The National Survey of Student Engagement will seeking feedback from First Years and Seniors starting Feb. 22nd. NSSE annually collects information at hundreds of four-year colleges and universities about students’ participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. Students should check their emails for one of several emails through March 30th to see if they are eligible. Students who complete by March 30th will be entered to win one of multiple $50 gift cards.
Key Dining Updates for Faculty and Staff
The Restaurants at the Top of the CRUC have undergone some major changes that will be of interest to members of the University’s faculty and staff.
Rebranding of the Restaurants. Except for Simple Servings, all the names have changed, and new, more modern, signs identify each location.
International Cuisine is Highlighted. The new Showcase restaurant (formerly Serrano’s) will now feature a variety of global cuisines, which will include Hispanic as well as Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and many other ethnic foods.
“Simple Zone” is new and features packaged gluten-free and vegan breads, bagels, desserts, and other items that are available for self-service from open to close each day. Simple Zone is located at the back side of the new Mix Salad Bar, which has also been enhanced to include more meat proteins, as well as more vegetarian salads and salad dressings.
New Faculty and Staff Price: As part of regularly scheduled price increases, the cost for any meal at the Top of the CRUC for members of the faculty and staff will go up to $7 on February 1st.
Eagle’s Nest Change/Vocelli Pizza: The owner of Vocelli Pizza, who was a valued partner with University Dining for over 15 years, decided it was time to retire, and so Vocelli Pizza closed over the winter break. We do have a new Italian restaurant coming on board, and more details about that concept and menu will be coming soon. If all goes well, it will open in early February.
Major Dining Events for Spring: The calendar of special events is posted on the dining website every month, but here’s a snapshot of some of the more notable celebrations. All events take place at the Top of the CRUC.
Black History Month Events: Several events will be held in February, each highlighting a different cuisine representing various Black cultures. Menus were planned in partnership with the Black Student Association, the African Student Union, the NAACP, and the JFMC. The kick-off event is a Southern Soul Food lunch on Thursday, February 1st, from 11am to 2pm. That’s followed by a Caribbean Dinner on February 8th, a Mardi Gras Creole Lunch on February 13th, and an African Dinner on February 22nd.
Lunar New Year Celebration Week: February 5-9. Popular Asian dishes will be served every day, plus Dragon Dance performances will take place at lunch on February 9th.
Health & Wellness Fair: Providers of goods and services that promote physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness will be on hand with demonstrations, free samples, and lots of information. The Fair will take place on April 3rd in the Chandler Ballroom between 11 am and 3pm. Participation as an exhibitor or vendor is open to anyone, including UMW departments and student groups. Spaces are free. For more information, contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@UMW.edu.
Farmer’s Market & Craft Fair. This outdoor event will be held on Campus Walk from Lee Hall to Monroe Hall on April 23rd between 11:30 am and 3pm. Local farmers, crafters, artisans, bakers, and other small businesses are invited to participate at no charge. For details contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu.
Rao Shares AI Teaching Tips With ‘Inside Higher Ed’
Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao
Professor of Communication Anand Rao contributed to an article titled “Teaching Tip: Navigating AI in the Classroom,” published by Inside Higher Education. In the article, Rao said he introduces students to low- and no-code options to build their own generative AI tools in his special topics course on digital studies. Read more.
Cooperman Talks About POTUS Election on ‘Voice of America’
Professor and Chair of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman
Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman spoke with Voice of America for a segment titled “Issues in the News: The Strategic Importance of Africa.” On the show, Cooperman discusses how the 2024 U.S. Presidential election is shaping up? Listen to the episode.
Black History Month Celebration Events
2024 Black History Month Celebration – February 2024
For centuries, African Americans have used the arts as a powerful medium for cultural expression, community resonance, and social critique. Each generation, within the African diaspora spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to present day, has transformed the globe through their numerous contributions in literature, fashion, film, theater, music, architecture, and language. Join the James Farmer Multicultural Center’s celebration and recognition of these memorable stories.
Please visit the James Farmer Multicultural Center’s webpage to learn about all the activities planned for Black History Month.
Davidson Pens Essay on NATO Strategy for Atlantic Council
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson wrote an essay titled “NATO should be ambitious with its new Southern Flank Strategy” for the Atlantic Council’s online publication, The New Atlanticist. The article begins: When the leaders of NATO member states gather for the Alliance’s seventy-fifth anniversary summit in Washington in July, they will have several high-profile items on the agenda. Read more.
ResNet Upgrade Starts Feb. 13
The following message is from the Office of Information Technology:
UMW Campus Community,
We have been working with our residential internet service provider Apogee to schedule an upgrade for UMW MyResNet network. Work begins in the residence halls on February 13, 2024, and is expected to continue through spring break, concluding by March 10. See the full schedule online.
Each residence hall will receive a notification when their building is scheduled for the service upgrade, as installers will need to replace access points in hallways and rooms. Residents do not need to be in the building during the installation, and due to the possibility of intermittent outages, we recommend accessing internet elsewhere during the date of the installation in each building.
The installation will typically take place Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and contractors will be accompanied by UMW staff. When notified that their building is next on the schedule, students should clear the area around the access point if one is located in their room. Wireless and wired internet will be unavailable in those spaces during the on-site installation.
Upon completion of the installation of the new MyResNet in each residence hall, students will need to create a login via the new portal to access the upgraded service. Single sign-on will be available, so students can use their umw.edu NetID. In addition, the Apogee wireless network will available to residential students outside of the residence halls. An annual authentication will be required using single sign-on. This update impacts residential students and does not affect UMW wi-fi including UMW-Secure or UMW-Guest.
A guest portal will also be available for temporary access in the residence halls for up to six hours at a time. Residents should log-in using the new portal to access the faster internet speeds. Instructional posters will be available in each residence halls, and students can prepare now by reviewing this video of how to connect to the upgraded services.
The wireless network upgrade will include faster internet speeds enhanced to 150/50 Mbps with up to 8 devices on the network simultaneously once refresh is complete in each hall. Residents will have a user-based personal area network (PAN) and can connect wireless printers, gamer devices and IoT devices, and these devices should be able to see each other, just like a home network. Users will have an easy PSK (personal share key) for device onboarding.
As part of the service, Apogee continues to offer one click call/chat for student support and specialized gaming support. If you have any questions or issues with the ResNet by Apogee services, contact their 24/7/365 support center at 877-478-8808. They can help you add devices to your account (printers, phones, game consoles, etc.).
If you are experiencing any problems with Apogee Support not resolving your issues, please contact the UMW IT Help Desk to let us know. If you have any questions about the schedule with Residence Life, call 540-654-1058 or fill out the contact form online.
Hall CheshireChief Information Officerhcheshir@umw.edu
Barry Presents Research as Harvard, Classical Loeb Library Fellow
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry
This spring, Jennifer Barry, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, will present material from her research project Gender Violence in Late Antiquity. She will present a chapter of the book at the Boston Patristics Society on February 15, 2024, and will give a public lecture at the University of Denver on February 29, 2024. As a Harvard, Classical Loeb Fellow for the 2023-2024 academic year, Barry has used her leave to finish her monograph. She has also started work on a number of additional publication opportunities as well as her next book-length project on Scandalous Christian Histories.
Williams Discusses Civil Rights Trail on WFVA Radio’s ‘Town Talk’
James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Christopher Williams
James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams and Victoria Matthews with Fredericksburg Tourism talked with B101.5’s Town Talk host, Ted Schubel, about the importance of new stories revealed by the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, ‘Freedom, A Work in Progress.’ Listen to the episode.
Randall Reif to Present Mary Talk: Can We Cure Cancer With Heartburn Medicine, Feb. 21
Can we cure cancer with heartburn medicine? The next Mary Talk features Dr. Randall Reif, associate professor of chemistry. Dr. Reif will discuss his ongoing research into the use of proton pump inhibitors (heartburn medications) to induce death in cancer cells. Dr. Reif will share the current progress of the project, which could open the door to novel cancer treatments in the future.
Wednesday, February 217:30-8:30 p.m.
Online (via Zoom)
Register for the Mary Talk! You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions.