As the semester winds down, we find ourselves in a collective threshold—not quite here, not yet there. These in-between times are more than just transitional. They’re charged. Disorienting. Full of potential. In anthropology, liminality describes the threshold state in a rite of passage—when someone is no longer who they were, but not yet who they will become. Higher education is full of these moments: not just for students but for faculty, departments, and the university. We teach and learn in structures built around thresholds—finals, graduations, tenure clocks, and assessments. To recognize liminality is to consider the creative energy of change and imagine what’s possible.

Announcements and breaking news

This is not a trick question to garner compliments on our new shoes; rather, it’s an announcement that we’re giving the FAN a refresh! It’s a work in progress that will involve iterative changes, but it’s kicking off with this issue—and with an opportunity for you to share your input! We’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can make the FAN more useful to you, so please take a moment to fill out a quick survey to help guide our future FAN strategy. Thanks in advance!

Columbia Daily Tribune speculates that UMKC assistant professor Dr. Jennifer Maritza McCauley should be among those considered for Missouri Poet Laureate.

In the wake of tariffs reaching upwards of 145% on some Chinese goods, toy industry giant Mattel said it is considering raising prices. UMKC supply chain economist Larry Wigger said while holiday gifts are not in jeopardy, prices will likely be inflated. “There is a large chunk of people who are really getting hammered by inflation that are really going to be hurt by this." KSHB News  

Opportunities to get involved with CAFE

Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 Leadership Development Program—a cohort-based experience designed to sharpen your leadership skills, expand your campus network, and support your professional growth. Join fellow full-time faculty for retreats, workshops, and peer learning that will help you lead with purpose and confidence.

Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 CAFE Faculty Fellows cohort! This prestigious, year-long fellowship offers full-time faculty the chance to lead impactful initiatives, build cross-campus collaborations, and shape the future of faculty development at UMKC. Fellows commit ~8 hours/week and receive a $9,000 stipend (September–May) along with professional visibility, leadership tools, and structured support.

Explore opportunities across our pillars—from research mentoring to community-engaged learning and faculty–industry partnerships.

CAFE is In Search Of faculty who are ready to share their expertise by leading workshops and faculty learning communities. Whether you're hoping to spark new ideas, build new collaborations, or create momentum in your academic life, there’s a place for you here. These opportunities are not as time intensive as serving as a Faculty Fellow, yet offer faculty to contribute to the professional learning of their colleagues across UMKC.

Information that affects universities and education

In a move to decrease government spending, the Trump administration has cut more than 1,000 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants. Read what UMKC Associate Professor Joseph Ressler Hartman had to say to KOMU 8 reporter Ellie Compton about the impact of those cuts on UMKC, Kansas City, and Missouri.

Effective May 5, 2025, The National Science Foundation (NSF) is implementing an updated policy limiting indirect cost rate to 15%. This policy applies to all NSF financial assistance awards to IHEs made on or after May 5, 2025; it does not apply to awards made prior to May 5, or to continuing grants that existed prior to May 5. For more details, see the Policy Notice.

Growth and impact opportunities for faculty

Brookings argues the U.S. needs to invest more in regional infrastructure systems—like transit, broadband, and energy—that reflect how people actually live and work across metro areas. Register now for Pathways to regional prosperity: The case for investing in transformative infrastructure—a free online event on Wednesday, May 14 from 9-11 am CDT. Learn more about the Brookings approach, which would shift away from fragmented funding toward coordinated regional strategies that build economic resilience and equity. Want to join the CAFE watch party? That works too!

Ready to make your student-facing work more inclusive, accessible, and impactful? Join this interactive four-week learning community, combining in-person and online sessions with hands-on projects to reduce barriers and enhance student success.  Read more.
Begins May 30 | Includes Canvas-based asynchronous work
Register by sending a brief statement of interest to edwardsmatt@umkc.edu.

Join the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences for a one-day regional conference bringing together staff, faculty, and graduate students to explore research and discuss important aspects of higher education. Monday, June 9, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.
By attending this conference, you will:

Looking to sharpen your grant writing and recharge your professional vision? Join colleagues from across the region at the Heart of America 2025 Regional Conference, taking place Friday, July 18 at The Children's Mercy Research Institute in Kansas City. With dynamic sessions like Picture Perfect Proposals from Assel Grant Services and a keynote on uncovering your leadership “superpower” by John Hall, this one-day event offers practical tools and fresh perspective. Whether you're seeking funding, balance, or inspiration, this promises to be a day well spent. Register today.

All Campus Recruitment Training –  August 5th-6th 
As stewards of the UMKC student experience, UMKC faculty members play a crucial role in bringing talent, ambition, and opportunity through our doors. Even if you only help out with a few recruitment efforts throughout the year, we highly encourage you to attend the All Campus Recruitment Training to strengthen your impact on the future. Register today!

Essential CAFE happenings

Sunnyside Park was buzzing with joy during the UMKC Faculty Picnic! Faculty came solo or brought the whole crew—kids played, balloons floated, water flowed, and lawn games like cornhole kept everyone laughing. A huge shoutout to Bay Boy Sandwiches (UMKC alums!) for catering on their day off, and to Gwen Nally and Debra Leiter for organizing a beautiful afternoon of connection and community.

We forgot to take pictures... imagine sunshine, sandwich crumbs, and scholars in sunglasses—UMKC community at its best.

On April 29, UMKC unveiled a mural on the north wall of the Faculty Commons - A Mural in the Language of Today's Art by Mimmo Rotella (1918-2006).The event began with reflections from Provost Jennifer Lundgren and Dr. Nora Peterman, whose remarks helped frame the mural’s significance within the broader arc of UMKC’s history and academic mission. Following the unveiling, gallery talks by Scout Marshall and Chris Wolff offered deeper insight into the mural’s creation, conservation, and cultural context. Have a look at some of the photos and stop by Faculty Commons to see the mural.

Opportunities to share with your students

Do you know a student who’s making the most of UMKC’s academic support services? Encourage them to apply for the Academic Support Incentive Scholarship—a $1,500 award recognizing students who actively engage with resources like Supplemental Instruction, tutoring, and the Writing Studio. It’s a great opportunity for students who are putting in the effort to be recognized for their growth and commitment.

Antonio Byrd’s ethnographic study of Clearwater Academy, a nonprofit coding bootcamp, offers a powerful look at the lived experiences of low-income Black adult learners pursuing tech literacy as a path toward racial and economic justice. While systemic challenges—like racism, financial strain, and exclusionary tech culture—persist, Byrd highlights how learners are reframing coding as a liberatory practice that centers Black lives, not just tech careers. This is a story of resilience, redefinition, and transformation in the face of structural barriers. Congratulations Antonio Byrd!

Thresholds and Liminal Spaces explores how faculty become scholarly teachers by navigating moments of uncertainty, identity shift, and pedagogical growth. This short chapter offers a thoughtful lens on the discomfort—and potential—of learning to teach in transformative ways. “Threshold Concepts and the Transformative Potential of Liminal Spaces” – A curated set of short readings.

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