Division Doodles

REMEMBER: If you take a U2 course, an academic class, or go to a conference, you need to fill out the Professional Development form found out on the S:Drive/DCE/FORMS/Professional Development. Then give it to your PAG representative. The Division keeps track of the number of hours of release time for professional development.

YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION FOR DCE EMPLOYEES
Here is a list of DCE employees being recognized for Years of Service (at UND) at the annual luncheon on May 13, 2008.
40 yrs - Diana LeTexier (Woo Hoo!!!)
20 yrs - Kathy Williams
15 yrs - Becky Rude and Monte Koshel
10 yrs - Corey Quirk
5 yrs - Dara Faul, Kari Holter, Denis MacLeod, Robyn von Ruden

U2 CLASS ON MARCH 27
What Students are Saying about UND - March 27, 10:00-11:00 am - Swanson Hall, Room 10-12
Presenters: Carmen Williams and Sue Erickson
Sponsored by: Institutional Research

This session summarizes some of the key findings from the several surveys that UND students fill out. The session will illustrate some of the trends over the last several years as well as show how we compare with other institutions. Some of the surveys that we'll be highlighting will be the CIRP Freshman Survey, Student Satisfaction Inventory, National Survey of Student Engagement, Placement Survey, and Alumni Survey.

PLAN TO ATTEND!
DCE Employees,
You are invited to the first ever Lunch & Learn to be held on Friday, March 28 from 12 - 1 p.m.! The Lunch & Learn will be held in Norm 211.

The concept is simple...bring your lunch with you and learn about a new technology, a new concept, or just something you've always been curious to learn about. We hope to host a Lunch & Learn every other month, so if you have ideas for professional development, please send them to Kathy Williams, U2 Coordinator. The next one will be held around the end of May, with the date depending on presenter and room availability.

This month's topic will be: Live Chat
You've heard about it. You may have seen it on other Web sites. You know it will be a feature of our new Web site. What is it? It's Live Chat. Join us for an introductory demo that will show you how the IT Team has been using Live Chat to provide tech support to distance students.

You will be able to see what the students see when they start a Live Chat session, and what it looks like on our staff's end to answer the questions. Corey will be conducting the demo for how the IT Team has been using it, but we also hope Dr. Riedy will be able to join us. He has the most experience in using Live Chat and may be able to help answer your questions. Corey is working on trying to make it available to Bismarck and Fargo offices. We’ll let you know.

RISING TRUCKING COSTS
Learn how independent truck drivers’ costs are increasing on tonight’s edition of Studio One.

Jerry Nelson, an independent truck driver, faces many challenges when it comes to his business. According to Nelson, rising costs are not only fuel-related, but also include parts and maintenance. Learn how some owner-operators are dealing with the changing prices.

INTERNATIONAL SOCCER TEAM
Also on the show this week, one group of international students at the University of North Dakota are discovering a common language through sports. Although these students may be an ocean away from home, they have found a way to reconnect through soccer.

Studio One is an award-winning news and information program produced at the University of North Dakota Television Center. The program airs live on UND Channel 3 on Thursdays at 5 p.m. Re-broadcasts can be seen at 7 a.m., noon, 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily and on Saturdays at 10 a.m. Prairie Public Television airs Studio One on Saturday at 6 a.m. The program can also be seen by viewers in Fargo, Bismarck/Mandan and Minot, N.D.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Denver, Colo.; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Meghan Flaagan

Above & Beyond the Call of Duty!!

Is there someone in your program area who has gone beyond the call of duty recently? Please tell us about it by submitting it to Doodles next week!

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”
—Ecclesiastes 3:1

The 2008 vernal or spring equinox occurs on Thursday, March 20. The equinoxes are the days of the year—one in March, the other in September—when you could observe the sun to be directly over Earth’s equator on the sun’s apparent, not actual, path north or south of the equator.

The tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation at an angle of 23.44° from the vertical causes this apparent movement of the sun during Earth’s annual, inexorable trip around the sun. Earth’s tilt is not large, but it is immensely significant during our orbital voyage. That small tilt accounts for the seasons and huge swings in temperature for the residents of the higher latitude locations on Earth. For example, the record high in Grand Forks is 109°F; the record low is –43°F. For the sake of disclosure, these temperature swings are also the products of other factors, most notably an interior continental location (think Siberia).

These extremes in temperatures represent a 180-degree turnaround, a complete change in circumstances, and not, mistakenly, a 360-degree turnaround, which means a return to the original position or set of circumstances in Earth’s orbit of the sun. A 180- or 360-degree turnaround refers to the geometric degrees in the circumference of a circle, not the meteorological units for measuring temperature. Although, given our low winter temperatures and the high winds that frequently accompany them, it might be possible for the wind chill index to bottom out at –360°F. If that were the case, the news report for the day could be the following:

“Will the last member of the riffraff leaving Grand Forks, please turn off the lights? We hidebound, permanent residents are frozen to our seats. Absolute zero here we come!”

So take care when you describe a change in positions, be they astronomical, meteorological, or political. A 180-degree change indicates movement to an opposite position. A 360-degree change is a return to the original position.

BOOKS NEEDED (EXTENDED DUE DATE)!
Start your Spring cleaning early!
The Friends of the GF Public Library are in desperate need of donated books, especially fiction.

The Grand Forks Public Library is supported by County dollars and donations. Please consider donating your gently used books. I'm sure they would take any type of books. I would collect any books you'd like to donate. Please send them to me by Monday, March 24 and I'll deliver them to the Library (I extended the date!).

EVENTS FOR 125th

GREAT CONVERSATIONS with SALMAN RUSHDIE
NEXT TUESDAY, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Chester Fritz Auditorium - Great Conversations with author Salman Rushdie. This event is held in conjunction with the 2008 Writers Conference. Mr. Rushdie will read from one of his novels and engage in a discussion and answer questions from the audience throughout the evening. This event is free of charge.

RECEPTION FOR SALMAN RUSHDIE
In collaboration with the UND Writers Conference, the Museum will host this year’s Presidential Lecture reception for author Salman Rushdie. Rushdie’s lecture, will begin at 7 pm at the Chester Fritz Auditorium on March 25. Immediately following the lecture the public is invited to the Museum for light fare and refreshments.

AN AFTERNOON OF THE ARTS - April 6, 2008
The UND Art Collection has been gathered throughout the past 125 years with contributions from students, faculty, and alumni. UND’s American Indian Art Collection is the first to be catalogued and the North Dakota Museum of Art will hold an exhibition of this collection opening April 6, 2008 through June 15, 2008. An Afternoon of the Arts is planned for April 6, 2008, from 2-5 p.m., and will offer the Greater Grand Forks community an opportunity to view both collections: the American Indian art at the Museum, and the UND Art Collection at the Col. Eugene E. Myers Art Gallery in the Hughes Fine Arts Center. Walking art tours between both facilities will be conducted by art students if weather permits. Music and refreshments will be served in both locations.

THE BIGGER BIG EVENT - April 12, 2008
Faculty and staff will join UND students in carrying out the Big Event, a service project for the Greater Grand Forks community sponsored by Student Government. The intent of the event is to thank our community for the many ways they have and continue to support the University of North Dakota. In the 1930s when the University was on the verge of closing because of lack of funding, Grand Forks city leaders stepped up to help and this is a way to show appreciation for this legacy of collaboration. The Big Event will be held Saturday, April 12, 2008, beginning at 9 a.m. Service organizations, governmental agencies, non-profit groups, private citizens, and others who have a project that can be completed by volunteers in one day can apply for assistance. The hope and expectation is that every applicant who has a need will be helped.

Departments who have the most volunteers helping at The Bigger Big Event can win a pizza prize for the office so gather up your colleagues and volunteer. The volunteer application form is located at Application, click on registration form.

It was Renee Nelson's birthday last Monday, March 17. Belated Happy Birthday to you Renee!

And Kathy Williams will celebrate her birthday next Monday, March 24!! Happy Birthday Kathy!

Have a wonderful long Easter Holiday weekend!