UNI classes and normal work activities are canceled beginning at noon today. 

 "Rock of Ages" show will go on as planned this evening at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.  The women's basketball game vs. Bradley will also take place.

Weather-related cancellations at the University of Northern Iowa are available at www.uni.edu/resources/cancellations.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education (CHGE) will sponsor the traveling exhibit "Who Am I? Young Minds Forced to Choose," at the Toledo Public Library. The exhibit, co-hosted by the Toledo Public Library and South Tama County Middle School, is free and open to the public and can be viewed during the library's normal operation hours from Tuesday, Jan. 31, through Tuesday, Feb. 14.

"Who Am I? Young Minds Forced to Choose" tells the compelling true story of young Jehovah's Witnesses who were quickly thrust into a political firestorm of Nazi propaganda. Against the tide of coercion and terror, these youths took a firm stand of conscience, oftentimes facing severe reprisals, despite their age. The exhibit, designed by the Arnold-Liebster Foundation, is an effective tool to assist educators on how to address contemporary student issues, such as bullying, gang prevention and prejudice.

"We are proud to be sponsoring this exhibit and are confident it will have the same positive effects that other schools have seen in helping young people to understand and respond to challenges facing their generation," said Stephen J. Gaies, director of the CHGE. "We anticipate that students will be inspired by these accounts, that they will view as positive role models the young Jehovah's Witnesses who resisted the persecution of the Nazi regime, and that most of all, they will see the value of standing up for what they believe."

The exhibit is located at the Toledo Public Library, 206 E. High St., Toledo, Iowa and will continue traveling to other Iowa schools from February through April 2012. For more information about the exhibit or the UNI Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education, contact Stephen Gaies, director of the CHGE, at 319-273-3870 or chge@uni.edu. Information is also available at www.uni.edu/chge.

The Arnold-Liebster Foundation, based in Karben, Germany, began in 2002 and is dedicated to the history and story of Jehovah's Witnesses during World War II, who also suffered intense persecution and reprisals by the Nazis because of their religious stand. The foundation fosters understanding and education worldwide of the experience of Jehovah's Witnesses during that time, and highlights how their strong faith helped them to endure, even though they had the ability to seek relief by signing a declaration recanting their beliefs. For more information, visit www.alst.org.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education (CHGE) will sponsor the traveling exhibit "Who Am I? Young Minds Forced to Choose," at Meredith Middle School in Des Moines, located at 4827 Madison Ave. The exhibit will be on display from Tuesday, Jan. 17, through Monday, Jan. 30.

"Who Am I? Young Minds Forced to Choose" tells the compelling true story of young Jehovah's Witnesses who were quickly thrust into a political firestorm of Nazi propaganda. Against the tide of coercion and terror, these youths took a firm stand of conscience, oftentimes facing severe reprisals, despite their age. The exhibit, designed by the Arnold-Liebster Foundation, is an effective tool to assist educators about how to address contemporary student issues, such as bullying, gang prevention and prejudice.

"We are proud to be sponsoring and hosting this exhibit and are confident it will have the same positive effects that other schools have seen in helping young people to understand and respond to challenges facing their generation," said Stephen J. Gaies, director of the CHGE. "We anticipate that students will be inspired by these accounts, that they will view as positive role models the young Jehovah's Witnesses who resisted the persecution of the Nazi regime, and that most of all, they will see the value of standing up for what they believe."

The exhibit will continue traveling to other Iowa schools and libraries from February through April 2012. For more information about the exhibit or about the UNI Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education, contact Stephen Gaies, director of the CHGE, at 319-273-3870 or chge@uni.edu. Information is also available at www.uni.edu/chge. For more information regarding public viewing of the exhibit, contact Meredith Middle School at 515-242-7250.

The Arnold-Liebster Foundation, based in Karben, Germany, began in 2002 and is dedicated to the history and story of Jehovah's Witnesses during World War II, who also suffered intense persecution and reprisals by the Nazis because of their religious stand.  The foundation fosters understanding and education worldwide of the experience of Jehovah's Witnesses during that time, and highlights how their strong faith helped them to endure, even though they had the ability to seek relief by signing a declaration recanting their beliefs.  For more information, visit www.alst.org.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa will host Art Bettis, associate professor of geoscience at the University of Iowa, at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25, as part of the center's ongoing seminar series. The Tallgrass Prairie Center is located on the UNI campus at 2412 W. 27^th St. 

