Provost's Update: Friday, September 6, 2024

Office of the Provost

Friday, September 6, 2024

Good morning, colleagues. Here is the update from Academic Affairs.

As we welcome UWM’s new students, I’d like to draw your attention to the tremendous work that colleagues across campus do to make them feel a part of the UWM community.

The Panther Transition Experience (PTE), organized by the Division of Enrollment Management in partnership with UWM’s schools and colleges, was held last Tuesday through Friday to support a seamless and enjoyable onboarding experience for our students. New freshmen were placed in small groups led by a returning student leader and spent a full day in four signature PTE experiences, with 2,819 students participating. Three hundred and two new transfer students attended a transfer kickoff event on Friday, with experiences tailored to the unique needs of students new to UWM but not new to college. The Student Success Center has begun its work with new students as well. Peer Mentors began their outreach to new first-year students last week and will engage with them throughout their first year.

The Division of Student Affairs has organized numerous events to foster student engagement and a sense of belonging, including the UWM Block Party, Student Organization Involvement Fair, Campus Campout, Annual Panther Athletics Game & Tailgate, UREC-fest, Greek-Live kickoff events, and the Multicultural Network Fall Welcome and Open House. Students are also exploring campus and Milwaukee with their University Housing suite-mates and floor groups, attending programs by the Campus Activities Board, and engaging in UWM’s various leadership programs. Students are also integrating fitness and mindfulness practices into their lives, often facilitated by University Recreation (UREC), the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHAW), classes, or group talk sessions.

More than 3000 students participated in the Class Photo and Coin Toss traditions on Friday afternoon. Many thanks to staff from across campus who helped outline the letters on the field and distribute shirts or coins!

I had the opportunity to provide remarks at the Panther Transition Day event and visit the Panther Tailgate. Both events were energizing and exciting, it was quite clear the students had a great time, and it filled my cup personally and professionally. It was a fantastic reminder as we continue to drive home the message on the importance of owning our students’ success. My hope is that seeing the beautiful, bright-eyed, and hopeful faces of our students can be a reminder of the critical role we all play in their success.

As we launch into the academic year, instructors are crucial in establishing an ongoing sense of belonging for our newest students, building on the momentum of the events outlined above. I applaud our instructors who are engaged in students’ academic journey by actively listening to the student voice. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is a great resource for instructors looking for additional ways to promote a sense of student belonging in their classes.

As highlighted in this MIT article, a sense of belonging is a key contributor to student retention. The work we do on this across divisions has a great impact on student success.

I appreciate Hanjoo Lee and Christine Larson (both Psychology) who received a new $2.4M NIMH R33 grant. Their project, “Neural Mechanisms of Response Inhibition Training for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Conditions,” aims to examine the neurocognitive mechanisms of a novel computer-based intervention developed for individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Learn more.

My appreciation also goes out to Alyssa Conrardy (Undergraduate Admissions) for leading the massive collaborations required to hold UWM’s Panther Transition Experience, a full campus, all hands on deck retention effort. Kudos to all who helped incoming students in their adjustment to college and UWM!

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the UWM Libraries celebrated the opening of its $2.8M Archives renovation, began construction of a new Graduate Student Commons, collaborated with the Roberto Hernandez Center on a podcast showcasing Latinx history at UWM and in Milwaukee, and extended efforts to diversify collections with small press titles. Read about these achievements and many more in the UWM Libraries Annual Report.

After years of declining enrollments due to changes in the Intensive English Program (IEP) market in the United States and internationally, exacerbated by the global pandemic, today I must announce the closure of UWM’s Intensive English Program, effective January 1, 2025.

Established 50 years ago and housed in the English Language Academy, UWM’s IEP is a non-credit English language program, that has made it possible for thousands of students from all over the world to improve their English, get better jobs, earn degrees, and better understand American culture.

Unfortunately, given UWM’s current financial challenges and the changes in the IEP market, the campus could no longer justify keeping the IEP open. The IEP administrative team is working closely with each current student to support them in this transition. The English Language Academy’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses will continue to support degree-seeking students at UWM.

I am sad to share the news that beloved and respected G. Richard Meadows, former Dean of the College of Letters and Science, passed away on Sunday, August 18. Richard held a bachelor’s degree in business from Texas A&M, and master’s and doctoral degrees in economics from Washington University in St. Louis. Richard came to UWM in 1971 as a faculty member in the Department of Economics, where he served as Department Chair from 1982 to 1986. His administrative career continued from there as Associate Dean for Social Sciences and culminated as Dean of the College of Letters and Science from 2001 until his retirement in 2010.

Close colleague Bob Beck noted, “Richard was a true gentleman – distinguished, thoughtful, civil, and professional. With humility and wry wit, he contributed his time, talent, and spirit most generously to the university community. A visionary, Richard saw the promise of data and technology – undertaking enrollment and budgetary modeling while enrollments were still strong, enthusiastically promoting online education in its early stages, and prioritizing IT as transformational infrastructure for the college!”

My condolences to Richard’s family and all those who knew him. Read Richard’s obituary.

UWM’s Multicultural Network is excited to host its annual Open House on Thursday, September 12 from noon – 3 p.m. Participating offices and program partners will be located in Bolton Hall, the Bolton Hall/Union Breezeway, and the Union CASE offices. Students are strongly encouraged to attend and may be entered to win a prize in a drawing!
Students can prepare for career fairs on Tuesday, September 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Union Ballroom. Students can meet and ask employers questions about what they look for at career fairs. The Career Closet will also be open throughout the day. Information and registration.
This fall, the Student Health and Wellness Center, in conjunction with the Universities of Wisconsin, will offer three free online mental health and wellbeing resources for students. Employees who interact with students on a day-to-day basis are encouraged to learn more about these services. Webinar trainings will provide information about the programs, including how to refer students. Webinars will take place on Zoom at noon on September 23 and November 20.
A reminder to instructors that we changed bookstores for this year, and some students are confused. Please ensure that your course Canvas site and/or syllabus provide a link to this address (not to eCampus, our former vendor): https://www.bkstr.com/uwmilwaukeestore/home
SAVE THE DATE! The Student Success in the Classroom Summit will be held on Friday, October 4. Watch for more information in the September 20 Friday Update.
Get ready to lace up your sneakers and join the UWM Alumni Association for the 2024 Panther Prowl 5K Virtual Run/Walk. This event is your opportunity to challenge yourself while you make a difference for UWM students. Register today, mark your calendar to run/walk October 9-13, and snap a photo of yourself on your route to share with Panthers worldwide. The event is virtual due to ongoing construction in the area, respect for the Yom Kippur holiday, and logistical barriers to rescheduling for another date. The Alumni Association expects to return to the in-person Prowl format in 2025. Information and registration.

The second annual Campus Cares Symposium, featuring Ted-style talks on health and wellbeing topics, takes place on Tuesday, September 10 from 9 a.m. – noon in Union 119. There will also be a Wellness Fair in the UWM Ballroom from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. that will include chair massages, pet therapy, a flu clinic, and much more. Both events are open to all students and employees.
Register by September 12 to receive the Zoom invite for this fall’s virtual book discussion on “The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace.” The virtual discussions will take place from 9 – 10 a.m. on Thursday mornings: September 26, October 10, October 24, and November 14. Registration. The book is available for free through UWM Libraries.
UWM TravelFest takes place on Thursday, September 19 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and brings together campus buyers, travelers, and travel support staff with preferred travel vendors from across the U.S. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with vendors and participate in live educational sessions with Universities of Wisconsin Travel Services and UWM leadership. The Vendor Fair will be held in the Union Ballroom and educational sessions will take place in the Fireside Lounge. Contact Alyssa Totoraitis (alyssa.totoraitis@wisconsin.edu) with questions.
All UWM employees are invited to participate in Conflict Transformation Circles, a professional development opportunity offered by the Division of Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity (formerly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Each circle will meet three times for 90-minute sessions on conflict styles, responsive strategies, and preparing for conflict. Information and registration.
UWM has updated its logo to improve accessibility, particularly on digital platforms. The new logo will be introduced first on digital platforms, including uwm.edu. Signage and other materials will be updated as part of their normal life cycle to control costs. The new logo will be officially announced to campus on September 12 during the Chancellor’s plenary. Learn more.
Signing onto the UWM WiFi network for the first time is easy. All you need to do is follow these setup instructions! Once you’ve got your devices connected, they’ll automatically reconnect whenever you’re on campus. The only time you’ll need to refresh your connection is after resetting your password. If you need assistance, please contact the UWM Help Desk (https://uwm.edu/helpdesk).

Join the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI) on Friday, September 27 from noon – 1 p.m. for the next virtual speaker series event, which features Dr. Robert Beck, associate professor of Political Science and former chief information officer (CIO) for UWM, speaking about the intersection of cyberpolitics and generative AI (GenAI) in educational settings. Information and registration.
The UWM Libraries invite you to a discussion on Wednesday, October 30 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Library Fourth Floor Conference Center. The discussion will examine emerging AI research tools, their benefits, and shortcomings from the viewpoints of information content providers, librarians, and users. Registration.