Campus & Community

Five buildings on the Danforth Campus at Washington University in St. Louis just achieved LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It’s the council’s highest green building certification and a clear indication of the university’s deep commitment to campus sustainability.

Mel F. Brown, a former member of the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees, died Sept. 1, 2020. He was 85. Brown was an active, longtime university volunteer. In addition to being a trustee, he served as chair of the Alumni Board of Governors and as president of the William Greenleaf Eliot Society.

A call for proposals is now open for the Danforth Campus-wide cluster hire of a dozen new faculty members, who will focus on world-class research on race and ethnicity in our society. The deadline for schools and departments to submit preliminary proposals is Sept. 21.

In recognition of excellence across multiple fields, rising junior Prathamesh Chati in Arts & Sciences has been named the 2020 Florence Moog Scholar.

This summer, hundreds of faculty imagined their courses anew in “Designing an Adaptable Course,” an intensive two-week seminar offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning. Instructors studied best online pedagogy practices, created better assessments and learned technology tools.

Henry S. Webber, executive vice chancellor and chief administrative officer, will transition to the newly created role of executive vice chancellor for civic affairs and strategic planning, with a sharp focus on regional equitable economic development, community engagement and partnership with the university’s neighborhoods and civic and community leaders.

Across campus, students, faculty and staff are finding creative ways to welcome the Class of 2024 despite ever-evolving public health directives and university policies, said Katharine Pei, director of First Year Programs. There have been calls from WUSAs, peer mentorship programs, Spotify playlists and gooey butter cake. 

Washington University in St. Louis remains committed to strengthening global ties and collaboration despite the COVID-19 crisis. On Aug. 25, the university adopted a new partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, India, one of that country’s premier research universities.

A call for proposals is now open for academic units interested in welcoming one of 12 recently announced faculty cluster hires to their schools or departments.

While the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum remains closed to the general public due to COVID-19, the museum will be open to Washington University students, faculty and staff by appointment beginning Sept. 14.