Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.
Kudos
Arijit Sen (Architecture) was presented with the 2020 Board of Regents Diversity Award at the Board’s February 7 meeting. In making the award, the Board noted the following: “Well-respected among Milwaukee neighborhood leaders for his multidisciplinary work with students in underserved communities, Sen models strategies to adjust the curriculum and pedagogy in ways that introduce students to diverse racial, ethnic, economic, and cultural experiences.” This in indeed a wonderful recognition of your work over so many years Arijit. Congratulations!
Simon Bronner’s (Simon is our Dean of the College of General Studies) book, “The Oxford Handbook of American Folklore and Folklife Studies,” was named to the 2020 Outstanding Reference Sources List by the Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, at the ALA’s annual meeting in Philadelphia on January 26. Congratulations, Simon!
Adel Nasiri (Electrical Engineering), Tian Zhao (Computer Science), Farhad Balali (recent Industrial Engineering PhD graduate), and Jessie Nouri (Business PhD student) co-authored a book entitled, “Data Intensive Industrial Asset Management: IoT-based Algorithms and Implementation,” published by Springer. Kudos to all!
Ryo Amano (Mechanical Engineering) will be awarded the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) Henry R. Worthington Medal. This award is bestowed for eminent achievement in the field of fluid machinery, systems, and concepts. Dr. Amano will receive the award at the 2020 ASME Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting where he will provide a plenary lecture. A great honor and congratulations, Ryo!
UWM’s BSIST program was ranked #17 in the Online Schools Report ranking of Best Online Information Science Degrees for 2020. Way to go, SOIS!
Kudos to the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies! Last week’s First Annual UW System Black Studies Workshop was a great success.
Office of Assessment and Institutional Research
Please join me in congratulating Jonathan Hanes who was appointed Director of the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research. Jonathan served as the Interim Director over the past year and has been involved in a variety of efforts related to data analytics, data and report production, and institutional research since 2013. He also serves as an adjunct professor in UWM’s Department of Geography. Jonathan earned his BS in Geography from UW-Stevens Point and his PhD in Geography from UW-Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Athletics
Junior Meg Swietlik of the Milwaukee women’s cross-country team was named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Women’s All-Academic Athlete. Congratulations to Meg on the first individual honor in program history!
The Week
Monday
I start the week with my standing meeting with Robin Van Harpen, followed by my weekly meeting with the Chancellor, my one-on-one with Mark Harris, my weekly staff meeting, and a CEAS planning meeting.
Tuesday
In the morning, I have the Deans Morning meeting, followed by a meeting to discuss CHS academic innovations, and a standing meeting with Joan Prince. In the afternoon, I have my monthly meeting with Nancy Frank, my standing meeting with Val Klump and Tim Grundl, a UW-Extended Campus and UWM meeting, I’ll provide an Academic Affairs update to the Academic Staff Senate, and I have an Academic Leadership Council meeting. ALC agenda items include a discussion with UW-Extended Campus leadership on partnerships and opportunities and universal communications with CIO Bob Beck.
Wednesday
Today, I have my monthly meeting with Kim Litwack, a meeting with Paul Roebber in his capacity as the chair of the Distinguished Professors, my monthly meeting with Kaushal Chari, my one-on-one with Dave Clark, and lunch with Department Chairs. Later, I have standing meetings with Leigh Wallace, Alan Shoho, and Trudy Turner.
Thursday
In the morning, I have two budget meetings and my monthly meeting with Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska. In the afternoon, I have a Campus Space Planning meeting, monthly meetings with Scott Gronert and Scott Emmons, and my one-on-one with Joely Urdan.
Friday
Today, I have meetings with direct reports, lunch with a visiting scholar, and I end the day with another budget meeting.
Announcements
Educational Technology Fee Call for Proposals
Proposals are requested for student technology-related projects, funded by the educational technology fee and to be reviewed by the Ed Tech Fee Advisory Committee. Project proposals should be submitted electronically on the Educational Technology Fund Form A to Laura Pedrick at lpedrick@uwm.edu no later than midnight, March 10.
Online Program Council
The OPC meets this Friday in Lubar S250 from 10:30-noon. Agenda items include academic integrity, an immersive reader, and how material presented at January’s UWM Teaching and Learning Symposium can inform online program delivery. The OPC is a community of practice for online programs, and all are invited to attend!
Art and Technology
Join the Center for 21st Century Studies and the Digital Humanities Lab in welcoming Edward Shanken (UC Santa Cruz) for his talk, “Deus ex Poiesis: A Manifesto for the End of the World and the Future of Art and Technology,” on Friday, February 14 at 3:30 p.m. in Curtin 175. He will also host a brown bag at noon in the DH Lab.
Women Leaders Conference
UWM’s School of Continuing Education will host over 500 participants for the daylong 11th annual Women Leaders Conference on Friday, March 6. The conference features keynote speakers: fighter pilot Carey Lohrenz and professor, author, and TV host Dr. Talithia Williams, as well as a robust lineup of breakout sessions and panels. The conference is sold out, but those interested in attending may join our waiting list.
Student Association Elections
UWM is made stronger through shared governance. Encourage your students to run for the Student Association, UWM’s Student Government! Please share this with students you think would represent their academic programs, special interests, and their fellow students well.
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the Center for International Studies are offering Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships to study a less-commonly taught language during Summer 2020 or Academic Year 2020-21. The deadline to apply is March 1.
Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL)
UWM’s WWHEL Chapter is excited to feature Leadership Development Coach Katie Rasoul on Thursday, February 20 at 11:45 a.m. in the 4th Floor Conference Center. Join us for a fireside conversation about introverts, high-achievers, and other subjects from her book related to leadership and higher education. Please register.
Gatekeeper Training
The Campus Connect Gatekeeper Training schedule is posted for Spring 2020. Please register for a session and help strengthen our network of UWM students, faculty, and staff prepared to reach out to students in crisis. Contact Lori (labokowy@uwm.edu) with any questions.
UWM’s New Accent Color Palette
UWM’s accent color palette has been updated with fresh color options. These colors have been selected to harmonize with the UWM gold and are meant to be used as an accent, not as a primary color. While existing communication materials that feature the previous accent colors may still be used, all new communication materials should feature the new colors. Please see the website for color examples, specifications, and usage requirements.
Other
Another eventful weekend:
- Bangladesh won the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
- We had the shortest-ever commercial, transatlantic flight from New York to London.
- There was also the largest-ever crowd attending a tennis match – Federer v. Nadal in Cape Town.
- For the first time, an international film was the Oscar for best picture.
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs