Community Service Education
The Outreach School NEWSLETTER - Fall 2007 - (Volume 10 Issue 3)
Click here to download a pdf version of the newsletter
“Green” is the New Gold - Gold Mine That Is
Look at any meeting planners’ website today, and you’ll see “green” meetings area hot topic. According to the Convention Industry Council, a green meeting or event incorporates environmental considerations to minimize its negative impact on the environment. If you think that small changes can’t make a difference, read on. Using china instead of plastic disposables for 2,200 people for a five-day event that includes breaks, breakfasts, lunches and receptions prevents 1,890 pounds of plastic from going into a landfill – nearly a ton! And, by not pre-filling water glasses for 2,200 people for a three day event, 520 gallons are saved.
Tips on how you can host a “green” meeting:
• Save directional, food and beverage and other generic signs for reuse.
• Collect and re-use plastic badge holders.
• Print materials on double-sided recycled paper.
• Provide on-site recycling of paper, plastics, cardboard, etc.
• Use water stations and compostable cups instead of water bottles.
• Ask attendees to sign up for meals to reduce food waste and costs.
• Donate leftover food to a food redistribution center. (The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act passed in 1996 prevents anyone who donates food in good faith from being sued.)
• Use products, such as tote bags, made from recycled products.
• Have maps of walking trails and local parks available. Suggest off-site events and tours that involve attendees in the area’s natural environment .
• When possible, provide food and beverages that are locally grown and/or in-season; buy and use organic produce.
• Provide meeting materials via PDA downloads.
If you are in need of coordination services or assistance in planning a retreat or workshop, keep our office in mind. We can help make your next event a great “green” success!
Sheila Couture
Director
Back to Top Conference Calendar of Events
September
Mgmt. Basics for Engineers
WY Nursing Summit
Focus on the Healthy Child
School Improvement
WyGisc Short Course
FDA-WHEA Conference
Consumer’s Issues
Wyospace.com Idea Expo
WyGisc Short Course
October
• 10/2
• 10/2
• 10/4
• 10/8
• 10/23
WyGisc Short Course
Grantsmanship Workshop
American College Physicians
Finding the Balance
WyGisc Short Course
November
• 11/26 -29
WyGisc Short Course
December
• 12/3-7
• 12/11-15
WyGisc Short Course
Pesticide Short Course
Back to Top 2nd Annual Dog Day Gets 4-Paws Up! The day was warm and sunny, the dogs were romping and rolling, and the humans were smiling and laughing. UW Community Service Education sponsored The 2nd Annual Dog Day Afternoon, which was held August 19 at Undine Park. The Laramie Animal Shelter chipped 48 cats and dogs, generating $960 that goes directly to the foundation. Cash donations totaled $118 which translates as 6 spay/neuter coupons for people adopting animals from the shelter.
“The exposure that the Laramie Animal Shelter gets from this event is immeasurable. My hope is that the awareness might be raised and people will want to get their pets from the shelter,” said event coordinator Barbara Barnes.
The 2008 Dog Day Calendar will be available in late October, which features 12 dogs-of-the-month as well as pictures of all the entries. Calendars are $12 with all proceeds going to the animal shelter and are available through Community Service Education. For more information please contact Pam Brekken at 766-5635.
The 3rd Annual Dog Day Afternoon will be held August 17, 2008.
Back to Top Certificate Programs Developed During this academic year, we are continuing our focus on certificate programs. Our fall programming includes three basic business certificate programs, a web design certificate program, a hospitality certificate, and numerous online noncredit programs. As our demographic base changes in Wyoming to a population that is often seeking a second career, or perhaps a career not necessarily requiring an academic degree, we are seeing a surge in requests for industry-specific training.
Consequently, we are setting guidelines that ensure consistency, integrity, and accountability. Requirements for any training to be eligible for a University of Wyoming certificate include:
• The program of study will create merit in a particular field of study.
• The program shall be substantial in content.
• Instructor’s qualifications shall be verifiable and relevant.
• The program shall be consistent with other similar, certificate programs at
comparable institutions.
If you have a potential non-credit certificate program that you would like to discuss, please contact Sheila Couture at 766-5641.
For a complete list of current certificate programs visit our web site, outreach.uwyo.edu/enrichment.
Back to Top World Traveler Series Community Service Education, in partnership with the TraveLearn Network, is providing an opportunity to combine learning with travel to 18 worldwide destinations. Unique features include:
• Faculty escorts and in-country specialists who share insights about the
contemporary, natural, and historical aspects of the destinations;
• First class accommodations;
• Small groups (average is 14);
• Meetings with local people & specially arranged field experiences; and
• Comfortably paced itineraries with time to pursue individual interests.
In fact, it’s like taking a luxury field trip with the best teachers you ever had! For full details on these trips, including itineraries and prices, please visit www.travelearn.com/wyoming/
4th Annual Wyoming Nursing Summit: Sept. 20 - 22 The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing has combined efforts with the Wyoming Nurses Association for a multi-day convention to be held at the Best Western Sheridan Center in Sheridan, Wyoming. The 4th Annual Wyoming Nursing Summit and Wyoming Nurses Association Convention is a joint effort where “Wyoming Nurses Act to Support Health”.
The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing and the WNA Board of Directors invites visionary health care leaders to participate in the Summit and WNA Convention. Goals for the combined convention are: Address nurses’ work, address issues regarding the healthy workplace, and share resources, knowledge, and visions to improve the health of Wyoming residents.
Nurses across the state and all stakeholders across the health care continuum are encouraged to attend, including nursing leaders, CEO’s nurse educators, members and boards of professional organizations, representatives from healthcare agencies and lawmakers.
To register visit outreach.uwyo.edu/conferences/conflist.aspx and click on 4th Annual Wyoming Nursing Summit. For more information, please visit http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/NCNS/summit.asp.
Focus on the Healthy Child: Sept. 21 - 22 The College of Health Sciences is excited to feature Diane Allensworth PH.D, R.N., as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Focus on the Healthy Child: An Interprofessional Model. The conference will be held at the UW Student Union and will also include five other expert speakers from the field. Highlighted topics include physical education, school health services, nutrition services, counseling and social services, healthy school environment, school site health promotion for staff, family and community involvement, and comprehensive school health education. Anyone in the health care system, education system, or involved with children in any way is encouraged to attend this event. It will be free and open to UW students and faculty, $25 for basic registration, and $45 for anyone seeking CEU’s.
To register visit outreach.uwyo.edu/conferences/conflist.aspx and click on Focus on the Healthy Child.
Finding the Balance: Energy & Climate Summit: Oct. 8 - 10 Global energy demands are increasing. Meanwhile, concerns about impacts to climate associated with energy development mount. Heated debate on every level happens every day, rehashing a variety of positions and yielding far too little in the form of real solutions.
The purpose of the Finding the Balance: Energy and Climate summit is to bring together high-level decision-makers, experts in the field of energy and climate, and other interested parties from across the U.S. and beyond to share information and find common ground on balancing energy needs with climate considerations. The issue will be explored from a variety of different perspectives, emphasizing economic, scientific, public policy, and societal values. Speakers, panelists and summit attendees will work together to develop solutions. The sponsors plan that this summit will result in innovative policy shifts and creative research.
For registration information or questions, please call, toll free, 877-733-3618, ext. 1. For more conference details, please visit www.uwyo.edu/findingthebalance/ or contact Robyn Paulekas at (307) 766-5146
How many bad websites have you visited recently? Quite a few, I’ll bet! In today’s marketplace, a good site has become an essential business tool; and yet, so many businesses are limping along with poorly-designed sites.
This fall we’re offering a major new program that meets the need for professional web design training in our community. The Web Design Certificate Program enables owners and employees to learn everything they need to know about web design and maintenance. Our course will help you to create a page that suits your needs, avoid bad design choices, learn about importing and using graphics, learn when and where to use Flash and other plug-ins (and when not to!), help you publish your site and simplify your routine site maintenance, and much, much more.
Long term cost decisions are explained in ways everyone can understand. Technical concepts are explained using analogies that help you know not just what they are, but how they work. This is a hands-on course, in which participants will build an actual site. You do not need to learn HTML code during this course! All course materials – including HTML software – is provided.
Packaged in twelve modules, this comprehensive new course offers a UW Certificate to those students completing all twelve modules.
The Web Design Certificate Program is being taught by Laura Wheeler of Firelight Web Studio – an experienced, professional web designer who is based in south-east Wyoming. So isn’t it time you pulled your business off the shoulder of the information highway? The Web Design Certificate Program is your chance to create a web site that will not only earn its keep, but generate new revenue for your business.
After you've got your business web site up and running, how will you deal with the increased traffic? One sure-fire way to convert enquiries into sales is to provide not just good customer service, but extreme customer service! Join us October 18 for an intense workshop hosted by Jep Enck - one of today's most dynamic speakers. Extreme Customer Service will be held from 8:30 - 11:30 am at the new Holiday Inn in Laramie. This morning of enlightenment includes the workshop, a light lunch, and an interactive Q&A session after workshop. Don’t miss this opportunity to obtain the tools your business needs to succeed: a dynamic web site, and dynamic customer service!
For more information or to register please call Simon at 307-766-2938.
WyGisc offers Discounted Courses
The Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGisc) offers an array of classes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing. GIS is a recently developed technology used to link information to its geographic location. It applies to every field and business, including, but not limited to banking, forestry, real estate, archaeology, transportation and human health services.
“Any data with a spatial component can be used within a GIS,” said Patrick Madsen of WyGisc, “Including satellite images, points collected with a GPS, and even census data.”
A series of short courses is available to anyone interested. The upcoming course schedule and registration options can be viewed at outreach.uwyo.edu/conferences/
conflist.aspx.
To familiarize the public with this important technology, WyGisc is offering a free workshop on Geodatabases, ArcGIS and the WyGisc education program October 10, 2007 at 8:00 am. This workshop will be held in Ag Training Room 316. Additionally, WyGisc is holding GIS day on November 14 with activities planned across campus.
University faculty, staff, and students can take WyGisc classes for 40% off the regular price. To take advantage of the 40% discount or for more information regarding WyGisc and GIS, contact Paul Caffrey at caffrey@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-2770.
Dog Obedience, Caribbean Culture, Oil Painting, Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Money Tips for Teens, GRE Prep Workshop, Sign Language, Creative Dance, Cheerleading, Tumbling, and over 300 online classes. What do these classes have in common? They are all eligible for children’s scholarships.
We offer ten $25 scholarships per semester for children 16 years old and younger. If your household budget doesn’t stretch as far as it once did, fill out an application and drop it off at the registration office in Beta House. Application forms can be downloaded at outreach.uwyo.edu/enrichment
Scholarships are available for any child-appropriate class, are need-based and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Most of our classes are under $100 with many offered for less than $50. With a scholarship, your child’s class could be half-price!
For a complete listing of classes available and their descriptions, please visit outreach.uwyo.edu/enrichment. Online classes are located at www.ed2go.com/uwyo.
Whether on-site or online, open new doors to learning for your children with your budget in mind!
Students as far away as Alaska Study Online with UW
It is not uncommon for students to enroll in more than one noncredit online class through UW’s division of Community Service Education (CSE). But, when Adrienne Levine of Anchorage, AK registered for her eighth online course through CSE, she became the most active student the department has ever enrolled.
Levine first learned of CSE’s online offerings from a colleague in Alaska. As a graphic designer, online classes in software and design have helped her set up her own design business that continues successfully in Anchorage.
“I have been doing graphic design and photography as a hobby for many years now,” Levine says. “When I decided to actually try to do something with it, I realized that I would benefit from more education, especially about the computer and technical side of design.”
She started her extensive list of classes from CSE learning Microsoft Word I and II and Introduction to Printshop Deluxe. She has since taken Creating Web Pages I and II, Introduction to the Internet, Designing Effective Websites, and most recently Introduction to CSS and HTML.
“I have taken something out of all of your courses,” Levine says, “The instructors are able to answer questions and work through problems with us. The discussion areas can be most lively and informative. In fact, sometimes I spend as much time there as I do with the class-work.”
Online classes offered through CSE are accessible 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, with pages dedicated to chatting with fellow students and with online instructors. For Levine, the flexible schedule and affordable tuition made it the best choice for her while starting a new business.
“The cost of each course fits into my budget and I can work on the class whenever I want to,” Levine says. “I would like to take some of your courses on managing a small business as well. I thank you for having this resource available to those of us who live in Alaska and elsewhere, far away from the choices of big cities in the lower 48.”
CSE offers a wide variety of online courses ranging from software training and business to personal development and writing. There are over 300 courses to search through with the flexibility to fit any schedule. To register for classes go online to www.ed2go.com/uwyo or contact John at (307) 766-5634 or jscozzaf@uwyo.edu.
