A Message from the Provost: Week of 2.02.26

 
February 5 | 2026
 

Dear Colleagues, 

As we continue into the heart of the semester, I want to share a few updates that reflect the energy and excellence across our campus.

 

First, I want to thank the AI Committee on Teaching and Learning for sharing its recent status report. The committee has done thoughtful work exploring the role of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning at UW, and I appreciate their willingness to continue serving on the President’s AI Across the University Commission. And yes, thanks to AI and a bit of creative fun, I now have my own ChatGPT caricature in this week's message. I’m taking that as a sign we’re doing something right.

 

UW is enhancing the accessibility of web and mobile content to conform with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by the April 24, 2026 federal deadline. An update to the SAP is in process and should be finalized in the coming weeks. To assist faculty with the implementation of accessibility standards within courses, a new tool named Panorama will run in WyoCourses and WyoLearn in February. The tool will identify content items for later revision by faculty, and dedicated training, support, and resources have been created to assist with accessibility adjustments, which you can find here. 

 

It's that time of year to celebrate excellence on campus! I encourage you to submit nominations for faculty awards, including the Ellbogen Lifetime Teaching Award, the Ellbogen Meritorious Teaching Award, and the Laramigo Award, among others. We are fortunate to work alongside many outstanding colleagues, and these awards offer an important opportunity to recognize excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Nominations are due by March 6, and I hope you will consider taking a moment to acknowledge a colleague’s contributions. You can find more details here.

 

A very important announcement: after over two decades of service to UW, Vice Provost Dave Bagley has informed me that he is retiring from the university. During his time at UW, Dr. Bagley has served as department head in two departments, associate dean for CEPS, vice provost, and, most importantly, as a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. He’s taught, researched, and developed solutions in environmental engineering focused on water and waste, and has profoundly impacted his students, our faculty, and our state. His wise guidance and help to me personally these past months have been and continue to be invaluable, and I’ll sorely miss his humor and steady demeanor. That said, he’s still on the hook for his vice provost duties for at least a few months! Wish him well when you see him!

 

Which brings me to this - I am seeking expressions of interest in the position of Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Tenured faculty at the Professor rank are preferred. The scope of duties includes:

 

• Overseeing the management and administration of the university’s system for annual, reappointment, tenure, promotion, and fixed-term-rolling contract reviews, the preparation of reports for the UW Board of Trustees, and the analysis and reporting of data related to academic personnel
   
• Working collaboratively with Human Resources and other offices on campus regarding employment matters for academic personnel and serving as the lead on matters involving faculty leaves, compensation, and development.  
   
• Serving as the Provost’s policy advisor on numerous matters related to academic personnel and the Division of Academic Affairs and providing guidance to academic administrators, faculty, and staff on regulations, policies, and processes involving academic personnel.
   
• Providing leadership on other issues related to the advancement and growth of faculty.   
   

The successful candidate will start on June 1, 2026. Vice Provost Bagley will then serve as a Special Assistant for three months, June 1-Aug. 31, 2026, to provide support for his successor as they learn the job. Please send your expression of interest and CV to provost@uwyo.edu by March 23, 2026. For more information, contact Mandy Gifford, Chief of Staff, mandyj@uwyo.edu.  

 

Finally, I want to send a shout-out to our colleague Nancy Small for some good news worth celebrating. In a recent newsletter, Mellon Foundation President Elizabeth Alexander referenced work happening at UW, a recognition that reflects the impact and visibility of this work. With so much happening across the arts and humanities nationally, even a brief mention signals that UW’s efforts are being noticed at the highest levels. We are also scheduled to be featured on Mellon’s social media this week, bringing additional national and international visibility. It is encouraging to see this momentum continue to build.

 

Thank you, as always.

Warm regards,

Anne
 

 
 

Phone: (307) 766-6476  Email: provost@uwyo.edu