November 20-26

Plenty to be grateful for

Kelsey Engelke'25 and Maya Bowker'26 with some fossil specimens from Beloit College's natural history collection.Kelsey Engelke’25 and Maya Bowker’26 have been working to document and organize the college’s natural history collection so fossil specimens are more accessible for courses and research. They presented the progress of their work during the 2023 Beloit & Beyond Conference.

Hello Beloiters!

This week will wrap up early for Thanksgiving break on Thursday and Friday. Whether you’re heading out to see family and friends or enjoying some quiet time in Beloit, we hope you travel safely and make the most of your time.

Introducing a new feature: Three Questions

Between launching two new schools, refreshing some facilities, and exploring various new food options, there’s a lot happening at Beloit. We’re introducing a new feature we’re calling Three Questions to provide the community with updates on some important priorities.  First up: Facilities Director Nathan Osterberger. 

  1. What can you say about progress being made to refresh the dorms? We’re doing it in phases. Maintaining our campus’s historic charm comes with a unique set of challenges that can’t all be solved at the same time. We recently replaced old heating equipment — the new equipment is more efficient and environmentally sustainable. We recently replaced the two worst roofs on campus, and created a roof maintenance program with a local company to make preventive repairs. Many students probably noticed tradesmen recently on boom lifts repairing soffit repairs around the Chapin quad area. We are currently working with architects to re-design Whitney Hall: upgraded building mechanicals, flooring, ceilings, lighting, private bathrooms, and showers are being discussed for all floors, as well as special attention to ADA spaces on the first floor. And we recently replaced the water softeners in the ’64 dorms. Soft water doesn’t sound like a big deal until you don’t have it!

  2. Why do my lights keep going out in my room? Not everything can be plugged in and operating at the same time. Part of living in a historic building is the reality that it was designed for students from that era. For example, 1920s engineers who designed Wood and Haven could not imagine what students would use in 2023. Of course, the buildings have had some upgrades over time, but we really are limited to the amount of modification that can safely occur. If your circuit breaker trips, please submit a work request to have our electrician look things over to ensure safety. 

  3. What’s your favorite thing about working at Beloit? I love the historical aspect. Being a part of an institution that predates the state of Wisconsin is a special thing. This place is a living time capsule in so many different ways. I also think the enthusiasm of the staff and faculty is outstanding; this is a group of people who really do care about the mission.  

Stories

Exploring environmental justice in the wild

Students on a water run in Pablo Toral's Environmental Justice summer course at the Wilderness Field Station in Ely, Minnesota.

Abhey Guram’24 shares student experiences and insights from a summer environmental justice course at the Wilderness Field Station in Ely, Minnesota, a haven for nature enthusiasts and a hub for immersive learning.

Upcoming Events

Announcements

Powerhouse & HWC Special Hours

The Powerhouse and Health & Wellness Center will have special hours between Nov. 17 and Dec. 16 to honor breaks and finals during the Fall 2023 semester.

Library Academic Reserve Deadlines: Spring 2024

To ensure academic reserve materials are available by the start of the Spring 2024 semester, faculty should submit Course Reserve requests before January 8, 2024.

Summer seminar in Northern Ireland

The Global Experience Seminar “Peace and Polarization: Lessons from Northern Ireland for a Divided World” is seeking participants. The deadline to apply is December 1.

For Beloiters

Find more campus happenings on For Beloiters.