Dear Colleagues,

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.

The review process works best when it is collaborative and comprehensive. 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.

I would like to thank the review committee for their thoughtful oversight of this process. The committee was chaired by Emmanouil (Manos) Anagnostou, Interim Executive Director of the Innovation Partnership Building at UConn Tech Park & Director of the Eversource Energy Center, and included the following members:

• Mark Aindow, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering & Executive Director for Innovation, External Engagement, and Industry Relations, OVPR
• Christian Brueckner, Department Head and Professor of Chemistry
• Brianna Demers, Finance Director, Institute of Materials Science
• Rainer Hebert, Associate Director, Institute of Materials Science
• Michael Schrier, Storrs Campus Architect and Director of Design and STEM Projects, UPDC
• Julie Schwager, Associate Vice President for Research Finance
• Kathy Segerson, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Economics

In sum, Dr. Suib is a thoughtful, collaborative, and inclusive leader. He continues to promote the interests and needs of the Institute, and is highly respected for his leadership of IMS and as a scientist of distinction.

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.

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 Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Curran, Ph.D. as the next Dean of the School of Social Work. She will begin this new role effective August 11, 2023.

Dr. Curran was selected from an exceptionally talented pool of applicants. She joins UConn from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, where she serves as the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. 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.

In her role as Vice Provost, Dr. Curran was responsible for strategic initiatives that support faculty leadership, mentoring, recruitment, and retention as well as directing the Center for Faculty Success. She served as a key member of multiple high-level strategic planning initiatives including the Academic Master Plan, which encompassed initiatives addressing student, faculty, and staff well-being as well as inclusive pedagogy and teaching excellence.

Dr. Curran’s scholarship focuses on three main areas: social work and social welfare history; women’s perinatal health and well-being; and social work education. Dr. Curran is a productive researcher with an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications and presentations. Her work has received funding from the New Jersey, Department of Health, the New York Community Trust, and the Association of Social Work Boards, among other entities.

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. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Curran practiced as a social worker in the areas of community mental health and child welfare. She is currently an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Social Work Education.

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.

I want to express my gratitude to the search committee, chaired by Kent Holsinger, as well as the faculty, staff and students of the School of Social Work for your active participation in this process. Your input was vital to the evaluation of candidates.

Finally, I would like to thank Dean Nina Heller for her outstanding leadership of the School of Social Work over the last several years, and for her service to the greater University.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Curran to this role, to the School of Social Work, and to the UConn community.

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 Colleagues,

I write to share with you that 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.

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.

I want to thank Juli for her leadership and partnership over the last four years as dean of CLAS. Please join me in wishing her congratulations and success in her new role.

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 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 in benefiting the greater good. This is UConn.

STUDENTS FIRST. UCONN ALWAYS. HUSKIES FOREVER.

Dear Colleagues,

I write to announce that 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 today, 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.

To faculty, if you are scheduled for an applicable review this year, your department will initiate your case in the near future. When this happens, you will receive an email notifying you a review has been initiated on your behalf.  Select “View Case” in the email and you will be taken to your account home page where you’ll be able to access your case and begin to upload required documents.

For questions related to the Interfolio Review Promotion & Tenure module or Dossier module, Interfolio provides a robust library of help articles on its website, including: 

Quick Reference Guide to Dossier Institution
Best Practices and Resources (Video)
Candidate’s Guide to Interfolio Review Promotion & Tenure
For Review, Promotion, and Tenure Candidates
Manage Your Dossier Materials
Dossier Help Articles
Use Guidelines to Prepare for Reviews
Help for Sharing and Receiving Feedback on Dossier Materials 

There are also several UConn specific resources available on the Interfolio @ UConn webpage, including comprehensive user guides and video tutorials.

You can also reach out to the Interfolio Scholar Services Team at help@interfolio.com or 877.997.8807 (9-6 Eastern, M-F). 

The Provost’s Office staff will also continue to host monthly consultations by appointment to meet individually with faculty or staff who have questions about Interfolio RPT or Dossier. Contact provost@uconn.edu with any questions or to schedule an appointment.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Shoulson, Ph.D.
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the end of the Spring 2023 semester, I am reaching out with a reminder on Reading Days and final examination rescheduling.

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 Sunday, 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.

***Please note, the above does not apply to the School of Law, School of Medicine, or School of Dental Medicine.***

Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Shoulson, Ph.D.
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Dear Members of the UConn Library Community,

I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Anne Langley as Dean of the UConn Library for a second term of five years, effective August 23, 2023.

This renewal recognizes Anne Langley’s outstanding leadership as the Dean of the UConn Library since 2018. A few of the Library’s overarching accomplishments during her tenure include the continued support of growth and solidification of the Connecticut Digital Archive (CTDA), adding value and collections for UConn scholars; initiating a “UConn Library Starts with YOU” program of individual and library-wide professional development and organization effectiveness; forming the UConn Library Action Committee for Inclusion (ULACI) to promote the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice for Library staff and the populations that the library serves; and solidifying the relationship with Greenhouse Studio by providing staff, administrative and technological support to enhance the quality of interdisciplinary research at UConn.

The review process works best when it is collaborative and comprehensive. I am grateful to all of the staff, faculty, administrators, and other key partners of the Library who shared feedback on Dean Langley’s leadership. There were several common themes regarding Dean Langley’s leadership, including her effort to develop a welcoming and supportive working environment. This was especially important during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic navigating through an extremely difficult situation and keeping the library open while maintaining student and staff safety as a priority. Dean Langley is also strong supporter of student success with a demonstrated record of continuous focus on student services and development of new library spaces such as the Babbidge Booths.

I also want to thank the review committee for their thoughtful oversight of this process. The committee was chaired by John Elliott, Dean of the School of Business, and included the following members:

• Alexis Boylan, Professor of Art History and Africana Studies Institute & Director of Academic Affairs, Humanities Institute
• Jean Cardinale, Head of Communications and Engagement, UConn Library
• Jessica de Perio Wittman, Director, UConn Law Library & Cornelius J. Scanlon Scholar & Associate Professor of Law
• Lewis Gordon, Professor and Department Head, Philosophy
• Lauren Slingluff, Associate Dean, UConn Library (through January 20, 2023)
• Olga Vinogradova, Associate Professor, Medicinal Chemistry

In sum, Anne Langley is a collaborative, effective, and knowledgeable leader and colleague who has excelled as the Dean of the UConn Library. Dean Langley cares deeply about her staff, patrons, and everyone at the University and is committed to helping them in any way that she can.

Please join me in congratulating Anne Langley on her reappointment and thanking her for her dedication and hard work on behalf of the UConn Library.

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 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 in benefiting the greater good. This is UConn.

STUDENTS FIRST, UCONN ALWAYS. HUSKIES FOREVER.

Dear Colleagues,

The coming month is one of significance for many members of our community in their religious practices, including the observances of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, Passover, and Easter. As these holidays approach, we are sharing resources and reminders with the community to promote awareness of these observances and their potential effects on the academic activities of our students.

We believe that meaningful inclusion plays a critical role in the well-being of all members of the UConn community. In accordance with this mission, we advise faculty and staff to take dates of religious holidays into consideration when planning events or setting academic deadlines. The Provost’s Office, in partnership with the Office for Institutional Equity, Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Dean of Students Office, has created a webpage that includes information on key religious observances this academic year. It also includes links to UConn’s policy on religious accommodations for students, faculty and staff, as well as resources to learn more about individual holidays. Please click here to visit the Religious Observances webpage. If you notice a religious holiday that is not included on this webpage, please contact provost@uconn.edu.

As a reminder, faculty and instructors are expected reasonably to accommodate individual religious practices unless doing so would result in fundamental alteration of class objectives or undue hardship to the University’s legitimate business purposes. Such accommodations may include rescheduling an exam or giving a make-up exam, allowing a presentation to be made on a different date or assigning the student appropriate make-up work that is intrinsically no more difficult than the original assignment.
Students are responsible for making arrangements in advance to make up missed work. Students are also responsible for identifying potential conflicts with final examinations and must contact the Dean of Students Office for accommodations for final examinations.

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

Sincerely,
Jeffrey

Jeffrey S. Shoulson, Ph.D.
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs