Updates in Academic Affairs: January 24, 2017

Inside Updates: An experienced administrator will serve as interim associate provost of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education during a search for the institute’s next leader, staff and faculty now have access to an online professional development service, and Spring Convocation is set for Friday, Feb. 17.

Haenicke Institute administrator to serve as its interim leader 

Dr. Jane Blyth, executive director of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, has been tapped to serve as the institute’s interim associate provost. She will begin taking on her new duties Wednesday, Feb. 1.

The current associate provost, Dr. Wolfgang Schlör, is departing WMU to serve as the associate provost for international initiatives at Georgia State University.

Dr. Houssam Toutanji, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, will chair the search committee for the new associate provost. Dace Copeland, business manager senior in the office of the provost, is providing administrative support. Consultants from Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates will assist with the search.

Blyth, a WMU employee since 2009, began serving as executive director of the Haenicke Institute in 2015. Prior to this position, she led the University’s study abroad program and directed global program development. Blyth has a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction/language education from Indiana State University.

Staff, faculty can now access online training for higher ed professionals

In response to requests for professional development resources, University Libraries has purchased a membership to Academic Impressions, a service that provides a variety of online trainings on topics relevant to higher education staff, faculty and administrators.

This AI Pro membership comes with access to live online training sessions, an online training library, discounts on qualifying conferences and CD-ROM recordings of live trainings.

Users can log into a personalized AI Pro professional development dashboard at

academicimpressions.com/_aipro/login.php?code=AIPRO_3A8DF7&act=frominvite 

to access the site’s Upcoming Online Trainings and the Online Training Library.

Signing up for webcasts through the dashboard will ensure fees are not charged for webcasts that are included in the membership.

Academic Impressions representatives are available to assist with questions regarding their services and account access at ai-pro@academicimpressions.com or at (720) 488-6800, option 2.

Spring Convocation is set for Feb. 17

The University community is invited to attend the 2017 Spring Convocation Friday, Feb. 17, at the Fetzer Center.

This collaborative celebration of discovery, diversity and global engagement is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research, Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Extended University Programs and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.

A schedule of the day’s events is available at wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u245/2016/conv-speakers-2017-Final.pdf.

A Gold Gathering reception including appetizers and a cash bar in the Fetzer Center lobby will immediately follow the convocation’s afternoon session.