Good morning, colleagues. I hope you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving break. Here are this week’s updates from Academic Affairs:
Kudos
– Merry Wiesner-Hanks, Distinguished Professor and History Department, has been elected Vice President/President Elect of the World History Association. She will be Vice President/President Elect beginning in 2016 and President beginning in 2018. This is a huge honor, Merry. Congratulations!
– Jim Shields, Architecture, recently completed a lakefront addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum, and has received a very positive review for the design. Well done, Jim!
– Susan Stalewski, Biomedical Science, was featured in a U.S. News & World Report article on competency-based education, including the UW Flexible Option.
The week (very busy week after the break):
Monday
I have a number of meetings with deans, direct reports, and colleagues in other divisions, plus my weekly meeting with the Chancellor, the Chancellor’s Cabinet, and the CEMAT enrollment management group. CEMAT agenda items include UWM’s 2016-17 tuition proposal for out-of-state students, updates on strategic enrollment management planning, and the Advising Work Group, as well as scholarship administration.
Tuesday
Entering December and we (Academic Affairs and Finance and Administration) start the regular budget planning meetings with all the different schools/colleges and the library. These meetings will continue through December and first in line is the School of Freshwater Sciences who we meet Tuesday morning. (We have seven school/college budget meetings this week alone.) There is also a deans’ morning meeting and my meetings with direct reports continue. My staff meets in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Today, we meet with the College of Health Sciences on their budget planning. I have my monthly meeting with Secretary of the University Trudy Turner, plus a meeting with the Chancellor and AAUP chair Rachel Buff. In the evening, I’m guest lecturing in a School of Information Studies class.
Thursday
The Academic Planning and Budget Committee meets and I will attend. I have an enrollment planning meeting with the deans focusing on fall 2016 recruitment plans, and School of Education and Zilber School of Public Health budget meetings. I’m stopping by the 50th anniversary celebration for the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and ending the day at the UWM Foundation Board of Directors meeting and annual reception.
Friday
I have budget meetings with the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the UWM Libraries, and the Peck School of the Arts. I have a meeting with Brian Troyer, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, and Tim Opgenorth, Director of Financial Aid, on scholarships, a bi-weekly meeting with College of Letters and Science Dean Rodney Swain, and I’m attending the First Friday celebration (see below).
Announcements
December 4th First Friday
– The School of Freshwater Sciences and the Zilber School of Public Health will host First Friday from 4 – 6 p.m. at the School of Freshwater Sciences’ Harbor Campus. You are invited to bring a non-perishable item for the Hunger Task Force food drive.
Crucial Conversations: Current Events Conversation
– On Wednesday, December 2, the Division of Student Affairs will launch a series called Crucial Conversations. The first subject of this series is Current Events, topics may include: Beirut, Paris, terrorism, Anti-Muslim sentiment, demonstration/protests on campus, racism, refugees, conceal carry, etc. Audience members will select where the conversation begins. The Conversations will be held twice this week:
- 12:30 – 2 p.m. in the Union Fireside Lounge
- 7 – 8:30 p.m. in Sandburg Flicks
Please promote awareness of this event to your students.
From the Center for 21st Century Studies
– The Center for 21st Century Studies (C21) is accepting applications from UWM faculty and academic staff for its 2016-17 fellowships. Theme: Naysaying. Deadline: December 11. For details, please consult the C21 Call for 2016-17 fellows.
From Panther Academic Support Services
– After more than 30 years here at UWM, Dr. Jonnie Dvorak will be retiring as Director of Panther Academic Support Services in January. Help us congratulate Jonnie by joining us Tuesday, December 8 from 12-2 p.m. in the PASS Learning Center in the Northwest Quadrant, room 1932 for cake and refreshments. Contact Nicole Heinen, nkheinen@uwm.edu, with questions.
From the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning
– Registration is still open for the 2016 UWM Teaching and Learning Symposium! The event will be held on January 13, 2016 on the UW-Milwaukee campus. Information and registration.
From Alumni Relations
– Nominate an outstanding colleague today for the Alumni Employee Award, given at the Alumni Employee Appreciation Lunch March 30. Sponsored by the UWM Alumni Association and Panthers@Work, these awards recognize alumni employees of UWM as outstanding performers, unsung heroes, and contributors to the community. Learn more and nominate by January 15.
From the College of Health Sciences
– The College of Health Sciences Fall Research Symposium will take place on Friday, December 4 from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Union, Wisconsin room. The CHS Research Symposium showcases the current research endeavors of students, faculty, and staff in the CHS through posters and podium presentations. More information.
From the Center for International Education
– The Center for International Education seeks applications on the interdisciplinary theme of “Diversities” from UWM faculty who will serve as Global Studies Research Fellows for the Academic Year 2016-17. Deadline is January 15, 2016. More information.
From UITS
– The Tech Timeout period for the 2015 End-of-Fall semester begins Tuesday, December 15 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Tuesday, December 29 at 11:59 p.m. During this timeframe, University Information Technology Services (UITS) will not make changes that affect production-level services, functions, or activities. Exceptions to the policy include situations that require maintaining the stability or security of services. The purpose is to ensure the most stable environment for UWM business continuity during the end-of-semester activities. If you have questions, please contact the UWM Help Desk, 414-229-4040; toll-free at 877-381-3459 or online at GetTechHelp.uwm.edu. Additionally, you’ll find the answers to many more questions in the UWM knowledge base.
– Stop by the Union Concourse on December 2 from 12-3 p.m. for #Office365Day and learn about all that Office 365 can do for you! This event is designed to connect you with benefits of Office 365 you may not be aware of, and it will give you the chance to get any lingering technology questions answered.
Other
– Congratulations to Britain who won the Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years. They defeated Belgium in the final over the weekend.
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee