December 17, 2025

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

April is National Financial Literacy Month

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In an effort to keep some sense of normalcy, as well as some financial education for our employees, VRS is offering some online courses for employees during the month of April – https://adminfinance.umw.edu/hr/files/2020/04/VRS-Financial-Literacy-Month.pdf.  Also ICMA-RC at https://www.varetirement.org/hybrid/education/defined-contributions.html (you can check with your Provider for their webinar schedules) are offering online courses and pre-recorded webinars for your use. April is considered National Financial Literacy Month and what better time to take a financial check-up to see how we are all doing.

 

Broome Hosts Guest Author-Lecturer Gloria Ladson-Billings Over Zoom

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College of Education Associate Professor John Broome

College of Education Associate Professor John Broome

College of Education Associate Professor John Broome surprised his students in EDUC 204: Introduction to Teaching and Learning with a visit over Zoom with University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Gloria Ladson-Billings, the author of The Dreamkeepers, a renowned foundational text that introduces her widely-used theory, culturally relevant pedagogy. Broome met Ladson-Billings in 2017 after she served as UMW College of Education’s Educator-in-Residence and the two have kept in touch ever since.

“She’s literally one of the most famous, influential, and impactful education theorists and researchers in the world,” Broome said. “I wanted them to have private time with her and she was happy to do it. I only expected a few minutes. She’s very busy writing and editing books and articles. 90 minutes later…” he said.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Gloria Ladson-Billings

Broome said he didn’t tell many students, and instead, just asked a few to have questions ready. After finishing work in Zoom breakout rooms, they regrouped to find Ladson-Billings, who spoke to them from her home in Wisconsin.

 

 

UMW to Hold 14th Annual Research & Creativity Symposium Virtually, April 23-24

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Over the past academic year our students have been hard at work on their individual or team research and creative projects. Some of them have completed these projects as part of a course, as a capstone project, or even to achieve departmental honors recognition. Given the limitations placed on us by the current COVID-19 crisis, the University has created a virtual site for students at the University of Mary Washington to showcase their work, and for the UMW community to give them feedback and encouragement. Please visit http://umwrcd.net/ for the online application and for a list of presentations and presenters.

Applications are through the Google form on this website under the tab Applications. Student submissions will be due by midnight April 17, 2020. The Virtual Symposium will begin, here on this site, on April 23, 2020 and continue through midnight April 24, 2020.

Campus notification regarding second UMW staff member to test positive for COVID-19

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The following message is from the Office of Public Safety. 

We are writing to inform you that the University learned this morning of a second member of our Lee Hall staff with a confirmed case of  COVID-19. The source of the infection is unknown.

Appropriate public health protocols have been followed. The University has been in contact with the Virginia Department of Health, which has the responsibility of tracing potential exposures based on the timeline of this incident. VDH will be notifying and offering guidance to those who had been in direct contact with this individual.

We are proceeding with the plan of keeping Lee Hall closed, in an abundance of caution, for thorough cleaning by a licensed firm skilled in CDC guidelines.

We continue to emphasize the great importance of staying away from campus and teleworking if at all possible. The CDC- and state-issued health guidelines regarding COVID-19 are designed to ensure not only your own well-being, but the well-being of others as well:

·         Engage in physical distancing. Do not go to work or school. Keep at least 6 feet from other individuals.

·         Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

·         Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

·         Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands.

·         Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

·         Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

·         Watch for cough, troubled breathing, or other signs of respiratory infection.

·         Monitor temperature for a fever above 100.4 degrees F.

·         If you develop a cough, fever, and/or difficulty breathing, call a healthcare provider or dial 911. You may also call the Virginia Health Department at 877-ASK-VDH3.

·         If you test positive for COVID-19, please inform your supervisor and/or Human Resources. All such communications are strictly confidential.

These are unsettling times, and our thoughts are with each member of the community. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Emergency Management Director Mike Muckinhaupt at mmuckinh@umw.edu or 540-654-2108.

Zoom Security Recommendations

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The following message is from the Office of Information Technologies.

Tips for Securing Zoom and IT  

In recent days, there has been a surge in the news regarding Zoom privacy and security. To maximize the security of all users and minimize the possibility for disruption, Zoom recently enabled some additional precautions to help prevent unwanted participants from joining meetings.

With more people using Zoom than ever before, the video-conferencing platform has become a target for unwanted attendees to try to interrupt meetings in a number of disruptive capacities. This gatecrashing, or “Zoom-bombing,” has been reported nationally, and has occurred at many other universities.

To prevent this and other privacy and security issues, please follow these recommendations and safety tips when using Zoom (whether a free, shared, or UMW-owned account):

  1. Avoid sharing your meeting link publicly (on social media or a public website). Share the link in a closed environment like Canvas or direct email.
  2. Change your screen sharing settings to “Host-Only.” Note: If you are using a UMW-owned Zoom account, we have edited the settings to make this the default. You will need to change the settings during your meeting if you want to allow other participants to share their screen.
  3. Consider turning on the Waiting Room feature. This will require the host to approve every participant before entry into the meeting. Keep in mind that if a participant is disconnected, you will need to re-approve them for entry, so this option requires keeping an eye on your Zoom notifications during the meeting.
  4. Alternatively, consider locking your meeting (via the “Manage Participants” button in your Zoom tool tray) once all attendees are present. Keep in mind that if a participant loses connection, they will not be able to reenter unless you unlock the meeting.
  5. Keep the camera on your computer covered, and the microphone turned off when not in use.
  6. Don’t use the same password for your Zoom account that you use for other systems.
  7. Zoom has recently released patches to address newly discovered security issues so please update your client as soon as possible. You can use the “Check for updates” feature in your Zoom client.
    1.     Sign in to Zoom desktop client.
    2.     Click your profile picture, then click “Check for Updates” If there is a newer version, Zoom will download and install it.
  1. For more information, we recommend these two articles:

