I wish you all a warm welcome back from a well-deserved winter break! It is only by taking care of ourselves – and each other – that we can fulfill our mission of educating students, conducting life-changing research and serving the community around us.
In addition to many Winter Welcome events for students, this semester offers plenty of ways for you to stay engaged with your colleagues and our campus.
- On Jan. 30, we’ll celebrate 10 years of M-Cubed – UWM’s partnership with MPS and MATC that opens doors to higher education for local students.
- Join me on Feb. 13 for a faculty/staff reception entitled Thankful Thursdays, where I will share my gratitude for all you do to make UWM thrive.
- Later on Feb. 13, I will host a Chancellor Chat program with Dr. Aamir Siddiqi, director of Student Health and Well-being, to talk about well-being and all the ways we can support each other.
- Then on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, our UWM Alumni Association will host a homecoming bash before our Men’s Basketball team takes on Wright State.
We find ourselves in a season of change, and change can bring anxiety. In light of that, I urge you to focus on enhancing the culture of care we have created – for our students, colleagues and the community. That means taking the time to ask how someone is doing. Gather with colleagues to celebrate a milestone. And carve out time for yourself when you need to recharge.
Look for more communication in the next few weeks on how each of us can make a difference in student success and contribute to a culture in which colleagues support each other. You’ll also receive more information about our budget strategies in the weeks ahead.
Thank you for all you do to make our campus hum, and our students succeed. I wish you a strong start to your spring semester, and I hope to see you at a face-to-face event soon.
Best regards,
Mark A. Mone, PhD
Chancellor