UWSP: Statewide communication conference at UW-Stevens Point

University Relations and Communications, 715-346-3046, Fax 715-346-2042, www.uwsp.edu/news

Wisconsin’s Statewide Communication Conference (formerly the Wisconsin Conference on the Business of Communication) will be held Friday, March 17, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP). The conference is co-sponsored by UWSP Continuing Education and the Wisconsin Communication Association and is designed for professionals, teachers and consultants in communication.

A special paper and afternoon keynote address, “Voicelessness and Violence: Teaching Communication as a means to Prevent Hatred,” will be delivered by Jody Roy from the Department of Communication at Ripon College. Roy was selected by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as the 2005 Wisconsin Professor of the Year. Session workshops will have experts discussing such topics as blogs and wikis, PowerPoint presentations, gender issues in school and the workplace, e-mail etiquette, the art of interviewing, resumes, and how to become a communication consultant. In addition, a morning and afternoon workshop will be devoted to exchanging ideas for the high school classroom.

There will be a morning panel focusing on communication skills for 21st century employees. Panelists taking part in this discussion will be Marc Bouwer, vice president for strategic resources at the Noel Group; Sally Cutler, executive director for the Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board; and Christopher Kluck, human resources director for Golden County Foods.

UWSP faculty and staff leading workshop sessions include Dan Dieterich, professor of English; Ron Strege, director of Multicultural Affairs; and Rob Manzke, leadership and employment development coordinator for the Student Involvement and Employment Office.

For complete conference registration information, interested communicators can go online at www.uwsp.edu/conted/conferences and choose “Wisconsin Statewide Communication Conference” or call (800) 898-9472 or (715) 346-3838. The conference fee is $110 (lunch included) and $25 for undergraduate students. After March 10 the conference fee rises to $135 and $35 respectively.

Participants also will have the opportunity to earn one UWSP credit by completing an independent study project in conjunction with the conference.