December 8, 2023
Dear all,
I am just back from visiting with donors in Missouri and California. Gerald Bullock, A&S Executive Director of Advancement and Craig Anzalone, Senior Director of Regional Advancement for the Western Region, did a fantastic job of setting up a series of visits and events with engaged and generous alumni and parents, two of whom graciously opened up their homes for Yule Log celebrations. Below the line, there is a quiz about planes and about the Yule Log ritual. The winner will receive special mention in next week’s Friday message (and who wouldn’t want that?).
Now, to business.
- Argentine election: Q&A with William & Mary’s Silvia Tandeciarz: We are proud that our very own Vice-Dean Silvia Tandeciarz was on hand to talk about the recent election of Xavier Milei as the next President of Argentina. Read her Q&A here.
- Faculty Grants Fund Deadline December 15: Don’t forget the next deadline for Faculty Grants Fund requests. And a reminder that other faculty funding opportunities are available as well, most with rolling deadlines.
- Welcome Back Celebration: this will most likely be at 5 pm on Thursday, January 25, 2024. Watch your email for an invitation.
- Clarification Regarding Adjunct Compensation Increases: In addition to the 2% noted in the HR announcement, adjunct faculty will receive a 5% increase effective Fall 23. Five percent of the fall contract amount will be paid as a lump sum in the December 29 pay. The additional 2% will be applied on top of the 5% for a total increase of 7.1% beginning with Spring term compensation. Please note that the increase will be applied to contracted pay, and we do not plan to issue new contracts at this time.
- Merit procedures for calendar year 2023: The FAC and I plan to bring the guidelines for merit back to FAS for a vote one more time, to clarify how to incorporate DEI considerations into your revised procedures. I know how much you all enjoy voting, so I am glad you will get another opportunity to do it. What this means, though, is that you should use your currently approved merit procedures when you conduct merit review for calendar year 2023.
- Membership of the Future of Arts & Sciences Coordinating Committee: I am delighted to announce membership of the committee as follows. As I mentioned, Hannah Rosen (HIST/AMST) and Matthias Leu (BIOL) have graciously agreed to co-chair the committee, which will start its work in January 2024. I’ve attached the charge again for your reference, and we will create a webpage in A&S where you will find information, updates and a chance to share your thoughts. In putting together this committee, I relied on advice from FAC, CCPD and the Dean team. I am grateful to all who accepted the invitation. Josh Erlich (PHYS) is on the committee to represent the Center for the Liberal Arts (Josh is the current Director) and also the new school, which A&S will of course be collaborating with extremely closely on undergraduate education, research and a host of other things. This is a beginning for all of us, not an end.
- Matthias Leu (Associate Professor, BIOL), Hannah Rosen (Associate Professor, AMST/HIST; co-chair), Taylor Triplett Callaway (graduate student, ANTH), Zach Conrad (Assistant Professor, KINE), Josh Erlich (Professor, PHYS), Cathy Forestell (Professor, PSYC), Michael Gaynes (Associate Teaching Professor, ART), Anya Hogoboom (Associate Professor, LING), Lori Jacobson (Director, Writing Resources Center), AJ Joseph (WMSURE Program Coordinator), Tom Linneman (Professor, SOCL), Leah Shaw (Professor, MATH), Rebecca Sterling (Associate Teaching Professor, GOVT), Terrell Taylor (Assistant Teaching Professor, SPCH), Sydney Thayer (President, Student Assembly), Andrew Tobolowsky (Associate Professor, RLST)
And now….
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Here’s your quiz. It’s short and very sweet. You will have to divulge your name, you must answer every question, and you can only answer it one time.
One more of these idiotic messages before the break, when you will be spared them.
Have a great weekend,
Suzanne
Suzanne Raitt
Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Chancellor Professor of English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
