A Message from the Provost: Week of 5.18.26

May 21 | 2026
 

 
Dear Colleagues,

 

What a wonderful week it has been across the University of Wyoming community. Commencement weekend was truly special, and it was a privilege to celebrate alongside our graduates, families, faculty, and staff. From Saturday’s ceremonies in Laramie to our UW Casper commencement on Monday, the sense of pride and accomplishment was evident everywhere we looked. I had a great time cheering on students with our faculty and staff – and nearly lost my voice cheering alongside Vice Provost Hilaire and Jack Tennant from the Alumni Association! 

 

 

Thank you to everyone who helped make commencement such a success. These celebrations require tremendous coordination and care, and I want to extend a special note of appreciation to our colleagues in Student Success and Graduation for their outstanding work throughout the week. Commencement is one of the university’s most important moments, and your efforts helped create memorable experiences for our students and their loved ones.

 

I also want to share that the UW Board of Trustees approved a compensation plan for faculty and staff during last week’s meeting. The plan reflects the university’s continued commitment to supporting and investing in our employees. Additional information is available in this recent university news release: UW Trustees Approve Pay Raise Plan for Faculty & Staff

 

For faculty interested in expanding experiential and global learning opportunities for students, Education Abroad is now accepting proposals for 2026–2027 Global Seminars. These short-term academic programs offer exciting opportunities to bring coursework to life through international and domestic travel experiences during J-Term, Spring Break, or Summer. Global Seminars are a powerful way to broaden access to study abroad, strengthen student engagement, and connect learning with real-world contexts. Proposal submissions are due May 31, and I encourage interested faculty to explore this opportunity with their department chairs and deans. You can submit your proposal at the [qualtrics] link here.

 

As we officially close out the academic year, a quick reminder that final grades were due today at noon. Thank you all for your work in wrapping up the semester and supporting our students through the finish line.

 

Finally, as Memorial Day weekend approaches, I hope you have an opportunity to rest, spend meaningful time with family and friends, and enjoy the unofficial start to summer. For those traveling, safe travels. Thank you, as always, for all that you do for our students, our colleagues, and the University of Wyoming community.

 

Take care, and Go Pokes!

 

Anne
Email: provost@uwyo.edu | Phone: (307) 766-6476 
University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue Laramie, WY, 82071