Monday Memo October 17, 2016
Message from the Dean
Dear Colleagues,
This morning I shadowed Dr. Ashima Gupta, a prominent pediatric ophthalmologist and a proud graduate of our Biology department, as part of the Greater Louisville Medical Society’s “Wear the White Coat” program. This program gives community leaders a behind-the-scenes look at the medical profession by pairing them with physicians. Through the experience, leaders from around Louisville have the opportunity to exchange ideas for improving the health of the community with medical professionals. I very much enjoyed learning more about a successful alumna, and getting a look at the work Dr. Gupta is doing for the community.
Homecoming is this week, and there is a lot of fun to be had in addition to athletics, chief among them is welcoming back many of our alumni. This week we will host both former football star Roman Oben (Economics ’95) as our 2016 A&S Alumni Fellow, and the university’s 2016 Alumnus of the Year Ernie Allen (International Studies ’68), who is on the A&S Hall of Honor.
I hope you enjoy the festivities and the fall weather!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Kempf-Leonard
Dean
Announcements
Nominate a colleague for Faculty & Staff Awards by Jan. 11
It’s already time to begin thinking about who you would like to nominate for the 2016-17 A&S awards. Because of requests for a later due date, you now will have until January 11 to submit your nominations. The awards will be given at the annual Celebration of A&S Excellence in April 2017. In addition, the winners in each qualifying award category will be forwarded to the President and/or Provost’s Offices as the College’s nominations for the corresponding University-wide awards. The various awards include the A&S Distinguished Faculty Awards, the A&S Outstanding Performance Awards for staff, the A&S Supervisor Awards, the Diversity Champion Awards, and induction into the A&S Hall of Honor. Learn more, including awards’ criteria and how to submit a nomination.
Faculty: Add syllabi to Blackboard
We’re doing WAY better at this! We’re at nearly 80% on the first run. Please take a look at the list of missing syllabi and get them not-missing, says Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Julia Dietrich (English).
Acting Pres. Pinto to attend Faculty Assembly Oct. 21
Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the October 21 meeting of the A&S Faculty Assembly, at which Acting President Neville Pinto will be holding an open forum on the current state of the university. The meeting will be held from 2-3:15pm in Humanities 100.
Input requested on new quality enhancement plan (QEP)
The university is developing a new quality enhancement plan (QEP) as part of the 2017 reaffirmation process with our accrediting agency SACS-COC. The university-wide QEP Development Committee invites all members of the campus community to give feedback on the plan through an online survey and/or to participate in information sessions and focus groups. Read more about the QEP topic in development and fill out the online survey. All-campus QEP info sessions take place on Monday, Oct. 17 on the Health Science Center Campus - School of Medicine, B Instructional Building, room 102, 12:15 – 1:15 pm and Friday, October 21st on the Belknap Campus – Ekstrom Library room 104, 2:300 – 3:00 pm. Questions? Email QEP2017@louisville.edu.
Faculty and Staff: Changes to Monday Memo
Beginning Monday, October 31, the last Monday Memo of the month will be events only, and it will include events and descriptions for November and the first two weeks of December. Anything submitted the second to last week of the month won’t appear in the Monday Memo until the first week of the following month, so please plan your submissions accordingly to ensure timely announcements. As always, there will be a column listing events in the first three Monday Memos of the month, and you can also find A&S events via uofl.me/as-events. If you have any questions or comments, please email Melissa Moody.
Benefits Open Enrollment through October 28
Employees have the option to choose their 2017 benefits online today through 5 p.m. on October 28. To learn more about your benefits, attend one of the following upcoming benefit fairs: HSC Campus, Clinical and Translational Research Building, 1st floor, October 19 and 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Belknap Campus, Get Healthy Now Wellness Center, 601 Presidents Blvd., October 25 and 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Posters-at-the-Capital deadline for student abstracts Oct. 24
Posters-At-The-Capitol, a showcase of scholarly research and creative projects is led by undergraduate students from the state-funded universities in the Commonwealth and KCTCS, is seeking abstracts by Oct. 24. If you have students participating in faculty-mentored projects, please encourage them to apply. More information can be found at P@C registration.
Faculty: Spring textbook order deadline Oct. 31
All spring 2017 textbook and course materials orders must be submitted to the official campus bookstore to ensure compliance with the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act. Early and on-time textbook requests enable the bookstore to purchase the best cost-saving options available. Additionally, by researching textbook options earlier, there is more time to explore rental and digital format options, ensuring that students have access to more affordable choices.
Please use one of the following means to submit your book adoption prior to the deadline:
- Follett Discover*
- Via this form: http://louisville.edu/contractadmin/forms/book-adoption-form
- Email: books@louisville.edu
- In person at the Belknap bookstore
- Call (502) 852-6679
*Follett Discover is a tool that provides hassle-free access for faculty and staff to research, discover and adopt course materials. The bookstore staff will conduct Follett Discover training sessions to introduce and provide step by step instructions on how to use this new program. Contact the Bookstore for more information.
Teaching, Research, Creative Activities, & Service
Transdisciplinary social justice hub awarded funding through 21st Century Initiative
Led by Prof. Cate Fosl (Women’s & Gender Studies/director, Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research) and Prof. Enid Trucios-Haynes (Brandeis School of Law/director, Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice), the Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research will receive up to $250,000 per year for up to three years through the 21st Century Initiative to examine diversity and equity issues, and take a coordinated approach to social justice research, creative activity and advocacy on campus and in the community. More than 45 faculty and 31 offices, units, centers, institutes and departments will participate in the social justice initiative.
Prof. Fisher on research team awarded more than $4 million by NIJ
Prof. Benjamin Fisher (Criminal Justice) is part of a team of investigators led by Dr. Maury Nation (Vanderbilt University) recently awarded a five-year grant for $4,916,000 by the National Institute of Justice. This grant will fund the Nashville Longitudinal Study of Youth Safety and Wellbeing, a large-scale data collection and analysis effort that focuses on increasing our understanding of the structural factors both in and out of schools that influence youth development, educational outcomes, and involvement with the criminal justice system. An interdisciplinary team involving researchers, educators, city government, police, juvenile courts, and youth development workers will use the data from this study to advance empirical research and support school and community initiatives designed to reduce youth violence, improve educational outcomes, and improve youth’s access to economic and educational opportunity.
Kudos & Congratulations
A&S Honors students participate in National Collegiate Honors Council
Congratulations to the following five A&S University Honors Program students who participated in the annual meeting of the National Collegiate Honors Council: Jamitra Fulleord (Pan-African Studies), Destinee Germany (Pan-African Studies), Brenna Kaelin (Chemistry), Brooke Moody (Communication) and Sarah Pennington (English and Political Science).
Items of Note
Join Inclusive Teaching Circles for October lunches
The Inclusive Teaching Circles program provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to meet regularly to discuss the meaning and practice of inclusive teaching. On Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 12pm – 1:30pm the group will meet to discuss gender in SRB 228. For more information, contact Prof. Aaron Rollins (Urban & Public Affairs). On Tuesday, Oct. 25, 12pm-1:30pm, there will be continued discussion of Student Activism and the (Alleged) Coddling of the American Mind in SRB 229. For more information, contact Prof. Keith Lyle (Psychological & Brain Sciences). Lunch will be provided at both events. For more information about inclusive teaching circles’ programming, email Prof. Thomas Wayne Edison.
Second Workshop on Opportunities for Collaborative Materials Research at UofL
The Speed School Materials Science and Engineering (MS&E) Research Group is sponsoring a workshop on materials and nanotechnology research activities and interests of the Bioengineering Department on Nov. 10, from 3:00-4:30 PM, in SRB 139. This is the second of an ongoing series of workshops designed to build connections between and develop new research opportunities for researchers throughout the Speed School and across the University. All UofL faculty and research staff are invited. For additional information, contact Robert W. Cohn at (502) 852-7077.
In the News
Science communication: the dangers of oversimplifying microbiome studies (Nature, 10/7/16) – Prof. Lauren Freeman (Philosophy), a 2016-2017 Commonwealth Center for the Humanities & Society Faculty Fellow, was featured in the journal Nature where she discussed the dangers of oversimplification and decontextualization in microbiome research and why scientists should be careful before recommending behavioral changes.
‘Making Matter: University of Louisville Invitational Student Exhibition’ (LEO Weekly, 10/12/16) – An exhibition by printmaking students in the Department of Fine Arts organized by Prof. Rachel Singel at Galerie Hertz through Oct. 29.
Dr. Daniel DeCaro on “Synergistic effects of voting and enforcement on internalized motivation to cooperate in a resource dilemma.” (The Methodology for Psychology Podcast) – Prof. Daniel DeCaro (Psychological & Brain Sciences) discussed his research on cooperation in social/environmental dilemmas, including his 2015 article “Synergistic effects of voting and enforcement on internalized motivation to cooperate in a resource dilemma,” published in Judgment and Decision Making.
Ehrick delivers outstanding book (Bowling Green Daily News, 10/16/16) – A review of Prof. Christine Ehrick’s (History) 2015 book, Radio and the Gendered Landscape: Women and Broadcasting in Argentina and Uruguay, 1930-1950.
Nine A&S faculty members recognized at Celebration of Excellence
Acting President Neville Pinto and Acting Provost Dale Billingsley recognized nine outstanding faculty members from the College of Arts & Sciences at the 2016 Celebration of Faculty Excellence Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Brown and Williamson Club. Read More.
