The <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/">Division of Continuing Studies</a> has moved to a new location and is holding an open house to celebrate. The event will be held from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, on the seventh floor of <a href="http://www.map.wisc.edu/?initObj=1078" title="View this building on the campus map">21 N. Park St.</a> Visitors can tour the new space and participate in a drawing for a Continuing Studies course. There also will be refreshments and giveaways. The Division of Continuing Studies has moved to a new location and is holding an open house to celebrate. Continuing Studies holds open house 17251 2009-10-21T09:15:00-05:00

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Sackbut, shawm, lute, viola de gamba or crumhorn, anyone? These are just a few early ancestors of some modern musical instruments we know today. But instead of being closeted away in a musty museum, these instruments are still played by enthusiasts of early music. Those enthusiasts will get a chance to study with virtuosos of those instruments and early music vocal masters and perform period music at the <a href="http://www.madisonearlymusic.org">Madison Early Music Festival</a> (<abbr title="Madison Early Music Festival">MEMF</abbr>), to be held on campus July 11-18. <div id="story_image_1443" class="inline-content photo right" style="width: 350px;"> <img src="http://www.news.wisc.edu/story_images/0000/1443/memf.jpg" /> A performance during a past festival. Photo: Laura V. Page<a href="mailto:photos@news.wisc.edu"></a> </div> The opportunity to study, attend concerts and perform in concerts sets the Madison festival apart from most other early music fests, says <a href="http://www.music.wisc.edu/faculty/bio?faculty_id=48">Paul Rowe</a>, professor with the UW-Madison School of Music and co-artistic director of MEMF with his wife, Cheryl Bensman-Rowe. "Some festivals have no educational component at all and some are all workshops. MEMF is a blend that encourages mixing and meeting new people," says Rowe. MEMF celebrates its 10th season this year, so the festival format seems to be a winner. Some 100-120 attendees from around the country, of all ages, are drawn to the opportunity to work with world-class faculty who are stars in their fields. Their days are packed, with classes, workshops and rehearsals under way at 8:30 a.m.; the lights don't go out until long after the applause dies away at the evening concerts. <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/bios/cbowles.htm">Chelcy Bowles</a>, professor with UW-Madison's Division of Continuing Studies and festival program director, says, "This is not a conference just for scholars and professional musicians; we have amateurs, enthusiasts, advanced players and those on the verge of becoming professionals. We want everyone to enjoy this festival at whatever level. For the audience, they can just sit and listen, hearing world-class musicians make beautiful music." Early music may not be as popular or well-known as music from other periods, but once heard, it is often embraced — the melodies, lyrics and emotion are hard to resist. Case in point: Sting, former frontman for the band The Police, was given a lute. Smitten with the instrument, he studied up, eventually releasing an album of Elizabethan lute music and songs. Period instruments have a different sound quality and much early music was heard casually in small spaces: homes, court and church. "Instruments really started to change around 1800, and they had a louder, brighter sound, giving rise to bigger and bigger concert halls and new compositions for the new instruments," says Rowe. Rowe and Bowles say some early music is also noted for being improvisational, with repeating bass lines and melodies on top that can go anywhere. "There are not as many musical rules to follow and the music can sound quite contemporary rhythmically and harmonically," says Bowles. "Sometimes you don't know what the music is going to do. That's what makes it so fun to play and listen to." But the festival is not just for the attendees; seven public concerts and eight free lectures are planned. Much of the programming was selected to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, which marks the 400th anniversary of the first use of Galileo's telescope. Music from around Galileo's time, 1580-1620, will explore the connections between science and music. "Harmony of the Spheres: A Celebration of Celestial Inspiration"; "Stile Moderno: The New Science of Music from the 17th Century"; and "Celestial Seasonings" are just a few of the concert titles. Lectures will delve into Galileo's world — society, politics, science and culture — to give people a better understanding of the music from that period. For many, a highlight of the festival is the MEMF Faculty Concert, which involves the 40 or so faculty, the creme de la crï¿½me of the early music world, on stage in a rare musical collaboration. The final concert of the festival brings together faculty, resident artists and workshop participants. This is another feature that sets the Madison festival apart from most festivals: Students and teachers performing together is usually unheard of. "It may not be historically correct to be so big, but the musicians and audience have fun," says Bowles. Rowe encourages people to try a concert. "You don't have to be a scholar, you can still get a lot out of it. This isn't a Wagner opera, it's simpler and understandable. And for me, experiencing a live concert is always more satisfying than listening to a recording," says Rowe. All MEMF performances take place in Mills Concert Hall at the Mosse Humanities Building, 455 N. Park St. Lectures are also in the Mosse Humanities Building. Visit <a href="http://www.madisonearlymusic.org">this site</a> for a complete schedule of concerts and lectures. Tickets to the individual concerts are $16 each; a series pass is available for $65; seniors and student tickets and passes are $13 and $55, respectively. Tickets are available at the door or may be ordered through the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, 608-265-ARTS (2728), or <a href="http://www.uniontheater.wisc.edu">online</a>. Study with virtuosos and early music vocal masters, and perform period music at the Madison Early Music Festival July 11-18. Sounds of early music to fill Madison air 16863 2009-07-19T00:00:00-05:00 2009-06-29T11:37:00-05:00

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Two young women who have shown perseverance and determination in pursing their bachelor's degrees have been named recipients of this year's two University of Wisconsin-Madison Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Awards. For Maria Jesson, a native of Brazil, earning her bachelor's degree has been a 13-year journey — or a fast-paced whirlwind — as Jesson acted as breadwinner, single mother, classroom volunteer and college student. The other recipient, Wisconsin native Jenna Shelley, became motivated to pursue higher education after a series of events revealed that the global community could use more assistance. If you hopped on a Madison Metro bus during the last 10 years, you've likely been greeted by Jesson, one of the drivers. When you first spot the slender Jesson behind the steering wheel, you most likely find it hard to believe that this young woman could maneuver the bulky vehicle through narrow streets and tight turns. But Jesson does it with finesse during summer, spring, fall and winter — just as she has performed deftly in her other two careers for the last 10 years: nurturing her 12-year-old son as a single parent and studying psychology at UW-Madison. Jesson will graduate with her bachelor's degree in August. "I think I've proved I can juggle priorities," Jesson, who hopes to become a psychiatrist, says. "My mother, who still lives in Brazil, inspired me to work on a degree. She was a single parent and worked two jobs to support my brothers and myself. Yet I had a great life; she even managed to pay for English classes for me when I was 7 — way before English was offered in the regular school," she says. "Another wonderful part of my life was going to the family farm every other weekend and during summers. I remember my father waking us up at 5 a.m. to milk the cows, which I didn't like at the time. Now I appreciate my father's lesson about hard work. "At the farm, I also climbed trees and learned to drive large vehicles which is why I don't mind driving a bus," she says, adding that her career at Madison Metro even helped her meet her future husband. "He noticed me around campus and looked elated and surprised when he saw it was me who was driving the bus. That's how we met." Shelley grew up on a little farm near the small northern Wisconsin town of Tomahawk, and she's seen many peaks and valleys in the 10 years since she left there. But she says she wouldn't change any part of her life because it's these varied and sometimes challenging experiences that have brought her to UW-Madison as an adult student studying cultural anthropology. These troubling situations — and how Shelley is reacting positively to them — also brought her to the attention of the Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award selection committee. "I've always sort of been a misfit," Shelley says, noting that she had the opportunity to work daily with some of the "misfits" of society when she was employed at a thoroughbred racetrack in Lexington, Ky. "Many of these people had really difficult lives, but they worked so hard and were so kind to me. They taught me so much about what's truly important in life — they really touched my heart." Another experience that eventually led Shelley to her studies was living in South Korea with her now-former husband, who was in the U.S. military. "To occupy myself, I volunteered to teach in an orphanage. Before I started I had many preconceived ideas of what orphans might be like, but they were amazing — beautiful, intelligent, well-adjusted — they just blew me away." Then Shelley noticed a darker part of the world: She saw victims of sex trafficking — young girls forced into prostitution to work in brothels near the U.S. military base. "It really upset me — it still does. That's why I decided to go back to school. I couldn't live the rest of my life and not do anything. I needed to take some action." Shelley wrote letters, made phone calls, and when she got back to the U.S. she contacted government officials to bring their attention to the global issue. "But I absolutely loved Korea: the people, the culture, the food. I loved living there — it's a gorgeous country. I can't wait to go back and visit. I'm actually just finishing up a Korean contemporary literature and film class." Sometimes working three to four jobs at a time to make ends meet, Shelley is excited to graduate in December. She is considering earning a MBA so that one day she can head a nonprofit organization that focuses on social justice issues or the education of women. The UW-Madison Adult and Student Services Center (ASSC) and the Offices of the Dean of Students support these awards. ASSC offers 23 other scholarships for adults who are returning to campus after a significant break in their educations. These awards and their 2009 recipients are: <ul> <li>Barbara Weston Corry and Joe Corry Scholarship: Susanna Fishlove, Rose Manjon</li> <li>Alma Baron Second Chance for Women Scholarship: Gisela Newbegin, Patricia O'Kane</li> <li>Nancy W. Denney Memorial Scholarship: Carlos Lozano</li> <li>Bernice D. Kuney Scholarship: Tasha Gamerdinger, Constance Mudore</li> <li>Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO) Scholarship Laura Berkner Murphy, Ashley Robinson</li> <li>American Association of University Women, Madison Branch Scholarship: Gloria Palencia</li> <li>University League Scholarship: Martin McNamara</li> <li>Cynthia McCreary Holbrook Youmans University League Scholarship: Denise Contreras</li> <li>Stuart Daily Seeds of Learning Scholarship: Sharon Beauregard. </li> </ul> Osher Institute Reentry Scholarships, supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco, were awarded to: Jacqueline Buleje, Megan Collins, Danielle Ellis, Timothy Fish, Molinda Henry, Amy Hermes, Josephine Horton, Sally Jackson, Katherine Lambrou, Tamara Laskowski and Lori Roberts. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/info/finance.htm">this site</a> or call 608-263-6960. Two young women who have shown perseverance and determination in pursing their bachelor's degrees have been named recipients of this year's two University of Wisconsin-Madison Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Awards. UW-Madison honors returning adult undergraduate students 16751 2009-05-21T09:18:00-05:00

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Becoming a college graduate is no foreign concept to 56-year-old Merikay Payne, who will graduate this spring with her second bachelor's degree from UW-Madison. <div id="story_quote_w9XFoT82XH" class="inline-content pull_quote right"> “To have gained the confidence to show people your work, have them enjoy it and buy it, is satisfying.” Merikay Payne </div> Payne, who will graduate with a bachelor's degree in studio art with an emphasis on printmaking, earned her first bachelor's from UW-Madison in broadcast journalism in 1975. Since then, Payne has worked for the Division of Continuing Studies as a senior artist, raised a family and earned an associate's degree in graphic and Web design from Madison Area Technical College. She began her studies in DCS in 2003. "To have gained the confidence to show people your work, have them enjoy it and buy it, is satisfying," Payne says. Payne says she was inspired to earn her second bachelor's after participating in the Extension Leadership Development Program in 2001-02. She also took part in DCS's Wisconsin Regional Artist Program, where her work was chosen to be exhibited in the Statewide Regional Art Exhibit held on campus each August and September. Although she is graduating, Payne will continue to be involved in the DCS program. She is currently planning curriculum with Professor Leslee Nelson, who coordinates the Statewide Regional Art Exhibit, for the DCS course "The Business of Art," which will begin in the fall. Payne has also been an active member of the Madison-area art community, serving on the board of directors for 14 South Artists and Madison Art Guild. She also annually exhibits her art from her home print studio. Becoming a college graduate is no foreign concept to 56-year-old Merikay Payne, who will graduate this spring with her second bachelor's degree from UW-Madison. Notable graduates: Merikay Payne — Division of Continuing Studies graduate with a passion for the arts 16729 2009-05-14T09:35:00-05:00

2009-09-02T13:29:07-05:00

The <a href="http://www.osherfoundation.org/">Bernard Osher Foundation</a> has announced a grant of $1 million to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to endow scholarships for returning adult students. The <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/info/finanserv/scholarships/osher.htm">Osher Reentry Scholarship Program</a> benefits students — ideally aged 25-50 — whose collegiate studies at a four-year campus were interrupted by circumstances beyond their control and who now want to resume their university studies. "We're enormously grateful that the Osher Foundation has chosen UW-Madison to receive this level of support," says Katy Duren, assistant dean of the UW-Madison <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/">Division of Continuing Studies</a>, which will administer the scholarship. "Though they're often overlooked, returning adult students bring a tremendous vibrancy and diversity to our campus. They work very hard to overcome daunting obstacles, and it's wonderful to have their efforts finally rewarded in this major way." Qualified students may include