Messages

Reminder on Religious Observances and Academic Accommodations

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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

Nursing Dean Search – On-Campus Interviews

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Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that four candidates have been selected as finalists for the Dean of the School of Nursing position.

The candidates will visit the Storrs and UConn Health campuses next week. We encourage you to participate in forums throughout their visits and share your feedback on each candidate in the provided surveys. This input will be carefully considered by the members of the search committee.

Visits start on Monday, February 27, and continue through Friday, March 2. Information on candidates, including CVs, public forum meeting links, and feedback surveys will be available at: https://provost.uconn.edu/administrators-and-leadership/academic-leader-searches/

Sincerely,
Jason

Jason Irizarry
Chair, Dean of the School of Nursing Search Committee
Dean and Professor, Neag School of Education

Humanities Institute Director Appointment

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Dear Colleagues,

I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Anna Mae Duane as the next director of the Humanities Institute (UCHI) effective August 23, 2023.

Professor Duane was selected from a talented pool of internal applicants. She has demonstrated a commitment to and understanding of the humanities across a range of disciplines and support for the diverse voices and perspectives that constitute UCHI. Throughout her career, Professor Duane has facilitated innovative programming to promote collaboration and engage scholars in the humanities. She has been the recipient of two UCHI fellowships and is deeply involved in interdisciplinary scholarship. Her research covers a wide array of subjects including American literature, childhood studies, African American literature, literary and critical theory, and disability studies.

Professor Duane joined UConn in 2004 and is a professor of English. She served as the director of the American Studies Program where she developed extensive leadership and administrative skills that lead her to successfully develop curricular resources, engage in public outreach, and manage budgets. In addition to her UCHI fellowships, she was an invited scholar of The Great Stories Club, a NEH-funded non-profit in which scholars of children’s literature collaborated with librarians across the country to devise reading group curricula for incarcerated and at-risk youth. She is also an invited member of the Yale Future of Slavery Studies working group, which brings together an international panel of experts to engage the afterlives of slavery in the U.S. and abroad. Professor Duane is the recipient of several awards and grants including a Fulbright fellowship.

In its 21st year, UCHI has a well-established presence both regionally and nationally, in great part due to the strong leadership of Dr. Michael Lynch and the dedicated, talented team of institute staff and UCHI affiliates. Professor Duane has articulated a clear and promising vision to continue the advancement of the institute including mentoring programs for diverse and mid-career humanities faculty, and I am confident in her ability to succeed in this new role.

I would like to thank the search committee, chaired by Professor Jeffrey Ogbar, and all of the community members who participated in the interview process and public forums. I’d also like to thank Senior Vice Provost Jeffrey Shoulson, who played a large role in overseeing the search process.

Please join me in congratulating Professor Duane on this appointment.

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.

Master of Data Science Director Appointment

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Dear Colleagues,

I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Jeremy Teitelbaum as the director of the Master of Data Science program effective immediately. The program has previously been co-directed by Kent Holsinger, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School, and Peter Diplock, Associate Vice Provost for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. I extend my gratitude to both Kent and Peter for their willingness to supervise this program since its development in 2020.

Reporting directly to the dean of The Graduate School, Professor Teitelbaum will oversee the interdisciplinary 30-credit hour program which draws on courses and expertise from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, School of Business, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, and the Neag School of Education. Professor Teitelbaum is a professor in the department of Mathematics and previously served as interim provost at UConn in 2017-2018. Before that, he was the dean of UConn’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) from 2008-2017.

Professor Teitelbaum is a number theorist and has worked on a range of problems related to elliptic curves, modular forms, p-adic L-functions, and p-adic analytic geometry. His current research is in bioinformatics, unsupervised learning, and in mathematical questions in machine learning.

I am extremely grateful to Professor Teitelbaum for taking on this important role in this innovative and interdisciplinary program. Please join me in congratulating Professor Teitelbaum on this appointment.

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.

Provost’s Office Leadership Update

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Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to share that Michael Bradford, Vice Provost for Faculty, Staff, and Student Development and Professor of Dramatic Arts has accepted the position of Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of California, Davis and will be leaving UConn February 3rd to begin this new role. While we are thrilled for Michael for this new opportunity, we are so sorry to lose a trusted colleague and friend who has shown such compassion, thoughtfulness and positivity to our community. On behalf of the Provost’s Office and the entire university administration, I want to thank Michael for his service to UConn in the more than 20 years he has spent here.

Michael joined the Provost’s Office in fall of 2020 and has had an extraordinary impact on the lives of students, faculty and staff. In his role, Michael oversaw faculty onboarding and retention, faculty and academic staff development and recognition, equity and access, and student success initiatives. Michael has played a critical role in UConn’s Life-Transformative Education initiative, cultivating an environment of authentic relationships and learning opportunities for undergraduate students.

Michael is a tireless advocate for faculty and staff alike. He has worked closely with the Provost’s academic success units and other university partners, such as the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, to promote faculty, staff, and student achievement in all aspects. He developed a cohort-style onboarding program for new faculty and has been a leader in creating shared learning and networking experiences for incoming faculty.

Before joining the Provost’s Office, Michael served as department head of Dramatic Arts, artistic director of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre, and faculty director of Schola2rs House Learning Community. I would not be able to put into words the impact Michael has had on UConn’s community throughout all of these roles.

For the immediate future, I have asked each of our other vice provosts to take on pieces of Michael’s role, while I take some time to develop a new organizational plan for the Provost’s Office. I’ll share more details in the coming months.

There will be an event to recognize Michael’s accomplishments and impact on the UConn community on January 26th (Click here for more details). Please join me in congratulating Michael on his new role and thanking him for his service to UConn.

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.

Reappointment of Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, Hartford Campus Director

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Dear Hartford Campus Community,

I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, Professor of History and Latinx and Latin American Studies, as director of the UConn Hartford Campus for a second term of five years, effective August 23, 2022.

This renewal recognizes Dr. Overmyer-Velázquez’s efforts in developing and leading the Hartford Campus as its inaugural director. A few highlights during his tenure include sustained growth in undergraduate enrollment and expansion in course offerings; development of a new research initiative; increases in the number of staff of color at the campus; establishing philanthropic support for the campus; and numerous partnerships to center the campus in the Hartford community.

In addition to Dr. Overmyer-Velázquez’s leadership of the Hartford Campus, he has provided significant service to UConn, including chairing search committees for the chief diversity officer and the Stamford Campus Director, and leading a task force to establish Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status at UConn.

The review process works best when it is collaborative and comprehensive. I am grateful to all of the faculty, staff, and other key partners of the campus who shared your feedback on Dr. Overmyer-Velázquez’s leadership. There were several common themes regarding his leadership, including strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; developing community among campus faculty, staff, and students; and communicating a clear vision for the campus internally and externally.

I also want to thank the review committee for their thoughtful engagement in this process. The committee was chaired by Gladis Kersaint, Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, and included the following members: Mohamad Alkadry, Director of the School of Public Policy; Alaina Brenick, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences; Nina Heller, Dean of the School of Social Work; Milagros Marrero-Johnson, Director of Strategic Programming for the School of Social Work; Eboni Nelson, Dean of the School of Law; and Kim Schwarz, Director of Event Services for the Hartford Campus. Alexis Cassan, Executive Assistant to the Provost and Chief of Staff, managed administration of the committee.

Dr. Overmyer-Velázquez has been the driving force behind the success of the Hartford Campus. He has demonstrated a passion and commitment for the success of the students, faculty, and staff at the campus, as well as for connecting the work of UConn to the greater Hartford community. I look forward to his continued leadership for the Hartford Campus. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Overmyer-Velázquez on his reappointment and thanking him for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the University.

Sincerely,
Anne

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Year-End Updates from the Provost Office

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Dear Colleagues,

As I begin my tenure as interim provost, I have been working closely with Provost Carl Lejuez to ensure a smooth transition between leadership. Carl has been an invaluable colleague during my time as a dean, and I appreciate his generosity in sharing his expertise and insight.

While Carl and I work on this transition, I wanted to share the status of a number of initiatives, as well as highlight a few updates of note.

The Office of the Provost holds many strong partnerships with units across the University. Among the most critical of those is our collaboration with the Office for Diversity and Inclusion. The Provost’s Office and ODI teams have worked closely together, which has produced several new initiatives to support a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable University. I want to bring your attention to a few of the most recent developments, listed here:

  • Faculty Hiring Handbook: Best Practices for Diversity in Faculty Hiring
    This handbook serves as a guide for hiring faculty candidates following best practices that reinforce the University’s goal of hiring an excellent, diverse, and talented group of faculty members. This information was compiled by the Office of the Provost and Office for Diversity and Inclusion, with input from the Office of Institutional Equity and Human Resources. The handbook is available to view on the Provost’s Office website.
  • Faculty trolling support
    The Provost’s Office and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion have developed a coordinated approach that helps faculty access guidance when they are targeted (trolled) on the basis of their scholarship. Please visit the Provost’s Office website here for more information.
  • Trigger warning and content warning language
    In 2021, through the prompting of a concerned student, the Provost’s Office formed a task force to educate and determine the use of trigger and content warnings in our classrooms. This multidisciplinary and representative committee devoted research and significant time to seek out exemplary practices of trigger and content warnings in the academy. The committee has provided resources on the Provost’s Office website including definition of terms, template language for faculty to integrate into syllabi and verbal prompts to use in class before content is introduced.
  • Resources for expecting and parenting students
    A collaborative working group with representatives from across the university has developed a website with resources and support for expecting and parenting students, both undergraduate and graduate. The Women’s Center convened representatives from the Moms4Moms group, Human Resources, Dean of Students Office, The Graduate School, the Office for Institutional Equity, the Law School, the School of Business, the University Senate’s Student Welfare Committee, SHaW, and the Provost’s Office. Please visit https://studentparents.uconn.edu/ to view the website and please share widely with interested colleagues and students.

This time of year is busy with transitions in personnel. Many offices across the University are preparing for the arrival of our newest cohort of faculty. At the same time, we have said farewell to many colleagues who are retiring this year. For faculty retirements, please note that anyone who retired as of June 1 and meets the eligibility criteria for emeritus status will be automatically voted on at the June 29 Board of Trustees meeting. Retirements after that date will go to the September meeting for emeritus status. Visit this webpage for more on emeritus status.

In the Provost’s Office, we are also preparing for the departure of our Chief of Staff and Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Communications, Kristi Henderson. Kristi joined our office from the University of Kansas, and will join Carl at Stony Brook University in a similar role. She will also assist in the transition through June. Kristi has played a central role in managing internal communications, representing the Provost’s Office in COVID management, and mentoring the talented staff of the Provost’s Office.

We have also seen movement in several key areas relevant to the academic mission during the spring semester.

  • Bargaining agreements
    • These were finalized this spring and are being implemented across the various unions, with more information to be shared by Human Resources.
      • For department heads, Labor Relations is hosting a session on the AAUP contract, set for June 21 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Invitation details will be shared soon.
      • The Graduate School and Labor Relations are presenting informational sessions via WebEx for faculty and staff on the GEU contract. Sessions are on June 8 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (register here) and July 13 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (register here).
  • Senate motions
    • Pass-Fail eligibility: The Senate approved a by-law change proposed by the Senate Scholastic Standards Committee that removes the requirement that undergraduate students must have earned at least 26 credits to be eligible for pass-fail. This was aimed at allowing first-year students the opportunity to apply pass-fail where appropriate.
    • SET Plus Task Force: The Faculty Standards Committee presented a resolution that was approved by the full Senate to convene a university-wide task force to operationalize “evidence of teaching excellence beyond SET” (formerly known as SET+ or SET Plus). The Provost’s Office is working closely with the Faculty Standards Committee to establish this task force to begin its work in Fall 2022.
    • Missed assessment procedure: The Senate Scholastic Standards Committee advanced a proposal that clarifies the procedures for students to make up missed assessments. The Senate approved an addition to Senate By-Law 2.E.II, which outlines information that must be provided to students in writing on the first day of class. The following requirement was added: “if, when, and how missed assessments (for which medical documentation cannot be required) will be handled.”
    • Academic adjustments policy change: The Curricula & Courses Committee forwarded a proposal to the Senate to update the process for students to submit academic adjustments for general education courses that meet quantitative reasoning and/or second language. Notably, the process shifted from a review by a Provost’s Office-appointed committee to instead start directly with the Center for Students with Disabilities. More information is available on the CSD website.
    • Withdraw and Pass-Fail deadline change: At the Sept. 13 meeting of the University Senate, the Senate Scholastic Standards Committee (SSC) brought forth a proposal to extend, align, and standardize the Pass-Fail and Withdraw deadlines. Their proposal sought to permanently change the deadlines for both Pass-Fail and Withdraw to occur at the same time and later in the semester, to the end of the 11th week of the semester. This proposal was approved by the University Senate, and took effect immediately. This means that starting in the Fall 2021 semester and going forward, Pass-Fail and Withdraw deadlines are at the end of the 11th week of the semester. The Pass-Fail policy applies to undergraduate students only; the Withdraw policy applies to undergraduate and graduate students.
  • First Day Complete with Barnes & Noble
    • At its April 27 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the implementation of the First Day Complete Program through Barnes & Noble. This program charges students a $285 per semester fee for textbooks and course materials for all registered courses at no additional cost from the bookstore. This is an optional program, open to all undergraduate students at Storrs and regional campuses; students can elect not to participate and not be charged. This will take effect beginning in Spring 2023. This initiative is designed as an affordability initiative to help students reduce the money they spend on books. The USG and SEC were involved partners throughout the development of this program for UConn, to ensure it would meet the needs of students and address faculty concerns.
  • Future of Journals
    • Finally, I want to thank the Library and the Future of Journals Committee for their hard work in initiating the transition to a new model for providing scholarly articles. Library staff continue to test and improve the request interface, with lots of feedback and encouragement from the many testers across the faculty. Dean Anne Langley and her team will be instrumental in working with our broader community to smoothly undertake implementation over the next year.

I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received coming into this new role. You are a thoughtful and hard-working community, each of you playing a critical role in the success of our faculty, staff, and students. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your provost.

Sincerely,
Anne

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

New Consulting Form Available

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Dear colleagues,

We’re writing to let you know that the new faculty consulting form is now available in the InfoEd system.

Access to the consulting form can be found via the Faculty Consulting website on the “Forms” page: https://consulting.uconn.edu/forms/. This page also includes a link to the old form, which will continue to be used for activities up to June 30, 2022, and to reconcile requests from fiscal year 2022.

Please be sure to consult the training materials that are available on the website, here: https://consulting.uconn.edu/training-materials/. PDF guides and short videos cover how to use the new form, including how to approve requests in InfoEd. We have worked with several faculty to test the form and help determine what guides and resources are most helpful.

If you have additional questions after consulting the training materials, I will be available to help with any issues. The best way to reach me is via email or a message in Microsoft Teams. Faculty who have helped us test the form have found it easy to create and approve requests, and in most cases, their questions have been supplemented by the guidance in the PDF and video resources.

In the Storrs/regional form you will also see that the end of the next reporting year for consulting has changed to May 22. We have draft policy changes we anticipate will be updated this summer that will change the consulting reporting year to align with the contractual year for faculty. This will mean that requests for work done during the summer will no longer have to be duplicated into two separate requests.

Best wishes,

Sarah Croucher
Director of Academic Policy & Faculty Affairs (Faculty Consulting Office, Storrs/Regionals)

sarah.croucher@uconn.edu

 

Reappointment of David Noble, Werth Institute Director

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Dear UConn Werth Institute Community:

I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of David Noble as director of the Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for a second term of five years, effective August 23, 2022.

This renewal recognizes Dr. Noble’s effective leadership as the founding director of the center, appointed in January 2018. A few highlights during his tenure thus far include development of several programs to engage a diverse constituency of students, a top 50 ranking for undergraduate and graduate programs in the Princeton Review Survey for Entrepreneurship, and facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration for faculty broadly across UConn. Notable program developments include NetWerx, a mentorship program matching students with alumni mentors; F3, an initiative that addresses gaps in entrepreneurship by supporting female and underrepresented students in developing entrepreneurial ventures; and HackUConn, which brings together students across all academic disciplines for 24 consecutive hours to form teams and develop solutions to significant problems. Additionally, Dr. Noble has been a driving force in raising the profile of the Werth Institute since its founding, working closely with the UConn Foundation and University Communications to elevate awareness of and support for the Institute.

The review process works best when it is collaborative and comprehensive. I am grateful to all of the faculty, administrators, and other key partners of the center who shared your feedback on Dr. Noble’s leadership. There were several common themes regarding his leadership, including his promotion of entrepreneurial collaboration in all areas of the University, supporting a safe and inclusive environment among his staff and students, and his effective engagement with external partners.

I also want to thank the review committee for their thoughtful oversight of this process. The committee was chaired by Amy Gorin, Professor of Psychological Sciences and Director of the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), and included the following members: David Ouimette, Executive Director, First Year Programs and Learning Communities; Kathy Rocha, Operations Director, Werth Institute; Mike Shor, Associate Professor of Economics; David Souder, Interim Director of the Stamford Campus and Professor of Management; Tara Watrous, Head of Entrepreneurial Transformation, Werth Institute; and Edward Weingart, Associate Professor of Technical Direction and Co-Director of the Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute. Alexis Cassan, Executive Assistant to the Provost and Chief of Staff, managed administration of the committee.

In sum, Dr. Noble has transformed student entrepreneurship at UConn. He is a dynamic and creative leader who I trust to continue to guide the Werth Institute to continued success. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Noble on his reappointment and thanking him for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the Institute.

Sincerely,
Anne

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Faculty Consulting Form Upgrade to InfoEd

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Dear Colleagues,

We’re writing with a brief update on a change to the faculty consulting system. Consulting requests for the new fiscal year will be submitted into the InfoEd system. We anticipate that this new form will be open for submissions on Friday, June 3. Requests for consulting activities that begin on July 1, 2022 or later (including those for ongoing activities) should be submitted into the new InfoEd system.

Once the system is open, we will send further communication with information on how to submit forms, with further training material available. The form is substantively the same as the last iteration. We are confident that this should mean that it is straightforward to use for submission and approval.

Consulting requests for the current fiscal year (through to June 30, 2022) should still be submitted in the current system. All reconciliations of consulting requests from FY 22 will also be completed in the current system. As always, we will send reminders related to reconciling consulting requests.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.

Best wishes,

Sarah Croucher, Director of Academic Policy & Faculty Affairs (Faculty Consulting Office, Storrs/Regionals)
Jody Terranova, Director of Faculty Consulting, UConn Health (Faculty Consulting Office, UCHC)

Contact details:

Storrs/regionals: Sarah Croucher (sarah.croucher@uconn.edu)
UConn Health: Jody Terranova (jterranova@uchc.edu) or Razan Jazeh (jazeh@uchc.edu)