March 1, 2024

We are charging along, fueled by all sorts of things: tea, coffee, hopefully a bit of sleep, and in the case of one of my Ewell Hall colleagues, a very specific type of sustenance called porridge. Is it possible to survive on porridge alone? Time will tell.

While you ponder that question, I invite you to ponder a few more things:

• The Spring 2024 Tack Lecture is less than one week away and I am very much looking forward to attending this event on Wednesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. and learning from our colleague, Omiyẹmi (Artisia) Green, professor of Theatre and Africana Studies, on "A History of African American Theatre and Black Theater at William & Mary.” I encourage you to RSVP and attend.
• The next event in the Scholarly Perspectives: Spring 2024 Speaker Series on the Middle East takes place on Thursday, March 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in ISC 1221 with Dr. Arnon Degani. True to the values of our community, students and faculty have turned out in high numbers to these sessions, listening, asking thoughtful questions, and engaging with respect and curiosity. I hope you will join this or a future session.
• As a reminder, the last day for students to respond to the survey on students and generative AI is Tuesday, March 5 (next week). Lori Jacobson would love to have high levels of response, so please take a moment to share the survey with the students in your classes.
• The annual Graduate & Honors Research Symposium returns March 21-22. The Symposium is a collaboration between the A&S Graduate Center and Charles Center that fosters interdisciplinary intellectual exchange and community among graduate and honors researchers in A&S. The Symposium provides students an essential opportunity to showcase their research, practice their conference skills, and celebrate their accomplishments. This event highlights the remarkable research and collaborative work between students and faculty happening every day in A&S. The Symposium will also include graduate students from VIMS and other universities around the region including UVA, VSU, and GWU. Read more about the 2024 Symposium and make plans to attend if you are able!
• The Future of Arts & Sciences committee meets weekly and is in the process of analyzing findings from a review of the various structures of peer institutions. The committee will share periodic updates on its Updates & Announcements webpage so check back often. You will also notice a new section of their website, Outreach, which provides an anonymous feedback form (available until March 31) and information on requesting a meeting with representatives from the committee. This is also where information will be shared on future town hall meetings. Thank you in advance for taking time to engage with the committee and share your thoughts as they gather feedback and ideas.
• I know the health and wellbeing of our students is of utmost concern to all of us. The Care Support Services department of the Dean of Students office has a helpful webpage with guidance for student emergency notification requests as well as guidance for non-emergency situations and it may be beneficial to occasionally refamiliarize yourself with these processes. As a reminder, “doctor’s notes” or excused absences from class are not provided by any university office, including the Dean of Students Office, Care Support Services, and the Student Health Center. It is their practice to encourage students to be responsible and accountable in communicating with faculty about their absences and making plans for missed work.
• As you have all heard by now, beginning this month, students will utilize PATH to search and register for courses. The University Registrar’s office has created helpful resources including an overview of PATH and the registration structure. Please point your students to these links as we all transition to the new system.

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I was in Atlanta this week, and because I am on an animal streak, I looked out for all of these animals, commonly occurring in Georgia: the odocoileus virgininanus, ursus americanus, tursiops truncatus, trichechus manatus, sciurus carolinensis, felis rufus, eubalaena glacialis, and the sylvilagus obscurus. The reason I tell you this is not because I saw none of them (except perhaps the sciurus) but because these words are so wonderful to see and say. Of course, some of you speak Latin and know exactly what all these words mean, but even for you, I imagine the magic has not waned.

This week’s challenge (after last week’s, when you built the pigbristle stilts, is to select the Latin name that matches the image below). No competition and no recognition – just try it.

Have a wonderful weekend, Suzanne