The minutes from the Leadership Council’s meeting on Monday, March 19 are available as a PDF. Topics in the minutes include university branding and an open house for incoming students.
UMW Talks Educational Technology at the ACCS 2012 Conference
UMW was well represented at the Association of Collegiate Computing Services of Virginia Conference held in Charlottesville, March 14-16.
DTLT’s Lisa Ames, LMS Admin, gave a presentation on UMW’s adoption of a new learning management system titled “Designing from a Blank Canvas” while Tim Owens, ITS, partnered with Andy Rush, New Media Specialist, to lead a session called “Ad-free Streaming with the Change in Your Pocket.”
Webmasters Cathy Derecki and Curtiss Grymala led a birds-of-the-feather discussion on Web Redesign and Edward Gray, Systems Integration and Support Specialist, gave a presentation titled “Making a World of Difference: Inventory, Licensing and Software Management.”
Blood Drive @ Stafford Campus
The American Red Cross is sponsoring a Blood Drive at the Stafford campus on Tuesday, April 3 from 1 – 7 p.m. in University Hall. If you are interested in donating blood, please email Kevin Caffrey (kcaffrey@umw.edu) to make an appointment.
Fourth Annual World Language Day This Weekend
UMW Hand Percussion Club performs for World Language Day participants
On Saturday, March 24, University of Mary Washington’s Department of Modern Foreign Languages will give area high school students a chance to see what they offer through the Fourth Annual World Language Day, an annual outreach program dedicated to the appreciation and study of foreign languages.
On World Language Day, more than 100 high school students from across Virginia will spend a day at the university participating in competitions in foreign languages.
Marcel Rotter, founder of the event and associate professor of German, was inspired to start the event when he witnessed a day celebrating German language and culture at the University of Wisconsin.
“I thought that it seemed like something we should have here at Mary Washington, but I decided to include everyone by having all the major languages,” said Rotter.
With a whole day dedicated to languages, the event reinforces how important languages are at UMW and shows potential future students what the UMW foreign language department can offer them.
For more information about World Language Day, read the full press release from Wednesday, March 21.
For Third Year in a Row, UMW Named to President’s Community Service Honor Roll
The University of Mary Washington has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the third consecutive year. UMW is one of 642 U.S. colleges and universities recognized for engaging students, faculty and staff in substantial, relevant and meaningful service to communities.
The honor, presented to UMW’s Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), was awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education.
For information about COAR’s impact to the local community, read the full press release from Monday, March 19.
President Hurley Receives National Recognition Award
The College Orchestra Directors Association has recognized UMW President Richard V. Hurley for his support of the university’s collegiate orchestra program. UMW Philharmonic Director Kevin P. Bartram presented Hurley with the national award during the orchestra’s “March Musical Mix” concert on Saturday, March 17.
The College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) is the largest professional organization of collegiate orchestra conductors across the country. The award honors individuals within member colleges and universities who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support the work of college and university orchestras.
National CODA President Anthony Holland said that Hurley “surpasses expectations as a supporter of the Arts and of his community. It is apparent that President Hurley has demonstrated extraordinary faith in the ability of the UMW Philharmonic to promote the institution as a community partner. He sets an example for all of us.”
The honor, given every two years at the association’s national conference, is the organization’s most significant award. Past recipients have included major financial donors, presidents of institutions, board chairs, department heads and fellow college, university and community musicians.
For more information about the award, read the full news release from Saturday, March 17.
Eric Lorentzen Gives Scholarly Talk at Conference
Eric G. Lorentzen, associate professor of English, gave a scholarly talk on Friday, March 16 at the Northeastern Modern Language Association annual conference entitled “‘You ask rather too many questions’: Co-Opting the Catechistic Method in Jane Eyre.”
Chris Foss is Featured Panelist at Conference
Chris Foss, associate professor of English, is a featured panelist at the Plenary Kickoff Workshop on Thursday, March 22 for the Cripples, Idiots, Lepers, and Freaks: Extraordinary Bodies/Extraordinary Minds conference at CUNY (City University of New York).
The workshop is titled, “Constructions of Autism: Theorizing Voice and Identity ‘On the Spectrum,” and Foss is one of four autism studies scholars presenting work-in-progress and discussing the place of autism in both academia and society.
He also will participate in the conference’s Disability and Pedagogy roundtable that day with six other disability studies instructors.
The conference is co-sponsored by the CUNY Graduate Center Ph.D. Program in English, the English Student Association, The Center for the Study of Women and Society, The Mellon Committee for Interdisciplinary Science Studies, the Doctoral Students’ Council, The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies and The Center for the Humanities.
Elizabeth Larus’ New Book Available
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus’ new book “Politics and Society in Contemporary China” is available through Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Elizabeth Larus begins with a broad sweep of China’s modern history—from the imperial era to the present—providing essential context for understanding the current political environment. She then makes sense of the dramatic political, social, and economic changes that have occurred across some six decades. The result is a rich and detailed analysis that is both thought-provoking and accessible, appropriate for students at all levels.
– excerpt from the publisher’s description
Stephen Farnsworth Co-Author of Research Article
Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the university’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is co-author of a refereed research article entitled, “The Structure of Scientific Opinion on Climate Change,” published in the Spring 2012 issue of the International Journal of Public Opinion Research.