Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs
Reminder: College of Letters and Science Dean Candidate on campus this week:
- Sastry Pantula will visit campus Monday-Tuesday (February 12-13)
Open Forum: Monday, February 12, 10-11 a.m., Union Fireside Lounge
Candidate CVs and campus interview schedules are online. Feedback forms, to submit feedback to the Provost, are also posted on the finalists’ page.
Kudos
Jun Kim and Kevin Hartman (Music) and the UWM Symphony Orchestra performed at the College Orchestra Conductors Association conference at the University of California-Irvine on February 2. The orchestra sounded terrific, the audience was enthusiastic, and Dr. Kim, Prof. Hartman, and our students represented UWM extremely well on a national stage. Congratulations, Jun and Kevin!
Seniors Jacob Beihoff (Math) and Adam Honts (Applied Math and Computer Science) won an Outstanding Presentation award in the Applied Mathematics category at the Joint Mathematics Meeting in San Diego, CA. Their poster, “Quantifying the Distribution of Urban Vegetation based on Google Street View Images,” was one of 400 posters presented at the largest meeting of mathematicians in the U.S. They are mentored by Istvan Lauko, Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences. Well done, Jacob, Matt, and Istvan!
Christopher Cantwell (History) was named a member of the 2018-2019 cohort of Young Scholars in American Religion by the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, which mentors the next generation of leading scholars in the study of religion in America. As a member of the cohort, Christopher will travel to the Center four times over the next two years for intensive workshops on research, teaching, grant writing, and other academic issues. Congratulations, Christopher!
Cynthia Hayes (Art & Design) was interviewed by Debasish Lahiri, president of Inspirare India and Pradipta Mukherjee, Secretary of Inspirare India at her recent solo exhibition, “Eternal Visions,” at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata, India. Congratulations, Cynthia!
Panther News
You may be sick of shoveling and still covered in snow, but the time to start thinking MILWAUKEE BASEBALL is HERE! The Panthers open the new campaign on February 16, taking on Ohio State in the season opener in Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. CST. Check out the 2018 schedule!
The basketball season is hitting the home stretch and the final home game of the year at UWM Panther Arena is upon us! Join us on Friday, February 16 at 7 p.m. as the Panthers take on IUPUI. Faculty and staff are being invited to the game! Request your complimentary tickets (up to 4).
The Week
Monday
I start the day having breakfast with L&S Dean Candidate Dr. Sastry Pantula, followed by my weekly meeting with Robin Van Harpen (we will join the Strategic Position Control Committee), and a budget meeting. In the afternoon, the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet meets and CEMAT meets. Agenda items include enrollment information review, international partnerships, and restructuring updates.
Tuesday
I will attend the L&S Dean’s breakfast meeting for the Distinguished Lecture in Humanities, a meeting with Tom Luljak, a teleconference with EAB regarding the Student Success Collaborative and Guide, and I’ll attend the Associate Deans meeting. Later, I have monthly meetings with Nancy Nelson, Ron Perez, Bob Greenstreet, and Scott Emmons. I’ll speak to the Academic Staff Senate and have my wrap up with L&S Dean Candidate Dr. Sastry Pantula.
Wednesday
I have my monthly meeting with Joely Urdan and will attend the Americans with Disabilities Act and Accessibility Advisory Committee (ADAAAC) meeting. I have my monthly meeting with the Chancellor and Alan Shoho. Brett Peters and I will meet with the Provost and Dean of Engineering from UW-Platteville to discuss possible partnerships. I have my monthly meeting with Kanti Prasad and I end the day with my weekly meeting with the Chancellor.
Thursday
I have my weekly staff meeting and I also meet with Val Klump. I have standing meetings with Katie Miota and Pat Borger, and I’ll attend the Faculty Senate meeting.
Friday
I have most of my meetings off campus on Friday. The Chancellor and I will meet with WCTC leadership to discuss a potential partnership, then we’ll have lunch with MSOE President John Walz and Vice President of Academics Eric Baumgartner. We’ll end the day meeting with MCW President John Raymond and Executive Vice President Joseph Kerschner. I will then leave for the airport for Washington DC, where I will participate on Saturday at an ACE meeting on International Education.
Announcements
Panther Pride Blood Drive
The Black Cultural Center will be sponsoring a blood drive on Wednesday, February 14 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Wisconsin Room.
Bring Someone You Love to School Day
Volunteers are needed to set up breakfast and do arts and crafts activities with students at Lloyd Barbee Montessori School on Wednesday, February 14 from 8 a.m. – Noon, with transportation provided by the Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership, and Research.
2018 Fireside Forum on Foreign Policy
Maina Kiai presents, “Protecting Your Franchise: Election Integrity and Voter Rights,” on Thursday, February 15 at 7 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge.
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Abstract submission is open through Friday, February 28 for undergraduate students interested in presenting outcomes of their faculty-mentored research at UWM’s Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 27. Students may give oral, poster, visual art, or performing art presentations. See the website for dates of abstract writing and conference poster workshops.
Invitation for Proposals
The Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA) invites proposals from the campus for the 2018 Spring Professional Development Day. Deadline to submit is Friday, March 2.
FOCUSS Idea Competition
The FOCUSS Idea Competition provides students with the opportunity to share ideas and cultivate solutions to real-world problems. The 2018 challenge is to create a consumer-centered credit union geared toward multiracial, multicultural, and multigenerational consumers. This is the first year the contest will be held at UWM and it’s open to all undergraduates regardless of major. There are five prizes – $1,000, $750, $500, $250, and $100. Dr. David Pate is the UWM campus ambassador.
Open Textbooks
The UWM Libraries and Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) invite instructors to participate in the Open Textbook/Open Educational Resource Adoption Project. This grant supports the adoption of open textbooks and open educational resources (OERs) during the Fall 2018 semester.
Campus Connect Gatekeeper
Registration is now open for Spring 2018 Campus Connect Gatekeeper and Booster Sessions. Join a training and help to strengthen our network of UWM students, faculty, and staff prepared to reach out to students in crisis!
Fellowships
UW-Madison’s Institute for Research in the Humanities has issued a call for applications for fellowship appointments for the 2018-2019 academic year. The Institute offers up to four fellowships each year to faculty at University of Wisconsin System campuses. Fellowships may be for one or two semesters and may continue through the summer on a non-stipendiary basis. The deadline to apply is March 1. Application information and form are available online. If you have questions about the application or the process, please contact Ann Harris by email: awharris2@wiswc.edu or by phone: 608-262-3855.
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in the Humanities
All are invited to attend. The topic is: “Does the U.S. need Public Universities?“, being presented by Dr. Christopher Newfield, on Tuesday, February 13 at 4 p.m. in the Golda Meir Library 4th floor conference center. The event is free and open to the public.
Other
Last night’s standings in the Olympic Medals race: Norway – 8; Netherlands – 5; Germany – 4; Canada – 4; United States – 2; and Czech Republic – 2. What a thrill to see these world-class athletes in action!
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs