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December 4, 2023

Dear colleagues,

As we prepare to enter finals season and wrap up another semester, let’s recognize the accompanying academic stress our students may feel during this time. One supportive measure (amongst many) that we offer is TutorZone’s free services. Please remind your students of this avenue to seek academic help as they prepare for finals. 

Here are the Top 5 Things to Know this week:

1. My office will partner with the W&M Women’s Network to host the 2024 Exploring Leadership Series. This series supports leadership development, expands individual leadership abilities in current roles, prepares for future opportunities and advances William & Mary’s strategic objectives. The application for participation will remain open through Dec. 8. Participation is open to all employees regardless of sex or gender.
   
   
2. I especially encourage department chairs and those leading in other capacities (e.g., program coordinators and committee leaders) to consider applying to the upcoming one-day Academic Leaders Workshop on Jan. 18, 2024. C.K. (Tina) Gunsalus, director of the National Center for Principled Leadership and Research Ethics (NCPRE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and author of this recent thought piece, is leading the event. Applications to participate are due on Jan. 15, 2024. 
   
   
3. A new system for course registration called CourseLeaf PATH is set to begin in the spring for Fall 2024 registration. CourseLeaf PATH for student registration will feature improved search functionality and messaging, a new look and feel and a non-timed registration environment. Additionally, we will gather data and insight into what students prioritize when selecting classes, which will help departments with scheduling decisions. After many conversations with students and colleagues about their experiences with registration, I anticipate that this new means of registering will reduce stress for all involved. 
   
   
4. Swem Library will once again host the popular Writers’ Retreat for William & Mary faculty from Jan. 16-19, 2024. I often hear that uninterrupted time and space for faculty to focus on their writing helps advance their work. During the retreat, full-time participants will work at least six hours and part-time participants will work three hours daily. If you’d like to attend, please obtain supervisor approval and submit this application by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. For more information, please contact Lisa Nickel, Associate Dean of Research & Public Services, William & Mary Libraries at ltnickel@wm.edu. 
   
   
5. The shout-out for the week goes to the members of the Law School’s Institute of Bill of Rights Law who worked with the Virginia Law Foundation to coordinate and execute the recent “Citizen Lawyers in Action” event on Nov. 28. President Rowe helped to moderate as two U.S. Congressional representatives led a workshop with students, a discussion about the strategies they implement to work with members of different parties and used “mock legislatures” to simulate modern challenges that the attendees could work through. This event offered an excellent example of William & Mary’s commitment to democracy. I thank all those involved.