Newsletter of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) WINTER 2009-2010 VOL. 41 NO. 4 WAICU INDEPENDENT INSIGHTS WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT WAICU honors veterans with more than words COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES “Greater love has no one than AlvernoAlverno College this, that one lay down his life for his BeloitBeloit College friends” (John 15:13). Every November, CardinalCardinal StritchStritch UniversityUniversity we observe Veterans Day. At times, CarrollCarroll University perhaps, we confuse Veterans Day with CarthageCarthage College Memorial Day. The latter, of course, ConcordiaConcordia University University Wisconsin honors those who have fallen in service EdgewoodEdgewood College LakelandLakeland College to their country, while the first recogniz- LawrenceLawrence University es those former members of the armed MarianMarian University services who are still with us. However, MarquetteMarquette University the quotation really applies to both the MilwaukeeMilwaukee Institute Institute ofof Art Art & & Design Design living and the dead, for both, in word MilwaukeeMilwaukee SchoolSchool of EngineeringEngineering and deed, have expressed a willingness MountMount Mary College to making the ultimate sacrifice for oth- The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center is one of NorthlandNorthland College ers. eight veterans memorial sites in Wisconsin. RiponRipon College As the Lincoln Bicentennial Year widow and his orphan.” St.St. NorbertNorbert CollegeCollege draws to a close, we are also reminded of Doing our duty to our veterans by recom- SilverSilver Lake CollegeCollege his words that it is our duty “to care for him mitting ourselves to the great and good cause ViterboViterbo University WisconsinWisconsin Lutheran CollegeCollege who shall have borne the battle, and for his of liberty and democracy is of paramount continued on page 7 Lawrence graduate awarded Nobel Prize in chemistry Thomas Steitz, a 1962 graduate of Lawrence University, has important for a scientific perspective of life. Many of today’s been named as one of three recipients of the 2009 Nobel Prize antibiotics cure disease by blocking the functions of bacterial in chemistry. ribosomes. Without functional ribosomes, bacteria will not Steitz, along with a British and an Israeli scientist, are be- survive. A better understanding of ribosomes is critical for the ing singled out for their work development of new antibiotics. that shows how the information While research on ribosome function has been conducted encoded on strands of DNA is for fifty years, generating massive amounts of information, no translated into the proteins that group has succeeded in creating an accurate three-dimensional make up living matter. Steitz, map until now. According to The New York Times, work on the who earned a bachelor’s degree first ribosome crystals was so demanding that it took 25,000 in chemistry from Lawrence, uses tries before the first crystals were created, and another twenty X-ray crystallography to create years after that to produce the first X-ray patterns. a three-dimensional map of the Robert Rosenberg, professor emeritus of chemistry at position of each of the hundreds Lawrence, was Steitz’s academic advisor and says he’s “thrilled” of thousands of atoms that make the work of his former student has been recognized. “He was up the ribosomes that form the very inquiring,” said Rosenberg. “I’ve been hoping for this for protein. years.” Lawrence Universtiy graduate The research is significant Steitz, a Milwaukee native, is the first Lawrence graduate to Thomas Steitz won the 2009 because an understanding of win the Nobel Prize. Nobel Prize in chemistry. the workings of the ribosome is COUNSELOR NEWS & NOTES Private colleges support veterans through Yellow Ribbon, GI Bill Thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan Ribbon Program is reserved for veterans colleges and the federal government can war veterans found it easier to pay for who have served at least 36 months on work together to share the additional college this fall with help from a partner- active duty after September 10, 2001 or costs. The government will match ad- ship between Wisconsin’s private colleges have been discharged because of a disabil- ditional grants from the institution which and the country’s newest G.I. Bill. ity after serving at least 30 days. In some could, in effect, mean the veteran could In a show of support for these vet- cases, spouses and/or dependents may be attend a Wisconsin private college free of erans, Wisconsin’s private colleges and eligible as well. The U. S. Department of charge. universities pledged $8.7 million in fund- Veterans Affairs estimates that about 20 For a complete list of Wisconsin’s pri- ing for the federal government’s G.I. Bill percent of the eligible veterans will attend vate colleges and universities participat- “Yellow Ribbon” program that will make a private college or university. Current ing in the Yellow Ribbon