March 5, 2018  |  News & Events, Provost's Updates

Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.

Update on Dean Searches

Lubar School of Business

At this time, we have decided to continue the search for the next Dean of the Lubar School of Business with the assistance of a search firm in order to enlarge and enhance the candidate pool over the summer. Dean Kanti Prasad has also agreed to continue in his role as Dean for the upcoming academic year while the search continues, and I thank him for his ongoing dedication to the School.

College of Health Sciences

We have four finalists for the Dean of the College of Health Sciences position. As soon as we have their updated CVs, we will share candidate details with campus.

Kudos

Elizabeth Sutton (School of Freshwater Sciences) has been named a Nautilus Live 2018 Science Communication Fellow. As part of her fellowship, she will board the Exploration Vessel Nautilus for a mapping and surveying mission to the Eastern Pacific Ocean and share her experiences with a varied audience via “live audio commentary online, ship-to-shore broadcasts, local events, and creative instruction within [her] home classrooms, schools, organizations and communities.” Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Margie Mika (English and UWM Writing Center) is the winner of the 2018 Robert Marrs Award from the Midwest Writing Centers Association (MWCA). This tremendous honor is testimony to the superb leadership Margie has provided over the years. Because of her work, UWM’s Writing Center provides thousands of hours of outstanding tutorial help each year, based on the best scholarship and practical knowledge in the field. She was honored at the MWCA Annual Meeting over the weekend. Well done, Margie!

UWM Exchange Student from Japan, Saki Inoue, was the guest DJ on “Hey Mom, I’m on ‘KLH” on Sunday, February 25. Saki chose a list of songs to play and gave shout-outs to her family and friends both at UWM and in Japan! Congratulations, Saki!

UWM’s Office for Development & Alumni Relations and University Relations earned 10 Educational Advertising Awards, which are sponsored by the Higher Education Marketing Report. This is an international competition with more than 2,250 entries from over 1,000 colleges, universities, and secondary schools. UWM won two gold (for campaign logo and alumni magazine campaign ads), two silver (for the Viewbook and total recruitment package), and six merit awards (for Homecoming, Parent Expo, Research Report and campaign website, launch invitation and Letters & Science case statement). Well done!

Proposals from 21 UWM faculty have been selected for funding through the 2018-2019 Research Growth Initiative®, an internal seed-funding competition aimed at enhancing the university’s research and scholarly work and supporting the state’s economic development through innovation. Congratulations to the awardees!

Free Speech on Campus

Our lecture series on Free Speech will continue this week with University of Chicago Law Professor Geoffrey Stone, who will address the question, “Is Campus Protest Protected Speech.” The event takes place on Wednesday, March 7 at 1 p.m. in the Union Ballroom.

In the News

Distinguished Professor Mark Schwartz (Geography) was interviewed on CBS 58 regarding his Spring Indices model used in Springcasting forecasts.

Panther News

Check out the story on a pair of sisters (Olivia Davies and Chandler McDaniel who are playing for the Milwaukee women’s soccer team and currently competing for the Philippine Football Federation Women’s National Team as it goes through the steps to try and qualify for the World Cup in France in 2019!

The Week: 

Monday 

I start the week with my weekly meeting with Robin Van Harpen, the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet meets, and I have my weekly staff meeting. The Mexican Consul General, Julian Adem, will also visit our campus today. 

Tuesday 

I have the Deans’ Morning Meeting. Vice Chancellor Joan Prince and I will then continue our diversity discussions with schools and colleges. Today, we meet with the College of Health Sciences, School of Education, College of Nursing, Zilber School of Public Health and the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare. I have standing meetings with Peter Sands and Katie Miota, I’ll attend the Grad Reps meeting and the University Committee meeting, and I have a one-on-one with Tom Luljak. 

Wednesday 

In the morning, I have a standing meeting with Brian Thompson and then a UW System teleconference on Program Array planning. In the afternoon, I’ll attend the Free Speech event in the Union Ballroom – see announcement above. 

Thursday 

I’ll attend the APBC meeting, followed by several Dean/UBR budget meetings. Today, I meet with SARUP, Lubar School of Business, and Peck School of the Arts. I have my bi-weekly meeting with Mark Harris and a meeting with the leadership of the Office of Central Advising. There is also a Provost “zoom” meeting where we will continue our discussion on the restructuring of the 2-year colleges. 

Friday 

In the morning, I have my weekly meeting with the Chancellor, my monthly meeting with Val Klump, and a meeting with Kelly Haag. Most of the afternoon will be used for a discussion on the new budget model.  

Announcements 

Lubar Entrepreneurship and Welcome Center 

Construction has started on the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center and Welcome Center. The campus community is invited to come and learn about programming and the new building on Monday, March 5 from 4 – 5 p.m. in KIRC 1150. Brian Thompson, Director of the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, and other members of the team will be on hand to talk about progress and answer questions.

Open Access Week 

There will be a panel discussion entitled, “The Impact of Open Textbooks in Large Enrollment Courses,” on Tuesday, March 6 at 4 p.m. in the UWM Digital Humanities Lab.

UWM Panther Response Team 

Would you like to learn about a new, team-based, meaningful, and unique volunteer opportunity at UW-Milwaukee? Come and learn about the UWM Panther Response Team (PRT), which will engage 25 students, faculty, and staff in team-building and service. The PRT will train and work with non-profit agencies who assist our community in times of need in a variety of service opportunities ranging from disaster relief, home repair and building, smoke detector installation, neighborhood clean-up projects, and more. To learn more, come to a one-hour information session. REGISTER to attend an information session.

LACUSL Speaker Series 

Douglas Haynes (UW Oshkosh) presents, “Every Day We Live is the Future: Migration and Disaster in Nicaragua,” on Wednesday, March 7 at 3:30 p.m. in the American Geological Society Library.

Alumnus Lecture Sponsored by JAMS and Honors College 

Caitlin PenzeyMoog (JAMS and Honors College alumnus and Deputy Editing Manager of the A.V. Club) will present, “Turdmonger is a Closed Compound: Editing for Pop Culture and Satire,” on Wednesday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Bolton 150. 

WACADA Proposals 

WACADA invites proposals from the campus community for the 2018 Spring Professional Development Day. Deadline to submit has been extended to Friday, March 9.

Employee Awards Luncheon 

All UWM alumni employees are invited to join us at the UWM Alumni Employee Awards and Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, March 28 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Golda Meir Library 4th Floor Conference Center. All Alumni Employee Award Nominees will be recognized and winners announced. Free lunch catered by Beans & Barley. Information and registration. 

Theatre Tour 

UWM alumni employees are invited to take a fee, behind-the-scenes tour of the Peck School of the Arts Mainstage Theatre on Friday, March 30 from 12 – 1 p.m. Professor LeRoy Stoner will discuss the damage the theatre sustained during last year’s fire and the restorations that have taken place. Information and registration.

Other

It was a special Oscar evening, the USA Rugby Sevens team won the Las Vegas Sevens tournament over the weekend, and “solution” to clear frost off your windshield.   

Take care, 

Johannes 

Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs