Provost's Update: Friday, February 20, 2026

Office of the Provost

Friday, February 20, 2026

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

Student retention and academic success remain key priorities and indicators of institutional effectiveness and student well-being. As an access institution, UWM serves a large population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students. These student populations are particularly at-risk during their first year. I want to highlight one pilot initiative that began in the fall of 2025.

The Grade Recovery Pilot Program for new first-year students offers a critical second-chance pathway, allowing students to convert courses in which they received an F  to “no credit,” eliminating the impact of the F on their GPA. Students can still opt in by May 15, so the data is preliminary. Overall participation has been strong: 370 of 788 eligible students, or 47% so far, have opted in. By opting in, 199 students have improved their cumulative GPA sufficiently to move out of academic warning (formally called probation) status, bringing the campus-wide rate for new freshmen to 12.7% (down from 18.1%). 

Schools, colleges, and Student Success and Enrollment Management are working on enhancing supports and monitoring this new program; but overall, these results underscore the importance of proactive, student-centered strategies. We continue to strengthen student supports to provide academic enrichment opportunities, coupled with interventions that help students recover academically. These tactics strengthen persistence, support equitable outcomes, and reinforce our commitment to student success.

Here are a few steps you can take with students in or out of the classroom to boost retention.

If you are an instructor, you will receive a message next week about Progress Reports. Please use Navigate to tell us how your students are doing. The progress report window runs from February 23 to March 22. Your participation is a tremendous help. 
Encourage your students to meet with their academic advisor. Enrollment for the Fall 2026 semester will be here before we know it.
Remind students that they can file their FAFSA for next year! Doing so sets students up for success as they continue at UWM.

I appreciate all the efforts underway to ensure that every one of our students has a path to success. Your efforts to educate, support, and engage students make UWM a great place to learn.

110 faculty and instructional staff have registered for a year-long Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) course offered through the Center for Advanced Learning (CASL). There is representation from every college and school at UWM. There are two cohorts participating in the effective teaching practices course focused on in-person teaching, and one cohort focused on effective teaching practices for teaching online. I appreciate these faculty and staff for their commitment to classroom excellence and our students.

Distinguished Prof. Mark Schwartz (Geography) has received the 2026 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Distinguished Scholarship Honors. AAG Honors are offered annually to recognize outstanding accomplishments by members in research and scholarship, teaching, education, service to the discipline, public service outside academe, and for lifetime achievement. See more.

Professor Philip Chang (Physics) recently collaborated on a paper on dark matter highlighted by New Scientist. Read more.

As part of an ongoing partnership between Panther Athletics and UWM’s Academic Affairs, UWM Research is the presenting sponsor of the last home game of the men’s basketball season. We will celebrate UWM undergraduate research at the Wednesday, February 25, men’s basketball game. The game will feature on-court recognition of UWM undergraduate researchers and their mentors!

Milwaukee Panthers Men's Basketball Vs Youngstown State Penguins
Wed • Feb 25, 2026 • 7:00 PM
UW - Milwaukee Panther Arena

Wear your black and gold and come out to support our student athletes and undergraduate research!

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. The Dean of Students Office invites all faculty and staff to attend the workshop, Support U: Fostering a Culture of Support at UWM. You’ll learn how 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. This workshop is especially useful for new employees and those interested in learning more about the support function of the Dean of Students Office. See dates and times and register online.
Summer 2026 textbook and technology needs: Instructors are reminded to submit all textbook and course technology needs for Summer 2026 by March 23. Completing submissions on time ensures materials are available for students and supports a smooth start to the term. Review the Guide to Textbook and Course Content Selection for resources and information on textbook options.

UWM faculty and instructional staff are encouraged to attend a training session on Classroom Disruptions and Campus Safety this semester. The training covers how to respond to students in crisis, manage disruptive behavior, and act in the event of a violent incident. The presentation, co-developed by the Dean of Students Office and the UWM Police Department, is designed to ensure that all faculty and staff are equipped to respond effectively to situations that could impact the safety and well-being of the UWM community. Multiple 90-minute training sessions are available, both in person and virtually, throughout the spring semester. To find details on dates, times, and registration, visit the training webpage. For questions about registration or the presentation, please email safety-training@uwm.edu.
Learn how to maximize your efforts for the upcoming 414 for UWM Giving Days, which has grown into one of UWM's best fundraising opportunities of the year. Join campus colleagues, communicators, and marketers from across UWM for this important lunchtime training session with University Advancement experts. Join us on Wednesday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to Noon or from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center & UWM Welcome Center in the Manpower Conference Room (2nd Floor). A free lunch will be served, and you only need to attend one of the two one-hour sessions offered. Then you'll be ready to reach the donors who matter to you and your programs during 414 for UWM Giving Days on April 13 and 14, 2026. Register online. Questions? Contact Zach Mock at zrmock@uwm.edu.
Join Deanna Singh and UWM alum Justin Ponder '02, ’04, as they discuss their new book, The Bridging Leader. In today’s rapidly changing workplace—where technical skills are increasingly automated—they make the case that human connection is your greatest competitive advantage. Learn a practical framework for leading teams, solving complex challenges, and driving organizational success on Thursday, March 5, at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom. Learn more and RSVP. Questions? Please contact Abby Rojas at strozins@uwm.edu.
The Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) has shared more detailed guidance should there be federal immigration activity on UW campuses. There is no indication of any planned federal action at UWM or in the Milwaukee community. UWM’s new Guidance on Federal Immigration Activity webpage offers comprehensive FAQs related to several topics. UWM will continue to closely monitor federal immigration policies and enforcement that may affect our students, faculty, and staff. Find more information on federal activity at UWM’s Federal Updates webpage or at UWs Federal Updates site. 
The spring 2026 TechTraining course schedule is now available. View the schedule and register for a free course today! Upcoming courses include Collaborating with Teams, Excel Fundamentals, File Storage & Sharing: OneDrive, Teams & SharePoint, Teams Calls, Teams Calls: Shared Phone Numbers.

All are invited to the 2026 Community Empowerment & Justice Symposium on Friday, April 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Sheldon B. Lubar College of Business, first floor. This year's symposium will highlight explorations and experiences of challenges and opportunities, how these intersect with other asymmetries of power, and how we can work together to foster greater justice. The keynote speaker this year is Dr. Lea Denny, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the HIR Wellness Institute. This program is sponsored by the UWM Honors College and the Division of Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity, and co-sponsored by UWM Student Involvement and the Office of Undergraduate Research. Learn more and register online.
Nathan B.D. Connolly, the Herbert Baxter Adams Associate Professor of History at Johns Hopkins University, is the esteemed speaker for the Department of History's 6th Annual Jere D. McGaffey Lecture, presenting "Letters from the Ancestors: Family History and Our Capitalist Future.” Dr. Connolly's research interests include twentieth-century America, racism, capitalism, urban and suburban history, and African diaspora. This presentation is free and open to the public on Thursday, April 2, at 3:00 p.m. in the Student Union, Alumni Fireside Lounge. See more.
Spectrum News Milwaukee featured a story in February about the bacterial decontamination research of Troy Skwor (Biomedical Sciences) and Qingsu Cheng (Biomedical Engineering). The two are collaborating on a USDA grant, led by Cheng, that aims to develop a technology that assures the quality of reclaimed water used to irrigate crops. View the story online.