1. Graduation and Baccalaureate Mass this weekend

Nearly 500 graduates will be recognized at the Mid-year Commencement on Sunday, Dec. 19, at the U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will feature a keynote address by Dr. Joseph Daniels, professor of economics, as well as remarks from President Robert A. Wild, S.J., and featured student speaker Jackie Steuter, who is graduating from the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication.

Graduation events will also include the Baccalaureate Mass at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Church of the Gesu. The Mass will be celebrated by Father Wild, who will be joined by members of the Marquette Jesuit community and diocesan priests.

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2. Law School announces $2 million gift

The Law School today announced a $2 million gift from Milwaukee business leader and philanthropist Sheldon Lubar for the creation of the Sheldon B. Lubar Fund for Public Policy at the Law School.

Joseph D. Kearney, dean of the Law School, said the Lubar Fund will allow the school to expand the scope and participation in public policy initiatives and encourage law students to be knowledgeable about and involved in community issues. The fund will specifically support public policy research and initiatives, including conferences and symposia; faculty research; curriculum development; and programs that enhance the teaching of public policy issues at the Law School.

Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., praised Lubar’s commitment to education, to Milwaukee and to Wisconsin: “Shel Lubar has long been a driving force in Wisconsin, and he understands the importance of broad civic engagement on public policy issues and the role that our law school plays in the region. We are truly appreciative of his confidence in Marquette Law School and grateful for all he does for the greater Milwaukee community.”

“It is clear that, as Milwaukee’s law school, Marquette can play a critical role in convening discussions on the most critical public policy issues of our day,” said Lubar. “It is my hope that the Lubar Fund for Public Policy will further establish Marquette Law School as the place that convenes a wide group of individuals to address hard problems, and I look forward to collaborating with them in the future.”

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3. Marquette to add men’s and women’s lacrosse

Marquette will add men’s and women’s lacrosse to its NCAA Division I varsity sports offerings, Athletic Director Steve Cottingham announced today. Both teams will begin competition in spring 2013.

Lacrosse will become the eighth men’s sport to be offered at MU, as well as the eighth women’s team to be added, bringing the total number of varsity programs at the university to 16.

“Lacrosse is a thrilling sport, loved by fans and participants, and a natural fit for Marquette,” said Cottingham. “The national growth of lacrosse and Marquette’s membership in the BIG EAST make this exactly the right time for us to move forward with lacrosse as a varsity sport at Marquette. We are confident we can build programs that compete successfully at the national level.”

Marquette plans to hire head coaches in advance of the 2011-12 academic year to allow the respective coaching staffs to recruit student-athletes for the first season in 2012-13 with varsity competition starting that spring. The Golden Eagles will play as an independent their first season of competition before becoming a full member of the BIG EAST Conference in men’s and women’s lacrosse in 2013-14.

There are currently nine BIG EAST schools that sponsor NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse, including Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse and Villanova. Loyola-Maryland is an associate member of the conference, competing in women’s lacrosse only.

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4. University offices closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 2

As a result of the gift of time previously announced by Senior Vice President Greg Kliebhan and Provost John Pauly in consultation with President Robert A. Wild, S.J., university offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 2. Eligible employees (full-time and regular part-time employees scheduled to work on those days) will receive an additional three paid holidays.

Limited campus services, including the Departments of Public Safety and Facility Services and the Rec Plex, will remain open (see No. 6, below, for additional services).

Employees in departments where 24/7 or holiday coverage is necessary will work with their supervisors on alternative schedules.

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5. Final grades due in CheckMarq at noon Tuesday

Final grades are due in CheckMarq (not D2L) at noon Tuesday, Dec. 21, for classes ending Dec. 18 or before. The Office of the Registrar will enter grades of NG (for no grade) on any grade roster with missing grades, starting at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21. Faculty will be responsible for submitting a grade change form for each student who receives a grade of NG.
 
Instructions are available from IT Services to scan exams. Faculty should turn exams in to the IT Services Help Desk (Cudahy Hall, second floor) for scanning as soon as possible after the exam to ensure a quick turn-around.

For grading assistance contact Kerry Grosse, associate registrar, at 8-6320 or Vicki Trautschold, associate registrar, at 8-6313 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After business hours, contact the Help Desk at 414-288-7799. The Help Desk can contact the registrar after hours, if needed.

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6. Some hours of operation change for winter break

Marquette University offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 2. Limited campus services, including the Departments of Public Safety and Facility Services, the Rec Center and Rec Plex and the Office of University Advancement will remain open according to the schedule below

Alumni Memorial Union and Information Desk
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Jan. 2 — closed

Haggerty Museum of Art
Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 22-23 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 24-25 — closed
Sunday, Dec. 26 — noon to 5 p.m.
Monday to Friday, Dec. 27-31 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 1 — closed
Sunday, Jan. 2 — noon to 5 p.m.

Marquette Neighborhood Health Center, by appointment
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday to Sunday, Dec. 23-26 — closed
Monday, Dec. 27 — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 28-29 — closed
Thursday, Dec. 30 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday to Sunday, Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 — closed

Raynor Memorial Libraries
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Jan. 2 — closed

Rec Center
Saturday, Dec. 18, to Sunday, Jan. 9 — Closed for renovations; members are invited to use the Rec Plex. The pool is also closed for renovations until Monday, Jan. 10.

Rec Plex
Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 22-23 — 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Sunday, Dec. 24-26 — closed
Monday to Thursday, Dec. 27-30 — 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 — closed
Sunday, Jan. 2 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Spirit Shop
Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 22-23 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday to Sunday, Dec. 24-26 — closed
Monday to Friday, Dec. 27-31 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 1 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 2 — closed

Union Sports Annex
Wednesday to Tuesday, Dec. 22-28 — closed
Wednesday, Dec. 29 — 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday to Tuesday, Dec. 30 to Jan. 4 — closed

University Advancement
Open for year-end gifts. To make arrangements to drop off a gift, call the following numbers between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.:
Thursday, Dec. 23 — 414-288-6589
Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 27 and 28 — 414-288-0214
Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 29 and 30 — 414-288-0214
Friday, Dec. 31 — 414-288-6774

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7. Over-the-counter medicine expenses must be submitted by Dec. 31

Employees who participated in the health flexible spending account in 2010 must submit all eligible over-the-counter medicine purchases for reimbursement by Friday, Dec. 31. Reimbursement forms are available on the benefits website and should be submitted directly to Employee Benefits Corporation. Over-the-counter purchases, such as for allergy suppressants and Tylenol, made Jan. 1, 2011, or after will not be eligible for HFSA reimbursement unless prescribed by a physician (except for insulin).
 
Eligible medical services such as copays, deductibles and coinsurance can still be incurred Jan. 1 through March 15 and submitted for reimbursement by March 31, 2011, for employees with a HFSA balance. Reimbursement forms are available on the benefits website.

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8. $1 admission to women’s basketball game Tuesday

Admission to the women's basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 21, at noon against Illinois will cost $1 for employees. Soda and hot dogs will also cost $1.

That game will also be “MPS Day,” at which elementary and middle school students will attend.

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9. University Advancement open for year-end gifts

All year-end donations are due to University Advancement Gift Services in Zilber 421 by Dec. 31; donations must be delivered securely — do not send cash or checks through campus mail. To request the Bursar’s Office courier services call 8-1542 during business hours Dec. 16-17 and 20-22. Advancement Gift Services will not be open Dec. 23-28 but will be open Dec. 29-31.

For more information, contact Amanda Mauch, director of advancement gift services, at 8-4467.

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10. News Briefs schedule to change during break

Due to the winter break, News Briefs will be distributed Dec. 20 and Jan. 3, 10 and 18 (not Jan. 17, due to Martin Luther King Day), before resuming its twice-weekly schedule Jan. 20. The submission deadline is noon Friday for Monday editions.

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11. Rec Plex massage gift certificates available through Wednesday

Individuals who would like to purchase a Rec Plex massage gift certificate in time for Christmas need to make the purchase by Wednesday, Dec. 22. Costs are $26 for 30 minutes; $42 for 60 minutes and $68 for 90 minutes. Contact Sandy O'Donoghue, Rec Plex office coordinator, at 8-7778 for more information.

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