Category: What’s New @ UMW

Groundbreaking for the Information and Technology Convergence Center is expected to begin after Commencement activities. On Monday, May 14, Facilities Services will close Campus Walk and route all handicapped and pedestrian traffic onto College Avenue until mid-June.  At that time, handicapped traffic will remain on College Avenue, but a pedestrian bypass around the construction site will be routed through the Simpson Parking Lot.  This detour configuration will remain in effect for the duration of the project.

Currently, Facilities Services is installing utilities to support the center.  This work is centered primarily in the Simpson access road between the Jepson Science Center and the Simpson Library. Along with closure of Campus Walk, the bridge in front of Arrington Hall will be closed to prepare for the relocation of city water, sewer and fire mains. This area and the entire construction site will remain fenced for the duration of the project.

Construction on the Convergence Center will commence in late June or early July with an anticipated completion date of spring 2014.  Access to Simpson Library will be via the Campus Walk entrance from Woodard Campus Center.

For more information, contact Len Shelton, associate director of capital planning and construction, at lshelton@umw.edu.  Or visit the Convergence Center project website at provost.umw.edu/convergence-center/.

Congratulations to Cathy Byram, office manager in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Communications, who has been selected as an Excellent Eagle Employee for the month of May.   A parking spot of her choosing has been reserved for her until the end of the month.

Here is what one of her co-workers said about her:

“I would like to nominate Cathy for a variety of reasons. First, she is absolutely kind and generous. I am fairly new here, having begun in August. Cathy, whose job does not involve me at all, is kind enough to do all of the purchasing for me in the Writing Centers and the WI Program. She does so without any complaint and never asks anything in return although I ask her time and again if there is anything I can do for her. She helps me navigate appropriate channels in order to get things accomplished for students and the university. Cathy goes above and beyond her job description just to help out a fellow employee. I want to nominate Cathy just so she is recognized and knows what an invaluable employee and person she is.” 

To nominate someone who you believe is an Excellent Eagle Employee, just send me an email (psulliva@umw.edu) with Excellent Eagle Employee in the Subject Line.  In your email, be sure to tell me the person’s name, department, work location (with the most convenient parking lot), and of course, the reason why you believe they should be recognized.  Please spread the word to other employees about this wonderful opportunity to recognize a co-worker(s).

A UMW friend recently made a gift that doubled the size of the scholarship she named in memory of her husband. On April 25, 2012, Mary Jane O’Neill notified the University of a new gift that now brings the Robert C. O’Neill Scholarship Endowment up to $100,000. Beginning in the fall of 2013, the scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate students with declared majors in the College of Business.

Longtime residents of Fredericksburg, the O’Neills were active in economic and real estate development. Mr. O’Neill passed away in 2007. Mrs. O’Neill is now a member of the UMW Washington Society, which recognizes cumulative lifetime giving of $100,000 and more.

This gift announcement is from the Division of Advancement and University Relations.

Interim Provost Ian Newbould spoke to the faculty on April 25. Please view his remarks. Newbould, who arrived at UMW on April 16, will serve as UMW’s chief academic officer during the 2012-2013 academic year.

His career in higher education spans more than 30 years, and includes presidencies at three institutions. Most recently, he served as president of Richmond, the American International University in London, U.K.

At the Stress Free Zone this week, students found more than just crafts and snacks–they found pets.

Diesel(pictured left), a cane corso mastiff, has been a therapy dog for four years. He also has been seen at Mary Washington Hospital, the Marine Corps Marathon and Wounded Warriors events like the Polar Plunge. This is the first year that the therapeutic dogs have visited the Stress Free Zone.

Graduate assistant Whitney Hanlin said the dogs’ presence doubled the number of students who attended the event from last year.

The Stress Free Zone is sponsored annually by the Office of Student Activities and Engagement.

There, students had the options of tie-dying T-shirts, coloring, doing crafts, snacking on cookies, crackers and gummy candy, and playing with the dogs from the Rappahannock Area Comfort Canines.

“It’s just a way to support our students,” said graduate assistant Meg DeMaria. “We just want to make this week as easy as possible for them.”