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.
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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
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Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D. Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
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Updates from the Provost's Office
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ODI Synchrony JEDI Faculty Fellow
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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.
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South Campus Infrastructure Project
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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.
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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.
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Ship to Home Guidelines From Purchasing
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UConn Stamford Launches Eatery Meal Plan
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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 15th, 2023.
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Dean, School of Fine Arts Search
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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.
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UConn Nation got a doggone great surprise on Wednesday with the introduction of mascot-in-training Jonathan XV, a bundle of soft fur and happy puppy energy who’s learning the ropes from UConn’s resident good boy, Jonathan XIV.
With his ocean-blue eyes and facial markings that mirror the Husky logo, UConn’s 15th canine mascot arrived on campus earlier this month and has been happily settling in with his new de facto big brother.
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2022-2023 Board of Trustees Distinguished Professors
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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.
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Douglas J. Casa
Professor, Department of Kinesiology; Director, Athletic Training Education; Chief Executive Officer, Korey Stringer Institute; Research Associate, Human Performance Laboratory
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Lewis Gordon
Professor and Head, Department of Philosophy
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Bandana Purkayastha
Professor of Sociology and Asian and Asian American Studies; Associate Dean for Social Sciences, Regional Campuses, and Community Engagement
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“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.
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Provost's Outstanding Service Award
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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.
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Professor, Human Development & Family Studies
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IMPORTANT DATES, DEADLINES & EVENTS
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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
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Provost Summit for Student Success
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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.
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UConn is a great university.
But it's more than that. A top-ranked Land and Sea 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.
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