Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.
Kudos
Shevaun Watson’s (English) proposal, “The Comforts of Heritage: Tourism, Racism, and Public Memory in Charleston, South Carolina,” was selected for funding in 2022 by the Fromkin Award Committee. This will be the 53rd annual lecture in this program on human rights and social justice. Congratulations, Shevaun!
UWM health students, faculty, and staff worked together last week to ensure all of the students in specific clinical/fieldwork experiences were N95 fit tested. In true UWM fashion, UWM Facilities, Information Technology, College of Health Sciences, College of Nursing, and Helen Bader School of School of Social Work made this happen. Kudos to all!
Academic Initiatives Updates
- Moon Shot for Equity One year following the implementation of the Moon Shot for Equity, more UWM students have continued enrollment due to an increase in retention grants or the removal of registration holds for low outstanding balances or outdated or ineffective holds. UWM will build upon the momentum by addressing lack of information or barriers in Academic Maps, Access to 2nd Chance, and Aligning Math. Look for January updates on the website and how you can be involved.
- M3 M-Cubed College Connections (concurrent enrollment) launched this spring enrolling 128 students in general education (93), nursing (28), and education pathways (7), providing up to 10 college credits this semester at UWM and/or MATC. A webinar on work-based learning featuring experts at MPS, MATC, and UWM, plus students and employer representatives in a discussion led by Advocate Aurora Health and including Lakefront Brewery will be held on February 23 at 3 p.m. Register here if interested in attending.
In the News
FlexRide Milwaukee, an NSF-funded transportation program led by Ivy Hu and Rob Schneider (Urban Planning) and Yaidi Cancel Martinez (Center for Economic Development), launches today and is receiving much press coverage: Latest press release; UWM Report; Urban Milwaukee; and TMJ4.
Film student Nkaujoua Xiong’s sound-rich story about the Hmong New Year aired statewide in January on Wisconsin Public Radio. She produced the story in Jane Hampden Daley’s Audio Storytelling class.
Milwaukee Athletics
The Milwaukee-Wright State men’s basketball game, scheduled for Friday, February 11, has been selected to be televised on ESPNU. Game time is now scheduled for 6 p.m. that night, a slight change from the originally scheduled 7 p.m.
The Week
Monday
I start the week with my standing meeting with Robin Van Harpen, followed by my one-on-one with Jonathan Hanes, the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet meeting, a recruitment meeting, and I’ll attend several meetings with visiting Regents.
Tuesday
In the morning, I have a Coronavirus Management Team (CMT) Leadership meeting, I will then attend another meeting with visiting Regents. Following the Regents meeting, I have the biweekly CEMAT Leads meeting and my monthly meeting with Michael Doylen. In the afternoon, I have a meeting with Nicole Oswald and Mike Priem, my biweekly meeting with Paul Klajbor, I’ll provide an Academic Affairs update for the Academic Staff Senate, and I have my weekly meeting with the Chancellor.
Wednesday
Today, I have the Deans Morning Meeting, followed by a Board of Regents prep meeting, and then I will be off to Madison to attend the Provosts Council Pre-Board meeting.
Thursday and Friday
I’ll be in Madison for the Board of Regents meeting where I will present our two new programs, Data Analytics, BS and Data Science, MS, to the Education Committee. I will also present the proposal to realign our schools and colleges. I have my one-on-one with Kaushal Chari when I return to campus on Friday.
Announcements
Student Evaluation System Demo
Last fall, UW System issued an RFP for student evaluation systems. Recently, two contracts were awarded, to Explorance for its Blue product and to Anthology. UW System has two Teams sessions scheduled for group demos and Q&A on Blue on February 10 at 3 p.m. and February 11 at 11 a.m. If you would like to attend, please email Laura Pedrick (lpedrick@uwm.edu) or Beth Schaefer (beths@uwm.edu). A demo for Anthology will be scheduled at a later date, and a project team will be seeking campus input as well.
Educational Technology Fee Proposals
A reminder: Ed Tech Fee proposals are due February 18. More information.
Big Bang Theory
Explore the origins of the cosmos dating back almost 14 billion years. In this live, interactive show, visitors will learn about the clues that astronomers use to understand the birth and transformation of the universe, including the motion of distant galaxies and radiation generated by the early universe. The series runs every Friday through February 18, with shows at 7 and 8 p.m.
