Good afternoon, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.
As I reflect on 2025, there is so much at UWM to be proud of, and there have been several changes and accomplishments in the last calendar year. Together, we are making progress on the 2030 strategic goals, and these accomplishments reflect a comprehensive commitment to student success, employee engagement, research excellence, community partnership, and long-term institutional sustainability.
Targeted recruitment efforts contributed to the highest main-campus enrollment in six years in Fall 2025. Alongside the dramatic expansion of dual enrollment, we have gone from 225 students in 2019 to 2,836 in 2025, partnering with 28 high schools offering 118 concurrent enrollment sections.
We have made student-facing policy and practice enhancements, including standardized use of the learning management system, expanded academic forgiveness, consistent office hour expectations, and centralized teaching assistant training. We have made investments in the student success infrastructure, such as hiring a Chief Student Success Officer, unifying advising and retention initiatives, launching holistic advisor training, strengthening the use of student success technologies, and advancing curriculum reform through new general education requirements and transfer pathways.
Concurrently, we are strengthening the faculty and staff experience, research enterprise, and fiscal sustainability. Key accomplishments included the development and approval of faculty workload and compensation frameworks, strategic hiring and reorganization within Academic Affairs and the Office of the Provost, and enhanced promotion, tenure, and award processes.
The university advanced impactful research through proactive leadership during federal funding uncertainty, while also elevating research visibility among R1 peers. We hired an outstanding Vice Provost for Research, Dr. Ali Abedi, and I could not be more excited about the elevation of this role to Vice Chancellor for Research. Fiscal and programmatic stewardship has been a priority, and divisions have participated in multi-year financial planning, implementation of activity-based budgeting practices, program array management, and expanded partnerships with regional technical colleges.
All these accomplishments contribute to our mission and confirm our commitment to top-tier research, community engagement, and broad access to education, and I want to appreciate every team member in Academic Affairs, our schools and colleges, shared governance leaders, and the campus community for your efforts in 2025.
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Prof. Alex Yasha Yi (Electrical Engineering and Director of Research at UWM’s Connected Systems Institute) has become the latest faculty member in the college to be elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, one of the highest honors an academic inventor can receive. His research spans intelligent electronics, devices that power artificial intelligence, and next-generation optoelectronic technologies designed to make energy systems smarter and more efficient. See more.
Asst. Prof. Priya Premnath (Biomedical Engineering) recently earned STEM Forward's Young Engineer of the Year. Only one person in the Milwaukee area earns this per year. Premnath was chosen for her contributions to the profession and her service as a role model for students. Learn more.
Joel Spiess, Chief Enrollment Operations Officer and Executive Director of Student Financial Services, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA). Selected by the NSPA Governance and Nominations Committee and approved by the association membership, Spiess will contribute expertise in strategic enrollment, data use, and governance to an organization dedicated to expanding access to education and strengthening the impact of scholarships nationwide. His focus on institutional innovation and measurable outcomes aligns with NSPA’s commitment to data-driven, equitable scholarship administration, and he is an active contributor to NSPA programs and discussions.
Professor Ching-Hong Yang presented an invited seminar at the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) on December 30, 2025, titled “Transforming Crop Protection with Natural Metabolites: A New Era of Sustainable Disease Control.” He highlighted RejuAgro A (RAA), a novel natural antimicrobial with a new mode of action and strong field efficacy. During the visit, Professor Yang also met with Director General Dr. Dennis Wang to discuss opportunities for future collaboration and the translation of scientific discoveries into practical crop protection solutions. See more.
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Professor Steven Redd (Political Science) passed away on December 17, 2025, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Since joining UWM in August 2001, Professor Redd was a dedicated scholar and teacher who gave so much to the field of political science and to his students. His teaching and research centered on two core areas within international relations: foreign policy decision-making—especially through the application of poliheuristic theory of decision making—and experimental methodology. His most recent research focused on substantive and methodological issues related to leadership preferences and artificial intelligence. See full obituary.
Professor and former dean of the College of Letters & Sciences, Rodney Swain (Psychological and Brain Sciences) passed away on December 25, 2025. Rodney enjoyed a 29-year career at UWM as a professor of psychology, rising through administration to become associate dean for the social sciences and then dean of the College of Letters & Science from 2011 to 2017. His passion for neuroscience research that improved the human condition is remembered by his colleagues and the many students he taught and inspired. See full obituary.
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Digital Accessibility Update |
Many instructors have asked about digital accessibility and how to handle Spring 2026 course materials. As you know, the federal digital accessibility compliance deadline is April 25, 2026. Here is some key course material guidance for faculty and instructional staff:
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If Spring 2026 material is removed for accessibility reasons partway through the semester, it may not be used for required assignments, quizzes, exams, or participation activities unless and until an accessible version or alternative is available.
- If content is removed, please:
- replace it with an accessible version, or
- provide an equivalent accessible alternative, or
- remediate the material as quickly as possible
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Faculty and instructional staff are encouraged to attend ongoing trainings through the Center for Advancing Student Learning (CASL) (formerly CETL) on how to create and remediate accessible course content or complete a self-paced course. To support this work, faculty and instructors also have access to Canvas accessibility tools (TidyUP, UDOIT Advantage, and Kaltura for captioning) to identify issues, receive recommendations, and support remediation directly in Canvas. Find more digital accessibility resources, trainings, tools, and guidance at UWM’s Digital Accessibility site. Thank you for your flexibility and for supporting an inclusive learning environment for all learners.
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Advancing 2030 Plan Commitments |
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2030 Commitment to Students’ Engagement and Their Academic and Personal Journey |
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Admitted Student Days (ASD) are high-impact events that welcome more than 1,300 people to campus each program—we need your help to make them successful. We’re looking for volunteers on Feb. 7, March 7, and March 14 to greet families, support event flow, and help create an energizing UWM welcome. ASD attendees make up a significant portion of our incoming class—38.5% of the Fall 2025 class, and your support directly contributes to enrollment success. If you can lend any amount of time, please sign up and encourage colleagues to join you. Let’s show our admitted students why UWM is the place for them! Sign up to volunteer.
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The Student Financial Services team needs your help in increasing awareness of student scholarships. UWM offers scholarships based on many factors, including academic merit, financial need, leadership, and service, yet only 29% of students apply for scholarships annually. Use the Scholarships Promotion Toolkit to promote scholarships to students in their courses and around campus. The toolkit includes ready-made Canvas announcements, slide deck, and more.
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"Don't Cancel Class” returns from the Student Health and Wellness Center. This initiative invites faculty and instructional staff to schedule a wellness program for their class in the event of a planned absence or as part of the class plan. SHAW offers a menu of workshops, discussions, and trainings focused on topics like stress management, nutrition and body image, healthy relationships, sleep, and overall wellness. When students are supported and well, they perform better academically. Instead of canceling class, consider using that time as an opportunity to foster student well-being and success! Learn more and request a program on the SHAW website.
- There are four upcoming internship and career fairs this semester to share with students and put on your course Canvas sites to encourage students to attend. The fairs will take place from 1-4 p.m. in the UWM Student Union on the following dates:
- February 25: Architecture, Engineering, Conservation & Sciences (Union Wisconsin Room)
- February 25: Software, Data Analytics and IT (Union Ballroom)
- February 26: Business and Communications (Union Wisconsin Room)
- February 26: All Majors Career Con(ference) (Union Ballroom)
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Students can pre-register, see all employers attending, and get additional details on Handshake. Additionally, please see the links below that will provide you with the opportunity to volunteer for all the upcoming fairs. Sign up to volunteer at career fairs:
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2030 Commitment to Positive Employee Experience |
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The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is one of a few select institutions chosen to partner with ACUE to offer 90 fully funded seats for faculty and instructional staff to participate in a high‑quality, research‑backed professional development program. Beginning February 9 and running through the end of the year, participants spend 2–3 hours a week learning, applying new practices in their courses, and reflecting on their impact. Instructors will move through the experience in cohorts of 30 and can choose learning pathways featuring in‑person, online, or nursing‑specific pedagogical practices. This grant‑supported opportunity equips faculty with evidence-based strategies shown to boost student retention, strengthen belonging, and close achievement gaps. Upon completion, instructors earn ACUE’s nationally recognized Certification in Effective College Instruction. Interested instructors must sign up by January 25 to join one of this year’s three cohorts. Learn more and apply.
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Launched in Fall 2025, Make New Waves is UWM’s flagship advertising campaign. It showcases how UWM changes lives and strengthens communities through the research, creative work, and entrepreneurship of its faculty, students and alumni. Help amplify the Make New Waves message by updating your email signature! We recommend a text-only signature line because the appearance of any logo or graphic depends on the recipient’s settings, such as dark mode. We have no control over the appearance, and graphics are often distorted or altered. Get the email signature templates and learn more about how you tell the story of UWM.
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In collaboration with the Department of Human Resources, the Division of Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity launched the Mosaic Leadership Academy in 2022 to provide support to individuals interested in exploring leadership opportunities on campus. As part of this program, we offer the opportunity to learn from campus leaders. Join us for the next Mosaic Leadership Panel: Fostering Learning and Belonging in Academic Spaces on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center. Panelists will share how they lead with compassion and empathy and create learning spaces where students and peers can learn and thrive. Pre-registration is required by Monday, Jan 26, 2026. Register online.
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The Student Health and Wellness Center is excited to announce that a new, “Faculty and Staff Suicide Prevention Training: Recognize, Respond, Refer” online training is available for all UW-Milwaukee faculty and staff using this Canvas enrollment link. This new version includes updated and additional data, guidance, and UWM-specific resources for you to better support student mental health on campus. We encourage you to enroll in the training and share this information with your unit or department. More information.
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Please submit works to be added to the UWM Authors Collection in the Golda Meir Library. Established in 1973, the collection documents the research productivity and creativity of UWM faculty and staff. We ask UWM authors who have written, edited, translated, or illustrated a print book; composed music for a published score or recording; or had a primary role in creating a commercially distributed film or video since the last UWM Authors Recognition Ceremony in March 2025 to let us know about their publications by completing the UWM Authors Collection submission form by Friday, March 20, 2026. The collection will gladly accept donated copies of your publications. Donations may be delivered directly to Special Collections on the fourth floor of the Golda Meir Library. Please remember to fill out the submission form. For the full list of eligibility criteria, please review the collection development guidelines for the UWM Authors Collection. Beginning in 2026, the Golda Meir Library will honor UWM authors by assembling a spring exhibit of recent publications in the Learning Commons. This exhibit replaces the biennial UWM Authors Program, which we have discontinued.
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The Division of Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity is pleased to offer our virtual Spring 2026 Book Series! We will meet via Zoom on Wednesdays, 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, and 3/18, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. to discuss the book Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt by Arthur C. Brooks. A limited number of copies of the book are available; otherwise, the book can be purchased on Amazon or other platforms. The book discussions will be co-facilitated by Drs. Elizabeth Drame and Sarah MacDonald. Please register online by Wednesday, Jan. 28. A Zoom link will be provided to all who register by the due date.
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Nominations are now open for the 2026 Governor’s Archives Awards from the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board. UWM has previously received awards in 2004 and 2011 in the Archival Achievement and Archival Advocacy categories. Nominations are due Tuesday, March 10th, 2026, at 11:59 PM. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Historical Society website.
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On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the UWM Visitor Wi-Fi password changed to panthers26. For security purposes, the password for the UWM Visitor Wi-Fi network is updated every year. This network is for UWM visitors—guests visiting campus who do not have an ePantherID. Students, faculty, and staff should use UWMWiFi or eduroam, logging in with their ePantherID and password. The current password is available on UWM’s Wi-Fi page along with setup instructions. If you need assistance regarding this topic, please contact the UWM Help Desk.
- Classroom Services is offering Lecture Capture and Light Board training webinars this semester. Learn to use these classroom tools, get a chance to speak with a member of the Classroom Services team, and have your questions answered before the semester begins. Register for Lecture Capture training (choose one):
- Register for Light Board training:
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2030 Commitment to Research, Innovation, and Community Impact |
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UW-Milwaukee will engage in a series of outreach activities on Monday, January 19, 2026, and a morning program on Tuesday, January 20 honoring the legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We encourage our entire campus community to sign up for one or more volunteer opportunities at Lloyd Barbee Montessori School or the Milwaukee Public Library's MLK Branch on January 19 followed by meaningful conversations with fellow campus and community members at the "Mission Possible: Building Community Gathering" on January 20 at 9:00-10:30 am in the UWM Student Union Ballroom. Our guest speaker for this program is Judge Derek Mosley, Director of the Lubar Center at Marquette University Law School. More details and registration information can be found on the MLK Day at UWM 2026 website.
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Amy Kalkbrenner, Professor of Environmental health sciences at the UW-Milwaukee Zilber College of Public Health, and Tracey Holloway, Professor of Environmental Studies and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at UW-Madison, are working together to understand the link between air pollution and asthma-related visits to school nurses in Milwaukee Public Schools. Their research was recently covered in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
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Two faculty members in the College of Engineering and Applied Science have been featured in the media recently, commenting on the wider use of autonomous vehicles, or self-driving vehicles, in Wisconsin. Xiao Qin, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, was quoted in a story on Wisconsin Public Radio Jan. 8. Milwaukee Magazine quoted Xiaowei "Tom" Shi, Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, in its December issue on the same topic.
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With appreciation,
Andrew P. Daire, PhD
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2310 E. Hartford Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
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