Inside WFU – news for faculty and staff

Provost Kersh announces progress on Plan for Academic Excellence and upcoming forums

November 18, 2019

The following announcement from Provost Rogan Kersh was e-mailed to faculty and staff on Nov. 18:

Greetings Wake Forest colleagues—I hope this finds you thriving as the fall semester draws to a close. I write to follow up on my announcements last spring regarding a Plan for Academic Excellence (PAE; originally termed an ‘Academic Master Plan’). The PAE will be a comprehensive statement of our academic mission and programs as they stand at present, and as we strive to shape them for the future.  In preparing this document, we will consider the fast-shifting landscape of higher education as well as highlights and significant developments across our academic practices in recent years.

Over this year, a steering committee (listed below) comprised of faculty and staff from all schools and major academic offices across the Reynolda Campus will affirm our current—and explore evolving—ways of providing learning and producing research and creative work consonant with our core institutional values, in a higher education system undergoing tectonic change. I am deeply grateful to Michele Gillespie (Dean of the College) and Charles Iacovou (Dean of the School of Business) for agreeing to co-chair this project, as I am to faculty and staff colleagues across the university for your willingness to provide advice/counsel, serve on the steering committee, and otherwise help chart our hoped-for future of teaching/learning and scholarship at Wake Forest.

Please join us next week at any of three open forums on the Plan for Academic Excellence. Charles and Michele, along with PAE committee members, will provide a snapshot of their initial planning, and outline the intended process from here. Details about those forums:

Tuesday, November 19 | 10:00-11:00 am, ZSR Auditorium 404

Thursday, November 21 | 12:30-1:30 pm, Farrell Hall A17

Friday, November 22 | 2:00-3:00 pm, Benson 401A

Over the coming weeks, a website and email address will be created and distributed to continue community exchanges as the Plan takes shape. You also will likely see me, Charles, and/or Michele at one of your faculty meetings or staff gatherings to discuss in detail the PAE. Looking forward to engaging with you throughout this vital work.

Yours in Thanksgiving gratitude, Rogan

Faculty books: October 2019

November 18, 2019

Bardon, Adrian. (Philosophy). The Truth About Denial: Bias and Self-Deception in Science, Politics, and Religion. Oxford University Press. 2019.

Coyne, Chris J., Michael C. Munger, & Robert M. Whaples, Eds. (Economics). In All Fairness: Equality, Liberty, and the Quest for Human Dignity. Forward by Richard A. Epstein. Independent Institute. 2019.

González, Luis H. (Spanish & Italian). Cómo entender y cómo enseñar por y para. Routledge. 2019.

Gupta, Kristina. (Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality). Medical Entanglements: Rethinking Feminist Debates about Healthcare. Rutgers University Press. 2019.

Morosini, Roberta. (Spanish & Italian). Il Mare salato. Il Mediterraneo di Dante, Petrarca e Boccaccio. Viella. 2019.

Newman, Joel S., Dorothy A. Brown, & Bridget J. Crawford. (Law, Emeritus). Federal Income Taxation: Cases, Problems, and Materials, 7^th ed. West Academic Publishing. 2019.

Wake Forest to test Wake Alert today Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m.

November 15, 2019

This announcement was e-mailed to students, faculty and staff today, Nov. 15, by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations:

This is a reminder that Wake Forest will test its Wake Alert emergency notification system today, Nov. 15, at 3:30 p.m.

On campus, people will hear a test message from outdoor speakers distributed at several campus locations, including outside BB&T Field.  Chimes will be heard from the outdoor alert system, initially, followed by a pre-recorded message announcing a test of the emergency alert system.

A test message will be sent by three other methods that are part of the Wake Alert system.  Students, faculty and staff will receive a message by e-mail. And, students, faculty and staff who have registered their cell phone for emergency messages will receive text and voice messages.  All messages will announce a test is being conducted. Anyone who has not registered their cell phone, already, may do so by visiting this website.

No action will be required by anyone during the brief testing.

Wake Forest’s approach to communicating in emergencies is based on redundancy, using numerous methods to promptly communicate with faculty, staff and students, as well as parents, the public and news media.  Additional information is available on the Wake Ready website.

Faculty, staff discounted ticket opportunities from Athletics

November 15, 2019

Recently, Director of Athletics John Currie e-mailed a message to faculty and staff to announce discounted tickets available to faculty and staff.  The following is a guest post from the Department of Athletics with information about those discounts:

ENJOY DISCOUNTED TICKETS AND GIVEAWAYS FOR WAKE FOREST FOOTBALL VS. DUKE

It has already been a special season for Wake Forest Football, and we invite you to help celebrate a special group of seniors, all of whom will soon be graduates, continuing the tradition of academic excellence that you help foster. 

To purchase $15 tickets, take advantage of our exclusive faculty/staff giveaways, and help send out Demon Deacon senior student-athletes on a high note with a win against Duke.  Stop by the I’m A Fan Zone to receive a $10 concessions voucher and a free t-shirt while supplies last.

Visit GoDeacs.com/Promo and enter the promo code WFUSAVES

DEADLINE TO PURCHASE TICKETS: 5 p.m. on Friday, November 22

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DISCOUNTED WAKE FOREST BASKETBALL TICKETS ALL SEASON

Support Demon Deacon basketball with special discounts for faculty/staff for all home games at LJVM Coliseum this season. Your benefits include:

 -20% off men’s basketball full-season and half-season ticket packages in the upper level of LJVM

 -20% off men’s basketball single-game tickets in select areas (Sections 108-109, 111-112, 207-215)

 -Free admission to women’s basketball games for faculty/staff and immediate family members when showing WFU ID at the gate

 To receive the men’s basketball discounts, faculty and staff can show their WFU ID in person at the Bridger Field House box office. 

 SIMPLIFY TICKETING WITH THE DEACON MOBILE PASS

 Get easy access to Wake Forest basketball with the Deacon Mobile Pass. For only $160 you get a ticket to every men’s and women’s home basketball game throughout the 2019-20 season delivered right to your phone – save $40 off the retail price as a faculty/staff member.

To order visit GoDeacs.com/Promo and enter the promo code: WFUSAVES

The proposed College Academic Commons: Five Q&A

November 13, 2019

In his State of the University speech on Nov. 7, Wake Forest President Nathan Hatch shared plans for a new academic building on campus: “The College Academic Commons will be filled with learning spaces that are interactive and flexible – ready to accommodate the dynamic delivery of education in the 21st century. This proposed space will set a new standard for highly effective teaching and learning.”

What are Wake Forest’s plans for a new academic building?

Wake Forest is in the midst of planning for a new College Academic Commons to provide needed academic space for the College — including classrooms, faculty offices and common areas. The focus is on creating a building that will strengthen the experience of first and second-year students and underscore the importance of the humanities and the liberal arts.

What is the timeline?

Planning is in the early conceptual phases, but the goal is to begin construction during the 2020-2021 academic year. Fundraising is currently underway. As plans develop and milestones are reached, there will be updates on the project.

Where would the building be located?

The proposed placement for the facility is on the upper part of Davis Field across from the ZSR Library. This location is consistent with the original Larson master plan for the Reynolda Campus and is in close proximity to many of the other college academic buildings.

How will the new space be used?

Plans for the College Academic Commons include classrooms, offices and common areas. The focus is on providing flexible and interactive learning spaces designed to facilitate thoughtful conversation and study. The space will also nurture the University’s deep commitment to relational teaching and learning. The building is envisioned as a new home for many of Wake Forest’s humanities departments and programs, including the Leadership and Character program. It will likely also house academic advising and scholarship programs. 

Who has been involved in the planning?

A planning group made up of faculty, students and staff is exploring various aspects of logistics and planning. Working groups are looking at instructional spaces and office spaces, as well as areas for faculty-student engagement, academic advising and scholarship programs.