February has been an exceptionally busy month. We’re nearing the end of the annual promotion, tenure and reappointment cycle; introducing new PTR/PR software; preparing for academic unit budget hearings; and working on planning for the next academic year.
By now you’re likely all aware of the current situation with the governor’s proposed biannual budget and its potential impact on UConn. I have been participating in meetings with President Maric, UConn leaders, and legislators actively working on ways to bridge the gap between UConn’s request and the governor’s proposal. In undertaking this work I have been tremendously inspired by our UConn students and their extraordinary vision and leadership in protesting the proposed budget and highlighting the profound impacts it would have on their education. It was good to see them turn out in force for a peaceful and passionate protest on February 15, and also to see the large number of faculty and staff who joined them in solidarity.
UConn students and students from the Connecticut state universities and community colleges spoke at a panel that night to address the impact of the proposed budget on their universities. With other University leaders, I attended in person to support the students, and was moved by the thoughtfulness and depth of their testimony. I was proud to see so many Connecticut students actively using their voices to initiate change. It reminds me how lucky we are to have the opportunity to help nurture and educate our students to be the future leaders of our state and nation. I was also impressed by the focus, respect, and good will that our state legislators brought to their interactions with all of us but especially the students – their dedication to the public good was clear at every moment.
I also want to acknowledge that, despite all that we have going on, it’s important to reflect on our community wellbeing. Earlier this month, we learned of another tragic mass-shooting on a university campus. The safety of our students, staff and faculty is of the utmost importance all of UConn’s campuses. I encourage all faculty and staff to check in with your units to make sure you know your unit’s emergency plans. And most importantly, I encourage us all to check in with each other. This could mean allowing time for students to share their feelings during class or office hours; making a referral to the CARE team if you are concerned about a student’s wellbeing; setting up time to meet individually with direct reports to see how they are doing; or just meeting up with a colleague for a coffee to catch up. Supporting each other is how we will continue to move forward together.
All best,
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Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D. Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
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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.
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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.
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If you are not delivering a final exam in Spring 2023, we ask that you fill out a brief form to notify the Registrar that you are opting out. We are asking for those who use another method of assessment (portfolios, projects, etc.) to let us know so that the room and/or time may be available for other instructors during the assessment period. It is also important that instructors recognize that due dates for these alternative forms of final assessment should not fall on days designated as reading days. As always, all due dates should be indicated on the syllabus at the beginning of the semester.
Many of our instructors have used other forms of assessment that align more purposefully with their intended learning objectives. Assessment formats can include individual or group-based strategies, e.g. projects, portfolios, papers, team-based work, creative works, performances, presentations, and other assessments in lieu of final exams.
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Class Absences Due to Illness
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At this time of year, and considering the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to remind faculty that students are not required to provide “sick notes” or “medical excuses” when they miss classes, and such excuses should not be requested from them. More generally, per the university Senate By-laws, student grades should not be reduced because of a student’s absence. Please exercise flexibility and understanding for students who may miss class or classwork due to illness. Faculty should also exercise caution in attending class if they are feeling sick. Our community’s health and wellbeing remains a priority of the University. If any other COVID-related questions or issues arise during the remainder of the semester and academic year, you may find our COVID-19 FAQs for Academic Operations to be helpful, but as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our office directly at [log in to unmask] if you would like additional support.
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Spring 2023 Pop-Up Courses
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Why the Jews? Confronting Antisemitism
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Emeritus Status Nomination Deadline
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Faculty who retire at the rank of associate professor (or equivalent clinical, in-residence, and extension titles) and who have at least five years of service are automatically recommended for emeritus status to the Board of Trustees. However, faculty or other related staff who retire and do not meet these conditions can only be considered for emeritus status if nominated to the Emeritus Committee. The next deadline for submitting materials to this committee is April 1. Further details, including guidelines for nomination materials, can be found on the Office of the Provost website.
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On February 10, the Provost’s Office held virtual town hall offering a brief overview of Interfolio’s Review, Promotion and Tenure and Dossier Modules and to answer questions from the community about the rollout of this new system. A recording of the Town Hall, and dates for future open office hours with Interfolio system administrators are available on the Interfolio @ UConn webpage.
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We are pleased to share that four candidates have been selected as finalists for the Dean of the School of Nursing position. The candidates will visit Storrs and UConn Health the week of February 27, 2023. We encourage you to participate in public 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. Information on candidates including CVs, public forum meeting links, and feedback surveys are available on this page.
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Executive Leader Onboarding
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Another session of the Executive Leader Onboarding series was held on Thursday, February 9 at the UConn Waterbury campus. Senior administrators participated in dynamic discussions with University Safety and ITS about safety in the workplace and online. Participants learned about university safety resources, emergency response guidelines, and how the University manages critical incidents on-campus. They also received an overview of the IT support systems and structures at UConn and UConn Health, with a focus on the overarching goals of ensuring IT security. Waterbury Campus Director Fumiko Hoeft also presented on the highlights of UConn Waterbury and led an exciting tour of the campus.
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Student Athlete 3.0 Night
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On February 15, the Student Athlete Success Program and Division of Athletics held their annual 3.0 Night celebration at the UConn Women’s basketball game vs. CCSU. The event recognized student athletes who achieved a 3.0 or better in the Spring ’22 and/or Fall ’22 semesters. We are proud and inspired by our student athletes who display excellence both in their sport, and in the classroom. We are so proud of the work completed by Ellen Tripp, the director of the Student-Athlete Success Program (SASP), as well as all of the counselors and advisors in this unit for the valuable support and academic counseling they provide to our student-athletes, helping to ensure their academic success.
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Recognized were:
429 students who achieved a 3.00 semester GPA or higher for either Spring 2022 and Fall 2022.
73 enrolled student-athletes who earned a term GPA of 4.0 in Spring '22 and/or Fall '22 term.
23 enrolled student-athletes who maintain a cumulative GPA of 4.0 through the Fall '22 term
Currently, sixteen of our teams have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
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Highlighting Interdisciplinary Scholarship at UConn
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The Eversource Energy Center, founded in 2015 at UConn in partnership with the Eversource Energy Company, is a unique research institute whose mission is “to be the foremost energy utility-academia partnership advancing leading-edge interdisciplinary research and technology assuring reliable power during extreme weather and security events.”
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Academic Affairs Spotlight
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The Office of the Provost and the units that report in academic affairs are staffed and led by an outstanding group of talented and dedicated colleagues. This month we are spotlighting Dr. Tadarrayl Starke, Associate Vice Provost of the Institute for the Student Success.
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IMPORTANT DATES, DEADLINES & EVENTS
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The Role of Radical Optimism in Changing Higher Education with Dr. Christina Katopodis.
March 2, 2023 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Student Union Ballroom
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Timely Topics is a series of opportunities to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to those who support and advise graduate students and programs. Two tracks are offered for this series: one designed for faculty and one designed for faculty who hold an administrative role and staff, however every session is available to anyone interested in joining. All sessions will be held as a WebEx meeting. Links for each meeting will be sent directly to registrants and follow up materials will be posted on our website. Slides, recordings, and resources from past sessions can always be found at The Graduate School’s Timely Topics webpage.
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February 27-March 3, 2023: On-Campus Nursing Dean Candidate Interviews March 2, 2023: Cultivate March 13-March 17, 2023: Spring Break
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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.
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