In recent weeks, UConn has been in the spotlight over our planned review of low-completion programs, a routine process that has sparked broad public interest and concern. As many of you know, program evaluation is essential to ensuring our offerings remain both relevant and responsive to student and workforce needs. Our review is not aimed at indiscriminate cuts; rather, it’s an opportunity for collaboration with deans, department heads, and faculty to strengthen programs, maintain academic standards, and foster innovation. This is routine work for any provost's office—for us, this is work we undertake in accordance with University Bylaws, accreditation standards, and with an emphasis on partnership with our academic leaders. It complements the work of program creation and review that faculty, department heads, and deans engage in at the departmental and school/college level.
More than 90% of our undergraduate students graduate from programs that have not been identified as part of this process. For the small number of programs that may see changes, the approach is neither one-size-fits-all nor predetermined. For some, maintaining their smaller size is intentional and supports accreditation or disciplinary standards. Other programs might benefit from enhancements or updates to align with evolving student interests, or state and industry needs. Where appropriate, we will work together to devise strategies to increase visibility, update curricula, or consider partnerships that bolster program strength. Additionally, we know that some programs on the list have already paused enrollment or are essentially in the process of being phased out. This review will formalize those decisions and bring clarity to their status in a way that has not been done before, ensuring transparency and alignment with UConn’s strategic goals.
As President Maric and I emphasized in our recent joint message, this review reflects our commitment to the goals outlined in Envisioning 2034, particularly in enhancing the Student Success Journey and Excellence in Research, Innovation, and Engagement. Ultimately, the aim is to support our programs as they adapt and thrive amid the changing landscape of higher education. We remain committed to transparency, active communication, and student-centered decision-making.
As we move forward, I want to be clear: we expect and welcome questions, and we are here to engage openly with any concerns or ideas that arise. We know that our faculty and academic leaders are, and should be, fierce advocates for their programs and critical thinkers about UConn’s future. In fact, we would be concerned if this process did not spark dialogue or invite scrutiny—this is precisely the kind of engaged, thoughtful perspective that will help us navigate these decisions wisely. Thank you for your commitment to our students and our mission as we work together to strengthen UConn’s academic future.
All best,
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Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D.
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
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Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR)
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On October 1, faculty gained access to the Faculty Activity Reporting module in Interfolio, UConn’s new system for reporting faculty activity data replacing HuskyDM. Throughout the fall semester, faculty members should log in to their profile and validate their data including historical records migrated from HuskyDM as well as new records pulling in from any one of the several internal and external data feeds in the system. It is expected that many units will use reporting tools from this system beginning this spring for reporting processes such as annual reviews, merit, and PTR actions. For more information about faculty activity reporting expectations, visit the Interfolio@UConn webpage.
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Election Day: Promoting Civil Duty
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Election Day is approaching on Tuesday, November 5th, and voting is both a fundamental right and a civic responsibility. Empowering eligible individuals to participate is crucial. We encourage instructors to offer flexibility for students who plan to exercise their right to vote. You might consider recording your lecture, providing materials for an asynchronous session, or offering additional office hours in the following week. If you have an assessment (e.g., quiz, exam, or in-class assignment) scheduled for that day, please consider granting extensions for students who may be absent.
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Early Voting for Storrs residents at the UConn Bookstore officially opened its doors to the public on Monday, October 21, and will continue through Sunday, November 3. This includes two weekends of accessibility, with voting hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. On October 29 and 31, the hours will be extended to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to ensure everyone has ample opportunity to cast their vote.
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Election & Voting Resources
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UConn Library:
The "Voting in U.S. Elections” guide helps students prepare for voting by offering information from the United States Election Assistance Commission (USEAC), including videos and accessible scripts on voter registration and election results. The guide also features “Voting 101” flyers translated into multiple languages. View the guide here Voting in U.S. Elections - LibGuides at University of Connecticut.
Students can attend “Ballot Ready: Researching Your Electoral Choices” on Monday, November 4, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. (in person or virtually). This free event will help students find reliable, nonpartisan sources and critically evaluate election-related information on social media.
UConn Office of Outreach & Engagement:
Compilation of various events offered at UConn related to voter registration and voting engagement: National Voter Registration Day | Office of Outreach & Engagement
Undergraduate Student Government:
Resources and events related to voter registration and getting involved: Voter Resources | Vote @ UConn
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Essential Resources for Navigating Academic Freedom and Tough Conversations
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New and Modified Academic Program Approval Process
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The Office of the Provost has developed improved materials to streamline the submission of proposals for new academic programs, and modifications to existing ones, including the addition or change of modalities or campuses, and the addition of 4+1 graduate programs. The goal is to clarify the distinction between administrative and curricular review and approvals, outlining steps and timelines for each of these processes. A draft workflow for new and modified program proposals, a timeline for AY24/25 program approval, and a template for proposals for final Board of Trustees approval have all been shared in the Academic Affairs Governance Documents Library SharePoint site, within the Academic Programs and Curriculum Topics section.
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Innovation to Support Undergraduate Student Success
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Supporting first-year students' academic success is a key focus of UConn's First Year Experience (FYE) Program and a priority of UConn's strategic plan. Recognizing the challenges many students face transitioning to college academics, FYE has enhanced its midterm intervention approach. Previously, FYE instructors received limited, week 7 midterm warning grades via email, with no access to complete or positive grade information. Now, thanks to a collaboration with the Director of Nexus, FYE instructors can view a real-time, secure list of all their students’ midterm grades through the new FYE Instructor Hub. This tool enables timely, supportive outreach and provides resources to guide students toward both academic support and enrichment opportunities.
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UConn Reads Announces ’24-’25 Selection: ‘All We Can Save’
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Since 2011, UConn Reads has gathered students, staff, alumni, faculty, and community members who share an interest and sense of pride in the University, who relish intelligent, respectful debate, and who bring their own individual perspectives and personal experiences to a thought-provoking and engaging conversation.
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2024 UConn Employee Experience Survey Launch
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On Monday, October 28th, all faculty and professional staff should have received an email from ModernThink with a unique link to the 2024 UConn Employee Experience Survey. The survey is confidential, with results aggregated for anonymity, and employees are encouraged to complete it during work hours. This is a valuable opportunity to share your insights and help shape the future of UConn’s workplace. Additional details are available on the HR website.
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Mid-Semester Student Holds Moratorium
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A mid-semester Student Holds Moratorium will be in effect from Monday, October 14, 2024, through Wednesday, November 6, 2024. This moratorium ensures that students have sufficient time to resolve any holds in the five days leading up to and during the spring 2025 course registration period, which runs from October 21 through November 6, 2024. The moratorium will continue to be implemented each semester going forward.
We encourage all offices, departments, and schools/colleges to carefully consider the timing of their holds and clearly communicate the process for removal to students. For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@uconn.edu.
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University Senate at-Large Elections Underway
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Voting ballots for the Faculty at-Large and Professional Staff at-Large constituencies will be sent to eligible voters in early November. Ballots will remain open for 7 days and we encourage everyone to participate. The names listed on the Election Ballot will be those names that appeared on the Nomination Slate sent to eligible voters on October 22, 2024, and any additional nominees added by petition. We encourage all interested parties to review the Senate Election Processes FAQ as well as the Senate website for more information. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact universitysenate@uconn.edu.
Thank you for participating in the election process for the University Senate and we wish the best of luck to all nominees!
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UConn has introduced Early Decision as an application option for students, allowing them the opportunity to demonstrate their genuine enthusiasm and dedication to joining the UConn community.
Admission decisions for Early Decision applicants will be released in mid-December. Early Decision applicants who receive an admission decision to their first-choice campus and major are required to confirm their enrollment by January 15. For additional details on deadlines and processes, please visit First-Year Dates & Deadlines.
For more information on Early Decision, please visit Early Decision FAQs. If you have any questions, please contact One Stop.
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UPDATE to NetID Single Sign On (SSO)
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NetID Single Sign-On (SSO) provides secure access to various University web applications. Traditionally, the UConn community has logged in using their NetID and password. However, starting October 11, 2024, ITS has introduced a new option and users can now log in with either their NetID or UConn email address in the username field.
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Career Fair and Voter Registration Success!
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The 2024 fall career fair saw an impressive turnout, with 270 employers gathered in Gampel Pavilion over two days to meet over 4,300 students. The event was kicked off by Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who welcomed the primarily Connecticut-based employers. This year’s record-breaking event exceeded both employer and student participation surpassing all prior year’s attendance. In addition to connecting students with our corporate partners for employment opportunities, 150+ students registered to vote.
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UConn Honors Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community Partners at Provost’s Awards Ceremony
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From time to time, we receive recommendations for good reads by colleagues that may be applicable to our work, life, or simply a fun read. This month’s recommendation comes from the Dean of Students' office:
Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen
Hannah Halloran, Coordinator for Student Support Services & Bystander Initiatives shared the following:
The book does a good job of bringing together multiple case studies and interventions that emphasize the importance that a sense of belonging has on well-being, academic engagement, and community. The author provides practical and easily implementable strategies to apply to your own work in higher ed. The book incorporates a lot of different studies and stories: while some may find it annoying to quickly jump to new studies every few pages, I found it kept things interesting and engaging.
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IMPORTANT DATES, DEADLINES & EVENTS
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AY 25-26 Tuition & Fees Town Hall
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Town Hall meetings to provide an opportunity for community input in advance of the Board of Trustees meeting on December 11, 2024, when the Trustees are expected to set student fees for the next academic year. Please join one of the Town Hall meetings with University leaders to discuss the University’s proposed student fee rate adjustments for Academic Year 2025-2026 listed below. Please submit questions in advance of the meetings by email to cfo@uconn.edu.
Tuesday, November 13, 2024, at 11:00am - In Person and Virtual, Location: Konover Auditorium located in the Dodd Center, UConn Storrs Campus and Livestreamed at: https://ait.uconn.edu/town-hall
Tuesday, November 13, 2024, at 5:00pm - Virtual Only, Livestreamed at: https://ait.uconn.edu/town-hall
The recording from the Town Hall discussion held virtually on 11/13/24 can be found at: https://bpir.uconn.edu/home/announcements/town-hall-meetings/
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Nominations Now Open for Provost Awards!
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Nominations for Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor are due December 3, 2024.
Nominations for each of the awards listed below will be due January 31, 2025.
- Provost’s Outstanding Service Award
- Provost’s Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship
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UConn Recreation is hosting the second annual Husky Run & Ruck on Sunday, November 10, in collaboration with UConn Veterans and Military Programs, and in partnership with the Hartford Marathon Foundation. Last year’s race raised over $16,000 for UConn Veterans’ causes, with more than 700 runners selling out the event. This year, race coordinators aim to surpass that total while honoring the service of UConn Veterans, including former UConn student-athlete and Navy SEAL Kyle Milliken, whose memory inspired this event.
The event features 10K, 5K, 1 Mile, and Kids Run options, making it accessible to participants of all levels. Join the Husky Run & Ruck pack for a beautiful fall day with your family to support this meaningful cause! For more information, please visit Road Dogs or Husky Run & Ruck.
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UConn Bakery Thanksgiving Pie and Baked Goods Sale
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Your favorite pie sale from UConn Bakery (Not Just Desserts) is back and will be taking orders from October 28th until 4pm on November 18th, 2024. Pies, cheesecakes, dinner rolls, and sweet treats for your Thanksgiving table are baked onsite by our talented bakery team! Gluten-free pies and cheesecakes are also available.
Order pick-up will be Wednesday, November 27th, 2024, at the Bakery/Commissary Building (located behind Whitney Residence Hall, 30 Gurleyville Road) from 8:30am-2:30pm. Bakery staff will be located at the pick-up tent in the parking lot.
If you have questions about the sale, please contact the UConn Bakery Mon-Fri from 8-5pm at 860-486-3128 with any questions about the sale.
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October 21–November 3: Early Voting at UConn Bookstore
October 30: Board of Trustees Meeting
October 31: Halloween
November 3: Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 4: University Senate Meeting
November 5: Election Day
November 11: Veteran’s Day
November 24-30: Thanksgiving Recess “Fall Break”
2024 Religious & Cultural Important Dates
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UConn is a great university.
But it's more than that. A top-ranked Land and Sea Grant research institution, with campuses and staff across Connecticut, built to inspire the global community that is UConn Nation. UConn's talented students exceed expectations. Our expert researchers, faculty, and alumni drive Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (CIE) for a better tomorrow. We fuel the State's economy and are committed to inclusion with emotional intelligence in benefiting the greater good. This is UConn.
STUDENTS FIRST. UCONN ALWAYS. HUSKIES FOREVER.
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