Good afternoon, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs. We’ll be on hiatus next week during Spring Break; the next update will be on March 31.
Message to Instructors – Deadlines During Spring Break
I know you are looking forward to the upcoming break as much as I am, and I know our students, too, are tired and need some time away. To that end, please avoid setting assignment, quiz, and test deadlines during spring break. If you have already set such a deadline, please consider giving your students additional time to complete the work. I sincerely hope that everyone has a restful break.
College of the Arts and Architecture Interim Dean Announcement
I’m pleased to announce that Mo Zell has accepted the position of Interim Dean for the College of the Arts and Architecture (CAA), effective July 1, 2023. Mo will be joining Dean Tina Freiburger of the College of Community Engagement and Professions, Dean Kim Litwack of the College of Health Professions and Sciences, and Interim Dean Amy Harley of the Zilber College of Public Health in leading our realigned colleges.
Having joined UWM and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) in 2008, Mo brings a wealth of experience and energy to the role. Previously, she served as Interim Dean, Senior Associate Dean and Associate Dean of SARUP and Department Chair for the Department of Architecture. She created and launched the Design + Construction Institute, founded the SARUP Mobile Design Box (MDB) pop-up gallery and is a co-founder of Women in Design Milwaukee (WID). She is a founding principal of the award-winning firm bauenstudio, in Milwaukee.
Mo earned her Master of Architecture from Yale University and is a Licensed Architect. Prior to UWM, Mo taught at Northeastern University, North Carolina State University and Clemson University.
When the UWM school and college realignment changes take effect on July 1, 2023, Interim Peck School of the Arts (PSOA) Dean Kevin Hartman will serve as the PSOA Head of School and Mo Zell will serve as the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) Head of School – she will appoint an Acting Head of School for SARUP while she serves in the Interim Dean role. Our thanks to Kevin and Mo for their continuing excellent service as the Interim Deans of the Peck School of the Arts and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, respectively.
2030 Feature of the Week
The Revising Curriculum Action Team has been regularly meeting as they continue to incorporate feedback in a revised proposal for General Education Reform. University Advancement has begun preparing the case for support for the next campaign of which endowment giving will be a substantial portion.
Enrollment Management Feature of the Week
Student Success Center: In Fall 2022, the SSC launched a program to provide additional academic support to 600 first-year students whose high-school transcripts suggest they may be more likely than other students to end their first year on academic probation. To better support these students, we implemented a scholarship incentive, coupled with targeted success coaching and wraparound resources. Students who engaged with the program and followed the SSC’s guidance did better, with 27.3% on probation at the end of the semester as opposed to 33.6% for those who did not. Overall, the probation rate dropped by 2 percentage points for the target group. The supports are continuing in Spring 2023 and we’re planning improvements for Fall 2023 based on what we have learned.
Kudos
Matilda Ansah (History PhD student) received the Humanities without Walls Career Diversity Fellowship. Congratulations, Matilda!
In the News
Anita Alkhas (Global Studies) and two graduate students, Nilou and Parya, were featured on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the challenges faced by Iranian international students who are pursuing their education at UWM while supporting the ongoing Iranian protests at home.
Just in time for an Oscar weekend full of comeback stories, Chris Yogerst (CGS) was quoted in The Times of London discussing the history of Hollywood’s love of a comeback. The industry has a history of underdog tales, and the origin of Hollywood is an underdog story full of passionate immigrants dedicated to success in the new world.
Melissa Scanlan (Center for Water Policy Director) highlighted the need for transformative change that works for farmers to reduce phosphorus fouling lakes and streams in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
Anne Basting (Center for 21st Century Studies; English) was featured in New York Times’s First Person podcast. Her interview with host Lulu Garcia-Navarro focused on changing the conversation on dementia.
Clark Evans (Atmospheric Sciences) explained why El Niño will mean a warmer summer for Wisconsinites on CBS58 News.
Milwaukee Athletics
The Milwaukee men’s basketball team will participate in the 2023 College Basketball Invitational. Sitting 21-11 overall on the season, the Panthers will be the No. 11 seed in the event and take on Stetson out of the ASUN Conference. The Hatters are the No. 6 seed and will bring a record of 17-13 into play. All first-round games will take place on Saturday and Sunday, with MKE set for 4:30 p.m. CST tipoff on Sunday March 19.
The Milwaukee Athletic Department recently welcomed Sean Engel as Director of Athletic Communications, Rachel Klemp as Director of Content Creation and Strategy, and Joe Lanser as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Ticket Sales & Service.
The Week in Retrospect
On Monday, I provided updates to the Associate Deans, including information on proposed fee structures for our fully online programs. On Tuesday, I had my regular update from the Ombuds Council and provided updates to the Academic Staff Senate focused on some of our recent efforts on academic staff titling. On Wednesday, I attended a presentation from the Manpower Group on the impact of sustainability on workforce. My schedule on Thursday included a meeting with University Committee Chair Mark Schwartz, Director of the Center for Water Policy, Melissa Scanlan, and an update from the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute team. I also provided updates at the Faculty Senate. On Friday, I meet with UW System Provosts to discuss the March Board of Regents Education Committee presentation on academic program array in the System.
Announcements
- Annual Performance Evaluation and Mandatory Employee Training Deadlines
UWM employees must have a written performance evaluation and must complete mandatory training requirements on an annual basis. UW System policy requires an annual performance evaluation for all employees, and a completed evaluation must be on file between May 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023. In addition, UW System policy also requires that all UWM employees complete mandatory training courses by March 30, 2023. Completion of both requirements is necessary to maintain eligibility for future pay plan adjustments. More information.
- Call for SURF Applications
The Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program provides salary support for research collaborations between faculty/research staff and undergraduate students. The deadline to apply for summer support is April 1. Program details and a link to the online application are available on the SURF webpage. Contact Kyla Esguerra with questions.
- Large Donation to Career Closet
The Center for Student Experience and Talent (SET) Career Closet, located in Vogel Hall, received a donation of more than 500 pieces of clothing from a local bridal store, owned and operated by a UWM alum.
- Teaching Fellow Award
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Graduate School are pleased to welcome submissions for the 2023 Teaching Fellow Award. The application deadline is April 28 at 11:59 p.m. Additional information and application.
Campus Events
- Festival of Films in French: Bonus Film
The Festival of Films in French presents a screening of “Les Indes galantes” on Sunday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. in Curtin 175. Jean-Philippe Rameau’s 1735 opera-ballet as performed in 2019 on the stage of the Bastille Paris Opera in Cogitore’s and Dambélé’s Urban Dance Production and Leonardo García Alarcón, conducting.
- Master Chat
Stacey Nye (Director, UWM Psychology Clinic) sheds light on our fascination with real-life crime on Wednesday, March 29 from 10:30 a.m. – noon in the Golda Meir Library. Free and open to all. Information and registration.
- NMDSI Virtual Speaker Series
Join the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute on Friday, March 31 from noon-12:45 p.m. Dr. Aleksandra Snowden (Marquette) will share how she is using geographic information systems (GIS) to help address societal challenges facing Milwaukee in her presentation, “The Use of GIS in Community-Engaged Research, Teaching, and Service.” Information and registration.
- Spring Opera Production
UWM Opera Theater and Symphony Orchestra present Die Fledermaus (The Bat), a comic operetta with music by Johann Strauss. It includes trickery, romance, and a lot of champagne, all part of an elaborate prank played on the oblivious protagonist. As the grand party unfolds, you’ll watch everyone struggle to maintain the illusion of their false identities, all for the revenge of the bat himself. Performances are March 31 and April 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Something Different
It is the day that the Chicago River runs green.
Take care,
Scott
Scott Gronert
Interim Provost