Good morning, Colleagues. Here are this week’s updates from Academic Affairs.

Kudos

– UWM was selected for the 2016 Campus Pride Top 30 “Best of the Best” LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities, a move up from 50^th place in the last ranking. Wonderful news!

– Gesele Durham, Academic Affairs, published an invited article on advising and retention on the EvoLLLution website, which focuses on innovations in non-traditional higher education.

– Marc Levine, History, was cited in this New York Times article focusing on the housing choices of affluent black families in the Milwaukee area.

– The Talent Search Program was awarded a new five year grant with an annual budget of $338,400 or $1,692,000 over the life of the grant. The Educational Opportunity Center was awarded a new five year grant with an annual budget of $236,900 or $1,184,500 over the life of the grant. The competition will support both programs to 2023.

– Joel Berkowitz, Director of the Sam and Helen Stahl Center for Jewish Studies, spoke with Public Radio International (PRI)’s The World, about Yiddish theater star Fyvush Finkel, who died recently at the age of 93.

– Tanya Joosten, Academic Affairs, has been asked to serve on the Executive Committee of the Courseware in Context (or “CWiC”) Framework. The CWiC Framework is a field-owned resource to help postsecondary decision-makers in navigating the market of courseware solutions. It is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with the Online Learning Consortium and SRI International.

The Week

Monday 

I start the week by making welcoming remarks at the T.A. orientation, followed by the Chancellor’s Expanded Cabinet meeting. UWM is also hosting a meeting of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and UW System HLC liaisons, and I will attend part of the meeting. I have a monthly meeting with Ron Perez, Zilber School of Public Health, and CEMAT meets. Agenda items include an update on our discussions with INTO on international partnerships and the Hispanic Serving Institution Initiative.

Tuesday 

I have a morning meeting with the deans and meetings with a number of direct reports. In the afternoon, I’m attending part of the Department Chair Retreat. See the Agenda.

Wednesday

Another day of meetings: I have a weekly meeting with the Chancellor, a campus space planning meeting, a meeting with VC Robin Van Harpen, and a meeting of the Chancellor’s Student Success Work Group.

Thursday

I’m attending the Academic Planning and Budget Committee, doing a welcome at the Wisconsin Alliance for Minority Participation (WiscAMP) STEM program, and I meet with University Committee Chair John Reisel. There is also a campus budget planning meeting, followed by my monthly meeting with SARUP’s Bob Greenstreet, and New Graduate Student Orientation.

Friday

Today is an administrative work day that includes a Common Systems Review Group meeting with colleagues from across UW System. I’m ending the week by attending the kick-off of the School of Information Studies’ 50^th anniversary celebratory year.

Announcements

For All Instructors
The Start of Semester Memo, which contains useful policy-related information is available online.

From UWM Libraries

Pati Jinich, host of “Pati’s Mexican Kitchen” (PBS), will present a talk on Friday, August 26 at 11:45 a.m. in the Golda Meir Library on how being Jewish has impacted her culinary work, and will share her experiences of growing up in Mexico.

From Alumni Relations

– UWM’s Master Chats feature Distinguished Professors and alumni speakers presenting on a range of engaging topics. The first Master Chat is scheduled for Friday, September 16 from 10:30 a.m. – Noon in the UWM Libraries, 4th Floor Conference Center. Award winning poet and UWM alum, Lawrence Kessenich, will present, “Sex, Drugs, Rock, and Protest: Revisiting UWM in the 1960s.”

– You are also welcome to join UWM alumni for a private viewing of Ben Hur this Thursday evening, at North Shore Cinema in Mequon, featuring visual effects by alumnus Jim Rygiel ’77. $20 per person includes buffet dinner and movie. Register online. 

– Sign up to be a Panther Prowl Team Captain for your office, unit, or department and receive exclusive access to special back to school registration discounts, health and fitness tips, and a chance to win the 2016 brag-worthy team prizes. Contact Rachel Flessner at flessnr@uwm.edu for more information.

From the Zilber School of Public Health

Visiting professor Dr. Jian Wang presents, “Rural-Urban Disparities in Mental Health Services Utilization and Cost Reimbursement in China: The Role of Health Insurance,” on August 26 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Zilber School of Public Health. More information.

From the Graduate School

The New Graduate Student Orientation will be taking place this Thursday from 3 – 5:30 p.m. at the Zelazo Center. Refreshments will be provided. Register online.

From the Center for International Education

CIE and the Office of Undergraduate Research will be awarding travel funding to faculty and academic staff to support overseas field research experiences for undergraduates. Faculty apply on behalf of the student(s) they wish to supervise (students do not apply directly). Applications are currently being accepted for overseas research projects planned for Fall 2016, Winterim 2017, Spring 2017, and Summer 2017. The due date for the current round of funding is September 28. See the Call for Applications.

From the Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership, and Research (CCBLLR)

The Milwaukee Election Commission is hosting two training sessions in September on the UWM campus for individuals who would like to be deputized to register people to vote. The Higher Education Act asks campuses to engage in non-partisan voter registration of students, and the CCBLLR is coordinating a Voter Registration Committee to get people deputized on our campus so students can be a part of the political process during the election season. Sign up for one of the remaining SRD trainings.

Other 

Congratulations to all the Olympic athletes!

Take care,

Johanne