Country Cookin in Eagle Village is now accepting EagleOne. Stop by for homestyle good food, friendly people and great value.
Meet our New Employees
Please join us in extending a warm UMW welcome to our newest employees
Mandy Donadio joined the Admissions Department as an Application Process Clerk on Oct. 10.
Dale Elethorp joined the Central Storeroom Department as a Warehouse Manager on Oct. 10.
Katherine Perdue joined the Simpson Library as an Assistant Systems Librarian on Oct. 10.
Optional Retirement Plan
This is a reminder that October is open enrollment month for participants of the Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education (ORPHE). The two available ORPHE providers are Fidelity Investments and TIAA-CREF. ORPHE participants can review the Open Enrollment Notice to Participants and may switch from one provider to the other for contributions to be effective Jan. 10, 2014.
Participants can find open enrollment documents, the participant notification and provider change form under the “What’s New” tab on the VRS home page. All provider form changes must be submitted to Office of Human Resources by close of business Thursday, Oct. 31.
NYC Bus Trip
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Student Affairs staff members will host a bus trip to New York City. A 55-passenger coach bus has been contracted to NYC for a day trip. The cost is $40 per person. The event will be “self-funded” and no state funds will expended. Space is limited, so please call now to reserve a place on the bus.
The bus will depart UMW from the George Washington parking lot at 4 a.m. for the trip north. Participants will be dropped off close to Times Square, NYC, around 10 a.m. and will have time to enjoy all that New York City has to offer in the winter. Take in a Broadway show, ice skate in Central Park, tour any of the world-renowned museums, shop at famous Macy’s on 34th St., and view the decorated windows along 5th Ave. The bus will depart for UMW from Rockefeller Center at 11:30 p.m.
If you are interested in the New York City bus trip, please contact Dei Bayer (dbayer@umw.edu; 540/654-1053).
Tuesday Walk/Run Offered
Faculty and Staff Walk/Run Group
Campus Recreation and Residence Life invite staff and faculty to a weekly run/walk on Tuesdays from noon-1 p.m. We welcome all paces!
Our route is 1.66 miles from campus down the Sunken Road and back again. There are two junctures along the route for those of you who can’t commit to the whole time (.66 mile route and .75 mile route). Meet us in front of Lee Hall at noon on Tuesday for some exercise and a little down time between the stress of meetings and classes! Route map is below. Questions? Contact Dan Gardner (dgardner@umw.edu) or Margot Jebb (mjebb@umw.edu).
Map of Fac/Staff Walk/Run
You’re Invited to Pumpkin Palooza
COAR would like to invite you and your families to Pumpkin Palooza! It is this coming Sunday, Oct. 27, in the Great Hall from 1 to 4 p.m.! Kids of all ages are invited to put on their best costumes and join us for an afternoon of trick-or-treating, crafts, games, and fun!!! If you have any questions, contact COAR at coarumw@gmail.com or (540)654-1802.
Highlights of the October UFC Meeting
The UFC met on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Provost Jonathan Levin announced the reopening of a search for the director of academic and career services, as well as a search for the associate provost for enrollment management. Dean Lynne Richardson reported that the College of Business has submitted its eligibility application, the first step towards AACSB accreditation. She also announced the suspension of admissions to the M.S. in management information systems program due to low enrollments.
Next followed the continuing discussion of the strategic resource reallocation initiative, specifically faculty and staff responses to the templates and training to complete the templates.
V.P. for Student Affairs Doug Searcy and Meg Higgenbothem responded to faculty concerns (compiled by the UFC) about last summer’s new student orientation. The new plans involve reducing the student-staff ratio for the advising/registration sessions, and moving transfer advising/registration to later in the summer. There was also discussion of how to better manage seats for incoming students. Convocation will be moved from Sunday night before classes start to Friday night.
Provost Levin announced a new policy for summer school compensation of faculty, with details to be provided later.
Discussion moved to the vision for UMW over the next decade, and in particular how to differentiate UMW from competing schools. The UFC suggested that faculty be more involved in the conversation, and that suggestion was well received.
Finally, the UCC Action Items and WI Action Items were approved
More information on these items can be found in the formal meeting minutes.
Economics Class Learning the Ropes
Shawn Humphrey and 10 economics students roped in teamwork and built camaraderie Oct. 19 after attending a daylong retreat to Challenge Discovery at University of Richmond.
“We run a microfinance organization in Honduras and an important part, very important part, of being effective and delivering on our services to over 55 clients is to work with creativity and collaboratively as a team,” said Humphrey, associate professor of economics.
The microfinance organization, La Ceiba, is a student-run program that operates in El Progreso, Honduras working to help the people of El Progreso beat poverty.
Campus Dining Awards Scholarships
Campus Dining recently awarded scholarships to five of their UMW student team members. The Sodexo Scholarship, which recognizes outstanding job performance and a commitment to community service, was awarded to Edward (Kip) Schierer and Jithmi Wickramatillake. Kip is a student manager at Naturally Woodstock and Jithmi is a server at the Restaurants of Seacobeck. The Adam Mackensen Scholarship, given to students who demonstrate dedication, excellent service, and a spirit of teamwork, was awarded to three student employees: Raven Roy, a cashier at Seacobeck; Heather Chlebo, a member of catering wait staff; and Alaina Haws, a marketing assistant. Please join us in congratulating each of these worthy students!
Sodexo STOP Hunger Scholarships
Applications are being taken until Dec. 5 for Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarships that are awarded by the Sodexo Foundation to students in kindergarten through graduate school who have worked to help fight hunger in their communities. The students receive a $5,000 scholarship plus a matching $5,000 grant for the hunger-related charity of their choice. If you know a student who has made significant contributions to fighting hunger, please encourage them to apply for the scholarship. Complete information is available at www.SodexoFoundation.org.