Masthead-13.EPS Faculty/Staff Newsletter Volume 28, Number 3 April 2007 APRIL IS CAMPAIGN MONTH UWM GIVES TO UWM By Chris Ciancimino, Director of Annual Giving Show your support! UW SYSTEM SPIRIT DAY APRIL 18 UW System Spirit Day on Wednesday, April 18, is an opportunity for alumni, students, members of UW System communities and Wisconsin citizens to celebrate campus allegiances and the many contributions UWS makes to the state. The UWM Alumni Association has organized a trip to the State Capitol on Spirit Day to advocate for the university as elected officials begin to shape the state budget. The day begins with “Posters in the Rotunda,” an opportunity for students from UW System campuses to display their research projects, followed by visits with state legislators. The day ends with a reception with legislators at the nearby Inn on the Park Hotel. Peter Jakubowski For more information or to sign up for the trip, contact the UWMAA’s Panther Advocates Coordinator, John Bartel, at [email protected] or UWM Gives to UWM co-chairs (from left) UWM Libraries Director Ewa Barczyk, College of Health Sciences Dean Randall Lambrecht, 414-906-4665. Wisconsin Distinguished Professor of Business Mariam Zahedi and Head Women’s Basketball Coach Sandy Botham. pril is UWM Gives to UWM month. Every and trust in the role that UWM plays in educating year at this time, employees demonstrate their the next generation of citizens. It sends the strong Abelief in the university by providing gener- message to constituents: “We believe in the vision of ous financial support via the UWM Gives to UWM UWM and its future.” Campaign. Last year, more than 900 faculty and staff members made a gift or pledge and helped raise FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS an unprecedented $523,053. ABOUT UWM GIVES TO UWM This year’s campaign is led by co-chairs Randall Members of the UWM family are invited to make Lambrecht, dean, College of Health Sciences; Ewa gifts to the 2007 UWM Gives to UWM Campaign. Barczyk, director, UWM Libraries; Mariam Zahedi, Below are answers to frequently asked questions that Wisconsin Distinguished Professor, Sheldon B. may assist you when considering a gift. If you would Lubar School of Business; and Sandy Botham, head like additional information, please contact Chris coach, women’s basketball. Ciancimino, director of annual giving, at ciancim2@ Throughout the month, look for details on how uwm.edu or 414-229-3017. INSIDE you can support this year’s campaign with a tax- Q: What is the UWM Gives to UWM deductible contribution. Invitations and reminders Campaign? will be delivered to your campus mailbox and A: UWM Gives to UWM is an employee fund- RGI awards announced e-mailbox. In fact, you may already have received raising program that seeks to raise operational your invitation to participate! Contributions can be support for the university. The campaign is an Two new Ph.D. programs made conveniently through payroll deduction, and opportunity for all current and retired UWM faculty Mamarchev named student gifts can be unrestricted or directed to an area of the and staff to make an annual gift to their favorite affairs vice chancellor university that holds special interest to you. initiatives or department. Whether it goes to scholarships, academic or Q: I already work here; why should I give? Parking commission to study research programs, faculty enhancements or any A: Even if you don’t make a financial contribu- UWM transportation issues of the hundreds of programs at UWM, your gift tion to UWM, we appreciate the important contribu- Leske’s life work brings – combined with those of your fellow employees tion you make as an employee. families into critical care – helps the institution fulfill its mission. And every Employees know firsthand that the needs of the gift, regardless of size, is important. university are not always met, and that funding from Eells reveals the mystery of When you support the UWM Gives to UWM many sources is declining. Consequently, the private the healing light campaign, you are also supporting The Campaign support UWM receives from faculty, staff, alumni for UWM, the university’s comprehensive campaign. Honors College students go and friends is more important than ever. Equally That’s because all faculty and staff gifts count beyond facts and figures important, when UWM seeks support from founda- toward the $100 million campaign goal. The compre- tions and corporations, these organizations often 29th Annual Latin American hensive campaign has raised over $88 million to date consider the level of internal financial support in Film Festival (see page 4), and much of this total comes as a result their funding decisions. of the generosity of our faculty and staff. Gifts from faculty and staff symbolize their faith Continued on page 2 UWM Report • April 2007 • 1 FROM THE CHANCELLOR Call for nominations SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ERNEST SPAIGHTS PLAZA HONOREES ecently, questions have been raised about the Since then, the university has clearly taken signifi- The UWM Honorary Degrees content and results of an audit of UWM’s cant corrective actions. This was further reinforced Committee invites members of the hiring and employment practices. Many of when it is considered that separate complaints about R UWM community to nominate individu- the questions resulted from misinformation circulated hiring and employment practices were made to the als associated with the university to be about the audit. OFCCP against the university in 2003 and 2004. honored by inclusion on the Spaights I appreciate that The federal agency investigated, found both to be Plaza marker in 2007. many people across without merit, and dismissed them completely. Ordinarily, eligible nominees must campus are well aware I am proud of the progress made across campus have terminated their formal relation- of the audit conducted in recent years. But I know it is difficult to have ship with the institution for one calendar by the U.S. Department everything exactly right. That point arose during year. However, exceptions will be of Labor Office of the 2004-06 audit because it did reveal three techni- made for the nominations of persons Federal Contracts cal violations within the University of Wisconsin– who have ended their formal connec- Compliance Program Milwaukee Affirmative Action Plan. They pertain to tion with the university within less than (OFCCP). After all, it documentation processes, not the university’s hiring a year, should their health place them included on-site inter- and employment practices. Our administrative staff at risk. views of approximately has, however, embraced that feedback. In addition Inclusion on the Spaights Plaza 30 university employ- to the campus group discussions I mentioned earlier, marker is a major institutional honor, ees by four federal it has also been made clear that it is my expectation and is an enduring means by which investigators. And that UW–Milwaukee be committed to abiding by Carlos E. Santiago UWM pays a timeless tribute to col- since the audit was and exceeding federal legal expectations in hiring and leagues who have made significant and concluded, the results employment practices. lasting contributions to the university. have been widely discussed by many campus groups, Our efforts to respond to the stated violations are You are strongly encouraged to make including university administrators at divisional and outlined in a document called a conciliation agree- one or more nominations. departmental levels, human resources staff, hiring ment. If you would like to learn more about that Please note the DEADLINE of April committees and governance committees. document and read a copy of it, please go to my Web 12, 2007. The criteria for nominating But I would like to set the record straight on what site, www4.uwm.edu/chancellor/, and click on the individuals, and a list of persons who was (and was not) determined by the audit. hyperlink in the first paragraph that reads “UWM is have been honored in previous years, First, it is important to know the audit was committed to attaining fairness and equity in hiring is available at www.uwm.edu/Dept/ randomly generated. All institutions that receive and employment practices.” SecU/spaights. federal funding have their hiring and employment There is a great deal of important scholarship and practices periodically audited. It is also very signifi- research taking place on this campus. Concurrently, cant that this audit, which lasted from November it is equally important that we meet and exceed 2004 to August 2006, reported: the federal fair employment and affirmative action • Zero findings of discrimination. expectations in the conduct of that scholarship and • Zero findings of damages. research. I greatly appreciate the efforts that many • Zero need for injunctive relief of any kind. people are putting forth toward these broad objectives These results take on even more significance to further improve UW–Milwaukee. when they are compared to previous random audits of UWM. More than a quarter century ago, the university was cited for problems relating to equitable salaries for women. Similar problems still existed when another federal audit took place more than a decade ago. Carlos E. Santiago, Chancellor GET THE LATEST UWM GIVES TO UWM From page 1 ON THE WEB Q: When will I receive the letter asking me to of money you are credited as contributing. For a complete schedule of events participate? Q: What are my payment options? and the latest campus news, start A: Letters are being sent by campus mail in late A: There are several ways to make a contribution. your day at www.uwm.edu. March to early April. Please return your pledge form When you receive your pledge card, or if you already Masthead-13.EPS by the end of April to ensure it is counted in the know how you would like to support the university: campaign total.