College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 724
December 15, 2005

Urban Studies Certificate
Annual Report
2004-2005

The USP Undergraduate Certificate program was approved in 2001 and implemented in fall 2002. The certificate requires 18 credits in courses centered on urban issues (see http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Urban_Studies/undergrad.html (for a listing of eligible courses, see...). It is an interdisciplinary certificate with courses in numerous departments and colleges (see course listing).

The USP Certificate program as of October 2005 had approximately 10 students officially enrolled and taking classes in the program. Every time a student enrolls, USP creates a file with documents pertaining to the courses the student has taken and notifies Barbara Ebert in the L&S Student Academic Services Office via email.

The Director of USP is the advisor for the USP certificate program. In Fall of 2005, Professor Joseph Rodríguez became the USP Director, taking over from Professor Margo Anderson.

During the year, the following recruiting efforts were conducted:

1. The Director made a short presentation in all the undergraduate USP classes, announcing the certificate and touting the benefits of adding the certificate to a major.
   
   
2. The Director printed and distributed brochures announcing the program. Brochures will be distributed at the Sociology and History tables at the Open House as well as at the Certificate programs table.
   
   

Issues for future discussion:

1. The formation of an USP Undergraduate Certificate Program Advisory committee; as of October 2005, no advisory committee has been appointed.
   
   
2. Consideration of the addition of new courses to count toward the certificate, including courses in Education where there seems to be a natural fit.
   
   
3. Discussion of new ways to promote the certificate.
   
   
   

Respectfully submitted,

Joseph A. Rodriguez
Director of Urban Studies
768 Bolton/x4751
Joerod@uwm.edu