Friday and Weekend, August 12 - 14, 2011
Philip Schwadel, associate professor of sociology.
Study redefines impacts of education on religious beliefs
It's pretty much a given that the more educated someone becomes, the more likely they are to question their religious beliefs, stop going to church and even abandon their faith entirely. Or is it?
A new UNL study challenges that age-old notion with findings that show education actually has a positive effect on Americans' churchgoing habits, their devotional practices, their emphasis on religion in daily life and their support for religious leaders to weigh in on the issues of the day.
The work, to be published in a forthcoming edition of the journal Review of Religious Research, analyzed a nationwide sample of thousands of respondents to the General Social Survey. The analysis determined that education does, in fact, influence Americans' religious beliefs and activities — but the effects are more complicated than conventional wisdom suggests. Read more about the study on Today@UNL.
New classroom 'clickers' picked for fall semester
Based on feedback from tests in a campus lecture hall, UNL has selected iClicker2 as the university's new classroom clicker system. The new system replaces eInstruction clickers. Clickers, or student response systems, are a technology used to promote active learning during lectures. The devices allow lecturers to post questions to students and provide real-time data on the effectiveness of the lesson being taught.
Clicker technology has been used in UNL classrooms for seven years. The switch to the iClicker2 system is due to technical advancements and improved support for the devices. "iClicker was chosen after running two vendor pilots in a lecture hall this past Spring semester," says Jeff Erb, Information Services Classroom Support Manager. "We worked closely with Academic Affairs and really listened to faculty and students input in selecting this technology." Read more about the clickers on Today@UNL
Nicole Maass of Omaha, is jubilant after receiving her diploma during commencement exercises in May. Also pictured are summer commencement speakers (from top) John Rosenow and John Hibbing.
DEVANEY SPORTS CENTER | LIVE STREAMSummer commencement features earth-friendly regalia
UNL's summer graduates will wear "green" at commencement exercises Aug. 12 and 13 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Not the color green — the environmental green. Sustainable academic regalia will be used for the first time. The new Jostens Elements Collection fabric for the traditional commencement gown was developed using 100 percent acetate material, proven to decompose in soil in one year.
The gowns are made from sustainably harvested wood pulp, and zippers are made from 100-percent recycled PET. Earth-friendly packaging contains a biofilm material that facilitates the decomposition process of the cap and gown bag.
The debut of the green regalia coincides with an Earth-friendly-themed commencement, to include speaker John Rosenow, founder and chief executive officer of the Arbor Day Foundation. Stage decorations at the ceremonies will be selected by UNL Landscape Services, who will plant them on campus afterward. John Hibbing, Foundation Regents University Professor of Political Science at UNL, will give the address, titled "The Symbiotic Relationship of Graduate Students and Faculty," at the postgraduate ceremony. Rosenow will give the address, titled "Two Questions," at the baccalaureate ceremony. Ellen Weissinger, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over both exercises. Read more about summer commencement on Today@UNL.
3 ROTC cadets to receive military commissions
Three cadets in the UNL ROTC program will receive military commissions in commissioning ceremonies Aug. 13 following UNL commencement exercises. Scott Kwiatkowski of Kearney will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Pershing Military and Naval Science Building.
Nathan Derenge of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Vincent Mathis of Madison, S.D., will be commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army in a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the Nebraska Union.
