The University of Mary Washington has been rated among the nation’s best by both The Princeton Review and the Washington Monthly. The Princeton Review featured the University in its 2017 edition of “The Best 381 Colleges,” which profiles only 15 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges. The Washington Monthly ranked UMW 21st in the […]
Paino Outlines 2016-17 Priorities at Opening Faculty Meeting
As part of UMW’s annual opening faculty meeting on Thursday, Aug. 25, President Troy Paino outlined his priorities for the upcoming academic year. Through collaboration and transparency, Paino discussed the necessity of building a foundation of trust over the next year in order to move UMW forward. Paino outlined the following nine priorities for the upcoming academic year, which have been approved by the Board of Visitors:
Determine a clear set of indicators for success. Identify high-level institutional indicators that speak to the university’s definition of success. This will include a conversation about re-identifying peer and aspirational institutions.
Finalize the strategic enrollment plan. Currently underway, the strategic enrollment plan is being created by a group of faculty and staff to determine UMW’s academic/student profile.
Update the university’s master plan. Address building needs on campus with a focus on older residence halls in order to stay competitive in student recruitment.
Create a committee to develop a Diversity Action Plan. Reporting directly to the president, the committee will discuss strategies for recruiting and retaining a diverse student body and workforce.
Update the budget. Address the budget in a way that creates room for future strategic investments, includes a solution for salary issues, develops new opportunities for revenue and is mindful of reserves.
Capitalize on regional opportunities. At the core, UMW is a traditional liberal arts and sciences institution, but the addition of programs for nontraditional students has the opportunity to increase revenue.
Develop and implement a plan to address faculty and staff salary issues. Create and implement a plan that addresses workforce salary issues over the next three years.
Conduct an environmental scan of UMW’s position in the marketplace. Analyze our institution’s place within the greater higher education landscape.
Articulate UMW’s vision by the end of the academic year. Be able to clearly articulate the past and traditions of UMW, the strengths of its current community and where the university is headed.
New Faculty Members Introduced at Opening Faculty Meeting
The following new faculty members were introduced at the General Faculty Meeting on Aug. 25:
College of Arts and Sciences:
Art and Art History: Christopher A. Musina, Assistant Professor
Athletics, Health, and Physical Education: Andrew S. Delaney, Lecturer
Biological Sciences: Bradley A. Lamphere, Assistant Professor
Classics, Philosophy, and Religion: Jennifer A. Barry, Assistant Professor
Computer Science: Jessica Z. Self, Assistant Professor
Earth and Environmental Sciences: Pamela R. Grothe, Visiting Instructor
Economics: Amrita Dhar, Assistant Professor
English, Linguistics, and Communication: Laura L. Bylenok, Assistant Professor
Geography: Elizabeth L. Mason-Deese, Visiting Assistant Professor
Marco Millones Mayer, Assistant Professor
History and American Studies: Erin K. Devlin, Assistant Professor
Modern Languages & Literatures: Gonzalo S. Campos-Dintrans, Assistant Professor
Physics: Maia Magrakvelidze, Assistant Professor
Psychological Science: Emily M. Stanley, Assistant Professor
Sociology and Anthropology: LaWanda M. Wallace, Post-Doctoral Fellow in Civil Rights and Social Justice and Visiting Assistant Professor
College of Business:
Bidisha Burman, Associate Professor
Kimberly S. Gower, Assistant Professor
Sayan Sarkar, Assistant Professor
College of Education:
Christy K. Irish, Visiting Instructor
Welcome to the University of Mary Washington!
Jepson Celebrates Painter Gari Melchers’ Work, Contributions
From DoSavannah, 8.24.16
“The artist Gari Melchers may not exactly be a household name these days, but he was an exceedingly accomplished and successful painter in his time and is certainly deserving of more attention than he’s received since his death nearly a century ago.
“One Hundred Years of Harmony: Paintings by Gari Melchers,” which opens at Aug. 26 the Jepson Center, is a chance to sample some of this peripatetic painter’s work and learn more about his life and his contributions to Telfair’s own collection.” MORE
SAC News
Staff Advisory Council news:
FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA)
The U.S. Department of Labor along with UMW’s Human Resources and Payroll Departments are working to help you achieve work life balance and get compensated for hours worked. If you haven’t already done so, please make plans to attend one of HR’s FLSA information sessions. The session schedule is on HR’s website. HR has also provided answers to frequently asked questions related to the new Department of Labor standards. If your question hasn’t been answered, you can submit questions to HR using the Ask a Question form on their website. The new standards will affect a large number of UMW employees. Make sure you’re well informed.
LARRY ATKINS AWARD
The Staff Advisory Council continues to accept nominations for the Larry Atkins Award. Larry was one of the first employees to receive the S.A.C. “We Couldn’t Do It Without You Award.” That award was renamed in his honor.
Larry Atkins Award winners:
- lend a helping hand to their teammates
- go above and beyond in each and every task while wearing a smile
- set a positive example for other UMW employees
S.A.C. chooses 3 winners – 1 wage employee, 1 classified employee, and 1 administrative faculty employee. All UMW employees are eligible to nominate and to be nominated for one of the three awards.
All nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. Winners will be announced by S.A.C. at the Fall Employee gathering on Oct. 18, and winners will receive $100.
To nominate someone, use the following link and complete the form. Larry Atkins Award nomination form
If you have questions please contact John Symonds at jsymonds@umw.edu or Pam Lowery at plowery@umw.edu
S.A.C. SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
The S.A.C. will continue collecting school supply donations until Sept. 2. Click here to access a flyer for drop box locations to post in your area to raise awareness and get colleagues involved. S.A.C. has partnered with the Spotsylvania County School District and the Courthouse Academy for Special Needs for this year’s Back to School Supply Drive to support kids in need.
EXCELLENT EAGLE EMPLOYEE
Please don’t forget to nominate your co-workers, supervisor, or employees for the Excellent Eagle Employee award. Simply send an email to eenominations@umw.edu with Excellent Eagle Employee in the subject line. Be sure to provide the person’s name, department, and work location with the most convenient parking lot, and the reason they should be recognized.
THOUGHTS, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, & FEEDBACK
Your input and suggestions are important to us! Share your thoughts and ideas with S.A.C. by completing the suggestions form on our website. Let us know what’s on your mind. What can we do to help make UMW a great place to work?
UPCOMING MEETING S.A.C.’s next meeting is Thursday, Sept. 15, in Lee Hall, Room 411 at 1 p.m. Meetings are open to anyone who’d like to attend.
UMW Art Collection Now Online
The UMW Galleries are pleased to announce that the permanent art collection is now accessible online. Simply go to our homepage at umwgalleries.org and click on the menu tab that reads “permanent collection” or follow this link http://umwgalleries.pastperfectonline.com/
There are more than 6,000 objects in the UMW Galleries’ museum collection and for the first time, they are available through this online platform. Publishing the collection online allows our students — especially those studying art, art history, and museum studies — an invaluable resource in their work. Not only does this tool enrich the UMW community, but it is also an important resource for scholars, researchers, and institutions seeking information about the artists and works in our collection.
Gallery staff will continue to make improvements to the site and the information available in the upcoming months. Specifically, UMW Gallery staff and interns are continually improving the images available by scanning works on paper in collaboration with the UMW Libraries Digital Archiving Lab.
Feel free to read a short history of the UMW Galleries on the collection home page and browse using the Random Images tab! Assistant Curator and Exhibitions Coordinator, Rachel Hutcheson, oversaw the project and will be managing the content updates.
UMW Libraries Aid in Digitizing Mary Washington’s Will
UMW Libraries recently partnered with the Fredericksburg Circuit Court Archives and the Washington Heritage Museums to digitize Mary Ball Washington’s 1789 will. This historic document is part of the collections of the Fredericksburg Circuit Court Archives and has been carefully preserved for future researchers but until now had not been digitized.
Anne Darron, Executive Director of the Washington Heritage Museums and UMW alum, inquired with Special Collections and University Archives staff about obtaining a high-quality scan of the will for the local Mary Washington House. The Library’s overhead Cobra V-Cradle scanner in the Digital Archiving Lab was the right equipment for the job, as it allows for high-resolution scanning of fragile bound books and documents up to 18 x 24 inches. Digital Resources Librarian Suzanne Chase scanned the will, providing staff at the Washington Heritage Museums and the Fredericksburg Circuit Court Archives with high-resolution images that they can use in exhibits and printed materials without having to repeatedly handle the original document.
The Digital Archiving Lab enables UMW Libraries to work with faculty and students to create scholarly digital projects and to assist local cultural heritage institutions in digitizing their historic treasures. Scanning Mary Washington’s last will and testament was a project of special significance to us at UMW.
Accepting Nominations for University and SAC Awards
It is that time of year again for your nominations to be submitted for two of our University Recognition Awards. Deadline Sept. 12.
We will continue our celebration of excellence with the announcement of this year’s nominees, their champions, and the award recipients at the fall staff luncheon event in October.
- Charles Coleman Memorial Service Award: (supervisor nominations only): Charles Coleman was an employee of 29 years who demonstrated pride, dedication, and loyalty throughout his many years of service. This award was established in honor of his memory and exemplary service. All classified and hourly employees with at least 5 years of continuous employment are eligible for the award. Nomination submission should be submitted by: 5:00 p.m., Sept. 12, 2016
The Staff Advisory Council is now accepting nominations for the Larry Atkins Award. Larry was one of the first employees to receive the S.A.C. “We Couldn’t Do it Without You Award.” That award was renamed in his honor.
Larry Atkins Award winners:
· lend a helping hand to their teammates
· go above and beyond in each and every task while wearing a smile
· set a positive example for other UMW employees
S.A.C. chooses 3 winners – 1 wage employee, 1 classified employee, and 1 administrative faculty employee. All UMW employees are eligible to nominate and to be nominated for one of the three awards.
S.A.C. began accepting nominations on Aug. 15. All nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. Winners will be announced by S.A.C. at the Fall Employee gathering, and winners will receive $100.
To nominate someone, use the following link and complete the form. Larry Atkins Award nomination form
Your S.A.C. members appreciate all you do and especially that you are willing to help us recognize those we just couldn’t do it without!
If you have questions please contact John Symonds jsymonds@umw.edu or Pam Lowery at plowery@umw.edu.
- Richard V. and Rosemary A. Hurley Presidential Commendation:
This year’s Hurley award selection was made in Spring 2016, prior to Rick’s leaving. Nominees, their champions and the award recipient, Allyson Moerman, will also be celebrated at the fall event.
Please visit the University Recognition Awards webpage for award selection criteria, nomination procedures, and the online nomination form for each award above.
Seersucker Thursday!
Sweltering temperatures hovered near the century mark last week, but a hardy contingent of the UMW family looked a bit cooler suiting up for UMW’s unofficial Seersucker Thursday photo. The seventh annual practice was started at Mary Washington by Academic Advisor Charles Tate as a nod to the tradition begun in U.S. Congress during the 1990s to recognize the storied history of the light and breathable fabric, which became a Southern staple before the days of air conditioning.
Next year, Charles aims for a larger team of seersucker soldiers. Anyone interested in participating should contact Charles at ctate@umw.edu to be added to the email list.
Staff Advisory Council News
LARRY ATKINS AWARD
The Staff Advisory Council is now accepting nominations for the Larry Atkins Award. Larry was one of the first employees to receive the S.A.C. “We Couldn’t Do it Without You Award.” That award was renamed in his honor.
Larry Atkins Award winners:
- lend a helping hand to their teammates
- go above and beyond in each and every task while wearing a smile
- set a positive example for other UMW employees
S.A.C. chooses 3 winners – 1 wage employee, 1 classified employee, and 1 administrative faculty employee. All UMW employees are eligible to nominate and to be nominated for one of the three awards.
All nominations must be received by 5pm Monday, September 12th. Winners will be announced by S.A.C. at the Fall Employee gathering, and winners will receive $100.
To nominate someone, use the following link and complete the form. Larry Atkins Award nomination form
If you have questions please contact John Symonds jsymonds@umw.edu or Pam Lowery at plowery@umw.edu
FITBIT CHALLENGE
The Summer Fitness Challenge continues through this Saturday, Aug. 20. Human Resources and the Staff Advisory Council are promoting and encouraging UMW employees to participate, get fit, and have fun! Final entries must be submitted by 8 a.m. on Aug. 24 on the FitBit Challenge Form.
SAC SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
The UMW Staff Advisory Council partnered with the Spotsylvania County School District and the Courthouse Academy for Special Needs for this year’s Back to School Supply Drive to support kids in need. School Supply Drives help provide supplies that students need in order to succeed in school. These supplies go a long way for kids who need them the most. The SAC will be collecting school supply donations until Sept. 2.
Click here to access a flyer for drop box locations to post in your area to raise awareness and get colleagues involved.
EXCELLENT EAGLE EMPLOYEE
Please don’t forget to nominate your co-workers, supervisor, or employees for the Excellent Eagle Employee award, simply send an email to eenominations@umw.edu with Excellent Eagle Employee in the subject line. Be sure to provide the person’s name, department, and work location with the most convenient parking lot, and the reason they should be recognized.
UPCOMING MEETING
SAC’s next meeting is today, Thursday, Aug. 18, in Lee Hall, Room 412, at 1 p.m. Sabrina Johnson is our guest speaker. Meetings are open to anyone who’d like to attend.