part-time and full-time students, both newly matriculating and currently enrolled at the institution receiving the funds. Students must be able to demonstrate financial need and should demonstrate high academic potential. Founded in 1977, the Bernard Osher Foundation provides scholarships to colleges and universities across the U.S., with special attention to reentry students. The foundation especially seeks to recognize the commitment, efforts and financial hardships of reentry working adults as they balance their family, work and school responsibilities to achieve their educational goals. The foundation also supports a growing network of lifelong-learning programs at more than 100 institutions — including UW-Madison, where an <a href="http://www.uwalumni.com/uwolli">Osher Lifelong Learning Institute</a> (<abbr title="Osher Lifelong Learning Institute">UW-OLLI</abbr>) was established in 2005. For more information contact Duren at <a href="http://mailto:kduren@dcs.wisc.edu">kduren@dcs.wisc.edu</a> or (608) 263-5114. The Bernard Osher Foundation has announced a grant of $1 million to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to endow scholarships for returning adult students. UW-Madison receives Osher Foundation gift for returning adult student scholarships 14597 2008-01-08T00:00:00-06:00

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<a href="http://www.uwex.edu/provost/marvinbio2.cfm">Marv Van Kekerix</a>, provost and vice chancellor of <a href="http://www.uwex.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Extension</a> will fill the role of interim vice provost for livelong learning and dean of UW-Madison's <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/">Division of Continuing Studies</a> (<abbr title="Division of Continuing Studies">DCS</abbr>). "We deeply appreciate Marv's willingness to step in and guide this division during an important time of transition," says <a href="http://www.provost.wisc.edu/bio.html">Provost Patrick Farrell</a>, who announced the appointment. "He has deep experience and the perfect mix of skills." At UW-Extension, Van Kekerix serves as the institution's chief academic and operating officer, providing broad leadership for academic and program planning and administrative support areas. He was first appointed as provost and vice chancellor of UW-Extension in October 2000, having served as the interim provost since July 2000. He also served as interim chancellor there from September 2004 through December 2005, and as interim chancellor of UW Colleges and UW-Extension from January to April 2006. Most recently, he has provided leadership for cross-institutional collaboration and strategic planning. He has a long history in distance education systems with the UW System, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and nationally. At DCS, Van Kekerix is expected to serve for 18 months to two years, beginning on Feb. 1, 2008. His salary will be $180,000. The search committee appointed after the retirement of Dean Howard Martin finished its work this past summer. However, UW-Madison Chancellor John D. Wiley and Farrell have decided to restart the search process in 2008. In the interim, Van Kekerix is expected to work with DCS faculty and staff to conduct an assessment and develop plans for the division for the next five years, focusing on ways to make the expertise of UW-Madison faculty and staff more widely available to non-traditional students of all ages. DCS offers educational programs and services grounded in the rich intellectual and professional resources of UW-Madison's faculty and staff, and facilitates outreach opportunities in the schools and colleges. While DCS plays many roles in offering and supporting outreach opportunities, its overarching purpose is connecting the campus and the broader community of lifelong learners. Marv Van Kekerix, provost and vice chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Extension will fill the role of interim vice provost for livelong learning and dean of UW-Madison's Division of Continuing Studies. Van Kekerix named interim dean for Division of Continuing Studies 14484 2007-11-26T00:00:00-06:00

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Five candidates have been named as finalists for the University of Wisconsin-Madison vice provost for lifelong education and director of the <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/">Division of Continuing Studies</a> (DCS), Provost <a href="http://www.provost.wisc.edu/bio.html">Patrick Farrell</a> announced today. The finalists are: <ul> <li>Robert J. Hansen, associate provost in the Division of University Outreach, University of Southern Maine (USM) in Portland; </li> <li>Richard J. Huber, manager of global training for GE Healthcare's Global Monitoring Solutions (GMS) in Milwaukee; </li> <li>Jeet Joshee, dean of the College of Extended Learning at California State University at San Bernardino; </li> <li>Richard C. Lee, vice provost for educational outreach and extension and professor of education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); and </li> <li>George Charles Mejicano, UW-Madison associate dean for continuing professional development and director of the Office of Continuing Professional Development in Medicine and Public Health. </li> </ul> "This position will be