Provost's Update: Friday, August 21, 2026

Office of the Provost

Friday, August 21, 2026

Good afternoon, colleagues.

I have a short update on changes to the general education requirements. UWM began to revise general education offerings a few years ago. Then, in 2025, as part of state legislature Act 15, the UW system began to revise policies on the Core General Education Requirements (CGER). UWM has successfully implemented the system-mandated Core General Education Requirements, and incoming first-year students now choose from about 270 courses across six new categories, down from about 380 courses in fall 2025. See the new webpage about the CGER.

Important work remains, including managing both the old and new requirements, navigating new transfer rules, and advising students through their options. The Academic Program & Curriculum Committee (APCC) and Registrar’s Office will continue working together to provide greater clarity, while data professionals and the Registrar’s Office will work behind the scenes to streamline and automate processes that are currently manual.

Implementing new requirements so quickly and effectively across the undergraduate curriculum is a significant campus accomplishment. I want to thank the many faculty and staff who participated in this process, revised courses and syllabi, reviewed learning objectives, and more as we revised and updated the general education requirements.

One of the greatest strengths of UWM is the breadth and quality of the work taking place across our campus.

Associate Professor Jun Kim (Instrumental Conducting) recently conducted the Washington Chamber Orchestra at the Academy of Achievement’s International Achievement Summit in Washington, D.C., where world leaders and renowned artists gathered as part of the America 250 celebration. Invited to perform for the second time, the orchestra performed with Joshua Bell, Denyce Graves, Carole King and the 250-member Millennial Choir. Kim has served as artistic director of the Washington Chamber Orchestra since 2014. See more.

Assistant Professor Qingsu Cheng (Biomedical Engineering) has submitted an NSF CAREER award proposal. An NSF CAREER Award is a significant national recognition of an early-career faculty member's research promise. The highly competitive award provides multi-year support for an ambitious research program while also advancing innovative approaches to education and broader societal impacts, helping position recipients as emerging leaders in their fields. The CAREER proposal is a rigorous process that requires 5 years of planning and integrates research and education.

Associate Professor Ai Bo (Social Work) and Professor Razia Azen (Educational Psychology) have received an R21 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for the study titled, “Mechanisms of parenting on adolescent alcohol use: A meta-analytic structural equation modeling study.” See more information.

Our work toward the goals outlined in the 2030 Action Plan continues across the university.

Help us welcome over 3500 new Panthers to Campus. Sign-ups for Ask Me Tents, Housing Move-In Shifts, and Signature Events are still available.
“Don’t Cancel Class” is an initiative from the Student Health and Wellness Center that 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 training sessions 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.
As we prepare to welcome students for the new academic year, the Graduate School invites all new graduate students to participate in the New Graduate Student Orientation on Monday, August 24, from 1–4 p.m. (virtual). Orientation provides an excellent introduction to graduate life at UWM, with information on campus resources, student support services, funding opportunities, technology, and strategies for academic success. Following the orientation, all graduate students—new and returning—are invited to attend the All-Graduate Student Meet & Greet and Resource Fair from 4:30–6 p.m. in the UWM Student Union Ballroom. This informal event offers an opportunity to connect with fellow graduate students, meet representatives from campus resource offices, build community, and enjoy light refreshments. Registration is encouraged for both events. Additional information and registration are available for the Graduate School's New Graduate Student Orientation and Meet & Greet Resource Fair.
Creating a culture of care is a shared responsibility that supports learning. Even small actions can make a meaningful difference in students’ lives. The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health invites you to consider this list of strategies to support student mental health and well-being. You may find some new ideas! We encourage you to focus on the suggestions and resources that feel natural and appropriate for you. Thank you for your care and commitment to our students!
Starting August 18, all UWM dining and retail locations are now cashless. Here are the payment forms that will be accepted: Debit/credit cards, Digital wallets, Dining Dollars, and Panther Cash. A cash-to-card kiosk is available near the Burger King location in the UWM Student Union. If students are on UWM’s Flex Dining plan, they save up to 13.4% with Dining Dollars. Find out more about the Flex Dining plan at this webpage.
UWM faculty, teaching staff, and undergraduate students interested in building dialogue facilitation skills are invited to apply to join the 2026–27 cohort of At the Table, a program designed to foster civil dialogue at UWM. At the Table is a year-long program led by Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity (CEII) that brings together instructors and students to build facilitation skills and strengthen civil dialogue at UWM. CEII is recruiting six undergraduate students and six faculty or instructional academic staff members for the 2026–27 cohort of At the Table. Learn more and apply online by Friday, September 25.
Master’s and Doctoral students in any discipline are invited to propose an event or program to the Center for 21st Century Studies for the Spring 2027 semester. Selected submissions will be developed in collaboration with C21 staff and will be provided with a working budget of $1,000. See more information, applications, and register for an informational session.

Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity (CEII) presents the Fall 2026 Book Series! We will be reading Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents - and What They Mean for America’s Future by Jean M. Twenge. A limited number of copies of the book are available from CEII on a first-come basis or can be purchased via Amazon. We will meet via Zoom on Thursdays from 11-12 (noon) on the following dates: 9/24, 10/8, 10/29, and 11/12. Register online by September 4. We will send the Zoom link after registration.
Classroom Services is offering online training on Lecture Capture and Lightboard later this month. Learn to use these classroom tools, speak with a member of the Classroom Services team, and get your questions answered. Learn more and register.
Over the last few years, the IT community has collaborated across campus to create the IT and Data Adaptive Strategic Plan. An overview of the plan, along with the IT & Data Governance structures created alongside this effort, is now available for the UWM community to review on our new webpage. The strategic plan and governance structure were formally adopted in June 2025. It will be assessed each year to determine if any changes are needed to maximize impact and will adapt to any evolving technology or challenges.
Join the Center for Student Experience and Talent (SET) as they support the Lloyd Barbee School in preparing for the return of students. All are invited on Monday, August 24, to help faculty set up their classrooms for students' return. This is a fun, interactive opportunity that helps build a stronger relationship with the Milwaukee Public School system and our incredible service-learning partner, Lloyd Barbee Montessori School. Sign up here.

The Division of Research is pleased to welcome Joel Fogelson as UWM’s Strategic Innovation & Partnership Officer. In this role, Joel will oversee our strategic partnerships activities to deepen current partnerships and broaden our portfolio by adding new partners, thus promoting innovation and research in a cohesive manner. See full announcement.
Professor Thomas Haigh (History) and the RetroLab were recently featured in an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Retrolab, run by Haigh, is a working collection of computing systems, peripherals, and software from the 1980s and ’90s. Read the article.
Studio art alum Julia Bradfish (BFA 2023) is Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel’s first back-to-back artist-in-residence. In a recent TMJ4 profile, Bradfish discussed her abstract painting process and how the residency has allowed her to pursue her artistic practice full time. See more.
Professor Melinda Kavanaugh (Social Work) was recently quoted in a New York Times article on young caregivers. Read the article.
UWM AccessPT—a student-led physical therapy clinic in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program—offers physical therapy services through clinical laboratory settings to those without insurance, with limited insurance, or who have difficulty accessing physical therapy services. Appointments are available on Thursdays at two locations. Students work in pairs to treat each patient under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist faculty member. Students get hands-on experiences to complement what they are learning in the classroom, and community members have access to physical therapy and wellness services at no cost. See more information and how to book an appointment.
The Leonard E. Parker Center for Gravitation, Cosmology, and Astrophysics invites you to explore the dark side of our galaxy with Professor Kareem El-Badry of the California Institute of Technology on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The lecture, “The Galactic Underworld: Finding Invisible Black Holes,” will discuss how astronomers find black holes and what it tells us about the universe. The event will be held at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center (LEC). There will be a reception at 6:30 PM, and the program starts at 7:00 PM. RSVP online by September 8, 2026. See more information.
Wildfire smoke is becoming an increasingly familiar part of summer in Wisconsin, and its health effects can extend far beyond irritated eyes and lungs. Professor Amy Kalkbrenner (Environmental Health Sciences) recently spoke with Door County Knock about the health risks associated with wildfire smoke and poor air quality. Read more
The EnQuest Program, a summer camp for high school students hosted by the College of Engineering & Applied Science, was featured in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. EnQuest offers two camp experiences that aim to stimulate interest in engineering and STEM fields. See more.
Theatre alum Travis A. Knight (BFA 2007, Theatre) is making his Broadway debut as James in “Paranormal Activity” at the August Wilson Theatre. Knight, who originally worked on the production as associate director, credits his UWM education and faculty mentors with building the collaborative approach and confidence that have shaped his nearly two-decade professional career. See more.
The UWM Research Foundation has awarded $250,000 in new Catalyst Grant funding to four research teams in the College of Engineering & Applied Science and one in the Department of Physics. The funding is supporting technologies in artificial intelligence, energy systems, cybersecurity, and advanced materials. Catalyst Grants provide critical support for UWM research projects with commercial potential. See more.
What does water quality research have to do with a triathlon? Quite a lot when thousands of athletes are swimming in Lake Michigan! Associate Professor Todd Miller (Environmental Health Sciences) teamed up with USA Triathlon to monitor Lake Michigan water temperatures for its 2026 Milwaukee event. Using a solar-powered “Panther buoy” developed by Miller and his students, organizers and athletes could access real-time temperature data leading up to the competition—valuable information in a Great Lake where conditions can change quickly. Read more.

Thank you for the work you do every day on behalf of our students and for the contributions you make to UWM's teaching, research, and community-engaged mission.

Best,

Tina Freiburger, PhD
Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs