For the Record

Jan. 27-Feb. 10, 2010

Wisconsin Week, the newspaper of record for UW–Madison, carries legally required notices for faculty and staff.

Virginia Horne Henry Fund for Women’s Physical Education

The goal of this fund is to help UW–Madison develop a margin of excellence in women’s physical education by creating a campus resource dedicated to the pursuit of women’s lifelong learning skills in the areas of physical education, including knowledge and appreciation of the women’s movement and the female body in culture.

Administered through the School of Education, the fund is used to support an annual competition for funding related to women’s physical education and two Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships.

The Virginia Horne Henry Fund provides money for an annual competition for funding in a number of activities related to women’s physical education, including: special programs; new course development; research support; visiting scholars; student support; permanent equipment for recreational sports clubs.

Funding may be requested for one-time events, such as a guest scholar’s visit to campus, or ongoing projects. Projects may be proposed for a period of one year, with the possibility of additional year(s) of funding on reapplying; it is expected that for long-term projects, this fund will serve as seed money and not permanent support. The total funding available this year is in the range of $100,000 (less than usual due to economic factors) and the committee tries to make a number of awards, so funding should be requested with that in mind. No amount of money is too small to request. Funds will be available for use as of Saturday, May 1, provided animal and human subject approvals have been finalized.

Awards will be granted on the merits of the project and the close connection to the fundamental principles of Virginia Horne Henry’s work. Only those projects that have a clear relationship to the values that inspired her work will be funded.

Faculty and staff are eligible for these awards.

Awards will be announced by Tuesday, April 20. Any funds remaining after Aug. 31, 2012, will be reclaimed by the committee to make available to future recipients (Please note the change to more than two years to spend the funds).

For additional information on submission requirements, contact Ruth Benedict at 262-0543.

Completed applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1. Send a single PDF file with all components of the application to Virginia Horne Henry Fund, c/o Yvette Peterson.

Classified Employee Recognition Awards

Chancellor Biddy Martin has announced the start of the nomination process for the 2010 UW–Madison Classified Employee Recognition Awards (CERA).

A committee will review the nominations and make the final determinations of who should receive the awards. The CERA recipients will receive a commemorative plaque, paid registration to an employee development program of their choice, and a cash award. These individuals will also be highlighted in Wisconsin Week and honored for their achievements at a special spring ceremony.

Further information can be found at Classified Employee Recognition Award (requires a UW NetID login). The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 12.

Foreign Language, Area Studies fellowships for graduate, undergraduate students

Applications are now available for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships for summer 2010 and for the 2010–11 academic year. FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by UW–Madison’s National Resource Centers to assist students in acquiring foreign language and either area or international studies competencies. FLAS awards are available only for certain world languages and are contingent on federal funding.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applications by students in professional fields are encouraged. Preference will be given to applicants with a high level of academic ability and with previous language training.

Detailed information and an application form are available at Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 19.

International internship grants, pre-dissertation travel grants

Applications are now being accepted for two graduate fellowships offered by Global Studies: Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Internship Grants to doctoral students interested in undertaking practitioner internships on social justice issues, and Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Pre-dissertation Travel Grants to support summer travel for doctoral students exploring potential field research sites.

Applications must be received in the offices of Global Studies by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. The program is open to students of any nationality who are enrolled in a doctoral program at UW–Madison. Projects related to Global Studies themes will receive particular attention. Complete details and application materials are available at Scott Kloeck-Jenson Fellowships.

More information is available at Scott Kloeck-Jenson Fellowships or by contacting skj@global.wisc.edu or 265-2631.

Call for support grant proposals for racial and ethnic studies

Four categories of grant support are being made available by the UW System Institute on Race and Ethnicity for implementation during the 2010–11 fiscal year. The four grant categories are:

• Category A, Research: To support scholarly research on topics addressing race, ethnicity, diversity, inclusivity and/or equity with the intention of publication.
• Category B, Curriculum Development: To support the development and teaching of new courses pertaining to race, ethnicity, diversity, inclusivity and/or equity.
• Category C, Campus Activities: A miscellaneous category designed to support campus activities, guest lectures, fine arts performances, curricular infusion and instructional innovations, and/or events regarding race, ethnicity, diversity, inclusivity and/or equity.
• Faculty diversity research awards: To provide release time and support for categories of individuals who are tenure-track faculty members for their scholarly research and writing, thus enhancing their opportunities for achieving tenure.

To learn more, visit Institute on Race and Ethnicity Support Grants

Proposals must be sent to the institute office and postmarked no later than Friday, April 9. For more information, contact Thomas Tonnesen at 414–229–4700.

University compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

Standards of Conduct:

In a good faith effort to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, the University of Wisconsin System and UW–Madison prohibit the unlawful possession, use, distribution, manufacture or dispensing of illicit drugs (“controlled substances” as defined in Ch. 161, Wis. Stat.), in accordance with s. UWS 1810, Wis. Adm. Code, by employees on University property or as part of University activities. The use or possession of alcoholic beverages is also prohibited on University premises, except in faculty and staff housing and as expressly permitted by the chief administrative officer or under institutional regulations, in accordance s. UWS 18.06 (13) (b), Wis. Adm. Code. Without exception, alcohol consumption is governed by Wisconsin statutory age restrictions under s. UWS 18.06 (13) (b), Wis. Adm. Code.

Legal Sanctions:

The laws of Wisconsin prohibit drug possession and delivery through the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Wis. Stat. 161, and mandate stiff penalties that include up to 15 years of prison and fines up to $500,000. A person with a first-time conviction of possession of a controlled substance can be sentenced up to one year of prison and fined up to $5,000, Wis. Stat. 161.41 (2r) (b). The penalties vary according to the amount of drug confiscated, the type of drug found, the number of previous offenses by the individual and whether the individual intended to manufacture the drug, sell the drug or use the drug. (See Wis. Stat. 161.41.) In addition to the stringent penalties for possession or delivery, the sentences can be doubled when exacerbating factors are present, such as when a person distributes a controlled substance to a minor, Wis. Stat. 161.46 (1).

Substantial restrictions against alcohol abuse also exist in Wisconsin. It is against the law to sell alcohol to anyone who has not reached the legal drinking age of 21, and there is a concurrent duty on the part of an adult to prevent the illegal consumption of alcohol on his/her premises, Wis. Stat.125.07 (1) (a) (1). Violation of this statute can result in a $500 dollar fine. It is against the law for an underage person to attempt to buy an alcoholic beverage, falsely represent his/her age, or enter a licensed premises. Violators of this law can be fined $500, ordered to participate in a supervised work program, and have their driver’s license suspended, Wis. Stat. 125.07(4) (3). Harsher penalties exist for the retailers of alcoholic beverages who violate it, including up to 90 days in jail and revocation of their retail liquor permit.

The federal government has recently revised the penalties against drug possession and trafficking through its Federal Sentencing Guidelines. These guidelines reduce the discretion that federal judges may use in sentencing offenders of federal drug statutes. Under these guidelines, courts can sentence a person for up to six years for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, including the distribution of a small amount (less than 250 grams of marijuana). A sentence of life imprisonment can result from a conviction of possession of a controlled substance that results in death or bodily injury. Possession of more than 5 grams of cocaine can trigger an intent to distribute penalty of 10–16 years in prison, U.S.S.G, s. 2D2.1 (b) (1).

Health risks:

Drugs at work are a hidden habit, but they have visible effects on the user. Whether the drug of choice is alcohol, marijuana, a prescription drug or cocaine, the habit can lead to a change in work habits, too. Some people may believe that drugs are harmless or even helpful. The truth is that drugs can have very serious, long-term physical and emotional health effects. And if drugs are mixed, the impact is even more detrimental. The following is a partial list of drugs often found in the work place and some of the consequences of their use. Only some of the known health risks are covered, and not all legal or illegal drugs are included:

Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the work place. It can lead to poor judgment and coordination, drowsiness and mood swings, liver damage and heart disease.

Marijuana is an addictive drug, although many still believe that it is harmless. It can cause short-term memory impairment, slowed reaction time, lung disease and infertility.

While cocaine and crack can speed up performance, their effect is short-lived. More lasting risks are short attention span, irritability and depression, seizure and heart attack.

Prescription drugs are often used to reduce stress. However, they are not safe either, unless they are taken as directed. If abused, they can lead to sluggishness or hyperactivity, impaired reflexes, addiction and brain damage.

Other drugs, such as PCP, LSD, heroin, mescaline and morphine, have a wide variety of negative health effects — from hallucinations and mental confusion to convulsions and death.

Discipline: University employees will be subject to disciplinary sanctions, up to and including termination from employment, for violation of these provisions occurring on University property or the work site or during work time. In addition to discipline, or in lieu of it, employees may be referred to appropriate counseling or treatment programs. Disciplinary sanctions are initiated and imposed in accordance with applicable procedural requirements and work rules, as set forth in Wisconsin statutes, administrative rules, faculty and academic staff policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Referral for prosecution under criminal law is also possible. Further, violations of ss.UWS 1806 (13) and 18.10. Wis. Adm. Code may result in additional penalties as allowed under Ch. UWS 18, Wis. Adm. Code.

Employees convicted of any criminal drug statute violation occurring in the work place must notify their dean, director or department chair within five days of the conviction if they are employed by the University at the time of the conviction.

Employee Assistance Office (EAO): Employees who have problems with alcohol or controlled substances are encouraged to contact the Employee Assistance Office.

The UW–Madison Employee Assistance Office is located at 610 Langdon St., Room 526 Lowell Center. Call 263-2987 or 265-3398, or fax at 265-8460-TDD. The EA Web site is located at http://www.wisc.edu/eao.