Dear faculty and staff,
Welcome back to campus! I hope that you all had a restful and restorative break and got to enjoy time with friends and family while celebrating the holidays. Please know that I appreciate all the hard work each of you put in to help make UVM the special place that it is.
It’s exciting to return for the beginning of the spring semester and commit renewed energy to our shared goals of connecting with, and helping enrich the lives of our students. I encourage you to engage with our students as individuals and groups across campus, and to take part in shared activities that help foster important connections both inside and outside the classroom. Take a moment to greet a colleague, offer a warm smile, and spark a conversation.
Congratulations, Champion Catamounts!
Speaking of smiles, I’m still over the moon about the incredible success of our men’s soccer team in capturing the program’s first-ever NCAA championship last month! I couldn’t be prouder of our Catamounts, not only for their on-field success but also the way they truly embody all that is great about being a student-athlete. The team boasts a cumulative grade point average of 3.24, proving these Cats work just as hard in the classroom as they do on the playing field. I sincerely hope you’ll join me in honoring our champion Cats with a victory parade on January 26, 1 p.m., on the Church Street Marketplace. Watch @uvmathletics on social media for further details.
Green and Gold Fridays
Another key part of celebrating UVM pride is our Green and Gold Fridays! Finish each week on a high note by proudly sporting our school colors across campus and be on the lookout for Rally Cat and university leaders rewarding wearers of green and gold with special prizes.
Free Speech
As always here at UVM, we will continue to explore together the important issues we face within our campus community and beyond. The spring semester will see the continuation of our Presidential Lecture Series and its focus on free speech. The next lecture in the Dan and Carole Burack President's Distinguished Lecture Series will take place on February 18, when Sigal Ben-Porath, presidential professor at the University of Pennsylvania, will discuss Cancel Wars: How Universities Can Foster Free Speech, Promote Inclusion, and Renew Democracy.
Planetary Health
The next chapter in our vital dialogue around Planetary Health took place on January 6, when Dr. Jonathan Patz came to campus to deliver a lecture on The Role of Medicine in Planetary Health. Dr. Patz has joined UVM as a Macmillan Scholar in Residence at the Gund Institute for Environment for two weeks in January to support our efforts in building cross-campus collaborations around UVM’s new Planetary Health Initiative.
Employee Wellness
Enriching our minds goes hand-in-hand with taking care of our bodies. I urge you all to take advantage of Employee Wellness activities and resources across campus. You can stay up to date on upcoming events, programs, and other great resources by signing up to receive the monthly Employee Wellness newsletter.
Waterman Lunches
Lastly, who doesn’t love a great meal in a beautiful setting to enhance their workday? I’m thrilled to announce that Waterman Manor on the fifth floor of the Waterman Building will be reopening this semester for employee lunches. This will provide another nice option for grabbing a midday meal and connecting with your fellow UVM faculty and staff members. Stay tuned for more details.
In closing, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you. It brings me deep pride to work with such dedicated and caring colleagues. We have much to look forward to as we begin the spring semester here at UVM. I can’t wait to reconnect with you and continue the fulfilling and rewarding work we can do together.
Smiles, Patty