<p>DATE: September 1, 2005
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Peter D. Spear, Provost
RE: Help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina</p>
<p>By now you may have read that UW-Madison is taking steps to assist
Wisconsin residents who are studying at colleges and universities closed
by the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Katrina. The press release is
attached below.</p>
<p>In addition, some members of the UW-Madison community may find their work
at the university directly affected by the hurricane; for example,
students and staff whose return to campus is delayed, or individuals who
are among the members of the National Guard being deployed to assist in
the wake of the storm.</p>
<p>What can you do to help?</p>
<p>Issues relating to UW-Madison students, staff, and faculty who are delayed
in returning to campus:</p>
<ul>
<li><pre><code> UW-Madison students who are delayed in their return by the effects of
</code></pre>
<p>the storm will need some consideration if they have missed class or
assignments, have not received the materials or guidance they would have
had if they arrived with the other students, or are still dealing with
personal challenges created by the storm.</p></li>
<li><pre><code> Departments and programs should find ways to assist and cover the work
</code></pre>
<p>assignments of faculty, staff, or teaching assistants who are temporarily
delayed in their return by the effects of the storm.</p></li>
<li><pre><code> The problems that may arise because of the delayed return of students,
</code></pre>
<p>staff, and faculty are very similar to those the campus has faced
successfully in the case of international entry delays. Many helpful tips
are available at the International Entry Delay website:
<a href="http://www.provost.wisc.edu/intlsupport/index.html">http://www.provost.wisc.edu/intlsupport/index.html</a>.</p></li>
<li><pre><code> Some of the National Guard units that have been mobilized to help
</code></pre>
<p>include UW-Madison staff and students. The Registrar provides advice to
students who are mobilized for service at:
<a href="http://registrar.wisc.edu/students/vets/vet_callup_info.php">http://registrar.wisc.edu/students/vets/vet_callup_info.php</a>. Please make
efforts to accommodate students and staff who are mobilized for service.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Issues relating to students, staff, and faculty from colleges and
universities that have been closed due to storm damage:</p>
<ul>
<li><pre><code> Wisconsin residents who were enrolled as undergraduates in colleges
</code></pre>
<p>and universities that have been shut down for the semester because of
hurricane damage will be welcomed to UW-Madison as special or matriculated
students. They will arrive after the start of the semester, but within the
first three weeks. Faculty and instructional staff retain control over
enrollment in their courses after the regular registration period, but we
strongly urge you to give consideration to these students when they seek
entry into your courses.</p></li>
<li><pre><code> We will make every effort to give these students the advising and
</code></pre>
<p>other services they need to settle in, but please remember that their
lives have been disrupted, and they will be unfamiliar with the campus and
our practices. Please extend whatever help you can offer. (A list of other
sources of help is printed below.)</p></li>
<li><pre><code> Professional and graduate programs may be approached in the next
</code></pre>
<p>couple of weeks by students seeking a place to continue their studies
while their universities are closed. Please be prepared to consider these
requests and make a timely response. Note that UW-Madison and its programs
must avoid "raiding" the programs that have suspended activity because
that would cause long-term damage to those programs. But accepting these
students as visiting scholars or special students on a temporary basis
will help them carry on their work and contribute to our own community.
If you have questions, please contact Lois Beecham at 262-2433.</p></li>
<li><pre><code> Departments, programs, and research centers may be approached by
</code></pre>
<p>faculty and other scholars seeking a place to continue their work while
their universities are closed, or you may wish to be proactive in
extending invitations to colleagues in those universities. If you have the
resources they need, you may, of course, welcome visiting scholars in the
normal ways.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>For more information on sources of help, please see:
<a href="http://www.news.wisc.edu/hurricane">http://www.news.wisc.edu/hurricane</a>.</p>
<p>All of us are shocked by the devastation that Hurricane Katrina left
behind. We do not yet know how many UW-Madison community members are
affected, or how many other people will seek assistance, but it is
important that we respond as helpfully and compassionately as we can.</p>
<p>==================================================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8/31/05</p>
<p>UW-MADISON JOINS HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS</p>
<p>MADISON - The University of Wisconsin-Madison is taking steps to assist
Wisconsin residents studying at colleges and universities closed by the
catastrophic damage from Hurricane Katrina.</p>
<p>The university is also working with UW-Madison students from the damaged
areas and those who have been called up to Wisconsin National Guard duty
to join relief efforts.</p>
<p>"We want to do everything in our power to assist families-especially
Wisconsin families - as they cope with the horrible damage caused by this
natural disaster," says Chancellor John D. Wiley, who adds that other Big
Ten and national research universities are planning similar efforts.</p>
<p>The university will attempt to accommodate students from institutions that
have been officially closed by hurricane damage, should they want to study
in Madison. The university will assist students in several sets of
distinct circumstances. Among them:</p>
<ul>
<li>Wisconsin residents who are freshmen at another institution (closed by
storm damage) who had been previously accepted to UW-Madison.</li>
</ul>
<p>A student in this situation would be enrolled as a UW-Madison
undergraduate. The student would be encouraged to return to his or her
original institution after the end of the semester, or whenever the
original institution reopens.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Wisconsin upperclassmen and freshman not previously admitted and
attending another institution closed by hurricane damage. Students in this
situation will be able to continue their education through the UW-Madison
Division of Continuing Studies.</p></li>
<li><p>Non-resident students. UW-Madison is working with other higher education
associations such as the Association of American Universities (AAU) and
the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (CIC) to facilitate options
for non-resident students from closed institutions in the affected areas.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Students need to enroll as soon as possible, with a final deadline of
Sept. 23.</p>
<p>Students or families interested in pursuing these options should contact
Tom Reason in the Office of Admissions at (608) 262-3961, or
<a href="mailto:reason@admissions.wisc.edu">reason@admissions.wisc.edu</a>.</p>
<p>Once students make their way to Madison, the university will assist with
their housing search through the services of University Housing, Private
Residence Halls or Madison-area apartments.</p>
<p>The Offices of the Dean of Students (ODOS) has made an effort to contact
the more than 60 UW-Madison students who list a Louisiana or Mississippi
home address.</p>
<p>Any returning UW-Madison student affected by the hurricane and in need of
any campus assistance should contact ODOS at (608) 263-5700,
<a href="mailto:dos@bascom.wisc.edu">dos@bascom.wisc.edu</a>. Among the services available are crisis loans,
assistance with coursework and excused absences from classes.</p>
<p>The Registrar's Office will facilitate the departure of any student
called up by the Wisconsin National Guard in the wake of the storm. For
more information, contact (608) 265-4628.</p>
<p>Faculty or staff members called to active duty should work with their
dean or unit director.</p>