March 12, 2018  |  News & Events, Provost's Updates

Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.

Carnegie Classifications – change to 3-year cycle 

Recently some changes were announced in the processes used to establish the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. First, they are changing from a five-year cycle to a three-year cycle. That means that the next classification will use data from the 2016-17 academic year.  Second, the process will incorporate doctoral degrees of professional practice, although the exact method has not yet been established. For UWM, this will mean that our Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees will be included within the Carnegie metrics. A more detailed assessment of how this change impacts our R1 status (in terms of our planning and action items) will be shared soon with the campus.

College of Health Sciences Dean Finalists

Last week, four finalists were announced for the position of Dean of the College of Health Sciences. Unfortunately, one candidate withdrew. The three remaining candidates are listed below. They will be visiting campus early to mid-April. Their CVs are now online, campus interview dates and open forum sessions are listed below and visit schedules will be posted when finalized.

  • Ron Cisler
    Visit Dates: April 2 – 3
    Open Forum: Monday, April 2, 11 a.m.-Noon, Location: Union, Fireside Lounge
  • Jesús García-Martínez
    Visit Dates: April 9 – 10
    Open Forum: Monday, April 9, 11 a.m.-Noon, Location: Union, Fireside Lounge
  • Andrew Butler
    Visit Dates: April 16 -17
    Open Forum: Monday, April 16, 11 a.m.-Noon, Location: Union, Room 191

Kudos

Kevin Prince (Atmospheric Science MS student) was awarded one of two graduate student prizes in the American Meteorological Society’s 18th Student Conference poster competition held in Austin, TX in January in conjunction with the 98th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorology Society. Kevin’s research into South American cold air outbreaks was selected from more than 200 entrants. Well done, Kevin!

Kirill Shmilovich (senior Physics major and Senior Excellence in Research Awardee) was accepted to present his undergraduate research at the Council on Undergraduate Research “Posters on the Hill” event in Washington, DC this April. Kirill works in the Lab for Advanced Biopolymers and Nanomechanics of Proteins with Assistant Professor Ionel Popa and focuses on mathematically modeling protein-based hydrogels, which have biomedical applications as artificial tissue and drug-delivery systems. Congratulations, Kirill!

Jim Wasley (Architecture), in partnership with Gerard Rewolinski, PLA, won the 2018 Wisconsin ASLA Chapter Honor Award for projects under $500,000 for the “UWM Spiral Garden and Power Plant Cistern Project.” This is the top honor in that category. Professor Wasley is also an Affiliate Member of the ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects). Well done, Jim!

The Week

Monday

I start the week with my standing meetings with Robin Van Harpen and UC Chair Kristian O’Connor. Then I have several Dean/UBR budget meetings where we will discuss, among others, the proposed new budget model. Today’s meetings include the Libraries, Graduate School, Office of Research, and School of Continuing Education. The Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet meets and I end the day with a CEMAT meeting. Agenda items include a review of 2018 enrollment information, SEM update, Outstanding Learning Environment, and a CourseLeaf demonstration.

Tuesday

I have a full day of meetings, including my monthly meetings with Dave Clark, Joely Urdan, Ron Perez, Nancy Nelson, and Bob Greenstreet. I will also attend the Academic Staff Senate meeting.

Wednesday

I have an early morning UWM Foundation Board of Directors meeting, followed by an SSC Campus & Guide teleconference with EAB. In the afternoon, I have my monthly meeting with Kanti Prasad, a campus space planning meeting, a Chancellor’s Committee for Hispanic Serving Initiatives planning meeting, and my weekly meeting with the Chancellor.

Thursday

I start the day with my weekly staff meeting. Then I have my monthly meeting with Scott Emmons and a Provost “zoom” meeting where we will continue our discussion on the restructuring of the 2-year colleges. I have a BHEF/NSF Grant Advisory Board meeting and June Board of Regents planning meeting. I will also attend the Faculty Senate meeting.

Friday

Today, I continue the Dean/UBR budget meetings and meet with the College of Letters and Science, College of Nursing, Zilber School of Public Health, and College of Health Sciences. I also have a number of meetings with my direct reports and also meet with L&S.

Saturday

I will present awards at the Badger State Science and Engineering Fair in the Union Wisconsin Room.

Announcements

Clean Water for Puerto Rico

UWM Quest Project participants from LaCausa Charter School have officially kicked off a campaign to raise awareness of the ongoing need for sustainable water in Puerto Rico. Please see the video and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article for more information and how to donate.

Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL)

The UWM Chapter of WWHEL’s March 15 meeting will feature attendees of the recent Women Leaders Conference 2018 who will share session highlights. The meeting will take place in the Golda Meir 4th floor Conference Center from 12 – 1 p.m.

29th Annual Marden Lecture on Mathematics

Vaughan Jones will present, “Why Quantum Theory Chooses Von Neumann Algebras,” on Tuesday, March 13 at 4 p.m. in Lubar Hall, Room N140.

FOCUSS Idea Competition

The FOCUSS Idea Competition provides students with the opportunity to share ideas and cultivate solutions to real-world problems. This is the first year the contest will be held at UWM and it’s open to all undergraduates regardless of major. David Pate is the UWM ambassador. Please remind your students that the deadline for submissions is Friday, March 16. Students can win cash prizes up to $1,000.

UWM Alumni Employee Awards

All UWM alumni employees are invited to join us at the UWM Alumni Employee Awards and Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, March 28 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Golda Meir Library 4th Floor Conference Center. All Alumni Employee Award Nominees will be recognized, and winners will be announced. Free lunch catered by Beans & Barley. Information and registration.

Digital Humanities Lab Teaching Fellow

The UWM Libraries Digital Humanities (DH) Lab announces a call for applications for a new award intended to encourage faculty and instructors to share their DH-inflected assignments via workshops and documentation.

CLACS Research Grants

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies has extended the deadline for the Tinker Field Research Grant and the Ruggiero-Handelman Field Research Award to March 30. Current UWM Master and pre-dissertator Doctoral students in any field who plan to conduct research in Latin America or the Caribbean are encouraged to apply!

Other

Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day!

Take care,

Johannes

Johannes Britz

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs