March 4, 2024

Dear colleagues,

W&M students were on a streak of excellence this past week. The W&M Computer Science teams competed at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest and brought home several medals, reflecting their hard work and exemplary performance as well as the department’s commitment to distinction. Congratulations! In the area of democracy, too, W&M hosted the annual Road to Richmond event on the 20th, when students traveled to the capitol to meet with legislators, Cabinet members and legislative staff, many of whom are W&M alumni, as well as First Lady Suzanne Youngkin. W&M News published a photo essay from the day, where you can see our very professional students in action.

The week ahead is a busy one for the Year of the Arts, featuring the Tack Lecture with Professor of Theatre and Africana Studies Omiyẹmi (Artisia) Green at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, in the Glenn Close Theatre of PBK; please RSVP to reserve a seat. I also hope that some of you had a chance to attend By the Way, Meet Vera Stark this weekend, directed by Williamsburg’s own Tia James, who returned to guide W&M students on the mainstage. And last, but certainly not least, the W&M Orchestra will perform its Winter Concert on Thursday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building’s Concert Hall— and will even include a piece by W&M student Evan Maly.

Here are the Top 5 Things to Know this week:

My office approved the Troy Cullen Posthumous Degree Policy effective March 1, 2024, honoring the memory of Troy, a W&M student who matriculated in the fall of 2017 and passed away while a student in December of 2022. In concert with the Office of the Registrar, I developed this policy to recognize the academic achievements of lost, but always remembered, W&M students. The idea was inspired by Troy’s mother, who wrote an impassioned letter to university leadership requesting a posthumous degree for her son. The policy applies to W&M as a whole university, including graduate schools, and all degree-seeking students.
The Virginia Primary Presidential elections are on March 5, with early voting in person now through March 2. I encourage you to attend “In Our Hands”: A Conversation on Elections in America'' on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Commonwealth Auditorium of Sadler Center. Panelists, featuring W&M faculty & alumni, will discuss the state of American elections. More information about elections and voting are available on W&M’s Voter Engagement Resource Page and the Virginia Department of Elections website.
The mid-term grading period began today and runs through March 24, the day before the drop deadline for undergraduates. Mid-term grades advance student success by giving undergraduates time to drop a course, seek additional help from faculty, schedule academic advising, or make use of free tutoring through TutorZone. For students doing well, they reduce academic anxiety. Please plan to share grades on Blackboard in advance of the deadline, ideally offering undergraduate students enough time to make informed plans.
The Office of Diversity & Inclusion recently selected seven projects to receive Innovative Diversity Effort Awards (IDEA) Grants, ranging from a documentary film to a lecture series on race and religion and the introduction of an American Sign Language class. To learn more about these innovative projects, visit W&M News.
The shout-out for this week goes to the W&M Black Faculty & Staff Forum. I was fortunate to join this group for a dinner this past week, where they showcased an impressive array of accomplishments. The group’s drive for excellence was recognized in on- and off-campus awards, opportunities for groundbreaking research, innovation in teaching and community engagement. Affinity groups like this one are deeply impactful, especially in cultivating belonging and flourishing on campus, and I’m thrilled for last week’s opportunity to gather and celebrate Black History Month.

Before we close, a reminder that Spring Break is coming up from March 9-17. I know this is a busy time for midterms and your own research, but please consider taking advantage of the quiet campus to find space for yourselves.

Peggy