October 18, 2024

Dear A&S colleagues,

My heart is heavy with the news of the passing of one of our students, Rose Way. My thoughts remain with the Rose’s family, friends, and all who knew her. The William & Mary community cares deeply for its own and this loss impacts us all.

As you support your students during this time, please know there are resources available for anyone who needs them. Staff in Care Support Services Office, the Counseling Center and campus ministers are available. Counselors may be reached anytime by phone at 757-221-3620, or you may access a variety of services through TimelyCare, including 24/7 on-demand emotional support, counseling and guided self-care.

As we head into Homecoming & Reunion weekend, please find this week’s updates below. Thank you for your attention and for continuing to care for each other.

• Vice Dean for Research & Graduate Studies
  I encourage applicants for the Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Studies position, which closes on October 23. The position is a seven-semester term starting January 1, 2025. While the role is fully dedicated to advancing research and graduate education and overseeing graduate programs, it also offers the flexibility to continue engaging in research and advising graduate students. I understand the importance of maintaining an active scholarly presence and mentorship, and this position allows room for candidates to balance their leadership responsibilities with ongoing research and student advising. I welcome applications from tenured faculty in an A&S academic unit with a graduate program which is not moving to the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics. Apply by October 23 at William & Mary | Arts & Sciences Vice Dean for Research & Graduate Studies (wm.edu).

• Tack Lecture nominations - send directly to the Provost
  In a recent Friday message I include the following announcement:

      Tack Lecture nominations: Nominations are open for the upcoming Tack Lecture series in Spring 2025 and Fall 2025. Your nomination packet should include 1) Dean’s nomination letter       that discusses the excellence of the nominee and outlines their ability to engage with a large audience; 2) a copy of the nominee’s CV; and 3) a one-page outline of the proposed lecture       from the nominee that includes a section that addresses the prompt of “why me?” Please send final nominations directly to provost@wm.edu and a copy to Adrienne Howard (awhoward@wm.edu). The deadline for submission is December 1, 2024.

      I have conferred with the Provost and there is no need for a Dean's nomination letter. Nominations are welcome from all faculty, and should be sent directly to the Provost following the       instructions above. 

• Future of A&S Engagement
  The Future of Arts & Sciences committee recently released their thorough preliminary report [Box link]. They have also kindly provided a 10-page summary of the full report, as well as a presentation that outlines key initial findings from their research and survey work. The committee will be sharing a survey they have developed, and it is crucial for you to be as informed as possible and engaged in the process. It takes all of us to shape the future we want, and we need to hear from you. You can access the 10-page summary and accompanying presentation through the following links:

• • Link to narrative summary [Box link]
  • Link to presentation [Box link]
    
    
• Class Arrival Flexibility Request
  This week in the Digest, Parking Services announced necessary adjustments to the Boswell and PBK parking lots as the Muscarelle renovation draws to a close. This adjustment will impact all students, faculty and staff, including those with limited mobility. I encourage you to extend flexibility for class arrival times for students during this period when possible. Please see the announcement and linked parking advisory below.
  • As we reach the end of the Muscarelle Museum renovation project it will be necessary to adjust parking in the Boswell and PBK lots. The work is scheduled to begin Monday Oct 21st and is expected to last approximately four (4) weeks. Contractors will be moving portions of the existing project fenceline to allow for the restoration of the sidewalks and front approach to the building as well as general circulation around the area. The firelane between the museum and PBK will be closed and the current ADA pathways will be adjusted. See full Parking Advisory at https://go.wm.edu/xCnmSM
    
    
• Hillel International Focus Groups
  W&M is partnering with Hillel International on a campus climate review to assess experiences and belonging for Jewish students, faculty and staff through one-hour, virtual focus groups. Groups may discuss topics such understanding Jewish students’ perspectives on aspects of the campus climate, including sense of welcome, cross-cultural interactions, attitudes and treatment of Jewish students at our institution (including any changes observed in relation to events happening in Israel and Palestine since October 2023), expression of Jewish identity as well as the extent of worry about becoming targets of antisemitism at our institution. To thank you for your participation, Hillel International will be providing you with a $20 Amazon gift card, which will be sent to you upon completion of the focus group. The faculty session is scheduled for noon Monday, October 28, the staff session at noon on Wednesday, October 30, and graduate students at 5 p.m. Thursday, October 31. If interested, please register here.
  
  
• TA working group and Teaching Evaluation working group
  I have now charged both these groups, and I am including links to the TA working group charge and the Teaching Evaluation working group charge. I am very grateful to the following people for agreeing to serve on these two important groups. Both will deliver final reports to me on April 30, 2025. The TA working group will also deliver an interim informational report on January 31, 2024. I encourage you to engage fully with both groups as we explore ways to improve how we evaluate teaching (including the use of student evaluations), and how we are using TAs in undergraduate classrooms. In both cases, we look forward to implementing whatever works best for W&M.
  • • TA working group: Rob Hinkle (chair), Evie Burnet, Rochelle Coker, Sarah Glosson, Andra Hiriscau, Elizabeth Losh, Qian Su, Jen Swenson/Shannon White, Stephen Trefethen
    • Teaching Evaluation working group: Elizabeth Barnes (fall 2024, chair), Mitch Brown, Nico Giro-Martin (undergraduate), Jennifer Gully, Pam Hunt, Mike Jabbur, Rowan Lockwood, Katie Lopresti, Wanjiru Mbure, Audra Nikolajski (graduate student), Chima Osakwe, Adrienne Petty, Kat Wargo (STLI) 

This is Homecoming, and as we mourn the loss of Rose, my thoughts are with all those whose homes have been harmed, whether through bereavement, violence, or conflict. As you go home this evening, please remember Rose and her family, whose home will never be the same again.

Best wishes, Suzanne