Louisville chef kicked off this year’s at the University of Louisville, which also features a student gala, art workshops and lectures.

UofL News caught up with Jianhua (Andrew) Zhao, the president of UofL’s Asian, Asian American Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association (AAPI FSA) and an associate professor of anthropology, to learn more about this year’s .

UofL News: Can you tell us about the mission of the Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association and its history at UofL?����

Zhao: The vision of the AAPI FSA is to��build community, promote diversity, and champion action and change for the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations on campus.��The AAPI FSA is an employee resource group (ERG) that was established in 2021, in the aftermath of the Atlanta spa shootings and surging anti-Asian hate. We initially started the group to offer a safe space for AAPI folks to speak their minds. Over time, we expanded our vision and purpose.��

UofL News: What is the significance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Week, both within the UofL community and nationally?

Zhao: Nationally, AAPI heritage is celebrated in the month of May. At UofL, along with some other higher education institutions in the U.S., the AAPI FSA have dedicated the second week of April to recognizing the contributions of Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans.��

UofL News: What are some key aspects of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture and heritage that you hope to highlight or explore during AAPI Heritage Week?

Zhao: This is the third year for celebrating the AAPI Heritage Week. The first year, we focused on the theme of the “invisible minority.” Last year, we focused on the historical injustices toward and contributions of the AAPI community.��This year’s AAPI Heritage Week seeks to highlight the stories of our community through artistic expression. Art has long served as a way of preserving traditions, building community, and demonstrating resistance. From Chef Edward Lee’s speech about his culinary experience, to UofL student organizations hosting dance workshops, we hope to emphasize the importance��of creativity in identity.��

UofL News: How does the AAPI FSA collaborate with other organizations or initiatives on campus?��

Zhao: We collaborate with AAPI student RSOs, other ERGs, the Office of Institutional Equity, the Office of Community Engagement, Commission on Diversity and Racial Equity (CODRE), the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, UofL Libraries,��the University of Louisville Athletic Association,��Center for Asian Democracy, and the Asian Studies Program, in AAPI related programs and initiatives to help create a vibrant and inclusive campus culture. We also collaborate with community partners, including the Asia Institute-Crane House and the World Affairs Council of Kentucky and southern Indiana.��

UofL News: What message would you like to convey to the UofL community regarding the importance of celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Week?��

Zhao: Through AAPI Heritage Week, we are hoping to foster community and a sense of belonging for AAPI identifying individuals, increase visibility and awareness of the AAPI community, and celebrate the rich heritage, cultures, and contributions of the AAPI community.

UofL News: How can students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds engage with and learn from the events and activities organized during AAPI Heritage Week?

Zhao: Go to our events, participate in the activities, try some different foods, and have an in-depth conversation with someone of a different background from you. Anyone who is interested in the AAPI FSA can join us��, and please consider supporting our future programming with a��.��

To learn more this year’s AAPI Heritage Week celebrations, which includes lectures, dance and art workshops and student galas, All events are free and open to the public.

Hu-DeHart served as director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Brown from 2002-2014, and director of the Consortium on Advanced Studies in Cuba during the 2014-2015 academic year, and again in Spring 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University and a doctorate in Latin American/Caribbean history from the University of Texas at Austin. She also has received two Fulbright fellowships to Brazil and Peru, and lectures extensively in the United States, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean, and Europe. Hu-DeHart has written, edited and published 11 books in four languages and five continents.

AAPI Faculty Staff Association(FSA) President Jianhua “Andrew” Zhao, associate professor, Department of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences, says although AAPI heritage is recognized nationally in the month of May, UofL, along with many other higher education institutions in the United States often celebrate in April before the spring semester ends. ��

“This is a time when we recognize the contributions and influence of Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States,” Zhao said. “UofL’s AAPI FSA supports its members by fostering community and a sense of belonging, increasing visibility for the AAPI community, empowering AAPI individuals by providing mentorships and other opportunities, promoting awareness of the challenges and unique experiences of the AAPI community, and building alliances across the university and in the Louisville community that advance the university’s mission for diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

AAPI Heritage Week is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity, the Office of Community Engagement, the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equity (CODRE), Center for Asian Democracy, Asian Studies Program, Office of Community Engagement and Diversity Inclusion in the School of Nursing, Student Government Association and Asia Institute-Crane House. Find more information about the week’s celebrations on the . Events are free and open to the public.

Improved academic efficiencies were on the agenda for the Dec. 7, 2022, University of Louisville Faculty Senate meeting. At the meeting, senators approved the closure of a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering degree program. Faculty Senator Candace Harrington presented the report and said closure of the program was duplicative to the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering degree program also offered by the Department of Industrial Engineering. In addition to the review and approval by the Faculty Senate, the proposal was reviewed by and approved by the Speed School’s Industrial Engineering Committee and the Graduate ����ֱ�� Committee.

President search follow-up

In his report, Faculty Senate President Eugene Mueller provided a follow-up to the Nov. 30 announcement of Kim Schatzel as the university’s new president. Mueller, who served on the Presidential Search Committee, emphasized that the university “will be in excellent hands” when Schatzel begins her service on Feb. 1, 2023.

Mueller also acknowledged some concerns by the faculty about the access to presidential candidates throughout the search process. He said that the need for confidentiality among the candidates was necessary to avoid any potential issues with the candidates’ current employers and assured senators that he “represented strenuously” the faculty’s needs, interests and concerns throughout the screening process.

Part-time faculty resources

Part-Time Faculty Committee Chair Roy Fuller announced that Rose Mills is retiring from teaching. As such, her vacated Faculty Senate seat will need to be filled. Mills has been a longtime instructor in the English Department and has served for many years as a part-time faculty senator. The committee agreed to invite Tim Roberts, also from the Department of English, to rejoin the committee. Until this past May’s election, Roberts had been a part-time faculty senator.

Fuller also announced that the Office of the Provost will soon hire a faculty affairs department coordinator tasked with supporting part-time faculty.

AAPI at UofL

Andrew Zhao, an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, was among the guest speakers at the meeting. Zhao was on hand to share the successes of the . The employee resource group was established in 2021 to build community, address the needs and lift up the unique perspectives and experiences of UofL’s AAPI community. According to Zhao, more than 700 UofL employees identify as AAPI. Over the past year, the group hosted several events including the AAPI Heritage Week in April, the Welcome Back event at the Health Sciences Center in September and the . Zhao��said the AAPI leadership team is growing and looking for leaders to take the employee resource group to the next level. Those interested in joining must complete the online interest form by Jan. 17, 2023.

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Faculty Senate will be held Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in the Ekstrom Library Chao Auditorium on Belknap Campus. The meeting is open to the public. Committee reports, meeting minutes and other information from the Dec. 7, 2022, faculty Senate meeting are available on the .

Senators asked about how timesheets for bi-weekly/hourly employees should be managed prior to and during the holiday break. Shuter said, where possible, supervisors should go ahead and approve timesheets for Dec. 16, 2022 – Dec. 29, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022, when no hours are worked. Supervisors who have employees working over winter break will need to approve hours worked. When Workday goes live, timesheets will be due Monday at noon. Employees are encouraged to check the for details.

Questions about the WorkdayHR transition should be directed to workdayhr@louisville.edu.

President Search

Staff Senate Chair John Smith provided a follow-up to the recent announcement of Kim Schatzel’s appointment as UofL’s new president. He said that Schatzel’s accomplishments in shared governance, student success and business acumen throughout her professional career made her the best choice as UofL’s next president. Smith recently contacted the Staff Senate chair at Towson University, where Schatzel has served as president since 2016, and was assured that Schatzel’s engagement in and support of Staff Senate issues and initiatives are exemplary.

Excellence Awards

Laura McDaniels from the UofL Employee Success Center shared information about UofL’s 2023 Presidential Excellence Awards. Nominations are being accepted until Feb. 15, 2023. Staff employees are eligible to receive the Outstanding Performance Award and the George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award. Both staff and faculty are eligible for the Cardinal Principles Champion and Outstanding Supervisor awards. Winners of the Outstanding Performance, Outstanding Supervisor and Cardinal Principles Champion awards receive $1,000, and the George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award winner receives $5,000. More information and nomination forms are available on the .

ITS Updates

Interim Chief Information Officer Brad Anderson gave an update on network outages which occurred across the university between September and December. While each instance was different, all resulted in disruption of network access and/or internet use. Anderson said that work is underway to provide additional means of communication to further minimize impact to end users including information on the ITS webpage that will provide updates on outage causes and resolutions. When outages prohibit or limit access to the internet, Anderson advises end users to access the ITS webpage using their cell phones. RAVE alerts about outages will deploy in extreme circumstances. Access the for more information.

AAPI

Andrew Zhao, an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, was on hand to share the successes of the . The employee resource group was established in 2021 to build community, address the needs and lift up the unique perspectives and experiences of UofL’s AAPI community. The AAPI leadership team is growing and looking for leaders to take the employee resource group to the next level. They are looking for a variety of skills to round out their leadership team and are accepting until Jan. 17.

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Staff Senate will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, via MS Teams. Committee reports, meeting minutes and other information from the Dec. 13, 2022, Staff Senate meeting are available on the .