Bettis will speak about the geologic history of the Upper Mississippi River Valley and its value in flood plain restoration.  The shaping of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, from the Twin Cities to just above the junction with the Ohio River, has been extensively studied and mapped for several decades.  Bettis will outline the process that formed the landscape of the Mississippi River Valley during the last glacial period and over the past 10,000 years. He will also discuss why restoration plans should incorporate existing information about the valley's formation to develop cost-effective projects and management practices.

Bettis is the coordinator of the University of Iowa Environmental Science Program.  His research focuses on landscape evolution over the past 2 million years. He pursues interests in the long-term behavior of wind, water and glacial systems and the impact of human activities on the landscape.

For additional information, contact Daryl Smith, director at the UNI Tallgrass Prairie Center, at 319-273-2238 or daryl.smith@uni.edu

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Roy Eblen Speech and Hearing Clinic has effectively served thousands of preschool and school-aged children with various types of speech and language disorders. This includes children who are late-talkers, non-communicators, children with multiple speech and articulation challenges and many others.

UNI's speech-language pathology master's program is ranked ninth in the country, and routinely accepts only a fraction of the hundreds of applicants each year. Undergraduate students begin seeing patients as early as their junior year, and also receive practicum experiences in schools, preschools and community clinics to work with those in need. UNI also has the largest international program in the country for speech pathology.

"The faculty and staff have provided me with tremendous opportunities to excel, as an undergraduate and graduate student, that are unique to UNI," remarks Lindsay Woolston, a graduate student in speech-language pathology at UNI. "The professors are very involved in each student's academic success."

For additional information, contact Carlin Hageman, department head and professor of communication sciences and disorders at UNI, at 319-273-2496 or carlin.hageman@uni.edu

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Michael Hager has been named vice president for administration and financial services at the University of Northern Iowa, pending official approval by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Hager is currently the assistant vice president for student affairs and executive director of residence at UNI. He will assume his new duties on Jan. 23.

"The university is committed to providing our students, faculty and staff high quality programs and learning environments in these challenging economic times," said UNI President Ben Allen. "Michael is a visionary and strategic thinker, who will provide strong leadership and counsel. I look forward to working with Michael and his division."

Hager is completing his Doctor of Business Administration at St. Ambrose University. He holds an MBA from the University of Dubuque and B.A. from UNI. Hager has worked in higher education since 1988 and in his current role at UNI since 2008. He has provided leadership to UNI's housing systems, dining operations and retail stores. He has a strong background in the development of complex budgeting systems, long range strategic planning, facilities planning and construction and sustainability initiatives. Prior to coming to UNI, he worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

The vice president for administration and financial services is a member of the president's cabinet. The vice president operates as the chief business and financial officer, provides executive leadership for the university's financial administrative operations, formulates and implements administrative and fiscal policies, provides counsel on resource allocation and sustainability initiatives and oversees facilities, building and safety operations.

He replaces Jan Hanish, who has served as interim vice president since August 2011. Hanish will return to her university position as assistant vice president for outreach and special programs. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Small businesses create new jobs, develop new ideas and offer valuable services all across the state. They also employ more than half of Iowa's private labor force. Inspiring those business owners to grow and develop their businesses, and providing the tools to do so, is the impetus behind the fifth annual EntreFest! conference, taking place March 8-9 in Ames, Iowa. Registration is now open at www.entrefest.com.

The two-day conference will be at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center, 2100 Green Hills Drive, Ames.  Registration fee for the two day conference is $119 per person.  

EntreFest!, developed at the University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center through its MyEntre.Net program, brings information, expertise and fun under one roof by providing Iowa business owners and those aspiring to be in business an opportunity to learn, share and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit.

This year's sessions are geared to help attendees successfully start, grow and manage their businesses.  Attendees will learn about building an online brand, how to effectively use social media and their website for greater exposure, how to "fail with flair," strategies for managing email overload and more.  There will be an abundance of networking opportunities, and the Biz Info Smorgasbord will allow attendees to ask questions of business experts in a fun, informal setting.

This year's keynote speaker is Kelly McDonald, a marketing and advertising expert with more than 20 years of global advertising agency experience. McDonald has experience marketing to different generations, values, lifestyles, races and ethnicities. Her company, McDonald Marketing, has twice been named one of the top ad agencies in the U.S. by Advertising Age Magazine, and her book, “How to Market to People Not Like You,” is a bestseller and was named one of the “Top 5 Best Business Books of 2011" by Inc. magazine. 

EntreFest!'s featured capstone presenter is Kelly Boon, founder of CHASO [Creativity Humor And Other Stuff]. Boon is internationally recognized as a leader in employing art and humor in everyday living.

For more information about EntreFest!, including a full schedule, speaker bios and registration details, visit www.entrefest.com or contact Courtney Schwitzer at 319-273-4328 or courtney.schwitzer@uni.edu

EntreFest! is presented by a collaborative committee of Iowa's premier service providers from across the state, and is sponsored by UNI Regional Business Center and MyEntre.Net, Wells Fargo UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center/UNI Entrepreneurs grant, UNI Division of Business and Community Services, Black Hills Energy, Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa State University Community Vitality Center, Iowa State University College of Business, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa Farm Bureau/Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Area Development Group Community Foundation, Alliant Energy, Iowa Small Business Development Centers and Iowa Bankers Association.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host Thomas Schnöll, Consul General of Austria in Chicago, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30, in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center lobby.

Schnöll will present his lecture, "The Future of the Eurozone: The European Project at a Crossroads," which will discuss the role of smaller European states in the debt crisis. Schnöll earned a master's degree in law from Johannes Kepler University and attended the École Nationale d'Administration.  Prior to taking up his current position heading Austria's mission in Chicago, he served in the Austrian Embassy in Paris, the Permanent Representation of Austria to the European Union in Brussels, and the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nadia Korobova, assistant director of UNI International Programs, at 319-273-7424 or nadia.korobova@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Multicultural Education (CME) will host author and journalist Ellis Cose at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 16, at the CME as part of UNI's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities.

Cose will discuss his book "The End of Anger: A New Generation's Take on Race and Rage," and how it relates to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s teachings and his fight for equality.

Cose has been a longtime columnist and contributing editor for Newsweek magazine, and is the former chairman of the editorial board of the New York Daily News. He began his journalism career as a weekly columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and has been a contributor and press critic for Time magazine, president and chief executive officer of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, and chief writer on management and workplace issues for USA Today.

For more information, contact Michael Blackwell, director of UNI's Center for Multicultural Education, at 319-273-2250 or michael.blackwell@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Veridian Credit Union is seeking nominations to recognize the outstanding contributions of University of Northern Iowa faculty members to community engagement through research and/or teaching.

Veridian Credit Union will fund up to five Community Engagement awards for faculty from among UNI's four undergraduate colleges: Business Administration, Education, Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.  All full-time tenure-track and tenured faculty are eligible. Recipients receive a recognition award and a $1,000 check payable to the approved nonprofit organization of the faculty member's choice.  Veridian initiated the awards in 2006 to recognize the efforts of UNI faculty and inspire more partnerships among faculty, students and community organizations.

Community engagement is defined as the collaboration of the university with the public and private sectors for the mutual benefit of all.  This engagement is not simply service or membership, but it is the combination of meeting a community need through teaching and/or scholarship.  It includes collaboration with the commercial and nonprofit sectors, special interests or needs, and groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity.

"Veridian Credit Union is excited to again be sponsoring the Community Engagement Awards in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa," said Jean Trainor, President and CEO of Veridian Credit. Union. "Through these awards, it is our hope that we can continue to build a community of learning, innovation and shared leadership."

Community members and UNI faculty, staff and students may nominate a UNI faculty member by securing the consent of the nominee, completing the online nomination form at www.uni.edu/resources/veridian-award-nomination and providing a letter of recommendation from the community organization with which the faculty member is engaged.  All materials must be submitted online by Feb. 17. Nomination materials are available at www.uni.edu/resources/veridian-credit-union-community-engagement-award.

"Incorporating community engagement into research and the classroom puts theories into practice," said Gloria Gibson, Executive Vice President and Provost at UNI.  "The community projects some of our faculty undertake simultaneously strengthens them, our students and our community.  With the help of Veridian, we're able to recognize these faculty members and further reward the organizations they work with."

The 2012 Community Engagement Award winners will be recognized at the eighth annual Cedar Valley Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Awards Luncheon on April 13.  The luncheon is presented by UNI's Nonprofit Leadership Alliance program, and will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Commons Ballroom on the UNI campus.

Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members.  The credit union offers a full range of consumer financial services and employs more than 500 Iowans throughout 26 branches, including 13 in the Cedar Valley.  For more information, visit www.veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- In response to the recent announcement by the Iowa National Guard that the National Guard Education Assistance Program (NGEAP) is being reduced, the University of Northern Iowa announced today it's taking steps to help ensure that Iowa National Guard members who are current UNI students will be able to complete this academic year.

As a result of the state cutback, more than 90 UNI students won't receive approximately $1,300 each in NGEAP assistance this spring. UNI President Ben Allen said the university will provide grant funds to cover the shortfall.

"UNI is committed to providing military students opportunities to pursue higher education," said Allen. "These students have made sacrifices to serve our nation and our state and we didn't want this sudden, unexpected drop in funding so close to the start of a new semester to stand in the way of their academic progress. We appreciate the complex situation the state is facing and we are taking this action as a one-time stop-gap in the interest of our students."

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host Kindergym on Saturday mornings from 9 to 9:50 a.m. for ages 4 to 5, and 10 to 10:50 a.m. for ages 2 to 3, beginning Jan. 28 through March 3, in the Wellness & Recreation Center gym on the UNI campus. Kindergym is an informal learning program focusing on the development and refinement of motor skills.

Physical activity stations will focus on age-appropriate movement skills that encourage success in a fun atmosphere. Because Kindergym is a parent/child program, parents are requested to attend the sessions with their child.

The registration fee is $32, which includes an official Kindergym T-shirt. For more information about Kindergym or to register, contact Rip Marston, professor in the School of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services, at 319-273-6882 or ripley.marston@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Office of the Auditor of State today released a report detailing the results of its investigation into alleged fraud in the University of Northern Iowa ticketing operation, known as UNItix. According to the auditor's office, former UNItix Assistant Director John David Gogola used a highly complicated system to siphon $18,891 from the system in 2010. Gogola left the university in late 2010.

"A UNItix patron called to confirm when she would receive her Panther Athletics tickets," said Steve Carignan, UNI assistant vice president for administration and financial services and executive director of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. "The UNItix director found the payment had been received, but the tickets hadn't been issued. An internal review of UNItix records indicated the probable theft of several thousand dollars."

UNI officials immediately contacted the state auditor's office to request a special investigation.

"While the auditor's report identifies accounts that were affected, that doesn't necessarily mean all those accounts actually lost money," explained Carignan. "In the end, almost all the funds taken were from the main UNItix account, but a small number of individuals and groups did lose money. We are contacting  all the people and groups affected and checks are being mailed today to repay the stolen funds. UNI will pursue restitution from Mr. Gogola.

"UNI is committed to continuously improving processes and systems," said Carignan. "The report includes recommendations about how to improve internal controls and transaction security, most of which already have been implemented."

The auditor's report was given to the Black Hawk County Attorney's Office for consideration of criminal charges against Gogola. The full report and related news release are online at http://auditor.iowa.gov/specials/1161-8030-BE00.pdf

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host a week-long residency beginning Jan. 1 for two theatre companies, New York City's the TEAM (Theatre of the Emerging American Moment) and Portland Oregon's Sojourn Theatre. During the fall 2011 semester, the artists led workshops with UNI students and examined the caucus process in Iowa. The company members will share their research in a performance called "Town Hall," at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, in the Interpreters Theater in 040 Lang Hall. The performance is open to the public.

The purpose of the project is to discover how civic discourse has changed since the start of the republic, and been impacted by the development of print, broadcast and Internet media. The script for the performance is developed from interviews with students and community members. A conversation with the audience will follow the presentation.

For additional information, visit www.uni.edu/commstudies or contact Karen Mitchell, UNI professor in communication studies, at 319-273-2640 or karen.mitchell@uni.edu. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The first annual Conference on African-American Children and Families will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, in the Schindler Education Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus. The conference is designed for educators, administrators, childcare providers, law enforcement, social workers, health professionals, business leaders and anyone committed to improving the lives of children.

The conference will promote a better understanding of culture, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status and the needs of African-American children and families. Participants will spend the day networking and meeting with new colleagues to help improve the quality of lives for children and families.

Keynote speakers and breakout sessions will focus on the future of African-American families and children. Keynote speakers and topics include Jan Spivey Gilchrist, author and illustrator, "Family Literacy, a Time to Share;" Iheoma U. Uruka, research assistant professor in psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "Journey of Our Children: Hope for the Future;" and Chrishirella Warthen, school administration consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "Black Girls Interrupted: Restoring Life-Enhancing Developmental Foundations."

A pre-conference will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, at the UNI Center for Multicultural Education. Many of the same keynote speakers will address a variety of topics and dinner will be served.

To register or for more information, visit www.vpaf.uni.edu/aac or contact Gloria Holmes, UNI associate professor of curriculum and instruction, at 319-273-2007 or gloria.holmes@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art will present "Modern Motives: Influences in Today’s Art" from Monday, Jan. 9 through Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Sponsored in part by Northern Iowa Potters and Sculptors.

Artists' lectures associated with the exhibition will take place at 7 p.m. in Kamerick Art Building Art Auditorium, KAB 111. Thaddeus Erdahl will discuss "Finding Personal Artifacts" on Jan. 18, and Tom Bartel will speak Feb. 8. Receptions will follow each lecture.

"Modern Motives" is an invitational exhibition curated by art students Stephanie Gonzalez and Bryan Coons with the assistance of the UNI Student Curatorial Committee. The exhibitors include west coast-based emerging artists Kiel Johnson, Mike Leavitt, and Skinner as well as nationally known ceramic artists Tom Bartel and UNI alumnus Thaddeus Erdahl.

According to the student curators, "This project is a first of its kind in which students get to go through the entire process of organizing an art exhibition from start to finish. This process allows the students to grow and mature in a professional setting, rather than just within the confines of their studios."

Tom Bartel received his M.F.A. in ceramics from Indiana University, Bloomington and has exhibited extensively in this country as well as China, Korea, Japan, and the Czech Republic. Bartel's work is inspired by the human form and manifests in humorous, sometimes macabre ways.

Thaddeus Erdahl received his M.FA. from the University of Florida, Gainesville and recently completed an artist residency followed by a six-month program manager position at the prestigious Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Erdahls's work is also figural, but as he states his sculptural surfaces are "metaphors for an emotional state."

Kiel Johnson is an L.A.-based artist working primarily in cardboard, chipboard, and glue to make complex and whimsical representations of mechanical objects. Johnson is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach and is widely exhibited. In 2008 he received a Pollock-Krasner grant. According to Seattle-based Mike Leavitt, his company Intuition Kitchen Productions is a "one-man company of fine craft, sculpture, portraiture, performance, education, architecture, and animation." Leavitt has exhibited his cardboard Hip Hop shoes, pop culture action figures, and 'Vita Vera' game boards worldwide.

Self-taught artist Skinner maintains a studio in Sacramento, Calif. where he creates paintings, murals, and sculptures influenced by 80s pop culture, heavy metal bands, and Dungeons and Dragons. His work is shown nationally and internationally and has been published in Juxtapoz and Hi Fructose magazines.

The exhibition and receptions are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday; and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is located at the northeast corner of Hudson Road and West 27th Street, Cedar Falls, on the main floor of the Kamerick Art Building. For more information, contact Darrell Taylor, director of the UNI Gallery of Art, at 319-273-6134 or darrell.taylor@uni.edu, or visit www.uni.edu/artdept/gallery/Home.html.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Three students at the University of Northern Iowa are recipients of the Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program (Nextgen) Scholarship from the National Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. The Nextgen program awards students $4,500 which allows them to complete their internships and certification process.

Students selected as Nextgen leaders agree to complete the certification process, participate in a voluntary program evaluation and participate in a multi-year research study designed to illustrate the positive effects of internship stipends for professionals entering the nonprofit sector. A total of 28 UNI students have earned a total of $126,000 since the scholarship began in 2007.

UNI recipients include Natalie Greve, leisure, youth and human services major, of Holy Cross, Iowa; Danielle Means, mathematics major; and Elizabeth Messerli, a psychology major. Only students seeking certification in nonprofit management through the nonprofit leadership alliance can earn this scholarship.

For additional information, contact Julianne Gassman, assistant professor in health, physical education and leisure services at UNI, at 319-273-2264 or julianne.gassman@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Two professors at the University of Northern Iowa, Mark Grey and Michele Devlin, have been awarded a $425,000 multi-year contract with the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) to address disproportionate immigrant and minority over-representation in the child welfare system.

"Minority over-representation in the child welfare system is a serious issue facing our state and nation," said Gloria Gibson, executive vice president and provost at UNI. "This award will not only help alleviate the disproportionate burden experienced by immigrants and minorities in the state's child welfare system, but will also contribute to UNI's focus on applied community engagement."

The Iowa DHS is committed to meeting the child welfare needs of all residents of the state in an equitable and fair manner. Grey and Devlin plan on working with DHS staff to review current policies, determine the effectiveness of the programs, provide cross-cultural training and develop a statewide approach to reducing the over-representation of minorities in the child welfare system. They will serve as co-directors and lead consultants for this project while involving a number of other UNI faculty with migration and ethnic minority expertise around campus.

For more information, contact Grey at 319-273-6496 or mark.grey@uni.edu or Devlin at 319-273-5806 or michele.devlin@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Sam Lankford, professor of health, physical education and leisure services at the University of Northern Iowa, has helped to pioneer a study about the impact the Arctic Winter Games have on the people involved. He hopes to analyze the personal, social and community benefits the games provide for the participants. He has worked on this research since 1992.

The games were created for youth in the circumpolar region of the Arctic. The participants are diverse, including Inuit, Inuvialuit, Dene and Metis aboriginals, as well as Sampi from Northern Scandinavia and Yamal from Russia. Athletes compete every two years by representing their country in a variety of contemporary and indigenous sports and games.

UNI students assist Lankford in his research and have the opportunity to attend the 2012 Winter Games, in Yukon, Canada. Students must take two semesters of the course Community Planning Workshop in order to participate, where they learn how to write proposals, timelines and budgets and collect, analyze and present data.

Lankford and his team will continue studying the games for the next four years. For more information, contact Sam Lankford, professor of health, physical education and leisure services, at 319-273-6840 or sam.lankford@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The UNI Suzuki School will hold auditions for positions with the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra (NIYO) on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Russell Hall on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

NIYO is an affiliate of the UNI Suzuki School. The NIYO music director is Bonnie Alger. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings at Russell Hall at UNI. The fee for participating in the orchestra is $110. The final concert will be held May 21, 2012.

Auditions are open to violin, viola, cello, bass, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba and percussion students in grades nine through 12. Students will be expected to play a solo, selected scales and sight read.

An audition form and more information is available from the website at www.uni.edu/music/suzuki/node270 .To schedule an audition time, please contact cathy.craig@uni.edu or call 319-273-2508 before Jan. 10.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Executive Development Center is now accepting registrations for the 2012 Management Excellence certificate program. The program, designed for experienced managers, consists of nine classes conducted from Jan. 25 to May 2.

The Management Excellence certificate program is comprehensive management training program intended for team leaders and managers who have a couple years of managerial work experience and want to further develop their management ability and boost their confidence in handling the more difficult and uncomfortable situations managers face like addressing performance issues, negotiating better deals and making difficult and unpopular decisions. 

The enrollment deadline is Jan.18; space is limited.

"In four months, participants will be better able to hold employees accountable, ask better questions, strengthen working relationships, diagnose business problems and improve their communication and leadership skills," said Kim Recker, program manager for the UNI Executive Development Center.

Introductory tuition for business employees is $2,998, which includes all training and instruction, materials, lunches, refreshments and parking. Businesses can enroll a second person from the same organization for a discounted price of $1,998. Tuition for non-profit employees is $1,998. UNI Alumni members receive a 10-percent discount. This program may also qualify for tuition reimbursement programs and Iowa Jobs Training Programs 260E and 260F. 

For more information or to register, contact the UNI Executive Development Center at 319-273-5851 or execdev@uni.edu.

For more than 20 years, UNI's Executive Development Center has provided comprehensive, current and relevant management and leadership training to business professionals to improve and maximize their performance and results in today's challenging and competitive business world. The Executive Development Center is a program of Business and Community Services, a division of the UNI College of Business Administration.     

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa's Children's Choir will perform a winter concert at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16, in Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall on the UNI campus. Admission to the UNI concert is free, and the event is open to the public.

In addition to the annual concert at UNI, the UNI Children's Choir will also perform at the Aplington-Parkersburg Performing Artist Series on Dec. 17, at 7 p.m., at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg. Tickets to the Dec. 17 event are $15 and are available for purchase at the door.           

The UNI Children's Choir has approximately 120 current members. Michelle Swanson is the director.

For more information, contact Swanson at (319) 273-2600 or Caroline Boehmer, School of Music communications and operations coordinator, at (319) 273-2028.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa recently received a grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) to monitor and evaluate bridge damage detection using a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system. The project goes from Sept.1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2013.

The IDOT has done research to develop a SHM system that is capable of identifying damage and able to report on the general operational condition of bridges. UNI's Department of Industrial Technology will investigate the feasibility of using wireless sensor systems for transportation system monitoring, because a significant cost of any bridge monitoring system lies in the cost of cabling and installation.

The objectives of the project, which involves research from each of Iowa's three public universities, is to finalize development of the overall SHM system hardware and software and evaluate and develop energy harvesting techniques.

For more information, contact Jin Zhu, assistant professor in industrial technology, at 319-273-2597 or jin.zhu@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host its annual fall commencement ceremony at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, in the McLeod Center. More than 600 students who have completed their degrees during the fall semester are eligible to participate in the ceremony. This year's commencement speaker is Isaac Brockshus, a composition-theory major from Spencer, Iowa.

Immediately following the ceremony, there will be a reception in the McLeod Center with light snacks and beverages. Graduates and guests are encouraged to attend. There will also be areas set up for families and graduates to take pictures.

The Commencement RSVP, cap and gown ordering, and graduation application forms are available online only.

Additionally, the UNI Department of Military Science will host its annual Fall Commissioning Ceremony at 8 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, in Lang Hall. Four cadets will be commissioned as U.S. Army lieutenants. Family and friends are invited to arrive anytime after 7:30 a.m. and to stay for refreshments immediately following the ceremony.

A posthumous degree will also be awarded to the family of Jennifer Mills.

For more information, visit http://www.uni.edu/commencement/ or contact Philip Patton, university registrar, at 319-273-2244 or philip.patton@uni.edu

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa "Writers Speak" Reading Series will host a reading by fiction writer J. Harley McIlrath on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 8 p.m. in 161 Baker Hall on the UNI campus. This event is free and open to the public.

McIlrath is known in the metro area as the founder and proprietor of the fine and used bookstore Bought Again Books, formerly in Cedar Falls.

McIlrath will be reading from his book of short fiction, "Possum Trot," which tells Iowa stories. Author David Campbell said McIlrath is "always true to the Iowa earth." Editor Steven Horwitz said, "J. Harley McIlrath knows the landscape, physical and emotional, of the family farm and the small town."

For more information, contact Vince Gotera, coordinator of UNI's creative writing program, at 319-273-7061, vince.gotera@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art will present "B.F.A. Group Exhibition" on Thursday, Dec. 8, through Saturday, Dec. 17, on the main floor of the Kamerick Art Building. A reception for the exhibition will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8.

The artwork of six UNI Bachelor of Fine Arts students from the state of Iowa will be presented through the exhibition, each conveying unique styles and techniques. Jessica Calhoun of Windsor Heights has an emphasis in painting. Laura M. Forgie of Lowden has an emphasis in sculpture. Amanda Golwitzer of Wesley, Chance Rory Greaves of Milford and Sarah Rodgers of Cherokee, all have an emphasis in printmaking. Alex M. Peterson of Lost Nation has an emphasis in drawing.

"Art has always been my primary means of reflection and entertainment," said Greaves. "I work both intuitively and deliberately, working to balance expressivity and symbolic imagery."

All events are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit www.uni.edu/artdept/gallery/Home.html or contact Darrell Taylor, director of the UNI Gallery of Art, at 319-273-3095 or darrell.taylor@uni.edu. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum will attend a presidential candidate education forum at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9, in the lobby of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Peforming Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa. UNI and Iowa Public Radio (IPR) will host presidential candidates this fall to share their views on education as part of UNI's Presidential Candidate Education Forums "Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities in Education Today." The forums are free and open to the public. Guests can park in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center Visitor's lot.

The forum, moderated by Ben Kieffer, host of IPR's The Exchange, will focus on policy initiatives related to education reform and broader implications for global competitiveness. The forum will include a 30-minute address from Santorum regarding his education platform, followed by a series of education-related questions from the audience. IPR will also broadcast the forum at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 12.

"Education has long been a prized value of Iowans, and UNI plays an important role in preparing Iowa's teachers," said Benjamin Allen, UNI president. "We're pleased to host presidential candidates and to help elevate education reform issues facing Iowa and America in an ever-increasing competitive global economy."

Santorum was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990 at the age of 32, and served from 1995 to 2007 in the U.S. Senate.  In 2000, he was elected Senate Republican Conference chairman. He was also an author and floor manager of the landmark Welfare Reform Act. Santorum wrote and championed legislation that outlawed partial birth abortion as well as the "Born Alive Infants Protection Act," the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act," and the "Combating Autism Act." He served eight years on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was a leader on US-Israeli relations, authoring both the "Syria Accountability Act" and the "Iran Freedom and Support Act." Santorum wrote the 2005 New York Times Best Seller "It Takes a Family." Santorum is married with seven children.

IPR manages station operations for WOI AM and FM, licensed to Iowa State University; WSUI-AM and KSUI-FM, licensed to The University of Iowa; and KUNI-FM and KHKE-FM, licensed to University of Northern Iowa. IPR informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. More than 200,000 listeners tune in weekly.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's New Horizons Band (NHB) will perform a winter concert at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 12, in the Great Hall in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center (GBPAC) on the UNI campus.

The band will be performing a variety of traditional concert band repertoire as well as holiday classics. Included in the program will be "Home for Christmas," a medley of Christmas favorites, selections from the Broadway musical "Oliver," and "Beguine for Flutes" by Eric Osterling that will feature the New Horizons Band flute section. Guest artist Russ Clark, bagpiper, will also perform at the concert. The Windy Hills Singers, directed by Martha Hansen, will perform in the GBPAC lobby before the concert. A reception will be held in the lobby immediately following the concert.

NHB is sponsored by the UNI School of Music and the UNI Community Music School. The group includes members ages 50 and older with various musical backgrounds who travel from all over Iowa to rehearse and perform. The band started in 1999 with 17 members and has a current membership of more than 70. Diana Blake, retired music educator and director of the NHB, said new members are welcome to join the group. 

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Caroline Boehmer, communications coordinator in the UNI School of Music, at 319-273-2028 or caroline.boehmer@uni.edu or Cindi Mason, instructor in the UNI School of Music, at 319-273-2142 or cynthia.mason@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- A group of students enrolled in the course Introduction to Sustainability at the University of Northern Iowa will present a public forum on "Visioning a Sustainable World in 2050."

The public forum will be presented Tuesday, Dec. 6, in the auditorium of UNI's Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE). A poster session will be held from 6:30 to 7 p.m., with the forum following at 7 p.m.

"Young people have the most at stake and should be in the vanguard of the sustainability movement," said Bill Stigliani, course instructor and UNI professor of environmental science.  The current generation has inherited numerous problems, such as climate change, resource depletion, species extinction and ecosystem degradation, he explained. "These problems are increasing while global population expands and newly emerging economies are increasing the demand for energy and raw materials."

The students have been working throughout the semester on a synthesis report that outlines a blueprint for a sustainable society in 2050 as they envision it.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Stigliani at 319-273-7150 or william.stigliani@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa is announcing a master's program for physical education majors and teachers that can be completed entirely online, the only program of its kind in the state of Iowa. The new 30-credit-hour cohort program will begin spring 2012 and will take five consecutive semesters to complete.

This program will link practice to theory in areas including motor learning and behavior, curriculum development, effective teaching and sport psychology for pre-K through high school physical education teachers and coaches. "This degree is designed to improve teaching skills, but it may also help teachers who need classes in order to have their contracts continued or bump up some teachers in the salary scale," said Fabio Fontana, assistant professor in the UNI School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services (HPELS).

The program offers students a convenient pathway to achieving a master's degree online. With the ability to attend class from their homes or offices, students will save on travel costs and time, making it easier to balance their academic, personal and professional lives. "We are excited to offer a program that will be accessible to individuals who live anywhere in the state and beyond and to work with professionals we would not necessarily work with otherwise," said Fontana.

Coursework is offered using eLearning, a Blackboard learning management system, which requires Internet access with Adobe Connect and a desktop video conferencing system. Technical support will be available. During the fall and spring semesters, courses are scheduled back-to-back in eight-week modules with meetings via Adobe Connect on select Monday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. "We will be using the best practices for online teaching and advanced online teaching technology," said Fontana. 

For more information about this and other professional development opportunities, visit www.uni.edu/continuinged or call UNI Continuing and Distance Education at 800-648-3864.