July 29, 2022  |  News & Events, Provost's Updates, Timely Announcements

Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs. My next update will be on Friday, August 12. The submission deadline is August 5. 

CETL Leadership 

Sarah Riforgiate (Communication) has agreed to serve as the interim director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). Sarah earned a BA, with distinction, in Speech Communication, from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and her MA and PhD in Communication from Arizona State University. Prior to joining the UWM faculty in 2018, she was an associate professor and Communication Studies internship director at Kansas State University. Please join me in welcoming Sarah to her new role. I’d also like to thank Diane Reddy for her many years of service and leadership and wish her much happiness in her retirement.

Preparing for the New Academic Year 

Academic Affairs’ annual gatherings to kick off the new academic year have been scheduled: 

  • Associate Deans Retreat: Wednesday, August 17 from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Library 4th Floor Conference Center. 
  • Department Chair Retreat: Tuesday, August 23 and Wednesday, August 24 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Library 4th Floor Conference Center. 
  • Deans Retreat: Wednesday, August 24 from 9 a.m. – Noon in the Zilber School of Public Health. 
  • New Faculty Orientation: Monday, August 29 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Enderis 107. 

Kudos 

Laodong Guo (Freshwater Sciences) was published in Frontiers in Environmental Science. He co-led a team of 33 international experts who summarized more than 299 recent studies about how climate change and permafrost are interacting. Congratulations, Laodong!

Ellyn Lem (Arts and Humanities) published a piece on intergenerational relationships seen in current TV programs on the PBS website Next Avenue. Well done, Ellyn! 

Melissa Scanlan’s (Center for Water Policy) policy research, “Disadvantaged Communities, Water Justice & the Promise of The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” was published in the Seton Hall Law Review. Congratulations, Melissa! 

Milwaukee Athletics 

AJ Blubaugh of the Milwaukee baseball team was selected by the Houston Astros in the seventh round with the 223rd overall pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft on July 18. Blubaugh is the 24th Panther in program history to be drafted and first since Jake Sommers and Trevor Schwecke in 2019. The seventh-round pick marks the third earliest for the Panthers behind Daulton Varsho (2nd round, 2017) and Joshua Uhen (5th round, 2013). 

The Milwaukee Athletic Department announced that tickets are now available for Panther Volleyball and Soccer for fall 2022. General admission season ticket memberships for volleyball are now available for $25 and a combined men’s and women’s soccer season ticket membership is available for only $35. 

The Week in Retrospect 

It has been a busy two weeks with a number of meetings. On July 21, 23 had a second summer Town Hall for those who could not attend the one on July 13. It was highlighted by the roar of the Blue Angels practicing above Chapman Hall. That day, I also was able to attend an EAB sponsored leadership summit on Student Belonging and Coordinated Care—I left feeling like UWM is well ahead of the curve in adopting best practices. On Monday of this week, UW System President Jay Rothman visited UWM and met with several groups. It was part of his tour of UW campuses. On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to joint the College of General Studies Administrative Council and their discussion of the coming academic year. I also gave some opening remarks at an Academic Scheduling Policy meeting led by Kristin Hildebrandt and Dave Clark that was focused on optimizing our use of course meeting patterns. On Wednesday, I was able to participate in UWM’s Center for International Education retreat and a discussion of recruitment and retention strategies. Today, I am looking forward to attending the closing presentations of the EnQuest Camp, the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s all-girl, project-based engineering camp for high school students. 

Announcements 

Vote in the 2022 Wisconsin Primary 

Don’t forget to vote in the 2022 Wisconsin Partisan Primary on Tuesday, August 9! Early voting is open through August 6. Find your polling location, get information about what’s on your ballot, and more at myvote.wi.gov. Not registered to vote? Wisconsin allows same-day registration at your polling location! Make sure to bring a valid photo ID and proof of residence. More information about voter registrationAdditional resources

Call for Submissions 

The second Milwaukee Analytical Chemistry Conference (MACC): Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance will be held on August 29-30 in the Kenwood IRC. Thanks to generous sponsors, the event is free for attendees. Register in advance. The deadline to submit abstracts is August 10. 

988 is Now Available 

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides care and support to people experiencing stressful situations—whether that is thoughts of suicide, a mental health concern, or a substance use issue. It is a free and confidential service that is available 24/7. More information.  

HSI-NOW Webinar 

The Hispanic-Serving Institution Network of Wisconsin (HSI-NOW) will host a webinar series that will explore how our college campuses are working to not only achieve the minimum 25% Latinx enrollment to be considered HSIs, but also what steps they are taking to embody a true ethos of “servingness” for their students. The webinars will take place on Wednesdays in August and are free and open to the public. Information and registration

Volunteer for Fall Welcome! 

Hundreds of staff volunteers are needed to successfully host move-in from August 29 – September 10, with Ask-Me tents and many other events and activities for new and returning UWM students. When you volunteer, you help students get connected, feel comfortable on campus, and see UWM as a place they belong. Sign up for one of the many fun and fulfilling shifts that support students as they start or continue their UWM journey. 

Host an Event for Panther Family and Friends Day 

September 9 is the deadline to submit an event for Panther Family and Friends Day on Saturday, October 8 (formerly Family Weekend). Email Alyssa Conrardy (ambc@uwm.edu) with questions, concerns, or need for advice. 

Campus Events 

Manfred Olson Planetarium 

  • July 8-29: Life of a StarWe are made of stars: Discover how stars fused the chemical elements in our bodies. In this live, interactive show, marvel at the dramatic changes of stars as they transform from stellar nurseries to exotic objects such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Fridays from 7-8 p.m. 
  • July 9-30: Summer StarsFind popular summer constellations in the night sky and learn the stories behind them, such as the Big Bear, Hercules, and the Summer Triangle. Saturdays from 2-3 p.m. 
  • August 3: The Life of an Astronomer (Virtual)Dr. Jean Creighton has always been inspired by how the cosmos works. From growing up in Athens, Greece, to obtaining her PhD in Astrophysics and becoming director of the UWM Planetarium, to flying in the stratosphere as a NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador, learn the story of Jean’s career from the ground to the stratosphere. 
  • August 5: Constellations of the Zodiac: LeoDelve into the astronomy and mythology behind the zodiac and learn how to find your zodiac constellation in the night sky. In this live, interactive show, we will explore the science of the zodiac constellations with a focus on what makes this month’s constellation, Leo, unique.

Free Giant Slide Ride at State Fair 

UWM is sponsoring the Giant Slide at the Wisconsin State Fair this year. Get a free ticket to ride the slide on Saturday, August 6 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when you wear any UWM gear. Show your pride for a Giant Slide ride! 

Register for Panther Family and Friends Day 

Open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members, UWM Panther Family and Friends Day is slotted for Saturday, October 8. Once registered, you’ll receive an email in mid-September with additional details and events happening on campus. Free registration

Take care,

Scott 

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Scott GronertInterim Provost