Grand Teton Task Force

 

The University of Wyoming Grand Teton Task Force

 

The UW Grand Teton Task Force, initiated by the Office of Research and Economic Development, has been working to re-envision how UW faculty and collaborators work in Grand Teton National Park, at the campus of the UW-NPS Research Center facility within the Park at the historic AMK Ranch on Jackson Lake (https://uwnps.org/).

The process has aimed to develop an updated vision, mission, and strategic plan for programming to complement UW’s long-term partnership with the National Park Service and renewed UW Board of Trustee investment in the physical facilities at the AMK Ranch.

On January 22, 2020, the Task Force presented a new vision statement to the UW Board of Trustees. The vision includes three parts:

Over the next 5-10 years, make the UW-NPS Research Station, the “UW Grand Teton Campus,” into a world-class home for world-class scholarship and experiences in Wyoming’s world-class setting.

The “UW Grand Teton Campus” will promote understanding of Wyoming’s wonders and their connections to the world by:

Inspiring discoveries: Advance the frontiers of knowledge by creating unique opportunities for scholars in Wyoming’s iconic landscapes.

Elevating experiences: Enhance and expand opportunities for place-based learning for UW students, community scholars and experts, and the public.

Connecting communities: Share research and learning opportunities that cross boundaries and foster cooperation, understanding, and discourse.

 

Crossing Divides

To build upon this vision, the Crossing Divides Initiative was launched as a call for faculty working groups to develop long-term plans for >10-year programs of activities at the Grand Teton campus.

Crossing Divides calls for collaborative groups of 3-8 faculty to develop relevant plans for scholarship, teaching, or outreach. Groups should develop white papers that describe detailed plans for activities that they seek to pursue over the next 10 years that would use the UW-NPS facility (AMK) in line with the new vision.

White papers should specifically focus on broad programs rather than single specific projects or workshops. Individual projects and activities can be included within the program.

White papers have no specific length required, but should aim to be <10 pages. Potential topics to address in the white papers include:

• Strategic theme of the program,
• Types of activities that will be pursued,
• Information about students and faculty involved (e.g., course sizes),
• Connections to the mission of the AMK,
• Timelines of a) immediate near-term program activities and b) long-term plans,
• Scope of potential budgets and funding sources (e.g., specific grants, tuition, course fees, etc), and
• Specific facility, instrumentation, or other logistical needs.

 

Please submit white papers to Karyn Bercheni (kberchen@uwyo.edu) in the Office of Research and Economic Development and cc Bryan Shuman (bshuman@uwyo.edu) by October 15, 2020.

The white papers are intended to:

• build connections across campus and the state around shared interest in the Teton region,
• set priorities for UW-NPS Research Station use and grant funding,
• aid the development of a strategic plan for the UW-NPS Research Station, 
• inform the UW Foundation's efforts in support of Teton Scholars fellowships for faculty and students, and 
• help inform the UW Board of Trustees about exciting faculty ideas and activities that will leverage their (continued) investment in the UW-NPS Research Station.

 

Due to the challenges associated with COVID-19, working groups have not been able to travel to the AMK Ranch, but with the support of the Office of Research and Economic Development, white papers will be used to identify groups of faculty that would benefit from 2-3 day retreats at the UW-NPS Research Station at the AMK Ranch in Grand Teton National Park during summer 2021 if the virus and ongoing construction allow. 

 

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Task Force members include:

Bryan Shuman (chair), UW-NPS Research Center, Geology and Geophysics: bshuman@uwyo.edu

Ed Synakowski, VP for Research and Economic Development: esynakow@uwyo.edu

Brad Bonner, UW Trustee

Doug Wachob, Haub School

Kelly Crane, Cooperative Extension Service: kcrane1@uwyo.edu

Brent Ewers, Botany, Biodiversity Institute, Wyoming EPSCoR: BEEwers@uwyo.edu

Daniel Dale, College of Arts and Sciences, Physics and Astronomy: DDale@uwyo.edu

Michael Dillon, Zoology & Physiology: Michael.Dillon@uwyo.edu

Andrea Graham, American Studies & History: agraha12@uwyo.edu

Sam Kalen, UW College of Law: skalen@uwyo.edu

Matt Kauffman, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: mkauffm1@uwyo.edu

Ricki Klages: Visual and Literary Arts: RLK@uwyo.edu

Frieda Knobloch, American Studies & History: Knobloch@uwyo.edu

Katrina McGee, UW Foundation: kmcgee1@uwyo.edu

Ginger Paige, Ecosystem Science and Management: GPaige@uwyo.edu

Ramesh Sivanpillai, WyGISC: Sivan@uwyo.edu

Tarissa Spoonhunter, Central Wyoming College: tspoonhu@cwc.edu

Annika Walters, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Annika.Walters@uwyo.edu