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Tuesday, Apr 12, 2011

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UNI Online is a compilation of notices to be distributed to faculty and staff. The deadline for submission is noon, the day before publication. UNI Online is distributed on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Submitted items must be sponsored by a UNI department, program or organization. No commercial or personal announcements are allowed. Announcements must have news, not opinion content. News items may be submitted via the UNI Online Submission Form.

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NEWS

UNI COMMUNICATIONS SURVEYNEW

Now through Friday, April 22, University Relations (UR) will be seeking input on communications practices via a survey at https://access.uni.edu/cgi-bin/surveys/viewSurvey.cgi?vs=6015&admin=1. The purpose of the study is to continue to analyze the effectiveness of communications practices. Once the research is complete, UR will determine what initiatives to start, stop, modify or continue. The survey should take approximately five minutes. Your responses will be confidential. As a token of appreciation, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $25 Dining Dollars gift cards.

ASSOCIATE PROVOST FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS CANDIDATE OPEN FORUM

The Associate Provost for International Programs (APIP) search committee invites all members of the campus community to attend an open forum at which the first APIP candidate will give a short presentation on "Challenges of Internationalization for Universities in the 21st Century: Lessons for UNI" followed by a Q&A session. An electronic evaluation form for the candidates will be available at https://access.uni.edu/cgi-bin/surveys/takeSurvey.cgi. The forum is scheduled from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, in 244/245 SEC.

FACULTY SURVEY OF WRITINGNEW

The University Writing Committee invites all faculty and instructional staff to participate in the survey on writing. This will complement student perceptions gathered through NSSE and provide data on how writing is actually taught at UNI. Please complete the survey at http://tinyurl.com/2frzgjk.

GRADUATE FACULTY MEETINGNEW

The annual Graduate Faculty Meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, April 21, in 115 SRL. During the meeting, awards will be presented to graduate students and graduate faculty. Faculty will discuss the new strategic plan for graduate education. The strategic plan, which is the first step in the strategic process, can be found at http://www.grad.uni.edu/graduate-faculty. A reception will immediately follow the meeting.

PANTHER VILLAGE IS THE NAME OF NEW CAMPUS APARTMENTSNEW

The name for the new Department of Residence apartment complex will be Panther Village. Phase I of Panther Village is under construction and will be ready for occupancy (204 students) in fall 2012. It will include a community gathering space, offices, and recreation and study space. Most of the apartments are designed for four students in single bedrooms sharing living, dining and kitchen space. Phase II of Panther Village will be available for occupancy (246 students) in fall 2013. The project web cam is linked to the DOR webpage under What's Happening: www.uni.edu/dor.

KAPPA DELTA PI ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAMNEW

Kappa Delta Pi is sponsoring a school supply drive for teachers and students at Orange Elementary and Hoover Middle schools in Waterloo. Examples of the kinds of supplies needed are displayed on a board located in the second-floor lobby, SEC. The last day to donate is Friday, April 22.

FACULTY ELECTIONS

Faculty elections will take place the week of April 18 using MyUNIverse. Nominees are: chair of the faculty: James Jurgenson, biology (incumbent) and Susan Wurtz, management; chair of the graduate faculty: Lauren Nelson, communication sciences & disorders and Gayle Pohl, communication studies. For more information, contact Melissa Beall (melissa.beall@uni.edu) or Dan Power (daniel.power@uni.edu).

FALL 2011 UNI ELEARNING COURSESNEW

Integration between the Campus Solutions Student Information System (SIS) and Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) will permit automatic creation of fall 2011 courses. An eLearning site will be created for all courses entered into the SIS. In lieu of manually requesting courses, instructors who elect to use the LMS will only need to log in to the UNI eLearning system and make their course available. No action is required for instructors who choose not to use the LMS. Fall 2011 eLearning courses will be populated with students in August before classes begin. Questions about this process should be sent to elearning@uni.edu.

SUPERVISORY & CONFIDENTIAL COUNCIL MEETING, APRIL 19NEW

The next meeting of the Supervisory & Confidential Council will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, in 025 GIL.

UNI IN THE NEWSNEW

Ken Lyftogt, history, was quoted in a story about the Civil War in the Des Moines Register. http://preview.tinyurl.com/3w445mc

USHERS NEEDED FOR 'URINETOWN'

Looking for something fun to do on a Friday or Saturday night or Sunday afternoon? Would you like to see a Strayer-Wood Theatre performance for free? Sign up to be an usher for one or more performances of "Urinetown," music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann and the book and lyrics by Greg Kotis. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16 and April 21 and 23, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 17, in the Strayer-Wood Theatre. For more information, contact Allison Krois at allisonkrois@gmail.com.

UNIVERSITY SUMMER HOURS

Summer hours for university offices will be 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Monday, May 9. Summer hours will remain in effect through Friday, Aug. 12. Supervisors of staff who do not have email access are asked to inform them of summer hours.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FIPSE GRANT OPPORTUNITY NOW OPEN

The U.S. Department of Education has announced the latest round of grants in the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). This grant program is the Department of Education's primary funding mechanism for college- and university-level projects; the program supports and disseminates innovative reform projects that promise to be models for improving the quality of postsecondary education and increasing student access. The grant deadline is Monday, May 23. For more information see http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fipsecomp/index.html. To apply, email hillery.oberle@uni.edu.

NATIONAL STUDENT EMPLOYMENT WEEK

National Student Employment Week is April 11 through 15. During this week, departments are encouraged to recognize and celebrate the contributions of their student employees.  The following are some ways to celebrate student employees: write a thank you card, have an office treat day where staff bring goodies for students, individually thank student employees for their specific contributions and decorate students' workstations. Students play a big role in making UNI run smoothly. Please take the time to acknowledge their contributions.

UNDERGRADUATE ADVISER SURVEY

The Undergraduate Academic Advising Council to the Provost has prepared a short survey (five minutes) to assess interest in adviser training, methods for delivering the training and training topics. If you have not yet taken the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/6XBHV9P. If you have any questions regarding this survey, contact Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure, chair of the Undergraduate Academic Advising Council to the Provost, at Pierre.Mvuyekure@uni.edu or 273-2518/3-3595.

UNI PHYSICS POLO SHIRTS ON SALE

The Physics Club has professional-quality polos for sale for $30 each. They are purple dry-wick polos with white stripes down the sides, with the UNI panther on the left breast surrounded by "Northern Iowa Physics." See a picture at https://sites.google.com/site/uniphysicsclub/. All proceeds will help fund the UNI Physics Club. Email uniphysicsclub@gmail.com with your name and size to place your order. Orders are due by Friday, April 15. Cash or a check made out to UNI Physics Club may be dropped off at the physics office in 215 PHY. Any questions may be directed to Jeremy Hulshizer at hulshizj@uni.edu or uniphysicsclub@gmail.com.

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK - DRIVE SAFELYNEW

This week is National Public Health Week so keep the following in mind to become a safer driver. In 2009, almost 11,000 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver, and nearly one in three crashes ended in death. To prevent this from happening, designate a non-drinking driver and take friends' keys away so they don't drive. Additionally, you are six to eight times more likely to get into an accident if you are texting while driving. To lessen the risk of texting while driving, turn off your phone or put it somewhere you can't reach it. The next time you get in a car, remember these tips and to drive safe so you don't become part of these statistics.

HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY DONATING OLD, USED CELL PHONESNEW

Donate old, used cell phones to Seeds of Hope, a local nonprofit organization that serves victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Drop-off locations include Le Comics (2225 College St.), The Runner’s Flat (120 Main St.), Pacific Sunwear (Crossroads Mall) and 235 LAT. The phones will be taken to Seeds of Hope Monday, April 25. No need to do anything special with the phone. If available, please include the battery and charger. The phones need not be in working order. For more information, email Jessica Lorenz jm4946@uni.edu.

RESOURCES

158 FREE DELL DESKTOP COMPUTERSNEW

To be considered for a free computer, requests must be submitted through your college or division technical coordinator on or before Friday, April 29. Request form/instructions can be found at http://www.uni.edu/its-old/us/sccs/OldPCsSpring2011Notice.htm. Although these machines are slightly older (three and four years old), they may be able to replace even older equipment to provide valuable access and service for students at various locations throughout campus. This offer is extended only to campus departments, not student groups or individuals. The deadline for submitting proposals is Friday, April 29.

SUMMER 2011 ELEARNING COURSESNEW

UNI faculty using the Blackboard/WebCT learning management system in conjunction with their summer semester courses should use the web form at http://elearning.uni.edu/forms/course_request.html to submit a course request. Courses will be populated with students Saturday, May 7, and enrollment changes are processed on a daily basis throughout the semester.

OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD

Open enrollment for academic administrators, faculty, institutional officials, Merit Supervisory and P&S staff will be April 18 through May 31. Open enrollment is a good time to review your benefit options and explore all that UNI has to offer. New benefit plan options offered this year allow you to choose a health and dental plan that best meets your needs.  Visit www.vpaf.uni.edu/hrs/benefits to get a head start reviewing the new benefit overviews, plan comparisons, FAQs, and dates for upcoming informational sessions.

BLENDED COURSE DEVELOPMENT AWARDS APPLICATION DUE APRIL 15

ITS-Educational Technology and Continuing and Distance Education invite faculty to apply for the Blended Course Development Awards initiative scheduled for May 23-27. Sessions will focus on blended course development (any combination of face-to-face and online elements) and other supportive tools. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 15. For more information, including an application form, visit http://www.uni.edu/its/sites/default/files/documents/idds/bcda.pdf.

FINDING AND APPLYING FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The Federal Government is one of the largest employers in the U.S. With a unique hiring process, getting hired for a government job creates challenges not faced in other fields. Learn about available job opportunities, job-search strategies and federal resumes from 3 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, in 009 GIL. For more information, contact Isabela Varela isabela.varela@uni.edu.

ACCESSIBLE WEB PAGE DESIGN

Monday, April 18, a training session will be held to offer assistance on increasing accessibility for all Web users, including those with disabilities. UNI employees responsible for contributing to or managing the design and content of their university department website should consider attending this session. Anyone who contributes to their department's website will benefit from this session, not just programmers and developers. For program details or registration instructions, visit: http://www.vpaf.uni.edu/hrs/training.

EXPANDING YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY TOOLKIT

Do you see students struggling financially but don’t know how to assist? Managing money can be a very difficult task for students, one that can often impact their overall livelihood on a college campus. The “Live Like A Student” financial literacy program was established in 2010 to assist students with improving their understanding of how choices today can impact their financial future. The Office of Student Financial Aid will present “Expanding Your Financial Literacy Toolkit: Helping Students Help Themselves” at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 21, in the Oak Room, MAU. This hour-long presentation will allow faculty and staff to learn about the “Live Like A Student” program, as well as obtain resources to assist students in understanding their financial options. Click here to register.

CONSIDERING E-PORTFOLIOS FOR ASSESSMENT?

If you have ever thought about using e-portfolios for program-level assessment, now is a good time to explore the possibilities. Take a look at ifolio, a new e-portfolio system now available at UNI. For more information, go to http://www.uni.edu/elearning/eportfolio/eportfolios-uni-home. For information on portfolios in general, see http://www.uni.edu/assessment/assessmentlibrarybytopic.shtml#portfolios. The assessment office can help.

SPSS SHORT COURSE

A free hands-on short course on using SPSS will be held from 2 to 3:15 p.m., Friday, April 15, and from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, in 110 WRT. The class is suitable for beginners. The Department of Mathematics provides assistance to faculty, staff and students through its Statistical Consulting Lab. For assistance or to RSVP, contact Mark Jacobson at 273-7172 or jacobson@cs.uni.edu. For more information, visit www.cs.uni.edu/~jacobson/SCL/.

SEEKING CLIENTS WHO NEED PUBLICATIONS CREATED

The UNI Professional Writing Program seeks individual and organizational clients who need to have print and digital publications created (e.g., newsletters, brochures, flyers, proposals, report documents, websites and exhibition storyboards). Contact Adrienne Lamberti at lamberti@uni.edu for more information.

TIAA-CREF SEMINAR "ARE WE THERE YET?"

The TIAA-CREF presentation "Are We There Yet? Investing for Retirement in the New Normal Economy" will take place from 10 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 26, in the CME. Brett Hammond, a TIAA-CREF managing director and chief investment strategist, will provide a short presentation about how to stay focused on achieving your retirement goals with a complete retirement investment strategy. This event is open to all UNI employees enrolled in the TIAA-CREF retirement plan. For more information and to register for the event, visit http://events.SignUp4.com/UNI2011.

MIGRATE YOUR ELEARNING COURSE TO BB LEARN 9NEW

UNI faculty planning to use the UNI eLearning system for fall 2011 courses who want to use an existing course as a template are strongly encouraged to participate in one of the new “Migrating to Bb Learn 9” workshops. During these workshops you will take one of your existing eLearning classes and migrate it to the new Bb Learn 9 system. Several workshops have been added to the schedule in May and June. For specific times and workshop details, visit https://access.uni.edu/cgi-bin/training/train_enroll.cgi?command=start&admin_group=ITSETF.

TIAA-CREF COUNSELINGNEW

A TIAA-CREF representative will be on campus conducting one-on-one counseling sessions on Wednesdays, May 4 and May 18, and Thursdays, April 21, May 12 and 19. The TIAA-CREF representative can help with questions such as 1) Is my investment mix appropriate? 2) Am I saving enough to maintain my lifestyle in retirement? and 3) How do I use my funds for income in retirement? To sign up for these complementary meetings, call (toll-free) 866-842-2977.

SPECIAL EVENTS

UNI COE - GREEN THE SCENENEW

Join the UNI College of Education for a series of brown bag lunches at noon the week of April 11. The college is promoting "Green the Scene," an initiative for faculty, staff and students to learn more about recycling, reducing waste and working in a healthy, sustainable environment. Topics include ergonomics, fire safety, green cleaning and energy conservation. To learn more about the sessions, visit the events link on the UNI c.a.r.e. site at www.vpaf.uni.edu/energy/energy_sub/announcements.shtml.

QUASH ICE CREAM FUNDRAISER

UNI Advocates for Alzheimer’s is hosting a QUASH fundraiser at the Cedar Falls Cold Stone Creamery from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 12. Enjoy a tasty treat while raising money to benefit and support the Alzheimer's Association's research efforts.

ST. STEPHEN THE WITNESS CATHOLIC STUDENT CENTER FISH FRYNEW

St. Stephen the Witness will host a Lenten Fish Fry on Friday, April 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Student Center (1019 W. 23rd St). Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children, or four for $25. There will be a Knights of Columbus Service Auction beginning at 6:30 p.m.

TROOP-A-PALOOZA CARNIVAL EVENT

The UNI PR Campaign Methods class will host the Troop-A-Palooza Carnival from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 17, at the Cedar Falls High School gym located at 1015 Division St. The event features a meal, games and chances to win prizes, such as hotel stays, pool passes and more. Admission is $5 and includes a meal ticket. Purchase tickets at the door on April 17. Visit http://www.wix.com/girlscoutseiwi/troopapalooza or contact troopcarnival@gmail.com for more information.

HONORS RESEARCH DAY

Senior honors students and presidential scholars will present their thesis research projects on Saturday, April 16. The event begins with continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in the Lang Hall second-floor auditorium lounge. Following will be nine concurrent sessions of research presentations in Lang Hall rooms 208, 211, 222, 223, 308 and 311. For a complete schedule, visit http://www.uni.edu/honors/content/honors-research-day. Presentations are open to the public.

QUASH - QUEST TO UNRAVEL ALZHEIMER'S SCAVENGER HUNT

QUASH, the Quest to Unravel Alzheimer's Scavenger Hunt, is back for 2011. Gather a team of two to four people to challenge your body and mind in a campus-wide event on Saturday, April 16. Each QUASH team is asked to raise $100 per participant to benefit and support the Alzheimer's Association's research efforts. Register today at www.QUASHnow.org.

THIRD ANNUAL RALLY IN THE VALLEY - APRIL 16NEW

The 2011 Rally in the Valley: A Dinner Auction & Purple Tie Affair will be held Saturday, April 16, in the McLeod Center. The evening kicks off at 5 p.m. with complimentary beverages, hors d'oeuvres and a silent and super-silent auction. Following dinner will be a live auction and raffle drawings. Tickets are $75 per person or $65 for Panther Scholarship Club members; tables of eight can also be purchased for $500. For tickets, contact Sheri Bishop at 273-2470. The cash raffle features a first-place prize of $5,000 cash and four second-place prizes of $500 each (need not be present to win). Raffle tickets are $25 each or three for $50. Contact Elizabeth at 273-2468 about purchasing raffle tickets. http://www.unipanthers.com/psc/niwa-psc-rallyinthevalley.html

SELF-DEFENSE SEMINAR

A self-defense seminar will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, April 18, in Old Central Ballroom, MAU. Men and women are welcome to the first hour of this seminar, which will focus on safety and education, targeted toward college-age individuals. The second hour is for women only and will focus on learning self-defense skills. This event is free and refreshments will be provided. Wear comfy clothes and shoes. For more information, contact Anti-Violence Advocates at uniava@gmail.com or Staci Chananie-Hill at stacich@uni.edu.

HELP FIGHT HEART DISEASENEW

Join the fight against heart disease, Iowa’s biggest killer. Health advocacy students will be promoting better heart health with activities, information and prizes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, outside Maucker Union.

15TH ANNUAL ST. STEPHEN GOLF TOURNAMENT

The 15th annual St. Stephen Golf Tournament will take place Tuesday, May 24, at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls. It is a four-person best shot, and registration includes green fees, a golf cart, dinner, a gift pack and prizes. The cost is $60 for nonstudents, $40 for students and $20 for dinner. Sign in will begin at 11:45 a.m. with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. All proceeds go to support the campus ministry for UNI students, Allen School of Nursing and Hawkeye Community College. For more information or to register, contact Kelly at 266-9863 or kmcc@ststephenuni.org.

PSE 10TH ANNUAL SPRINT INTO SPRING 5K RUN/WALKNEW

Pi Sigma Epsilon's 10th annual Sprint into Spring 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 30, near the West Gym. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m., or you can pick up the race bag on Friday at Runners Flat on Main Street from 5 to 7 p.m. Prizes are awarded to the top overall male and female winners, along with the top two finishers in each age division. The $20 race fee includes a T-shirt. Register at https://www.wepay.com/xsbmo8 or send your registration form and checks to Pi Sigma Epsilon, Marketing Department, CBB 336. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross Hawkeye Chapter. For more information, visit www.uni.edu/studentorgs/pse/projects or contact Katie Tietz at tietz.kathryn@gmail.com.

THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF INTERCOLLEGIATE SOLAR BOATING

UNI will host IEEE-PELS Solar Splash 2011 - The World Championship of Intercollegiate Solar Boating Wednesday through Sunday, June 8 through 12, in George Wyth State Park. The event includes national and international teams with state-of-the-art solar electric boats promoting sustainable transplantation methods. This is a free event and open to public. UNI solar boat team ranked third in the 2009 and 2010 championships in Arkansas and will host the event in Iowa for the first time. For more information, visit www.solarsplash.com or contact Reg Pecen, UNI Solar Panthers team adviser at pecen@uni.edu.

ISA FASHION AND VARIETY SHOWNEW

Make new friends, break stereotypes and have fun. From 6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, MAU, ISA will host a cultural fashion and variety show featuring music, dances, food and garments from around the world. With the theme "We are the world, we are friends," the event will help attendees experience the diversity on UNI's campus.

LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS

GOING AND GROWING GREEN: SUSTAINABILITY & GARDENING

Perhaps the ultimate way to go green is to grow a garden. Rob and Tammy Faux of Genuine Faux Farm, Tripoli, will discuss how people can change gardening habits at 7 p.m, Tuesday, April 12, at the University Museum. Learn to use environmentally friendly approaches and how gardening plays a role in efforts to achieve a sustainable future.

PAT/HISTORY CLUB LECTURE

Wallace Hettle, history, will present "Soldiers' Stories: Stonewall Jackson in Civil War Memoirs" at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, in 115 SRL. The event is free and open to the public.

FOURTH ANNUAL GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

The Fourth Annual Graduate Student Symposium, sponsored by the Graduate College, is Monday, April 11 and Wednesday, April 13. Creative performances are scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m., Monday, April 11, in Davis Hall, GBPAC. On April 13 the poster presentations will be from noon to 2 p.m. in the Ballroom, MAU and the oral presentations will be from noon to 3 p.m. in the lower level, MAU.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATENEW

Joe Murphy, UNI state relations officer, will host a legislative update at 12:15 p.m., Friday, April 15, in 2 SAB. Topics will include the state budget process, budget cuts and policy items affecting UNI. He will be available for questions.

FIFTH ANNUAL CHFA GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

The fifth annual College of Humanities and Fine Arts Graduate Research Symposium will be held from noon to 5 p.m., Friday, April 15, in the Great Reading Room, SRL. The symposium will begin with a keynote lecture by Bruce Robbins, Old Dominion Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, who will be followed by half-hour presentations of work by seven graduate students from communication studies, English, and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The event will conclude with remarks by Dean Joel Haack at 5 p.m. and his presentation of awards to the top three presenters. This event is free and open to the public. 

IRAQI TRIBAL LEADERSHIP

John C. Roadcap, Lt. Col. and department head of military science-ROTC at UNI, will discuss his experiences and what he learned from working with and through the many tribes in Iraq from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., Thursday, April 21, in the State College Room, MAU. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Leadership Studies at 273-6898.

PANTHER SPEAKERS: LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS ENERGY WISENEW

The next Panther Speakers webinar, "Living Within Our Means Energy Wise," will be held from noon to 12:50 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, and will be presented by Kamyar Enshayan, director of the CEEE. This session will address the conversations that need to take place in our communities and educational environments in regard to energy conservation. These webinars are available to UNI faculty, staff and students. To register, visit http://www.uni.edu/pantherspeakers/enshayan.

INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY PRESENTATION

Rod Library will host two presentations on the BEPress institutional repository software Digital Commons at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in 324 LIB.

LUANN ALEMAO TO SPEAK ABOUT COMMUNICATION CLARITY

Educator, speaker and trainer Luann Alemao (http://www.laanda.com/) will speak from 5 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, at the John Deere Auditorium, CBB. Alemao will discuss communication clarity (http://www.laanda.com/communicationclarity.html). This event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the UNI chapters of the American Marketing Association and Pi Sigma Epsilon. For more information, contact Rachael Tiby at rachael.tiby@gmail.com or Zach Riesberg at zachriesberg@gmail.com.

FROM PHILADELPHIA TO BAGHDAD: EXPERIENCES OF A LAWYER & FEDERAL AGENTNEW

The Center for International Peace and Security Studies will host Special Agent Brian L. Janik from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 21, in 134 SAB. Special Agent Janik will discuss his career path from a lawyer in the private sector to a federal agent with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The event is open to everyone in the UNI community.

VISIONING A SUSTAINABLE WORLD IN 2050NEW

Freshman Presidential Scholars will present their blueprint for a sustainable society in 2050 at a public forum at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, in the CEEE auditorium. A poster session will be held at 6:45 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

VICTORY OVER VIOLENCE: THE JOYCE BENNER STORYNEW

Joyce Benner will speak at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, in the Ballroom, MAU. This event is sponsored by the Student Organization Speakers Fund and is hosted by the student organization UNI Right to Life.

PRESENTATION ON 2011 JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMINEW

Reinier H. Hesselink, professor of Japanese history, is very familiar with the area in Japan devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Hesselink will give a slideshow-lecture presentation about three communities on the Iwate coast, Miyako, Yamada and Taro. Hesselink's presentation will include some history of Iwate prefecture and an analysis of a previous comparable disaster that occurred almost 1,200 years ago. The presentation will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in 115 SRL. There will be an opportunity to donate funds to a UNI account established by the history department for the purpose of providing relief to these communities.

MONARCH BIOLOGY, CONSERVATION NEEDS AND THE MONARCH JOINT VENTURENEW

Priya Shahani from the Monarch Joint Venture Project at the University of Minnesota St. Paul will discuss the biology, conservation challenges and recent efforts by Monarch Joint Venture partners to better understand population trends at 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, at the Tallgrass Prairie Center. For more information, contact Ryan Welch at rwelch@uni.edu or 273-3828.

EARTH SCIENCE SEMINARNEW

"There's More to Soil Quality than Organic Matter and Yield" will be the subject of an earth science talk by Mike Sucik, National Resources Conservation Service, USDA, at 4 p.m., Monday, April 18, in 125 LAT.

PERFORMING ARTS

SPOTLIGHT SERIES CONCERT: UNI SYMPHONIC BAND

The Symphonic Band will offer a spring concert as part of the Spotlight Series at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, in Great Hall, GBPAC. For tickets, call 273-4TIX.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES CONCERT: JAZZ PANTHERS

The UNI Jazz Panthers will offer a spring concert as part of the Spotlight Series at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 14, in Bengtson Auditorium, RSL. The concert will feature guest artist John Kizilarmut on drums and vibraphone. Kizilarmut has recorded with a wide range of artists, from jazz pianist Anthony Belfiglio to the Grammy Award-winning DJ Starscream, and has also worked professionally with several jazz luminaries including Branford Marsalis, Ron Westray and Slide Hampton. For tickets, call 273-4TIX.

GUEST ARTIST RECITAL: HEATHER ARMSTRONG, OBOE

Visiting artist Heather Armstrong will present an oboe recital at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 14, in Davis Hall, GBPAC, with faculty artist Korey Barrett, piano. Armstrong is assistant professor of oboe and music theory at Luther College. She holds doctor of musical arts and master of music degrees from the Eastman School of Music. Armstrong is a member of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and also performs with the La Crosse Symphony. This event is free and open to the public.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES CONCERT: NORTHERN IOWA WIND SYMPHONY

The Northern Iowa Wind Symphony will offer a spring concert as part of the Spotlight Series at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 15, in the Great Hall, GBPAC. For tickets, call 273-4TIX.

NORTHERN IOWA JUNIOR ORCHESTRA CONCERT

The UNI Suzuki School will present the Northern Iowa Junior Orchestra spring concert at 6 p.m., Sunday, April 17, in Davis Hall, GBPAC. This event is free and open to the public.

COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL SPRING RECITAL WEEKEND

The UNI Community Music School will host its spring recitals on Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17, at various times in RSL. For more information, contact Cindi Mason at cynthia.mason@uni.edu.

FACULTY ARTISTS RECITAL: HALGEDAHL-BOTKIN DUO

This spring recital will feature faculty artists Frederick Halgedahl, violin, and Sean Botkin, piano, at 8 p.m., Monday, April 18, in Davis Hall, GBPAC. Repertoire to be announced. This event is free and open to the public.

INTERNATIONAL DANCE THEATRE'S ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT

International Dance Theatre will perform at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 16, and 6 p.m., Sunday, April 17, in Lang Auditorium. See musical theater numbers like the Bottle Dance from "Fiddler on the Roof," The Farmer and the Cowman from "Oklahoma" and El Tango de Roxanne from "Moulin Rouge."  Tickets are $3 for students and $6 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased from any member of International Dance Theatre, at the door or reserved by calling Daniel Wells at 273-3560. For more information, email daniel.wells@uni.edu.

BOSTON BRASS AT GALLAGHER-BLUEDORN

The Boston Brass will perform at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 17, at the Gallagher-Bluedorn. They will premiere a piece by UNI student Isaac Brockshus, currently pursuing a B.M. in composition. Boston Brass celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2011. To celebrate the occasion, Boston Brass held a composition contest at UNI and Brockshus's piece was chosen. The philosophy of Boston Brass is to provide audiences with a wide selection of musical styles in unique arrangements, provided in a friendly and fun atmosphere. Curtain Talk, a preshow discussion, will begin 45 minutes prior to the performance. UNI students can purchase a $5 rush ticket on the day of the performance.

