Good morning, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.
Once Again: Important Update
There are many health benefit changes for 2018. Here are a few of the more momentous changes:
- United Healthcare and Humana are no longer participating in the health insurance program and affected employees will need to select a new health plan. If you do not select a new plan you will lose health insurance coverage as of January 1, 2018.
- WEA Trust will no longer offer Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, SSM Dean Medical Group or United Hospital System in their East Service Area Network in 2018. Employees who utilize services provided by these entities may want to consider changing to Network Health, the other insurance provider.
- Health coverage for domestic partners will end on December 31, 2017 (this is not applicable to people who are married). Partners should pursue health insurance with their own employers or through the Affordable Care Act.
- Co-pays and out-of-pocket limits will remain the same.
- The $150 Well Wisconsin Incentive will require employees to participate in a StayWell program in addition to submitting their health screening to StayWell and taking the online StayWell health assessment. Participation will determine employees’ health insurance rates for 2019. Those who complete the Incentive program will receive lower rates than those who do not.
- CVS and Target pharmacies will no longer be covered by the Navitus Pharmacy program.
Kudos
Congratulations to Team PAWS and UWM for winning this year’s University Challenge for the Lakefront Marathon. UWM beat out Marquette, Concordia, and MSOE, with an average race time of 3:17:55. Way to go, Team PAWS!
The UWM Children’s Learning Center has been awarded the Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant totaling $1,164,000. This grant provides $291,000/year for four years to support low-income, Pell-eligible student parents. The primary support is discounts on childcare at UWM’s nationally accredited Children’s Learning Center. Research indicates that high-quality child care improves the retention and graduation of student parents. CCAMPIS funds also support a Family Resource Center at the Children’s Learning Center and parent activities/workshops sponsored in partnership with the Life Impact Program and the Women’s Resource Center. Congratulations!
UWM Alumnus Samuel Hines has won First Prize at the Florida Guitar Festival and Competition. A great achievement for UWM and the Classical Guitar Department in the Peck School of the Arts!
Senior Music Education major Anna Van Nuland is being awarded the Richard G. Gaarder Award for top senior music education major in the state by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association at their state convention on October 26. She was nominated by the music department for her academic record, leadership, and contributions to the profession. She also earned the Autism Spectrum certificate from UWM and works as a line therapist through the Wisconsin Early Autism Project. Congratulations, Anna!
Tanya Joosten, Academic Affairs, has been appointed to the following advisory groups: Online Learning Consortium Research Board, Mindwires Empirical Educator Project, and the McGraw Hill/ASU Digital Learning Award Board. Excellent news, Tanya!
Laura Pedrick, Academic Affairs, was recently elected as vice chair of the WCET Executive Council. WCET is a leading educational technology organization for higher education. Well done, Laura!
Announcement from Student Affairs
We are pleased to announce that Katherine Miota has been appointed to the position of Director of Undergraduate Admissions. Katie has served as our Assistant Director and twice been asked to serve as our Interim Director of Undergraduate Admissions. In addition, Katie will be working closely with both the Chancellor’s Enrollment Management Action Team (CEMAT) and the new Chief Enrollment Officer position that is currently under recruitment.
The Week
Monday
This week we have interviews with a number of candidates for the AVC for Business and Financial Services. This morning, I will meet with the first candidate, Drew Knab. After the interview, I’m attending part of the Academic Staff Committee meeting. The Chancellor’s Cabinet meets, I meet with Brett Peters, I have my weekly meeting with my staff, and there is a CEMAT meeting. Agenda items include fall enrollment, SEM update, Mind-Set Initiative update, and UWM virtual tour.
Tuesday
My first meeting Tuesday morning is with the associate deans, followed by meetings with Kim Litwack, and Michael Doylen. I have my bi-weekly meeting with the University Committee and I meet with the second AVC candidate, Mary Varghese. There is also a meeting with an international recruitment that I will attend in the afternoon, and later in the day, the Chancellor and I are heading over to the Southwest corner of campus for an informal “hacky sack” pickup game with Industrial and Electrical Engineering students!
Wednesday
I have meetings with Mark Harris, Jim Hill, Tom Lipinski, and AVC candidate, Bane Thomey. I’m attending the UW-System Freshwater University conference, I have a meeting with the Chancellor and health deans on external health-related partnerships and collaborations, and a teleconference with Pat Borger and Ron Perez regarding the Zilber School’s accreditation.
Thursday
Thursday is another day of meetings. The day starts off with a meeting with the Student Association leaders, a meeting with Dave Clark and L&S Associate Deans, a meeting on corporate partnerships, and I’m attending the Libraries Committee meeting. I meet with fourth AVC candidate, Kathy Heath, and the Faculty Senate meets.
Friday
Friday I start the day with a meeting with Paul Klajbor, followed by a CEMAT co-chairs meeting with Katie Miota, and lunch with Chinese consulate officials. In the afternoon, I have a number of meetings with my direct reports.
The Weekend
On Saturday, I’m serving as a community judge for the 2017 Public Speaking Showcase sponsored by UWM’s Department of Communication.
Announcements
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month – stop by one of our events to learn about becoming more cyber secure!
Wall Paper, an exhibition by Art & Design Associate Professor Jessica Meuninck-Ganger and Professor Emerita Marna Goldstein Brauner is on display in the Ploch Art Gallery, Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts from October 3-November 11.
On The Table: Diversity in STEM Dialogue will take place on Tuesday, October 17 from 12 – 1:30 p.m. in the Regents Room, Chapman Hall 211. Distinguished faculty, staff, students, and YOU will address how UWM WiscAMP/STEM-Inspire and other programs help underrepresented STEM students and what is needed to build solid scholars at each level on our campus.
On Wednesday, October 18, Healthy Urban Bodies will showcase its newly renovated exercise and kitchen spaces. The open house will go from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ambassador Jack Matlock served as US Ambassador to Moscow during one of the most consequential periods in US-Russian relations. He will offer insight into the current state of this critical relationship at this year’s Kennan Distinguished Lecture on Thursday, October 19 at 7 p.m. at the Hefter Center.
There will be two showings of I Am Not Your Negro at the Student Union Cinema on Thursday, October 19 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Talk backs follow with Patrick Bellegarde-Smith and Dan Haumschild respectively. Free and open to the public.
Get your first look at the Milwaukee Panthers men’s basketball team at the annual Black & Gold scrimmage on Friday, October 20 at 6 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.
The UWM Exploring Majors Fair will be held on Monday, October 23 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Union Ballroom. If your department/program is interested in participating, email Lauren Lessac at lpeyton@uwm.edu. This event provides students a one-stop opportunity to speak with faculty and staff representing our majors, minors, and certificates. Please promote this event to your students.
UWM Libraries will celebrate International Open Access Week, October 23-29, with two workshops: “Can I share my article” and “Leveraging ORCID in your research workflow.”
The Distinguished Lecture Series, “An Evening with Raoul Peck,” will be held on Thursday, October 26 from 7- 9 p.m. in the Wisconsin Room, Student Union. This is a ticketed event. Students may pick up free tickets at the Student Union Information Desk.
“When Words and Images Matter: Challenges to our Time – A Conversation with Christiane Taubira and Raoul Peck,” takes place on Friday, October 27 from 4- 6 p.m. in Curtin Hall 175. A reception and book signing will follow. Free and open to the public.
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, along with the LGBT Resource Center and the Center for Inclusive Excellence, is offering an LGBTQ+ inclusivity workshop series beginning October 27. Information and registration.
UWM hosts Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Heather Ann Thompson to discuss issues of mass incarceration at “Lunchtime for Activists” on November 6 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Reservations.
You are all invited to the Asian Faculty and Staff Association Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 8, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Library 4th Floor Conference Center. Please RSVP to Christine Leung (leungc@uwm.edu) by Wednesday, November 1.
The Office of Assessment and Institutional Research (OAIR) will host its third workshop of 2017, “Access and Utilization of Available In-house Survey Data,” on Friday, November 10 from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in Mitchell Hall 191. Surveys will be the focus including those that measure student engagement, satisfaction, and the newly implemented grit survey. Open to all, this workshop will be of particular interest to academic advisors and student success professionals. Review the agenda and RSVP.
Attention UW-Milwaukee students: The Milwaukee Athletic Department is inviting all students to become a part of the action – “Panther Pit 56” for men’s and women’s basketball games for the upcoming 2017-18 season.
Please help the Student Association fight food insecurity on our campus, and participate in their October food drive.
Program Reps is a great way for students to become more involved with a minimal time commitment (a few hours a month). The position allows them to represent and advocate for students within their major, or academic program. Program Rep elections will be held on October 18. Professors, faculty, and advisors are welcome to nominate students for the position. Any questions can be directed to Alyssa Molinski (molinsk3@uwm.edu).
Registration is open for young Milwaukee fans to become one of Pounce’s Pals for 2017-18. Membership is only $10 and includes a variety of benefits, including free admission to select home Panther sporting events. Pounce’s Pals memberships are open to children in the eighth grade and under. Families with multiple children can register each additional child for only $5. For more information about Pounce’s Pals, please call (414) 229-5886 or email pounces-pals@uwm.edu.
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs