MERIT staff have been working to support school-wide initiatives by creating new websites.   Highlights include:

• The newly formed office, American Indian Curriculum Services web resource for teachers:  http://aics.education.wisc.edu. The site will be a starting point for faculty, staff and students looking for Act 31-related information and materials. Lesson Plans, Content Modules and Bibliographies are all areas that will grow as resources become available.
• The Student Diversity Programs and the Equity and Diversity Committee came together to create the Common Read Program, which is offering a series of discussions relating to Sherman Alexi's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian" and events related to the topic of American Indians. Their new website, http://commonread.education.wisc.edu will help to organize the book discussions by providing visitors with the opportunity to sign up for one of the sessions.

Look for more web highlights in future issues of MERIT news.

MERIT staff are ready to assist you with producing and sharing videos.     Check out our "Help with Video FAQ"  which shares avenues for instructional help, video production, and tips for self-help.

MERIT would like to salute several amazing student staff members who were recently honored with a WOW! (What Outstanding Work!) Awards. This award recognizes staff members who have gone above and beyond our already high expectations for service. Award winners include: Emily Bouwkamp (library), Nicole Mennen (library), Michelle Russo (library and media design), Peggy Cruse (library), Ben Saffran (IT), Megan Marvel (library), and Zena Hirsch (media design). A huge thank you to all of them for helping MERIT provide excellent service to our users!!

Catherine Stephens recently was a panelist at the ComETS Emerging Trends discussion in February. Catherine addressed teaching and learning on the UW-Madison Island in Second Life. For more information and copies of materials, visit http://cometset.pbwiki.com/

Brenda Spychalla and Anna Lewis presented with representatives from Carroll University at the Midwest Regional EDUCAUSE Conference in Chicago in March. The presentation entitled, "The Urge to Merge: Rethinking Library and IT Services" focuses on the recent merger of the CIMC, IMDC and SoE IT and the creation of MERIT. To view the presentation, visit https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/aklewis/web/UrgeToMerge.

The School's Academic Planning Council has selected MERIT (Media, Education Resources, and Information Technology) as the new name for the merger of the CIMC, IMDC, and SoE IT office. MERIT Services and staff are housed on the first, third, and fourth floors of the Teacher Education Building. MERIT will continue to provide the library, help desk, learning spaces, media development, technical support, instructional technology consulting, and infrastructure support formerly provided by the CIMC, IMDC, and SoE IT. Additional information about the reorganized unit including our new website will be announced later in the spring semester.

Jo Ann Carr
Director, MERIT

The administrative services unit has hired Ade Afolayan. Ade is a freshmen majoring in Business/ Marketing. At the circulation desk, five new students have been hired: Matt Anderson, an undergrad in International Studies, Katie Anstett-Dekker, a classics and classical humanities undergrad, Sam Boss, a grad student in SLIS, (who will also be working at Reference), Tara Pyles, an elementary education undergrad, and Hattie Strange, an undergraduate in Comparative Literature. The lab / IT desk hired two new staff members: Korab Krasniqi, an undergrad in Business, and Byron Sharer Robertson, a grad student and TA in ELPA.

Also of note is that Katie Helmeid and Melissa Patenaude have both been promoted to supervisors at circulation. Finally, Michelle Russo is now assisting Linda Endlich on graphic design projects.

We are excited about all of these changes and additions to our staff.

Dick Geier and Clark Thompson received a 2008 WAVE award from the Madison Chapter of the Media Communications Association International for the web video: "Plant Breeding at UW-Madison"

Barb Smith is currently working on the Gender, Diversity and Student Well-Being committee as part of the Athletic Department's NCAA Recertification Self-Study.