Mills Matters Provost’s office announces two new arrivals After a spring with several departures,
higher education, Hardaway has also
vative teaching and professional devel-
the Office of the Provost is finding revi-
worked in administration at institu-
opment among the faculty, as well as
talization with the hire of two accom-
tions such as Hebrew Union College,
antiracism initiatives. She has worked
plished professionals.
Trinity College, and Fairleigh Dickinson
on similar initiatives in the past; most
University.
recently, she brought together a group
First is Patricia Hardaway, who is joining the College as interim provost.
Her arrival also marks a structural
of humanities and science faculty with
Hardaway has a deep background in
change within the provost’s office. The
Student Life staff members to par-
higher education, especially regard-
position previously included both the
ticipate in Stanford’s Life Design Lab’s
ing equity and inclusion. She was
provost and dean of faculty roles, but
Studio for Universities in 2019, which
previously president and provost of
starting in the 2021-22 school year, the
brought career readiness and resilience
Wilberforce University in Ohio, the
two will be separate. Hardaway will begin
tools into classrooms and the First Year
oldest private historically Black univer-
work on defining and filling the new
Experience.
sity in the United States, which is also
dean of faculty position over the summer.
Bishop, the Alice Andrews Quigley
her undergraduate alma mater. After
In addition, Associate Professor of
Chair in Women’s Studies, has been
earning an MPW from the University
History and of Women’s, Gender, and
a member of the Mills faculty since
of Pittsburgh and her law degree at the
Sexuality Studies Judith Bishop will join
2005 and the recipient of multiple
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law,
the provost’s office as the director of
awards, including the Trefethen Faculty
she cofounded a labor and employment
the Center for Faculty Excellence. This
Award for Outstanding Teaching and
law firm in New York. In the sphere of
new position involves supporting inno-
Curricular Innovation.
Getting back to normal for fall 2021
permanent online institution, so back
After two and a half semesters of
will require proof of vaccination or
to the classroom we go. (Anyone who
distance learning (give or take), the
documentation of exemptions for medi-
can’t yet make that shift is coordinating
College will largely be returning to
cal or religious reasons for employees
with Student Access & Support Services.)
standard operations for the 2021-22
and including philosophical reasons
However, that doesn’t mean that every-
school year. On May 10, the Provost’s
for students. Martin said that inter-
thing is going back to exactly the way it
Office alerted undergraduate students
national students will be able to return
was before the pandemic; Martin says the
that they will revert back to a mostly
to campus with proof of any COVID-19
College learned a lot about how to make
in-person learning environment, with
shot that’s been approved by the World
events more accessible. For instance, last
exemptions available for those with
Health Organization even if it’s not yet
year’s orientation utilized an online course
medical or religious/philosophical rea-
approved in the United States, such as
that many new students revisited through-
sons that preclude them from vaccina-
the AstraZeneca vaccine. Those who are
out the year—an unexpected upside.
tion. Graduate programs will mostly do
not vaccinated for any reason may still
the same, though instructors did find
have to wear masks on campus.
Campus: As of June 15, the official reopening date in California, the Mills campus is available for alumnae and the
that certain online and hybrid modali-
Residence halls: Only students who
ties promoted student engagement and
have been vaccinated will be allowed to
surrounding community to walk and
will incorporate some of those elements
live in on-campus housing. With virus
enjoy. However, due to the recent depar-
into classwork going forward.
variants still circulating, previous isola-
ture of the aquatics director, the pool will
tion protocols will remain in place—
likely not reopen until August. As with
like? We checked in with Chicora
though Martin said only one student
other sectors, the College hopes to use
Martin, dean of students, about yet
tested positive for COVID, near the end
more of its open-air and outdoor spaces
another school year unlike any other:
of the year, and immediately self-
for gatherings.
What will this new semester look
Vaccination: As referenced above, students, faculty, and staff must com-
reported and quarantined themselves. Learning environments: While
Activities: With the help of robust protocols and testing requirements, athletics
plete an immunization process to attend
many students thrived during remote
and the performing arts are expected to
classes and report to work. That process
learning, Mills is not accredited as a
make a full comeback in 2021-22.
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M I L L S Q U A R T E R LY
