Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s pre-winter-break update from Academic Affairs.
Tax Reform Bill
Colleagues: I first want to provide you with a brief update on the Tax Reform bill. As you might know Congress is working on tax legislation containing provisions to exempt tuition remission for graduate students as taxable income, which could significantly increase our students’ annual tax liability and negatively impact the success of UWM’s graduate programs.
Our University Relations office and UW System have been advocating for UWM. Before Thanksgiving, University Relations worked with the UWM Graduate School on a letter to our community encouraging advocacy. This letter includes background information and resources on the legislation.
Last week Vice Chancellor Tom Luljak visited the Capitol Hill offices of Senators Baldwin and Johnson and Congressmen Ryan and Sensenbrenner. UWM joined forces with federal relations lobbyists from UW-Madison, Marquette University, and the Medical College of Wisconsin to collectively advocate for provisions of the tax reform bill. VC Luljak provided a statement from a UWM graduate student regarding the bill’s impact; this statement was also included in Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s speech in the House of Representatives. Previously, VC Luljak made individual visits to congressional offices detailing the impact of the bill on UWM. This week, we will renew our lobbying efforts as the Senate and House conference committee work on a compromise on the two versions of the legislation.
See UW System’s letter to Congress here and APLU’s advocacy here.
Kudos
Christopher Quinn, Biological Sciences, was awarded an R03 grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the mechanisms that stabilize axons and their branches. The proposed research will lead to the development of fundamental knowledge that could impact the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Wonderful news, Christopher!
Mike Steele, (Mike is chair of Curriculum and Instruction), has been elected to lead the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators board. He will serve three terms from 2018-2022 (as President Elect, President, and Past President). This is a great recognition, Mike and congratulations!
Vice Provost Phyllis King has been selected to receive TEMPO Milwaukee’s 2018 Mentor Award. She will be honored at the TEMPO Mentor Awards luncheon at the Pfister on February 15. Well done, Phyllis!
Danielle Romain (Criminal Justice) recently became a police and fire commissioner with the city of West Allis. Congratulations, Danielle!
UWM has its first transfer from the School District of New Berlin (SDNB) – a student who earned UWM credit in high school for an Advanced Innovation and Design (iAID) course offered in partnership between UWM and SDNB. The process is outlined in this video. Congratulation to all who worked to develop this new pathway!
Services for Professor Aaron Buseh
Information is now available on funeral services for Dr. Aaron Buseh, Professor in the College of Nursing, who sadly passed away last week. Services will be held at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Drive, in Shorewood, on Thursday, December 14. Visitation is from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., with the funeral service following, from 2 – 2:45 p.m.
Panther News
Get your tickets for two big games coming up! Join the men’s basketball team December 16, hosting Loyola at 1 p.m. for “Star Wars” Day! Fans are encouraged to wear costumes and the first 1,000 will pick up a free limited-edition themed bobblehead featuring Pounce. Then, December 17, head to the Klotsche Center as the women’s team battles crosstown rival Marquette at 4 p.m.
Join the Milwaukee Athletic Department for the annual Bud K. Haidet Milwaukee Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony on December 15 at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Ticket Department has announced a pair of upcoming ticket promotions for the 2017-18 season. Join the Panthers for “Hoops for the Holidays” (for community organizations) and for the First Annual “UWM Student for a Day” game on December 22 (for UWM faculty and staff).
The Week
Monday
I meet with Robin Van Harpen, there is a UW System Provosts teleconference on the UW-Colleges restructuring (there are many of these meetings!), the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet meets, I have a meeting with Kanti Prasad, and I’m attending the UWM Honors Commencement.
Tuesday
I meet with my staff and with Michael Doylen, I have a teleconference with a finalist for the UW-System CIO position, I’m attending the Academic Staff Senate meeting, and I’m meeting with Ron Cisler, Kim Litwack, and Ron Perez to discuss a Partners for Health grant proposal. The Academic Leadership Council also meets. Agenda items include focus group feedback; information security training; UW-System audit best practice letters; UWM Virtual Tour; social media and recruitment; and the UWM research highlights template for school/college websites.
Wednesday
I meet with Kim Litwack, Mark Harris and I are meeting with the Chancellor, and I have a retreat focused on developing an outstanding learning environment at UWM. This week, I continue my meetings with schools and colleges where I focus the discussion on our strategic priorities (excellence in research, outstanding learning environment, and leader in community engagement). I meet with the Lubar school today and CEAS on Friday. I end the day with a meeting with Kanti Prasad and Brett Peters to discuss a faculty transfer.
Thursday
I’m attending the Academic Planning and Budget Committee meeting, I have meetings with Scott Emmons, Bill Hebert, Kanti Prasad, Stan Stojkovic, Secretary of the University Trudy Turner, and Pat Borger. I’m attending the Faculty Senate meeting, and I’m stopping by Director of Campus Planning Claude Schuttey’s retirement celebration.
Friday
I have meetings with Mark Harris, Dave Clark, and Nancy Nelson. I’m making opening remarks at the Health Research reception jointly hosted by CHS, CON, ZSPH, and HBSSW to recognize faculty achievements with research journal article publications, grant awards, and proposal submissions during 2017 and 2018. I’m attending a CEAS all-school meeting, and I have a campus space planning meeting.
Sunday
I’m attending the Fall 2017 Commencement.
Announcements
Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS)
CLACS has produced a new documentary, El Futuro Maya II. CLACS produced the original El Futuro Maya in 1998, shortly after the Guatemalan Peace Accords. The sequel, organized as video modules, treats many of the same themes of identity, language, discrimination, the Maya Movement, and visions for the future. Thirteen participants from the original contributed to the sequel, together with six new individuals.
Emile H. Mathis Gallery Opening
All campus community members are invited to the opening of the Emile H. Mathis Gallery on Thursday, December 14 from 5 – 7 p.m. in Mitchell Hall, Room 170. The newly-renovated space is a state-of-the-art facility with 2,400 sq. ft. of exhibition space and additional storage space to house the ever-expanding UWM Art Collection. The Gallery was constructed with a multimillion-dollar donation from art connoisseur, collector, and dealer, the late Emile H. Mathis II.
The inaugural exhibit, Legacies: ReVisioning the UWM Art Collection will feature several prominent works of art from the collection including:
- Edgar Degas, Dancer, c. 1880
- Rembrandt van Rijn, Self Portrait in Velvet Cap with Plume, 1638
- Pablo Picasso, Still Life with Caged Owl, 1947
- Georges Braque, Still Life with Music, 1962
- Joan Miró, Woman and Bird in the Night, 1944
Other notable artists featured in the exhibition include Pierre Auguste Renoir, Robert Rauschenberg, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Jim Dine, Christo, and James Abbott McNeill Whistler.
Deadline Approaching
Final Reminder – Information Security Awareness training must be completed by Friday, December 15.
C21 Fellows
The Center for 21st Century Studies’ call for 2018-19 faculty and academic staff fellows is now open. Applications are due January 11, 2018.
Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL)
WWHEL will sponsor attendance for 10 UWM academic staff at the 2018 Women Leaders Conference on March 2. Application deadline is December 14. For more information, contact Gaby Dorantes (dorantes@uwm.edu), Kathy Litzau (klitzau@uwm.edu), or Janet Padway (jgpadway@uwm.edu).
Teaching and Learning Symposium
Register for the 3rd Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium to be held on January 11, 2018.
Alumni Employee Awards
The Call for Nominations for the 2018 Alumni Employee Awards is now open. Recognize alumni employees who are outstanding performers, unsung heroes, inspirations to students, and changemakers in their communities. Any current faculty, staff, or student can nominate. All nominees will be recognized at the Alumni Employee Awards and Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.
Online Summer Courses Website
Teaching an online course this summer? Promote your courses on the Online Summer Courses website!
Other
And the Packers are still hanging in there!
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs