Welcome to the February 2022 eNews |
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Dear Colleagues,
This marks our second Academic Affairs newsletter. The enthusiasm with which you greeted the first one has encouraged us to add to our publishing schedule. I hope you find this one as enjoyable and informative as our inaugural newsletter.
We will be welcoming the NECHE site visit team to our campus the week of March 7, as part of our decennial accreditation exercises. I want to encourage everyone to be available to the team, who will want to hear from all members of the community during their visit. The Self-Study, the product of hundreds of hours of work by countless faculty and staff, has been sent to NECHE and is available for your perusal. Thanks to everyone involved, and special gratitude to Linda Jones and Jo Rodriguez, who wrangled the entire document into tip-top shape.
We’re busy working on a few other things including a search for a new Dean of Arts & Sciences and a working group to put some muscle into the Center for Teaching and Learning. I want to remind everyone to keep submitting your news.
Cheers,
Maria Toyoda
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
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Welcome New Faculty
Ms. Hillary Ballantine, Biology Lab Technician and Instructor, January 3, 2022
Dr. Maria Charbonneau, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice,
June 1, 2021
Dr. Philip Kiefer, Visiting Instructor of Chemistry, January 17, 2022
Ms. Katherine Laplatney, Professional Educator of Social Work, August 23, 2021
Dr. Cassia Mizuno, Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, July 30, 2021
Dr. Arnab Ardhendu Purkayastha, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, January 17, 2022
Dr. Love Sah, Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Spring 2021
Dr. Deana Vitrano, Assistant Professor of Psychology, January 17, 2022
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"Black History Month provides an opportunity for us to fill in a piece of the puzzle and reflect on the complete history of the United States. It allows us to learn and make connections with each other, to achieve the dream of a more perfect union, where justice and equity prevail." Yvonne S. Bogle
Asst. Dean for Inclusive Excellence
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"It is my hope that we take the time to reflect on the ways in which we can make Western New England University a more inclusive and welcoming campus for all—and then put those reflections into action. It will take each of us to bring about change for the better while honoring humanity, civility, and
mutual respect." President Robert E. Johnson
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WNE Again Earns Top National Rankings by U.S. News & World Report for Best Online Programs
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In newly released rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Western New England University was again recognized among the 2022 Best Online Programs. The rankings place WNE in the top 10 in Massachusetts for accredited online MBA and Graduate Business programs |
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School of Law Professor Jennifer Levi to Serve as Inaugural Fellow for Berry Institute of Politics
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Western New England University School of Law professor Jennifer Levi has been named an inaugural Fellow in a new Salem State University program of the Berry Institute of Politics (IOP). Levi will share this honor with former Boston Mayor Kim Janey for the Spring 2022 semester. |
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WNE College of Engineering Receives Close to $185,000 in Grants |
The Western New England University College of Engineering has received four grants that total $184,526 for use in research projects that span water consumption, bioreactors, transportation, and robotics. |
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The 2022 Teaching Excellence Award Call for Nominations • Closes February 25!
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Each year, WNE recognizes the highest quality teaching by bestowing the Teaching Excellence Award to exceptional faculty who best demonstrates excellence in teaching, mentorship, and leadership. |
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The Many Accomplishments of Our Outstanding Faculty
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If you have recently been recognized, published, have appeared in the media, or have a story to share, we would love to know! |
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Western New England University will embark on a new and important journey of discovery and rectitude beginning this spring with the launch of the JEDI Initiative.
WNE has partnered with the National Institute for Transformation and Equity (NITE) to engage our community in a comprehensive survey phase this spring, followed by an analysis of the data over the summer. Professional development and training for community members will begin in the fall and continue through subsequent terms.
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Toward this end, there will be an all-campus presentation to introduce the topic and explain the process, hosted by NITE’s founding director, Dr. Sam Museus, Professor of Education at the University of California San Diego, on February 17, 2022, in Rivers Memorial Hall.
There will be two identical sessions, the first at 10:00-11:30 a.m. and the second at 3:00-4:30 p.m., and students and employees can attend either session in person or virtually via Zoom.
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Golden Bear Spotlight • Lisa Celovsky, PhD |
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Lisa Celovsky was appointed Associate Provost for Academic Affairs in September 2021. In this role, she is responsible for implementing the University’s academic strategic vision and supporting faculty excellence. Dr. Celovsky oversees the Division of Student Success and honors programs, is a member of the Deans' Council, and collaborates with the University Senate and Undergraduate Programs Committee on matters of policy and curricula. This winter she contributed to WNE's self-study for our decennial NECHE review and led WNE's latest application to NECHE to offer distance education courses and programs. |
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Commencement RSVP & Regalia Form |
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The in-person commencement ceremonies are back on Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. (Undergraduate) and Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m. (Graduate and Law) in the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center. Don’t miss out. Please use this link to confirm your attendance at the ceremonies and to find the form to reserve academic regalia. RSVP by Monday, March 21
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The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) Committee has reviewed nearly 90 applications for the Dean’s position. We are pleased with the quantity and quality of the applications received. The Committee is now in the process over the next few weeks of selecting seven to eight candidates for further discussions. We will be conducting these meetings in late February through early March. |
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The goal of these meetings is to arrive at three final candidates that will have more extensive on-campus interviews in late March through the month of April. If you have any questions about the Committee’s activities, please contact Dr. Mary Schoonmaker. Please note that we are not able to reveal the identities of the candidates due to confidentiality reasons. |
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After nearly two years of work from many in our community led by Dr. Linda Jones, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, and Josephine Rodriguez, Director of Assessment, Western New England University has submitted our Self-Study to the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)! We will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit from a NECHE team in March 2022. Members of the NECHE team will hold meetings with several WNE groups from Sunday-Tuesday, March 6-8, 2022, and will make their final report to the WNE community on the morning of Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Please be mindful of keeping your calendars clear on those dates for any commitments you are scheduling around that time. When the visit agenda is finalized, those who are scheduled to meet with the site team members will be notified. There will be open meetings for faculty, staff, and students on Monday, March 7, at 3:30 p.m.
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Upcoming NECHE Visit
You are highly encouraged to attend the relevant open meeting to participate in this important process. Note that the team may have requests for meetings at the last minute, so it is important that you keep your calendars open.
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We have a 2-day FRC event in the CAHLC March 19-20, 2022, for which we need some more judges and other general volunteers.
Dr. Christian Salmon
Department Chair of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management
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As a reminder, students who are absent for extended periods should provide documentation to the Center for Health and Wellness (CWH) and should notify their professors that they have provided this documentation. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that communication is established. |
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Faculty are responsible for facilitating instructional continuity. In some cases, the CHW will proactively contact the faculty on behalf of the student. Faculty should never ask students for personal medical information but may contact CHW for verification that a student has provided documentation. |
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CONNECT WITH WNE ON THE SOCIALS! |
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