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Graduate Studies
General Information 2011-2012
PDF version of Graduate Catalog
The History and Heritage of Western Illinois University
Founded in 1899, the Western Illinois State Normal School was established to address teacher preparation in the state's grammar schools. The faculty and students of Western were eager to meet this need, and the institution soon became known for its well-rounded, deeply committed graduates, a tradition that continues.
As the years passed and the name was changed to Western Illinois State Teachers College in 1921 and then to Western Illinois University in 1957, the institution's mission continually broadened to include academic majors that prepared high school teachers; the state's earliest and most successful extension program; a multi-faceted graduate school; a liberal arts program; and, eventually, distinguished colleges devoted to Arts and Sciences, Business and Technology, Education and Human Services, and Fine Arts and Communication.
Throughout time, and most recently as Western celebrated 50 years as a university during academic year 2007-2008, we have earned and maintained a reputation for expanding public access to affordable, high quality degree programs and fostering student involvement in University activities.
We are now a leading university with a residential campus in Macomb, a commuter campus in the Quad Cities, and extension and distance learning programs. With an outstanding, diverse faculty and staff committed to multicultural and international education, Western Illinois University offers undergraduate and graduate programs of study to more than 12,500 students from Illinois, across the nation, and around the world.
The Present and Future of Western Illinois University
With more than a century of growth and development, and over 100,000 living alumni, Western Illinois University maintains a strong sense of community and historic commitments to student access, affordability, and success. Within the last two years, we have been recognized as one of the "Best in the Midwest Colleges" and as one of the "Best Value" colleges in the U.S. by the Princeton Review, as well as one of just 20 public universities ranked as a "Tier 1 Midwestern Master's Granting Institution" by US News & World Report.
Western Illinois University is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission-North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The University's teacher licensure programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. The University also maintains a strong commitment to discipline-based accreditation and licensure, where appropriate to the discipline. In academic year 2010-2011, Western Illinois University maintained accreditation/licensure with 11 agencies ranging from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
These external recognitions and peer-based accreditations showcase our high academic standards, quality instruction, proven opportunities for job and graduate school placement, outstanding academic and residential facilities, exciting extracurricular activities, and institutional commitments to sustainability and affordability.
These recognitions also reinforce the unique mission and niche of Western Illinois University in the state's system of public higher education. Keeping focused on our vision, mission, and values is critical to continued student success and our progress, growth, and contributions to the state and beyond. Western Illinois University, along with all other 11 Illinois public universities, is currently being challenged by a declining number of Illinois high school graduates; decreasing state support (appropriations) for higher education; as well as increasing costs, maintenance, technological, infrastructure, and accountability needs.
Through continued successful implementation of Higher Values in Higher Education, the institutional planning, resource allocation, and accountability reporting process established in academic year 2002-2003, we will continue to build upon our strengths and take advantage of opportunities. Western Illinois University will continue to prepare our students and graduates to lead in the global community. We will do so in a manner that is distinctive and nationally recognized for successful implementation of our vision, mission, and values.
Our Vision
Western Illinois University will be the leader in educational quality, opportunity, and affordability among its peers.
Our Mission
By enacting our values and supporting the synergy between instruction, research, creativity and service, Western Illinois University prepares a socially responsible, diverse student, faculty, and staff population to lead in the global society.
Our Values
Academic Excellence: Central to our history and tradition is the commitment to teaching, to the individual learner, and to active involvement in the teaching-learning process. Western Illinois University's highly qualified, diverse faculty promotes critical thinking, engaged learning, research and creativity in a challenging, supportive learning community. We are committed to an academic environment that encourages lifelong development as learners, scholars, teachers, and mentors.
Educational Opportunity: Western Illinois University values educational opportunity and welcomes those who show promise and a willingness to work toward achieving shared educational goals. We are committed to providing accessible, high quality educational programs and financial support for our students.
Personal Growth: Western Illinois University values the development of the whole person. We are committed to providing opportunities for personal growth in an environment that supports the development of wellness, ethical decision making, and personal responsibility. With personal growth comes an environment and interpersonal dynamics that celebrate diversity, support internationalization of the curriculum, and encourage plurality of thought and perspective.
Social Responsibility: Western Illinois University is committed to equity, social justice, and diversity, and will maintain the highest standards of integrity in our work with others. We serve as a resource for and stimulus to economic, educational, cultural, environmental, and community development in our region and well beyond it.
Mission of the Graduate School
It is the primary goal of the School of Graduate Studies to facilitate, encourage, support, and coordinate excellence in graduate education at Western Illinois University. To achieve this goal, the Graduate Council and the Graduate Office in concert with the provost, deans, department chairs, department graduate committee chairs, and graduate faculty will oversee issues relating to policies, procedures, and academic standards in graduate education.
Western Illinois University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. In addition, many of its departments and schools are accredited by professional agencies, including the following: American Dietetic Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International, Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Council on Social Work Education, National Association of Schools of Art and Design, National Association of Schools of Music, National Association of Schools of Theatre, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and National Recreation and Park Association.
Equal Opportunity and Access
Western Illinois University complies fully with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws, orders, and regulations. The University is committed to providing equal opportunity and an educational and work environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from discrimination based on sex, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Further, the University is committed to a comprehensive Affirmative Action program that ensures access and equity in educational programs, activities, and employment.
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access is responsible for administering and monitoring Western Illinois University's Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action policies and procedures. Inquiries about or complaints alleging violation of the policies should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, 203 Sherman Hall, (309) 298-1977. The director also serves as the coordinator for Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Student Right-to-Know
Information complying with the Federal Student Right-to-Know legislation including the Campus Safety and Security Act (Clery Law) is available in the Office of Public Safety, the Student Assistance and Parent Service Center, University Housing and Dining Services, the Office of the Vice President for Student Services, and the Office of the Vice President for Administrative Services. The information contains campus crime statistics and graduation rates at Western Illinois University and is on the University website at wiu.edu/clery.
Administrative Organization
Graduate degree programs are administered by academic departments in four colleges. College deans report to the provost and academic vice president, who has responsibility for all academic programs and personnel at the University. The administration of graduate education is centered in the Office of the Provost under the leadership of the associate provost and academic vice president. In addition to the provost, four other vice presidents administer the areas of student services; administrative services; advancement and public services; and Quad Cities campus, planning and technology. The president is responsible to Western Illinois University's Board of Trustees for the operation and general welfare of the University.
The School of Graduate Studies is the coordinating agency for the University's graduate programs. It maintains records related to admission, graduate assistantships, and completion of degree requirements and works closely with members of the graduate faculty, academic departments, and college deans. The School of Graduate Studies is administered by the associate provost and director of graduate studies, who reports to the provost and academic vice president. The School of Graduate Studies has responsibility for implementing the policies, procedures, and academic standards established by the Graduate Council, a representative body elected by full members of the graduate faculty. Any deviation from graduate academic regulations must be approved by the Graduate Council. The Council may determine, at any time, a student's eligibility to continue graduate studies at Western Illinois University.
Academic Colleges
Graduate programming and coursework is offered in four academic colleges as indicated below:
College of Arts and Sciences
African American Studies, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, English and Journalism, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Geography, Geology, History, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Mathematics, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and Women's Studies
College of Business and Technology
Accountancy and Finance, Agriculture, Computer Science and Information Systems, Economics and Decision Sciences, Engineering Technology, and Management and Marketing
College of Education and Human Services
Counselor Education; Curriculum and Instruction; Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising, and Hospitality; Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies; Educational Leadership; Health Sciences; Instructional Design and Technology; Kinesiology; School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration; and Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
College of Fine Arts and Communication
Art, Broadcasting, Communication, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Museum Studies, School of Music, and Theatre and Dance
Trustees of the University
J. Michael Houston, Springfield (Chair)
Carolyn J. Ehlert Fuller, Milan (Vice Chair)
William L. Epperly, Chicago (Secretary)
Christopher G. Bronson, Arlington Heights (Student Member)
Donald W. "Bill" Griffin, Macomb
Steven L. Nelson, Moline
Officers of the University
President: Dr. Jack Thomas
Interim Provost and Academic Vice President: Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson
Dean of College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Susan Martinelli-Fernandez
Dean of College of Business and Technology: Dr. Thomas Erekson
Dean of College of Education and Human Services: Dr. Sterling Saddler
Interim Dean of College of Fine Arts and Communication: Dr. Sharon A. Evans
Dean of University Libraries: Dr. Phyllis Self
Interim Vice President for Administrative Services: Ms. Julie K. DeWees
Vice President for Advancement and Public Services: Mr. Bradley L. Bainter
Vice President for Quad Cities Campus, Planning and Technology: Dr. Joseph A. Rives
Vice President for Student Services: Dr. Gary Biller
Graduate Council, Academic Year 2011-2012
Ronald Bauerly, Professor, Business Administration
Matt Bean, Professor, School of Music
Lloyd Kilmer, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership
Brian Locke, Assistant Professor, Music (Vice Chair)
Kimberley McClure, Professor, Psychology (Chair)
Amy Patrick Mossman, Associate Professor, English and Journalism
Jill Myers, Associate Professor, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
William J. Polley, Associate Professor, Economics and Decision Sciences
Campus and Facilities
The University
Western Illinois University was established April 24, 1899, and began operation September 23, 1902. The University offers 66 undergraduate degree programs and 37 graduate degree programs to approximately 12,600 students. Western Illinois University offers graduate work in 17 post-baccalaureate certificates. The University serves 2,111 graduate students from Illinois as well as 38 other states and 65 nations.
