Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.
Kudos
Dan Agterberg (Physics) has been invited to speak at a memorial symposium in honor of Alexei Abrikosov (Nobel Prize, 2003) who passed away in March. The memorial is being held at the famed Landau Institute where Abrikosov originally performed his early Nobel-winning work. Dan is also giving an invited talk at the American Physical Society’s meeting in March 2018 on the emerging topic of “j=3/2 superconductors,” a research area that was initiated here at UWM. Well done, Dan!
More news from Physics: Michael Weinert is co-PI on a new NSF-funded grant on Dirac Materials titled, “EFRI NewLAW: Magnetic Field-free Magneto-optics and Chiral Plasmonic with Dirac Materials,” in which UWM’s portion is $716,679. Congratulations, Michael!
Gregory Jay (English) will have his book, “White Writers, Race Matters: Fictions of Racial Liberalism from Stowe to Stockett,” published this month by Oxford University Press. Congratulations, Greg!
Danielle Sparrow (MA Communication, 2017) and Erin Sahlstein Parcell (Communication) have earned the inaugural Dawn O. Braithwaite Award for Qualitative Research from the Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Interest Group of the Central States Communication Association. They will receive the award for their paper, “Microaggressions Toward People with Disabilities: Implications for Inclusive Education,” at the 2018 convention in Milwaukee this April. Well done, Erin and Danielle!
Erin Parcell was also elected as Vice-Chair Elect for the National Communication Association’s (NCA) Interpersonal Communication Division at the convention in Dallas this month. Erin will serve the division for the next 4 years as she fulfills her duties as Vice Chair Elect, Vice Chair, Chair, and then Immediate Past Chair. The Interpersonal Communication division is the third largest of NCA’s 48 divisions. Congratulations on this election, Erin.
In the News
The University of Wisconsin System is one of four higher education systems nationwide to be awarded a two-year grant from the National Association of System Heads (NASH). The $150,000 grant will be used to advance the UW System’s work on making high-impact educational practices (HIPs) available to underrepresented minority, low-income, and first-generation students across the organization.
Panther News
The Milwaukee Athletic Department hosted the Milwaukee Business Journal’s “40 Under 40 Alumni Club” in an event downtown at UWM Panther Arena. Check out the video recap!
Coach Baldwin got in the holiday spirit with a stop at the “105.7 FM The Fan’s Annual Toy Drive” to benefit Children’s Hospital.
Calling all Faculty and Staff! Come out and join UWM for our 1st annual “UWM Student for a Day” game on December 22.
– Free tickets (up to 4) to the Men’s Basketball game vs. Western Michigan (7 p.m.)
– An opportunity to sit in the student section and cheer on the Panthers with the UWM Band
– Free T-shirt (while supplies last)
To request your tickets, fill out this form and BRING A TOY to the game for donation.
The Week
Monday
I start the day with my weekly meeting with Robin Van Harpen, followed by meetings with CEMAT co-chairs, and a delegation from Central Queensland University. The Chancellor’s Cabinet meets, I’m attending a luncheon with Fred Royal, President of NAACP Milwaukee Branch, I meet with UC Chair Kris O’Connor, I have my weekly meeting with my staff, a meeting with Joan Prince, and a professional development meeting with deans.
Tuesday
This morning, I meet with Gesele Durham, Bob Greenstreet, Phyllis King, and Brian Thompson. I have a lunch gathering with the deans. In the afternoon, I’ll attend the UC meeting, a Digital Learning Story prep meeting, my monthly meeting with Val Klump, and my one-on-one with the Chancellor.
Wednesday and Thursday
I’m in Madison both days for the UW System Provost meeting as well as the Board of Regents meeting. We have the BA in Animation on the Education Committee agenda.
Friday
I have my monthly meeting with Joely Urdan, a standing meeting with Ron Perez, a follow-up meeting on Central Advising, and my monthly meeting with ASC Chair Sue Cashin. Later, I’ll attend the Digital Learning Story event and a water meeting. In the evening, I’ll make opening remarks at the African American Graduation Reception.
Announcements
End-of-Semester Memo
My fall 2017 end-of-semester memo is available online.
Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL)
There will be an open-ended discussion on leadership and education issues at this month’s meeting on Thursday, December 7 at noon in the UWM Libraries 4th Floor Conference Room.
WWHEL will sponsor attendance for 10 UWM academic staff women at the 2018 Women Leaders Conference on March 2. Application deadline is December 14. For more information, contact Gaby Dorantes (dorantes@uwm.edu), Kathy Litzau (klitzau@uwm.edu), or Janet Padway (jgpadway@uwm.edu).
Online Program Council (OPC)
The OPC meets Friday, December 8 from 10:30-noon in Lubar S250. The agenda includes “Increasing Student Success with a Learning Analytics Tool [Pattern] and Messaging,” a regulatory update, and the University of Central Florida’s award-wining UDOIT: Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool.
Teaching and Learning Symposium
Register for the 3rd Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium to be held on January 11, 2018.
Alumni Employee Awards
The Call for Nominations for the 2018 Alumni Employee Awards is now open. Recognize alumni employees who are outstanding performers, unsung heroes, inspirations to students, and changemakers in their communities. Any current faculty, staff, or student can nominate. All nominees will be recognized at the Alumni Employee Awards and Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.
Online Summer Courses Website
Teaching an online course this summer? Promote your courses on the Online Summer Courses website!
Other
Australia is again well positioned in the Ashes series.
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs