The Best Start for Student Success
A Foundation of Excellence In and Out of the Classroom

THE LIBERAL ARTS EXPERIENCE
UW-Fond du Lac believes strongly in the foundations of a liberal arts education which prepares students to think, to appreciate, to live, to serve and to lead. Because of this, an important emphasis is placed on service-learning, performing arts, visual arts, music, student activities and athletics as part of the UW-Fond du Lac experience.

SERVICE-LEARNING
Service-learning at UW-Fond du Lac continues to grow under the guidance of Ashly Garner, service-learning coordinator.

Service-learning is not only learning through doing, it encompasses so much more. It gives students a chance to see that the knowledge they are currently acquiring with their courses can affect their community in a positive way.

By actually going out and serving the population under study or the theory in question, students are gaining direct experience which aids in their understanding of concepts and course material. Service-learning is a mutually beneficial partnership between educational institutions, faculty, students, and community organizations.

During the fall 2007 semester, 10 courses offered service-learning components at UW-Fond du Lac.

UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson (center) congratulates students at UW-Fond du Lac’s Honors and Commencement program held on May 18, 2007 in the Prairie Theater.

Students in Anita Klatkiewicz’s three Spanish courses offered translation services to the after school program at Chegwin Elementary School and one of her students has been assisting the Red Cross in translating their Dare to Prepare presentations into Spanish.

Ron Theys, chemistry professor, offered service-learning/civic engagement opportunities in three of his courses. Several of his students signed up to assist UW-Oshkosh with their Science Safari and Science Expedition program. This program provides girls in grades 3-6 and boys in grades 3-5 the chance to participate in hands-on science sessions.

Professor Michael Jurmu’s geography class continued a service-learning project at the Boys and Girls Club which was once again a hit. Students put together six weeks’ of programming called Teaching Atmospheric Concepts to Kids (TACK).

The TACK program not only provides students with the opportunity to learn about some aspect of weather in greater detail, but also offers students a chance to give back to their community.

A newly developed service-learning project that evolved this past year was in Azor Cigelske’s English 101 course. Students served at different agencies such as The Arc of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Area Transit, Grancare and the Family Resource Center.

Students used their direct experience at these organizations to conduct field research that enabled them to write a paper based on the time they spent in these organizations.

Professor Mike Nofz’s Sociology 101 course visited with residents at the Woodlands Senior Park. While interacting with residents, students help both themselves and Woodlands at the same time.

Students are paying special attention to course theories such as social distance and master status while at the same time assisting Woodlands with their mission to have residents not feel so isolated within their community.

Another continuing service-learning course is Ruth Holstein’s Developmental Psychology course. Her students select agencies in which they can work with children, adolescents and adults for a minimum of 15 hours throughout the semester.

VISUAL ARTS
The Art Students League organized its second Art Momentum event. This student run, student juried event combines visual art, music, education and professional artistic growth. It features nearly 200 student works of art which are for sale, with the proceeds split between the individual artist and a student directed art scholarship.

After completing their studies here, UW-Fond du Lac art students have been accepted and transferred into schools and programs at Pratt, Parsons, The Art Institute of Chicago, UW-Madison and others–some of the most prestigious and highest ranked schools for art in the country. UW-Fond du Lac art majors currently have a 100% success rate of transfer.

PERFORMING ARTS
There were numerous opportunities for students to experience the arts in 2007, either as a performer, behind-thescenes contributor or audience member. Admission to most of the performances is free for UW-Fond du Lac students.

The theater department did two productions in 2007—”Everyman” and “Proof”—in the Prairie Theater.

Music department productions included the Winter Evening of Jazz, two departmental concerts, a sacred music concert and two new dinner shows—a Celtic concert and a Cabaret show—which received standing ovations.

ATHLETICS
The athletic program at UW-Fond du Lac offers something many universities can’t - the chance to play immediately.

Under the direction of Lee Watson, physical education professor and athletic director, UW-Fond du Lac offers club baseball, golf, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The 2007-08 Women’s Basketball Team won the WJCAA Region III Championship and finished second in the WJCAA State Tournament.

Intramural sports available at UW-Fond du Lac include flag football, volleyball, basketball and dodge ball.

In March 2007, the campus hosted the first annual Wisconsin Collegiate Conference (WCC) East vs. West Basketball All-Star Game which included the top 15 players from each conference; representing all 13 UW Colleges campuses. Prior to this special event there was a three point shooting contest and a dunk contest which included players from the All-Star Game.

At the spring 2007 awards banquet Zach Eigenbrodt (Soccer) and Kara Putz (Women’s Basketball) were named studentathletes of the year.

Also during the past year, three UW-Fond du Lac coaches were named Coach of the Year by fellow Conference coaches. Craig Larson (Soccer), Tom Clausen (Golf) and Jason Collien (Men’s Basketball) were the recipients of this honor. Craig Larson is a UW-Fond du Lac alumnus.

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