January 29, 2026; Leading Together: A Message from the Provost
January 29 | 2026
Dear Colleagues,
I want to start by highlighting an upcoming Teaching with AI: Practical Strategies
for the UW Classroom mini-conference on February 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offered
both in person (Coe 506) and via Zoom. As you may have seen on the Faculty listserv
today, this event is designed to guide faculty from "inspiration to implementation,"
focusing on thoughtful and ethical integration of AI into teaching and learning. Lunch
will be provided for in-person participants, and registration is limited. I encourage
interested faculty and instructors to review the agenda and the registration options
here. Many thanks to the UW AI Committee on Teaching & Learning, Information Technology,
ECTL, and colleagues across campus for organizing this timely and practical event.
As I mentioned, this was shared on the Faculty listserv. If you are a faculty member and missed this opportunity, I recommend joining the listserv to stay updated on important news, events, and discussions from your colleagues and Faculty Senate representatives. Information on how to join is available here.
I also want to share an update about faculty development resources. The University of Wyoming’s institutional membership with the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) will end on January 30, 2026, due to broader budget prioritization decisions. Faculty interested in continuing to work with NCFDD can do so through individual memberships, and NCFDD has communicated directly with current users about the next steps. We remain dedicated to supporting faculty development through various campus programs and to aligning these efforts with institutional priorities.
Looking ahead, I want to highlight that UW has committed to participating in the 2026 Great Colleges to Work For program. The University last took part in this assessment in 2018, and the results were meaningfully used to inform communication, decision-making, and institutional action. As we once again face a pivotal moment with leadership transition approaching, this effort demonstrates a renewed focus on understanding and strengthening UW’s workplace culture. More details and the timeline will be shared soon.
Finally, I’m pleased to share that the UW has received three recognitions in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings, including Undergraduate Business, MBA, and Graduate Education. These rankings highlight the quality of our online programs and, most importantly, the faculty and staff whose efforts made this possible. Congrats!
I appreciate your engagement in these efforts and your willingness to contribute to conversations that strengthen our campus. I hope you can take a moment to rest and recharge, and I wish you a positive, restorative weekend ahead.
All my best,
Anne