responsible for advancing UW-Madison's mission to provide lifelong learning and professional education opportunities for the citizens of Wisconsin, an area that has seen a dramatic growth in demand," says Farrell. "We are looking for a creative and innovative leader who can take the reins of one the country's largest continuing education programs, provide leadership to division staff, and help position DCS for continued success." The Division of Continuing Studies coordinates more than 2,000 courses and programs annually that reach more than 140,000 people seeking career advancement and academic enrichment. The division also provides academic support to more than 10,000 "non-traditional" students - those who are outside the traditional 18-22 year-old college age range. The new director will replace Howard Martin, the current DCS dean, who is retiring after two decades of leading DCS and a 42-year career with the university. More on the candidates: <ul> <li>Hansen has been associate provost at USM since July 2005, and prior to that was executive director of USM's Division of Community and Professional Education since August 2004. Hansen also worked as executive director of off-campus programs for Saint Xavier University in Chicago from 2001-2004. In his present job, Hansen is responsible for extending USM's undergraduate and graduate learning opportunities to non-traditional times, locations and formats. His division serves more than 80,000 people annually, and steers non-credit community outreach and public service for southern Maine. Hansen has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Notre Dame; master's degrees in English from both the University of Michigan and Illinois State University; and a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Illinois. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Huber has been manager of global training at GE Healthcare since May 2006, and has been with GE Healthcare since 1990. His other positions include manager of clinical education and e-media services (2000-2006); manager of learning technologies (1995-2000); and manager of technical service training (1990-1995). Huber also worked in business outreach education programs with Waukesha County Community College (1974-1981) and Milwaukee Area Technical College (1981-1990). In his current job, Huber leads the development and implementation of a global training procedure for more than 3,500 GMS employees in five different countries. Huber has a Ph.D. in continuing adult and vocational education from UW-Madison; a master's in business teacher education from UW-Madison; and a bachelor's in marketing education from Western Michigan University. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Joshee has been dean of the College of Extended Learning at CSU-San Bernardino since 2005, and also served as assistant dean of the College of Continuing Studies and associate professor of international culture studies at the University of Connecticut (UConn) from 2000-2005. Prior to that, he was UConn's executive director of the Center for Professional Development and University Conference Services from 1996-2000.In his current job, Joshee plays a leadership role in extending the university's educational resources to the public and private sectors of California's Inland Empire region, the 14th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Joshee received his master's and Ph.D. in international education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst; a master's from the School for International Training in Vermont; and a bachelor's from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Lee has been vice provost with UNLV since June 2004, and also in 2004 served a year in residence as a distinguished university professor with Emporia State University in Kansas. Lee was provost and professor of education at Cameron University in Oklahoma; and dean of graduate studies and continuing education at UW-Whitewater from 1994-2003. In his current job, Lee works closely with UNLV's 17 colleges and schools to integrate teaching and research programs with the university's outreach and public engagement initiatives. His division serves as the main point of contact for non-traditional learners. Lee received a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and a master's in educational psychology and a bachelor's in educational psychology and early childhood education, all from UW-Milwaukee. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Mejicano has been associate dean at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health since 2006, and served as assistant dean and director of the school's Office of Continuing Medical Education from 1999-2006. Mejicano has been with UW-Madison since 1996. From 1997-2000, Mejicano was the medical school's associate director of the Wisconsin Internal Medicine Residency Program. In his current job, Mejicano's office works to foster and maintain a competent medical and public health workforce in Wisconsin; produce changes in behavior that lead to practice improvements; and improve the health of both patients and the state population as a whole. Mejicano received his M.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago; a master's and bachelor's in ceramic engineering from the U of I at Urbana-Champaign; and a master's in vocational and continuing education from UW-Madison. </li> </ul> The new director of DCS will oversee a staff of 120 full-time people and a budget of approximately $70 million. Plans for on-campus visits and public opportunities to meet the finalists will be announced as soon as they are finalized. Five candidates have been named as finalists for the University of Wisconsin-Madison vice provost for lifelong education and director of the Division of Continuing Studies (DCS), Provost Patrick Farrell announced today. Five finalists named for continuing studies director 13919 2007-07-06T00:00:00-05:00

