April 22, 2024

Dear colleagues,

Our campus is coming together to celebrate our people and our planet in recognition of Earth Day, which is today. William & Mary encourages members of our community to be good stewards of our planet, including within our priority focus of sustainability. In this vein, I encourage you to explore and participate in the several Earth Week activities hosted across our campuses celebrating the many efforts to further these goals.

Here are the Top 5 Things to Know this week:

During the Board of Visitors meeting this week, I’ll present to the Academic Affairs Committee about faculty research and scholarship. Faculty Assembly and the dean’s offices have been excellent partners in preparing for this presentation that will summarize the current state of research on campus, including the ways in which research is viewed by external entities. Much of the recent efforts have been focused on developing the means to gather data from departments and schools about faculty research so that it can be reflected at a university level. I look forward to showcasing the range of faculty contributions and highlighting areas that need further support to strengthen our research portfolio moving forward.
STLI invites all instructors and graduate students to the all-day 2024 Teaching & Learning Symposium on May 7 in Alumni Hall. Join W&M and regional faculty to celebrate teaching, connect with colleagues and collaborate to advance educational innovation. The program includes a keynote by Dr. Helen Crompton, spotlight sessions, workshop sessions, poster sessions and a partner fair facilitated by William & Mary faculty and co-educators. Please register to attend.
Many of us may prefer to avoid conflict, and gaining competency in managing difficult conversations and developing strategies to mitigate conflict improves campus culture and helps us move past disagreements. The Ombudsman’s Office and Office of Faculty Affairs are sponsoring a workshop from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on May 8 in Grimsley Boardroom (Blow Hall, Room 201), with a virtual option. Please RSVP by May 1.
William & Mary Libraries invites you to a Writers Retreat in Swem Library. The retreat offers uninterrupted time to work on a specific writing project, complete research, edit a manuscript, or prepare a grant proposal. The retreat provides quiet space in Swem, daily breakfast and lunch, and (perhaps most importantly) structure. The retreat will run from Monday, May 20, through Friday May 24. All faculty members are eligible to apply, including adjunct faculty, full-time staff who serve as adjuncts, professionals and professional faculty. Please submit your application by Friday, May 3. For more information, contact Lisa Nickel, Associate Dean of Research & Public Services at William & Mary Libraries.
The shout-out for this week goes to the faculty, staff and students at VIMS dedicated to sustainability. In the school’s strategic plan, VIMS pledged to lead by example in sustainable design, construction and campus-wide action. Several efforts illustrate VIMS strengths in these areas. Recent construction has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, as Davis Hall received Gold and Facilities Management, Silver. The new Chesapeake Ball Hall, though still under construction, anticipates Silver Leed certification and includes plans for a wind turbine, smart lab technology and EV charging stations. With Earth Week in mind, I also encourage those interested to explore VIMS faculty expertise in plastics/microplastics, that includes a 2022 review article written in collaboration with students, and is republished in a special 2024 Earth Day collection on Plastics, Human Health and the Environment.

A final reminder before I close: The Office of Health Promotion, The Haven and the Office of Compliance and Equity continue to host events recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This Wednesday, April 24, these offices encourage us to wear denim to remind ourselves that clothing is never an excuse to harass, abuse, exploit or assault. The university’s annual Take Back the Night event, welcoming all to take a stand against sexual violence, will take place on Tuesday, April 30, from 5-7 p.m. in Sadler Center’s Tidewater.