Monday Memo April 23, 2018

Dean's Message

Dear Colleagues:

During recruiting conversations with high school seniors this year I have been asked multiple times whether computer science is a major in Arts & Sciences. I’ve used the conversations as  opportunities to describe some of our degrees programs with elements of technology and those with foundations in data analyses. I don’t know if I convinced any of those particular students to explore geography, communications, physics, digital humanities, or one of the social sciences, but I am happy to report that tracking of financial deposits indicates the number of incoming A&S majors will be higher among the Fall 2018 class than in Fall 2017. Overall, UofL is hoping for 411 additional new students, but keep in mind that the university is also graduating a large class too.

The topics of technology and data analyses remind me of the many changes we have experienced in the last 18-24 months. If any of these names are familiar to you now, you understand what I’m saying: OnBase; SAS Visual Analytics dashboard; CardsSmart EAB; Campus Student Success Collaborative; electronic Authorization to Hire (ATH) forms; new Travel Estimation Form; CourseLeaf Catalogue; and additional PeopleSoft functions. These changes have impacted us all, but been borne disproportionately by our hardworking, reduced staff.

Most of these changes have been implemented with the goal of enhancing our efficiency. That is likely to be the long-term effect, but in the short-term the changes have resulted in more work as people are trying to learn the new software and technical procedures. I know it has been challenging, and that some people are continuing to maintain the old, familiar procedures while also trying to master the new. That’s taking up too much time, so the old ways need to be set aside. If any of you are still frustrated and could benefit from some training, please let me know. I would like to try to ease your burden.

Finally, in the realm of technology, I want you to know that Daniel Brian has been promoted to Tech Consultant IV and Greg Rudd has been promoted to Tech Specialist Senior. They have taken on many of Mark Rubenstein’s tasks, as he has recently retired. We anticipate some changes centrally from IT in the near future too; Daniel and Greg will lead the A&S IT staff in the implementation of those changes.

Many thanks.
Kimberly Leonard
Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, Ph.D.
Dean

Research & Creative Activity

KSEF Grant Opportunity: UPAIR

KSEF’s new UPAIR (University Partnership with Industry Research) program is accepting proposals until May 8th at 4pm. This is a three-tranche award. Your proposal will be for the whole program (all three stages) with milestone-based tranches. Proposals should be from an academic PI with an industry partner. Only one proposal per PI will be accepted, and a total of 17-20 proposals will be funded. RFP and more information on the program

New NSF Research.gov proposal preparation and submission site April 30

Beginning on April 30, 2018, proposers will be able to prepare and submit full, research non-collaborative proposals in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research.gov system. The initial release of this new Research.gov capability will run in parallel with existing FastLane proposal preparation and submission capabilities. As a result, proposers can choose to prepare and submit full, research non-collaborative proposals in Research.gov or in FastLane. This new system is being developed incrementally and as capabilities are migrated from FastLane to Research.gov, the system features will expand until it eventually replaces FastLane for proposal preparation and submission. There will be no impact to Grants.gov and Application Submission Web Services (ASWS), and NSF will continue to fully support these proposal submission methods. The Research.gov proposal site modernizes proposal preparation and submission capabilities and focuses on enhancing the user experience and reducing administrative burden with an intuitive interface and real-time compliance checking. The new functionality provides the ability to create, submit, track, and update proposals associated with active NSF funding opportunities and furthers NSF’s goal to provide quick access to proposal information and grants management services in one location.

Diversity & Engagement

Business in Black on May 2

Business in the Black, a documentary by Anthony Brogdon, examines the rise of black business in America - the hardships and the triumphs. Presented by Louisville Free Public Library, the Chestnut Street YMCA and the Western Branch Library Support Association. Wednesday, May 2, 2018, 6 PM at the Chestnut Street YMCA at 10th and Chestnut Street. Pre-registration is required: Call 502-574-1779

“We Are Louisville" Hackathon to support immigrants and refugees

The CCHS-sponsored Digital Humanities Collective is hosting the “We Are Louisville” Hackathon: an all-day social justice and advocacy event that brings together community leaders, community members, students of all levels, and faculty to help welcome and support immigrants and refugees in Louisville. This year, the aim is to populate the existing “We Are Louisville” website with the personal stories of members of our immigrant and refugee communities. Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to share our common humanity and initiate change in our communities.

Graduate Studies

PAS doctoral student receives flagship fellowship

Nicholas McLeod, doctoral student in Pan-African Studies, receives Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship to study the Ghanaian language of Akan at the University of Florida's African Flagship Language Initiative for Summer 2018.

Kudos

Congratulations to Dillard-Knox

Tiffany Dillard-Knox, Coordinator of UofL's Malcolm X Debate Team, was named Scholar of the Year by the Cross Examination Debate Association Southeast Region. The team had a very successful year, dubbing it "The Year of Savannah." The team dedicated their hard work and winning season to the late debate team member Savannah Walker, who was tragically killed in March 2017 when struck by a stray bullet at a concert.

Kudos to Prof. Dugatkin

On April 26, Prof. Lee Dugatkin (Biology) is giving the John Ostrom Invited lecture at Yale's Peabody Natural History Museum. The lecture is based on his book, "How to Tame a Fox and Build a Dog."

Prof. Clayton publishes in Journal of Black Studies

Prof. Dewey Clayton (Political Science) published an article titled “Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement:  A Comparison of Two Social Movements in the United States” in the Journal of Black Studies on March 21, 2018.

In the News

Reviews for Theatre Arts' production of The Long Christmas Ride Home 

Curious about ‘superbugs’? Hit Beer with a Scientist tonight (Insider Louisville, 4/18/18) - Prof. Deborah Yoder-Hines (Biology) featured speaker at Beer with a Scientist public science lecture. 

Louisville’s Public Art Committee moves past Castleman toward principles (WFPL.org, 4/17/18) - About Public Art Committee at the University of Louisville of which Prof. Dewey Clayton (Political Science) and Prof. Chris Reitz (Fine Arts) are members/

How did voters register their protest in Egypt’s presidential election? (Washington Post, 4/16/18) - Author references joint work with Prof. Steven Brooke (Political Science) related to voting behavior in Egypt before and after the 2013 coup.