Provost's Update: Friday, August 22, 2025

Office of the Provost

Friday, August 22, 2025

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

As another summer winds to a close, the campus is busy with preparations for students to return and classes to resume. Now, more than any other fall semester, it feels like UWM is at a turning point. We are weathering a challenging financial situation, we are welcoming a large undergraduate class, and the state has passed a biennial budget that has impacts across the state and UWM. Every day, there is more said about shifts in higher education, pivots in policy, changing demographics, and perceptions about the value of higher education as a social good. Through all of this, I understand the justified concerns of many faculty and staff.

I also see opportunities for our students, researchers, faculty, and staff. At the June Board of Regents’ meeting, I shared that we A.R.E. UWM. The A.R.E. is for Access, Research, and Engagement in the community as an urban-serving institution. UWM’s tripartite commitment to groundbreaking research and broad access is a rare and powerful combination— and when you add the access component, which is reflected in our newest Carnegie designation in Social Mobility. Few institutions dare to pursue such a challenging balance, and even fewer succeed. We have faculty doing groundbreaking and amazing research, and faculty and instructional academic staff who are doing amazing work in the classroom, advancing learning for our students. We have leaders who have been bold and aspirational in addressing the unique and complex challenges and opportunities in various units.

As we begin this semester, I encourage you to engage with campus resources so that together we can continue our incredible work throughout this academic year.

Recruitment and retention: Learn more about the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, which focuses on retention and recruitment and was launched this summer. This plan touches nearly every part of the university.
Advance student learning: If you teach, engage with CETL to learn strategies and skills and be equipped to create learning environments where students can succeed. See upcoming opportunities.
Shared governance: Get involved to ensure that UWM continues to be a place where many voices are heard and our policy and procedure decisions benefit our students and employees. Learn more about shared governance.
Tell the story: There are incredible things happening at UWM, groundbreaking research, service to our community, advances in technology, and excellence in creative activity. Share your scholarship, presentations, awards, and creative activity news.

Prof. Konstantin Sobolev (Civil Engineering) has been awarded The Arthur R. Anderson Medal by the American Concrete Institute (ACI), “for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of innovations in nanomaterials and nanotechnology, and effective knowledge transfer through publications, presentations, and ACI document development activities.”

Connie Schroeder (CETL) and Assoc. Prof. Hilary Snow (Art history and Asian studies) 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.”

Prof. Jeffrey Sommers (African & African Diaspora Studies) on Fulbright in Romania, made a public policy intervention on Central & Eastern European (CEE) housing in the European Union's top social democratic publishing outlet, "Social Europe." See the article.

Assoc. Prof. Sabine Heuer (Communication Sciences & Disorders) was named the 2025 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year at the UWM Undergraduate Research Symposium. Sabine has mentored students for many years through the Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program and the Success Through Aging Research (STAR) program. An excerpt from her student nominations reads: “[Sabine] made it clear that my voice, thoughts, and ideas mattered in our research. She also balances praise and feedback in a way that encourages growth. [...] She empowers us to believe in our potential, to trust our voices, and to take ownership of our growth.”

The Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA), an alliance of 17 Southeastern Wisconsin higher education institutions and partners, has awarded five UWM initiatives through the HERA microcredentials project. HERA received federal funding to accelerate the development and implementation of new microcredential programs, helping employees throughout Southeastern Wisconsin learn new skills to advance in high-demand careers. Congratulations to the five initiatives at UWM receiving awards:

Digital Manufacturing Leadership Microcredential
Continuing Education English for Health Care Providers
Applied Econometrics and Machine Learning
NMDSI Multiple Business or Healthcare Undergraduate or Graduate Microcredentials
Psychology/Social Work Trauma-Informed Microcredential for Urban School Districts

David Mulroy, professor emeritus, Classics, passed away on April 1, 2025, at the age of 81. Mulroy began teaching in the Classics department at UWM in 1973 and was at UWM for nearly 40 years. A memorial service will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, August 22, in the UWM Golda Meir Library Conference Center. See the full obituary.

"Don't Cancel Class” is a new 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 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! To learn more or request a program, visit the Don’t Cancel Class website.
Get excited for Panther Transition Experience (PTE)! PTE is UWM’s first major student retention initiative of the academic year. Expect to see groups of students around campus each of these days attending workshops, visiting support resources, and participating in UWM traditions. Check out the Fall 2025 Transition Programs Overview and the PTE Shareable Schedule to learn more. There are still a few open shifts to help with Fall Welcome activities. These are easy opportunities for faculty and staff to offer support and guidance in informal, high-impact ways. See what shifts are available and help fill these remaining roles. If you have any questions, please reach out to nsp-staff@uwm.edu!
UWM TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) has received a Title IV Federal Grant Renewal for 2025-2030, expected to yield $1.89 million to support first-generation, income-qualified, and students with disabilities to earn UWM baccalaureate degrees. UWM has hosted TRIO SSS since 1970. The program's ultimate goals are to enhance retention, persistence, and graduation rates of selected UWM first-generation, income-qualified, and students with documented disabilities. TRIO SSS participants are enrolled throughout UWM's thirteen undergraduate schools and colleges. See more.
Campus colleagues have hosted strategic enrollment management (SEM) strategy sessions throughout the summer, outlining their engagement in SEM planning and efforts to impact enrollment positively. Review the strategy sessions website to catch up, view PowerPoint presentations, and listen to session recordings. Announcements and future opportunities for engagement will continue to be shared on the SEM Updates page.
The UWM Graduate School will host their Virtual New Graduate Student Orientation, followed by an in-person Meet and Greet event in the Union Ballroom on Monday, August 25. The event will be hosted virtually. The Meet and Greet event, for all graduate students, will take place in the Union Ballroom from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will feature resource departments from around campus. Orientation is designed to serve as a general overview of topics related to graduate student life at UWM. The Graduate School’s orientation is different from any new graduate student orientation that your academic program may offer. Please check with your department for program-specific information. See complete information about these events.

This fall, UWM’s Division of Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity (CEII) invites all faculty and staff to the next installment of our book series: “The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong,” written by civil rights scholar John A. Powell. The fall book discussions include four virtual Wednesday sessions from 11 a.m. – noon. The discussions will be co-facilitated by Elizabeth Drame, Professor of Teaching and Learning and Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of CEII, and Sarah MacDonald, CEII Training and Dispute Resolution Specialist. See dates and register online by Sept. 5.
Classroom Services is offering Lecture Capture and Light Board training webinars this fall. Lecture Capture is a tool to record lectures or presentations easily. Light Board is a large backlit pane of glass on which instructors draw while speaking into a camera. Learn to use these classroom tools, get a chance to talk with a member of the Classroom Services team, and get your questions answered before the semester begins. See the times and register for Lecture Capture training or Light Board training. For more information, view the Lecture Capture Support Links KnowledgeBase article.
Get your campus technology ready. Returning to work? Make sure your technology is ready to go back to work with you! Information technology has a short list of easy-to-follow steps to prepare your campus technology after you come back from a break. See the full list to ensure your technology is ready.
The UWM Alumni Association's Executive Committee met in July and has determined not to host the Panther Prowl 5K Run/Walk in 2025. Unfortunately, ongoing uncertainty regarding road construction in and around campus has made scheduling and route planning infeasible. The Alumni Association appreciates everyone’s support of the Prowl throughout the years and looks forward to continuing to engage with UWM’s alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends throughout the year.
All UWM employees are invited to register for Conflict Transformation workshops offered by the Division of Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity (CEII). This series of three professional development workshops will address conflict styles, strategies for responding to conflict in the moment, and proactive ways to prepare for conflict before it occurs. Each workshop is offered both in person and virtually. The workshops build on each other, so it’s recommended to attend all three, if possible, but this is not required. Workshops begin Sept. 23. See a complete listing of dates and times.
Starting August 24, Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) will be making some major route changes that affect routes near UWM. One major change is that Route 49U, serving Brown Deer Park & Ride, has been eliminated. Instead, Route 68 will provide service to UWM from that Park & Ride. Additionally, every local route that starts or ends on campus will do so along Kenwood Boulevard between Maryland Avenue and Downer Avenue. In addition, U-Buses will start or end their trips on Downer Avenue and Hampshire Street, just north of Kenwood Boulevard. Look for signage around current bus stops notifying riders of any changes to the routes. See the MCTS website for full details.
Please be advised that for the remainder of the 2025–2026 academic year, parking at the Heat Plant (Lot 18/19) will be limited to permit holders only, Monday – Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and limited hourly parking outside of those hours. If you are a permit holder for Lot 18/19 and are unable to find a parking space, please contact Transportation Services for assistance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

On July 23, 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an article entitled, "At UWM, scientists find a community of researchers, and a chance to share work with public," featuring UWM's Assistant Professor of Physics, Lia Medeiros, and the UWM Center for Gravitation, Cosmology and Astrophysics (CGCA), on breakthroughs in the study of black holes, gravitational waves, and public outreach including UWM Planetarium events as well as the CGCA "Coffee Shop Astrophysics" program, in which UWM graduate students give public talks about astrophysics to audiences of all ages.
A Bader Philanthropies grant is supporting students’ travel to England with UWM's Historic Preservation Institute for a field-based digital preservation seminar. School of Architecture & Urban Planning students will travel to Herstmonceux Castle in England this fall for a digital preservation seminar led by Historic Preservation Institute Director Matt Jarosz and Adjunct Assistant Professor Amanda Wagner. The seminar builds on previous work by students to support conservation efforts at one of Europe’s oldest surviving brick castles using field-based documentation and advanced scanning technologies.
UWM AccessPT is a student-led physical therapy clinic integrated within the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at UW-Milwaukee. We aim to provide physical therapy services to those lacking insurance, with limited insurance, or who have difficulty accessing physical therapy services. Students work together in pairs to treat each patient under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist faculty member. This allows our students to get hands-on experiences to complement what they are learning in the classroom, as well as promote collaborative working relationships with their peers. Learn more.
The College of Health Professions & Sciences (CHPS) and the Lubar College of Business have introduced a new dual-degree program: the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA). This interdisciplinary program is designed to cultivate leaders who can adeptly navigate both the clinical and business facets of health care organizations. See more.