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Provost’s Message: Supporting Refugees at UConn

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Dear UConn Community,

As Afghan refugees continue to arrive in the United States, including the 300 who will soon be welcomed in Connecticut, many of us may wonder what we can each do to help. At the University of Connecticut, we have a number of partnerships, programs, and organizations that support those who have been forced to leave their homes from around the world, with Afghanistan just the most recent example. The Human Rights Institute, Office of Global Affairs, School of Law’s Asylum and Human Rights Clinic, School of Social Work, and UConn Health, for example, each provide unique, collaborative opportunities to support refugees and asylum-seekers through experiential learning, internships and practica, or clinics.

One of the most immediate ways to help Afghan refugees is to partner with refugee support organizations. This can include both volunteering with and providing donations to organizations that assist refugees. UConn is home to the Huskies for Refugees student group, which is actively identifying opportunities to help Afghan refugees. One of the leading resettlement organizations in Connecticut is Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, also known as IRIS. They offer a variety of ways to welcome refugees through community sponsorship groups and volunteering or interning at their main office in New Haven or satellite office in Hartford (to open in October). In Storrs-Mansfield, the IRIS community co-sponsor group is Quiet Corner Refugee Resettlement (QCRR). To inquire about volunteering, email qcrr.411@gmail.com, providing a brief description of your interests, skills or experience and general availability.

Another key action is to learn. UConn is one of few institutions with a human rights major. Many of our faculty across a broad array of disciplines bring a human rights focus to their scholarship and their classes. Students can take a variety of courses that will deepen their understanding of the complexity of events and circumstances that force refugees to leave their homes. We also organize public programming to provide a range of perspectives on refugee matters, including two key upcoming events. On September 23 Global Affairs will host “From Afghanistan to Connecticut: Afghan Perspectives on Forced Migration,” with details at https://s.uconn.edu/refugee-panel. On September 29, American Studies, Middle East Studies, and Asian and Asian American Studies will host “Afghanistan and the Course of U.S. Empire,” with details at https://s.uconn.edu/afghanistan-empire. The Benton Museum of Art is also currently hosting an exhibition, “Immigrant Eyes,” featuring the stories of immigrants in the state through the photography of Joe Standart.

Additionally, UConn can leverage, and has, its institutional resources and networks to support refugees. Through the Scholars at Risk program, we regularly host scholars from other countries where their research and teaching put their safety at risk. UConn is also a member of the New University in Exile Consortium, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and the Open Society University Network. The Office of Global Affairs and its Human Rights Institute will be reaching out to academic and administrative units to explore opportunities to expand these types of efforts to broaden our capacity to support refugees, including the potential to host Afghan refugee students and scholars at UConn.

These events can also affect members of our community at a personal level. Our Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the cultural centers and the Dean of Students Office are tremendous resources for support. Another source of community and action can be found in faith groups, a listing of which can be found on the UConn Faith website. SHaW is also available for students to seek counseling and therapeutic activities, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available through HR for counseling and referrals for employees.

One other way that we can contribute is by sharing our knowledge and experiences with each other and our communities. Many of our scholars present their research regularly through invited talks across the state, nationally, and globally. Students intern or volunteer in local community groups and agencies that work with refugees and asylum seekers, including conducting research or doing community needs assessments as part of that work. For example, through the Center for International Social Work Studies, student interns provide support for Hartford-based refugee initiatives. There are also numerous examples of community-engaged practices across UConn, including UConn Law’s Asylum & Human Rights Clinic, in which law students, working under faculty supervision, represent people who have fled from persecution and seek asylum in the United States. The Asylum and Human Rights Clinic collaborates closely with faculty and students at the School of Social Work and UConn Health, and has developed an innovative program in which interdisciplinary teams conduct week-long service trips to assist detained asylum seekers.

Our mission as an engaged, public research university includes sharing opportunities to help lift and support all, particularly those most vulnerable and in need. As a global university, we embrace this chance to lend our knowledge, our energy, and our resources to welcoming these newcomers in a spirit of solidarity. We encourage you to get involved and help us make an impact individually and collectively. We are always inspired by the ways Huskies rise to the occasion.

Sincerely,

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Daniel Weiner
Vice President for Global Affairs

Provost’s Message: Returning to In-Person Academics

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Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the start of the fall semester, I am sharing details on several items related to the classroom and other academic activities. Some of you have been on our campuses regularly over the past year and a half, while many others are beginning to make your first return back to your offices or classrooms in many months. This message provides information on a variety of resources and guidance to prepare for the start of this new academic year. I also encourage you to visit the University’s COVID website, to find information on our plans in one location, at covid.uconn.edu. Additionally, the Provost’s Office maintains a set of academic-related FAQs on our website.

I understand that our community is experiencing a mix of emotions as the first day of classes draws near. Our plans for the fall are intended to allow as much of a return to in-person operations as possible while still prioritizing the health and safety of our community. This includes keeping close watch of new developments such as the spread of the Delta variant. This is a true community effort, as multiple offices and teams have led our planning and preparations to come together again on our campuses.

At the same time as many of you are preparing for a return to our campuses, you’re also continuing to manage the complications of caregiving, family, and community responsibilities amid COVID. Self-care and compassion for others in this challenging time will be crucial to our success as we all navigate our return to in-person operations over the coming months.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Fall 2021 Guidance and Resource Highlights

Classrooms and In-Person Teaching

  • Masking: Masks are required in most indoor scenarios on campus, including the classroom, until further notice. The most up-to-date information on mask requirements across University settings can be found by visiting the UConn COVID website.
  • Distancing: We shared earlier this summer that classrooms would return to full capacity with the removal of distancing requirements. The most up-to-date information on distinctions in distancing across University settings can be found by visiting the UConn COVID website. We will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 and guidance from the state regarding distancing throughout the semester.
  • Ventilation in classrooms: Facilities Operations has been performing a number of strategies to improve ventilation in spaces, particularly in classrooms. Guidance for re-opening over the last year has focused on increasing ventilation rates, enhancing filtration, and increasing the percentage of outdoor air that circulates where possible. Please review their full report by clicking here.
  • Instructional modality: For Fall 2021, about 90% of classes are listed with an in-person modality. This includes lectures, discussions, labs, seminars, and hybrid courses. It does not include independent studies, field placements, practicums, etc. It also includes undergraduate and graduate courses, and all regional campuses.

    Aside from an ADA accommodation, the only instances in which classes may be taught in an online modality are based on sound pedagogy and the best interests of academic programming. With the semester set to begin shortly, additional changes based on pedagogical and academic programming reasons will be extremely limited and will require department head and dean approval.

    • Teaching assistants: Whether they serve as instructors of record or as leaders of a discussion or laboratory section, teaching assistants are expected to offer instruction in the modality for which a course was scheduled. Any change in teaching modality requires approval of the relevant department head and dean.
  • Classroom technology: IT provides a wide array of guidance on classroom technology in its Knowledge Base. These can be viewed here: https://confluence.uconn.edu/ikb/teaching-and-learning. In particular, you may want to bookmark the Classroom Quick Start Guide, https://s.uconn.edu/startclass.

    Instructors can request training on classroom and instructional technology from IT staff. Please click this link to be directed to the request form (requires NetID login).

  • Classroom and quarantine management: Throughout the last year, our office provided guidance in our FAQs on how to set expectations of behavior in your classrooms, managing accommodations for students in quarantine, and a host of other academic scenarios affected by COVID-19. Please click here to view our FAQS.

Other Academic Considerations

  • Travel: Travel Services has shared a number of updates regarding work-related travel. Please see their website, travel.uconn.edu, for the latest information. In addition to guidance from Travel Services, Human Resources has provided guidance on returning to campus post-travel.

    Employee personal travel follows guidance issued by the State of Connecticut. Visit their website for the latest guidance and restrictions at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel.

  • Field trips: There are no formal restrictions on domestic travel out of state. However, all faculty or instructors planning field trips should work with their department head and dean to assess potential COVID-related risks associated with their field trip. Guidance may also change throughout the semester, so faculty or instructors planning such trips should ensure they are following updated travel guidelines if these change at the State or University level.
  • Library Services: The Library is working to complete some projects that will both welcome our community back in a safe and welcoming manner, as well as increase the discoverability of resources. Changes have been made to platforms that access collections, including databases and the extension of electronic access to course reserves to the degree possible. Click here to learn more.
  • Events and Meeting Scheduling: Units will be permitted to host outside guests and speakers, subject to University public health restrictions. Because conditions can change quickly, any invitation to outside speakers should include a strong indication that changes or cancellation may be required if conditions worsen again. Please consult the latest UConn Campus Visitor Guidance for more information on hosting guests and events by clicking here.

    When scheduling events and meetings, consider how the time and format may affect the accessibility for potential attendees. For instance, an in-person event at 4 p.m. meant to appeal to junior colleagues may conflict with pick-up times from school or day care, and may be better suited to a different time and a virtual format.

  • Incident Reporting: The InForm website is a tool to help the UConn community navigate the reporting process and support available for a variety of incidents including bias, harassment, safety concerns, and other types of misconduct. InForm is available to anyone coming into contact with UConn, including students, faculty, staff, visitors, and community members who have a concern to report, including bystanders.
  • Syllabi: CETL has created a portal for faculty and instructors to upload their syllabi for students to review before starting classes. We encourage all faculty and instructors to upload your syllabi here as soon as they are available. Please click here to get started.
  • SET feedback: The Provost’s Office had for several years sent letters to faculty and instructors with feedback on high or low SET scores. After consultation with deans, the Faculty Standards Committee of the University Senate, and the AAUP, we have decided to no longer distribute these letters. SET scores will continue to be collected and shared; however, we heard growing concerns that these letters elevated the importance of SETs beyond their intended purpose. SET scores should be considered one of a set of measures to evaluate successful teaching. We appreciate the work being done in the classroom to support our academic mission and we will continue to find other ways to acknowledge our many examples of outstanding teaching and support continuous improvement in our educational mission.

    Campus Operations

    • COVID-19 testing: The University will offer testing for employees. The details are still being established and more information is forthcoming.
    • Training: Environmental Health and Safety has updated its COVID-19 safety training for this academic year. Please visit this link to access the training on the EHS website.
    • Tech check: ITS encourages faculty and staff to return early to test their on-site setups and notify ITS staff of any issues or equipment deficiencies. On and after Aug. 16, ITS will operate using a tiered approach that will allow their staff to efficiently serve as many people as possible with available resources.
      • If additional support is needed, faculty and staff are encouraged to request assistance remotely first, by submitting a support ticket through techsupport.uconn.edu. If issues remain unresolved at this point, ITS staff will schedule a time to assist you in-person.
    • Future of Work and Future of Learning reports: These two committees have produced reports with an overview of their recommendations. You may view the Future of Work report at this link, and the Future of Learning report at this link.
    • Cleaning and disinfection: Facilities Operations will follow guidance and best practices from the CDC. For more information, please click here to see a detailed update from Environmental Health and Safety.
    • Signage: University Communications has updated signage to reflect UConn’s restrictions and guidance in place for Fall 2021 as it relates to COVID-19 protocols. Many of these signs will be placed in university buildings by Facilities Operations; however, these are also available for departmental and office use. Please click here to view and download this signage.

    Updates from the Provost’s Office, April 30, 2021

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    Dear Colleagues,

    Our office and many partners across the University continue to be busily engaged in activities and planning in response to the operational impact of COVID-19. I share here a summary of notable updates, most of which stem from our planning efforts, as well as a few related to ongoing operations.

    In-person teaching exemption

    As vaccination rates increase and COVID-19 infection rates stabilize at lower rates, we have been preparing for a more fully in-person academic experience for fall 2021. We asked departments and faculty to use fall 2019 course proofs as their guide for course offerings this coming fall, which has resulted in the large majority of fall classes listed as in person.

    We hope to maintain in-person offerings as close to this level as possible. However, we also want to ensure accommodations are available for instructors and their household with significant health risk associated with COVID-19. Thus, we are setting up a process by which University representatives will review potential exceptions for individuals to switch their teaching modality from in-person to fully virtual instruction. The review will be based on age, pregnancy status, and the individual or someone in their household meeting CDC criteria with significant immunity suppression health conditions and based on medical documentation voluntarily supplied by the instructor from their medical provider. Exceptions will be considered in this process through the end of May. Full details will be provided next week.

    **Please note, these exceptions are specific to teaching assignments that are being brought forward now to ensure sufficient time for students registering and the class instructors to adjust to any modality changes. A separate process for employee re-entry in the fall is forthcoming at the end of May based on recommendations from the Future of Work Committee.

    COVID Impact Statements

    The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in disruptions in faculty’s teaching, research, and service activities. Because of that, UConn is engaged in large-scale efforts to account for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and find ways to provide needed support. As a specific strategy, the Provost’s Office has been researching COVID Impact Statements for inclusion in future performance review processes (e.g., Annual/Merit Review, PTR, and P&R).

    At this time, we encourage faculty to document COVID impact to their teaching, research, and service activities. We have developed guidance on COVID Impact Statements that includes a list of potential COVID-19 impacts that faculty may wish to address in such a statement. This is available on our website. Faculty who are interested should create a COVID Impact Statement that can be included in their PTR and annual review materials. Over the coming year we will work with deans, department heads, and faculty as well as the senate and AAUP to further develop the process for documenting and considering the short- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on our faculty.

    COVID PTR Extensions

    Tenure-Track faculty

    At the Board of Trustees meeting on April 28, we presented several informational items regarding COVID impact. These information items will be presented again at the May 19 meeting for a vote on adoption of each. We will be back in touch following the May 19 board meeting with more details.

    We have asked the Board to consider a one-year tenure clock extension for tenure-track faculty if they meet one of the following criteria: a) began their employment between March 2, 2020 and March 1, 2021; b) qualified for an FMLA-related additional year on their tenure clock during the COVID-19 pandemic and were thus prevented from taking the COVID extension as well; or c) did not take the extension in the previous year but whose work was impacted in this past year such that they would like to take the extension now. While this proposal does provide extensions to new faculty and several faculty who did not take the extension last year, it’s important to note that this proposal does not increase the number of extensions one may be granted and it does not allow for someone to take two COVID-related extensions.

    Clinical, In-Residence and Extension faculty

    The Provost’s Office has signed an MOA with UConn AAUP that allows non-tenure track faculty in their final one-year appointment prior to becoming eligible for a multi-year appointment to request a one-year delay toward their P&R review for their initial multi-year appointment effective academic year 2022-23. Provost’s Office staff will reach out directly to individuals who are eligible for this delay to provide more detail on process.

    International student needs

    As we look toward a more in-person fall semester, we know that many of our international students who went home due to COVID-19 may have difficulty returning to UConn for in-person classes even though some restrictions on travel are being lifted. While UConn will again offer international undergraduate students the opportunity to study at some of our partner institutions abroad, this option may not suit all students. Many of our upper-level students need very specific courses to graduate that are offered only in-person. Other students have major course requirements that are not offered through our partner institutions. We are working now to assess the extent of international student need for alternative course arrangements, and in the coming weeks the Registrar may be reaching out to departments for assistance to find a solution for our international students who cannot return to campus. Department Heads and Program Directors are encouraged, in agreement with their Deans, to identify flexible alternatives where appropriate.

    For more information about international graduate students, please plan to attend the Timely Topics session next Wednesday, May 5, at 11 a.m. Registration for the session is available in this online form.

    Core Curriculum forums

    After four years of research and consultations, the University Senate’s Delta General Education Taskforce (comprised of representatives of each school and college, as well as key administrative stakeholders) has published a proposed undergraduate Core Curriculum for Leadership and Global Citizenship: https://delta.senate.uconn.edu/

    First presented in an outline accepted by the University Senate in 2019, the taskforce has refined and developed the Core Curriculum based on feedback from students, faculty, and staff. The taskforce scheduled five forums in April and May, with two still remaining this semester:

      • Tuesday, May 4: 1-2:30 p.m.
      • Thursday, May 6: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    Click here, Delta GE Forum Registration, or if you are unable to attend one of these forums, feedback may be sent via email at delta@uconn.edu.

    Emeritus eligibility

    At the Board of Trustees meeting on April 28, we presented an informational item to expand eligibility for automatic emeritus status. Previously, any faculty member who was not at the rank of full professor and who had not served in this rank for at least five years had to apply to the University Retirement Committee to request emeritus status. The proposed changes, with the support of the University Senate, allow faculty who are at the rank of associate professor or equivalent in non-tenure track faculty ranks, and who have been at the University for at least five years, to automatically receive emeritus status. The changes also clarify the route through which emeritus status may be revoked and update the name of the Retirement Committee to the Emeritus Committee. These information items will be presented again at the May 19 meeting for a vote on adoption of each. We will be back in touch following the May 19 board meeting with more details.

    Future of Journal Subscriptions

    The Future of Journal Subscriptions continues its work to explore new strategies for providing access to journal articles for our faculty, staff, and students. Currently we are making progress but will need the upcoming academic year to test and evaluate potential new approaches. In the meantime, we will continue to support existing approaches to maintain existing access and services.

    Sincerely,
    Carl

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    Celebrating Promotion and Tenure Awards, 2021-22

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    Dear Colleagues,

    I write you all today in the spirit of celebration. I am very pleased to share that the Board of Trustees approved on April 28 the award of tenure and/or promotion to 72 individuals across the Storrs and regional campuses.

    This is a notable milestone for each faculty member awarded these promotions. I congratulate each of them on this culmination of many years of dedication to their disciplines, the advancement of knowledge, and service to UConn and the broader community. They are a credit to UConn’s reputation as a leading global research university.

    Applications for promotion and tenure are reviewed at the department level, school or college level, and finally at the Office of the Provost before recommendations are forwarded to the Board of Trustees. This process involves significant work on the part of each faculty member, as well as assistance and support of colleagues and administrative staff who provide guidance and manage many of the logistics through each stage of the promotion and tenure cycle.

    The awards of promotion and tenure are listed below, by school or college. Please join us in congratulating your colleagues who have been awarded this year.

    Sincerely,
    Carl

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

     

    College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

    Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

    • Yangchao Luo, Nutritional Sciences

    Promotion to Associate Extension Educator

    • Anoushka Concepcion, Extension
    • Jennifer Cushman, Extension

    Promotion to Extension Educator

    • Laura Brown, Extension
    • Cary Chadwick, Extension

    Promotion to Professor

    • Lindsay DiStefano, Kinesiology
    • Tricia Leahey, Allied Health Sciences

    Promotion to Research Professor

    • Laijun Lai, Allied Health Sciences

    School of Business

    Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

    • Alina Lerman, Accounting
    • Jose Martinez, Finance
    • Steven Utke, Accounting

    Promotion to Associate Professor In-Residence

    • Yaacov Kopeliovich, Finance

    Promotion to Professor

    • David Souder, Management
    • David Weber, Accounting

    Neag School of Education

    Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

    • Milagros Castillo-Montoya, Educational Leadership
    • Kenny Nienhusser, Educational Leadership

    Promotion to Professor

    • Robin Grenier, Educational Leadership

    School of Engineering

    Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

    • Kelly A. Burke, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
    • Bin Feng, Biomedical Engineering
    • Sheida Nabavi, Computer Science & Engineering
    • Xinyu Zhao, Mechanical Engineering

    Promotion to Associate Professor In-Residence

    • David Giblin, Mechanical Engineering
    • David Kaputa, Biomedical Engineering
    • Jason Lee, Mechanical Engineering

    Promotion to Professor

    • Jeongho Kim, Civil & Environmental Engineering
    • Helena Silva, Electrical & Computer Engineering
    • Yufeng Wu, Computer Science & Engineering

    Tenure as Associate Professor

    • Syam Nukavarapu, Biomedical Engineering

    School of Fine Arts

    Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

    • Christina Bullard, Dramatic Arts
    • Heejoo Gwen Kim, Digital Media & Design

    Promotion to Professor

    • Alexis Boylan, Art & Art History

    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

    • Robert Bagchi, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
    • Andrea Celli, Literatures, Cultures, & Languages
    • Ariel Lambe, History
    • Christin Munsch, Sociology
    • Jessica Rouge, Chemistry
    • Jonathan Trump, Physics
    • HaiYing Wang, Statistics
    • Ryan Watson, Human Development & Family Sciences
    • Jill Wegrzyn, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
    • Eiling Yee, Psychological Sciences

    Promotion to Associate Professor In-Residence

    • Laura Bunyan, Sociology
    • Miranda Davis, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
    • Darcie Dennigan, English
    • Anthony Rizzie, Mathematics
    • Diego Valente, Physics

    Promotion to Professor

    • Nathan Alder, Molecular and Cell Biology
    • Carol Atkinson-Palombo, Geography
    • Iddo Ben-Ari, Mathematics
    • Brendan Kane, History
    • Gustavus McLeod, Philosophy
    • Barbara Mellone, Molecular and Cell Biology
    • Emily Myers, Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences
    • Spencer Nyholm, Molecular and Cell Biology
    • Jeremy Pressman, Political Science
    • Luke Rogers, Mathematics
    • Peter Schweitzer, Physics
    • Lynne Tirrell, Philosophy
    • Epapante (Penny) Vlahos, Marine Sciences

    Promotion to Professor In-Residence

    • Amit Savkar, Mathematics

    School of Nursing

    Promotion to Associate Clinical Professor

    • Marybeth Whalen

    Promotion to Clinical Professor

    • Annette Jakubisin Konicki
    • Annette Maruca

    Promotion to Professor

    • Steven Kinsey
    • Natalie Shook

    School of Pharmacy

    Promotion to Clinical Professor

    • Jennifer Girotto, Pharmacy Practice
    • Lisa Holle, Pharmacy Practice

    Promotion to Professor

    • Brian Aneskievich, Pharmaceutical Sciences
    • Kyle Hadden, Pharmaceutical Sciences
    • Nathaniel Rickles, Pharmacy Practice

    School of Social Work

    Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

    • Caitlin Elsaesser

    Promotion to Professor

    • Rebecca Thomas

    Provost’s Message: Updates on our strategic planning process

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    Dear UConn Faculty, Staff, and Students:

    What is UConn at its best? This simple question is at the heart of our strategic planning process.

    Since the fall, the Provost’s Office has facilitated dozens of Visioning sessions and presentations to members and stakeholders throughout our UConn community. This question of “UConn at its best” has generated hundreds of thoughtful responses, all of which show a deep commitment and interest across our University to be a dynamic, inclusive, innovative, and entrepreneurial institution.

    By now, many of you are also well-versed in the three priorities of our strategic planning efforts set forth by President Katsouleas: doubling research and scholarship; providing Life-Transformative Education to every UConn student; and becoming a more powerful engine for the State of Connecticut. Without my prompting, I hear these priorities repeated in many of my meetings and conversations, which I see as an indicator that these priorities provide value as guideposts in future planning and align with goals broadly across the University.

    Our challenge now is to develop a process to identify the ideas with the greatest potential impact to realize a shared vision of “UConn at its best.” We have convened a broadly representative group of faculty, staff, and students from across our campuses and operations to serve on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. We have also tapped into the expertise of our own faculty: Greg Reilly, professor and department head of Management, is a leading expert on strategic planning and has joined our efforts as a co-chair. I encourage you to review the membership of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee on the Provost’s Office website.

    In the coming month, we will circulate a draft statement of UConn’s shared values that emerged from Visioning sessions. The aim of creating a statement of shared values is to capture and communicate collective beliefs about the most important facets of UConn culture. This statement helps remind us to stay true to our priorities and how we expect to work together. We will seek feedback on the draft from the full UConn community before the statement of shared values is finalized.

    This semester, the steering committee’s work is focused on refining a framework for our community to develop strategic challenges and opportunities that will help focus our actions to advance UConn in our three priorities. The committee members have begun to define a range of specific challenges to be considered for inclusion in the strategic plan. Additionally, the committee is developing a process for including the ideas and opinions of the wider UConn community in defining our highest priority challenges. We expect to share next steps in this effort early in the fall.

    This year has been focused, necessarily, on the immediate and the urgent. In many ways, this is the best time to be involved in strategic planning. It provides us with an opportunity to step away from day-to-day demands and look at the big picture. It also has the potential to bring us together as a community after so much time spent physically apart. And after a year of significant disruption, it’s a mechanism to help us think about where that change has been a catalyst and where it has been an obstacle.

    I look forward to engaging further with the community in strategic planning and encourage you to send any questions or comments to provost@uconn.edu.

    Sincerely,
    Carl

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    Recent Incidents in our Community

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    To the UConn community,

    In recent days, we have been made aware of several incidents of hateful conduct and speech directed at members of our community on the Storrs campus. This includes vile anti-Semitic graffiti on a building near Hillel and deeply offensive comments directed at members of the LGBTQ community, among others. Our disappointment is matched only by our concern: Any such attack on students, faculty, or staff members is totally unacceptable and has no place at this University.

