THE
COLLEGE
OF OF
MANAGEMENT
AT UW-STOUT
• WINTER
20142014/2015
THE
COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT
AT UW-STOUT
• WINTER
APPLIED
LEARNING
WITH
TECHNOLOGY
THROUGH
TECHNOLOGY
THE
GLOBALIZATION
OF UW-STOUT’S
COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT
COLLEGE
OF OF
MANAGEMENT
COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT
Inspiring
Innovation
• Learn
Inspiring
Innovation.
Learnmore
moreatatwww.uwstout.edu/com
www.uwstout.edu
www.uwstout.edu.com | 1
DEAN’S MESSAGE
GRADUATE
CHANCELLOR
DEAN’S MESSAGE: TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES
POWERFUL TOOLS FOR APPLIED LEARNING
The need for industry and academic institutions to engage in a hands-on, applied learning environment is more paramount now than
ever before. Applied learning is a principle
that crosses all disciplines at UW-Stout, and
instructional technologies are tools that
expand students’ experiences. Hence, the
theme of this COM Connection, “Applied
Learning Through Technology,” showcases the
influence of technology on engaged learning
in the College of Management.
You will discover how our educators use
technology in their classrooms and as online
teaching tools. The power of online degrees
is demonstrated by students’ success and
USDLA (United States Distance Learning
Education) accreditation of the university’s
programs.
COM’s revised master’s degree in hospitality
strategy will be a trailblazing degree when it
is launched in fall 2015. If you are an executive who desires a master’s degree geared
toward the 21st century hospitality industry,
this advanced degree from your alma mater’s
School of Hospitality Leadership would be an
ideal and rewarding one to seek.
In this edition, you also get a glimpse of the
future-is-here classroom setting in COM’s
Weidner Center. The center’s technology and
collaborative design enhance learning for
property management students as well as
those in other majors within the School of
Hospitality that require property management
classes.
COM’s military science department
relies on technology
such as simulation
software to prepare
ROTC cadets for
future military leadership roles.
Students are inspired
by professionals in
Abel Adekola
the field with high
standing. In October
2014, four Cabot Executives graced our 30th
Cabot Executive in Residence anniversary
with priceless experiences they shared with
students.
Outside the classroom, vibrant COM student
organizations make lasting impacts with
selfless service to their community, improving
the lives of ordinary people as students gain
knowledge that lasts a lifetime.
Quality education can’t be accomplished
without the genuine commitment of our
faculty. This issue debuts a new section that
recognizes retiring faculty members who have,
during their lifelong services to COM and the
university at large, helped shape the lives of
our students with their intellect and dedication to educating young minds.
Enjoy this COM Connection!
Abel Adekola
Dean, College of Management
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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4
5
6
8
10
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New chancellor values technology
Cabot Executives steer students
toward success
Technology draws students into
heart of subjects
Online programs set up real-world
experiences
Simulations plunge cadets into
realistic scenarios
Student organizations help
communities and build ties
The College of Management at UW-Stout
12
15
Teaching comes form all angles in
Weidner Center
Retiring faculty make their mark
Published by UW-Stout’s College of Management
Pam Braun, Writer
Editorial Board, Joy Evenson, David Johnson,
Bernie Mullen Kelly Poppe-Gale and Paul Lokken
collegeofmanagement@uwstout.edu
NEW CHANCELLOR
VALUES TECHNOLOGY
Find this publication and provide
feedback or story ideas online at
www.uwstout.edu/admin/colleges/com/connection.
We welcome your inquiries and comments.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Business Administration
Golf Enterprise Management
Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management
Management
Real Estate Property Management
Retail Merchandising and Management
Supply Chain Management
Sustainable Management
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Operations and Supply Management
Risk Control
Training and Human Resource Development
Sustainable Management
SPECIALIZATIONS
Golf Enterprise Management
Training and Human Resource Development
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CERTIFICATES
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Event and Meeting Management
Gaming Management
Human Resource Management
Quality Management
Supply Chain Management
Sustainable Management Finance
COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT
280E Technology Wing – Jarvis Hall
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751
Phone: 715-232-1111
Online: www.uwstout.edu/com
A
fter three decades as an educator and
administrator in higher education, new
UW-Stout Chancellor Bob Meyer knows the
necessity of staying on the cutting edge of
instructional technologies.
“UW-Stout prides itself on being at the forefront in the use of technology, both in the
classroom and across campus,” Meyer said.
“It is why we pioneered the e-Stout or laptop
program in the early 2000s and continue to
build upon that program today. We need to
constantly be aware of what innovations are
available in the area of technology and implement those innovations when they make
sense for us.”
Now he’s back at UW-Stout, ready to build on
Sorensen’s legacy. His visions include exploring and expanding ways to use technology for
applied learning.
“An exciting innovation that began before I got
here is our move to e-textbooks,” he said.
“We are piloting that effort now and have
plans to expand it in the future. We also
have to review the technology we include in
our e-Stout program to ensure that students
have the best technology for their learning
experiences.”
The commitment of College of Management
faculty and staff ensures that the impact of
the university’s polytechnic designation will
continue to grow and its high job placement
rate of 97 percent will continue.
Meyer replaces a leader under whom he
worked, Charles W. Sorensen, who retired
Aug. 15, 2014, after 26 years as chancellor.
When the laptop program began, Meyer was
“I have spent time with the amazing faculty
dean of the College of Technology, Engineerand staff of this college and every college,”
ing and Management and in subsequent
Meyer said. “What stands out the most to
years worked with CTEM faculty to launch the me, and it makes UW-Stout special, is the
delivery of numerous degree programs via
tremendous dedication that everyone, and I
distance delivery technology.
mean everyone, brings to work every single
day and how the student is first and foreHe held several other academic and leadermost in everyone’s thinking.
ship positions at UW-Stout before leaving in
2008 to become president of Wisconsin Indi- “Putting the success of our students above all
anhead Technical College. There he provided
else is what makes the College of Manageleadership that supported the addition of
ment extraordinary.”
degree programs, remote and online learning
opportunities, staff development opportunities, and a lengthy list of other advancements to improve student education.
CHANCELLOR
BOB MEYER
DEGREES:
• B.S. industrial education,
UW-Stout
• M.S. management technology,
UW-Stout
• Ph.D. industrial engineering,
University of Minnesota
EXPERIENCE:
• President, Wisconsin Indianhead
Technical College, six years
• Teaching and administrative positions,
UW-Stout, 25 years
• Technology education instructor,
River Falls school district, one year
www.uwstout.edu/com
3
IN THE CLASSROOM
IN THE CLASSROOM
CABOT EXECUTIVES STEER
STUDENTS TOWARD SUCCESS
T
ake charge of yourself. Stay focused
and determined. Welcome detours. Create
a strong professional network. Students
gleaned many such career pointers from four
successful business leaders during the
College of Management’s 30th Cabot Executives in Residence program.
Their perspectives and the event theme of
“Pathways to Global Success” prompted students to ponder their own futures.
Hubler, an Eau Claire native and 1987 UWStout graduate, is an executive in the beverage industry with Diageo North America,
a company with 28,000 employees worldwide. He stressed how knowledge and
skill, paired with passion and enthusiasm,
are keys to success: “You don’t know yet
what special quality you have, and when
you find it run with it. It will carry you.”
and Richard Pollock, Comprehensive Loss
Management, Inc.
Colianni urged students to embrace detours
in their lives because detours create opportuThey connected with several hundred students nities. “The headlight only shines so far down
as well as program directors, instructors, and the road. You don’t know what’s beyond the
next curve. Sometimes you just have to go,”
administrators throughout the two-day event
said
Colianni, who was recruited by Ford right
in October 2014.
out of UW-Stout in 1979, when he graduated
with an industrial education degree.
MEET THE EXECUTIVES
Now senior director of Global Business Strategy for Ford in Dearborn, Mich., his 35 years
with Ford have taken him to 22 countries.
Pollock, a Madison native who went to UWWhitewater, founded Comprehensive Loss
Management, Inc. He noted how technology
is quickly changing the world, pointing out
that 35 percent of corporate training is online.
“We need to stay on top of technology. Make
personal improvement a goal,” he said.
Anderson, the first African-American woman to
achieve the rank of major general in the Army,
told how she began life as a shy little girl born
in southern Wisconsin, in Beloit, grew up in
troubled East St. Louis, Ill., and went on to earn
a law degree. She is senior adviser to the chief
of the U.S. Army Reserve and has worked at the After the forum, the executives led roundtable
discussions and then headed to classrooms.
Pentagon for the past 2½ years.
4
The College of Management at UW-Stout
A
Her point: “It doesn’t matter where you
start. It matters where you finish. You can
be anything you want to be.”
“Their past experiences impacted me to
continue to chase my dreams of working
internationally,” said Jessica Johanson, retail
That was compelling advice for student
merchandising and management student.
Elisabeth Lofrano.
“They advised us to be open-minded. You may
be relocated to a city where you never thought
“This stood out to me so much because he
you wanted to be, but it could turn into your
started his career in hotels and realized
favorite place.”
the passion wasn’t there until he got into
the food and beverage side,” said Lofrano,
The four Cabot executives represented the
who is double majoring in hotel, restaurant
four departments in the College of Manageand tourism management and business
ment: military science, business, hospitality
management. “As a student who isn’t sure
and tourism, and operations and managewhat
I want to do, it makes me realize
ment: Major Gen. Marcia Anderson, U.S.
that
there
is nothing wrong with trying new
Army; Brian Colianni from Ford Motor Comthings
until
you find where you belong.”
pany; Mark Hubler, Diageo North America;
During an open forum, the executives gave a
standing-room-only crowd of students in the
Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center a
glimpse of the inspiring wisdom they were at
UW-Stout to share.
TECHNOLOGY DRAWS STUDENTS
INTO HEART OF SUBJECTS
s College of Management instructors
decide how to convey vast amounts of
knowledge so students will absorb and retain
it, they can tap a plethora of technology tools.
When they find the one that complements
their teaching goals, applied learning grows.
Major General
Marcia Anderson
Brian Colianni
UW-Stout’s Learning Technology Services
has a team of instructional designers and
technologists – who are well-versed in
instructional methods – to help instructors
sift through the tools and identify the best fit
for their teaching needs and desired learning
outcomes.
“It is important that instructors use the technology to support their teaching as opposed
to altering their teaching to fit the technology,”
said Rich Berg, senior instructional designer.
Associate Professor Eric Brey, who uses
extensive technology to teach business
marketing strategies, understands that well.
“The technology is not the end-all; that’s just
a tool to facilitate the objective.”
Mark Hubler
Richard Pollock
IMPACT ON STUDENTS
Bringing high-achieving business leaders to
UW-Stout encourages students to set their
sights high.
Instructional technologies enable instructors
to design or use real-world projects; set up
web conferencing; deliver webinars; record
lectures, interviews, and demonstrations;
record and post tutorials; create virtual classrooms and meeting spaces; provide Cloudbased access to spreadsheets and presentations – the possibilities are endless.
“Cabot Executives are the leaders of organizations with high ethical standards and an excellent track record as a successful business,
said Abel Adekola, dean of the College of
Management. “In their role as president or
CEO, the Cabot executive serves as an inspiration to all College of Management students.”
Technology stretches teaching far beyond the
standard lectures-notes-exams format, keeping students involved in material that’s being
presented.
Graduate student Chidozie Basil Nzom got
the message. “Their career and life experiences have shown me that I can become
whatever I wish to as long as I am focused
and determined,” said Nzom, who is pursuing
a master’s in risk control. “The sky is the limit
for everyone who keeps on working hard all
the time. Make use of every opportunity in
positive ways.”
“Technology is a tool that facilitates applied
learning experiences,” said Fred Prassas,
assistant professor and real estate property
management program director. “It keeps
students and audiences engaged. Since UWStout is a laptop campus, everyone wants
to have their laptop open all the time. I try
to make use of the open laptop to engage
the students either through direct responses,
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
online research or activities.”
The web conferencing component of Learn@
UW-Stout, the university’s online learning
management system, enables Prassas to
teach a class even when traveling, such as
providing live interviews with experts while
attending industry meetings. The tool also
allows creation of virtual classrooms and
meeting spaces. Instructors and students
communicate through an audio connection
and can see PowerPoint slide sets, whiteboards, and text chats.
Poling software facilitates group responses
in his large-group lectures. “I’ve used it for
‘yes/no’ responses and as a backchannel
for soliciting questions and comments from
the audience,” Prassas said. “I may have
one screen available to receive the responses, or toggle back to the screen periodically
to check for questions or comments.”
Other technology tools gather students’
evaluation of presentations, show them
how to work with spreadsheets, and bring
real-world situations into the room through
online video sources.
VIRTUAL SIMULATIONS
In Associate Professor David Ding’s quality
control and production operations management classes, students apply what they’ve
learned to virtual simulation models of
industrial processes. They can study an operation, analyze the process, test potential
improvements, and see the outcomes.
The virtual models are created using simulation software such as Arena, Promodel
and Sim8, and then recorded using Camtasia software and posted on the course
website.
operations processes than before the simulations were used.
“Professor Ding’s way of teaching has been one
of the most effective I have ever experienced,”
said Michael Swarmer, who is double majoring
in supply chain management and business administration. “His models explain how industries
are currently resolving and monitoring their
processes, so we, as students, are able to bring
that knowledge to companies of the future as
well.”
FLIPPED CLASSROOMS
As a senior lecturer of a food and beverage
cost accounting course in COM’s hospitality and
tourism program, Bernie Mullen is familiar with
students’ glazed looks when they don’t understand material. He knows most students don’t
read intimidating accounting textbooks before
they come to class. Camtasia, a lecture recording program, helps keep them engaged.
He uses the “flipped classroom” method, in
which students watch lectures on their own and
then apply that knowledge in class. In Learning
Technology Service’s recording room, he records
highlights of upcoming material.
“When I flip my classes and record only what
we’re going to talk about in class – objectives
and key words – then when students come to
class, they can stay involved as long as they
know what those key words are,” Mullen said.
“Don’t give up the ghost just because you’re not
following along; stay in the game. That’s where
flipped classes help.”
Students access the recordings through Learn@
UW-Stout. When they don’t understand a concept, they can replay that section as many times
as needed.
Continued on page 14.
Ding’s simulation/virtual model project,
launched in 2011 as a study funded by a
UW-Stout Learning and Technology Grant,
won a finalist-level ASQ 2013 Education
Team Excellence Recognition Award. Ding
has found that students better understand
www.uwstout.edu/com
5
DISTANCE LEARNING
ONLINE PROGRAMS
ONLINE PROGRAMS
SET UP REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
Graduate Justin Smykowski lived the business
of golf while earning his online golf enterprise
management degree, managing an entire New
York golf course for his co-op experience.
“I was the president of my golf club’s board
of governors and was basically serving as
the club manager because we did not have
one during that time,” he said. “I did everything from establishing our budget to menu
engineering to helping on the grounds crew to
presenting the state of the club at our annual
meeting.”
Through Learn@UW-Stout, the university’s online learning management system, students
also complete assignments with industry
software that teach revenue planning, inventory systems, and website design and event
management – number of holes, beverage
service, table setup, and staffing – using
learned concepts. All involve critical decisions in golf course management.
GOLF ENTERPRISE
MANAGEMENT ONLINE
Though an avid golfer, Symkowski had loads
to learn about the business aspects of golf
before his co-op experience. How does UWStout put a golf course online?
“Applied learning happens through co-ops,
experiential learning, live case studies, and
industry contacts that we have with the National Golf Course Owners Association, which
endorses the program,” said Kris Schoonover,
director of the GEM online program, which
began in 2006.
For instance, students visit golf courses and
interview the superintendent about turf management. They complete an assessment of
the soil structure, application of weed killers
and fertilizer, and water rights issues like using recycled water on the course.
6
The College of Management at UW-Stout
Each course will involve a case study, exercises that take advanced principles and put
them in a practical light, and engagement
that “gets their hands dirty,” Brey said. All
coursework will relate current standpoints to
their own business.
“They’re going to collect tons of information
and do different evaluations on their organization and then come up with a plan to change
the organization that they’re in to become
more innovative and more entrepreneurial.”
Today Symkowski is the first general manager
of that club, Attica Golf Club in Attica, near
Buffalo.
Even as they study from computers around
the world, students of the College of Management’s online courses and degree programs
are fully engaged in learning. On-the-job experience, assignments using industry software,
site visits, retreats, simulations, online group
work and networking in essence mirror classroom labs. Technology also aids emotional
connection to the material and instructor.
it wasn’t making any more money. These are
things that they’ve already been exposed to
in their industry, but now they’re going to see
them at a 30,000-foot level.”
Before starting coursework, they must attend
a four-day retreat in Chicago. The retreat is
designed to create a network of encouragement that bolsters the online component.
“Online learning is a lonely environment at 2
a.m.,” Brey said.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
HOSPITALITY STRATEGY
When the College of Management launches
its revised Master of Science in Hospitality
Strategy degree in fall 2015, professional
managers pursuing the degree will be put
through online simulations that allow them to
run a hotel chain for seven weeks. They will
crunch data and make strategic decisions.
“As they make
decisions,
they’ll see the
outcomes of
their decisions,”
said Associate
Professor Eric
Brey, program
director. “They’ll
see revenue
growth, they’ll
see, oh, that
hotel closed
down because
“To be successful in technology, you’ve got
to find principles that make the most sense.
So the principles we’ve used is that the
retreat creates that network, and then we’ve
designed courses where students take one
class at a time -- seven weeks on, then approximately two weeks off. For adult learners
who are professionals, that’s what they want.”
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION
In addition to a network of support, an emotional connection keeps online students more
engaged and boosts their retention of material, instructor Bernie Mullen has found.
“People learn more when you make an
emotional connection, across life. You have
to make that connection to make retention
go up,” said Mullen, who teaches food and
beverage cost accounting online.
Eric Brey
“If I tell a student something, I know that
statistics show that I can get 10 percent
retention. If I tell them and then show them
something, I can get to 60 percent. … Once
COM’s revised Master of Science in Hospitality Strategy will show hospitality industry managers
how decisions can impact a business.
the student shows how they’re going to apply
what they’re learning, they can move up to
that 90 percent.”
Using Camtasia, Mullen records his lectures
for online classes and uploads them to
Learn@UW-Stout for students to view. “For
online application, you must make the emotional connection, and you must use a tool
that’s going to increase their retention. And
Camtasia works.”
STUDENTS AT THE HELM
Distance learning experiences give students
control of their future.
“Students are really surprised to find out how
in charge of their own education they are
when they do online learning,” said Wendy
Dittmann, program director of the online
management degree, citing the phrase “It’s
no longer the sage on the stage, but it’s the
guide by your side.”
“An online instructor really just leads you
through it, but the student really does a lot
of self-teaching and self-exploration. And they
need to learn how to do that.”
laboratively with UW colleges and Wisconsin
technical colleges. The program is geared to
transfer students wanting to build on previous technical education and to prepare for
management positions. GetEducated.com
has ranked it a regional Best Buy.
Online programs often attract students like
Symkowski, formerly an engineer, who want to
change careers or build on previous degrees.
ONLINE PROGRAMS
UW-Stout is the first Wisconsin university
to be certified for excellence in distance
education practices. The university offers
11 undergraduate online/blended delivery
degree programs, 16 graduate degrees,
19 certificates, nine certifications, professional development courses, and individual
courses counting toward a degree.
Visit www.uwstout.edu/de
“I got into the GEM program to get the education I needed to become the general manager
at our club,” he said. “The experiences were
second to none. It was Kris’s flexibility within
the program that allowed me to use my co-op
experience to help me achieve my dream job.”
SCHOLARSHIPS
Your donation can make it possible for a
student to make a career change or advance in their field while pursuing a degree
online while they continue to work.
Visit www.tinyurl.com/COMconnection
and designate your gift to “scholarships.”
UW-Stout’s management degree has been
offered online since 2006 and operates col-
www.uwstout.edu/com
7
MILITARY SCIENCE
MILITARY SCIENCE
on job expectations – an intimidating experience.
Cadet Isaac Miller:
Airborne School,
Ft. Benning, Ga.
“The vignettes are designed to help them
get over the awkwardness of it, to show
them a way, not the way. Being a leader is
personal, and everyone has their own style.
We use vignettes to help our cadets figure
out their leadership style out in a safe, nonthreatening environment.”
SIMULATIONS PLUNGE CADETS
INTO REALISTIC SCENARIOS
When Cadet Douglas Heinkel participated in
the Leadership Training Course, in Ft. Knox,
Ky., he put his acquired teamwork skills to
work.
“The virtual training really helps you work on
communication between you and your team
as a leader when in different battle scenarios,” said Heinkel, a game design and
development major. “It shows you just how
important good and clear communication
has to be between the leader and the team
members in order to execute a mission
effectively.”
The programs helped him build mental
agility and communication, noting that the
ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions
is crucial for any leader, both in the Army
and civilian world.
e
Adam Widder
Derek Matacynski
As ROTC cadet Nathan Turner trained as
a platoon leader in Macedonia, he drew
on leadership skills he had honed while
participating in virtual simulations at
UW-Stout.
“The simulations helped me build my resilience,
confidence, self-discipline, critical thinking skills
and ability to perform under pressure as well
as complete a heavy number of responsibilities
at one time,” said Turner, a criminal justice and
rehabilitation major.
Turner spent a month in the southeastern
Europe nation for his cultural understanding
and language proficiency (CULP) experience, an
elective component of the ROTC program.
“It gave multiple scenarios of various situations
that are likely to occur in that arena of work,”
he said. “I came into a country prepared for
anything that might happen with no fear.”
For 10 days in Krivolak, site of the Macedonian army’s largest military base, he lived with
foreign soldiers while training in key leader en8
The College of Management at UW-Stout
Isaac Miller
Nathan Turner
gagement, armor personnel carriers, nuclear
biological chemical weapons, land navigation,
and helicopter operation.
An effective Army leader must think critically
and often is expected to make quick, sound
decisions. Technology teaching tools enable
ROTC cadets in the College of Management’s
military science department to sharpen
those skills so they are effective leaders in
the field from day one.
Simulation software immerses cadets in
virtual battles to train for specific scenarios
and missions. Training can be customized;
scenarios can be modified offline or in real
time to mimic real-world uncertainties.
Field tactics can be repeatedly practiced
without using live ammunition, risking
injury to soldiers, or damaging expensive
equipment.
Digital training vignettes from Army websites
teach decision-making and critical thinking.
“Most of these experiences give us the
Douglas Heinkel
“The virtual training really helps you work
on communication between you and
your team as a leader when in different
battle scenarios. It shows you just how
important good and clear communication has to be between the leader and
the team members in order to execute a
mission effectively.”
-Cadet Douglas Heinkel
capability to virtually replicate what they will
see in the Army or in a field environment, not
only during their officer training, but also when
they get to their first unit,” said Lt. Col. K.
Dave Pindell Jr., Northwoods Battalion Commander and professor of military science at
UW-Stout.
“The skills I acquired at the Leadership Training Course helped prepare me for
the trials I will face ahead. This course
allowed me to grow as a leader, to develop
others every step of the way, and to push
myself to become better at everything
I did.”
In addition to simulations and vignette use
during cadets’ training, the ROTC program
uses Skype technology for leadership
summits with graduates who are serving
in the Army.
Instructors are always on the lookout for
improved ways to prepare cadets for
the field. Pindell is testing ELITE Lite
(Emergent Leader Immersive Training
Environment), a laptop training capability to
teach interpersonal skills to junior
leaders by presenting real-world instructional scenarios in an engaging,
self-reinforcing manner.
CADET TRAINING:
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Cadet Adam Widder:
Cadet Troop Leading Training (CTLT),
Ft. Richardson, Ala.
“I
job shadowed a first lieutenant at
Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson,
in Anchorage, Ala. I learned and
practiced airborne operations and
how they’re used in the Army today.
I learned some of the paperwork a
platoon leader does daily and qualified on the M4 carbine. I saw how an
active-duty platoon works by seeing
the troop-leading procedures, processes, and how a platoon leader
utilizes the squad leaders and platoon sergeant. It was an outstanding
experience in learning how to be a
leader who soldiers can easily follow
and who actively works to provide his
subordinates with the best opportunities for their careers.”
“At the end of the last school year, I
had the chance to go down to Fort
Benning, Ga., for airborne school.
Fifty cadets and I from around the
country arrived five days early so we
could get acclimated to the hot, humid weather before training started.
The rest of the 402 soldiers in our
training company arrived three days
later. In the first week, we learned
a lot about the parachutes we
would be using and how to fall and
land correctly so we would not get
hurt. The second week, we learned
how to practice exits from a 34foot tower. The third and last week
of training, we were able to jump
out of a real plane from 1,250 feet
above the ground.”
Cadet Derek Mataczynski:
Leadership Development
Assessment Course,
Ft. Knox, Ky.
“I traveled on my first commercial
airplane, which was exhilarating for
a country boy like myself. But I feel
like I brought more than my gear back
with me from Kentucky when I left. I
learned so much about military procedures and operations, as well as getting hands-on training that I will carry
with me wherever I go. I would be
mistaken if I passed up the opportunity to mention the friendships that were
formed while dealing with the sweat,
dirt and wood ticks associated with operating in the Kentucky woods. I made
long-lasting friendships, the type that
make a month of training seem like
two weeks of a good time in the South.
I can’t say enough about the training,
experience, and men and women who
made LDAC 2014 possible.”
For example, Pindell explained, the vignettes
show young cadets what it’s like to counsel
an older, more experienced platoon sergeant
www.uwstout.edu/com
9
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
“This instilled in us a since of self-empowerment and gave us
the drive to complete whatever we want to do. It also solidified the idea that no one was going to do it for us; it had to
be done ourselves and through our own actions.”
HELP COMMUNITIES AND BUILD TIES
OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, STUDENTS HONE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, COORDINATE EVENTS,
LEARN TEAMWORK AND HELP THE COMMUNITY THROUGH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.
STOUT RETAIL ASSOCIATION
-Matt Lyne, student vice president, IREM
STOUT EVENTS SOCIETY
Student Zach Vierling was awarded a scholarship to the conference
that covered his hotel room, flight and other benefits.
Eleven members of the Stout Events Society were part of the
inner workings of a major bridal show, setting up décor, assisting vendors, helping with registration, collecting fashion show
tickets, and greeting attendees.
UNVEILED, the ultimate wedding event, is put on by The Wedding Guys at the Minneapolis Convention Center. It showcases
the TrendSpot Fashion Show, which unveils the latest trends
from the runways of New York’s Couture bridal market, and
more than 100 wedding experts. SES students were on site for
the November 2014 event.
During the long weekend, students practice teamwork and
learn the nuts and bolts of an event.
Gowns from the New York Bridal Market are ready for the show.
The Stout Retail Association’s professionalism and venture into new
fundraisers earned it UW-Stout’s 2013-2014 Student Organization
of the Year.
“SRA really focused on collaboration, new events, and helping our
members and other students on campus,” said Jessica Johanson,
SRA president and retail merchandising and management major.
“You learn how to work with people you may not know at all, and
you learn how important it is to be a good team member,” said
Lindsay Frank, SES president and hotel, restaurant and tourism
management major. “The event is a great way to get general event
experience. You learn basic event elements like pipe and drape,
how to use a freight elevator, and how to read floor plans.”
SES provides industry experience for students interested
in an event-planning career, assisting with events like
weddings, trade shows, sports events, campus activities, and
galas/non-profits.
SRA partnered with Kohl’s Corporation for a campuswide Kohl’s
Cares event in which students created holiday cards for a Menomonie
nursing home. SRA members also took the Polar Plunge for the first
time, raising more than $1,300 for the Special Olympics. Another
debut fundraiser with Iris Boutique of Menomonie will become an
annual event because of its success.
10
The College of Management at UW-Stout
A leasing manager leads a tour through a student housing complex
during an IREM leadership conference in Orlando, Fla.
Attending the Institute of Real Estate Management’s 2014
Leadership Conference is a boon for students of UW-Stout’s IREM
chapter who want to rub elbows with successful people in the field.
“Real estate is a business environment where it’s all about who
you know,” said Matt Lyne, IREM vice president.
From October 13 to 18, 2014, students joined the professionals
at Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort, a Disney property in Orlando, Fla.,
for education sessions, round tables, keynote speakers, workshops,
governance councils, and a tour of a luxurious student housing
complex near the University of Central Florida.
In a session about climbing the career ladder, a property
manager touched on self-improvement and tapping into one’s
potential.
“One quote from our speaker really stuck out: ‘You are the CEO of
YOU,’” said Lyne, who is double majoring in real estate property
management and hotel, restaurant and tourism management.
“This instilled in us a since of self-empowerment and gave us the
drive to complete whatever we want to do. It also solidified the idea
that no one was going to do it for us; it had to be done ourselves
and through our own actions.”
SRA also partnered with Silhouettes Fashion Show Organization for a
Zumba fundraiser for both organizations. The group also raised money
for Relay for Life.
Career events benefit all students. During its Kohl’s-sponsored Professional Development Series, SRA members prepared for interviewing,
networking, negotiating, resume building and leadership. SRA also
held an Employer Social the night before UW-Stout’s October 14-15
Career Conference for all UW-Stout students, hosting four retailer representatives who spoke about their company and internships or career
opportunities offered there.
“Real estate and property management are fields that can really take
you all over the world,” Lyne said. “This provides countless opportunities for us to choose where we want to go and what we want to do.
With so many disciplines in the real estate industry, the speakers
encouraged us to try different roles and not settle for anything less
than a job you’d love to wake up for every morning.”
Some students also participated in one-on-one informational
interviews.
Stout Event Society members Rebecca Larson, Kaira Tabor,
Danielle Vold, and Lindsay Frank were among 11 who helped
The Wedding Guys pull off a major wedding show at the
Minneapolis Convention Center.
“Students are able to practice their skills while speaking to
industry professionals, which can be helpful in the interview room
down
the road,” said Aaron Johnson, IREM president. “Many IREM
professionals have employed students from our club or have
connected them with another firm.”
IREM conference attendees assemble after the tour of the luxurious
complex.
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11
WEIDNER CENTER
WEIDNER CENTER
TEACHING COMES FROM ALL ANGLES
IN WEIDNER CENTER
Nestled on the fourth floor of Heritage Hall
is a room that stands out on campus. The
high-tech interactive classroom houses seven
round tables with Ethernet connections in
the center of each, a viewing screen, and two
white interactive display boards.
With no “front” or “back,” the room allows
instruction and collaboration to originate from
any part of the room.
The real world of property management pours
into students’ brains through online video
tours of properties, quick access to databases and software via Cloud-based storage,
grids for property rental price comparisons,
and detailed Excel spreadsheets for financial
analysis, to name a few available teaching
tools.
The new Weidner Center for Property Management, established using a $1 million gift from
Weidner Apartment Homes owner Dean Weidner, is anything but static. Take, for instance,
how the room’s technology and design creates a collaborative learning environment for
an exercise on property rental prices.
“When fully functional, students will be able to
display, for example, a rental comparison grid
on an interactive display board while other
students can research competing properties
and add that information together in one
place. Then everybody can save it on their
laptops at once to work with it again later or
present their work to the class,” says Fred
Prassas, director of the real estate property
management bachelor’s degree program.
Live connection to Cloud-based storage
speeds access to web-based information. Jim
Guenther, UW-Stout technology support coordinator of audio/video engineering, likened
each Ethernet hard-wire connection at the
tables as a separate lane on a freeway.
“The wireless access point is one lane, but
each connection at the tables is also a separate lane,” he explained. “When you have
a lot of data traffic from and to the room, it
12
The College of Management at UW-Stout
helps to use multiple lanes to get that traffic
through in a timely fashion.”
With more-stable web connections, instructors can cover material faster and more
effectively.
Guenther, campus planner Gary Gust, and
interior design student Natalia Haywood
(’14), now an interior designer in Minneapolis,
worked with Prassas on the room’s technology, design and construction. The round tables
stimulate group interaction.
“Whether you call them groups, learning
pods or learning communities, they form a
cohesive group that works together over the
semester,” Prassas said.
Hotel restaurant and management student
Laura Stensgaard, who attends classes in the
room, notices that effect. “It creates an open,
inviting, professional, real-world feel. I feel
as though I am in a serious business meeting, instead of a class, and it makes group
discussions easier and more comfortable. I
would love it if all my classes were arranged
like this.”
Such experience prepares students for future
work settings.
“Whether you call them groups, learning
pods or learning communities, they form
a cohesive group that works together
over the semester.”
-Fred Prassas,
director of the real estate property management
bachelor’s degree program
“It’s a better simulation of what you’re going
to do in the real world,” Prassas said. “You
are more than likely going to work with a
team of other people. You’re likely to collaborate in an environment where you need
to be comfortable presenting, interacting,
and sharing ideas together.”
The room’s technology makes professionals
in the field more accessible from across
states and countries.
“We’ll have the opportunity to bring them
right into the room in a rich environment
rather than just on our laptops or showing
a video, so you have interactivity in addition
to larger format and better presentation,”
Prassas said.
Not only does the center enhance learning for property management students, but
those in other majors within the School of
Hospitality Leadership that require property
management courses.
FUTURE PLANS
The Weidner Center’s technology continues
to evolve.
YOU CAN HELP
Your contribution can build on technology teaching tools in the Weidner
Center for Residential Property Management.
Visit http:/tinyurl.com/COMConnection and designate your gift to
“Weidner Center technology.”
When the interactive display boards are fully
operational, students will be able to discuss
displayed material, make changes and annotations, and save changes. Users will point
and click as they would with a mouse, using
the display as the work surface. They will be
able to highlight things, change web pages,
and open new documents from the display.
All students will be able to learn from the
interaction with the presentation.
When funding becomes available,
additional boards can be installed at each
of the remaining five tables.
A switching system would allow groups to display the computer at their pod on their pod’s
board, and the instructor could choose to
display one group’s presentation or findings
on all boards. Information could be shared at
a moment’s notice.
A wireless mouse and keyboard will enable
instructors to move around the room as they
click through pages and enter data on their
computer from across the room.
“All the electronics will be in the cabinet,”
Prassas said. “We’ll have a round podium
in the middle, and that way students and
instructors can access the technology from
anywhere in the room.”
THE WEIDNER CENTER
PROJECT INCLUDES:
INTERACTIVE classroom
(video, interactive white boards,
external communication)
$10,000 in scholarships
awarded annually
FACULTY development
programs
RESEARCH and
collaboration center
PRE-LICENSE education
WEB SITE enhancement
STUDY lounge
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13
IN THE CLASSROOM
FACULTY
RETIREES
TECHNOLOGY DRAWS STUDENTS
INTO HEART OF SUBJECTS
Continued from page 5.
WENDY DITTMANN DEDICATED TO DISTANCE LEARNING
During class, videotaped case studies give
students opportunities to apply skills and
concepts. They learn to spot nonverbal cues
that can’t be spotted in a written case study.
“Did you find the problem hidden in plain
sight?” Mullen said. Using videotaped case
studies in class allows instructors to pull
from students’ field experiences for discussion.
During her 24 years with UW-Stout, Wendy
Dittmann, Ed.D., has been committed to student success and providing quality distance
education. She will retire from her current
position of the College of Management’s
management program director in January
2015.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
Social media is a vibrant training ground for
students. Instructors aim to ensure students
know how to use Facebook, Twitter, Slideshare.net, Pinterest, Foursquare, Snapshot,
Snapchat and other major social media to
leverage a business.
“When they leave here, that’s what industry
expects them to know,” said Brey, an associate professor of marketing courses in the School
of Hospitality Leadership. “They know it from a
personal standpoint, but to flip it around and use
it from a business standpoint is very difficult.”
Successful business use of social media
isn’t just to market, but to create a culture
online. That takes 9 to 15 months of regular
effective use.
“The mistake that people often make is, ‘Well,
if I have Facebook, I can create an environment in social media. If your business does
not do it in person, it’s not going to do it
online,” he said, adding, “What you do in
person has to relate to what you do in an
online space. You can’t create two different
personas.”
Students learn to use social media to create an online culture for a business and boost
profits.
they receive job offers from companies that
are the best fit and with which they want to
have a lifelong career, not just a first job out
of college.
In COM’s business department, students
learn how to effectively use social media to
increase a business’s revenue.
“Social media has turned the marketing world
upside-down,” said Kevin McDonald, professor of marketing in the business department.
Companies struggle to effectively use social
media technology to move customers toward
a measurable, profitable response. His students complete actual projects for businesses that sharpen those skills. “The students
are required to apply social media technology
in a manner that drives a business’s top-line
and bottom-line growth.”
One recent project aims to boost revenue for
the Menomonie Youth Hockey Association.
Students built social media platforms, developed branding, and integrated a poster with
A culminating assignment is for students to
social media to increase the power of the
create their own online persona on Pinterest,
association’s advertising. The students’ work
making a storyboard using 30 images that
soon will be presented to the association.
best represent who they are as an individual – “For social media to be effective, you need to
in essence, marketing themselves to employbe able to measure it,” McDonald said. “In
ers. Brey’s assignment counters conventional
this case, it would mean more fans in the
advice to keep personal information off social seats at hockey games, more money in conmedia: “You have to open up who you are as
cessions, and more money from T-shirt and
a person, but just make sure that’s the right
jersey sales.”
person that people want to hire.”
Social media is advancing so quickly that
When students market themselves in ways
instructors are challenged to stay abreast of
that paint an accurate picture of themselves,
industry trends. “We have to be ahead of the
14
The College of Management at UW-Stout
curve,” Brey said.
That means engaging with industry, developing a professional network, and taking full
advantage of Internet sources that bring
cutting-edge articles into an educator’s in box.
THE CUTTING EDGE
Learning Technology Services continually
monitors what’s new in learning technology,
exploring resources to be added to UWStout’s repertoire of tools. Sources for trends
include the UW System’s learning technology
development council, vendor visits, surveys,
webinars, studies, industry forums and newsletters, and input from colleagues.
Learning Technology Services’ doors are
open to explore new prospects with COM educators. “We’re always happy to collaborate
with instructors and try out new tools,” senior
instructional designer Berg said.
Dittmann has collaborated on numerous
UW-Stout committees and teams to serve
COM’s business degree programs and Stout
Online. Through scholarly activities and
research, she has accrued and shared vast
insight of the needs of technical college
graduates and increasing recruitment and
retention of non-traditional-age students.
Under her direction, the management
degree program was ranked by GetEducated.
com as a regional Best Buy for students
seeking high-quality, low-cost online degrees.
The ranking is based on a survey of 69
regionally accredited colleges offering
165 online bachelor degrees in business
management. With a current enrollment of
425, UW-Stout’s degree is offered online
and operates collaboratively with UW colleges and Wisconsin technical colleges. It
has been accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Business Schools and Programs
since 2012.
She also taught operations and management courses via interactive television
when that mode was used in the early
2000s and then online in later years.
She has co-led faculty-study tours of
manufacturers in China, Germany and Turkey with members of the operations and
management department.
Since the program’s beginnings, she has
overseen the program’s curriculum and
assisted students with meeting all require-
In 2009 she received the College of
Management’s Inaugural Contributor Award
for her outstanding performance and
exceptional
contributions
in developing
the bachelor
of science
degree
curriculum,
increasing the
enrollment to
new heights
and amplifying awareness
of UW Stout’s
Wendy Dittmann
distance
education
programs across the state.
JAFAR JAFARI BRINGS GLOBAL TOURISM VIEWS TO STUDENTS
One new tool on the horizon is a full-scale
rollout of a video platform My Media within
Learn@UW-Stout. Instructors can produce
and upload videos, lecture captures and
snapshots that support a topic. Students can
submit video assignments within a secure,
protected environment.
“We piloted that with four courses this summer,” Director Jane Henderson said. “We’re
doing a soft launch right now, and we’re going
to do a very aggressive launch in January for
our instructors and students to utilize.”
ments. The program is targeted to transfer
students wanting to build on previous technical education and to prepare for management positions.
Jafar Jafari
Jafar Jafari, Ph.D., journal articles relating to tourism, he has
associate profes- delivered keynote addresses at conferences
sor of tourism
in South Korea, Turkey, Italy and Spain.
in the School
He was chairman of a strategic tourism
of Hospitality
development panel during a 2012 economic
Leadership, is
summit in Mbombela, South Africa.
world-renowned
Jafari is the 2005 recipient of the United
for his tourism
Nations World Tourism Organization Ulysses
expertise and
Award, holds an honorary doctorate from
has brought that
the Universitat de les Illes Balears in Spain,
knowledge to
where he is international program director,
UW-Stout students for nearly
and is a visiting professor of universities in
42 years.
Portugal, Sweden and China.
Founding editor of Annals of Tourism
Research: A Social Sciences Journal and
author/co-author of numerous books and
and presenting at international conferences,
he taught his classes via video, audio and
web conference technology.
Jafari was the founding faculty member of
an agreement with the University of the
Balearic Islands in Mallorca, Spain, that has
allowed a COM colleague to teach a wine
and food pairing class there for 16 years.
His UW-Stout teaching awards include the
university’s Outstanding Teaching Award and
one of four Star Awards that UW-Stout has
ever awarded.
At UW-Stout, he developed and taught several tourism courses before his retirement
in August 2014. Even while teaching abroad
www.uwstout.edu/com
15