From the Zoom blog: Best Practices for Securing Your Virtual Classroom
From the Electronic Frontier Foundation:  Harden Your Zoom Settings to Protect Your Privacy and Avoid Trolls

 

Collection of Protective Gear

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Due to shortages from the COVID-19 outbreak, the Office of Emergency Management and Safety is collecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from buildings throughout campus. This is to assist in an accurate inventory of these items, as well as to store these items in a central location. We will be collecting the following items:

  • Gloves
  • N95 Masks or Surgical Masks
  • Procedure Gowns
  • Tyvek Suits
  • Face Shields
  • Any other PPE pertinent to Field Operations pertaining to COVID-19

Please contact Mike Muckinhaupt, Director of Emergency Management & Safety by e-mail at mmuckinh@umw.edu to schedule a pickup of these.

Stommel Comments on Remote Learning in Educational News

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Jesse Stommel, Senior Lecturer of Digital Learning

Jesse Stommel, Senior Lecturer of Digital Learning

Jesse Stommel, a senior lecturer in Digital Studies, has been interviewed by several educational outlets, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, about teaching remotely and its impact on issues of accessibility and equity. Stommel and Sean Michael Morris, former director of Digital Learning at UMW, are holding remote office hours for instructors. “We don’t promise answers, but we will work with those who show up to find creative, compassionate, generative solutions — and likely more questions,” they told The Chronicle.

‘On a Desert Island With Your Students’: Professors Discuss the Weirdness of Teaching Remotely in a Pandemic (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

Colleges flock to online proctors, but equity concerns remain (Education Dive)

As Times and Students Change, Can Faculty Change, Too? (Inside Higher Ed)

Crow-Dolby Interviewed in Free Lance-Star About Art and History Online Activities

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GMHS Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby

GMHS Education and Communications Manager Michelle Crow-Dolby

Michelle Crow-Dolby, education and communications manager at Gari Melchers Home and Studio, was recently interviewed for The Free Lance-Star Weekender’s Young Life column about how the museum’s popular Preschool Palette program has gone online.

 

For years, a widely popular offering at Gari Melchers Home and Studio has been its monthly Preschool Palette classes. Designed for ages 2 through 5, the program features age-appropriate studio tours and activities, a walk through the site’s colorful gardens and a process art project in a classroom setting.

“My original goal was to fill a need I saw in the community. At the time, there weren’t a lot of art opportunities for preschool-aged children,” said education and communications manager Michelle Crow–Dolby, who created and launched the program more than 10 years ago.

Families can now duplicate this experience at home using Crow–Dolby’s lesson plans, including links to books, project descriptions and pictures, on the museum’s website and Facebook page. Most recent additions include themes of “Green,” “Mixing Colors” and “All About Rainbows.”

“Green” begins with a visual exploration of Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s book “Green,” with enchanting illustrations highlighting the many shades of green that can be found in nature. Next, become acquainted with several of Melchers’ paintings that use green in various ways. An outdoor scavenger hunt for different shapes of green leaves is followed by creating a sticky collage on contact paper.

“Our museum staff is working hard to embrace the worldwide #MuseumfromHome initiative by providing as many virtual experiences as possible during these unprecedented times,” explains Crow–Dolby. “I’ve been busy creating online activities based on paintings in our collection and hope to add even more in the coming weeks.”

Coloring pages, videos and even a soon-to-be-finished virtual gallery tour are also available. Go to GariMelchers.org and navigate to the newly launched Learn page under the Education tab. Read more.

Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star

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UMW College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

UMW College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson

College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson’s latest column deals with being flexible with working, teaching and learning remotely. Read PIVOT QUICKLY.

 

I love change.

But I know the world does not embrace change the way I do, so it’s been amazing to see how, when under the gun, people pivot within days to change how they deliver their work.

Unless you work in grocery or a hospital, or drive trucks, you are probably teleworking or have dramatically changed how you deliver your product.

Has it been fun? No. But it’s been necessary, and we’ve seen people step up and—dare I say—surprise themselves at how they’ve been able to pivot quickly. While the delivery of their product or service may not be the same quality or meet the same set of expectations as before COVID-19, it’s been pretty darn good. And that’s been fun to watch, even if it hasn’t been fun to execute.

Look at K–12 and higher education. Both are educating students online now. Yes, parents have picked up much of the K–12 responsibilities, but the teachers are helping them by creating expectations and sharing lesson plans. Read more.

UMW Digital Puzzles and Coloring Pages

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Need to relax for a minute or two? The Office of University Relations and Communications has just the thing for you – online jigsaw puzzles – featuring gorgeous springtime images from the beautiful UMW campus – and printable coloring pages! Visit https://advancement.umw.edu/universityrelations/creative-services/just-for-fun/. Check back as we add more fun things to do.