A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jared McDonald
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jared McDonald contributed to an article titled Gen Z app creator hopes to empower a young generation of voters, which appeared on Bridge Detroit. As people age, they become more integrated into the political process, said McDonald, who teaches courses related to American government, political behavior and public policy. Read more.
Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “Political Humor and U.S. Presidential Elections,” at the Institute of International and Security Studies of the University of Wrocław, Poland. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth’s recently published co-authored book, Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency. Dr. Farnsworth is serving at the University of Warsaw in Poland as a Spring 2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.
Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Meet Virginia’s 7th District candidates (WVTF)
Stephen Farnsworth, a politics professor at the University of Mary Washington, says whoever wins Virginia’s 7th district may decide the fate of the majority in congress. “This district is really a district that Democrats can win on good days [or] Republicans can win on good days and you can expect both to put an immense amount of money into this race,” Farnsworth told Radio IQ.
With so many choices in primary races, will Virginia consider ranked choice voting? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
UMW Faculty, Staff and Students,
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Senior Accountant Monica MacIndoe, who passed away in a car accident on Sunday, June 16, 2024. She had worked at the University of Mary Washington for nearly 28 years and was a longtime resident of Fredericksburg, having moved to the area as a child.
She attended Hugh Mercer Elementary, Maury Elementary, Walker-Grant Middle, and James Monroe High School. She graduated from Germanna Community College in 1985 with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.
In her work and her life, Monica was exceedingly organized and served as the behind-the-scenes orchestrator for many things, from scheduled appointments to day-to-day activities. Her co-workers describe her as kind, smart, quiet, caring and light, and her obituary notes how she was fiercely devoted to her family, several of whom are also connected to or work at Mary Washington.
Her obituary also details many of her gifts, from music to plants. She played the piano and violin since childhood and the organ beginning in her teenage years, joining many local musical communities. She had a green thumb and had her own houseplants since middle school. She enjoyed quiet and relaxing hobbies, and would often complete puzzles, knit, needlepoint, read, and watch British detective shows. Always prepared for an emergency or a project, she had an extensive collection of flashlights, always carried a tape measure in her purse, and had a sweater ready as part of her signature look.
Monica will be missed on campus, and we extend our deepest sympathies and support to the family during this time.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. A funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 24, at St. Matthew Catholic Church with a private burial following. At 12:30 p.m. on the 24th, a reception will be held at Fredericksburg Baptist Church.
For more information and ways to make memorial donations, please read the obituary online.
For additional resources, please remember that the Employee Assistance Program, which is available at no cost with state employee health insurance plans, may be accessed through the Human Resources website. Students seeking support may access TimelyCare, an online service accessed via a web browser or app or find additional resources from the Talley Center. Go to timelycare.com/umw to access the service using single sign-on (you’ll access it with your UMW NetID – just using umw.edu at the end).
Jeff McClurken
Chief of Staff
Professor of Psychological Science and Department Chair Miriam Liss
Professor of Psychological Science and Department Chair Miriam Liss contributed to an article titled “Wife Unloads Baby And Chores Onto Man During His Emergency Time Off, He Falls Apart” by Bored Panda. “Research suggests that couples tend to become more traditional after the birth of children,” Liss said. “Even couples that were egalitarian before having children are likely to revert to more traditional roles – where women do more of the household work and men do more work outside the home. Research also suggests that even when women continue to work, they still do more of the household labor and childcare, as well as the often invisible and unappreciated mental work of planning and organizing what needs to be done.” Read the article.
James William Haley, Jr., 81, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, died June 8, 2024, at Mary Washington Hospital. From 2002–2005, Haley served as adjunct professor of business law at the University of Mary Washington. Read the obituary.
The option to elect overtime leave in lieu of overtime pay is being reinstated effective July 10, 2024. This option allows classified, non-exempt employees the option to earn time off (overtime leave) instead of overtime pay. Employees who wish to elect the overtime leave option must complete the election form and return it to their direct supervisor for processing. This is an annual election. The next opportunity to change this election will be in June, 2025. For employees who wish to continue receiving overtime pay, no action is required.
The election period will open on Monday, June 10th and will close on Friday, June 21st.
Upon receiving a completed election form, direct supervisors should sign the form and make the change to the OT compensation method in Banner SSB as requested by the employee. SSB instructions for supervisors can be found on the payroll website, Overtime Leave Election Process. It is only necessary to take action within the Banner Self Service (SSB) web form if the employee’s compensation method for overtime is being changed.
Additional information regarding overtime leave can be found in the UMW Overtime Compensation Policy for Non-Exempt Employees.
MyTime training is available virtually if you need assistance. Please contact tess@umw.edu to schedule training. MyTime access concerns should be directed to the UMW Helpdesk at 2255.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please email Deborah Burton dburton@umw.edu.
Thank you,
Beth Williams
Executive Director for Human Resources
540 654-1294
bwilli22@umw.edu
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus
Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus contributed to a piece titled South China Sea Disputes for BBC News. She commented on a recent China Coast Guard attack against Philippine naval vessels. Read more.
This email is being sent as a reminder about flexible work arrangement options, particularly for departments where work demands change after students leave for the summer. Flexible work arrangements are available year-round, and departments determine how and when those options are utilized based on departmental needs. Whenever possible. supervisors are strongly encouraged to permit flexible work arrangements in their departments. Such arrangements may include:
Full-time employees are expected to work their full 40 hours per week (unless taking approved leave) and alternative schedules must adhere to Federal and state regulations as they relate to employee class and schedule period (see the UMW Hours of Work webpage).
Because we will still have some students on campus during the summer as well as a variety of events and activities taking place during those months (e.g. orientation and STP), a department’s summer flexible work arrangements may need to vary from week to week, depending on its employees’ roles in planned campus activities. Any changes to in-person service hours must be clearly and widely communicated to avoid negatively impacting student services.
Thank you for all you do every day. We hope you are able to enjoy some additional work flexibility during the summer months.
Beth Williams
Executive Director for Human Resources
540 654-1294
bwilli22@umw.edu
I’m pleased to announce a state-wide 3% pay increase has been authorized and that UMW Classified, A/P faculty, full-time teaching faculty, adjunct faculty and wage employees are all eligible to receive this pay increase per the criteria described below:
Classified Staff
A/P Faculty
Pay increases for both Classified staff and A/P faculty will appear in paychecks beginning July 1, 2024. Please refer to 2024 UMW Salary Increase FAQs for information about employees working fewer than 12 months annually and are not actively working on June 10.
Full-Time and Adjunct Teaching Faculty
Wage Staff
Deferred Compensation
Part or all of the salary increase may be deferred, subject to relevant plan guidelines and limitations. Please see 2024 UMW Salary Increase FAQs for detailed guidance to enroll in or change contribution amounts for the 403b Pre-tax Annuity.
For questions about salary increase eligibility, you may contact Deborah Burton dburton@umw.edu in Human Resources
Thank you for all you do to make UMW such an outstanding university!
Beth Williams
Executive Director for Human Resources
540 654-1294
bwilli22@umw.edu
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Surupa Gupta
Surupa Gupta, professor of Political Science and International Affairs, was invited by the Wilson Center to brief Hill staffers on the implications of the outcome of India’s 2024 parliamentary elections. The Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, Indo-Pacific Program, and Congressional Relations office hosted the off-the-record briefing at the Capitol on June 11 2024.