Academic Affairs Newsletter
August 2024
Welcome Back from Provost Dr. Ravi Krovi
Ravi Krovi visits Shanghai Normal University in June 2024
The beginning of the Fall semester is always an exciting time for our students, faculty, and staff. I am delighted that our campus will soon be bustling with activity. This year, we are trending positively in enrollment thanks to the efforts led by colleagues in Student Access and Success, the International Office, and our academic advisors. We are welcoming 3,663 new students, 394 of which are new international students. We will still have students enrolling in the next week, too!
As I have mentioned in the college meetings, I am really proud of the tremendous progress we have made over the last decade notably in our six-year graduation rate, first-year retention rate, and in addressing completion gaps. This is by no means an accident. It is largely possible due to the efforts of all our faculty and staff over time and a willingness to challenge our own assumptions. Organizational behaviorists refer to this as organizational learning. A learning organization has the ability to introspect and rethink itself with a growth mindset. I would like to recognize the following academic departments in the table (right) for their innovations and their willingness to engage in such a continuous learning and transformation process.
| Award | Details | Department |
|
Persistence |
Fall 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ to Spring 2024 |
Earth and Environmental Science |
|
Persistence- Honorable Mention |
Fall 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ to Spring 2024 |
Dental Hygiene |
|
Retention |
Fall 2022 to Fall 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ First-year (first-time) Retention |
Chemistry and Biochemistry |
|
Retention- Honorable Mention |
Fall 2022 to Fall 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ First-year (first-time) Retention |
Communication |
|
Student Engagement |
HIEE Student Participation for the 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ-24 academic year |
Emergency Healthcare |
| Student Engagement- Honorable Mention | HIEE Student Participation for the 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ-24 academic year | Geography, Environment, & Sustainability |
| Completion |
Degree Completion (6-year bachelor) |
Nursing |
|
Completion |
Completion Rate of 90+ Credit Hour Students within two years |
Professional Sales |
| Best Biennial Report |
No External Accreditation |
Dance |
| Best Biennial Report | With External Accreditation | Dental Hygiene |
There will be increasing pressure on us to generate alternate revenue streams to offset enrollment losses as we approach the enrollment cliff in 2026. This coming year, we will focus on improving the and conduct a of our offerings. I am looking forward to working together as a campus community and invite you to join our working teams. Please send an email to provostwsu@weber.edu if you are interested.
I am also mindful of the challenges that our university has faced in the last few months. Many of us are still grieving over the loss of two beloved academic affairs colleagues. We are also dealing with many of the legislative compliance requirements.
Please know that my office is here to help as we continue to navigate a difficult situation. To assist you, my office has compiled the following resources:
Thank you for everything you do for our great university. Please join me in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Ravi
Sixth Annual Research Impact Success and Emerging Research (RISE) Awards
For the sixth annual Research Impact Success and Emerging Research Awards at Weber State, The Office of Sponsored Projects is proud to recognize three outstanding faculty who have significantly contributed to our community, academically and programmatically. These awards celebrate their dedication to pushing the boundaries of research and their commitment to fostering impactful programs that resonate within our institution and beyond.
2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ RISE Award Recipients
Programmatic Impact Award: Dr. Shirley Dawson
Dr. Shirley Dawson has received the Programmatic Impact Award for her leadership in the special education community at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ. This program has achieved significant outcomes that have resonated locally and nationally. Dr. Dawson’s vision for the program involved innovative strategies that combined academic rigor with community engagement, ensuring that students gain practical skills while making meaningful contributions to society. Her program has also secured external funding, which has allowed for its expansion and sustainability. Dr. Dawson’s work exemplifies the power of well-designed programs to create lasting change, and her impact on the university and the community is profound.
Outstanding Research Award: Dr. Emily January
Dr. Emily January has made remarkable strides in the field of digital humanities. Her research bridges the gap between traditional humanities scholarship and modern digital technologies, offering new ways to explore, preserve, and interpret literary texts and historical documents. Dr. January’s work is particularly noted for its emphasis on accessibility. It creates digital platforms that allow wider audiences, including students and researchers from various disciplines, to engage with complex texts and archives.
Her projects have had significant student involvement, providing them valuable experience in
cutting-edge research methods. Through her dedication, Dr. January has advanced her field and enriched the academic experience at Weber State, making her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
Emerging Researcher Award: Dr. Katrina Twing
Dr. Katrina Twing has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to microbial ecology and environmental microbiology. Her research focuses on understanding the roles of microorganisms in extreme environments, particularly in deep subsurface ecosystems. Dr. Twing’s work explores how these microorganisms adapt to and influence their surroundings, which has significant implications for understanding global biogeochemical cycles and the potential for life in similar extreme environments on other planets. Her innovative approach combines fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and advanced genetic analysis, pushing the boundaries of knowledge in her field.
This award acknowledges her potential to make a lasting impact at Weber State and the broader scientific community as she continues to develop her research.
Teaching Resources for Faculty
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) has been diligently working to compile teaching resources to support faculty this fall semester. Some that may be most useful to faculty in this changing landscape of higher education are Teaching in the Age of AI and a new AI Learning Community that runs for 5-weeks and earns faculty a teaching badge and certificate from ACUE (Association of College and University Educators).
Additionally, CETL has created a Brave Conversations Community of Practice focused on equipping faculty to facilitate constructive conversations in the classroom. Details about the community of practice will be posted in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Announcements at the beginning of September.
Workshops related to managing challenging situations in the classroom will be offered this fall, along with other great teaching workshops at the Thrive Symposium on October 8th and 9th. Please monitor the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Announcements and your email for notifications regarding these workshops this fall.
The last resource we’ll highlight here is the ACUE microcredential course offered through CETL to enhance teaching skills. Upon completion of four designated courses, faculty will have earned a Certificate of Effective College Instruction and will have gained a multitude of evidence-based teaching tools that can be applied in any learning environment.
The Provost’s Office is proud to support CETL in enhancing the capacity of the faculty to create the most successful, safe, and productive learning environment for all. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Brenda Kowalewski, Vice Provost, with any questions or suggestions you have about these or other teaching resources.
Access Textbooks with Library Course Reserves
The library textbook lending collection continues to expand, providing an alternate option for students to access their course materials. Instructors, we encourage you to check our to see if we have your course materials so you can inform your students of the option.
We also have a new electronic reserve tool integrated directly into Canvas! Library eReserve allows you to manage readings and resources, including articles, chapter scans, and ebooks from library collections. Use the engagement statistics to see how students interact with assigned readings. Individual and group training sessions for Library eReserve are available upon request.
For any questions about course materials or training help at the library, email us at ereserve@weber.edu.