Fifty-six buildings are situated on more than 1,000 acres on the Macomb campus. In addition, the University operates the Alice L. Kibbe Life Sciences Station on the Mississippi River, the Frank J. Horn Field Campus, the University Farm, and the Fink Environmental Studies Field Laboratory and Conservancy, which provide nearby facilities for students enrolled in agriculture; biology; and recreation, park and tourism administration courses. The Western Illinois University-Quad Cities campus in Moline (44,000; QC metropolitan population 376,000) provides baccalaureate degree, graduate degree and post-baccalaureate certificate programs in various disciplines.
The main campus is located in Macomb (population 20,000), the McDonough County seat, 40 miles east of the Mississippi River. Two U.S. highways, 136 and 67, intersect at Macomb and provide direct access to Interstates 74, 80, and 55. Amtrak service is available twice daily from Quincy and Chicago to Macomb.
Graduate and Family Apartment Housing: There are several one and two-bedroom apartments on campus for graduate students and students with children, spouses or domestic partners. The University offers both furnished and unfurnished apartments on a first-come, first-served basis. It is recommended that applications for on-campus apartments be made at least one full year in advance due to the long waiting list. All apartments have a stove, refrigerator, basic cable television outlet, Internet access, and air conditioning. Furnished apartments are provided with living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture. All utilities are included in the rental payment. Laundry facilities are also available in the apartment complexes.
Further information and an application for graduate and family apartment housing may be obtained from the Office of Graduate and Family Housing in the Office of University Housing and Dining Services in Seal Hall, (309) 298-3331 or wiu.edu/housing.
Residence Halls: Competitively priced living accommodations that provide an atmosphere conducive to graduate studies are available on campus. Caroline Grote Hall is a suite-style residence hall which offers single and double rooms as well as private bathrooms for juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Higgins Hall is located on the northwest corner of campus. Bayliss and Henninger halls are located on the northeast corner of campus. These halls are air-conditioned, co-ed living environments providing double rooms and a limited number of single rooms. Lincoln/Washington halls, located on the southeast corner, offer unique living arrangements for returning, transfer, and graduate students. All accommodations are a mix of double and single rooms with all the amenities of residence hall facilities, plus extra closet space, an end table, easy chair, and carpeting.
All rooms are furnished with air-conditioning, beds, dressers, study desks, chairs, closets, and Internet access. Laundry facilities, television lounges, vending areas, computer labs, and limited cooking facilities are available in each hall.
Residents of University housing sign a contract for a full academic year and pay room and board by the semester.
Students enrolling for the first time will receive a housing application/contract form upon acceptance to the University. Students should apply for housing as early as possible, since hall and room assignments are made based on the student=s room application number.
Off-Campus Housing: Listings of off-campus facilities are available in the Student Tenant Union Office located in the University Union. Further information can be found at wiu.edu/studentlife/macomb.php.
University Libraries
University Libraries is an integral and valuable part of graduate education and research at WIU. The Libraries hold more than 1 million cataloged volumes of monographs and periodicals and offer online access to the full texts of 56,000 academic journals and other publications. Items may be borrowed swiftly from more than 70 other Illinois academic libraries through the I-Share network or obtained through interlibrary loan from libraries across the nation. WIU Libraries provides research assistance, instruction in library use, and public access to computers, printers, wireless Internet, photocopiers, and other equipment.
The Malpass Library in Macomb, the main branch, is a gem of the campus with plenty of natural lighting and hundreds of indoor plants, creating an excellent environment for research, group and individual study, and collaborative learning. The Malpass Library also houses the University Archives and Special Collections, as well as substantial holdings of government documents. The Malpass Mocha Café on the first level is a popular meeting spot for coffee and snacks. In addition, University Libraries encompasses specialized libraries for music, curriculum, and physical sciences in Macomb, as well as the WIU-Quad Cities Library in Moline.
For more information, visit wiu.edu/libraries or telephone (309) 298-2411 for hours, (309)298-2700 for the Reference and Information Desk (research assistance), and (309) 298-2705 for Access Services.
Laboratories, Clinics, and Special Facilities
The Alice L. Kibbe Life Science Station is a biological reserve of more than 1,600 acres of islands, bluffs, and upland areas in the Mississippi River Valley near Warsaw, Illinois. Its aquatic habitats, forests, and prairies serve as an outdoor classroom for field studies and are used in environmental research. The Cedar Glen Eagle Roost, which is adjacent to the field station, is considered one of the Midwest's most outstanding natural areas and is nationally known as a major winter roosting area for bald eagles. The field station maintains research sites and equipment for sampling on the Mississippi River.
Students interested in freshwater and marine organisms conduct research at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. These facilities and programs are available through the Department of Biological Sciences.
Horn Field Campus is a 92-acre outdoor educational and research facility located south of Macomb and managed by the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration. Within these 92 acres lies an 8-acre prairie restoration project; woodlands; challenge course; climbing tower; and several historical buildings, which include a lodge and cabins, that contribute to the educational and research opportunities available to the University community.
The University Greenhouse and W.M. Walter Natural Area were developed and are maintained by the Department of Biological Sciences. The greenhouse has rooms designed for growing aquatic, xeric, and tropical plants. Space is also available for propagation and research. The W.M. Walter Natural Area has a pond, wetland, prairie, and forest that are used in teaching classes. These facilities are adjacent to Waggoner Hall. Also, available for teaching and research is the Rodney and Bertha Fink Environmental Studies Field Laboratory and Conservancy. The 77-acre natural area is located 2.5 miles west of the Macomb campus and contains a mix of restored prairie and bottomland forests bordered by the East Fork of the LaMoine River.
The Department of Biological Sciences herbaria (MWI, WARK) contain collections of more than 50,000 vascular plants, non-vascular plants, algae, and fungi. The animal collections include both invertebrate and vertebrate animal specimens. The vertebrate animal collections include mammal skulls and furs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish while the invertebrate collections have a wide diversity of insects and freshwater bivalve mussels. The plant, fungal, and animal collections serve as depositories of distribution records and for research on the biodiversity of western Illinois. They are available for student and faculty research projects.
Facilities for cell and molecular research are also available in the Department of Biological Sciences. Equipment available includes a scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, ultracentrifuges, high-performance liquid chromatograph, PCR machines, a DNA sequencer, microbiological equipment, and other supporting equipment used in student and faculty research.
The Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic provides diagnostic and therapy services for University students and area residents. The clinic has a Computerized Speech Laboratory (CSL), Laryngograph, and other instruments used in the assessment and treatment of vocal disorders and other speech disorders. The clinic offers voice output and electronic speech generating device options for individuals without functional speech. Augmentative communication assessment and treatment using computer technology is also available. Deep Pharyngeal Nerve Stimulation and Vital Stim therapies are used with persons who have swallowing disorders. In addition, the Audiology Clinic has diagnostic testing equipment for the adult and pediatric population. Instrumentation for full audiological evaluations, middle ear testing, real-ear measurement, video otoscopy, Auditory Brainstem Response, Otoacoustic emissions, and a full range of hearing aid technology. The clinic offers advanced audiological clinic training and research options.
The Department of Engineering Technology laboratories include facilities for computer aided design/manufacturing, robotics, metrology, material testing, programmable logic controlling, Auto-ID, and CNC machining. The University is a member of the Central Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center. This membership provides opportunities for applied research, professional work projects, and graduate internships with its industrial partners.
The Department of Kinesiology has a modern complex of four electronic classrooms; wireless network; biomechanics laboratory with Peak Motus 9 two-dimensional video analysis system, AMTI force platform, 4-channel Myo Pac Junio EMG and a Biodex isokinetic measurement system; perceptual and motor behavior laboratory with a BIOPAC system that records ECG, EMG, and EEG; a computer laboratory that features the A.D.A.M. software; and a human performance laboratory that includes an environmental chamber, Bod Pod, hydrostatic weighing tank, metabolic and 12-lead ECG systems, Cholestech lipid and blood glucose analysis equipment, and microplate reader and washer.
The Department of Psychology houses a psychological clinic and a psychoeducational clinic to provide psychological services to students and area residents. These services include individual therapy, couple therapy, family therapy, psychological and intellectual testing, consultations, and referrals. Psychology faculty members also engage in research, and many have laboratories that contain equipment enabling them and their students to investigate topics from eyewitness memory to neuroscience.
The Department of Geography houses the WIU GIS Center on the third floor of Tillman Hall. The Center is responsible for compiling, managing and storing GIS data layers. Other facilities include a Remote Sensing/GIS lab with over 20 computers that are fully networked and use both ERDAS' Image software and ESRI GIS such as ArcGIS and ArcView; a fully-equipped and operational meteorology lab; a forecast office with direct access to observational weather data, radar imagery, and weather maps and charts; and an instructional lab with 32 computers used for both GIS and meteorology-related instruction. Additionally, the department has two wired electronic classrooms, plus wireless connectivity throughout Tillman Hall.
The Center for the Application of Information Technologies (CAIT) is an on-campus center located in Horrabin Hall. CAIT is a nationally recognized leader in distance learning using Internet technologies. The CAIT staff develops innovative online instruction and training solutions with WIU faculty and also serves clients outside of the University such as the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Century Network, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Attorney General's Office and McDonald's Corporation.
The College of Education and Human Services maintains 32 electronic classrooms in Brophy, Currens, Horrabin, Knoblauch, and Stipes halls, permitting students and instructors to access the latest instructional technologies (e.g., computers, CDs, DVDs, SMART Board technologies, the Internet and distance learning). These classrooms are used by instructors and students to explore and model the use of high-tech teaching tools. The most recent electronic classroom is a 40-seat instructional lab that allows one-to-one computing with hardware capable of running the most current software programs. The College of Education and Human Services also maintains the GTE Electronic Classroom and the GTE Teleconferencing Center. Both are among the most advanced facilities of their kind. The GTE Electronic Classroom seats 88 students and incorporates touch screen technology, projection television, and distance education capability through compressed two-way video. The GTE Teleconferencing Center is an administrative conferencing facility that also has satellite and compressed video conferencing capabilities in addition to advanced computer conferencing capability. The facility has flexible seating in an executive atmosphere. International teleconferences are common in this facility with recent conferences involving France, England, Mexico and Canada.
The Office for Partnerships, Professional Development, and Technology is the primary technology support and training center for students and faculty in the College of Education and Human Services. This office consists of Instructional Development Services, the Interactive Multimedia (IMM) Lab, STAR-Onsite, STAR-Online, and the Technology Resource Center. The IMM lab has been designed for work with one-on-one and small group instruction for both support and course activities. This lab has the advanced software and peripherals necessary to develop multimedia projects, scan documents for use as digital artifacts, and convert analog video to digital media.
Student Union
The University Union is more than a building; it is an organization and a program that serves the University community—students, faculty, administration, alumni, and guests.
Union facilities include guest rooms; dining rooms and catering services; 1864 Bistro restaurant; a convenience store; and food court featuring Burger King, Sbarro, and Pause Deli (featuring Starbucks products). The Union also contains offices for student organizations, student assistance, student activities and student legal services; conference and event scheduling; transit service; art galleries; a ballroom; conference and meeting rooms; student and parent service center; ATM machines; computer stations; a bookstore with a wide selection of educational and recreational supplies; a computer store; lounges; bowling lanes; billiards room; and a theatre.
Programs open to all University students are arranged, sponsored, and advised by the Office of Student Activities and University Union staff. The University Union serves as the campus community center for all members of the University community.
Through its various organizations, committees, and staff, the Union provides a cultural, social, and recreational program that makes leisure time activity a cooperative factor with education. Its goal is the development of people as well as intellects.
Western Illinois University–Quad Cities Campus
Western Illinois University offers graduate programs at the WIU-QC campus in Moline, Illinois, approximately 70 miles north of the residential campus in Macomb. Graduate degrees are offered in the following disciplines at WIU-QC:
Graduate Degree Programs
Business Administration
Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies
Educational Leadership (includes specialist, master's, and doctoral degrees)
Elementary Education
Health Education
Instructional Design and Technology
Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Museum Studies
Special Education
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs
Environmental GIS
Health Services Administration
Instructional Design and Technology
Museum Studies
Police Executive Administration
Zoo and Aquarium Studies
University Services and Special Programs
Alumni Association
All Western Illinois University students automatically become members of the Alumni Association the day they graduate. As non-dues-paying members, they are entitled to the following benefits and services provided by the Alumni Association: access to RockeNetwork, an online social network exclusively for WIU alumni; free monthly issues of the alumni e-newsletter, RockeNews; free quarterly issues of the alumni newsletter, Western News; networking opportunities with other alumni at more than 50 events hosted by the Alumni Association around the world each year; the option to purchase an alumni membership to the Student Recreation Center; use of Western's Leslie F. Malpass Library; access to WIU's Office of Career Services; comprehensive short- and long-term medical plan, disability, dental, travel, home and auto insurance opportunities; Alumni Travel Abroad program; alumni class ring, diploma frame and WIU Illinois license plate programs; the WIU affinity credit card; and access to the online directory exclusively for WIU alumni.
The Western Illinois University Alumni Association strives to develop and sustain a lifelong relationship with WIU students, alumni, and friends in order to advance the University.
For information about these services, visit wiu.edu/alumni or contact the Alumni Association at (309) 298-1914 or email@example.com.
Western Illinois University provides opportunities for more than 500 student-athletes in a 20-sport National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I program. Both the men and women compete in the Summit League in all sports except football. Football competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Western Illinois is a charter member of the Summit League and the Missouri Valley Football Conferences.
WIU sponsors the following intercollegiate athletic competition:
For men: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field.
For women: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics offers graduate assistantships in coaching, promotions and marketing, athletic training, and sports information. Possibilities exist to assist in the administrative areas of finance and compliance.
Campus Recreation
Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center
(309) 298-1228
Campus Recreation provides undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to pursue a healthy lifestyle and explore recreational interests through a variety of programs, facilities, and services. The Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center features five multipurpose courts, two group fitness studios, a 1/8-mile elevated track, weight rooms for weight training and lifting, three cardio areas, 24 televisions, five racquetball/walleyball courts, and the Aquatics Center. Group fitness classes, informational programs, and personal training options present multiple ways for students to accomplish and maintain their personal fitness goals. Class descriptions are available on the website. Currently, there are 31 different sport clubs available to students. Some clubs provide opportunities for regional and national competition just below the intercollegiate level, while others focus on skill development and educational goals. More than 50 intramural sport events are offered yearly with leagues, tournaments, and one-day events in men's, women's, and co-recreational divisions at competitive, intermediate and fun levels of play. Special events hosted by Campus Recreation include everything from the Rocky 5K Run and Big Pink Volleyball to Wheelchair Basketball and Dodgeball for Diabetes. The Aquatics Center, with a 25-yard, 6-lane pool, a hot tub, and a sauna, offers open/lap swim, aqua cardio tone, and incentive programs to challenge beginning and advanced swimmers. Students also have access to the Sipolt Memorial Disc Golf Course; Vince Grady Field for flag football, soccer, softball, lacrosse, and Ultimate (Frisbee); and several outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball (sand and grass), tennis, and rollerblade hockey.
Harry Mussatto Golf Course
1215 Tower Road, Macomb
(309) 298-3676
The scenic and challenging 18-hole Harry Mussatto Golf Course is a championship facility located north of campus and offers reduced rates for students. Visit golf.wiu.edu for the course layout, green fees, or to book a tee time.
Career Services
The Career Services Office offers centralized services to all constituents of the University. An interactive computerized registration system and online employer search capability are among the features of the office. Students and alumni of the University may register from the convenience of their homes or offices via the Internet. This service places the credentials of the registrant online and provides prospective employers with access to the student/alumni academic and workplace accomplishments.
The Career Services Office provides assistance in career development and occupational planning appropriate to the individual's needs. Career Service professionals are readily available to work with individuals or groups in developing resume and vita construction, along with professional communications letters. On-site mock interviews are conducted by appointment in addition to seminars providing professional employment preparation and self-marketing skills.
Career Services Office personnel teach the University 390 course, "Pre-Employment Preparation." The class is an excellent opportunity to learn job search skills, resume preparation, and on-the-job survival techniques and skills. Annual career/job fairs are sponsored at the Macomb campus each year by the Career Services Office, in addition to online virtual career fairs. The fairs provide students and alumni the opportunity to meet employers and participate in on-site interviews.
Candidates for all degrees are encouraged to register with the Career Services Office throughout their college years.
A complete listing of all services is available at careers.wiu.edu.
Counseling Center
The University Counseling Center (UCC) on the Macomb campus provides personal, academic, study skills, and career counseling services to students. Some students seek assistance for common life problems (i.e. relationships, stress, etc.) while others seek treatment for a mental health condition (i.e. depression, anxiety, etc.). Personal counseling services include individual counseling, couples counseling, and group counseling. Sessions are confidential and free of charge to WIU students. In addition, a number of educational programs are offered throughout the year and an education resource center is available. A relaxation room, which includes a massage chair, light therapy, and a stress-reducing computer program, is accessible for student use. Complete vocational, psychological, and learning assessment is provided as well as consultation services to other offices and agencies.
The UCC is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services. All staff counselors hold master or doctoral level degrees and are certified and/or licensed in their respective disciplines. For more information, call (309) 298-2453 or visit ucc.wiu.edu.
Counseling Services
The Counseling Services office at the WIU-Quad Cities campus offers free and confidential counseling assistance to undergraduate and graduate students. Counseling is available for personal, academic and career related concerns. Students may seek services for a variety of concerns such as study skills, stress management, relationship issues, anxiety, and depression. In addition to individual counseling, the Counseling Services office is available for educational presentations that help students enhance their skills in a variety of areas such as study habits, self-esteem, relationships, and time management. For more information, call (309) 762-9481, ext. 288.
Cultural Programs
Outstanding concerts, lectures, dramatic presentations, films, and dance events by nationally known performers are presented on campus by the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the University Union Board. All students are admitted free or at a reasonable charge upon presenting their student identification cards. Students may also participate in musical, dramatic, and debate productions for stage, radio, and closed-circuit television by joining one of several University groups. Opportunities to view local, national, and international art exhibits are available at the University Art Gallery and the University Union. These exhibits are changed monthly and admission to the galleries is free. Also see Multicultural Services.
The newest addition to the WIU Macomb campus is the Multicultural Center, which houses the Casa Latina Cultural Center, the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, and the Women's Center. Four themed lounges are featured, representing the diversity of the cultural centers, and the international community. This is the first building on campus constructed to LEED 2.2 Silver criteria, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The design is complete with a grass roof, energy-efficient lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, and recyclable materials like bamboo flooring.
Disability Support Services
Western Illinois University is committed to equity, social justice and diversity. To that end, Disability Resource Center (DRC) collaborates with faculty and staff to facilitate student inclusion and ensure accessibility to University programs for students with disabilities. Students experiencing issues with access or who are interested in accommodations, such as alternative testing accommodations, sign language interpreters, text conversion services (i.e. Braille, electronic, enlarged), and note-taking assistance should contact DRC at (309) 298-2512 or firstname.lastname@example.com. For more information visit wiu.edu/drc.
Go West Transit
Go West Transit provides students with safe, convenient transportation from their nearby residences to campus and with service to local merchants. Carrying more than 1.5 million riders per year, Go West provides students with a reliable, low-cost public transportation system. For more information, call (309) 298-3353 or visit gowest.wiu.edu.
International Education
The Center for International Studies administers and coordinates activities and programs designed to encourage international and cross-cultural understanding; and to prepare graduates to effectively live and work in an interdependent, global community. The Center oversees admission and academic advisement of English as a Second Language (ESL) students as well as undergraduate and graduate international students; immigration advisement for international students and faculty; study abroad programs; personal counseling for international students; comprehensive orientation for new international students; recruitment; educational programs; special activity programming; and ongoing support for the specific needs of international students.
The University participates in formal exchange programs—for both faculty and students—with distinguished colleges and universities overseas. An ongoing program of intensive courses in ESL is offered by Western's English as a Second Language (WESL) Institute for non-native speakers of English.
The Center sponsors many programs which promote cross-cultural understanding such as the Conversation Partners program for international students and American partners; International Neighbors program, in which American families offer friendship and hospitality to international students; World Café Coffee Hours, in which global issues are discussed in a social setting; and Cultural Cafés, where international students share cuisine and information of their home countries.
Medical Services
Beu Health Center, located on campus, provides medical services (consultation and treatment) for students and their spouses or domestic partners. The Health Center has its own pharmacy, laboratory, and x-ray facility. There is a user fee for most services.
Clinical services include diagnosis and treatment of acute illness/injury; diagnosis of chronic illness with appropriate referral; assistance in the management of chronic illness; immunizations; allergy injections; TB testing; diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and gynecological services. The Health Center also provides limited psychiatric services.
Fees are charged for office visits and some services such as medications, x-rays, allergy shots, immunizations, laboratory tests, and certain office procedures. Payment is expected at the time of service. You can charge services to your student account or pay with cash, check, or MasterCard/VISA. Beu Health Center does not file claims to your insurance carrier. However, they will provide you with the necessary documentation for you to file with your insurance provider. You may wish to save receipts for tax or insurance purposes.
Multicultural Services
Located in the new Multicultural Center building are the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Casa Latina Cultural Center, and the Women's Center. The centers provide a variety of multicultural services, including special facilities and programs to serve the unique needs of African American, Hispanic American, and international students. In addition, the Women's Center promotes gender equity through education, support and advocacy to respond to issues affecting female students, faculty, and staff as well as, the community and society.
Among the variety of diverse multicultural services provided at the centers are recruiting activities; academic support services; cultural and fine arts events; social and recreational activities; speakers; financial assistance counseling; job placement opportunities; and fundraising events for minority student groups. Also, several performing groups in dance, theatre, and music are sponsored by the centers throughout the year. The centers are committed to helping the campus community develop a multicultural and multiracial society that promotes gender equity and equal opportunities that are not based on race, creed, sex, economic status, or position in life. Also see Cultural Programs.
Parking Services
The Office of Parking Services provides services related to vehicle usage and control on campus. The office issues parking permits; regulates parking lot use; enforces parking rules and regulations; plans, maintains, and paves parking lots; controls the placement and maintenance of traffic signs; and provides emergency motorist assistance including battery assists, unlocking cars, emergency gasoline refuelings, and inflating tires. All vehicles using campus facilities must have either a permanent or temporary parking permit displayed on the vehicle during specified times except when the vehicle is parked at a parking meter. The office is located in Mowbray Hall, (309) 298-1921.
Public Safety
The Office of Public Safety is a multifaceted organization providing police, safety, and parking services to the community. These services include criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, medical transport and care, fire and crime prevention, safety programs, escort services, key control, motorist assistance, and other miscellaneous activities related to the safety and well-being of University faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. All police officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers in the State of Illinois and have full jurisdiction at the University and in the surrounding county. The office provides student emergency medical services with qualified emergency medical technicians on staff. The office also provides safety escorts from one campus location to another, from dusk to dawn, year round. The office is located in Mowbray Hall, (309) 298-1949, emergency 911.
Students may register for classes using the Student/Alumni Records System (STARS) available at wiu.edu/stars. For more information, contact the Registrar's Office, Sherman Hall 110, (309) 298-1891 or wiu.edu/registrar.
Student Judicial Programs
Student Judicial Programs promotes responsible individual and group behavior. This office informs students and organizations of their rights and responsibilities through publication of the Code of Student Conduct. Student Judicial Programs staff coordinate the disciplinary review process in response to allegations of misconduct and offer mediation services to students in conflict. This office maintains student disciplinary records and completes law school, transfer applications, and other clearance forms. For more information, call (309) 298-2436.
Student Legal Services
A licensed practicing attorney represents students charged with traffic and misdemeanor offenses in McDonough County Court, and is available to help guide students with court matters outside of the county. In addition, the attorney provides legal advice and counseling for a variety of issues, including landlord/tenant conflicts, consumer problems, small claims court, and rental lease questions. No fees are charged for these services. For more information or for directions to the office, call (309) 298-1003.
University Foundation and Development
The Western Illinois University Foundation encourages and manages private support to strengthen and develop programs and facilities to enhance the educational experience for our students. Our vision is to make Western Illinois University the leading comprehensive university in the United States. This will require increasing private support from our alumni and many friends who share this vision for WIU— to build on its existing strengths and to meet the many challenges of delivering higher education in a constantly changing environment.
Private contributions, when added to state resources, add an extra dimension of support that otherwise would not be possible. Over the past five years, the WIU Foundation has provided more than $28 million in gifts, grants, and endowment-generated earnings to the University. The effects of these gifts are clearly visible in every aspect of University life:
Scholarships that bring the most talented students to Western, while keeping a college education affordable and accessible,
Faculty development programs that help ensure that our students will continue to learn the latest developments in their disciplines; and
Funding for advanced faculty and student research projects, instructional technologies, facility improvements, intercollegiate athletics, and a host of cultural events that represent a vitaldimension of University life.
For more information about the Foundation, campus fundraising efforts, or to make a contribution, visit wiu.edu/giving.
University Technology
University Technology (uTech) administers computer resources used by students and faculty for research and instruction. Computers connected to the campus network are available in most instructional and residential buildings on both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses. Wireless access is available in all academic buildings and in public areas of residence halls.
WIU provides more than 1,800 computers for use in 42 labs, 43 teaching facilities and 20 computer resource centers throughout campus. The University also provides access to numerous software packages, the Internet, e-mail, campus information systems and other resources. Students have access to Macintosh and Windows-compatible computers, scanners, laser printers, CD/DVD readers/writers and Storage Area Network (SAN) accessible data storage. Thumb drives or jump drives may also be used in many labs and computer resource centers.
Western's English as a Second Language Institute
Western's English as a Second Language (WESL) Institute is part of the Center for International Studies and provides an intensive program in academic English for international students who are preparing to enter an American college or university. WESL Institute is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). The WESL curriculum is designed and taught by a professional faculty to prepare students academically, socially, and culturally for success as university students.
The English as a Second Language Program is offered during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. It consists of three levels of instruction: Foundation, Intermediate, and University Preparation. Upon arrival, students take the WESL Placement Test and are placed in the appropriate level. Students who place at the highest level and who meet WIU admission requirements may be admitted to the Dual level, in which they are enrolled part-time at WESL Institute and part-time at the University. (This program is not available in the summer.)
Full-time students attend classes 20 hours minimum per week. The curriculum integrates academic content with real life skill-building in English, combining textbook lessons and teacher-written materials with opportunities for integrated language practice. WESL has a multimedia computer lab and a wide range of interactive software. Successful students study at each level for a semester. The WESL program consists of two 16-week semesters and an eight-week summer session, all of which follow the WIU academic calendar.
Students at WESL Institute have access to all University events and facilities. Services of the Center for International Studies are available to WESL students, including assistance with immigration matters.
Specific English-language requirements for prospective students can be found under the 'Admission of International Students' section of this catalog.
Writing Center
The University Writing Center (and its satellite centers in Thompson Hall, Bayliss/Henninger Hall, and at WIU-Quad Cities) provides a wide range of across-the-curriculum writing assistance services to students, faculty, and staff at no cost. The Writing Center is staffed by highly qualified graduate and undergraduate students from Western's Department of English and Journalism and other departments. Consulting services are available for career and academic writing at all stages of the writing process. For more information, contact (309) 298-2815 or visit 341 Simpkins Hall or wiu.edu/uwc.
Table of Contents
- General Information
- Campus and Facilities
- University Services
- Special Programs
- Admission
- Academic Guidelines
- Graduate School Policies
- Costs and Financial Assistance
- Programs of Study
- Integrated Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
- Other Departments Offering Courses for Graduate Credit
- Index


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You need to train your team with a live-fire contest. You want CQB shooting, carbine and subgun engagements and maybe even a long-range shot or two to prove to the operators they don't "always" have to wait for the sniper. (No offense to the snipers out there. We'll get to you next month.) And you have a budget. What do you do? The clock is ticking. What do you do? (Cue theme for Jeopardy.)
I'm going to say: You create a timed scenario your operators have to solve using a sidearm and a long gun.
That's correct, but you did not phrase your response in the form of a question.
Seriously though, no agency can go through training with only static paper targets and call the officers qualified. But building a scenario-based training environment with reactionary targets can be really costly. Unless, that is, you shun the steel and go for polymer. With just five polymer targets from Newbold, some dimensional lumber and a little imagination you can create a shooting scenario that is realistic, challenging and, if you include a stopwatch, provides the competitive stress to elevate the operator's heart rate. Here's the set up.
Establish a starting line and on the command "Gun!":
Run to cover
Engage popper at 25 yards with the long gun
Engage popper at 50 yards with the long gun
Move to secondary cover
Clear three plates at 7 yards with the sidearm
The timer starts the watch on the command and stops it when the final target disappears. Now, here is where the creativity comes in. Training officers can change the length of the run to cover, change the point of transition from the long gun to the pistol, or change the sequence of engagement. I had a bit of a reality check as I drew up the sequence. I started by planning to engage the closest targets with the handgun before transitioning to the long gun for the distant targets.
In the real world, if you are carrying a long gun on a mission, that gun is your primary weapon and you would not sling a fully functional long gun and reach for your pistol, so I turned things around, forcing the officer to run to cover, engage the closest of the two poppers (on the assumption that the closest threat is the most immediate), before hitting the distant popper. Then, for the sake of training, assume that the long gun has malfunctioned AND a close threat has appeared that requires multiple hits to be dealt with. Draw from the holster and fire the side arm.

subset: commoncrawl


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The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) is a medium-sized plover.
American golden plovers closely resemble Pacific golden plovers (Pulvialis fulva), and the two were originally thought to be the same species. Both have wing undersides that are a grey-brown color and their wings are almost identical in size. American golden plovers have a longer, thinner body with a shorter neck and larger head, a tibia that is shorter than its bill, and a shorter bill relative to head size than Pacific golden plovers.
American golden plovers weigh between 122 and 194 g, averaging 144.6 g. They are 23 to 30 cm in length, and have a wingspan of 45.7 to 66.0 cm with average wingspan being 50.8 cm across.
American golden plovers resemble black-bellied plovers (Pulvialis squatarola) in coloration during the winter breeding season, although they are more golden in color. They are speckled grey and white on their underside (more grey than black-bellied plovers), and are speckled golden, white, and black on the head, back, and tail feathers. In the non-breeding season, American golden plovers appear more golden on their back and head. They lack a wing stripe and males are slightly more colorful than females.
Juvenile stage first non-breeding year plumage is a mix of juvenile and adult-like feathers after a post-juvenile moult. The first pre-breeding feathers look similar to adults after a moult occurs to replace the tail and body feathers of the first non-breeding feathers. American golden plovers have a post-breeding moult, replacing their breeding plumage with an eclipse plumage. This eclipse plumage replaces breeding plumage when they reach their southern wintering grounds. Eclipse plumage is more yellow and brown in color. Females retain more of their winter feathers than males. Males grow new tertials and wing coverts, and females do not. This is why males are brighter in color than females. On their northwards migration in spring, they begin to moult into breeding plumage.
Range mass: 122 to 194 g.
Average mass: 144.6 g.
Range length: 23 to 30 cm.
Average length: 26 cm.
Range wingspan: 45.7 to 66.0 cm.
Average wingspan: 50.8 cm.
Range basal metabolic rate: unknown to unknown cm3.O2/g/hr.
Average basal metabolic rate: unknown cm3.O2/g/hr.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry


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Quick Download
The relic your archaeological team found in Far Asia was more powerful than you thought. Now your mission is to reach the Temple of Time and return the Relic to lift the curse.
String together items on the board to create chains of three or more items. Earn all the eight powerful talismans and unleash their helpful power. You will come across breathtaking sceneries on your journey and the rich but relaxing atmosphere will draw you in and keep you there. Two game modes will keep you entertained for hours. Step into the exciting world of Azkend!
Elite rank of games
"Suffice it to say that we're giving this total surprise gem two enthusiastic thumbs up."
Highly-polished game at a great value
"This really is a retail or Xbox LIVE Arcade quality title in the palm of your hand and it deserves a spot in any iPhone/iPod Touch owner's library."


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|Find the best surf spots
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Take from Caracas Oriente's Highway to Higuerote, then look for the road to carenero's club and follow chirimena's or chirere's beach signs until you get to chirimena's town!
DistanceDay trip
WalkInstant access (< 5min)
Easy to find?OK
Public access?Public access
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Wave qualityRegional Classic
ExperienceAll surfers
FrequencySometimes break
DirectionRight and left
Normal lengthNormal (50 to 150m)
Good day lengthLong (150 to 300 m)
Good swell direction
Good wind direction
Swell sizeStarts working at Less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 4m+ / 12ft
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Thai Tea Cha Thai is another choice for those who love to brew Thai Tea at home. This Thai tea Cha Thai has been widely used in most Thai restaurants, thanks to its beautiful orange color and flavor. Net weight; 13 oz. The case contains 30 bags of 13oz. Ingredients: Tea leaves, FD&C Yellow no.6 Product of Thailand.
Copyright © 2004 - 2019 GroceryThai.com


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Santa Jeremy Ono, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Cincinnati, today announced the appointment of Xuemao Wang as dean and university librarian. Wang's appointment becomes effective August 31, 2012, pending approval of the University's Board of Trustees.
Ono said, "I am delighted that Xuemao Wang will be joining us as a new member of the University of Cincinnati community. He brings a combination of skills and professional experiences that would be difficult to match. I was fortunate enough to work with him previously when I served as senior vice provost for undergraduate education and academic affairs at Emory University. I know him to be a tireless champion in the service of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs via excellent research collections and innovative instructional support."
With a career that spans public, library consortium, and academic library worlds, Wang comes to UC from Emory University where he was the associate vice provost of University Libraries since 2009, overseeing the libraries' day-to-day operations with direct supervision of Content and Services divisions, as well as the administrative and business offices. Prior to that appointment, he was the head of library systems at Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries, with responsibilities for supporting university-wide enterprise library systems. Before his positions in academic libraries, Wang was director of information technology for the Metropolitan New York Library Council, manager of internet services for Queens Borough Public Library, and head of the Information Service Department at Sichuan Institute of Business and Administration in Chongqing, China.
When asked what appealed to him most about working at the University of Cincinnati, Wang said, "I am excited to join the university as it works toward achieving the ambitious goals set forth in the UC2019 Academic Master Plan. UC Libraries play an integral role in the scholarship, learning, and community engagement of the university. I look forward to working with UC leadership, faculty and students, as well as library faculty and staff, to align the Libraries' goals closely with UC2019's strategic aspirations, to continue strengthening the Libraries' role as the intellectual commons of the university, to bring innovative initiatives forward, and to take UC Libraries to new heights, nationally and internationally."
Wang has a strong interest and background in global librarianship, serving as current chair of the International Federation of Library Association's (IFLA) Knowledge Management Section Standing Committee and the past chair of the American Library Association's (ALA) International Relations Committee's East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee. In addition, while at Emory, Wang worked with the university vice provost of international affairs on Emory's global strategies, with a particular focus on China and East Asia. Most recently, Wang has been instrumental in establishing a sister library and cooperative relationship between Emory University Libraries and Nanjing University Libraries, Chongqing University Libraries of China.
Wang's educational background includes a B.A. from Wuhan University in China and three master's degrees, including one in business administration from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.; one in library and information science from the University of South Carolina; and one in library science from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
In his new role as dean and university librarian, Wang will build upon the achievements of Victoria A. Montavon, Ph.D., who will join the faculty after serving for 11 years as dean. A committee, chaired by David Szymanski, dean of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business, led the national search for the new dean.
Wang comes to Cincinnati with his wife, Wendy. They look forward to exploring the many things the city has to offer, especially in the sports, arts, and entertainment.


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Having delighted millions with his"Inglourious Basterds" and their bloodthirsty pursuit of Nazis, Quentin Tarantino suggested that he just might do the same for blacks.
"I'd like to do a Western. But rather than set it in Texas, have it in slavery times. With that subject that everybody is afraid to deal with. Let's shine that light on ourselves," said Tarantino over lunch with "Basterds" star Christoph Waltz, reported Rush & Malloy. "You could do a ponderous history lesson of slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad. Or, you could make a movie that would be exciting. Do it as an adventure. A spaghetti Western that takes place during that time. And I would call it 'A Southern.'"
It's hard imagine white audiences flocking to a film in which escaped slaves scalp their former owners, but maybe we don't have enough faith in our fellow man. That said, who better to take on such a project? Only Tarantino has the chops and the guts to write and direct it
U.S. & World
You know Samuel L. Jackson would be first in line to star in this thing.
Tarantino also swore up and down that he and head "Basterd" Brad Pitt didn't smoke pot during filming of their most recent collaboration. Could be, but Pitt sure seemed to be lighting up during the shoot for the Tarantino-written "True Romance." Nobody is that good an actor.


text:
Established Atlanta Employment Law Attorneys Protecting the Rights of Georgia Workers
Drawing upon nearly 50 years of combined experience to serve clients in Georgia and nationwide
Our firm, Billips & Benjamin LLP, handles employment and labor cases exclusively. We dedicate all of our time, resources and experience to represent hard-working people, like you, who keep this nation going, day in and day out. With almost 50 years of combined experience advocating for employees, our lawyers, well versed in the intricacies of employment rights and contract law, can provide you with effective counsel to recover the wages you are owed and improve your workplace conditions.
Recovering payment for violations of overtime, wage and hour laws
If after all your hard work, your paycheck is smaller than it should be, you need to take action immediately. Generally, you are subject to a two-year statute of limitations to recover back pay -- three years if your employer willfully violated overtime, wage and hour laws.
Our attorneys offer advice and action when you come to us with concerns about the following:
- The wages you earned -- As an employee, you are entitled to the wages you have earned. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that protects and guarantees your rights to overtime pay and at least minimum wages.
- The wages you deserve -- An employer may attempt to take advantage of employees by refusing to pay them what the law requires. Employers also may make legitimate mistakes because they do not understand the law. However, whether withholding your wages was deliberate or accidental, your employer has a responsibility to compensate you appropriately for your hard work.
- Your right to sue -- Billips & Benjamin is devoted to getting you what you deserve as an employee. And, if you choose to sue an employer who has willfully broken the law or claims ignorance of the law, we devote all our energies to getting you the maximum settlement or verdict possible.
Resolving complex labor and employment law issues
Our lawyers take on a wide range of labor and employment law cases. We help executives enforce their employment contracts and negotiate their compensation packages. We help whistle-blowers do the right thing. And we obtain justice for employees who have endured discrimination and sexual harassment on their jobs. In all these situations, we have one overriding goal -- to put you in the best position possible to be compensated for the harm done to you.
Protecting the rights of the people who protect us
Our firm proudly represents law enforcement officers and firefighters, who risk their lives daily in the line of duty in serving our communities. These brave men and women who protect us at great risk to themselves deserve the utmost protection on the job. Our seasoned attorneys understand the unique employment concerns of police officers and firefighters and are ready to represent them.
Set up your free consultation with our employment law attorneys
At Billips & Benjamin, LLP, our experienced and accessible attorneys are happy to answer your employment or labor law questions in a free telephone consultation. Call us at 770-728-8011 or contact us online to set up an appointment. Our office has free parking available and is ADA accessible.


text:
February 17th, 2017.
It is with such a heavy heart that I have to share the news that our beautiful, inspiring and amazing mum has passed away. She died so peacefully in dad's arms at home on the evening of Wednesday 15th February. We had all been with her moments before.
Mum's heath had deteriorated rapidly over recent days. While it happened so quickly, it meant that mum didn't have to worry or be in any discomfort for long and we take so much comfort from that.
The Cancer is Pants campaign helped in so many ways. It showed mum how much people cared and how much love and support there is in the community. It enabled mum to access pioneering treatments that gave her so much hope and improved her quality of life over these past two years. Hope kept us all going and that is what Cancer is Pants gave us. We cannot thank you enough for all of your support, love and kindness and for making the campaign what it was.
As a family we are staying strong as we know that mum will always be with us. She taught us so much in life and we will make sure she continues to teach us in death. While we can't quite believe she is no longer here, we will go on as she would have wanted us to; together, happy and living life to the full.
Mum was beautiful in life and will continue to inspire us always.
Ella xxx
Black Black Haan Men's Original Grand Shortwing Oxfords Cole nrbsbe3543-Fashion Sneakers
Mum eloquently documented her journey in her blog 'Rudely Interrupted' , which you can read on this site.
In many ways this is her legacy. It is not only her story and that of our family, but it is also a detailed account of all her incredible research and investigation into her illness and the treatments available for it. Black Bates Men's Defender 8 Inch Lace to Toe WP Waterproof BootBrown Naot Mens Fiord MuleAlready the blog has inspired and helped countless others who are trying to navigate the options after a cancer diagnosis. Mum believed that life was for living and through her brave choices she managed to have a good quality of life in the last two years that no one could have predicted.
This is a small extract from the blog that mum wrote a few months before she died:Hirblue,legink,sholim Adidas Pureboost DPR Mens Fashion-Sneakers CM8317Carribean Sea Storm bluee Hoka One One Mens Bondi 6 Textile Trainers
Where will Mum go when she dies?
Well, that is a very good question and one Mummy thinks about a lot. Some people believe in heaven, a beautiful and peaceful place. Others believe we are reincarnated, that means we come back as another creature or person. Mummy thinks it must be somewhere in the middle. When you die she thinks it must feel like just falling into a deep, deep sleep but never waking up. Instead we find a kind of peace coming back to life as our cells are reabsorbed by nature. Yellow Fly London Women's Yala Perforated Wedge PumpCopper Worksmith Red Wing Heritage Work Chukka BootWhen she dies she will be the wood pigeon. Every time you hear it softly coo it will be Mummy talking to you, telling you she loves you and is watching over you. She will be telling you there is nothing to worry about and that she wants you to love life and be happy. She will also be the breeze, because every little breeze whispers Louise. The breeze that gently blows the trees making the branches bend and the leaves rustle. The breeze that brushes your face as you walk and ruffles your hair when you run. The breeze that wraps itself around you so that you know Mummy is there.
Everywhere you look you will see other Mummies keeping watch over their children. The bees buzzing, a dog barking, water running, cows lowing. They are the rain that trickles down window panes and drips off eye lashes, Dark Brown Sebago Men's Classic Danthe clouds, always watchful, playing games in the sky, sometimes making shapes for you to guess what they are, Cloud Sigerson Morrison Womens Ipo Ankle Bootother times covering the earth like a thick cotton wool blanket. Some Mummies are the snow falling silently, tickling your cheeks and freezing your toes. Others the waves on the sea shore, always present, always watching, talking to their children, sometimes, playing with them as they race and jump and whoop, catch me if you can, she will be shouting, 'I'm coming to get you' as she whooshes up the shore snapping at their ankles. You can find most Mummies in the light of a candle,Black-77494 Frye Women's Sabrina Double Buckle Boot flickering and dancing, watching carefully as you stare into the flame. Some Mummies are the blanket that covers you at night, protecting you, keeping you warm, keeping you safe. They are the heather on the moors, the daffodils in the spring, the leaves falling off the trees. They are everywhere. But your Mummy will be the wood pigeon and the breeze and she will follow you all through your life. When you hear her or feel her listen very carefully. She loves you.


text:
Who is playing - and who will win?
Stats of the day
The host nation has never lost their first World Cup game, with the 20 previous hosts winning 14 and drawing six of their openers.
Eight of the last 12 opening matches at World Cups have produced one goal or less.
Croatia have conceded only 11 goals in 13 World Cup games (0.85/game). It's the best ratio among the 32 teams taking part in 2014.
Brazil won their one previous competitive meeting with Croatia 1-0 in the 2006 World Cup; Kaka scored the winner in Berlin that day.
Last edited by Pope Bitterz D'Alomo; 13th June 2014 at 02:10 PM.
Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow. ~Aesop
Ignorance can be educated,drunkenness sobered,craziness medicated but there is no cure for STUPIDITY
This match was a match to watch
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Screen Rant's Ben Kendrick Reviews Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (aka Transformers 3) is a great summer blockbuster experience. It's not a perfect film – bogged down by some plot-holes, lack of development in some of the new robot characters (as well as returning humans), and an overlong run time - but in a summer that's been punctuated by some major disappointments, Dark of the Moon delivers unparalleled big screen spectacle, and is arguably the best film in the series.
For anyone unfamiliar with series - or anyone still reeling from the convoluted Revenge of the Fallen plot - Dark of the Moon centers around a half-century old conspiracy: the 1960s space race was actually a response to a downed Autobot ship, The Ark, which crash-landed on Earth's moon back in 1961. As a result, the Apollo 11 mission wasn't just about getting to the moon before the Soviets – it was primarily a mission to investigate and recover the extraterrestrial technology in the Ark. When a piece of recovered Transformers machinery hints at the Ark's location, The Autobots and their human allies - Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), Lt. Colonel Lennox (Josh Duhamel), Agent Simmons (John Turturro), and Carly Spencer (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) - are forced to confront a larger Decepticon plot that could lead to the annihilation of both the Autobots and the entire human race.
The plot of Dark of the Moon serves as a decent backdrop for the impressive set pieces and actually adds to the onscreen action - instead of merely filling in time between explosions. The improvements only further showcase how much Revenge of the Fallen must have been affected by the WGA strike, since everything in Dark of the Moon is substantially more coherent – even for a movie about cybernetic organisms battling to the death. That said, even at a run time of 153 minutes, there are still a number of plot-holes, as well as several spans of time where the film drags – especially leading into act two.
Like Bay's prior Transformers films, human drama is the main culprit, sometimes undermining the momentum of the larger story arcs. Dark of the Moon, more than either of its predecessors, struggles to find a compelling place for leading man Sam Witwicky. While the character has some genuinely entertaining moments (most notably an Office Space-like work commentary), the scenes of Sam's personal life, set-against the struggles of the Autobots and U.S. military, still seem at odds.
Surprisingly, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a welcome improvement in the love-interest department – though her actual character, Carly Spencer, has less of an edge than Megan Fox's Mikaela Banes. For the most part, despite her professional success, Carly is relegated to damsel in distress – where Banes was presented as a more capable companion for Sam. Unlike the prior installments, the relationship doesn't bog the film down too much - leaving room for the ensemble cast to do a bit more heavy-lifting. John Malkovich and Alan Tudyk join the franchise to provide comic relief, alongside the returning John Turturro, who is genuinely entertaining and less over-the-top this round.
A number of fan-favorite Transformers also return, including Autobots Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Sidewsipe (thankfully not The Twins, Skids and Mudflap), as well as Decepticons Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave, among others. Characters that got short-shrift in Revenge of the Fallen are featured more prominently this round - Soundwave and Sideswipe specifically - which somewhat makes up for how little audiences got to see them last time. Dark of the Moon also introduces several new bots, including Optimus Prime's predecessor, Sentinel Prime (voiced by Leonard Nimoy), as well as the infamous Decepticon, Shockwave. Unfortunately, neither of the new bots gets as much development as they deserve (Shockwave especially).
Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson also reunite, aiding in one of the other improved elements of the film – the implementation of NEST and military forces. By the time the film lands in Chicago (that epic set piece featured in the trailer) the city is a complete warzone, leaving room for viewers to finally see a believable Autobot/Human resistance effort.
As a result, instead of simply shooting at the same enemies as their Autobot allies, the human soldiers (along with the larger military machine) are given genuine moments to shine – and opportunities to turn the tide. Being the last installment in Bay's trilogy (until the box office profits spawn a fourth film), the death toll for recognizable characters is dramatically higher, offering some intense and brutal moments that will likely shock audiences and can, at times, solicit a surprising amount of emotion.
While some moviegoers might wish for the film to speed past the dramatic buildup, the wait will undoubtedly be worth it: the final hour of Dark of the Moon is an all-out action fest, with some of the coolest visuals ever put to film. The trailers for the movie certainly give-away some of the more awe-inspiring moments; however, they also held back plenty of footage that provide audiences with a number of great battle sequences.
Bay also improves upon a major problem with the prior installments – frantic camera work that turned epic set-pieces into blurry swirls of robot action. Dark of the Moon features a set of slow-motion action beats which, in any other movie, might seem overused. But here, the slow-motion allows for moviegoers to really hone-in on the eye-popping visuals (which look especially impressive in 3D).
As for the aforementioned and oft-talked-about 3D camerawork: Dark of the Moon falls-short of overtaking the must-see theatrical experience of James Cameron's Avatar, but still manages to set a new bar for 3D blockbuster action. At times, the 3D is wasted on static shots of humans talking in an office building; however, when the action starts ramping up, it's easy to see how filmmakers can offer a 3D experience worthy of the added ticket price - if they know how to use the format deliberately and intelligently, as Bay does.
If you've already seen the film and want to talk about various plot details without ruining it for others, head over to our Transformers: Dark of the Moon spoilers discussion.
However, if you're still on the fence about Transformers: Dark of the Moon, check out the trailer below:
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Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick — and let us know what you thought of the film below.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is now playing in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D theaters.


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How to Assemble a Solar Wax Melter
After you've cut all the pieces of your solar wax melter, it's time to clear a good work space and put all this stuff together. You start with the floor of the solar wax melter and work your way to the top.
Attach the riser to the lower and upper floors.
First use the deck screws and a power drill with a #2 Phillips head bit to attach the lower floor to the riser. Doing this is easiest with these elements of the floorboard assembly turned upside down on your work surface (the screws go through what will be the underside of the lower floorboard and into the lower edge of the vertical riser).
This is a simple butt joint. Just line up the edges so that they're flush with each other.
Now flip these two components right-side up on the worktable and use deck screws to attach the upper floorboard to the top edge of the vertical riser; just line up the edges so that they're flush with each other.
Throughout the entire floor assembly, consider using a weatherproof wood glue in addition to the screws. It helps make the structure as strong as possible. Apply a thin coat of glue wherever the wooden parts are joined together (the exception is the glazed top, which you do not want to glue, just in case you need to replace the glazing).
The screws will go in easier if you first drill a 7/64-inch hole in each spot you plan to place a screw. The pre-drilling also helps prevent the wood from splitting. Refer to the earlier figures to determine where the screws go.
Attach the cleats to the upper and lower floors.
First use the nails and a hammer to attach the two cleats to the upper floorboard. Position the cleats flush with the front and side edges of the upper floorboard. You'll have a 2-inch gap left in the center (for the melted wax to flow through). A couple of nails per cleat will do the trick. See the following figure for the approximate placement of the nails.
Now take the remaining cleat and attach it to the lower floorboard using the nails. To determine the exact placement, place your smaller disposable aluminum loaf pan on the bottom floor, as shown in the following figure. This helps you determine where to attach the cleat (the dimensions of these pans vary from brand to brand).
The objective is to position this cleat so that the pan doesn't slide out of position. After all, it will be on a 15 degree incline. This pan collects the melting wax as it flows from the larger pan that sits on the upper floor. A couple of nails per cleat should the trick.
Attach the floor assembly to the front and rear vertical panels.
Turn the entire floor assembly over and attach the front and rear vertical panels to the front and rear of the floor assembly. The large panel attaches to the lower floor, and the smaller panel attaches to the upper floor. Use deck screws to attach the panels to the floor assembly. The screws go through the lower and upper floors and into the edges of the vertical panels.
These are simple butt joints. The edges of the pieces should be flush with each other. Precise placement isn't critical. Now flip the entire thing over again and proceed to the next step.
Attach the side panels to the floor assembly.
Use deck screws to attach the floor assembly (which now includes the front and rear panels) to the side panels. The screws go through the side panels and into the edges of the floor assembly. Note that the floor assembly is tilted within the side panels so that gravity will do its trick and direct the melting wax into the collection pan.
You'll make life a lot easier if you first pre-drill 7/64 -inch guide holes in the side panels. Lay a side panel on the workbench and then position the edge of the entire floor assembly on the side panel (just as it will go when screwed together). Use a pencil to trace the outline of the floor assembly's edges on the side panel.
Do the same thing for the other side panel. Now drill the guide holes in the side panels. This little step makes it a lot easier to correctly align and attach the floor assembly within the two side panels. Otherwise it will be a hit or miss exercise.
Use the following figure to determine the approximate placement of screws. The objective is to make sure that screws go into the edges of all the critical components of the floor assembly: rear panel, upper floor, riser, lower floor, and front panel.
Build the glazed top assembly.
Use deck screws to attach one of the short rails to the two long rails. These are simple butt joints. You're essentially building a picture frame. Take care to align and match up the dado grooves; these are the channels into which the window panel fits. Use two screws per corner (avoid placing a screw where it may interfere with the dado groove).
Now take the polycarbonate window panel and slide it into the dado grooves of the partially assembled frame. Assuming the glazed panel was cut perfectly "square," it will square up the frame nicely.
Using two deck screws per corner, attach the remaining short rail to the long rails. Again, be careful to avoid placing a screw where it may interfere with the dado groove and the newly installed window panel.
Using screws (versus nails) allows you to remove the glazed panel at a later date, should it ever need replacing. For this reason, do not use wood glue on the glazed top assembly.
Paint all wooden surfaces matte black.
To protect the wood and better retain solar heat, paint all the wood surfaces, inside and out, using a matte black exterior paint. Two or three coats will do the trick. Let each coat dry completely before adding the next.
Place the aluminum pans inside the solar wax melter.
Cut a 2-inch-wide flap centered along one of the long sides of the large roasting pan (see the following figures). This hole and flap allow the melting wax to flow into the smaller pan below. The larger roasting pan sits on the inclined upper floor, with the cut-out flap aligned with the gap between the two retaining cleats. Fill the large pan with your wax cappings and other harvested comb.
The smaller loaf pan sits on the lower floor, snug against the riser and aligned to collect the melting wax from the larger pan above.
Put the glazed top assembly on the solar wax melter.
The removable top fits on and over the top of the wax melter (like a hat fits on a head). Position the entire unit so that the glazed top is exposed to the direct sun (facing south is best). Now all you need are some warm, sunny days and you'll soon have a lovely block of pure, natural beeswax. Time to make candles, furniture polish, and cosmetics!Credit: Illustration by Felix Freudzon, Freudzon Design


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Furniture Row owner Barney Visser: "The most interesting man alive."
If you're a race-car fan, check out our Barney Visser story today in the paper and online. I was proud to have my name on the story, and I respect the heck out of Barney Visser. The owner of Furniture Row Racing is among the most interesting people I have ever met. When I think of Barney, I think of that 60-something guy in the Dos Equis commercial who is dubbed "the most interesting man alive."
Visser is a Denver native, Cherry Hills resident, former football player at UNC (who never played football in high school), a Vietnam veteran, a Vietnam author, and the father of nine children with his college sweetheart Carolyn. That's all in the story. What I couldn't squeeze in, or emphasize, is Visser's path to winning the May 7 NASCAR race in Darlington with Regan Smith behind the wheel. It has been a very challenging road. When this team made its Cup debut in 2005, it was awful. Embarrassing. But the team, led by Denver North graduate Joe Garone, kept plugging along and is now the most unique, and perhaps respected, race team in North America.
"We thought we could win, we knew we were building really fast race cars, so we thought we could, and now we know we can," Visser said. "It brings a little different attitude for everything.
Visser was first introduced to race cars in the 1990s, at a school in Arizona. At the time, he thought about getting into racing when he was ready to retire from the furniture business, where he made a fortune. He never knew the people he met at Colorado National Speedway, primarily legendary driver Jerry Robertson, would lead to his NASCAR Cup team.
"I went to a high-performance driving school in Arizona back in the early '90s, and just had a blast. I felt more adrenaline since anytime since Vietnam, including football," Visser said. "It was fun, for four days, and I always thought if I got a chance to retire, (racing) was what I wanted to do. I semi-retired (in 2005) and looked in the paper and bought a car. I didn't know much about it. I bought a grand American modified but I didn't know anything about it and I had not been to the races (at Colorado National Speedway), but I went to the track and started meeting people.
"I met Jerry Robertson, and he modified my car so I could fit into it, and Jerry and I started talking at a time he was about ready to win a national championship in late models. He was just an excellent, excellent driver and we started talking about a Busch team. I talked to our marketing people and they had said they had wanted to (sponsor) a Busch team for a few years, and so we did it. We jumped in and did a Busch team. Jerry was our driver and we ran part time. There was so much adjusting. Jerry had not driven on a lot of those tracks and we had a lot to learn about the cars and were trying to build our own engines. There was a ton to learn.
"Then we tried a Cup race, and we made the first Cup race we tried, and I thought, 'That's not much tougher than the Busch Series so let's just do that.' There is a lot more exposure and a lot more everything. But that was a much bigger project than I realized. That was a big jump, but we got into it."
I hate to cut it off there, but the rest of what I have is in the paper.
Keep tabs with Mike Chambers on Twitter: @MChambersDP
Read more of Mike Chambers at All Things Avs.


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NEW YORK —There is something uniquely appealing, entertainment history reveals, about urban urchins in cloth caps, be they Parisian waifs, London pickpockets or unflaggingly optimistic New York orphans. If they sing and dance and have lost a parent or two, all the better. And if they sell newspapers for a living? Then they become fresher-faced and more empathetic versions of the archetypal ink-stained wretch, battered as these boys are between the mean streets and the selfish scoops of their mercurial bosses, obsessed, then and now, with their declining circulation.
How else to explain the way the excited audience at "Newsies," the latest and truly crowd-pleasing Broadway musical from Disney Theatrical Productions? They stopped the show with cheers on a whole slew of occasions, popping up from their seats, vicarious cloth caps firmly in place and ready to cheer like union organizers at some weird amalgam of Clifford Odets' "Waiting for Lefty" and "Annie." If you thought unions (or at least the romantic idea of them) were dead among the young, you should spend some time at the Nederlander Theatre, where the newsies are doing more to push the merits of collective bargaining to the youthful than Rich Trumka of theAFL-CIO. And they're doing so while working for Disney. No mean feat, that.
The crowd, the mostly young crowd, is certainly not reacting to an especially artful or innovative movie-to-stage adaptation. The characters aren't all as shameless as Crutchie (Andrew Keenan-Bolger, emoting like Tiny Tim's older brother), but they're a familiar collection of types, including the brooding hero Jack (the solid if unwavering Jeremy Jordan), the nerdy but self-actualizing Davey (Ben Fankhauser, who has more dimension than most) and the pint-sized Les (Lewis Grosso at the show I saw), spitting out the precocious one-liners.
One scene in Harvey Fierstein's book actually begins with the line, "And stay out." And, in the role of the female journalist (and somewhat uneasy love interest for Jack) named Katherine, the over-ripe and off-beat Kara Lindsay says something like, "You give me the exclusive, I'll run with the story and I'll get you the space," a trifecta of journalistic cliches.
Jeff Calhoun's production moves around Tobin Ost's metallic set mostly with efficiency, and John Dossett's villainous Joseph Pulitzer is a zesty creation, but there are no real surprises of any sort; in the formative sense, there's nothing one has not seen before. The number "Seize the Day" comes with top-drawer musical excitement, but this is not Alan Menken's best score for the theater, nor do Jack Feldman's lyrics dance easily in your head.
But for many in the theater, none of that matters. Once the fine ensemble of dancing newsies takes the stage and executes Christopher Gattelli's tricks-filled choreography, the rest of the pages of this enterprise seem to fall away. Such is the formidable burst of energy, fueled by what feels like the kind of authentic defiance that you often get when a show out starts small — or as a flop movie — and keeps on keeping on, playing to an ever-growing array of die-hard supporters (that flop has its fans). This is a very shrewdly produced show; expectations have been kept low but bubbling, and the absence of some Julie Taymor-like conceptual director feels, frankly, refreshing, given the fraught recent history of these things. The great asset of "Newsies," a show that should not be underestimated in its potential trajectory, is a demonstrable comfort in its own emotional skin and theatrical limitations. When you've got a target demographic wedded to their electronics in real life, an explicitly analog approach has real merits of contrast.
One wishes a bit more attention had been paid to the veracity of the central romance, a black hole in this show. Not that the ensemble of paperboys let themselves get sucked in. There is two-way magnetic passion in the room as these young guys dance on and around their newspapers (the real star of this show is an amazing dancer named Ryan Steele, who plays the role of Specs and who can stomp a series of pirouettes on Page One and then only get better from there). That may well be enough to keep this show in print for a good while.
"Newsies" plays on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41 St. For tickets, call 866-870-2717 or visit newsiesthemusical.com