UMW’s Center for Economic Development honors a local veteran business owner each year who demonstrates exceptional business success and dedication to supporting veterans and the community. This year, Todd Eichberg, owner of Arete Consulting LLC, has received the award as 2024’s Veteran Owned Business Person of the Year.

Todd founded Arete Consulting in 2016, growing it from a single subcontract to a thriving company with 34 employees. A Coast Guard veteran and civil engineering graduate, Todd is passionate about helping fellow veterans transition to civilian life. He partners with Hiring Our Heroes to place veterans in meaningful careers, with veterans make up 30 percent of his workforce. Beyond his business, Todd actively gives back through mentorship, support for veteran-focused organizations and local community service initiatives.

The following message is from the Office of University Communications:

UMW Campus Community,

We want to remind campus about the potential for winter weather and resulting changes to campus operations and the class schedule. In the event of inclement weather that impacts normal operations at UMW, we’ll communicate to the campuses (Fredericksburg, Stafford, Dahlgren) via email and post updates to the UMW website, umw.edu. We also will update the University Information Line, which can be reached at (540) 654-2424. You should check these communication channels as your first source of information, as updates to external sites, social media and traditional media are secondary and may be delayed. Severe storm updates will come from the National Weather Service via text messages in UMW Alerts, but you’ll need to check email for changes to class schedules and campus operations.

Changes to campus operations and class schedules are not sent via UMW Alerts unless it’s an emergency or urgent situation. You will need to check email and the website for updates during winter weather.

Every effort will be made to post an inclement weather announcement by 6 a.m. on the day of closing or delayed opening. A decision about evening class changes will be made by 3 p.m. on the day in question if possible. A class schedule delay or cancellation includes all modalities of classes – in-person and online. When UMW campuses are closed for inclement weather, public events are also canceled during that time.

Where to Find Additional Information

Even when campus is closed and classes are canceled, many campus services remain open and accessible to students, but may modify hours or services depending on the situation. UMW Police and Public Safety remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Please check the following for updates:

• UMW Dining on Facebook or join the UMWFoodies by texting 82257.
• Campus Recreation with updates posted to Instagram
• Hurley Convergence Center (HCC)

Snow emergency parking regulations may also be implemented. In most cases, these regulations go into effect when there is a threat of snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain, or ice and begin at 10 p.m. preceding forecasted inclement weather or as otherwise announced. Note that if parking access is closed due to an icy hill, such as road to the Alvey Deck, there is access via Sunken Road.

Planning for Changes in Operations

Students and employees should assess the weather conditions in your location. If campus continues normal operations, but you are impacted by weather and road conditions in your area, please contact your instructors and supervisors with any changes to your schedule and to make arrangements for missed classes or work.

During inclement weather that impacts campus and results in a change to campus operations, employees who can work from home (telework) should do so.

Those unable to work remotely should contact your supervisor for options:

Supervisors will add Emergency Closing Leave, as necessary, to timecards of non-essential fulltime and quasi-fulltime employees who are not able to telework.

• If an employee has the means to telework but chooses not to, another leave type must be requested. (For more information on leave, supervisors should check the MyTime Supervisor Manual.)
• Employees who are designated as essential and required to work on campus during authorized closings are paid their regular rate of pay for hours worked and granted compensatory leave for the hours worked. For some inclement weather events, Facilities Services Alternate Shift Pay Policy E.1.3 may be in effect for employees engaged in snow/ice removal working outside their normal schedule.
• Please check with your supervisor if you are unsure of your designated employee status. Supervisors are reminded to communicate with employees regarding expectations during changes to campus operations for inclement weather.

For more information, please visit https://www.umw.edu/news/information-hotline/.

Thank you for preparing for winter weather and staying informed.

Amy Jessee
Executive Director of University Communications

This email is being sent to you in accordance with the UMW Broadcast Email Policy. Please do not respond directly to this message with comments or questions, but instead to the office or individuals listed above. 

You are cordially invited to attend end-of-semester research symposia, posters, and presentations on Thursday, Dec. 5 and Friday, Dec. 6.

The UMW Honors Programs shares this year’s Honors Senior Capstone Fall Symposium, on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 2:15-6 p.m. in Lee Hall 412.  The format is three sessions of 60-75 minutes (4-5 presentations per session) with breaks in between, so feel free to come to any and all sessions as time permits. See a detailed schedule: Honors Symposium Program 2024

The 2024 Jepson Science Center Fall Research Symposium will take place on Friday, Dec. 6, from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Jepson Science Center, main lobby.  Students who conducted research in the sciences during the fall semester are excited to present their research at a poster session, and this year, students have submitted 70 research projects to be presented at the symposium. Fifty-three projects will be presented by students performing course-directed or independent projects in the Biological Sciences. Eighteen independent research projects will be presented by students in the Department of Chemistry and Physics (6 projects), Earth and Environmental Sciences (10 projects) and Music Technology (2 projects).

We hope you will join us in supporting all the hard work of our students! Project titles and abstracts are available online.

The Columns Humanities and Social Research Symposium, will start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 in the Colonnade Room of the Cedric Rucker University Center. Light refreshments will be provided.

The following message is from University Events:

UMW Faculty and Staff,

President Troy Paino and Kelly Paino invite you and a guest to the annual Holiday Gathering, in celebration of UMW employees. Join us Friday, December 13, at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center from 5 to 7 p.m. Please respond by Dec. 6 via the online form if you will attend.

We invite members of the University of Mary Washington community to submit program proposals for the annual Women’s History Month Celebration. Proposals are due by Friday, December 6, 2024. The deadline for open-class proposals is Friday, January 10, 2025. The sponsor(s) will be notified promptly. Approved programs will be included on the Women’s History Month calendar, as well as in print and electronic publications. Preference will be given to programs and events relating to the 2024 theme, “Women Educating and Inspiring Generations.” All programs must secure their source of funding, if applicable.

The program proposal form can be found at https://students.umw.edu/multicultural/programs/womens-history-month/. Please include as much information on the form as possible.

Return forms and appropriate attachments to:

Women’s History Month Planning Committee
Attention: Dr. Marion Sanford
James Farmer Multicultural Center
University Center, Room 319
1301 College Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Email at msanford@umw.edu

UMW’s Women’s Leadership Colloquium will host this month’s Coffee Talk: Springboard for Change on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m at 718 Venue.

December’s Coffee Talk will cover the topic of Change Management. Rose Heyward, Manager of Talent Development, Learning & Organizational Effectiveness at Mary Washington Healthcare, will be leading the discussion.

Location:  718 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA.

Parking: Available at Riverfront Park, George Street Lot, and Sophia Street Parking Deck. Street parking is also available along Caroline Street.

Register Here or check out Women’s Leadership Colloquium at UMW website for more info on Coffee Talks.