program, visit it possible for some veterans to attend a U.S. Department of Defense figures show waicu.org/veterans. private college tuition-free. that more than 26,000 Wisconsin person- “We owe each of these men and wom- nel have served in support of en our gratitude for their service,” said current operations. Rolf Wegenke, president of the Wisconsin The new Post-9/11 GI Bill Association of Independent Colleges and pays up to the highest public Did youy receive your Universities (WAICU). “Our colleges will in-state undergraduate tuition copiescopi of the new do their part to make sure every eligible and fees. In Wisconsin, this WAICUWA 2010 Guide veteran has a chance at getting the educa- amount is $663 per credit. If to AdmissionA and tion that’s right for them,” he said. the cost of tuition and fees FinancialFin Aid? Call The GI Bill Enhancement Yellow exceeds that amount, private 1-800-4-DEGREE1-8 to ege • Ripon Coll orderor more. ersity tCollege quette Univ • St.Norber in •Mar t&Design ityWiscons titute of Ar Lake College dia Univers lwaukee Ins • Silver •Concor • Mi ngineering ity ge School of E rbo Univers rno College d Colle Milwaukee • Vite •Alve • Edgewoo • heran College yCollege sconsin Lut t College eland College • MountMar • Wi • Beloi ersity • Lak Stritch Univ University d College • Cardinal • Lawrence • Northlan versity versity • Carroll Uni • Marian Uni College • Carthage New materials for middle school students available this Higher education spring resources in Wisconsin As part of our ongoing effort to reach middle school students across College Goal Sunday—Weekend Edition, the state of Wisconsin, WAICU will publish updated materials for February 20-21, 2010, is an event providing free middle school students in the spring of 2010. information and assistance to families who are The materials are designed to work within a teacher’s or counselor’s filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal existing curriculum, and focus on making students aware of what they Student Aid), the federally required form for need to do to prepare for college. students seeking financial aid. As a partner in this It is never too event with the UW System and Wisconsin’s techni- Wisconsin’s “InI neeedeeed hhelpl early for students cal colleges, WAICU supports increasing awareness ppaypaayayiiningngg fofor Private ccocololollegl ee.”” “I’dI’I’d’d liikee toto to start thinking of college affordability and greater information Colleges & gragraaduadduuuatete inin about college, to be on the steps to take to secure financial aid. Go to Universities ffofououour yeareeaarrs.”s.s.”” encouraged to fol- wicollegegoalsunday.org to find locations around College low their dreams, to the state. Planning “I’d’dd llikee too stusttuudydy learn that many are iin a foororereeiigniggngn and Activity coccouuntrntntrtryy.”y”y.” “IIl likikeikek smsmallaallllleerr “pulling” for them. The Foster Youth to College Advisory Group claclclaassesssses ss”s.”” Book To learn more gathers resources focused on foster youth and the about the WAICU unique opportunities available to them in achiev- Student Access ing a college education. One of these resources is From here, you can go anywhere! Center or about the a list of WAICU members’ liaisons familiar with middle school pro- opportunities for foster youth; these liaisons can gramming, contact WAICU at (608) 256-7761 or help with the barriers students may face in pursu- [email protected], or go to WisconsinMentor.org. ing a college degree. Visit waicu.org/counselors to download the contact list. 2 WINTER 2009-2010 THE WISCONSIN INDEPENDENT MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS ALL WAICU MEMBERS FEATURED IN A REGULAR ROTATION New G.I. Bill can benefit The senior Finch is a 26-year Navy While the program doesn’t cover the full veteran and is on active duty at the Navy cost of tuition in his case, it does have a more than the veteran Operational Support Center in Madison. housing and book allowance. These ben- This semester is the first time that efits are equivalent to the highest public NORTHLAND COLLEGE Brian can use his father’s G.I Bill funding in-state tuition, combining to cover about to help pay tuition at Northland College. half of Brian’s expenses. Changes in the G.I. Bill had long been “It’s like getting another huge grant,” predicted to have a positive impact on said Brian. “Other years, I’ve relied a lot thousands of men and women serving in on scholarships that took a lot of time and the armed forces, but it is also changing energy to apply for. I also had to work the lives of their dependents. Just ask during the year. Now I can put that time Northland College student Brian Finch of towards even more classes.” Neenah. Brian can also be more involved in the Brian, like thousands of other de- organizations that interest him. During pendents and spouses of service person- his time at Northland, he’s been an active nel, for the first time can also apply for member of the college’s chapter of the education benefits under the updated law.