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January 29, 2024

Dear colleagues,

With the All In campaign coming to a successful conclusion, I am particularly excited about the many accomplishments of our student-athletes throughout its duration. Several teams won CAA championships, all teams had a 3.0 GPA or better for the first semester on record, we maintained the No. 1 spot in all Division I athletics programs for the highest graduation rate among student-athletes for the 18th year in a row, and our students created bonds, skills and memories they will carry with them long after they graduate. My sincerest congratulations to all involved!

Now, here are the Top 5 Things to Know this week:

1. As an accredited institution, W&M completes a reaffirmation of the accreditation process every 10 years. Part of that process includes developing a five-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focused on improving student learning outcomes and/or student success. Submissions were evaluated by the Executive Leadership Team and the Reaffirmation Leadership Team for alignment with Vision 2026 and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) evaluation rubric. Three finalists were selected and will present topics to the campus community via Zoom from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22. A Zoom link will be provided closer to the date. 

1. The AY 2024-2025 W&M Faculty Research Committee’s Faculty Research Grant is now accepting proposals. Formerly known as the Summer Research Grant Program, this funding opportunity will provide up to 50 one-year awards at $5,000 per grant. The W&M Faculty Research Committee will coordinate the award process with the intention of bolstering W&M’s reputation and standing. Please submit your applications by 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5.
   
   
2. As you have frequently heard me say, academic stress and wellness at W&M are major areas of interest for me. As part of a collaborative effort between my office and Student Affairs to enhance wellness in the personal and professional lives of our faculty and staff, three Wellness at Work sessions are being offered. The first occurred last week for participants in the Mid-level Academic Leadership program; the second is being offered for faculty and staff in collaboration with University Human Resources this Thursday, Feb. 1; and the third will be on Friday, Feb. 16, in the Exploring Leadership series offered by the W&M Women’s Network. These wellness sessions are interactive and focus on providing resources to better integrate wellness into your personal and professional lives. For the free and open session offered from 8:30-11:30 a.m. this Thursday, Feb. 1, please register through Cornerstone. After logging into Cornerstone, you may find the session by searching “Wellness at Work.”
   
   
3. Starting next week, the Faculty Book Group will discuss Trauma-Informed Pedagogies: A Guide for Responding to Crisis and Inequality in Higher Education. The group will meet on Tuesdays in February from 12:30-1:30 p.m., beginning February 6. Participants will receive a copy of the book and can join in person or on Zoom. Space is limited, so please register early if you want to take part in this opportunity. Please send any questions to Candice Benjes-Small at cbsmall@wm.edu or Meghan Miller at mmsinton@wm.edu.
   
   
4. This week’s shout-out goes to the many community members involved in the Spring Pathway program, which “offers pathways to spring admission for waitlisted students while they pursue educational opportunities during the fall semester.” Since the program began four years ago, more than 400 students have joined William & Mary, and an additional 70 arrived this spring. The university has also graduated the first set of Spring Pathway students, including a 2023 government major who has received magna cum laude status. I am impressed with the success of the program and how it continues to promote access to higher education.