Updates in Academic Affairs: September 15, 2014

Forum, lunches set as part of Academic Program Review and Planning process

Members of the campus community are encouraged to participate in brown bag luncheons and an upcoming open faculty forum as part of the 2014-15 Academic Program Review and Planning process. The forum and sessions are designed to help departments and units complete academic program self-studies.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Faculty Senate, the faculty forum is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in 208-209 Bernhard Center.

The forum will provide an overview of the APR&P process and give faculty and academic support staff an opportunity to ask questions about completing program self-studies.

Brown bag lunch sessions are opportunities for faculty and support staff members engaged in completing the self-studies to have one-on-one conversations with resource people from the offices of Institutional Effectiveness and Institutional Research.

Attendees should bring specific program self-study materials to these sessions.

Dates and locations of the brown bag luncheons, each scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., are as follows:

• Wednesday, Sept. 24 - 157 Bernhard Center

• Wednesday, Oct. 8 - 3rd floor conference room, College of Health and Human Services

• Thursday, Oct 23 - 157 Bernhard Center

• Friday, Nov. 7 - 157 Bernhard Center

• Monday, Nov. 17 - 3120 Sangren Hall

Materials needed for this process are accessible for review by entering your Bronco NetID at this dedicated SharePoint page: https://wsp.it.wmich.edu/sites/aprp. General information and frequently asked questions are available on the Office of Institutional Effectiveness website under Academic Program Review at wmich.edu/effectiveness review.

Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Jody Brylinsky, associate provost for institutional effectiveness, at @email.

Committee nominations sought

Nominations are being accepted for outstanding faculty members to serve on the Academic Program Review and Planning Observation Committee.

Only tenured faculty members, both traditionally ranked and faculty specialists, are eligible for nomination.

A faculty chair will be appointed from the list of nominations. The associate provost for institutional effectiveness will assist with implementation of the review process and serve as ex-officio to the committee.

Guidelines for nominations and a copy of the nomination form are available here. The deadline for nomination submissions is Friday, Oct. 17. Inquiries regarding the committee or process may be directed to Dr. Jody Brylinsky, associate provost for institutional effectiveness, at @email.

Academic affairs non-bargaining staff invited to Oct. 31 meetings

As we did in the spring semester, the Office of the Provost will host meetings for all non- bargaining unit staff members in academic affairs. The sessions are set for Friday, Oct. 31, in the Fetzer Center’s Kirsch Auditorium.

Two meeting times will be available to accommodate normal business hours and operations, the first is from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. and the second is from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Supervisors are encouraged to accommodate staff participation in these meetings. Media Services will live stream both presentations for those staff members who are not able to travel to the main campus in Kalamazoo.

The purpose of these meetings is to provide updates in academic affairs and to answer any questions staff may have in person. As a way to thank our administrative staff members for their many contributions to keeping our departments and units running smoothly, beverages and bakery items will be available before each of the sessions.

Those who wish to submit questions or comments for Provost Timothy Greene prior to the meeting may send them to this email address: office-of-the-provost@wmich.edu.

Graduate and Professional School Fair set for Oct. 6

The Graduate College, in collaboration with Career and Student Employment Services, is hosting the 2014 Graduate and Professional School Fair from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, in the Bernhard Center Ballroom.

Faculty and staff are asked to encourage interested students to participate in the fair.

The purpose of this event is to connect students with graduate and professional schools in various disciplines. School representatives will provide information about their application processes and strategies for success.

A list of registered organizations and additional details about the fair are available online here.

For questions or for more information, contact the Graduate College at (269) 387-8237 or Linda Comrie at @email.

Join your colleagues at 2014-15 Fridays with Friends mixers

The academic year’s first Fridays with Friends mixer will take place from 4 to 6 p.m., Oct. 10, in the lobby of the Richmond Center for Visual Arts. It follows the Academic Convocation and State of the University address, which will be held at 2 p.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

This initial mixer will feature hors d’oeuvres and complimentary wine service. Subsequent mixers during the academic year will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

Dates and locations for the remaining Fridays with Friends, each set for 4 to 6 p.m., are as follows:

• Nov. 21—Fetzer Center
• Jan. 30—Gilmore Theatre atrium Feb. 27,  Fetzer Center
• March 27—Gilmore Theatre atrium
• May 5—Fetzer Center