Campus Connection

Monday, Aug. 24
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Announcements

Community Engaged Learning Proposals now being accepted for Spring 2027

The window to apply for a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) designation for spring 2027 courses is now open. A limited pool of Professional Development funds and Supplies & Expenses funding is now available on a first-come, first-served basis. A preview of the CEL proposal can be viewed here. If you’re looking to connect with a community partner, you can find potential project ideas on the UWL Community Idea Exchange or contact UWL Director of Community Engagement Lisa Klein.   

The round one deadline to apply for the spring 2027 semester is Sept. 15, 2026. The CEL designation will be applied to your course by the start of registration. The round two deadline for spring 2027 is Jan. 15, 2027. If you apply by the round two deadline, the designation will not be applied to your course at the start of registration.  

The Office of Community Engagement is excited to welcome you to the growing list of CEL instructors at UWL. 

Maroon Tunes

The UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation is proud to once again sponsor Maroon Tunes at Moon Tunes La Crosse!

Date: Thursday, Sept. 10

Time: 5:30–8 p.m. 

  • 5:30 p.m. Opening Act: High Mileage

  • 7 p.m. Main Act: UWL Screaming Eagles Marching Band

Location: Riverside Park Bandshell - 100 State St, La Crosse, WI, 54601

You're invited to join the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation for Maroon Tunes, a special Moon Tunes concert celebrating community, connection, and live music. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket and enjoy a special performance by the UWL Screaming Eagles Marching Band!

Joined by UWL Admission and Graduate & Extended Learning, we'll be at the Foundation tent with fun giveaways for the whole family. Come say hello and celebrate this incredible La Crosse tradition with us.

To stay up to date on the event, join the Facebook event!



 

 

UAPUWL (faculty & academic staff labor union) meeting

All faculty and academic staff are invited to attend UAPUWL's first general business meeting of this academic year. Attendees will be identifying priorities and plans for our union. Come to this meeting to contribute to or find out what our UWL faculty and academic staff union will be doing this semester!

Take a Student to Coffee program

Back for its second year, the Take a Student to Coffee program, supported by the Division of Access, Belonging & Student Engagement, creates opportunities for meaningful, outside-the-classroom connections between students and faculty or staff. The program was extremely popular in its first year and received rave reviews from both students and faculty/staff, who valued the opportunity to connect in a more informal and personal setting.

The program invites faculty and staff to connect with a student over coffee, another beverage, or a snack. Whether the conversation is simply a chance to get to know one another or an opportunity to discuss projects, events, academics, or campus involvement, the goal is to encourage meaningful conversations and help foster lasting connections and mentoring relationships.

Faculty and staff may apply to receive a $10 certificate to use with a student at an on-campus Chartwells dining location. Certificates will be distributed through campus mail, and recipients are welcome to invite any student to join them for a coffee or snack.

More information and the program application are available on the program website. Don’t delay—funding is limited, and certificates are available while supplies last!

UPass tickets available

MTU Flash Passes are available to purchase beginning Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year. The price is $75. (effective Sept.1 - Aug. 31). Visit the UPass webpage for forms and more information. 

Questions about the program may be sent to adminfinance@uwlax.edu or Administration and Finance, 608.785.8021.

Recreational Sports - upcoming adjusted hours

The Recreational Sports Department would like to share upcoming adjusted building/program hours for August, including Labor Day weekend. For more information regarding the Recreational Sports Department and the programs that are offered, visit the Rec Sports website or contact the office at recoffice@uwlax.edu. 

Recreational Eagle Center/Fitness Center
Aug. 24-25: Closed for maintenance
Aug. 26-29:  Noon-6 p.m.
Aug. 30:  Closed
Aug. 31:  8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sept. 1:  8 a.m.-8 p.m. (Fitness Center:  2-8 p.m.)
Sept. 2:  8 a.m.-10 p.m. (Fitness Center:  2-10 p.m.)
Sept. 3:  8 a.m.-noon, 5-10 p.m.
Sept. 4:  4:30 -10 p.m.
Sept. 5:  8-10 p.m.
Sept. 6:  8-11 p.m.
Sept. 7 (Labor Day):  8 a.m.-11 p.m.

Outdoor Connection

Aug. 24-25:  Closed for maintenance
Aug. 26-27:  Noon-6 p.m.
Aug. 28-30:  Closed
Aug. 31-Sept. 4:  By appointment only
Sept. 2: Noon-6 p.m.
Sept. 3-4: By appointment only
Sept. 5:  10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sept. 6:  11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sept. 7 (Labor Day):  Noon-6 p.m.

Climbing Gym

Aug.24-Sept. 2: Closed
Sept. 3-4: 5-9 p.m.
Sept. 5: 3-6 p.m.
Sept. 6: 5-8 p.m.
Sept. 7 (Labor Day): 4-9 p.m.

EZONE

Aug. 24-Sept. 1: Closed
Sept. 2-3: 5-10 p.m.
Sept. 4: 4:30-10 p.m.
Sept. 5:  Noon-10 p.m.
Sept. 6:  Noon-11 p.m.
Sept. 7 (Labor Day):  3-11 p.m.

 Pool

Aug. 24-Sept. 3:  Closed
Sept. 4:  8-10 p.m.
Sept. 5:  Noon-3 p.m.
Sept. 6:  1-4 p.m.
Sept. 7 (Labor Day):  Closed

 

Regular academic year hours will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

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Dean Vesperman profile photo Dean Vesperman History

Dean Vesperman, History, authored the article "Review of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning" (Bowen & Watson, 2024) and "The Complete Guide to AI in Education: Harness Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Student Engagement, Build AI Literacy, Face Ethical Challenges, and Achieve Greater Classroom Efficiency" in H-Net Reviews and was accepted for publication by H-Net. There is no denying that there has been a rapid expansion of the use of artifical intelligence (AI) in K-16 education. A plethora of new research and literature has appeared on using AI to improve student learning. Additionally, we know that teachers are already using the tool, especially social studies teachers. As Daniel G. Krutka and Marie K. Heath have noted, this requires due consideration of how AI “can both help and hurt our communities." Two recent books addressing this question argue that AI can help education within limits. While José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson focus most of their analysis on higher education in "Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning," and Gloria Lembo emphasizes the role of generative AI in K-12 education in "The Complete Guide to AI in Education: Harness Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Student Engagement, Build AI Literacy, Face Ethical Challenges, and Achieve Greater Classroom Efficiency," both books approach the topic of AI and education through a technophile lens.

 

Dean Vesperman profile photo Dean Vesperman, Matthew T. Missias, Whitney Blankenship and Anne Aydinian-Perry History, Grand Valley State University, San Antonio College and University of Wyoming

Dean Vesperman, History; Matthew T. Missias, Grand Valley State University; Whitney Blankenship, San Antonio College; and Anne Aydinian-Perry, University of Wyoming; presented "Agency without empathy: The problem of “Great Men” narratives in Evangelical Christian U.S. History textbooks" at H-Net Teaching Conference on Thursday, Aug. 20 online. Historical figures in textbooks have the ability to take action and influence who students believe are worthy or unworthy of telling their story. This research problematizes this concept of historical agency in the Progressive Era as emblematic of the textual discourses that shape historical narratives by the students who use these texts. Our findings demonstrated that positioning historical narratives vis-a-vis “great men” makes it possible for texts to present a moralistic judgment of actions by these powerful actors, particularly in a paternalistic vision of historical agency and empathy. These two tools of historical analysis are intertwined—students use evidence to construct an understanding of the beliefs and motivations (empathy) behind the actions (agency) of historical figures. This vision of historical agency, in turn, diminishes students' construction of historical empathy. It impairs the development of historical empathy toward lesser-known figures or enhances empathy toward great men, thus reifying their position as the center of the story being told. Consequently, students' conceptions of the past focuses on the civil discourse, civic agency, and empathy of the “great men,” and in Evangelical Christian textbooks, this agency is grounded in the divine.

Remembering

Kathleen Margaret Tessmer, '76 Alumna

Alumna Kathleen Margaret Tessmer, '76, died July 27. For more information see the obituary.

Terri Ann Olson, '84 Alumna

Alumna Terri Ann Olson, '84, died Aug. 4. For more information see the obituary.

Durward McVey, '57 Alumnus

Alumnus Durward McVey, '57, died May 17, 2023. For more information see the obituary.

Donovan W. Riley, Sr. former foundation board member

Donovan W. Riley, Sr., former foundation board member, died Aug. 18, 2022. For more information see the obituary.

James R. Richardson, '50 Alumnus

Alumnus James R. Richardson, '50, died Sept. 28, 2014. For more information see the obituary.

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