Good afternoon, Colleagues. Here are this week’s updates from Academic Affairs.
University Welcome Event for our New Freshmen
The Welcome will take place this Friday, September 2, in front of Mitchell Hall. Pre-event activities begin at 4:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 5:15 p.m. All are welcome to join!
TRIO & Pre-College Programs Celebrate 50 Years of Access
Consistent with our access, retention, and graduation goals, UW-Milwaukee is one of only three universities in the country to house all seven national TRIO Programs providing direct services and programming geared towards first generation, low-income, and students with disabilities. To recognize this distinction and celebrate over 50 years of TRIO, this weekly nine-part series will highlight how UWM TRIO projects support and encourage Milwaukee’s middle through graduate school students to pursue, prepare, and succeed in college. Project profiles will be highlighted in order of each one’s inception.
Here is some background information: TRIO is a set of seven federal programs designed to assist low-income, first generation students, adult learners, veterans, and individuals with disabilities achieve their dreams of higher education. TRIO Educational programs were the first national college access and retention programs to address the serious social and cultural barriers to education in America. TRIO serves diverse students and more than 2,800 TRIO projects currently serve close to 790,000 low income Americans. More than 7,000 students with disabilities and approximately 6,000 US veterans are enrolled in TRIO Programs. An estimated 5 million students have graduated from college with the support and assistance of TRIO Programs across the country.
In the News
Amanda Seligman, History, responded to Senator Ron Johnson’s suggestion that history teachers be replaced by Ken Burns videos. Her op-ed ran in yesterday’s Journal Sentinel.
Kudos
Junhong Chen, Mechanical Engineering, received the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) Medal from the International Association of Advanced Materials in honor of his notable and outstanding contribution in the field of Advanced Materials Science and Technology at last week’s European Advanced Materials Congress 2016. Congratulations, Junhong!
The Week
Monday
I start the day with a conference call with the Provost at UW Colleges on collaboration and I have a monthly meeting with Lubar Dean Kanti Prasad. I’m also participating in the Center for International Education’s Biking 101 Bubblr bike ride with 10 international students. I end the day with my weekly staff meeting.
Tuesday
I have regular meetings with VC for Research Mark Harris, VC Robin Van Harpen, Libraries Director Michael Doylen, and I have my weekly meeting with the Chancellor. I have a phone meeting with the Provost at the University of Alabama-Birmingham to discuss their experience with INTO, the international pathway organization. I’m attending a VIP reception at the Mexican Consulate in Milwaukee; other attendees will include the Mayor, Governor, and other city leaders. I will attend part of the University Committee meeting, and I have a call with UW System AVP Stephen Kolison on Academic Program Planning.
Wednesday
I start the day with our new faculty orientation (we have 10 new faculty members), I meet with VC Pat Borger, I have a CEMAT co-chairs meeting to set the agenda for the next CEMAT meeting, and I’m attending a meeting of the Electa Quinney Institute Advisory Board. I have regular meetings with Research Foundation President and Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship Director Brian Thompson, SOE Dean Alan Shoho, L&S Dean Rodney Swain, and ASC Chair Rebecca Freer. The day ends with a couple of routine admin meetings.
Thursday-Friday
I will be out.
Announcements
For All Instructors
The Start of Semester Memo, which contains useful policy-related information, is available online.
From the Zilber School of Public Health
– On Public Health kicks off the fall 2016 series with a lecture by Dr. Kate Foss on the history of Milwaukee water systems on Wednesday, September 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Zilber School of Public Health.
– On Monday, September 19 from 5-6 p.m. in Merrill Hall 316, Visiting Research Professor Irma Eloff will present a lecture exploring the ways in which Positive Psychology and wellbeing research have been used in educational contexts around the globe.
From Alumni Relations
UWM’s Master Chats feature Distinguished Professors and alumni speakers presenting on a range of engaging topics. The speaker series is sponsored by the UWMAA Emeritus Board, Presidents’ Circle, and UWM Libraries. Join us for the first Master Chat on Friday, September 16 from 10:30 a.m. – Noon in the UWM Libraries, 4th Floor Conference Center. Award winning poet and UWM alum, Lawrence Kessenich, will present, “Sex, Drugs, Rock, and Protest: Revisiting UWM in the 1960s.”
From the Center for International Education
– The CIE Study Abroad Office will be hosting its Study Abroad Fair on Thursday, September 8 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the UWM Golda Meir Library Overhang.
– CIE and the Office of Undergraduate Research will be awarding travel funding to faculty and academic staff to support overseas field research experiences for undergraduates. Faculty apply on behalf of the student(s) they wish to supervise (students do not apply directly). Applications are currently being accepted for overseas research projects planned for fall 2016, winterim 2017, spring 2017, and summer 2017. The due date for the current round of funding is September 28. See the Call for Applications.
From the Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership, and Research (CCBLLR)
The Milwaukee Election Commission is hosting two training sessions in September on the UWM campus for individuals who would like to be deputized to register people to vote. The Higher Education Act asks campuses to engage in non-partisan voter registration of students, and the CCBLLR is coordinating a Voter Registration Committee to get people deputized on our campus so students can be a part of the political process during the election season. Sign up for one of the remaining SRD trainings.
From the Center for Information Policy Research
Please save the date for an upcoming CIPR Research Lunch with Professor Peter Lor as he presents, “Libraries Promoting Peace: Cherished Illusion or Opportunity for Action?” on Wednesday, September 7 from 12-1:30 p.m. in NWQ-B 3511. Bring your own lunch, with refreshments and light dessert provided by SOIS.
Second Friday
The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare and the School of Education will host a “Second Friday” celebration on Friday, September 9 from 4-6 p.m. in the Golda Meir Library Fourth Floor Conference Center.
Other
Congratulation to Pakistan’s national cricket team who has, for the first time, moved to the number one ranking!
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz