A Latin motto: ‘Ad Scientiam Renovandam’

The Faculty Senate voted Nov. 18 to adopt the Latin phrase Ad Scientiam Renovandam for UW-Green Bay. The motto was proposed by several faculty members nearly a decade ago, but was never officially endorsed. This time, after much discussion, the proposal passed on an 18-4-2 vote. Ad means “toward” or “for.” Scientiam is the source of the word “science,” but in the Latin of ancient Rome it meant both “learning” and “knowledge,” and thus spans the teaching and research aspects of academic life. Renovandam comes from a verb that means “to renew,” “recreate,” or “innovate,” arguably tying in not only to the school’s original innovative focus but also to the Phoenix re-emerging from the ashes. The phrase could find use in academic ceremony and on official institutional documents.