Hyatt Place Fredericksburg at Mary Washington was recently awarded a 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for being recognized as a top performing hotel. Check out the full release on PRWeb.
Free Learner Space Summer Camp, July 21-22
A student learns about circuitry by using tools in UMW’s LearnerSpace
The College of Education is hosting a free LearnerSpace Summer Camp for children of UMW faculty and staff on July 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will learn about the maker’s space, 3D printing, robotics and rockets. The camp is open to children ages 9 to 13 and takes place on the Stafford campus in the north building, room 112. Registration is required for each day at http://bit.ly/1Bn5D0Z. Contact Linda Falden at lfalden@umw.edu with questions.
UMW Partners with Local Elementary Schools to Tackle Oil Spills
The timer winds down outside Anne E. Moncure Elementary School in Stafford County. Precious seconds tick away while fifth-graders watch with anticipation to see if their creation will clean up oil dumped in a makeshift waterway.
“You guys made this. It’s driving around. Be proud,” said Principal Greg Machi, applauding the group crowded around a blue and white inflatable pool, exhorting their motorized sponge-like devices, built from PVC pipe, pool noodles and oil absorbency pads, to soak up the blackish oil dumped in the clear water.
“No wonder they call it trial and error,” said 10-year-old Zoe Lenzmeier, as her group’s machine struggles to move through the water.
Her group’s machine successfully cleaned up oil, but will need some modifications to move better in the water.
University of Mary Washington Professor of Education George Meadows, who oversaw the student testing, deemed all the inventions a success. “They built a remote-control machine with a purpose,” said Meadows, who spearheaded this project through a $2,390 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
Meadows partnered with principals and teachers at Anne E. Moncure, Hartwood and Ferry Farm elementary schools and Friends of the Rappahannock to educate more than 300 students about water pollution caused by oil spills before starting the building process.
Through the grant, the schools were able to purchase all of the materials and participate in workshops led by educators from Friends of the Rappahannock on watershed, human impact on rivers and oil spills.
“I hope they realize that they can make a difference,” said Lowery Pemberton, education coordinator for Friends of the Rappahannock, as she watched the next group test their machine. “And that this motivates them to figure out solutions for themselves.”
Students in groups of four to five were given a real-world scenario where they had a $1,000 budget to purchase materials. Then they had about five total hours to build over the course of a few weeks.
During the last week of school they tested and observed the machines by simulating an oil spill.
“This is what 21st century learning must increasingly be for all students—multifaceted meaningful engagement that builds complex knowledge and skills, that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking and creativity, and that embraces the importance of iterations to deep, nuanced, and useful understandings,” said Mary Gendernalik-Cooper, dean of the UMW College of Education, who also came to observe the students as they tested their machines.
After testing, students returned to their classrooms to discuss, but some students already were planning improvements.
“I would probably attach the funnel that turns – that filters the oil into water – to the machine so it doesn’t create drag,” said 10-year-old Seamus Gutierrez, after his machine finishes its test run. “It was hard to control and maybe it was too long because it jammed against the corners.”
UMW Announces Search Firm for 2015-16 Presidential Search
The University of Mary Washington announced the selection of Baker and Associates as its partner in the search for the 10th president of the university on Friday, June 12.
Baker and Associates is an executive search firm established in 2007 whose team brings 60 years of experience to UMW’s search. The search will be led by Senior Vice President Martin Baker. Baker and Associates has conducted more than 500 searches at colleges and universities both in the commonwealth and across the country. Previous presidential and chancellor searches have included the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2015, Appalachian State University in 2014 and Western Carolina University in 2011.
“Martin Baker brings a combined passion for liberal arts education and the extensive experience necessary to conduct an innovative and strategic executive search,” said Holly Cuellar, rector for the University of Mary Washington’s Board of Visitors. “The search will be national in scope and every effort will be made to cultivate a rich pool of exceptionally well-qualified candidates for consideration.”
Baker and Associates was selected by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, which is chaired by Rector Cuellar, following several interviews with multiple firms. The firm will assist the search advisory committee with the initial screening, vetting, and interviewing of candidates and will support the Board of Visitors in the final selection of the next president.
“Being so well-known for its outstanding commitment to liberal arts, there’s already such prestige associated with Mary Washington,” said Baker. “With high-quality faculty, staff and students, along with a dedicated Board of Visitors, there is a lot about the university that will attract a robust pool of candidates.”
According to Baker, the firm will bring a hands-on approach in its proactive outreach to talented prospects who reflect the skill sets and leadership characteristics required by UMW. The firm has conducted a number of successful searches within Virginia, including searches at Longwood University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia and Christopher Newport University. Last year, the firm assisted with the recruitment of the new Dean of the Honors College at Virginia Commonwealth University and earlier this year completed the search to recruit the new Director of Institutional Equity at VCU.
President Richard V. Hurley announced his plan to retire, effective June 30, 2016. Hurley has served as UMW’s ninth president since July 1, 2010.
For more information about the presidential search, visit http://president.umw.edu/search/.
Landscape & Grounds Adopt-A-Pot
Lonely Pots up for adoption, plant material will vary.
It is your lucky day! UMW Landscape & Grounds has a surplus of annual plants. Policy prevents us from giving them away but there is no policy against adoption.
How it will work? L & G will put together annuals in decorative pots, faculty and staff can then adopt one or a pair of pots to be placed outside on the Fredericksburg Campus and maintained by the adopter.
L & G maintains the right to: remove pots that have not thrived, award adoptions that spread pots across campus (not at just one building), match pots to the environment, decide to award singular or paired pots depending on the location.
Pots will come with a watering can and access to water at the closest spigot.
Submit an adoption request to Joni Wilson at jwilson@umw.edu, include your name, contact information and suggested location. Submissions will be accepted until June 19 or pots run out. Awards will be made on a first come first serve basis and at the sole discretion of the Director of Landscape and Grounds.
New Social Media Directory
UMW’s new social media directory is live!
The directory takes our tight-knit, active community on social and puts it all in one place, making accounts easier to find. The centralized listing highlights UMW’s extensive presence on social and all of the different niches on our campus.
You can find the directory by visiting www.umw.edu/social and choosing “Directory.” The directory is also linked to www.umw.edu under the social icons in the bottom left corner of the page.
The listing includes all accounts that have been submitted through the account approval form. If you would like your account to be included in the directory, please review the social media policy and submit the form.
Questions? Contact Erika Spivey at espivey@umw.edu.
Staff Advisory Council Mixer, June 25
Save the date: June 25, 2015! Your S.A.C. will be hosting an end of orientation (almost) mixer from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Home Team Grill in Eagle Village. Plan to take a few minutes and visit with fellow staff and faculty with happy hour prices until 6 p.m. for drinks and some appetizers.
Students Raise Money for Memorial Endowment
The University of Mary Washington community recently came together to raise more than $30,000 to create an endowment in honor of Robert Ericson, a student who passed away in 2014.
“This [endowment] serves the purpose of helping a student who loves to study what Bob studied, but it also acts as an eternal memorial in his name at UMW,” states the donation website. “With the advent of this [endowment], Bob’s name, and everything that he stood for as an upstanding role model in the community, [will] be remembered forever.”
The endowment, which was started by The One Note Stand, a student a cappella group at UMW, and Bob’s parents, will be distributed beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year. Details are still being developed.
“We felt that he deserved this type of memorial at UMW. We knew that people cared enough to make it happen, too,” said student and The One Note Stand member Ian Spangler. “It seemed logical and right that his legacy as a compassionate, genuine man would continue for years to come, especially since it would come in the form of money for future students.”
Ericson was a member of The One Note Stand, captain of the Crew Team and an active member of the Student Government Association.
“Each person within One Note contributed a great amount of time and care, and it never would have happened without their constant dedication,” said Spangler. “It was also largely a community effort. Organizations and individuals across campus were eager to support the cause, and once the memorial fund picked up some momentum, the donations simply soared in; Crew, UMW Performing Arts Club, Association of Residence Halls, Class Council, Student Senate, and many more contributed.”
The memorial fund is still accepting donations on a rolling basis. To donate or find out more about Bob’s story, visit the Robert Ericson Memorial Fund website.
News from HR
New State Discounts
New state discounts including Kings Dominion, Cirque Du Soleil (Virginia Beach) and more. Please visit the Virginia Department of Human Resources Management for details.
Premium Rewards Information for COVA Care or COVA Healthaware Health Insurance
For more information on premium rewards please see the flier: Earning Premium Rewards
Individual Counseling Sessions for Deferred Compensation, Cash Match Plan and/or VRS Hybrid – Defined Contribution Component on June 11
Don’t Forget to schedule an appointment for your 457 Deferred Compensation and 401 Cash Match Plan. Our representative is offering individual counseling sessions on June 11, Sept. 14 and Dec. 1 in GW 106. Also, any VRS Hybrid retirement participant may also set up an individual counseling session for their Defined Contribution component or to discuss voluntary contributions. See “What’s New” for event registration.
UMW Names Vice President for Student Affairs
Juliette Landphair, dean of Westhampton College and associate dean in the School of Arts and Sciences for the University of Richmond, has been named vice president for student affairs at the University of Mary Washington.
Landphair will be responsible for the planning and direction of all of UMW’s student engagement programs in the offices of student activities, residential life, health and counseling services and athletics; and will administer the university’s student-run honor system. She will begin work Aug. 10.
“I am delighted that Dr. Landphair will be joining the UMW administration,” said President Richard V. Hurley. “She brings a wealth of very relevant experience at a critical time in the history of the institution.”
Landphair replaces Douglas N. Searcy, who will become the 12th president of Barton College in Wilson, N.C.
Landphair has been affiliated with the University of Richmond since 1999. In her current position, she leads the Westhampton College dean’s office in serving 1,600 undergraduate female students. She oversees the administration of new student orientation, residence life and the Women Involved in Living and Learning (WILL) program. In addition, she administers academic policy for arts and sciences majors; works with faculty, staff, parents and students to respond to students in crisis; and oversees the dean’s office crisis and threat management systems, among other duties. Previously, Landphair served as interim and assistant director for the WILL program.
Among her initiatives at the University of Richmond, Landphair led institution-wide retention efforts, chaired the Westhampton College strategic planning process, co-wrote the University’s sexual misconduct policy and led the creation and implementation of the University’s women and philanthropy initiative.
A recipient of the Influential Woman of Virginia Award presented by Virginia Lawyers Media, Landphair also received the Bob E. Leach Award for Outstanding Service to Students presented by the NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. A frequent presenter at academic conferences, she has written numerous articles for academic journals and newspaper opinion pieces. She is a book reviewer for the Journal of American History, a peer reviewer of The Journal of Southern History and panel proposal reviewer for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
She holds a master’s degree and doctorate in history from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in history and French from Tulane University.