Dear Students,

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing you with the best possible educational experience, we want to make you aware of some important work we’re doing to review our academic program offerings. On Friday, we sent a message to faculty and staff about the evaluation of programs with low enrollment and completion (graduation) rates. That message also included information about a new panel called the Higher Education Financial Sustainability Advisory Board, which was created by a state law that took effect on July 1.

This process to review academic programs began earlier this year and is essential to ensure that the programs we offer meet your needs and prepare you for future success. It’s important to note that reviewing a program doesn’t mean it’s going away. In many cases, this evaluation helps us focus on ways to increase awareness and enrollments in programs that are undersubscribed, or it may lead to combining programs to create a stronger cohort experience for students. Sometimes, there are programs that no longer meet student demand, and in those cases, we may decide it’s time to sunset them. Just like there are programs we offered 30 years ago that we no longer have today, our academic offerings need to evolve with the changing interests of students and the job market.

We have heard from students that because of this review process, some faculty have made statements suggesting a particular class will no longer be taught or a major may no longer be available in the future. Some students have been understandably surprised and concerned by such statements, but please keep in mind that at this point not a single major has been closed or modified as a result of this review process. Additionally, an unexpected announcement from a faculty member in class is not how such news would be shared with students. Any time a program stops enrolling, closes, or undergoes extensive modification, we create detailed plans to allow current students to complete their degrees. If a major is sunset or modified, students in the major would receive written communications from their department head and advisors sharing such information.

We believe it’s important for you, as students, to be aware of this effort, understand why it’s happening, and know that you are always welcome to ask questions about how it may affect you or future students. For more detailed information, you can read the full message sent to faculty and staff.

We encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or concerns, and we will continue to keep you updated as this work progresses.

Sincerely,

Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D.
Provost & Executive Vice President

Fany Hannon, Ed.D.
Dean of Students

Dear Colleagues,

If you have been away for the summer: welcome back! I hope the new semester finds you well and I’m excited to see and talk with you in the months ahead. If you are just joining us this fall for the first time, welcome to UConn Nation!

As you know, our students finished moving into their residence halls on the Storrs and Stamford campuses this past weekend, with the usual buzz of excitement, nervous anticipation, and scenes of emotional partings between families and their students, especially those coming to our campuses as UConn students for the first time. Even when waiting in lines to park and hauling boxes up flights of stairs on a hot day, it’s heartening to see how people remained positive and upbeat through it all. It’s clear our students are excited to be here, see each other, and start their classes.

Similarly, even as move-in was happening this past Friday, the Provost’s Office was at the Innovation Partnership Building, hosting New Faculty Orientation and New Academic Leader Orientation (for new department heads, assistant and associate deans, and deans). It was exciting to meet new colleagues, and to see current colleagues in a fresh light as they take on different roles and responsibilities at the university.

While never losing sight of all that’s positive, I do also want to acknowledge that this semester may pose unique challenges for our faculty, staff, and students owing to both global and national events. It is always the case that leadership of our faculty and staff is needed across our campuses to build community and demonstrate our shared values. That need becomes even greater during challenging times like these.

It is our responsibility to create and sustain an open and inclusive environment, both broadly and in every individual classroom. Our students bring many diverse perspectives and opinions to class discussions and throughout their course work, just as they do in their campus activities and social circles. As dedicated teachers, we need to be conscious and mindful in ensuring that no student in our class is made to feel marginalized, alienated, or excluded because of any aspect of their identity, including opinions they may hold.

We have faced many challenges over the past year and at times heard from students who felt as though they were being targeted with hostility in the classroom because of their identity or personal views. Some decided to just remain silent during discussions for fear of being ostracized or verbally attacked if they said what they thought. That’s the last thing we want in a classroom. Though the instructor or other students in the classroom may disagree with views shared during class, those moments call for dialogue and for empathy, which I know our instructors have in abundance.

Instructors may also feel compelled to speak about or discuss current events with their students both in and out of the classroom, and it is a principle of academic freedom that instructors have a wide latitude to determine what may be relevant for their course. That said, we have an obligation to our students to cover everything presented in the syllabus to make sure we meet the expectations of their curriculum. I know our instructors bring much care and thoughtfulness to their teaching, and I’ll ask them to give extra consideration to the classroom environment and the goals of their classes this year.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) works diligently to provide resources and training for instructors to lead what can be difficult classroom discussions. Instructors should reach out to CETL if they find themselves struggling with any dimension of teaching, but especially if the intensity of classroom discussion is becoming a challenge to channel productively. I have the highest respect for the expertise of our CETL colleagues, and they are ready and able to help all instructors create positive classroom environments. Toward that end, I would encourage all of us to take advantage of the wide array of teaching workshops and seminars that CETL offers every week.

As professional staff, we are also often faced with navigating challenging discussions with students in the various ways we support and interact with them. Please know how much I value the encouragement, guidance, and supportive environments our staff provide for our students. I know there were times over the last year that staff were subjected to disrespectful language or behaviors, which is unacceptable in the simplest of terms, especially when they work so hard to keep our university running in so many ways.

Knowing all of this, there are resources available both for faculty and staff who are encountering these and other issues and I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of them:

• Human Resources
• Office for Diversity and Inclusion
• Office of Institutional Equity
• Ombuds Office
• Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
• Student Health and Wellness
• Cultural Centers & Programs
• UConn InForm
• UConn Policies

We will continue to evaluate and improve the resources the university provides to support the work of our faculty and staff.

When facing especially trying moments like this, we are best served by working to turn challenges into opportunities. We can rely on our experience, the goodwill of our students, the support of our colleagues, and our institutional resources to find ways to organize and facilitate discussion, create a deeper understanding of issues and problems, and challenge our own thinking and that of our students.  As always, we aim to further the intellectual and personal growth of our students and help our university community emerge better and stronger than it was.

Once again, welcome back and best wishes for a productive semester.

Sincerely,
Anne

Anne D’Alleva, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President
University of Connecticut
Office of the Provost
352 Mansfield Road, U-1086
Storrs CT 06269-1086
Tel. 860-486-4037

UConn is a great university.

But it’s more than that. A top-ranked Land 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.

Dear Faculty,

As we begin a new academic year, we are filled with enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead. Whether you are just joining us this week or are returning to continue your work, we want to extend a warm welcome and express our deepest gratitude for the vital role you play in UConn Nation.

Our collective vision to spread knowledge, advance translational research, and build UConn’s reputation as a leader in higher education depends on the dedication and expertise of our faculty. Your contributions are not only essential to the success of our students but also to the broader impact we make as a university. Every lecture, research project, and collaborative effort moves us closer towards that vision.

This year, we are especially excited to tie our efforts to the goals laid out in our strategic plan, Envisioning 2034. As we focus on expanding research impact and powering a thriving Connecticut, your work will be key to achieving these ambitious goals. We look forward to seeing how your innovative ideas and research will propel UConn forward.

We are confident that with your continued dedication, we will make great strides in the coming year. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence and for being an integral part of our vibrant academic community.

Wishing you all a productive and fulfilling academic year. Go Huskies!

Sincerely,

Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D.

Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

 

Pamir Alpay, Ph.D.

Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Dear UConn Community,

As we begin this new academic year, we are excited to welcome both new and returning Huskies to our campuses. Our unified goal is for every student, faculty, and staff member to feel a sense of belonging and to continue to build a community of care that reflects UConn Nation. With this commitment in mind, we are writing to share important updates regarding UConn’s cultural centers and programs and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI).

At a time when many institutions are scaling back their services to support diversity, equity, and inclusion, we are committed to taking deliberate steps to strengthen ours. These changes align with one of the key pillars of our strategic plan: continuing to build a stronger, more inclusive university. By doing so, we are actively working to enhance our support for our entire UConn community.

Reporting Change of Cultural Centers and Programs to the Division of Academic Affairs

Our cultural centers and programs including the African American Cultural Center, Asian American Cultural Center, Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center, Rainbow Center, Women’s Center, Native American Cultural Programs and Middle Eastern Cultural Programs, previously under the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, will now report to the Division of Academic Affairs under the leadership of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Student Success, Dr. Tadarrayl Starke. This change is a homecoming of sorts, as the cultural centers and programs have deep roots at UConn, and for a number of years resided under the Provost’s Office.

This strategic change underscores our continued commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our students. By integrating the cultural centers and programs with the Division of Academic Affairs, we are expanding our capacity to support these vital resources and strengthening their connections with academic and student success units. We are also prioritizing a renewed focus on connecting our cultural centers and programs to our regional campuses, fostering a sense of belonging for all students across campuses.

The cultural centers and programs will continue to maintain a strong dotted line reporting relationship with the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). The CDO will collaborate closely with the Provost’s Office to ensure that our cultural centers and programs continue to thrive, and that holistic and equitable student success remains a central priority.

Redefining the Office for Diversity and Inclusion

Under the leadership of Interim CDO Jeffrey Hines, ODI will focus on advocating for equity and inclusion, education, and fostering a sense of belonging across all university units for faculty, staff, and students. ODI will continue to work collaboratively with academic departments and administrative units to develop strategic plans and frameworks to advance our diversity initiatives and will continue to create and implement training and education programs. ODI will maintain a close partnership with the cultural centers and programs in working with both the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Student Success and Vice Provost for Graduate Education to support DEI initiatives for both undergraduate and graduate students.

It is also important to distinguish ODI’s functions from those of the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE). While ODI focuses on advocacy, education, and training, OIE oversees compliance with state and federal equal opportunity and civil rights laws and administers the university’s non-discrimination policies. While their functions differ, ODI and OIE work together to support our university community in myriad ways and both are imperative to our ability to function as a large public university and a diverse and inclusive workplace for thousands of employees.

Our Path Forward

The cultural centers and programs reporting line changes are in effect as of today, and we will be spending the next several months working through this transition together. To this effect, we will host a Community Conversation in the Rainbow Center in Storrs on September 5, 2024, from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Please join us if you are available to discuss our collective path forward.

We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the dedication and passion of the directors and staff of the cultural centers and programs who work tirelessly to foster and maintain a place of belonging for our students, staff, and faculty in a constantly evolving world. We are excited about the opportunities that are ahead of us and our ability to lean into this important work.

Sincerely,

Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D.
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jeffrey Hines, M.D.
Interim Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, University of Connecticut
Chief Diversity Officer, UConn Health

Dear Colleagues,

On June 19, 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on New Years’ Day 1863, the Union army liberated the last community of enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas.  All people held as slaves in the United States were finally free. Juneteenth was established as a holiday to commemorate this momentous event, and the State of Connecticut recognized this holiday for the first time in June 2023.

While UConn will remain open this coming Juneteenth, and classes can be held as scheduled, we encourage faculty, wherever possible, to exercise flexibility for students who wish to observe the holiday. Consider providing a recording of your lecture, distributing materials for an asynchronous class session, or holding extra office hours in the following week. If you are planning an assessment (i.e., quiz, exam, in-class assignment) to be due that day, consider an extension for those students who are absent.

It is important to note that graduate assistants who are teaching assistants (including IORs) who are assigned to teach on Juneteenth should be working unless they have been told otherwise by their supervisors. If a graduate assistant is assigned to teach on Juneteenth, they should have the option to arrange another day off with their supervisor.

We recognize that certain critical University operations and departments serving our community such as facilities operations, residential life, and ITS will remain open to meet student and instructor needs. We encourage University departments able to do so to close on Juneteenth.

Your attention to these observances and accommodations is an important part of supporting UConn’s commitment to building and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive learning and work environment.

Sincerely,

Anne D’Alleva
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jeffrey Hines
Interim Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer

Lakeesha Brown
Interim Chief Human Resources Officer

 

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to share that I will be holding in-person office hours with my leadership team for all faculty and staff to provide an opportunity for us to connect, discuss any concerns or ideas you may have, and foster open dialogue within our community. Your unique perspectives play an important role in shaping the future of our institution, and I value spending time together to discuss our path forward.

Office hours will be held at each of our multiple campuses as detailed below. Please drop in as you have time.

Waterbury Campus
February 29, 2024

2:30-4:30pm
Student Services Suite 230E

 

UConn Health

March 11, 2024

2:00-4:00pm

Room AM 046B

 

Stamford Campus
March 28, 2024

2:00-4:00pm
Room 105

 

Avery Point Campus
April 16, 2024

2:00-4:00pm
West Room, Branford House 1st Floor

 

Storrs Campus

April 18, 2024

1:30-3:30pm

Student Union Room 324

Law School
April 22, 2024

3:00-5:00pm

Uconn Law School, Room Starr 228

 

Hartford Campus
April 24, 2024

9:00-11:00am

Room HTB 209

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact provost@uconn.edu.

 

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our university. I look forward to our conversations and the opportunity to work together towards our shared goals.

 

All best,

Anne

 

 

Anne D’Alleva, PhD

Provost and Executive Vice President

University of Connecticut

Office of the Provost

352 Mansfield Road, U-1086

Storrs CT 06269-1086

Tel. 860-486-4037

 

UConn is a great university.

But it’s more than that. A top-ranked Land 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.

 

Dear Colleagues, 

As the start of the new semester comes closer, I wanted to reach out to you all with some timely reminders. These relate to existing Senate or Graduate Faculty Council Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations, academic policies, or other relevant procedures and guidelines. If you will be instructing a course in the coming semester, please be sure to read these reminders carefully.  

Some new policies, procedures, and guidelines have been implemented within the last year, including a new requirement in spring 2024 to provide the last date of academic engagement for students with non-passing grades. Further information can be found at the links provided.  

Reminders for course instructors in spring 2024: 

• Consistent with our course approval processes and to support consistency across course sections syllabi should include:
• Approved course-level learning objectives, which should be shared across all sections of the same course. 
• The course description should quote verbatim the description noted in the undergraduate or graduate catalog. 
• Instructors are expected to include a link to the Academic, Scholarly, and Professional Integrity and Misconduct Policy (Effective as of July 2023) as part of course syllabi or any other academic/scholarly activity and include any additional unit-specific expectations. 
• Note: Refer to the Creating your Syllabus page for additional syllabi information.  
• All courses must be delivered in the modalities as listed in the course schedule. Instructors are not permitted to change the modality in which a course is delivered. If there is a need to change the modality temporarily due to unanticipated circumstances, the course instructor must obtain prior approval from the Department Head and Dean. 
• Per the Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations of the University Senate (E.6, Mid-Semester and Semester Reports), instructors of 1000 and 2000-level courses must submit midterm grades for all students during the mid-semester grading period which spans the sixth through eighth week of the semester. Instructors of all other courses are encouraged to do the same.  Timely submission of midterm grades is an integral part of our student success initiatives, enabling advisors to identify and support students who may need intervention to achieve satisfactory academic progress.
• Effective as of Spring 2024, when submitting final grades for students with non-passing grades, instructors will be required to submit the date of last academic engagement. The collection of this information supports institutional compliance with federal financial aid regulations. Failure to provide this information may result in negative financial consequences for students. Please remember that you can take attendance in classes where feasible. 
• At any time in the semester, students who are not engaging in classes may be in need of support from the Dean of Students Office (Storrs) or Regional Student Services Office (regional campuses). Reach out to dos@uconn.edu or the appropriate regional campus Student Services staff with the name of the student and a brief description of the concern. Staff in those offices will attempt to engage the student in an effort to help get them connected with the appropriate resources.
• Faculty are expected to make themselves available to students for additional instructional support. The common approach is to hold regularly scheduled office hours. When you identify office hours, ideally these will maximize the likelihood that students can attend them by providing multiple options that include different days and different times of the day. 

To support your role as an instructor, I strongly encourage all faculty to make use of resources provided by the Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). This includes ongoing workshops, ranging from the basics of syllabus and course design through to specialist pedagogical approaches to teaching. A list of current workshops can be found here.  

CETL also provide a range of web-based resources, including tips for grading without utilizing attendance, which may support the documentation of academic engagement. Faculty Development staff in CETL also provide individual teaching enhancement consultations. New and emerging issues in teaching and learning, such as the impact of ChatGPT are also addressed by CETL.  

I wish you all the best for a productive and enjoyable semester with your students. 

Best wishes,  

Gladis Kersaint, PhD 

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs