April 27, 2020  |  News & Events, Provost's Updates, Timely Announcements

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

Reminders:

  • Information Security Awareness Training

The deadline for UWM employees to complete the UW System policy-mandated Information Security Awareness training, “Checkpoint: Data Security and Privacy,” is this Thursday, April 30. Check your email for the initial message with the subject line, “University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Online Training,” from the email address donotreply@lawroom.com. If you’ve not yet completed your training, reminders have been sent out regularly, with the subject line, “University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Course Status Reminder.” These messages contain your personalized link to access the online training course.

  • Outside Activities Reporting

Faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees in 50% or greater appointments must complete an annual Outside Activities Report (OAR) by this Thursday, April 30. University staff are not required to complete an OAR. Those required to complete an OAR must do so to be eligible for compensation increases, including raises included in the State of Wisconsin Pay Plan. Anyone who needs help accessing or completing an OAR should contact the Human Resources Business Partner/Personnel Representative who serves their school, college, or division.

Academic Affairs Scenario Planning Working Group

Following last Wednesday’s discussion with the deans, shared governance groups, and other administrative units on the different scenarios for the fall and spring semesters, I charged an Academic Affairs Scenario Planning Working Group, under the leadership of Dean Scott Gronert, to undertake various planning scenarios for our academic operations, including instruction, research, and student interactions. The group includes administrators, shared governance leaders, faculty, staff, and students. The group will report out to me in May and the different scenario planning analysis will be used to help inform campus on decisions for the Fall semester.

Kudos

Abbas Ourmazd and Ghoncheh Mashayekhi (Physics) received an EAGER award from the National Science Foundation to use their latest machine learning techniques to determine the virulence-related structural changes in SARS-CoV2 proteins (the virus is responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic). The proposal was accepted within days of submission. UWM is a world leader in protein dynamics and further awards to UWM researchers are anticipated. Congratulations, Abbas and Ghoncheh!

UWM was ranked #31 in Best Online Programs for Veterans by US News and World Report. Well done!

Milwaukee Athletics

Alyssa Fischer, of the Milwaukee women’s basketball team, was named this year’s recipient of the Horizon League’s Bobby Fong Award. The award is named after the late Bobby Fong, who served as President of Butler University from 2001-11. The Bobby Fong Award is given to the student-athlete or team that best represents the Horizon League and its core values of integrity, respect, and stewardship.

The Week

Monday

I start the week with my daily Crisis Management Team (CMT) Leadership meeting, followed by my weekly meeting with Robin Van Harpen, my monthly meeting with Alan Shoho, a meeting with Student Association Leadership, the Chancellor’s Expanded Executive Cabinet meeting, a CMT Coronavirus Crisis Management meeting, my weekly staff meeting, and my daily meeting with Dev Venugopalan and Laura Pedrick.

Tuesday

In the morning, I join the CMT meeting, then I have a UWM Steering-Connected Systems Institute meeting, my monthly meeting with Kathy Dolan, and a CEMAT Leadership meeting. In the afternoon, I have my weekly meeting with the Chancellor, a TechEd Frontiers meeting, a Partners for Health meeting, and my daily meeting with Dev and Laura.

Wednesday

I start the day with the CMT meeting, a meeting with the deans, then I have my standing meeting with Dave Clark and Kay Eilers, meetings with direct reports, the UW System Provosts weekly teleconference, and a Campus Budget meeting.

Thursday

I once again start the day by joining the CMT meeting, followed by a teleconference with Regents, my monthly meeting with Tom Luljak, Dave Clark, and Kay Eilers, my one-on-one with Joely Urdan, and an Enterprise Directions Council teleconference. Later, I have the APLU’s Urban-Serving Universities Provosts teleconference, the IT Advisory Council meeting, and my daily meeting with Dev and Laura.

Friday

Today, I again join the CMT meeting, followed by one-on-one meetings with Dave Clark and Mary Bunzel, a UWM Streamlined Workflow meeting, the monthly Integrated Support Services Executive Steering update, and my daily meeting with Dev and Laura.

Announcements

National Poetry Month

The UWM Libraries will present an online reading by Wisconsin Poet Laureate Margaret Rozga and UWM Professor Mauricio Kilwein Guevara on Tuesday, April 28 at 1 p.m. The public is invited to this special event celebrating National Poetry Month.

Call for Journals

The UWM Libraries has issued a “Call for Journals” to host UWM-affiliated, open-access journals. Find out if your journal – or your idea for a journal – is eligible. Review requirements and then contact the UWM Libraries Scholarly Communication team (open-access@uwm.edu) to set up a meeting to discuss your proposal.

Virtual Yearbook

Help celebrate our May 2020 graduates! The “Virtual Yearbook” is going LIVE on the @uwmilwaukee Instagram Story the week of May 4-8. Short submissions from faculty and staff are needed ASAP! Take just a few minutes to complete the online form. Closes on Friday, May 1. Please reach out to Rachael Schaser (rtregler@uwm.edu) with any questions.

Teams Tips

How to change your background for Teams meetings.

Other

April 24, 1800 marked the beginning of the Library of Congress.

 

Take care and stay safe,

Johannes

Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs