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3/15/2023

Chancellor Ford's Message to Campus: Thank you

Dear Colleagues, 

THANK YOU! Thank you for your robust and thoughtful engagement during the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) team visit as part of our university’s reaffirmation for reaccreditation. Our incredible campus community was the centerpiece of my introductory comments, which stated, “UW-Parkside prides itself as a mission-driven learning community focused on student success, academic excellence, community engagement, and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We embrace continuous improvement and use evidence-based practices and data to make strategic decisions and investments. Our assurance argument demonstrates alignment with our mission; actions rooted in shared governance; shared learning goals of communication, reasoned judgment, social & personal responsibility; and progress on improving retention, persistence, and completion. As chancellor, I am exceptionally proud of the progress we have made since our last reaffirmation for reaccreditation in 2013, and of how we have embraced HLC’s Open Pathway processes. Highlights for me include the breadth and depth of assessment across curricular and co-curricular activities; growth in innovative programs; adherence to university policies and a culture of compliance; and mission-aligned strategic planning.”  

During the visit, each of you helped the team develop a deeper understanding of the UW-Parkside learning community, our accomplishments, challenges, and our opportunities for growth, as the HLC team also noted. Several team members saw teaching and learning in action from a tour of our learning environment. Our students shared insights about their educational experiences inside and outside of the classroom. Our Foundation and Advisory Board members and community partners highlighted the strength and the reach of UW-Parkside’s partnerships across our region. 

The HLC visit team appreciated the prominent level of campus engagement and the diverse perspectives shared during their meetings. They asked me to say THANK YOU on their behalf for your involvement throughout the reaffirmation of accreditation process and campus visit! They were impressed with our collaboration and teamwork. Thank you for making this a “wonderful comprehensive visit” stated the team Chair, Dr. Rydell. 

During the exit interview they highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement. The strengths included experiential learning and community-based learning; our student-centered philosophy; our shared JEDI journey based on a history of commitments from faculty, staff, alumni, and students; and significant involvement with community stakeholders. The HLC team also noted that the campus is very much centered around student success and appreciated the updated facilities and the infrastructure. The team recognized the commitment of faculty, staff, and leadership to continuous improvement.

The team encouraged us to continue to improve our assessment practices and publicly share our student learning outcomes; develop the administrative infrastructure to support our growing graduate programs; adapt our policies/processes to meet current needs; continue to work with shared governance to address fiscal and enrollment challenges; and to develop a strategic enrollment plan and actions to address the declines in college going across Southeast Wisconsin. 

They will complete the process by drafting the report and submitting it to our HLC liaison for review. We will have a chance to review the report in the next six weeks before it is submitted for final approval to the HLC Institutional Actions Committee. This process may take several months so we appreciate your patience. 

We have so much to be proud of at UW-Parkside and the HLC Visit Team deeply appreciated being a part of our accreditation journey. A special thank you to Dr. Suresh Chalasani for serving as the University’s Accreditation Liaison Officer and the criterion chairs.

Now, enjoy the remainder of this week and the mid-semester events and activities. I wish you a restful and relaxing Spring Break!

With gratitude for your commitment to our mission and our students, 



Debbie Ford 

UW-Parkside Chancellor Search and Screen Committee Named

Karen Walsh, President of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, and Jay Rothman, President of the UW System, today appointed an 11-member Search and Screen Committee to help identify the next UW-Parkside chancellor.

Regent Kyle Weatherly will chair the Search and Screen Committee. Adrienne Viramontes, Professor and Department Chair, College of Arts and Humanities, will be the vice chair. Other members of the committee are:

• Robtrice Brawner, Assistant Professor, College of Natural and Health Sciences
• Héctor Colón, Regent
• Sergio Correa, Assistant Director of Academic Advising
• Thomas Diamond, Student, UW-Parkside
• Lisa Just, President, South Wisconsin Patient Service Area, Advocate Aurora Health
• John Miller, Regent
• Christopher Moeller, Police Officer, UW-Parkside Police Department
• Ashok Rai, Regent
• Jennifer Staton, Regent

“Leading UW-Parkside is a great opportunity,” said Walsh. “We are looking for the right person to continue and enhance the university’s commitment to students. Campus engagement and student success are hallmarks of UW-Parkside.”

Known for its access mission and student focus, UW-Parkside graduates are critical to building a diverse workforce that meets employer needs across the state. In partnership with UW System leadership, the university is poised to build upon the successful leadership of Chancellor Debbie Ford to generate additional graduates consistent with the 2023–28 Strategic Plan.

The Search and Screen Committee is expected to convene in the coming weeks when Walsh will charge the committee with its mission and review search procedures. The national search is expected to officially begin April 3. A team of staff from UW System Human Resources, the Office of the Board of Regents, and the executive search firm of AGB Search will assist the committee throughout this search process.

The committee will determine and interview candidates. A Special Regent Committee will review candidates forwarded by the Search and Screen Committee. The Special Regent Committee will include regents Colón, Miller, Rai, Staton, and Weatherly and will be chaired by Weatherly.

The successful candidate will require the approval of the full Board of Regents.

Last Call for Nominations: UW-Parkside Diversity Award

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is now accepting nominations for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Diversity Award. This university-wide award recognizes a faculty or staff member who makes outstanding contributions or efforts toward enhancing diversity and inclusion at UW-Parkside.

Nominations should be based on the nominee’s demonstrated leadership and notable contributions toward enhancing diversity and inclusion in one or more of the following areas:

• Demonstrating a consistent pattern of commitment to the recruitment and retention of an inclusive and diverse faculty, staff, or student body.
• Creating programs, initiatives, or projects in the areas of diversity and inclusion.
• Collaborating with campus or community groups to promote or implement programs, initiatives, or projects in the area of diversity and inclusion.
• Providing leadership and direction in building a welcoming and supportive campus climate.
• Providing significant mentorship or support to students, staff/and or faculty members who represent a particular segment of diversity within our community.
• Creating curricula that enable students to appreciate and understand the dynamics of diversity and inclusion.

(See full award criteria below)

Nominations must be submitted by March 17, 2023, to receive full consideration and self-nominations are encouraged.

Please note: Forms submitted without the nominator’s name cannot be accepted. If you have further questions, please contact Trina Patterson at x2090.  

March Third Friday on 3/17!

Dear Colleagues, 

Here is a mid-semester short quiz for you! 

March 17^th is: 

a) The Third Friday of March 

b) St. Patrick’s Day 

c) The Friday after our HLC visit 

d) All of the above! 

If you answered ‘d,’ you are correct! Your prize? An invitation to come to the Third Friday research presentation, and even if you didn’t answer ‘d,’ you’re invited anyway because we all deserve a treat!  

The March 17^th Third Friday will take place from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Galbraith Room. In addition to a research presentation, this month’s Third Friday theme will be applying for grants. Light snacks and beverages will be served. 

• History Professor Elizabeth Brownson’s research presentation will be on “Lessons Learned from my NEH Project Proposal, Colonizing Health: Gender and the Politics of Reproductive Healthcare in British Mandate Palestine and Colonial Sudan 1921-54.” 
• UW-Parkside’s Grants and Contracts Manager, Tina Radley, will discuss UWP resources to support faculty and staff in applying for grants. 
• WiSys Research Development Manager, Gina Jahn, will discuss how WiSys supports professional development related to grant applications as well as WiSys grant opportunities. 

Gina will have open office hours from 1:00-3:00 in WYLL343 to meet with faculty one-on-one to discuss your grant proposal ideas. 

Looking forward to seeing you at Third Friday where you might also see some St. Patrick’s Day theme snacks! 

Dr. Theresa R. Castor

Let us know: Communications Needs

Effective immediately, please send any requests or inquiries about stories, press releases, social media posts, or other communication needs to university.relations@uwp.edu and we will respond as soon as possible. Thank you for understanding!

Marketing and Design: Project Forms

Greetings from University Marketing and Design!

We have recently become a department of two staff and four students and had to make some adjustments. We need your help. Please use our Marketing and Design Project Request Forms and build a two week turnaround into your planning. There are four forms to provide a streamlined completion process. Just pick the one that seems closest to your needs.

If you have any questions, send us an email at umad@uwp.edu.

Spring Break Dining Hours at Brickstone Grill & Eatery

• Saturday, March 18 4-7pm
• Sunday, March 19 4-7pm
• Monday-Friday, March 20-24 10am-4pm
• Saturday, March 25 10am-1pm and 4-6pm 
• Sunday, March 26 10am-1pm and 5-8pm 

Chancellor’s Office Hours

Chancellor’s Office Hours for the Spring:

• Thursday, April 13 12:00-1:00
• Wednesday, May 17 12:00-1:00

If you would like to set up a time to talk with Chancellor Ford, email Rachel Stevenson stevensr@uwp.edu

Campus TikTok Policy Update

UW-Parkside Campus Community,

In recent weeks, UW System Administration, chancellors, and campus technology and communications leads have been in robust conversation about cybersecurity in general, and more specifically about the TikTok app. We have learned much about the very real risks to national, state and institutional cybersecurity – and just as importantly, the risks to our personal information security.

All UW campuses have been instructed to remove any installation of the TikTok application from university-owned devices by Friday, Feb. 17. 

Complying with this expectation requires two efforts on our part:



1. All colleagues who have TikTok installed on a university-owned device must uninstall the app by the end of the day Friday, Feb. 17. For assistance, contact the Tech Bar.
2. In the near future, CTS will implement a technical solution which will block the future use and installation of TikTok on CTS managed devices.

While we are only addressing university-owned devices with these actions, we urge everyone to learn more about the security risks in having the app installed on any device. This includes personal devices where we enter and view sensitive information, such as logins/passwords, and financial or medical information.

We are grateful to everyone for taking cybersecurity seriously. 

If you use TikTok as a part of your work responsibilities and have any questions, please share them with us in University Relations – university.relations@uwp.edu. We do not have every answer at this time but will continue to learn more in coming weeks. Additional questions can be directed to Jordania Leon-Jordan, CIO or Kong Phang, Deputy CIO.

National Survey of Student Engagement

Remind your first-year and senior students to look for an email in your RangerMail inbox or a message on Canvas with a link to the National Survey of Student Engagement on March 1. They can take 15 minutes to share their thoughts. NSSE is a chance to provide feedback and help make UW-Parkside better. In appreciation for participating, we will enter all students who complete the survey by April 21 into a drawing for 100 gift cards worth $20 each. Chances of winning depend on how many complete the survey. Your participation is appreciated!

Win Prizes with Ranger Wellness and Fitness!

The Ranger Wellness and Fitness committee would like to invite you to join us for planned wellness activities on campus. Check out the activities and more using the link below.

This year, the Committee is adding an incentive to increase wellness participation on campus. Employees who complete three on-campus wellbeing activities will be entered into a drawing to win a gift basket. In addition, employees who participate in the Group Health Insurance Program and complete the activities required to earn the Well Wisconsin $150 incentive, can use this as one of the three activities required to be entered into the drawing and your name will be entered twice! If you do not use the Well Wisconsin incentive, your name will only be entered once: Here are two examples of how you can be entered into the drawing:

(name entered twice)

1. Participate in the Stress Less Challenge
2. Participate in Mindfulness and Yoga
3. Earn the Well Wisconsin $150 Incentive

(name entered once)

1. Participate in the Stress Less Challenge
2. Participate in Mindfulness and Yoga
3. Participate in the Invitational Step Challenge

As stated, these are two examples. You can choose the three types of activities that you wish to participate in. Note: If you choose to use the Well Wisconsin incentive, you must show proof of participation by sharing a copy of the email confirmation that you receive.

Below is a list of the drawing dates. In the meantime, we thank the CNHS team for their generosity for putting together the gift basket for the April drawing. 

• Jan 31 to April 15 drawing on April 30, 2023
• April 16 to July 15 drawing on July 31, 2023
• July 16 to Oct 13 drawing on Oct 31, 2023

For more information, please contact Dalinda Galaviz, galaviz@uwp.edu.

Reminders:

Don't forget to pick up your wellness & fitness t-shirt and bag in the Marketing department, Wyllie 3209. 

Take pictures of yourself or with your colleagues with your t-shirt and email them to Dalinda Galaviz (galaviz@uwp.edu)! 

Make time for your wellbeing!

Employee Engagement Events

Thank you all for taking time to attend the past three years of Employee Engagement events! It's been fun and nice getting to know each other. Please take time for yourself and join UW-Parkside employees for more fun. Click on the link below to access what's happening in 2023! See you soon!

Travel Policy Update

Website and Newsletter: 

A new UW Parkside Travel Website is now available on TravelWIse. Please bookmark this page as it is often updated with news and contains links to many helpful travel resources.

Sign up for the monthly travel newsletter. Policy updates and relevant information is communicated in this newsletter.

General Questions: email amahn@uwsa.edu. Turn around expectation is no greater than 24 hours (except on weekends/holidays)

For questions about TER status/questions post submission: email expenseauditing@wisconsin.edu

For Discussion/Unique Scenarios/Walkthrough of TERs/Policy Exceptions: Schedule time via Calendly. May be scheduled anytime, up to ½ hour in advance. A Teams or Zoom invite(you choose during the scheduling process) will be sent immediately. 

Self Paced On Demand Training:  Canvas Online Training is available for general travel policy training. 

For Specialized Training: (Admins or other high volume complex travels): Schedule 1 hour via Calendly

For in-person trainings: On-site days are generally the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The on site dates are noted on the UW Parkside Travel page. Please send an invite via calendy to reserve a block of time. 

Nominate an Alum for UW-Parkside's 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards!   

The UW-Parkside Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate and honor the rich legacy of learning and accomplishments by graduates who have excelled in their chosen field or perform exemplary service to the community. Nominees must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. 

Do you know an alum who deserves this award? UW-Parkside is accepting nominations for its 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards. The deadline for nominations is March 20, 2023.

To learn about past Distinguished Alumni Award recipients or for more information about the awards, please visit https://www.uwp.edu/alumni/awards/. If you have any questions please contact Alumni Relations Manager, Jenn Busch.  

Civic Action Plan

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside seeks to live the Wisconsin Idea as an authentic community partner and steward of place as well as an effective laboratory for its students to learn through community engagement. By signing the Campus Compact Civic Action Statement in November 2015, Chancellor Deborah Ford pledged to develop a plan that deepens and strengthens the campus commitment to community engagement and provides guidance for implementation of action steps to do so. The plan was created through the efforts of a team of faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners who collected input and feedback during 2016. This included focus groups, facilitated discussions, and surveys of students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Watch the Administrative Transformation Program (ATP) Readiness Workshop #4: What is a Security Role?

ATP will conduct Readiness Workshops on a variety of topics monthly, through go-live in July 2024. The Security Roles recording is now available for all UW faculty and staff to view with a UW login. "What is a Security Role?” introduces the concepts of security roles as they are assigned to positions and organizations in Workday.

Next month’s ATP Workday Walkthrough, Pay & Benefits Hub and Pay Modeler, is scheduled for Thursday April 13 from 3-4 p.m.

Save 50% on purchases in the Brickstone Grill & Eatery!

A commuter dining plan can be used to pay for purchased in all campus dining locations.

Sign up for a Commuter Plan November 28 through March 24, 2023

Sign up and more information at uwp.edu/diningplans or stop by the Campus Concierge.

Now on Amazon!

Support Parkside Athletics! Grab the gear on Amazon!

Freshwater Opportunities Bulletin: Request for Proposals

The Freshwater Opportunities Bulletin is published the first Wednesday of each month. It

provides information about upcoming conferences, employment opportunities, collaborative courses and experiences, and other water-related opportunities for students, faculty, and staff at UW System institutions.

Please share these opportunities widely on our campus. Visit their website for the latest opportunities: freshwater.wisconsin.edu. 

Paws to You

Paws to You is an employee appreciation program designed to offer gratitude to a fellow coworker. Maybe they helped you complete a task or project and it made a large impact on the outcome. You can show them thanks and appreciation by sending them a Paw they are able to display for all to see in their email signature, and a running total of all Paws will be displayed here on the Paws to You website. So what are you waiting for?

Save Clam Shell Containers for Parkside Community Garden!

Help our community gardeners feed food insecure students and community members by saving your clam shell containers. Bring saved containers to Alex Hobbs in the Student Success and Learning Commons. Thank you!

Winter Weather Campus Notice

With winter approaching, this is a reminder of UW-Parkside policies in the event of inclement weather and weather emergencies. This policy extends the application of UW System Administrative Policy 1235 to the UW-Parkside campus. It draws important distinctions between the university remaining open, which classes will be canceled, and closing the university. During a weather emergency, a decision may be made to:

1. Keep the university open.

2. Keep the university open, cancel in-person classes on campus, but allow hybrid, asynchronous, and synchronous online classes to be offered.

3. Close the university.

1. Inclement Weather: University Remains Open

When there is inclement weather and the university remains open, students and employees should use their own judgment in attending classes and reporting to work. 

Decisions affecting morning and afternoon classes are ordinarily made by 6 a.m.; decisions affecting evening classes that start after 4:30 p.m. are ordinarily made in the early afternoon (see Notification below). If emergency weather conditions develop during the workday and supervisors desire to have employees leave early, the supervisor's decision must comply with university guidelines. 

2. Inclement Weather: University Open; Cancel In-Person Classes on Campus but continue online courses

When the university remains open and in-person classes do not meet on campus, employees must use their own judgment in reporting to work. In-person classes on campus are canceled but online classes (e.g., hybrid, asynchronous, and synchronous) are offered. Extracurricular activities such as athletic events, concerts, and special presentations may or may not take place as scheduled. Please visit the UW-Parkside website for the most up-to-date information.

Decisions affecting morning and afternoon classes are ordinarily made by 6 a.m.; decisions affecting evening classes that start after 4:30 p.m. are ordinarily made in the early afternoon (see Notification below). If emergency weather conditions develop during the workday and supervisors desire to have employees leave early, the supervisor's decision must comply with university guidelines. 

3. Inclement Weather: University Closed

When the university is closed, in-person classes will not meet on campus and all extracurricular activities are canceled.  In-person classes on campus are canceled but online classes (e.g., hybrid, asynchronous, and synchronous) are offered. Certain campus operations must continue despite the weather: campus police services, snow removal, power-plant operation, food service for residential students, etc. For employees in these areas, please contact your supervisor for schedule details. If the university is closed, the Human Resources Department will inform employees about the proper method for reporting lost time.

Notification

Inclement Weather: University remains open – If inclement weather requires the administration to make an announcement about the university remaining open, a notice will be posted on the UW-Parkside website and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn), and will be sent by email to all faculty, staff, and students.

If you have subscribed to Ranger Alert, you will also receive a notice indicating that the university remains open. You may also access this information on area radio and television stations, including their social media accounts and mobile apps.

Inclement Weather: Class are cancelled OR university is closed – If all classes are canceled OR if the university is closed due to inclement weather, a notice will be posted on the UW-Parkside website and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn), and will be sent by email to all faculty, staff, and students.

If you have subscribed to Ranger Alert, you will also receive a classes-canceled or university-closed text message on your cell phone. You may also access this information on area radio and television stations, including their social media accounts and mobile apps.

Most radio and television stations ordinarily confine announcements to whether the university is open or closed, and the announcement may not make the distinction between classes being canceled and the university being closed. It is always a good idea to check the UW-Parkside website for the most accurate information.

Here is a list of radio and television stations that are most likely to carry campus news during inclement weather:

Kenosha radio stations: WLIP (1050 AM), WIIL (95.1 FM), WGTD (91.1 FM)

Racine radio stations: WRJN (1400 AM; 98.1 FM; 99.9 FM; @wrjnnews), 92.1 VTY Country (92.1 FM), WGTD (91.1 FM)

Milwaukee radio stations: WTMJ (620 AM)

Milwaukee TV stations: WTMJ (Channel 4), WITI (Channel 6), WISN (Channel 12), WDJT (Channel 58)

Chicago Information: (https://www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/) or radio stations, WBBM (780 AM), WGN (720 AM), and Chicago TV stations, channels 2, 5, 7, 9, and 32.

Radio and television stations will receive class cancelation information for that day no later than 6:30 a.m. If UW-Parkside is not mentioned by the media, assume the university is open and classes are being held.

University Relations

university.relations@uwp.edu

Teresa Peck Gender Studies Competition

Submissions should be sent by March 31 and include a cover letter explaining the nature of the work along with campus email address.

Submit to: wgss@uwp.edu

Do you know a student who has written a paper or completed a project about gender, feminism, or sexuality this year? Submit it to the Teresa Peck Gender Studies Competition! The deadline is March 31.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Info Session

Wednesday, March 29 | 12-1 PM | Molinaro Room 140

Join us for a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Info Session Wednesday, March 29, 2023 from 12-1 pm in Molinaro Room 140 to learn how to prepare for a career as a licensed professional counselor. Program faculty will share information about career options, cohort benefits, practicums and internships, as well as how to apply. Take this opportunity to find out if this is a career for you!

Student Showcase and Quick Pitch Registration and Abstract Submission

Friday, March 17 | End of Day | Student Center Ballroom

The UW-Parkside Student Showcase is a campus-wide event in which all UW-Parkside students (undergraduates and graduate students) are encourage to participate. A project might be an independent work conducted outside of a classroom setting, in collaboration with a faculty or staff mentor, it could be a project associated with a course during the summer, fall or spring semester.