Dear Colleagues,
During our third week of the Fall Semester, I know how hard you are working with your students. I value the dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm you continue to show. I hope you are utilizing the many resources available to you through the Center for Faculty Excellence. The resource content on the center’s website is updated regularly and includes opportunities hosted by SOCHE, the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education.
As an institution whose new student class is comprised of 31% transfer students, we would like to show them our support. Please submit your words of encouragement and wisdom to our students through this online form. Your support and perspective will be shared during National Student Transfer Week, October 16–20. I see this as an immediate and direct positive impact on our students and appreciate your involvement.
I would like to take a moment to recognize the great work of all our faculty this semester in submitting their participation rosters. Collectively, we reached a submission rate of 95%. I especially want to recognize the College of Science and Mathematics, which led the way with a whopping 96.20% submission rate. Dean Şahin was presented with our traveling trophy for the semester, and I will provide a pizza party for the college.
Events
- The College of Liberal Arts kicks off its Fall Speaker Series tomorrow with a presentation by Dr. Johnnetta Cole, former director of the Smithsonian Museum of African Art, at 5:30 p.m. in Schuster Hall in the Creative Arts Center.
Dr. Cole has served as an anthropologist, educator, museum director, and college president. She was the first female African American president of Spelman College (1987–1997) and Bennett College (2002–2007) and the director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art (2009–2017).
During her presentation, Dr. Cole will consider some of the most universal and urgent questions of our time from the perspective of different liberal arts disciplines. Learn more about this special presentation.
- This weekend, Wright State is home to the Air Force Marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and Health and Fitness Expo. This is a wonderful community event and a great way to see parts of our campus. It is not too late to register.
- The Wright State University Women’s Center and the Center for Faculty Excellence are thrilled to announce the return of the Women Faculty and Staff Rendezvous on Friday, September 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. in 019 Student Union.
This reimagined initiative is designed to foster a sense of community, facilitate networking, and address the unique needs of women and gender-expansive faculty and staff as we as a community and nation face sociopolitical, economic, and public health-related turbulence. Learn more about this event.
Research and Sponsored Programs
- Registration is open through September 30 for the Celebration of Undergraduate and Graduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities event, which will be held on Thursday, October 26.
- New this semester are two award programs that recognize faculty members: the Outstanding Scholarly and Creative Activity Award and the Public Impact Recognition Award.
The Outstanding Scholarly and Creative Activity Awards recognize those who made outstanding contributions in scholarly or creative activities over the past three years (2020–2023) for their work at Wright State University.
Nominations (PDF) are due by September 30.
The Public Impact Recognition Award recognizes faculty or staff whose research or creative activities have had a significant public impact, where such benefit has been achieved in part through the efforts of those same faculty to bring their research or creative activity into the public arena. For this purpose, the term “public impact” is defined broadly to include scientific, social, cultural, artistic, political, and other forms of public benefit that may be local, national, or global.
Nominations (PDF) are due by September 30.
When a Student Needs Support
As we approach the fourth week of the semester, students may already be struggling. Wright.edu/help is a great resource for helping students or making referrals. This site contains contact information for emergency or essential departments that can assist your students all in one location.
I hope you all have a wonderful week! You are appreciated!
Amy Thompson, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
