November 6, 2023

Dear colleagues,

Last week, a message was issued by President Rowe affirming support during a time when many feel especially vulnerable. I encourage you to keep this message in mind as many in our community contend with global events on a deeply personal level. As Dean Raitt wrote on Friday, all of the President’s messages are available to read online at W&M News.

Here are this week’s Top 5 Things to Know:

The Office of the President and my office are pleased to announce a limited number of grants for signature events that focus on at least one of the four Visions 2026 initiatives (Data, Water, Democracy, Careers). To qualify for the funding, please note the following selection criteria:
1. The event must clearly focus on one or more of the four Vision 2026 initiatives;
2. The maximum award amount for any one signature event is $15,000;
3. The granting of funds must comply with state guidelines;
4. The applicant(s) will also be using their departmental/school funds to help support the proposed signature event;
5. Attendees at the event should include stakeholders both on and off campus; and
6. The applicant has a plan for publicizing this proposed event through appropriate channels both before and after it has occurred.
  
  Please complete the application at least one month prior to the proposed event. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Carlane Pittman-Hampton (cjpitt@wm.edu) or David Yalof (dayalof@wm.edu).
An initiative in my office currently underway is to have all W&M faculty members get an ORCID iD. An ORCID iD provides an identifier that links to your research and activities and stays with you over your entire career. Additionally, this identifier will be one used for tracking in the new Cayuse platform that is part of the Sponsored Program & Research Compliance System launching on campus. If you do not have an ORCID iD at this point, please take a few minutes to register now. Swem Library has a number of online resources and tips that show how to obtain the ORCID iD and how to link your research and activities to it. Faculty currently engaged in grants will also receive a survey to help the Office of Sponsored Programs and IT get ready for the launching of Cayuse. Signing up for ORCID provides a way for others to find your work and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the contributions you are making at William & Mary.
Tomorrow is Election Day, an opportunity for eligible voters to participate in civic engagement and have their voices heard. As President Rowe mentioned last week, the City of Williamsburg will vote to elect representatives to the Virginia General Assembly, to Constitutional Offices and to the Soil and Water Commission. Please remember that all W&M offices will be closed, no undergraduate classes are scheduled and that graduate and professional schools should consult their academic calendars to determine if there will be class. Finally, here’s a link to a quick guide for voting. I encourage all eligible voters to utilize this opportunity to cast your ballot!
As a reminder, all faculty and staff at the university are required to complete information security awareness training. You should have received emails from Chief Information Security Officer Pete Kellogg with a reminder about completing the training. The deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 8, and the training can be accessed from your email or online. If you have any questions, please contact ciso@wm.edu.
The shout-out for this week goes to the many units and programs across our campus that work to educate and support our student veterans. The Mason School of Business recently received a 2023 Hire Vets Medallion Award honoring their efforts to hire and retain veterans. Additionally, throughout this entire week, there are several events to celebrate the veterans in our community. With Veterans Day coming up on Nov. 11, this is a timely opportunity to highlight our passion for service and leadership, which has been a hallmark of William & Mary since its founding in 1693.