October 7, 2022  |  News & Events, Provost's Updates, Timely Announcements

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

Kudos

Karyn Frick (Psychology), in her role as President, hosted the annual meeting of the Pavlovian Society in Milwaukee last weekend. Attended by more than 180 people, the event included posters, discussion panels, and symposia from prominent neuroscientists across the world. One highlight of the conference was the bestowal of the Grantt Medal to Emeritus Distinguished Professor Fred Helmstetter (Psychology) for exceptional contributions to the field. Congratulations, Karyn and Fred!

Jacques du Plessis (Information Studies), founding member, was elected president of the Association for Genealogy Educators and Schools. This is the first academic organization for genealogy and family history. Well done, Jacques!

Milwaukee Athletics

The Milwaukee men’s basketball program announced its 2022-23 non-conference schedule, featuring road contests at Purdue and Iowa State and seven home games, including hosting the “Cream City Classic” multi-team event in late November. The Panthers will take on two different programs that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, four teams that made the postseason overall, as well as playing host to an MTE (multi-team event) for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.

Andrew Basler, head coach of Milwaukee cross country and track and field, announced updates to his staff for the 2022-23 season. Jake Reilly has been promoted to Associate Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach, while Andrew Hatch joined Milwaukee as an assistant coach for prints, hurdles, and relays.

The Week in Retrospect

This was a busy week of meetings with UWM groups and campus partners. On Monday, I started the day with a Moon Shot for Equity meeting on change management as we focus on closing the student success gap that has unfortunately grown again during the pandemic. I also had a chance to tour the partially-built, new Chemistry building, which will offer exceptional spaces for students from many disciplines across campus. I finished with a visit with Chancellor Mone to an Office of Undergraduate Admissions meeting and met the hard-working team recruiting our new freshman and transfer students. On Wednesday, I attended an update on our Tech Ed Frontiers program that offers important programming through the School of Continuing Education to industry and business partners in Milwaukee. Thursday was highlighted by joining Chancellor Mone in offering remarks at the Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership meeting. Finally, I am joining in the celebration of the great work of the African Diaspora Council and their school supply drive on Friday.

Announcements

  • Reminder: Wellness Inventory
    The Campus Cares team, a cross-campus collaboration, is collecting data on efforts that support student, faculty, and staff wellness. If you engage in wellness-related practices, programs, research, or curriculum, please complete this brief, five-minute survey by October 14. The data collected will be used to bring the campus community together and amplify existing practices and programs. Your input is instrumental in finding out who is engaging in this work!
  • Water Council Student Pilot Project
    Applications are being accepted for the Future Water Leaders Fund Student Pilot Project, which gives students the opportunity to conduct in-field, proof-of-concept testing for water technologies at real-world demonstration sites. Deadline to apply is November 1. Information and application.
  • UWM Connections to the International Nonprofit Sector
    Last month, the staff of UWM’s Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management met with representatives of the United Nations and leaders of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) based in Georgia. Discussions ranged from comparing the Georgian and U.S. nonprofit sectors and relationships between NGOs, business, and governmental bodies to the latest research and trends in nonprofit fundraising. The visit was part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
  • Master Class in Leadership
    Robert DeVita (Business) presented a Master Class webinar to the American College of Healthcare Executives-Wisconsin Chapter for its Career Academy. A recording of the presentation, “Leadership Lessons I learned Late in Life,” is available upon request (devita@uwm.edu). 
  • Tananbaum Presentation
    A recording of “Advancing Open Scholarship at UWM,” presented by Greg Tananbaum on Friday, September 30 at the Golda Meir Library is now available online.
  • Think Twice about that Email
    Scammers often send phishing emails containing “job opportunities” to students that offer high weekly wages, flexible scheduling, and other enticing qualities. Many people get caught up in the excitement of receiving such a good offer, but chances are, as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons would say, it’s just too good to be true.

Campus Events

  • International Career Bootcamp
    AADS, CLACS, and Global/International Studies are excited to host an International Career Bootcamp for students on Thursday, October 13 from 4:30-6 p.m. in LEC 107. Information and registration.
  • Free Film Screening
    A CineConcert featuring the groundbreaking 1911 silent film, “Linferno,” and accompanied live by Stefano Maccagno (piano) and Furio Di Castri (double bass), will be held on Thursday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts. The mesmerizing musical score was composed by Maestro Maccagno.
  • Online Program Council
    The OPC will meet on Friday, October 14 from 1:30-3 p.m. on Teams. Agenda topics include presentations on three online programs: the AAS degree, a student’s perspective on the Communication major, and the master’s in Translation and Interpreting. If you have not previously attended an OPC meeting, please email Laura Pedrick (lpedrick@uwm.edu) to be added to the meeting.
  • UWM Manfred Olson Planetarium
    The world is buzzing about the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most powerful space telescope ever built, that will serve as the premier deep space observatory for the next decade. Learn about our ever-expanding universe and the search for new and exciting worlds beyond our solar system on Friday, October 14 at 7 p.m.

Something Different

These days there is a lot of activity in the night sky. Up to a couple million songbirds passed over Milwaukee County towards points south each evening this week!

Take care,
Scott

Scott GronertInterim Provost