Provost's Update: Friday, September 5, 2025

Office of the Provost

Friday, September 5, 2025

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

Welcome back to the faculty, staff and students. I hope you have had an enjoyable summer and are feeling refreshed for a new academic year. This week and last week, we welcomed new students to UWM, and I've had several conversations about the excitement and energy on campus.

I am appreciative of everyone who volunteered, answered questions, moved items into dorm rooms, or even just said a quick hello to our new students. I am especially grateful for those who organized the Panther Transition Experience (PTE) and are still organizing all the Fall Welcome events. These experiences—from yoga and tailgates to in-depth campus tours and the upcoming involvement fair—have been a phenomenal welcome. Students have many opportunities to find their place and community at UWM. In my opinion, one of the best traditions is the class photo. This year, we welcomed the Class of 2029 at Spaights Plaza.

As we begin a new academic year, instructors are crucial in fostering a sense of belonging for our students. If you are in a classroom this semester, I encourage you to build on that momentum and engage with students on their journeys, whether it’s their first semester or their eighth. The sense of belonging students feel on campus is a key indicator of student success. Transition periods, such as the start of a semester or changes in workload and management of expectations, are crucial moments for students on their academic journey. See a recent literature review on student belonging.

I hope that you continue to find ways to build community at UWM this academic year. Consider supporting our student athletes at Milwaukee Athletics events, attending arts events through Peck School of the Arts, or joining any other events on campus.

I am proud of the community we have built at UWM, and we have much to be proud of. I am excited about the Make New Waves campaign that highlights the incredible work of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. Telling the story of UWM, from our work in public health and freshwater sciences, to more than 300 artistic and performance events, to discoveries amongst the stars with gravitational waves, connects us and showcases our collective impact. The intentional sharing of news and this campaign demonstrates the value of UWM to our community, state, and beyond. See the campaign and read about some UWM Wave Makers.

Prof. Emeritus Michael J. Mikos (Ancient and Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) has edited and translated, with notes, “Finally the World,” by Wojciech Kudyba. Bloomington, IN: Slavica Publishers, 2025.

Prof. Vytaras Brazauskas (Mathematical Sciences) has been named the recipient of the 2025 Society of Actuaries Outstanding Educator Award. This prestigious award recognizes his "exceptional dedication to teaching, mentoring, program-building, and advancing actuarial science through research and innovation.” Learn more.

Correction from previous Provost Update: Connie Schroeder (CETL) and Assoc. Teaching Prof. Hilary Snow (Honors) co-authored a chapter in the National College Honors Council's newest edited volume, “Where Honors Education and Faculty Development Meet.” The chapter is “Leadership and Change from Within: An Honors College and CTL Partnership.”

Peter Sands, Director of the UWM Honors College and Associate Professor of English, has been elected to the Council on Honors Education Executive Board for a three-year term. COHE is the advocacy, policy, and leadership organization for Honors colleges and programs at APLU-member institutions. Dr. Sands has also been reappointed to the Professional Development Committee of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC).

Assoc. Prof. David DiValerio (History and Religious Studies) has published a new book with Columbia University Press, “Mountain Dharma: Meditative Retreat and the Tibetan Ascetic Self.” More information.

UWM Chinese Program student Hidayah Osman earned the honor of representing the U.S. Midwest at the 24th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, held in China in August 2025. Competing among 155 top contestants from 133 countries and regions, she showcased her Chinese proficiency on an international stage. Her achievement highlights both the strength of UWM’s Chinese language education in the Midwest and UWM’s growing global presence. Hidayah expressed heartfelt gratitude to her teacher, Lu Yin, for her dedicated mentorship and support. Watch the video about “Chinese Bridge.”

Distinguished Professor Reginald Horsman (History) passed away on August 20, 2025, at the age of 93. Horsman started at UWM in 1958. Over the decades, he became one of the university’s most respected historians. He retired in 1999 but remained an active researcher. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sep. 6. See full obituary and service details.

Professor Emeritus George Davida (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) passed away on August 19, 2025, at the age of 81. Davida, a pioneer in the field of cybersecurity, was on the faculty at UWM from 1970 until his retirement in 2010. More information and a complete obituary.

UWM and Beloit College have partnered to provide an opportunity for Beloit College students to earn an accelerated Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) degree. Students in this program graduate with a BA or BS from Beloit College and MSAT from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in five years. See more information about UWM's Athletic Training program.
The Dean of Students Office invites all faculty and staff to attend the workshop, Support U: Fostering a Culture of Support at UWM. Have you interacted with a student that you were especially concerned about, but you didn’t quite know what to say, who to tell, or what to do? Perhaps the student confided in you about a serious personal issue, said something that led you to worry about them, or acted in a way that concerned you. You’ll learn tools to identify and support students who may be experiencing challenges or crises. You’ll also learn how to make referrals, seek assistance, and connect students to the Dean of Students Office Case Managers, as well as campus and community resources. See workshop dates and times.
Kick off the school year with the UWM Alumni Association, Future Alumni Network, and Student Association! Join us for free breakfast and faux-mosas while we share details about the Senior Class Gift. on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 10 to 11 a.m. at UWM Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Room 250. Register online.
The Student Parent Success Program, The Center for International Education, and the UWM Graduate School are collaborating to host a Children’s Clothing Drive for UWM graduate students. Do you have gently used children’s clothing that your little one has outgrown? Consider donating! Drop off items at the Graduate School (Mitchell Hall, Room 261 – second floor) anytime between August 4th and October 24th.
This fall, the Golda Meir Library continues to address college affordability issues for UWM students by providing access to affordable or open course content. In collaboration with CETL, the Library supported faculty adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) in Chinese, Political Science, and Social Work. Additionally, Astronomy 175 replaced its $110 textbook with an OER, thanks to a grant from the Universities of Wisconsin. To date, UWM's OER initiative has saved students nearly $6 million in textbook costs. Also, the Library is providing access to 163 e-books assigned by faculty for course use, saving students over $240,000 in costs for the fall semester. The student savings in GEO SCI 109 alone are $13,125. The textbook cost for BUS ADM 788-002 went from $615 to $0.
September is National Student Parent Month, and UW-Milwaukee is celebrating over 1,300 student parents who attend UWM! These events celebrate student parents: Sept. 3 – Student Parent Coffee Hour at the Women’s Resource Center, Sept. 13 – Student Parent Welcome, and Sept. 28 – UWM Families at the UWM Panthers Women's Soccer Game. See full information about these events and support for student parents.
UWM will be hosting five fall careers fairs from September 30 to October 2 in the Student Union from 1-4 p.m. All students are encouraged to attend! See the full listings for all the career fair events.
Get prepared for the career fairs! Have your resume reviewed and learn new tips on how to introduce yourself to employers! The Career Closet and photobooth will be available for your professional branding to be at its best on Tuesday, September 23, from 1-3 p.m. in Vogel Hall. More information.

MarComm is hosting its Photo Headshot Week Sept. 22-25. This is intended to make scheduling photo headshots easy for faculty and staff who need new or updated headshots from a professional photographer. Headshot week is offered at the start of each semester in the team’s new studio in Cunningham Hall, Room B151. See the MarComm Photo Headshot Week webpage for details on scheduling and answers to many questions on how to prepare for a headshot. For a photo at any time, UWM's Center for Student Experience and Talent (SET) offers a free photo booth service in Vogel Hall for students, faculty, and staff to use. See the SET webpage for more details.
The UWM Help Desk will have new hours for the fall semester beginning September 2. Call Center Hours – Fall 2025
- Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Saturday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Division of Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity is seeking 18 facilitators to help guide table conversations as part of an upcoming event on Friday, October 17, from 4–7:30 p.m. Renewing Our Civic Culture will feature a guest lecture by Dr. Jed Atkins, a distinguished scholar of civic engagement and constructive dialogue. His talk will be followed by a meal with facilitated small-group discussion at each table, intended to inspire reflection and thoughtful exchange among attendees. This is a meaningful opportunity to help shape our civic culture on campus and beyond, so please consider serving as a facilitator! Facilitators will receive a stipend. See full information and submit a form to indicate your interest by September 19.
UWM is hosting the annual Campus Cares Symposium and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the UWM Student Union. The symposium will feature three workshops on supporting neurodiverse students, led by Emily Raclaw, director of Marquette University’s On Your Marq Center, for faculty, staff, and students. A Wellness Fair, taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wisconsin Room in the Student Union, will feature activities and information designed to enhance your health and wellness. The event will include chair massages, pet therapy, a flu clinic, giant Jenga, meditation sessions, and more. Employees will also find extensive information on benefits as part of the upcoming open enrollment period. See full information and times.

Shevaun Watson, Director of Composition, had the opportunity to talk about UWM's innovative critical AI literacy curriculum in English 101 on WTMJ's Wisconsin's Midday News. Dr. Watson was joined by Dr. Gabriel Velez, Associate Professor of Education at Marquette University to discuss AI and education. To listen to the audio, scroll to Aug. 22 for the segment “Teaching AI in the Classroom.”
The Emile H. Mathis Art Gallery is delighted to announce its first exhibition of the 2025-26 academic year, Max Arthur Cohn: Industrial Subjects. The opening reception is on Thursday, September 18th, from 5 – 7 p.m., and curatorial remarks will begin at 5:30 p.m. See complete exhibit information.
On June 15-20, 30 educators from Access-Oriented Institutions (AOIs) from Wisconsin, Illinois and surrounding areas came to UWM for a week-long Summer Institute on Reading and Writing Pedagogy. The Institute was sponsored by the Modern Language Association (MLA), UWM's College of Letters & Sciences, and Madison College. It was co-facilitated by Shevaun Watson, UWM faculty in English and Director of Composition, and Sarah Johnson, Madison College Writing Center Director and Chair of English. The MLA received funding from the Mellon Foundation to offer competitive grants of $20,000 each to pairs of 2- and 4-year colleges that are committed access institutions. Eleven graduate TAs and faculty from UWM participated. The Milwaukee Institute focused on improving the teaching of reading and writing, particularly in relation to AI and assessment.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Caregiving Symposium will explore the needs of the most hidden and vulnerable caregivers – children, youth, and young adults – on Monday, Oct. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the UW-Milwaukee Student Union Ballroom. Led by Social Work Professor Melinda S. Kavanaugh, the symposium covers topics including caregiving advocacy and laws and policies affecting family caregivers. The cost to attend is $25, and participants will earn 6 CEHs. Please register by Monday, Sept. 29. More information and registration.
You are invited to the Fall Asia in Conversation Series. The conversation is scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. Lajwanti Waghray, Professor and Documentary Filmmaker, Dept. of Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres, will be discussing “Memory, Displacement, and Belonging: Immigration, individual memory, collective history, and filmmaking.” The event is open to the public. Registration is required. The Asia in Conversation series is intended to showcase the academic and social significance of the creative work on Asia at UWM in science, social science, the arts, and humanities. It takes the form of informal (but not casual) conversations between UWM faculty and their interlocutors in the wider world. This series is co-sponsored by UWM Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity and the William F. Vilas Trust. Register online.

Several divisions are collaborating under the direction of the provost on a steering committee for Institutional Excellence, which will be led by Kaushal Chari, Dean of the Lubar College of Business. The goal of this group is to improve UWM rankings in national and international publications, increase international student recruitment, and increase external faculty recognition and student awards. See a slideshow overview of this committee’s charge. There will be more updates as the steering committee begins its work in the coming months.