Welcome to the 2009 - 2010 edition of the L&S Handbook. 

Since the Handbook was first published in 1981, it has been updated periodically.  In each edition, the editors sought to increase its usefulness as a day-to-day guide for departmental chairs and directors, program administrators, faculty and staff. The online edition debuted in 2001. The ability to post information on the internet afforded us the opportunity to share information even more widely than before - and the Handbook ceased to be simply a book for Department Chairs, but expanded in scope to be a compendium of information for department administration.

South Hall, circa 1900
Photo Credit

With these changes came a host of challenges related to the Handbook, and we now find ourselves asking how we might reformulate this document to improve upon and organize the information it contains for our users. Though we can (and do) update topics when the need arises, the usual cycle for revision falls over the summer months, when the demands of the Fall/Spring semesters abate for the editor in chief. This year we will undertake a comprehensive project to update the Handbook, to make it more useful. As we make this transition, we will likely call upon the expertise of our colleagues who use this document as reference and guide.

The online edition of the Handbook supercedes all previous paper editions.   Generally, users should consult the Handbook before contacting their colleagues in L&S Administration - often, the answers sought have been addressed here.

We continue to work to ensure that the information included in this handbook is as accurate as possible, and will alert departments to substantive revisions if they are made in the course of the academic year.  

If you find errors in this document, or see aspects that can be improved, please let us know what they are.  We are always interested in your suggestions and comments; please direct your comments to Elaine Klein (klein@ls.admin.wisc.edu).

Gary Sandefur , Dean