Monday Memo November 30, 2015 — College of Arts & Sciences

Message from the Dean

Dear Colleagues,

I hope everyone enjoyed a peaceful holiday and university break just before we bring the semester to a close.

Many thanks to those of you who have volunteered to help with some of the challenges that have been outlined in recent weeks by the associate deans. The Provost has made this a planning year, and he wants a lot of input from academic units, so having diverse perspectives will help assure that our Arts & Sciences plans are the most persuasive we can prepare! The first iteration of this overall planning process is something new this year called a Strategic Planning and Implementation (SPI) process. Each dean will meet with the Provost and his SPI group in the next few weeks to discuss how our goals and budgets align with those advanced for the University. I will continue to prioritize the goals of salary equity, more tenure-track lines, enhanced graduate assistantships, and funding to support new hires. The December meeting with department chairs will be about this SPI process.

I also want to remind you that the college award nominations are due tomorrow. Awards will be given at the College’s Celebration of A&S Excellence at the Red Barn on March 10, 2016. In addition, the winners of each award category will be forwarded to the President and/or Provost’s Offices as the College’s nominations for the corresponding University-wide awards. We announced the early deadline in September because we want to align our process with the new deadlines for the campus awards in the hopes that we can sweep on a routine basis!! That won’t happen if you don’t submit nominations, so please consider our worthy colleagues!! If you wish to nominate someone but have a problem or conflict that would prevent submission by 12/1, please let Lindsey know ASAP so that we can determine whether a deadline extension is possible. Unfortunately, it will not be possible for all award categories.

The various A&S awards include the following:

Distinguished Faculty Awards (for Service, Teaching and Research & Creative Activity)
Outstanding Performance Awards (for staff)
Supervisor Awards (for faculty and staff)
Diversity Champion Awards (for faculty and staff)

Many thanks for your consideration.

Kimberly Kempf-Leonard
Dean

Announcements

A&S Awards: Nominations due TOMORROW
The deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 1! Please nominate your faculty and staff colleagues for a 2015-16 A&S award. Faculty and staff award recipients receive a $500 stipend.

Nominations for Advising Award due Dec. 3
The Offices of the University Provost and Undergraduate Advising Practice are accepting nominations for the 27th annual Provost's Awards for Exemplary Advising. Please consider nominating either faculty advisors or professional advisors for this award. The eligibility criteria and nomination support form may be found at on the Provost’s website. Nominations are due December 3.

Know an amazing student graduating in December?
The A&S Dean’s Office is looking for stories of compelling students who will be graduating this December. If you know someone or have a story to share, please email Melissa Moody.

Teaching, Research, Creative Activities & Service

Message from Interim Provost Neville Pinto
Periodically we are confronted with challenges of continuing instruction without being able to meet with students face-to-face. Anything from extreme weather to family emergencies can disrupt scheduled courses. Currently, a Blackboard course shell is automatically generated for every University of Louisville course offering, including face-to-face, blended, and distance learning sections. Each course shell is populated with students enrolled in the course. The shell is active and an instructor is able to make content available to students at any time.

Additionally, the Delphi Center has created a web page offering ways in which you can prepare for emergencies when the university is not open. You can view the web page here. The tools and strategies described on the web page can minimize the effects of canceled classes. Since online courses are at a distance, the expectation is they will continue on as planned.

Please contact Gale Rhodes if you have any questions or concerns.

Internal RFP for innovative proposals deadline Jan. 15
The School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS) and the Office of Research and Innovation announce an internal RFP for innovative proposals to drive UofL's Academic and Research Excellence for the 21st Century. The grant is for interdisciplinary groups and will provide up to $250,000 for three years. Visit this website, which includes a downloadable budget template and instructions for submitting the proposal. Deadline is Jan. 15, 2016.

In the News

Thirty-five years after deaths of Cleveland churchwomen in El Salvador, U.S. policy still devalues human rights: Theresa Keeley (Opinion) (Cleveland Plain-Dealer, 11/29/2015) – Prof. Theresa Keeley (History) published an editorial in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer on the history of US foreign policy and Human Rights.

In Memoriam

Prof. Tim Owens (Classical & Modern Language) passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Prof. Owens (Timo) taught American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies for many years and, along with Prof. Augustus Mastri, created the degree program in ASL Interpreting Studies. Prof. Owens is survived by his very large family, including our colleagues Aline and Don Shaw, his sister and brother-in-law.

Prof. Owen’s contributions to the Deaf community and his profession are numerous, and he will be sorely missed. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Items of Note

UofL to host annual ceramics sale Dec. 4-5
Handcrafted ceramics by A&S student and faculty artists will be available for purchase just in time for holiday shopping. The university’s annual ceramics sale will be 8am - 8 pm, Fri., Dec. 4 and 10am - 2pm, Sat., Dec. 5 in the ceramics studio in the Studio Arts building, 2314 S. Floyd St.

A&S on Metro TV
The College of Arts & Sciences was featured on Metro TV this past week. Prof. Justin Nix (Criminal Justice) discussed his research on the “Ferguson effect” with police officers, and Prof. Rhonda Buchanan discussed the Latin American and Latino Studies program.

Winter Coat Drive through Dec. 7
The Latin American and Latino Studies program will be collecting warm blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, and new and gently used coats and delivering them to Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Household items and toys are welcome as well. Please drop off items to LALS Offices in Stevenson Hall 304-306, Nov. 2nd– Dec. 7th 2015.

Angel Tree for Homeless Animals
Pet items accepted now through December 18 in the basement of the Houchens building. Items can be placed under the tree or given directly to Julie Oechsli whose office is nearby.

This year’s collection from UofL’s Belknap and HSC campuses will go to the Kentucky Animal Relief Fund, Inc. (for senior homeless dogs) and Louisville Metro Animal Services – both selected because they have recently rescued large numbers from horrific hoarding situations.

The shelters/rescues wish lists include: food (wet and dry) and treats; toys; collars and leashes; cleaning supplies (detergent, paper towels, bleach, disinfectant spray and wipes); first aid items (gauze, Q-tips, rubbing alcohol and peroxide, digital thermometers); towels and puppy pads, digital cameras; and puppy and kitten milk replacement formula; donations & gift cards.

Did You Know?

Six A&S faculty received Intramural Research Incentive Grants (IRIGs) in fall 2014: Prof. James Alexander (Biology), Prof. Pamela Beattie (Humanities), Prof. Christine Ehrick (History), Prof. Keith Lyle (Psychological & Brain Sciences), Prof. Mark Priest (Fine Arts), and Prof. Steven Skaggs (Fine Arts).

A current RFP for projects focused on emergent interdisciplinary areas of research and scholarship are being accepted. Funds of up to $250,000 per year will be available for a funding period of up to three years. The deadline is Jan. 15. For more info, visit 21st Century University Grant