Stargazing @ UWM Manfred Olson Planetarium
Join us on the Skydeck at the UWM Physics building on Friday, February 11 at 10 p.m. for free public stargazing. Gaze through telescopes at the night sky and view the moon, planets, star clusters, and other astronomical objects! The event will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Check our website the day of the event before you visit. For questions, please email planetarium@uwm.edu.
25th Annual Festival of Films in French
Join us in person for the 25th Annual Festival of Films in French from February 11-20. Come in from the cold and behold the cinematography of this year’s selections once again on the big screen.
WWHEL Networking Night
Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL) is hosting a Networking Night on Thursday, February 17 at the women’s basketball game. Join us for light snacks, beverages, and networking at 6 p.m. in Pavilion 148, and cheer on the Panthers in the Klotsche Arena at 7 p.m.
Preparing Your File for Indefinite Status
The Non-Teaching Academic Staff Review Committee will host its Preparing Your File for Indefinite Status Workshop on Thursday, February 17 at 10 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. All probationary Non-Teaching/Non-Research Academic Staff, as well as their supervisors and HR personnel representatives are encouraged to attend. More information.
Student Association Nominations
UWM is made stronger through shared governance. Encourage your students to run for the Student Association, the shared governance body representing UWM students. Its mission is to enrich the student experience through representation, advocacy, and the funding of services and activities that improve student life. Please share this nomination form with students you think would represent their academic programs, special interests, and fellow students well. Nominations are open through Monday, February 21 at 9 a.m. Information on available positions and campaign guidelines are available on the Student Association website. Feel free to contact iec-list@uwm.edu with any questions.
Community Engaged Scholars
Join the UWM Community Engaged Scholars Network (CESN) and the Public Rhetorics and Community Engagement Program at a special gathering to develop a community of support for UWM graduate students interested in community engagement. RSVP by Monday, February 28.
UWM Undergraduate Research Symposium
The Office of Undergraduate Research invites abstract submissions to the annual UWM Undergraduate Research Symposium, which will be held April 29 in the Student Union. Undergraduate students wishing to present outcomes of research, scholarship, or creative activity can submit an abstract by March 15. The Symposium will include poster, oral, visual arts, and performing arts presentations, and will celebrate the participation of undergraduate students in UWM’s R1 research mission.
Teaching Fellow Award
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) and the UWM Graduate School are pleased to welcome submissions for the 2022 UWM Teaching Fellow Award, which is open to currently enrolled UWM graduate students who have achieved outstanding success as students and teachers. Application deadline is April 1. More information.
Tech Tips
The spring 2022 Tech Training course schedule is now available online. All spring Tech Training courses will be held online with no registration necessary.
Microsoft Azure Credits
The Connected Systems Institute is offering access to Microsoft Azure credits that can be used for coursework or research. As a member of the Connected Systems Institute, Microsoft donated $250k in Azure credit that can be used campus-wide for A.I. modeling, data analytics, cloud-computing, and myriad other Azure services. Contact CSI’s program manager, Charles Mosley (cmosley@uwm.edu), for a copy of the Call for Azure Proposals.
Gatekeeper Training
Help to strengthen our network of UWM faculty, staff, and students prepared to reach out to students in crisis! Please join us for a spring 2022 Campus Connect Gatekeeper Training. Booster sessions are also available for those who have already completed the initial training. Information and registration.
Student Success and Talent Pipeline Initiative
The Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership, and Research will host a series of Student Success and Talent Pipeline Initiative (SSTPI) virtual information sessions for the internal UWM community. The SSTPI will provide part-time paid internship opportunities to UWM undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. Registration.
Spring Primaries
The 2022 Wisconsin Spring Election Primary is Tuesday, February 15. Voters living in Wards 127 and 130 can vote at the polling location located in the Student Union, Union Terrace on Level 1. Polls are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Be sure to bring a valid photo ID. Find out more at uwm.edu/vote.
Survey of Student ServicesUWM would love to hear from you about your experiences with some of our key student-facing offices, including the following: Financial Aid, Bursar’s Office, Registrar, Student Success Center, and Career Planning and Resource Center. We would appreciate if you would take a few minutes to fill out this survey. Our hope is to better understand how well our offices are helping you thrive, feel valued, and belong to the Panther family. Your response will help us determine practical action in our day-to-day work.
Other
Lightning fast or slow? A first for Senegal as well as the Winter Olympics.
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs