Monday, August 20, 2012
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Welcome back to campus
With fall semester classes beginning, Big Red Welcome events will continue through the week. On Mon. Aug 20 and Tues. Aug. 21, Faculty and staff volunteers will be available to act as guides and answer questions at the Nebraska Union Plaza and East Campus Loop from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
On Thur. Aug. 23, an East Campus Major Welcome at the Nebraska East Union, and on Fri. Aug 24, a Stroll Off will be held on the Nebraska Union Plaza at 5:30 p.m., and a Red Fever Dance in the Nebraska Union at 9:30 p.m.
Discovery has implications for finding life on Mars, understanding Earth's past
Moqui marbles, unusual balls of rock that can be found rolling around the southwestern U.S. sandstone regions, were formed roughly 2 million years ago with the help of microorganisms. This discovery by a UNL research team has implications for finding life on Mars and for better understanding Earth's past.
The research by Karrie Weber, assistant professor of geomicrobiology and microbial biogeochemistry, and her colleagues is featured on the cover of the August issue of Geology, the journal of the Geological Society of America. Read more about this discovery in Today@UNL.
Chancellor issues welcome back as fall semester opens
Chancellor Harvey Perlman issued a welcome back message to open the fall semester in an Aug. 16 e-mail to faculty and staff. UNL's annual State of the University speech is 11 a.m., Sept. 11 at the Lied Center. Read the full welcome in Today@UNL.
Rural Futures Institute launches grant programs
The University of Nebraska is moving forward with plans to develop a Rural Futures Institute. The proposed institute will be launched at the end of September. It is being designed to foster sustainable relationships and partnerships.
Two Rural Futures Institute grant programs were launched Aug. 13. The grants are intended to create an environment in which deep and meaningful collaborative partnerships are the norm: across campuses; across departments and disciplines; and with external stakeholders such as other non-University campuses, communities, state and local government, trade associations, civic groups and the philanthropic community. Read more about Rural Futures in Today@UNL.
Latest from the UNL Newsroom
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New car sharing program available on campus
UNL has launched a new partnership with Zipcar Inc., to offer a car-sharing program on campus. The convenient transportation option is available at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty and staff.
UNL members can join for a $25 annual membership fee, with rates on campus Zipcar vehicles starting as low as $7 per hour and $66 per day. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included in Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Read more about Zipcar in Today@UNL.
New Explore Center assists undecided, pre-professional students
A new center within Academic Affairs has been created to assist undergraduate and pre-professional students who have not selected a major area of study.
The center, called the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center, replaces the Division of General Studies. The Explore Center features six advisers to assist students and is led by Katie Kerr, assistant director. Further oversight is provided by Bill Watts, director of campus advising services and the College of Arts and Sciences' assistant dean for student success.
The Explore Center combines advising assistance for undecided undergraduates (formerly part of General Studies) and pre-law and pre-health students (formerly part of the Arts and Sciences advising center). The center advisers also assist students transitioning to new majors. Read more about the Explore Center in Today@UNL.
UNL launches Nebraska App
UNL has launched the Nebraska App, a suite of mobile applications that makes essential university resources available on mobile devices. Students can check grades, access course content and browse the course catalog. They can access the public directory and get in touch instantly, keep tabs on Husker sports, find places on the campus map, stay informed with the latest campus news, watch videos, and even listen to podcasts of popular lectures in iTunesU.
"UNL is moving services to the where the students are in terms of devices and network access"," said Mark Askren, Chief Information Officer. "Students now have a much more powerful connection to UNL via their mobile device." Read more about Nebraska App in Today@UNL.