    We are taking these incidents very seriously, and any violations of the law or the Student Code of Conduct will be answered with disciplinary measures and law enforcement where appropriate. But these matters are not only formal violations of codes and statutes: They are directly counter to the spirit and purpose of education, and inimical to the life of a community of scholars and students.

    The past year has been extraordinarily difficult for our University, our state, our country, and our world. Despite those hardships, many religious traditions observed this very week recognize the strength of faith and perseverance through the celebrations of Easter and Passover. Beyond these moments recognized by these specific traditions, there remains a true beacon for all of us of the importance of togetherness, compassion, and care displayed by the vast majority of UConn students, faculty, and staff members. We are emerging from a time of challenge as a stronger community, which is why these incidents are particularly hurtful and upsetting. We cannot – we will not – allow the hateful words and conduct of a few individuals damage the spirit of unity that animates this University.

    We want to direct you to some of the resources available at UConn, which help strengthen our community by celebrating our diversity:

    It is also important to remember that if you are the victim of or witness to a crime, the UConn Police Department is here to protect each and every member of our community.

    It is distressing to me that a letter like this one is necessary, but it is absolutely urgent for us to make clear to all of our students, faculty, and staff members that you are vital, valued members of the UConn community. For those who feel distressed or uncertain in the face of incidents of abhorrent conduct, let us be as clear as we can: Hate has no place here. Together, we will overcome this, as we can overcome any challenge when we face it as a united University.

    Regards,

    Tom Katsouleas
    President

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    Frank Tuitt
    Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

    Eleanor “Elly” JB Daugherty
    Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

     

     

     

    Provost’s Message: Planning Beyond our COVID Year

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    Dear Colleagues,

    Over the past 12 months, we have lived through a pandemic that has disrupted our lives and our work in nearly every way imaginable. When our University officially made a shift to virtual learning and work for the spring semester, one year ago, we weren’t sure how many weeks that would last. Then we started to wonder how many months it would last, as the decision soon carried forward to summer, then to fall, and now to spring again. Throughout, we have asked a lot of each of you, and you have accomplished feats that would have seemed impossible before the COVID-19 pandemic.

    As we shared in a message to the University earlier this week, we are hopeful that our campuses will return to a more fully in-person presence in the fall. For the short and long term, big questions loom, as we ponder the lasting effects of this pandemic on our institution.

    Many offices, teams, and individuals are already involved in conversations and planning on these issues. In order to bring our collective wisdom together and provide over-arching guidance, the University has convened two committees: Future of Learning (co-chaired by Senior Vice Provost Jeffrey Shoulson and Engineering Associate Dean Dan Burkey) and Future of Work (co-chaired by me and Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Chris Delello). I encourage you to click the links for each to learn more about these committees and their membership.

    We still face many unknowns, which means that flexibility must remain a constant guiding principle when it comes to serving our community. These groups will be crucial representatives of and advocates for the diverse voices and needs across our faculty, staff, and student populations. And they will be crucial in helping us undertake any changes necessary to our plans as they become needed.

    We also know that the pandemic will have lasting impacts on faculty and staff progression. The Provost’s Office and Human Resources also partnered on a COVID-Focused Work Balance Task Force in the fall to begin to capture issues and potential strategies and resources, some of which can be addressed in the Future committees, as well as in an effort being led by our office and the Office of Human Resources in collaboration with all University divisions to determine initiatives we can undertake to mitigate the impact of COVID. We are reviewing recommendations from this task force and will share more information in a future communication.

    The past year has been trying. We have seen many of the ways in which our community can pull together around a common cause, and we have also seen areas where we must do better. These efforts will be most successful if they both capture and incorporate the best of what we did this past year, as well as acknowledge where we struggled individually and collectively. Both will help us all work together to make UConn emerge even stronger in the years to come.

    Amid myriad challenges personal and professional for each of us, I am grateful to be part of a community that has sacrificed so much to continue our mission supporting our students and the State of Connecticut. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.

    Sincerely,
    Carl

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    Message to the Community About Fall 2021

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    To the University Community:

    Last week, we shared UConn’s plans for in-person commencement ceremonies at Rentschler Field honoring the Classes of 2020 and 2021, in addition to our online ceremony. These occasions will cap the end of a long and tumultuous academic year with a spirit of pride, togetherness, and celebration – and serve as one sign of our gradual return to normalcy.

