The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce its inaugural newsletter.
Dear Colleagues,

I am very excited to share with you this newsletter, which will be another way to keep you updated and informed about what is on the horizon for Academic Affairs. I hope you find this quarterly-or-so communication entertaining, inspiring, and informative. There’s a lot of forward momentum that we want to keep up, so if you see ways you’d like to participate, just let me know.

Cheers,
Maria Toyoda
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
This newsletter was produced in collaboration with the WNE Communications Working Group: Mercedes Maskalik, AVP for Marketing & Communication; Judy Curran; Jackie Scalzo; Anne Sroka; Kate Burke; and Katie DeBeer.

This cross-divisional team is dedicated to discovering faculty successes and achievements, and communicating them both internally and to the world.

There is a new channel to communicate your news to this team—please share so we can spread the news widely.
Recognition & Awards
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Receives Grant for Research Involving Anti-Cancer Treatment Drug
Western New England University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences was recently awarded a $300,000 research grant from Quercis Pharma. The grant will fund a PhD studentship in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Kennedy, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences and Professor of Pharmacology.
WNE Receives Grant from CIC for the Advancement of Educational Programs in Philosophy
Western New England University has been selected to receive a $1,000 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) as an extension of Assistant Professor of Philosophy Valerie Racine's participation in CIC's 2021 New Currents in Teaching Philosophy Institute.
A New Home for Faculty News
It's with great pride that we share the accomplishments of our University faculty.

The Many Accomplishments of Our Outstanding Faculty
If you have recently been recognized, published, have appeared in the media, or have a story to share, we would love to know!
Important Reminders
NECHE Self-study Draft Ready for Review

Our NECHE site visit is scheduled for March 6-9, 2022. The draft of the Self-study is ready for internal review and feedback from WNE faculty and staff. After reviewing the draft, if you would like to submit a comment or feedback to the NECHE Self-Study Co-chairs, Dr. Linda Jones and Josephine Rodriguez, please do so by December 15, 2021, using the following e-mail address:
The Self-study draft can be accessed with the link below.

You will need your WNE e-mail address and password to open the document.
Online Benefit Enrollment CLOSES Friday, December 10, 2021
All benefit-eligible employees must elect their benefit options for the 2022 plan year (January 1-December 31) whether you are keeping the same benefits or making a change. If you do not verify your benefit elections in Self-Service by December 10, any voluntary benefits you may be enrolled in (ex. Dental, Vision, Voluntary Life, etc.) will automatically end as of December 31, 2021.
Please Note: The Online Benefit Enrollment will close on December 10. You will not have access to make any changes or additions after this date.

If you need assistance with your Online Benefit Enrollment and would like to schedule an appointment with Human Resources, please contact Kim Howard at ext. 2224 or via email: or Nereida Rosemond at ext. 1381 or via email.
RSVP for the WNE Holiday Gathering!

Please RSVP by December 9, 2021
President Robert Johnson cordially invites all WNE Faculty and Staff to a Holiday Gathering on Thursday, December 16, 2021, from 12:00 noon-1:30 p.m. in Rivers Memorial Auditorium.

Join us for hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and great conversations with fellow colleagues.