UNI V-DAY PRESENTS: THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

The Vagina Monologues are based on V-Day Founder/Playwright Eve Ensler's interviews with more than 200 women. Performances will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 14, and Saturday, April 16, in the GBPAC. With humor and grace the piece celebrates women’s sexuality and strength. Through this play and the liberation of this one word, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. All proceeds go to Planned Parenthood and to the V-Day 2011 spotlight campaign. Admission is $10, $7 with a nonparishable food item (to be donated to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank).

NORTHERN IOWA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERTNEW

The Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra will offer a spring concert at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in the Great Hall, GBPAC. This event is free and open to the public.

'URINETOWN': THE MUSICAL

Strayer-Wood Theatre presents "Urinetown" - a hilarious musical about greed, corruption, love and revolution in which citizens must use public amenities regulated by a single company that profits from charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, in UNI's Strayer-Wood Theatre. A matinee will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 17. Free for UNI students.

EXHIBITIONS AND FILMS

ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT ART EXHIBITION

An exhibition showcasing outstanding recent works by students in the UNI Department of Art is open now through Sunday, April 17. The juror for this year's competitive exhibition is Kansas City-based gallery owner and director Sherry Leedy. http://www.uni.edu/artdept/gallery.

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH

Throughout the month of April, the Office of Student Financial Aid will be sponsoring five “Food and Finances” Workshops. These workshops will cover a variety of topics including: Investments, Purchasing a Car, Purchasing a Home, Choosing Benefits at Work and the Psychology of Money. These events are open to faculty, staff and students. We encourage faculty to have their students attend. If you plan on having a large number of students attend, contact Liz Hoium at the Office of Student Financial Aid at 273-6395. For a list of speakers and times, visit our website at www.uni.edu/finaid. Drawings will take place at the end of every workshop for free food and Live Like a Student Tshirts.

CONSENT: FROM HOOKUPS TO RELATIONSHIPS

When it comes to sex, consent is the best-kept secret. In this workshop, Ben Privot will put in plain words the nuances of consent -- from a thorough definition of consent to tools for practicing consent and much more. The workshop which uses interactive discussions and valuable exercises, will be offered at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, in Old Central Ballroom A, MAU. Read more at www.theconsensualproject.com.

PROJECT-MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP OFFERED NEW

A two-part workshop on project management will be offered from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, in 319 CBB and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, April 29, in 30 BCS (lunch included). The cost of the workshop is $247.50 per attendee. To register or for more information, email OSP@uni.edu or call Lori Miller at 273-3217.

SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR FIRST-TIME MANAGERS WORKSHOPNEW

The management workshop "Survival Skills for First-Time Managers" will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, in 30 BCS. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 19. This workshop is a boot camp for first-time managers. Workshop participants will be introduced to critical management skills and tools needed to set a new leader on the right path. Instructor Jim Hogan will help participants discover their natural leadership style and how to adapt their communication style to the working style of the person and business situation. The discounted price is $224 for UNI employees. For more information or to register, contact UNI's Executive Development Center at 273-5851 or execdev@uni.edu.

WELLNESS AND RECREATION

LAST BLOOD CHEMISTRY PROFILE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

The last Blood Chemistry Profile (BCP) screening of the academic year will be held from 7 to 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 27, in the Student Health Center. One free BCP per academic year is available to UNI employees who qualify for insurance benefits. A BCP tests for 23 components including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, blood sugar, iron, etc. Employees who also wish to have a prostate test or complete blood count test will pay an extra $10. A thyroid test is available for $5. Pay by cash, check or payroll deduction. Students, retirees and spouses may sign up as well for a $20 BCP fee. Call 273-6119 to schedule an appointment.

ATHLETICS

PANTHER ATHLETICSNEW

Tennis hosts Southern Illinois at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 16, at the Black Hawk Tennis Club. The Panthers host Evansville at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 17, at the Black Hawk Tennis Club.

EMPLOYMENT

JOB OPENINGS AT UNINEW

The latest faculty, staff and student job openings at UNI can be found at www.uni.edu/employment.

P&S VACANCIESNEW

Vacancies at the P&S level include student recruitment & retention coordinator. To view the complete job descriptions, visit http://www.vpaf.uni.edu/hrs/employ/ps/index.asp.