Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.
Kudos
We received some excellent news regarding UWM’s online programs: The History Department’s online bachelors is ranked 7th nationally in the 2019 Best Online Colleges rating system, the Psychology Department’s online bachelors is ranked 23rd, the Sociology Department’s online bachelors is also ranked 23rd and the masters in Library and Information Science is ranked 18th. Congratulations to these departments for their ongoing commitment to excellence in online education!
Adel Nasiri (Electrical Engineering), along with Hector Bravo and Jin Li (Civil and Environmental Engineering), and Tian Zhao (Computer Science) have received a grant from the Air Force in collaboration with Eaton Corporation to develop a smart and connected energy/water microgrid. UWM’s share is $1.3M. Great news, Adel, Hector, Jin, and Tian!
With the support of the National Endowment of the Humanities fellowship, Peter Blewett (English) produced, “See something? Say something!” an artist book that interrogates the travel book genre. “See Something? Say something!” was on exhibit at the Salt Lake Public Library from July through September 2018. Congratulations, Peter!
Emily Latch (Biological Sciences) has been invited to speak as an expert on the role of hybridization in species formation. She will speak to a committee convened by the National Academy of Sciences to independently assess the highly controversial taxonomic status of the red wolf and Mexican gray wolf. Well done, Emily!
Milwaukee Athletics
You are all invited to join the Milwaukee men’s basketball team and head coach Pat Baldwin for a “sneak peek” at the 2018-19 squad at the annual Black and Gold Scrimmage on Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. at the Klotsche Center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for team warm-ups and admission is free to the public. The scrimmage will begin at 7 p.m. and include opening comments and player introductions from Coach Baldwin.
The Week
Monday
I start the week by meeting with Robin Van Harpen, and I’ll stop by the Academic Staff Committee meeting. The Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet meets and I have my weekly staff meeting in the afternoon.
Tuesday
There is a deans’ morning meeting, I have a campus space planning meeting, I’ll be attending the Multicultural Network meeting, the University Committee meets, and there is an Academic Leadership Council meeting. Agenda items include changes to UW System policies on recruitment and personnel files, a demonstration of OBI (Oracle Business Intelligence), and a discussion on the recruitment for the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute endowed professorship.
Wednesday
Another day of meetings including with ASC Chair Kristin Roosevelt, the Chancellor, as well as a meeting on international recruitment. In the afternoon, we have the Fall Awards Ceremony (see Announcements below).
Thursday
I’m attending the APBC meeting, I have a meeting on shared services, and the Faculty senate meets.
Friday
I meet with Alberto Maldonado, Ricardo Diaz, and Patricia Contreras to prepare for a meeting later this month with the Roberto Hernandez Center’s Community Advisory Board. I have a meeting with the Distinguished Professors, a budget model meeting, and I’m making remarks at Janet Padway’s retirement reception.
Announcements
Fall Awards Ceremony
All are invited to attend the Fall Awards Ceremony at 2 p.m. on October 17 in the Wisconsin Room of the Student Union.
Recruiting Ombuds Council Members- Deadline Extended
Following up on the previous week’s announcement for the Ombuds Council, the application deadline has been extended to October 22. You can learn more about the Ombuds program and current members and watch current members talk about the Council. Please send a letter of intent and a resume to Dr. Nadya Fouad at nadya@uwm.edu.
Stand-up Science
Professors Karyn Frick (Psychology) and Merry Wiesner-Hanks (History) will be guests on “Stand-up Science” on Sunday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. Stand-up Science is hosted by podcaster and comedian Shane Mauss. The show’s motto is Stand-up Comedians + Scientists + Beer = Stand-up Science. The show is at the Underground Collaborative and tickets are $12 in advance or $18 at the door.
Free Access to The Chronicle of Higher Education for UWM Faculty and Staff
UW-Milwaukee has obtained a campus-wide license for all faculty, staff, and students to access The Chronicle of Higher Education website and its content free of charge. Below, find helpful instructions on how to access this resource.
To access at a computer on campus, users can go directly to www.chronicle.com to view content. Look to the upper right-hand corner of the site for a message reading “PREMIUM ACCESS PROVIDED BY UW MILWAUKEE” for confirmation.
To learn how to access at a computer off-campus, use the following instructions provided by The Chronicle: https://uwm.edu/chancellor/wp-content/uploads/sites/290/2018/10/CHE-Site-License-Access-Instructions.pdf
To learn more on license features, see the following information provided by The Chronicle: https://uwm.edu/chancellor/wp-content/uploads/sites/290/2018/10/CHE-Site-License-Features.pdf
From the Sam & Helen Stahl Center for Jewish Studies
World-renowned scholar, Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Chief Curator of the Core Exhibition at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, will be presenting three lectures this week:
“The Role of Museums in Perilous Times: What’s Happening in Poland?” on Wednesday, October 17 at 7 p.m. in the Golda Meir Library, 4thFloor Conference Center.
“Beyond Living Memory: The Future of Holocaust Museums,” on Thursday, October 18 at 12 p.m. in the Kohl’s Garden Galleries at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
“Curating Between Hope & Despair: POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews,” on Thursday, October 18 at 6:15 p.m. at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Lubar Auditorium.
Fado: Heritage of Humanity
The exhibition is about the incredible history of Fado – a Portuguese musical gender also known as “the soul of Portugal.” The exhibit features 20 trilingual (English, French, and Portuguese) colored posters at Curtin Hall, 1st floor, left side, until the end of the semester.
From the Career Planning and Resource Center
The Exploring Majors Fair will be held on October 22 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Union Ballroom. Faculty and staff representing all UWM majors, minors, and certificates will be available to speak with students who are undecided or looking to add another academic program to their current major. Contact Lauren Lessac at Lpeyton@uwm.edu if you have questions.
An Evening of Conversation and Bilingual Readings
Gaël Faye, Franco-Rwandese Rapper, Composer, and Novelist presents, “A Celebration of Petit Pays and its Translation Small Country,” on Wednesday, October 24 at 5 p.m. at the Hefter Conference Center.
Security Training
Just a reminder that the annual Information Security Training for faculty, staff, and student employees has begun and will remain open through October 31.
The UWM Food Center and Pantry Campus-Wide Fall Food Drive
The UWM Food Center and Pantry campus-wide Fall Food Drive runs through October 31. Donate non-perishable goods to collection boxes in over 30 buildings across campus. You can also volunteer to help collect, inventory, and shelve food throughout the month. Email: foodassist@uwm.edu to get involved and find out more.
From the English Department
The UWM English Department hosts a panel discussion on creative writers working in nonprofit careers on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. at the Hefter Conference Center. Five writers and artists will discuss their work in the community, followed by a reading of their own creative work and a reception.
Employee Appreciation Day
November 1 is Employee Appreciation Day at the UWM TechStore! Special offers include an additional $50 OFF MAC education price or $25 OFF IPAD education price. Add AppleCare to your iPad/Mac purchase for a FREE UWM logo sleeve. Purchases must be made on November 1. Pre-order by October 19 to ensure availability. Sign up for our newsletter!
Other
Go Brewers, and if you are a cricket fan, I think there is a new star on the horizon – PP Shaw. Check him out.
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs