I hope this message finds you well and rejuvenated after a restful summer break. As we gear up for the start of the new school year, I want to extend a warm welcome to all of you. Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, I am excited to have each one of you as part of our vibrant university community.

I am excited to meet the class of 2027, who secured a spot amid tight competition in this year’s record high applicant pool of more than 48,800. They join us from all over the world including 92 countries, 43 states, and from every corner of Connecticut. We also welcome over 2,300 new graduate students coming to us from 58 countries and 45 states.

I had the opportunity to meet many of our new undergraduate students during move in. Many thanks to the staff and faculty who volunteered to assist students and families throughout Fall Opening. The atmosphere was happy and positive, and Residential Life couldn’t have done a better job managing an incredibly large scale and complex operation. I was happy to kick off the year with our new students at Convocation. It had to be moved indoors due to weather, but it was fun and festive, and there was a great sense of community in Gampel that night.

Students in the UConn Class of 2027 hold their candles as they sing the alma mater during Convocation at Gampel Pavilion on Aug. 25, 2023. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)

Together, we have the unique chance to continue to expand our institution's impact beyond our multiple campuses. We encourage all of you—students, faculty, and staff—to embrace the opportunities that await us. Let us approach this year with a sense of purpose, a willingness to explore new horizons, and a dedication to making a meaningful difference. Whether in the lecture halls, research labs, or the spaces that facilitate our day-to-day interactions, let us strive for excellence in all that we do.

This year in particular holds great promise for us, as we embark on a journey of strategic growth and development. As many of you may know, we have begun engaging in the strategic planning process aimed at shaping the future of our institution. Central to the success of this process is your engagement. We believe that the collective wisdom of our faculty, staff, and students is integral to shaping the future of our university. To this end, we are thrilled to announce that public forums will be held in September, providing an opportunity everyone to actively participate in discussions, share your insights, and help us define our strategic priorities.

As we prepare to embark on this new academic year, I want to express deep gratitude for your continued dedication to our university's mission. Together, we will build a future that honors our past and our traditions while embracing new opportunities for progress.

Once again, welcome back! I look forward to seeing you all as we gather to envision the next chapter of our university's story. Let's seize this opportunity to create, learn, and grow—together.

All best wishes,

Anne

Introducing: Mary Anne Amalaradjou, DEIJ Faculty Fellow  

The Provost’s Office is excited to welcome Mary Anne Amalaradjou as the DEIJ Faculty Leadership Fellow for the 2023-2024 Academic Year. In her role, Mary Anne will collaborate closely with key faculty, staff, deans and department heads across campus to advance projects and initiatives with DEIJ as a core priority. We than Mary Anne for her commitment to these principles and are grateful to have her advance these initiatives. 

Bio: 

Hello, my name is Mary Anne Amalaradjou and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I'm an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut. I received my DVM from India and MS and PhD in Food Microbiology from the University of Connecticut. My research primarily focusses on food safety and gut health. Specifically, it is targeted towards understanding pathogen survival and persistence along the food chain, their virulence attributes and the application of protective cultures to control foodborne pathogens. I also evaluate the efficacy of currently applied intervention (hurdle) technologies to reduce pathogen transmission during pre- and post-harvest processing of fresh produce, meat and dairy products. Beyond controlling pathogens in food systems my research investigates the potential application of probiotics and functional foods in the prevention and treatment of gut pathologies. Through all aspects of the research program, my main objective is to improve food safety and promote public health.  Outside of research and teaching, I am passionate about mentoring the next generation with a strong focus on promoting equity and inclusivity in higher education. 

What are you most excited about in this role for the upcoming AY? 

As the provost DEIJ fellow, I look forward to working with partners and administrators across UConn in developing and promoting initiatives that support our diverse workforce.  Further, this position will provide me with the continuing opportunity to actively engage with a diverse population at UConn. Since diversity enriches educational experience, encourages critical thinking, helps communicate effectively with people of varied backgrounds and fosters mutual respect and teamwork, the yearlong program would help me to not only grow as a faculty but also as a contributing member of the UConn community. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to your colleagues regarding DEIJ work? 

Shared identity does not necessarily imply shared values or ideals. Hence, while it is important to bring my viewpoints it is more critical to promote the inclusion of those different from mine. 

What is your favorite UConn Dairy Bar flavor? 

Maple Walnut 

Scheduling the Use of Instructional Spaces 

In an effort to utilize the university's classroom space as efficiently as possible and to minimize time conflicts for students, departments will be expected to follow the university's policy on the Assignment of Instructional Space when scheduling class meetings in centrally supported classrooms in the CourseLeaf Section Scheduler (CLSS) system, which will be used to build the Spring 2024 term. 

When scheduling classes, schedulers for the academic departments should note the following points from the policy: 

1. Standard Schedule: Classes at all campuses, except UConn Health, will conform to the following standard schedule: 

     2. Exceptions: On rare occasions, classes with extenuating circumstances may deviate from the standard schedule with the permission of the Dean of the School or College and if applicable, regional campus director, and with the concurrence of the Provost. 

     3. Department-controlled Learning Space: The appropriate School or College has the authority to assign laboratory space under its jurisdiction, and regional campus directors have the authority to assign all instructional space on their campus. 

     4. Weekends and Evenings: Classes that begin after 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, or after 4:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or anytime on Saturdays and Sundays may deviate from the standard schedule. 

For administrative and technical questions about CourseLeaf Section Scheduler (CLSS), please contact the Office of the Registrar. Departments with questions about how this policy will impact their class schedule should contact the appropriate Dean’s Designee of their school or college. 

Pop-Up Courses 

Three pop-up courses will be available this semester and registration is now open: 

• Exploring the Entrepreneurial Perspective 
• Transformation Now 
• Feeling Well: The Science and Practice of Emotional Well-Being 

New Undergraduate Majors 

For students enrolling in the fall of 2023, six new undergraduate majors are available to them as a course of study. These programs are: 

• Economics of Sustainable Development and Management (BS) 
• Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (BS) 
• Applied Data Analysis (BA) 
• Statistical Data Science (BS) 
• Data Science and Engineering (BSE) 
• Financial Technology (BS)  

Management Information Systems (BS) has also been renamed Analytics and Information Management (BS). 

Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) Records 

Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) records are an important metric for professors for continuous improvement of teaching, as well as an integral part of the promotion, tenure, and reappointment (PTR) process. SET records are viewable by logging in on the BPIR website here. For questions or technical support needs, contact SETeaching@uconn.edu  

Faculty Consulting 

Faculty members are state employees; this means your participation in outside consulting activity is tightly regulated by state statute. Prior approval through the online request system is required before beginning any activity. All paid activities related to your professional expertise (including grant reviews, talks, and similar academic activities), and unpaid work with faculty affiliated companies, fall within the faculty consulting policy. Consulting is work that you are doing outside of your role as a state employee; further information is provided in other sections of our Faculty Consulting website on limitations related to consulting activity. 

We are here to help you understand the process and policies; it is your responsibility to adhere to them. To help you, individual advice is always available. Please see the contact details for UConn (Storrs/regionals) and UConn Health if you need individual assistance. If you have submitted a request and you have limited time before the activity will begin, please reach out for help by emailing sarah.croucher@uconn.edu. 

Religious Observances 

In accordance with our mission of meaningful inclusion, we ask that all faculty and staff be mindful of upcoming religious observances that may impact student participation when planning events or setting deadlines. We recommend you refer to the religious observances calendar for upcoming dates and that you ensure familiarity with the religious accommodations policy when working with a student on an accommodation request. 

Provost Fund Guidance 

The Provost Fund is a program that identifies a pool of university resources to be used for faculty salary increases for the purposes of retention, compression and inversion equity, and special achievement. The university may consider requests for salary adjustments for retention, equity and special achievement through processes outlined in this memo. Contact provost@uconn.edu with any questions. 

Updates to the Course Action Request (CAR) Form 

The Course Action Request (CAR) Form for adding, revising, and deleting courses has been updated to reflect the incoming Common Curriculum (CC) Topics of Inquiry (TOIs).   Please note: 

1. Proposals for new courses can use this form to request consideration for the CC TOIs. Proposers will be asked if they would like the course to be considered for a temporary Content Area under the outgoing system.                                        
2. All departments received a spreadsheet of current general education courses and have been asked to return it with their plans for transition by November 1, 2023.  Courses that are making a direct transition into the CC (i.e. no major changes that require catalog copy revision) can use the spreadsheet. Only courses with significant revisions that require catalog copy changes need to use the online CAR Form. 

For more information on the Common Curriculum, visit our website or contact Karen McDermott. 

South Campus Infrastructure Updates 

As the summer construction period wraps up the South Campus Infrastructure (SCI) Project has met several key milestones that allows the following to happen starting on August 22, 2023. 

• Mansfield Road is REOPENED. 

• Whitney Road Extension has returned to pre-construction condition (one way traffic) 

Construction will continue into the fall semester and the overall project will be completed in the Fall of 2025. Portions of the work will be reopened as soon as the work is completed. Construction impacts over the fall semester are as follows. 

• Gilbert Road CLOSED from Mansfield Road to Whitney Road Extension 
• Maple Lane and Coventry Road will be CLOSED from Mansfield Road to Lot R starting on August 28, 2023. This closure will remain in place for most of the fall semester. 
• Lot R will continue to have parking impacts through most of the fall semester. Access to the lot will be via a temporary driveway. 

• Lot S will continue to have parking impacts through the duration of the project. Parking impacts will start on August 28, 2023. Approximately half of the lot will be offline during this constriction period. 
• Accessible pedestrian detours will be in place. All pedestrians should follow dedicated walkway and signage. 

For more information, contact: Ian Dann at ian.dann@uconn.edu 

Faculty Awards & Honors 

The Provost’s Office is committed to showcasing and celebrating faculty excellence. As part of this effort, we are continuously collecting details of national and international awards/honors earned by UConn and UConn Health faculty. These faculty and a list of their awards/honors are featured on the Provost’s Office Awards/Honors Searchable Database. New awards/honors listed in the upcoming year will also be honored at a reception in the Spring semester.  

We encourage all members of the UConn community to submit their awards/honors to be included in the database, or submit on behalf of a colleague at any time. More information can be found on the Provost’s Office Awards and Honors web page. We are honored to showcase the great achievements of our faculty. 

Open Education Supported by the UConn Library 

Open education is using learning resources, teaching practices, and education policies that use the flexibility of Open Educational Resources (OER) to provide learners with high quality educational experiences without the cost of purchased instructional materials. Integrating OER can help to alleviate the hidden-cost burden of textbooks and other required instructional materials for students who cannot afford this cost. Click here to learn more or contact Zach Claybaugh at the UConn Library. 

The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering at UConn Selects Four Presidential M1 Mentorship Program Awardees 

The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering at UConn, in conjunction with the Office of the Provost, has selected the 2023 Presidential M1 Mentorship Program Awardees. The program aims to create a national model for best practices in the mentorship of underrepresented students and faculty in the sciences, engineering and biomedicine. Click here to read more. 

Center for Career Development: “Career Everywhere” Program Receives Honors 

The Center for Career Development received an Honorable Mention distinction in the category of Career Services Excellence from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) for their entry entitled “Career Everywhere”. NACE’s Excellence Awards competition is national in scope and recognizes the outstanding achievements of college career services and HR professionals.  The entry was judged on program need/objectives, relevance to target market, integration, design, and use of medium, creativity, innovation, measurable outcomes, and ease of replication.   

In addition to the national exposure of Career Everywhere, the Career Center has heralded national recognition in the form of presentation requests for the Career Champion program which supports Career Everywhere at UConn. This program builds a community around career planning in support of UConn students by building a critical mass of university faculty, staff, employers, and alumni in an effort to impact every UConn student’s success post-graduation. The infusion of career development into all facets of the UConn experience provides access and equity to career development including underrepresented and marginalized students. As career planning is optional for UConn students, not all students equally understand the significance of this preparation and hearing about the it from faculty and staff increases the chance that students will begin to understand its importance and take action.  

This year, staff at the Career Center have been asked to speak nationally about how to build a successful Career Champion program and how the program impacts equity in the career development space at NACE in June, a Career Everywhere conference sponsored by uConnect this summer, and through national webinars and podcasts.   

Through a survey administered to faculty and staff this past year, the Career Center has garnered results that demonstrate the increased knowledge of the Career Center offerings, value of referring students to Career Center services and resources, and confidence in providing career advice to students. See the impact of being a Career Champion below: 

• 61% of respondents (career champions) feel more confident in their ability to discuss topics of career with their students. 
• 73% of of respondents now have a better understanding of the resources available to their students through the Career Center 
• 71% of respondents would recommend the Career Champion Program to a colleague. 
• 43% of respondents have a better understanding of the NACE Career Readiness competencies.  
• 54% of respondents can better articulate why being a career champion and having career conversations with students promotes equity in career development. 

Additionally, there is a significant difference in how often Career Champions refer students to Career Center resources and in their familiarity with said resources compared to faculty and staff who are not Career Champions.  The first chart are select services that faculty and staff refer students to, and the second chart is regarding familiarity with services of the Career Center. 

With over 700 Career Champions, the reach of this community is large, but still only a fraction of faculty and staff have joined. The time commitment is flexible with the reading of a monthly newsletter to keep up with trends, resources, and programs as the only ask. To join we only require that you complete this quick enrollment form. Imagine if the majority of faculty and staff became Career Champions; think about the impact we would have as a community on all students’ post-graduation success. 

Dates

Monday, September 5th: Labor Day (no classes) 

Monday, September 11th: University Senate Meeting 

September 15th – 17th: Rosh Hashanah 

September 19th – 22nd: Employee Appreciation Week (HR) 

September 24th – 25th: Yom Kippur 

Wednesday, September 27th: Board of Trustees Meeting 

July has been a month to welcome many visitors to our campuses. It was wonderful to host the 45^th Confratute Conference (in person once again!) at Storrs.  I’ve enjoyed running into these passionate educators as they pursue their different conference strands focused on enriched learning and gifted and talented learners. All our campuses are hosting visitors and special events – an engineering conference for high school and college researchers at Avery Point was a recent highlight. Two weeks ago I enjoyed teaching a class for and meeting with a group of students visiting from East China Normal University. They were highly motivated students who embraced the UConn experience – from classes across a variety of subjects to field trips to the Dairy Bar.

Across our campuses we’ve shifted into high gear as we prepare for the upcoming academic year. Renovation projects are moving apace, new faculty are beginning to arrive, and the first students will start returning for Marching Band Camp and early orientations in just a couple of weeks.

As we engage in this summer work of preparation and renewal, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of our professional staff to our university.  Our staff, from administrators to support personnel, work diligently to ensure the smooth functioning of our university. They are the pillars that uphold our operations – running programs, maintaining campus facilities, and providing essential services that enhance the overall experience for our UConn community.

Beyond their essential responsibilities, so many of our staff go above and beyond to create a welcoming and nurturing environment for our students. They support our students' academic journey, offer guidance, and foster a sense of belonging that enables them to thrive. When I was Dean of the School of Fine Arts, we often asked our graduating students about the person who had had the most impact on them. As often as students named a faculty member, they named a staff member, and they frequently shared sincere gratitude for the support they received from a kind and dedicated person who helped solve a problem or cheered them on through challenges.

So, as we take a deep breath and get ready to begin the new semester, let me share a heartfelt thank you to the staff who do so much to contribute to the University’s success! I’ll ask our students and faculty to take an extra moment when they come back to campus to join me in thanking a staff person who has made a difference for them.

All best wishes,

Anne

Syllabi Updates for Fall 2023

This past year, UConn has made two significant policy changes that have impact to our students. We request that you update your syllabi to reflect the below policies that students should be aware of. All syllabi reference link information can be found on the Provost’s website.

Academic Integrity

Effective August 28, 2023 the UConn has revised its Academic Integrity policy for Graduate and Undergraduate Students to ensure compliance with current regulations and best practices.  This revision reflects our ongoing commitment to providing an inclusive and equitable learning   environment for all our students.

The updated policy can be accessed on the Policy website and contains the specific changes and additions that have been made.

Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence

Effective July 11, 2023, UConn approved the Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence. This policy includes sexual and gender-based harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence, stalking, complicity, retaliation and inappropriate amorous relationships and applies to students, employees, contractors, vendors, visitors, guests and other third parties.

HuskyCT Personalization Options: Pronouns and Name Pronunciation

Students, faculty, and staff may personalize their profile in HuskyCT to include preferred pronouns, name pronunciation (audio) and phonetic spelling of a name. These profile personalization features are always displayed alongside a person’s name card and almost everywhere in the system that a person’s avatar can be seen. Particularly, clicking on someone’s name card in course view, assessments, the roster and gradebook, communication tools, and all groups, will allow users to see phonetic name spellings, a playback of a person’s name pronounced correctly, and personal preferred pronouns. Click here to learn more about how to access personal customizations in HuskyCT.

Sign-up to participate in Fall Opening

Fall Opening is an opportunity for us to showcase to our new and returning students and their families the vibrant and diverse community that makes up UConn. Many of our staff work tirelessly all year to plan for a smooth, efficient, and welcoming move-in process, and your time and energy to support the success of the weekend is greatly appreciated. Building a sense of community and belonging among our new and returning students is essential to their success.

Leaders in Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and other areas will be seeking both required and voluntary participation during Fall Opening, beginning as soon as August 18, for early arrivals, through the busy period of move-in between Thursday, August 24 – Sunday, August 27. Assignments will primarily involve greeting students with a welcoming smile, providing directions at parking lots or information tents, and otherwise spreading the goodwill and Husky spirit that we know makes our community special.

Volunteer to Teach a FYE Course at Storrs

Join the First Year Experience community and volunteer to teach a 1-credit UNIV 1800 course in the Fall semester at the Storrs campus!

UConn Migrating to Microsoft 365

Recently ITS announced the intended migration of all UConn accounts to Microsoft 365. All active students, incoming and returning, will have their email and calendaring on Google this academic year.  ITS will begin to migrate data stored on Google to Microsoft 365 after the Spring 2024 Semester ends.  Alumni will receive notifications this summer to move their files to personal storage solutions by April 2024.

Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement

The Office of Outreach and Engagement is hiring an Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement. Reporting to the Director of Outreach and Engagement, this position is responsible for a number of key programmatic initiatives on behalf of the director and O&E, serving as the lead on several program services and activities across the University.

UConn Selected to Lead Clean-Energy Project to Help U.S. Industries in Decarbonizing Efforts - UConn Today

Dates

August 23 – New Faculty Orientation (in-person, Storrs)

August 24 – New Associate Dean/Department Head Orientation (virtual)

August 24 – Conferral Date for Summer 2023 Degrees

August 28 – First day of Fall 2023 classes

New Associate Dean and Department Head Orientation

Each year, the Office of the Provost holds an orientation session for newly appointed deans and department heads. This session is held prior to the start of the academic year and occasionally in January for newly appointed academic leadership hired outside of the usual hiring cycle. The Fall 2023 orientation session will take place virtually on Thursday, August 24th from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. New Associate Deans and Department Heads should RSVP by August 17th and email a headshot to michelle.everard@uconn.edu. Topics for the orientation include an overview of the role, University policy, and campus resources; the agenda will be sent to participants to RSVP in advance of the orientation.

The Storrs campus is certainly quieter in summer than term-time, but there are still many things happening here, as there are at all our campuses.

The first thing that’s happening is – nature! The Storrs campus looks beautiful, with colorful flowers, lush green lawns, and the extraordinary trees of our campus arboretum in full leaf.  Colleagues have shared photos of songbirds and raptors, a doe and fawn on the lawn near Whetten, and, of course, picturesque cows on Horsebarn Hill. At this time of year I especially appreciate everything our colleagues in Buildings and Grounds do to make our campuses attractive and welcoming.

The natural beauty of the campus serves as a backdrop for many special events and gatherings – summer classes, orientation sessions, camps, conferences, and more. The number of events has rebounded somewhat this summer but has still not reached pre-Covid levels. In the last newsletter I asked for suggestions for summer programming, and many thanks to all those who forwarded ideas.  We want each of our campuses to be a vibrant place of learning, researching, and gathering throughout the year.

In mid-June I attended the opening of The Husky Robotics Invitational, a high school robotics competition sponsored by Engineering’s department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the UConn FIRST Club, and the Armored Artemises, a high-school robotics team based in Glastonbury. Teams came from as far away as Pennsylvania to compete and the level of energy and enthusiasm in McHugh Hall was fantastic. Many faculty, staff, and students contributed to making this event a success, and it was a terrific opportunity to support young engineers and showcase our School of Engineering.

The summer is a busy time not only for its own events, but for the preparation we do for the coming year. I’m especially grateful for the university staff who work throughout the summer to ready our facilities and programs to welcome students in August.

Just as I finished writing this, we’ve all learned of a new challenge for which we must prepare: the two decisions by the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action programs in college admissions. There is much to process in these decisions, but UConn’s commitment to the diversity in community that is essential to our work is unwavering. I encourage you to read and share the message shared by President Maric yesterday following these decisions.

All best wishes,

Anne

Updates from the Provost's Office

Earlier this month, we shared some organizational updates in the Provost's Office. We will continue to keep the community up to date as we move through this period of transition.

Synchrony JEDI Research Faculty Fellow

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion is seeking a Faculty Fellow for the upcoming year to be a part of the Synchrony Equity-Focused Student Success Initiative designed to increase rates of student success for students of color, low-income, and other student populations traditionally minoritized in higher education. One area of focus within this initiative is to enhance faculty and student research to support inclusive student experiences at UConn.

Toward this goal, UConn will fund and centralize a new Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI) Research focus for fellows and minoritized undergraduate students: This initiative will allow the faculty fellow and students to engage in research that works with minoritized students to understand what programs are working and which ones need to be developed to meet the needs of these students. The inaugural Synchrony JEDI Faculty Fellow will be located at the UConn Hartford campus but work with students from the Stamford and Waterbury campuses as well.

Learn More.

Academic Impressions

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that each member of our university community, including UConn and UConn Health, as information and guidance to feel supported and to thrive, we are pleased to share that we are expanding our commitment to provide high-quality professional development resources for our faculty and staff through a new institutional-wide membership with Academic Impressions.

Information on gaining access, UConn Picks, and more is available on UConn’s Academic Impressions website.

South Campus Infrastructure Construction Starting

The start of the South Campus Infrastructure Project is planned to start on July 7, 2023.

The intent of this project is to provide infrastructure improvements in the South Campus district to support the construction and sustainable operation of the South Campus Residence Hall. The overall scope of this project will provide renewable infrastructure to the new South Campus Residence Hall and includes new utilities including steam, electric, hot and chilled water, communications, sanitary, stormwater, and domestic water for the South Campus Residence Hall, and expansion of the South Campus Chiller Plant to accommodate a new geothermal heating and cooling system and to meet the needs of the Residence Hall.

To accommodate this work the following road closures are necessary. Starting July 12th, the following road impacts will begin and continue through the middle of August.

• Mansfield Road will be CLOSED from Coventry Road to Whitney Road
• Gilbert Road will be CLOSED from Mansfield to Whitney Road Extension
• Whitney Road Extension will be converted to two-way traffic to facilitate traffic to the detoured portions of Mansfield Road
• Please follow all detours accordingly

As always also please reference the Construction Activity Map for campus wide construction impacts.

Fall Opening

Mid-June marks the end of the school year for many of our local schools, the peak of new student orientation, and the pivotal moment for planning the upcoming academic year. This past spring, a cross-divisional group of professionals gathered to plan the opening of the fall 2023 semester at the Storrs campus. The principal goals included creating a sense of belonging and an atmosphere of welcome for our new and returning students. To achieve this, the University will come together to contribute to what we are referring to as Fall Opening at the Storrs campus.

Ship to Home Guidelines from Purchasing

In March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the University issued guidance on shipping various goods to employee residences in the State of Connecticut.  While the pandemic is over, the University is experiencing an increase in hybrid and fully remote working employees and faces additional challenges regarding the most efficient ways to procure goods for these employees.  This announcement outlines procedures for purchasing and distributing these goods in various scenarios.

UConn Stamford Launches Eatery Meal Plan

UConn Stamford has launched the Local Eatery Meal Plan for the Fall 2023 semester. This new program will allow UConn students to purchase blocks of meals for use at off-campus, independent restaurants surrounding the Stamford campus. The participating restaurants will provide healthy, well-balanced options for UConn students taking part in the program. Each meal will consist of a main dish, a side, and a beverage and can be redeemed during the restaurant’s normal hours of operation. Unused meals will carry over from semester to semester and will remain active until the student graduates, separates from the University, or the cost per meal increases. The meal blocks are now available for purchase for the Fall 2023 semester through July 15^th, 2023.

School of Fine Arts Dean Search

A national search is underway to identify candidates to lead the School of Fine Arts. This search is chaired by Kazem Kazerounian, Dean of the School of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Applications are being collected through September 1, 2023.

2022-2023 Board of Trustees Distinguished Professors

Three exceptional scholars at the University of Connecticut have been awarded the highest honor the university bestows on its faculty, the Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor.

Each year, the Office of the Provost seeks nominations from across UConn for the newest cohort of Board of Trustees Distinguished Professors. Candidates must excel in all three areas of research, teaching, and public engagement. A committee of faculty is charged by the Provost’s Office to review and select each year’s honorees from among a competitive pool of nominees.

Honorees retain the title of Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor throughout their career at UConn and receive a $2,500 one-year stipend to be used by each recipient to further their professional activities. The number of available professorships each year is determined by the University by-laws. The Board of Trustees approved the latest cohort of honorees at its June 28 meeting.

The recipients for 2022-23 are as follows, with more detailed biographical information below.

• Douglas J. Casa, Professor, Department of Kinesiology; Director, Athletic Training Education; Chief Executive Officer, Korey Stringer Institute; Research Associate, Human Performance Laboratory
• Lewis Gordon, Professor and Head, Department of Philosophy
• Bandana Purkayastha, Professor of Sociology and Asian and Asian American Studies; Associate Dean for Social Sciences, Regional Campuses, and Community Engagement

“It’s a pleasure to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of Professors Casa, Gordon, and Purkayastha through their appointment as Board of Trustees Distinguished Professors. They are not only outstanding scholars but also dedicated teachers who have mentored and inspired our students. Each of them is also a catalyst for change beyond the university, using their expertise to address societal and health challenges,” said UConn Provost Anne D’Alleva.

Douglas J. Casa

Douglas Casa has demonstrated a level of scholarly productivity that has led to an international reputation as one of the world’s leading experts in exertional heat stroke, hydration, thermal physiology, sport performance monitoring, maximizing performance in the heat, sport safety, and public policy regarding the prevention of sudden death during physical activity for the athlete, warfighter, and laborer. The work of Casa has not only added to our fundamental scientific understanding in these areas but has impacted policy and quality-of-care changes globally to establish widely used guidelines and practices that have not only improved performance and made physical activity safer but have directly saved thousands of lives. As a scholar, there are four main areas in which Casa has demonstrated, and exceeded in many cases, the university standards of scholarly excellence: 1) innovation and impact; 2) collaborations; 3) funding success; and 4) publication and public recognition. As an example, Casa has been a PI on 18 Department of Defense-funded grants in the past 6 years. UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) was established by Casa at the specific request of Kelci Stringer, whose husband Korey Stringer died a tragic and preventable death from exertional heat stroke during a football practice in 2001 with the Minnesota Vikings. The NFL, Gatorade, and UConn joined KSI as the founding partners when the Institute’s doors opened in 2010. The mission of KSI is to provide research, education, advocacy, and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety, and prevent sudden death for the athlete, warfighter, and laborer.  Casa is the CEO of KSI and, with the assistance of an incredible team, has grown the organization to about 80 staff (25 paid and 55 volunteers), Casa has approximately 400 refereed publications and chapters in edited books, seven books, and over 600 presentations (national and international). The innovative and impactful nature of the organization that Casa has created is unarguable and in many diverse ways, it has had a broad-reaching positive ripple effect of scientific, service, and educational influence.

Casa has been affiliated with the Department of Kinesiology and its Athletic Training Education program for over 20 years. He has provided mentorship for their master’s and doctoral students as well as graduate-level exercise science students. In both his individual teaching and role in educational leadership and administration, he has improved teaching at University of Connecticut in multiple ways. Casa has individually taught 24 courses in exercise science and athletic training. For the athletic training program alone, Casa developed 14 new classes and drove the change in its curriculum that resulted in the first-ever accreditation of the athletic training education program at UConn, a program that continues to thrive 20 years later. His continued success as a teacher is demonstrated by the quality of his SET feedback each semester and the uniqueness of the course offerings at UConn thanks to his expertise and creativity in teaching.

Lewis Gordon

Lewis Gordon is one of the most important and highly regarded intellectuals in the world writing on anti-racism and Africana philosophy. He is internationally recognized as the leading contributor to the fields of Black existentialism, Africana Existential Phenomenology, Fanon studies, Teleological Studies of Disciplinarity (a field he invented), Decolonialism, and Afro-Jewish Studies. His original theories have generated widely discussed concepts such as “bad faith embodiment,” “epistemic closure,” “disciplinary decadence,” and “shifting the geography of reason,” among many others.

Gordon is the author of 12 books, editor and co-editor of 6 anthologies, and the author of over 100 articles in academic journals, 79 book chapters, and over 39 introductions, forewords, and afterwords. His work has been translated into over two dozen languages. His seminal first book, “Bad Faith and Anti-Black Racism” is widely regarded as a classic in the study of existential philosophy and racism, while his recent “Fear of Black Consciousness” has been hailed by Judith Butler as expanding our understanding of “how race consciousness is made and lived.” The latter has received coverage and press in dozens of newspapers and radio media across the globe, including in Publishers Weekly. Considered together, Gordon’s works constitute a significant and original vision of the human condition and consciousness.

As a teacher, Gordon is a recognized innovator and leader—internationally and at UConn—in the movement to make philosophy and the humanities a more inclusive subject. Gordon’s courses integrate sources from ancient through contemporary Africa, Latin America, and Native America. This has attracted a diverse group of African and Latin American students to philosophy—especially at UConn. Thus, for example, at the undergraduate level, his introductory course, Phil 1106, started with 35 students in his first semester teaching it in 2014; it has since grown into a highly sought-over 370-student lecture course. Moreover, Gordon has designed a number of new courses for the philosophy department’s curriculum, including seminars on Africana Philosophy, Global Southern Phenomenologies, Global Existentialism, Race in the Formation of Human Science, Phenomenology, Philosophy of Psychoanalysis, and Philosophy of Social Science.

Beyond his extensive service to the University, Gordon is on the editorial board of many journals, book series, and a news outlet (one of which won the 2021 Izzy Award for Independent Media). His work as an institution-builder includes founding Radical Philosophy Review, for which he was the first executive editor and for which he edited 6 volumes. The 26th volume of that journal is now at-press. He co-founded the Caribbean Philosophical Association in 2003, for which he was the first president. He founded Temple University’s Center for Afro-Jewish Studies, and its Institute for the Study of Race and Social Thought; and at Brown University, he founded the Department of Africana Studies, for which he was the first chairperson. He serves as an evaluator for the MacArthur, Ford, Newcombe, South African Research Council, and ACLS fellowships.

Bandana Purkayastha

Purkayastha’s research focuses on the structures of inequalities and social transformation, with specific focus on migrants and migration, gender and intersectionality from a global perspective, and critical human rights. A prolific scholar, with a current tally of 15 books, 36 peer reviewed articles, 35 chapters, and many other publications that reach across the world. Eagerness to engage with her ideas are evident through her long list of invited talks in the US and across the world, as well as the invitations to share her expertise for policy purposes by WHO (on migrant women and health) and diverse United Nations (UN) offices (including on violence against women and forced migration). A brilliant sociologist, she has been at the forefront of challenging global conceptual and methodological hierarchies, including between the Global North and South, that act as barriers to robust and meaningful social science research.

Significant disciplinary accolades as well as international recognition of her expertise are testimonies to her national and global scholarly prominence. In 2019, she was awarded the highest honor from the American Sociological Association [ASA], the Jessie Bernard Award, which is given “in recognition of scholarly work, inclusive of research teaching, mentoring and service, that has enlarged the horizons of sociology to encompass fully the role of women in society.”  She continues to publish on racism and gendering structures that affect migrants. Her recent work on trafficking and other victims of forced migration, and her theoretical perspective on voluntary and forced migration, was featured by UN-IOM in 2022.

Purkayastha’s teaching record reflects her commitment to international, interdisciplinary, teaching and mentoring. Her commitment is to engage students in an intellectual feast while making sure they are well supported to grow as people who are mindful of equity and justice, and the inherent humanity of others. During her time at UConn she has developed and taught seven graduate and undergraduate courses, and co-developed three others to fill department needs. These courses all meet diversity, international, and interdisciplinary initiatives of the university. Her courses are cross-listed with, or serve the requirements of Asia and Asian American Studies (AASI), Human Rights, India Studies, and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. She has been a champion of using multiple methods for teaching and a consistent and enthusiastic early adopter of new technologies. Over the years she has used her national and global networks and leadership positions to bring outstanding scholars and prominent leaders to the university to enrich UConn’s educational offerings.

Provost’s Outstanding Service Award

The Provost’s Outstanding Service Award is designed to honor faculty whose service to UConn is exemplary and has made an indelible impact in one or more areas to enhance the University’s mission in teaching, research, service, or engagement. We are pleased to announce the awardee for 2023:

Preston Britner

Dates

July 4 – Independence Day (no classes)

August 23 – New Faculty Orientation (in-person, Storrs)

August 24 – New Associate Dean/Department Head Orientation (virtual)

August 24 – Conferral Date for Summer 2023 Degrees

Provost Summit for Student Success

At the end of the spring semester, Provost Anne D’Alleva hosted a Summit on Student Success attended by over 30 academic leaders from across the university.  Participants included Deans, Program Directors, Vice Provosts, the Directors of CETL, Honors, Student Success, Career Center, and Advising, as well as faculty and university staff from across the Storrs and regional campuses.  The Student Success Summit provided many opportunities for participants to learn about and discuss both new and existing challenges and opportunities that students, staff and faculty all encounter as we work collectively to support student success at UConn.  The goal of the Summit was to discuss and Identify UConn’s most effective programs and practices that contribute to our students’ overall success both now and in the future, as well as to develop plans for continuation and expansion of these programs and practices and finally, to draft a 3-5 year plan to wholistically support student success at UConn that will be widely shared for discussion in the fall.

It was clear from the many discussions at the Summit that UConn’s staff and faculty care deeply about student’s success in academics as well as personal lives.  Our discussions about student success were particularly meaningful in the ways that our staff and faculty connect with and support our students. A number of innovative ideas were raised ways to involve even more faculty and staff in grass roots and collaborative efforts to support our students.  For example, we discussed ways that we can increase faculty and staff work with FYE courses (a very important factor in student success), as well as ways to motivate more faculty and staff to volunteer to serve as UConn Connects Mentors and to lead Learning Communities, two of our most successful practices for increasing student success.

Also discussed was the important role of advising, of focusing on reduction in students failing and withdrawing from courses as well as ways to help faculty respond to the needs of diverse learners. The many ways about how faculty can include diverse perspectives in curricula and class discussion was also a fascinating topic from the Summit. Look for more information and a summary of our work in a future edition of this newsletter in the future and if any of you are interested in volunteering to work with us on student success, please contact us at that time.

On the 22nd of May, as the academic year comes to a close, the first thing that needs to be said is thank you. We’ve had an outstanding year, marked by achievement across all dimensions of our work. I’m grateful for colleagues in the faculty, staff, and administration who create this success every day. We have an extraordinary impact on our students, our state, and nation, and the major problems facing our world.

Even as we’ve just said good-bye to the outstanding Class of 2023, we’re preparing to welcome the Class of 2027 to our campuses. We are right on track to meet our targets and enroll 4100 first-year students at Storrs and a total of 1600-1800 combined at our Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury. According to our colleagues in Admissions, we are projecting a record level of racial and ethnic diversity in the first-year class for the sixth year in a row, including an increase in first-generation students. This is also a class that is highly accomplished academically, and a UConn education is in demand at a time when many colleges and universities are struggling to attract students.  Admissions does an outstanding job of recruiting and shaping our incoming class each year in collaboration with the schools, colleges, and campuses.

For all of us in academia, the summer months are a time that we shift the focus of our work and the rhythm of our days. For staff and administrators, the summer is a time to regroup and wrap up the prior year and prepare for the new one – it’s a time to engage in a mix of long-term projects and “seasonal” tasks like closing the fiscal year, refreshing classrooms, and orienting new students.  For many faculty, this is a time to prioritize research, and I’ve enjoyed visiting with colleagues in their labs and hearing from those heading out on research trips. I was in the new Science 1 building last week and was so pleased to see the progress the team has made there in getting some very complex labs and shared research facilities up and running.

Over the weekend, I attended UConn’s inaugural Human Rights Film Festival, co-sponsored by the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute and the School of Fine Arts. In addition to meeting filmmakers and activists, I was delighted to meet a group of very engaged students taking a May term class focused on human rights documentaries. Many of our May and summer term classes now take place online, which creates an opportunity for us to expand our summer offerings of conferences, K-12 education, athletic camps and other experiences. If you have an idea for a summer event or project that you would like to undertake or that you think the University ought to pursue, please do feel free to reach out (provost@uconn.edu). I’m gathering ideas and possibilities for Summer 2024 already.

But before Summer 2024 arrives, we need to enjoy Summer 2023! I hope everyone has a summer that is both productive and restorative. We’ll publish shorter newsletters geared toward colleagues working on our campuses in June and July and return to the full format in August.

All best wishes,

Anne

University Senate Bylaw Changes

At it’s meeting on May 1, 2023, the University Senate passed several bylaw changes including:

1. Seal of Biliteracy (effective fall 2023)
2. Mid-semester and semester warnings (effective fall 2023)
3. Academic Integrity and Misconduct (effective fall 2023)
4. Mandatory 1-credit Anti-Black Racism Course (effective fall 2024)

Read more here

Travel Expenses for Trips of 30 Days or Longer

As a public institution, we are required to be careful stewards of our financial resources. If you are traveling for 30 days or more, please work with Travel to seek cost-effective self-catering accommodation. Email travel@uconn.edu for support.

For longer trips, the expectation is that use of self-catering accommodation will reduce food costs so that they are equivalent to normal expenses of purchasing food. Requests for long-term per diem support (30 days or more) should include a justification for why the extended per diem support is required. This might be related to specific requirements of research, limitations on accommodation related to the area of travel, non-food expenses that are being supported through per diems, or issues related to the individual context of travel. Any claims for per diems of over 30 days or more will only be approved when supported by appropriate justification.

Anti-Black Racism Course Requirement

Read the Provost’s message regarding the new 1-credit requirement here.

Laura Curran Named Dean of UConn School of Social Work

Laura Curran, Ph.D., a highly regarded social work educator and researcher, has been selected as the 15th dean of the UConn School of Social Work.

Dr. Curran currently is the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Prior to serving as Vice Provost, Dr. Curran held the position of Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Rutgers University School of Social Work. She starts her new role as UConn School of Social Work dean on August 11.

Dr. Curran demonstrates a clear understanding of the mission of our School of Social Work, with a commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and the improvement of human well-being, both locally and globally. She has led several DEI initiatives and has a record of interdisciplinary collaboration and understands the demands of research and faculty advancement. She is also a strong supporter of students, serving as a mentor for supervised research assistantships for social work graduate students over the last two decades.

Dr. Curran earned her B.A. from Barnard College, an M.S.W. from Columbia University, and her PhD from UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare.

Read full announcement here

Provost Office Leadership Update

Jeffrey Shoulson, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, has accepted the position of Dean of Arts and Sciences at Brandeis University and will transition from his role at UConn effective June 16. Since joining UConn in 2012, Jeffrey has been an active and engaged member of our community. While we are thrilled for him to take on this new well-deserved opportunity, we’re sorry to lose such thoughtful, kind, and dedicated colleague. On behalf of the Provost’s Office and the entire university administration, I want to thank Jeffrey for his contributions to UConn.

In the six years that Jeffrey has been a member of the Provost’s Office, he has served as a Vice Provost in several capacities, first as Vice Provost for Academic Operations, then Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Affairs, and finally Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. In this time, he has assumed many responsibilities including oversight of interdisciplinary centers and institutes, academic program development and assessment, and most notably, managing the promotion, tenure, and reappointment process. This is an exceptionally important and complicated process, which he has handled with skill and sensitivity for several years, guiding several hundred faculty to reach tenure and/or promotion.

Jeffrey has also made important contributions to the wellbeing of our students, including co-chairing the Future of Learning Committee, formed during the pandemic to address the rapidly changing education landscape with the pivot to online learning. He also led an initiative to study food insecurity across our multiple campuses, which eventually led to the establishment of Husky Harvest, a food pantry now located on the Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, Storrs, and Waterbury campuses.

Before joining the Provost’s Office, Jeffrey served as Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life and held the Doris and Simon Konover Chair in Jewish Studies. He is Professor of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages and Professor of English, and has affiliations with the Medieval Studies Program and the Middle East Studies Program. He was previously on the faculty at the University of Miami, where he also served as Director of Judaic Studies. He has actively served in the leadership of several professional societies including the Milton Society of America and the Association of Jewish Studies.

There have been many significant changes in the Provost’s Office in this last year. I am finalizing a plan to reorganize and rebuild and will share details on how we will move forward soon.

There will be an event to recognize Jeffrey’s accomplishments and impact on the UConn community on June 14^th (Click here for more details). Please join me in congratulating Jeffrey on his new role and thanking him for his service to UConn.

Read full announcement here

Clinical Placement Coordination Director Announcement

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Jean McCarthy as the next director of the Office of Clinical Placement Coordination (OCPC) effective July 1, 2023.

Professor McCarthy is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. She has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in various states across the US and has provided prevention, assessment, and intervention services in schools and hospitals. Before joining UConn, she was the Director of Rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility. Professor McCarthy specializes in Neurocognitive Communication Disorders such as aphasia and dementia, as well as disorders related to swallowing, voice, and fluency. She is also a certified provider of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVTLOUD), which is a speech treatment for people with Parkinson's Disease.

Professor McCarthy holds leadership positions in the UConn Committee on Interprofessional Excellence in Healthcare (CIPEH) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Additionally, she is a trustee for the Connecticut Speech and Hearing Association (CSHA) Foundation and has previously served on the CSHA executive board. She has demonstrated a commitment to and understanding of clinical placement coordination across a range of disciplines and support for the diverse voices and perspectives that constitute the constituency of OCPC. Professor McCarthy has articulated a clear dedication to supporting the work of OCPC and supporting the staff who work diligently to assure compliance for clinical placement contracts for our students and faculty and I am confident in her ability to succeed in this new role.

We would like to thank Dr. Carol Polifroni for leadership of OCPC for the past three years. Since its establishment in 2020, Dr. Polifroni has played a key role in setting up the operations of the office, building a staff team, and communicating the work of the office to the University. This has been no small task and we are grateful for the time and energy Dr. Polifroni has dedicated to OCPC.

Please join me in congratulating Professor McCarthy on this appointment and wishing her well as she begins the role this summer.

Read full announcement here

Institute of Materials Science (IMS) Director Reappointment

I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of Steven Suib as Director of the Institute of Materials Science (IMS) for a third term of five years, effective August 23, 2023.

This renewal recognizes Dr. Suib’s successful leadership as the director of the Institute since 2013. A few highlights from Dr. Suib’s tenure include hiring 10 new faculty who brought considerable diversity and research strength to the Institute; retention of key staff members; establishing and renewing eight Centers of Excellence; the first two awards as primary recipient at UCONN from ARPA-e; funded multi-investigator MURI, DOE EERE, NSF, and DoD efforts; three GAANN Fellowship (Polymer Program and MSE) awards totaling $2.2M in student aid; increasing the members of the Industrial Affiliates Program; substantial growth of all research programs; establishing a new Certificate Program in Characterization of Advanced Materials; and successful operation during COVID.

I am grateful to all of the staff, faculty, administrators, and other key partners of the Institute of Materials Science who shared feedback about Dr. Suib’s leadership. There were several common themes regarding Director Suib’s leadership, including his strong advocacy for his faculty and the IMS labs, and his success in promoting and securing resources for them. Dr. Suib is also known to be approachable and responsive, patient, thoughtful, and pragmatic, with a strong work ethic. Dr. Suib is a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Fellow of the American Chemical Society and National Academy of Inventors, with over 700 research papers and 80 patents to his credit. These qualities contribute to the consensus that Dr. Suib is a strong administrator and outstanding researcher who can lead growth and innovation at IMS.

Please join me in congratulating Steven Suib on his reappointment and thanking him for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the Institute of Materials Science and the University.

Read full announcement here

CLAS Dean Transition

Juli Wade, who has served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLAS) and Sciences since 2019, has accepted the position of Executive Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University.

Throughout the last five years, Juli has provided great leadership for CLAS and its many units including the newly established School of Public Policy, 24 departments and 13 centers and institutes. Juli led the development of the CLAS strategic plan with collaborative involvement by faculty, staff and students across the college. She has guided CLAS through significant growth including expanding academic program offerings, increasing research expenditures, and strategic hiring.

Juli has also been a strong advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion work in CLAS and across the University. She hired the first Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in CLAS and has supported numerous initiatives to foster a supportive and inclusive environment in the University’s largest college.

Before coming to UConn, Juli served in several different roles at Michigan State University, most recently as Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff development. She has extensive experience in higher education and is a trusted colleague of many. While we are excited for Juli to embark on this new adventure, she will certainly be missed here at UConn. In my experience working with Juli both as a fellow dean and as Provost, I have always appreciated her thoughtfulness, transparency, collegiality, and commitment to equity and inclusivity.

Beginning July 1, 2023, Ofer Harel, currently Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs, will serve as the Interim Dean of CLAS. Ofer formerly served as the Director of Graduate Admissions in the Department of Statistics and is a Professor of Statistics. I’m grateful to Ofer for his willingness to serve in this role and am confident in his ability to lead CLAS and drive progress in supporting the academic mission and promoting research and innovation. I will share details on a search to fill the position permanently once available.

Read full announcement here

PAECES Award Winners

The annual Provost Awards for Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship (PAECES) recipients were announced earlier this month. We are so pleased to recognize each award recipient, chosen from a competitive pool of nominees. Congratulations to all the faculty and staff who exemplify the university’s service and engagement mission by making notable impacts on our community.

• Faculty Research Distinguished Award – Professor Nathaniel Rickles, Department of Pharmacy
• Faculty Research Emerging Award – Professor Jennifer Mozeiko, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Science
• Faculty Distinguished Instructor Award – Professor Phoebe Godfrey, Department of Sociology
• Faculty Emerging Instructor Award – Professor Christopher Steele, Internal Medicine, UConn Health
• Undergraduate Student Award – Makayla Dawkins, Bachelor of Science, Individualized major in Gender, Sexuality, and Reproduction; minor in Human Development and Family Sciences

Click here to learn about Provost Office awards

Dates

May 25-27                        Shavout

May 26                              Buddha’s Birth

May 28                              Pentecost Sunday

June 16                             Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib

June 24                             Litha

June 26 – July 1              The Hajj

June 28-29                      Eid al-Adha

Faculty Consulting, Storrs/regional campus faculty - year begins May 23

Last year, updates to the faculty consulting policy changed the reporting year to align with a nine-month faculty contract. This means that the new faculty consulting year began on May 23, 2023. If you have ongoing consulting activities, please be sure to submit a new request for the current (FY24) reporting year. Use the “start on approval” option for any activities that do not have a specific start date.

All information, including PDF and video guides on using InfoEd for consulting submissions, can be found at https://consulting.uconn.edu/ under the “getting started” or “training materials” areas of the website.

If you have specific questions related to your consulting request, please email Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Sarah Croucher (sarah.croucher@uconn.edu).

Executive Leader Onboarding

The final session of Executive Leader Onboarding for the academic year took place at the UConn Stamford campus on Wednesday, May 3. Senior leaders at UConn were invited to learn about the UConn Stamford campus through a presentation by Stamford Campus Director Jennifer Orlikoff and a comprehensive campus tour. Senior leaders also learned about the UConn Foundation and how this office can be a resource to them in the future.

Assessment Institute

The annual Assessment Institute was held on Wednesday, May 10 in the Student Union. Academic units were invited to learn about how to develop learning objectives for their departments and programs, map learning outcomes across curriculum, and the importance of gathering and using assessment data to make informed decisions about curricular changes.

Center & Institute Directors Retreat

The annual Center and Institute Directors Retreat was held on Tuesday, May 16 in the Student Union. This annual gathering is an opportunity for center and institute directors to form new connections and share more about the important work of their units and how they can collaborate with other centers and institutes to promote interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Education Advisory Board (EAB) made a keynote presentation on emerging best practices for centers and institutes, and UConn colleagues led sessions focused on multidisciplinary grants, start ups, communications, philanthropy, and community engagement.

Provost Summit for Student Success

The inaugural Provost Summit for Student Success will be held on Thursday, May 25, at the Homer Babbidge Library. Key university leaders will spend the day collaborating and brainstorming ways to overcome challenges related to student success, reviewing effective intervention methods, and discussing the need for assessment and informed future planning for the next academic year and beyond. A summary of the day’s discussion and recommendations will be shared in the next newsletter.

The month of April has certainly been busy for all of us – it’s a mix of events to close out the academic year, events to welcome a new class of students, and a rush of meetings to finish up the tasks and goals of the year.

Earlier this week we held the first meeting of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Lloyd Blanchard, Pamir Alpay and I will be co-chairing this process in partnership with Anna Pond, an external consultant who will help guide us to develop a strong and actionable strategic plan for the University. I am excited to build on the vision President Maric has set and am invested in creating a plan that aligns our priorities and values with resources to support the advancement of our beloved UConn. The committee had a terrific opening discussion of our goals and the need for a “One UConn” approach to the plan. I’ll use this space in the coming months to update you on our progress.

We also held a Trustee-Administration-Faculty-Student (TAFS) meeting this month, with a focus on undergraduate student success. The University Bylaws establish this TAFS committee with the goal of creating a space for representatives of the university community to come together to discuss issues of importance. We had a presentation from Dr. Tadarrayl Starke, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, and a robust conversation around current and planned programming to promote student engagement and academic success.

I had the opportunity to spend a day at the Avery Point Campus meeting with faculty, students, and staff. I appreciated the honest and thoughtful discussions I had with many individuals throughout the day surrounding issues like building enrollment, resource and space constraints, and academic program offerings. I plan to continue visiting each of our campuses on a regular basis so I can put focus on supporting the UConn experience across all areas of the State.

I attended the Undergraduate Research Presentations and Mentorship Excellence Awards hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and was so impressed by the creativity and brilliance of our undergraduate researchers. This event takes place at both Storrs and Stamford, with opportunities for students from all campuses to participate. Programs like this are essential to providing a life-transformative experience for our students. None of this would be possible without the leaders of OUR and the many faculty and staff who serve as mentors for these students.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the lunch that was prepared for me by students in Nutritional Science 3271: Food Services Systems Management. They were required to plan, cost out, quantify, and cook a three-course meal in CAHNR’s teaching kitchen, and I was thrilled to participate! The meal was vegetarian and absolutely delicious, especially a Peruvian appetizer of roasted potatoes with a spiced tomato salsa.

There are many more things I could mention but won’t try to be exhaustive. I am grateful to everyone for their hard work as we wrap up this semester and get ready for the summer, and look forward to celebrating Commencement Weekend with you!

All best,

Anne

UConn's Newest Living/Learning Community Launching Fall 2023

Officially launched with a celebration on April 27^th, the newly established BSOUL House (a Learning Community in support of Black Sisters Optimizing Unity & Leadership) is designed to support the scholastic efforts of female students who identify as African American/Black through academic and social/emotional support, access to research opportunities, and professional development. BSOUL House is open to first- and second-year female undergraduates interested in engaging in courses and co-curricular activities related to the experience of Black females in higher education. For more information, visit https://LC.uconn.edu/.

Interfolio Review, Promotion & Tenure (RPT)

UConn has implemented Interfolio’s Review, Promotion & Tenure module for the submission and review of all promotion, tenure, and midpoint review cases for the AY 23-24 PTR cycle. Interfolio RPT is a secure, online workflow platform that provides customizable tools to manage all of the documents, workflows, committees, communication, and outcomes associated with review-based academic decisions.

We thank you all for your engagement, enthusiasm, and input as we’ve worked over the past year to configure this new system and prepare for its launch. As of this month, departmental system administrators may now begin creating cases within RPT for faculty who will be coming up for promotion (both tenure track and non-tenure track), tenure, or midpoint review in the 23-24 PTR cycle utilizing the department- and action-specific templates.

Learn More.

Reading Days

Reading Days are Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and April 30. Per the University Senate By-Laws, the intent of Reading Days is as follows:

Reading Days are protected time for students to prepare for the final exam and assessment period. Instructors shall not require any course-related activity, assessment, or submission of work on Reading Days. Instructors may use Reading Days for optional activities, such as office hours. While an instructor cannot initiate required course-related activity, assessments, or submission of work on Reading Days, instructors have the option to accommodate student requests for required work and/or examinations to be rescheduled for a Reading Day. Reading Days restrictions do not include responsibilities with external placements, such as clinical positions and internships.

Final Exams

Final exams begin on Monday, May 1, and end on Saturday, May 6.

Final in-class examinations may not be given during the last week of classes. Other types of assessments (for example, but not only, portfolios, performances, projects, presentations, etc.) may be due in the last week of classes, but should be clearly delineated on the syllabus from the first week of classes.

Undergraduate students may request rescheduling for an exam through the Dean of Students Office for the Storrs campus or each regional campus student services office, and as early as possible. The reasons for such a request include bunched finals or other extenuating circumstances. Such bunched finals may include final assessments like juried performances for Fine Arts students. A student whose absence is excused by the Dean of Students Office or regional student services staff shall have an opportunity to take a final without penalty. Please consult the Dean of Students website and the Registrar’s website for further details.

UNESCO ChatGPT Quick Start Guide

UNESCO has developed a ChatGPT quick start guide to provide an overview of how ChatGPT works and explains how it can be used in higher education. The Quick Start Guide raises some of the main challenges and ethical implications of AI in higher education and offers practical steps that higher education institutions can take. This Quick Start Guide was published in April 2023. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing field. This guide is based on GPT-3.5, the latest free version of ChatGPT available at the time of writing. As well as dynamic changes in technology, the ethical implications of ChatGPT and other forms of AI are also swiftly advancing. Readers are advised to constantly check reliable sources for the latest news and updates.

https://www.iesalc.unesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ChatGPT-and-Artificial-Intelligence-in-higher-education-Quick-Start-guide_EN_FINAL.pdf

Victoria Vaughan Dickson Named Dean of UConn School of Nursing

Victoria Vaughan Dickson, PhD, RN, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN has been appointed as the next Dean of the School of Nursing. She will begin this new role on August 1, 2023.

Dr. Dickson has demonstrated a deep understanding of our School of Nursing’s needs and will bring the necessary leadership and vision to continue the school’s extraordinary achievements across teaching, research and engagement. She is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for the School and will facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations across the University.

Read the full announcement.

CLAS Dean Juli Wade

Juli Wade, who has served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLAS) and Sciences since 2019, has accepted the position of Executive Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University.

Throughout the last four years, Juli has provided great leadership for CLAS and its many units including the newly established School of Public Policy, 24 departments and 13 centers and institutes. Juli led the development of the CLAS strategic plan with collaborative involvement by faculty, staff and students across the college. She has guided CLAS through significant growth, including expanding academic program offerings, increasing research expenditures, and strategic hiring.

Juli has also been a strong advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion work in CLAS and across the University. She hired the first Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in CLAS and has supported numerous initiatives to foster a supportive and inclusive environment in the University’s largest college.

Beginning July 1, 2023, Ofer Harel, currently Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs, will serve as the Interim Dean of CLAS. Ofer formerly served as the Director of Graduate Admissions in the Department of Statistics and is a Professor of Statistics. I’m grateful to Ofer for his willingness to serve in this role and am confident in his ability to lead CLAS and drive progress in supporting the academic mission and promoting research and innovation.

School of Fine Arts Dean Search

The Office of the Provost will launch a search to identify the next dean of the School of Fine Arts, chaired by Kazem Kazerounian, Dean of the School of Engineering.  Listening sessions will take place the week of May 1^st. Details on listening sessions dates, committee membership, and candidate information will all be available online here.

New Training for State Employees: Understanding Domestic Violence

During the 2022 legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed Public Act 22-82.  This legislation requires all state agencies to provide to all employees one hour of training and education related to domestic violence and the resources available to victims of domestic violence.

To comply with this state requirement, the Office of Institutional Equity prepared a self-paced online video presentation available through the Learning@Work system.  Employees will be receiving direct communication from Learning@Work with instructions on how to fulfill this training requirement.  This training must be completed by July 1, 2023.

UConn and UConn Health are committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory learning and working environment for all members of our community.  UConn and UConn Health are also committed to ensuring our employees are equipped with information, support and assistance.

Please contact the Office of Institutional Equity at (860) 486-2943 or equity@uconn.edu for questions or concerns.  Information about resources can be found on the University’s Title IX website (www.titleix.uconn.edu).

Celebrating Promotion & Tenure of 96 Faculty

At their meeting on April 19^th, the Board of Trustees approved the promotion and tenure of 96 faculty across UConn’s multiple campuses. Evaluations for promotion, tenure, and reappointment apply the highest standards of professional achievement in scholarship, teaching, and service for each faculty member evaluated. Applications for promotion and tenure are reviewed at the department level, school or college level, and finally at the Office of the Provost before recommendations are forwarded to the Board of Trustees. This process involves significant work on the part of each faculty member, as well as assistance and support of colleagues and administrative staff who provide guidance and manage many of the logistics through each stage of the promotion and tenure cycle. It is a notable milestone for each faculty member awarded these promotions, as well as for their colleagues. View the listing of faculty promoted and/or granted tenure here.

2023 Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients

From business success to civil rights, from fine art to visionary mathematics, the honored guests of UConn’s commencement ceremonies bring a wealth of experience, insight, and wisdom to share with this year’s graduates.

Executive Leader Onboarding

Another session of the Executive Leader Onboarding series was held on Thursday, March 30^th at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. Senior administrators participated in dynamic discussions with Human Resource leadership at UConn and UConn Health about services and resources offered and current projects. Additionally, senior leaders participated in a Predictive Index assessment to understand how their leaderships styles can help control workplace outcomes and steer their teams in the right direction with confidence and empathy. Interim CEO of UConn Health and Dean of the UConn School of Medicine Dr. Bruce Liang presented on the highlights of UConn Health and its facilities as the campus has undergone a major transformation over the past decade due to the State’s investment in the Bioscience Connecticut initiative. Senior leaders also participated in a UConn Health campus tour, including student learning and training labs, new research labs, and the renovated medical and dental clinical facilities that continue to provide exceptional patient care and training for medical and dental professionals in Connecticut.

Upcoming Governor's Council on Women and Girls Panel re Firefighters

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Next week, Wednesday, May 3rd from 10am to 11am via Zoom, the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls will host a panel discussion on women firefighters. Moderated by Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, the panel will discuss their path to their current roles, experience thus far, how we can increase the pipeline for more women as firefighters, and much more. Although the panel consists of all women with a focus of increasing the voices of women in the topic selected, all members of the general public are welcome to attend. If you’re interested in this topic but unable to attend, a recording will be posted online here following the event.

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