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Local educators have an opportunity to learn to use theater to help their students deal with difficult issues. This summer's <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/LSA/theatre/sdi.htm">Drama Institute</a> at the University of Wisconsin-Madison includes a class that was developed in response to incidents of school violence over the past year. <div id="story_quote_Itseemedth" class="inline-content pull-quote right"> “It seemed that news stories about violence in the schools were becoming almost commonplace. I figured there must be a way to use theater and improvisation to give young people a voice in safe and limitless ways.” Miranda McClenaghan, Drama Institute Director Miranda McClenaghan </div> So she made some calls and found Terry Greiss, who works in New York City teaching young people and educators how to deal with conflict, drug addiction and violence using theater techniques. "After talking with Terry, I was confident he could have an amazing impact working with people who work with youth in any capacity," McClenaghan says. The class, called "The Mirror up to Nature: Exploring Diversity and Other Issues through Drama," will be held Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29 in Lowell Hall. It is one of four week-long classes at the 15th annual Drama Institute. Other Drama Institute classes are: <ul> <li>Scenic Painting: From Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22 in the Vilas Hall scene shop, students will be learning hands-on how to construct scenery in new and creative ways. Curtis Philips, a professor and set designer at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a UW-Madison graduate, will teach the course.</li> <li>Making It Up: Devising Original Performance Material with Students. From Monday, July 9 to Friday, July 13, educators will learn how to help their students create original performance pieces. Joan Lazarus, a professor in the department of theater and dance at the University of Texas at Austin, will teach the course. Lazarus started the original Drama Institute when she was a professor at UW-Madison.</li> <li>Learning through The Arts: From Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 27 at the School of the Arts in Rhinelander, Wis., students can choose from classes in drama, art, photography, arts management, writing, music, dance and computer skills to learn new ways to incorporate arts activities into the classroom. The classes fulfill the university's mission to provide statewide access to continuing education. </li> </ul> Interested media are welcome to capture some of the scenic painting or improvisation action later in the weeks of June 18-22 and June 25-29. Classes vary from 12 to 15 students and also include three weeks of independent study with the instructor for university credit. For more information, contact McClenaghan at (608) 265-8041, <a href="http://mailto:mmcclenaghan@dcs.wisc.edu">mmcclenaghan@dcs.wisc.edu</a>. Local educators have an opportunity to learn to use theater to help their students deal with difficult issues. This summer's Drama Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison includes a class that was developed in response to incidents of school violence over the past year. Drama Institute offers a way to help students cope 13873 2007-06-15T00:00:00-05:00

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National research shows that boys make up 75 to 80 percent of the juvenile justice system and commit suicide four times more often than girls. U.S. colleges now have the lowest male enrollment in the country's history. To explore these trends, recent research on male socialization and development and ways to help at-risk adolescent boys succeed, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/">Division of Continuing Studies</a> (<abbr>DCS</abbr>) will host a second annual "Boys at Risk" conference on Monday and Tuesday, June 18-19, in Oconomowoc, Wis. Conference Director Flo Hilliard, a DCS faculty associate, says that when she began looking into treatment of at-risk boys, she realized that little research focused on gender differences. Many developmental issues have only been researched in terms of adolescents as a whole. So last year, she created the "Boys at Risk" conference to find ways to help troubled young men in the age range of 9-21. About 300 people attended last year's conference, and Hilliard is expecting more participants this year. "We had an overwhelming response (last year) for the one day - obviously people were hungry for this information," she says. This year's conference will span two days and will include information on how to best raise and treat high-risk boys. Workshop topics include working with boys on probation, the impact of trauma on boys and racial disparities in criminal justice. Rawhide Boys Ranch, a residential care center for troubled boys, will direct a session about how it creates lasting positive behavior in at-risk boys. Another session will focus on kinetic education as a way to help at-risk boys. Running Rebels, a program in Milwaukee for high-risk, African-American boys who have been arrested for a gun possession, will present another session. Hilliard says the program has a more than 75 percent success rate. A session titled "Walk one hour in my shoes" will focus on the Latino community, and another session is devoted to the experiences of Native American boys. Keynote speaker Leonard Sax will present "Boys Adrift: Five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys and lazy young men," and will also speak about the role of ADHD and other conditions in underachieving boys. Jackson Katz, also a keynote speaker, will discuss the role of the media in shaping the norms of male culture. Hilliard says the media has made men so hyper-masculine that it's not okay for a boy to show emotion; he has to be tough. The conference will be held at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center in Oconomowoc, Wis. and is open to the public. Registration and fee information is available <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/wwen">online</a> or by contacting Chris Dunleavy at (608) 265-4267. Walk-in registration at the conference will also be accepted. National research shows that boys make up 75 to 80 percent of the juvenile justice system and commit suicide four times more often than girls. U.S. colleges now have the lowest male enrollment in the country's history. Continuing Studies conference to focus on at-risk boys 13862 2007-06-07T00:00:00-05:00

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This month, seven students will learn about and try to remedy some of the major environmental injustices surrounding the Mexican-U.S. border area through a University of Wisconsin-Madison summer course titled "Crossing Borders: Environmental Justice at the Mexico/U.S. Border." Students will spend the first week of their four-week journey in Madison, learning from UW-Madison professors about the issues surrounding environmental justice on the border. For the next three weeks, students will explore the issues firsthand in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico, where there is a disproportionably high rate of asthma and birth defects as well as a polluted water supply. Students will spend their mornings listening to lectures from faculty from the Instituto Tecnologico de Matamoros and the University of Texas-Brownsville and spend their afternoons volunteering. Each student will spend 25 to 35 hours volunteering in both Brownsville and Matamoros. In Matamoros, students will help the Mexican government create a $2 million template for cleaning up a landfill and also help establish a waste service program in a small village. In Brownsville, students will teach middle and high school students about environmental justice in a summer youth program as well as helping border factory workers repair their homes. Last year, the Cross Borders course, offered by the <a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/">Division of Continuing Studies</a>, won the prestigious award for innovative curriculum from the <a href="http://www.naass.org/">North American Association of Summer Sessions</a>. This year, organizers continued to improve the course expanding it by one week to immerse students more in environmental justice. Faculty leader Tess Arenas says through the course students are not only learning but also helping improve communities. "Residents [in the border areas] are living on day-to-day, bread-and-butter issues. They don't have time to work on environmental issues," Arenas says. "Students help the residents by raising the awareness about the environmental injustices that are occurring in the region as well as brining awareness to the neighborhoods to get some remedies in place." Arenas says students also learn directly from the residents. "Through the experience, students understand the weight of extreme poverty and put a face to humanity for environmental justice issues," Arenas says. "They begin to interact with environmental justice." The Cross Borders class is more than a one-time learning experience. UW-Madison has made a 3-5 year commitment to the border communities to help them make lasting improvements in environmental justice. "We aren't just coming for a year and leaving," Arenas says "We want to come back and invest in these communities." This month, seven students will learn about and try to remedy some of the major environmental injustices surrounding the Mexican-U.S. border area through a University of Wisconsin-Madison summer course titled " Crossing Borders: Environmental Justice at the Mexico/U.S. Border." Students cross border to study environmental justice 13863 2007-06-07T00:00:00-05:00

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<h2>Related link </h2> <a href="http://www.madison.com/wsj/blogs/borders/">Follow the students' experience via a blog</a> they are maintaining in conjunction with the Wisconsin State Journal.