    In that same spirit, we write to you today about a new beginning: returning to our campuses for the fall 2021 semester.

    Though there are of course unknowns and uncertainties that remain, there are signs that we are beginning to emerge from this pandemic. Given the accelerating pace of vaccinations, widening eligibility, and positive trends with respect to prevalence and infection, this spring and summer will be a crucial time to hopefully turn the tide for good when it comes to COVID. We encourage every member of our community to make an appointment to be vaccinated as soon as you are eligible.

    Knowing this, the University is actively planning scenarios for a fall reopening. As with everything related to the pandemic, how this will actually unfold will be based on public health guidance and circumstances at the time the fall semester is set to begin, meaning that we must remain as nimble and vigilant as we have been for the last year.

    We share our plans and goals below.

    ACADEMICS

    Students were able to begin registration for fall and summer classes yesterday, March 22.

    Similar to last year, nearly all courses for the summer will be offered online.

    For the fall, we are hopeful that we will be able to more fully return to an in-person student experience. To that end, students registering will see that the majority of courses are listed as in-person, close to the same levels as fall 2019:

    • 93% of undergraduate classes are listed as in-person, compared with 98% in fall 2019
    • 86% of graduate classes are listed as in-person, compared with 90% in fall 2019

    While we have entered the registration process with the goal of offering a more fully in-person academic experience next year than was possible this year, we will be flexible moving forward to support evolving academic needs in our schools and colleges. Moreover, we will be closely monitoring guidance on social distancing, vaccination rates, and other public health indicators over the next few months that could affect these levels of in-person experiences. If any of these indicators result in significant changes to our expected levels of in-person academics, we will share that update as soon as possible.

    Throughout this year, the University has implemented a variety of health and safety measures with respect to issues such as distancing and airflow in classrooms, offices, and other facilities, and we will continue to adjust those measures as we prepare for a larger and denser population returning to our campuses.

    STUDENT LIFE

    Our fall plans are always contingent on guidance from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).  Given the increasing prevalence of vaccine in the world, it is likely that all students will have the opportunity to be vaccinated before returning to campuses in the fall, and all are strongly encouraged to do so.  UConn will plan to offer vaccinations to any returning students who have not been vaccinated, with a priority on residential students.  Regional students will be advised to obtain the vaccine through their medical provider over the course of the summer.

    All students will be asked to notify the University over the course of the summer when they have received the vaccine.  While receiving the vaccine is not mandatory at this time, we cannot emphasize enough how much being vaccinated matters and informs the University’s ability to successfully reopen.  Please follow your state and national guidelines for vaccination and take advantage of appointments when they arise.  In the United States, the CDC has suggested all individuals over 16 years of age should have access to an appointment by May.

    The University currently plans for our residence halls to return to higher density – as high as approximately 90% — depending on public health circumstances at the beginning of the fall semester. The residential community will continue to plan for holding some bed space for quarantine and isolation should COVID-19 remain present at UConn.  That number will be determined over the course of the summer following DPH guidance.  Student Affairs will send more information to students on residential capacity on March 31.

    Masking and many distancing requirements will remain in place in the fall and will follow state and federal guidance.  The University will adapt its current color-coded system to reflect the ability to relax some restrictions as vaccination rates increase and guidance allows.  The color-coded system will affect the capacity of facilities such as the Recreation Center and the Student Union, student activities, dining, and residential life.

    STAFF WORKFORCE

    While employees who are vital to maintaining physical campus operations and conducting research have been working in person consistently for the duration of the pandemic, along with faculty and graduate students who taught in-person courses, many of our valued staff have been working remotely.

    Those who are working remotely should plan on doing so through approximately Aug. 15. This does not mean that all employees who are working remotely will be required to come to campus on that date. Some employees who will play a needed role in preparing our campuses for the return of students and the beginning of the fall semester may be asked to report to work over the summer in advance of move-in and the start of the academic year. An employee who needs to come to campus at any time may do so with the agreement of their manager and Human Resources.

    As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, many employees who could do so have appreciated the ability to work remotely over the course of the last year and are just as productive working from home – or more so – than when working in an office environment full-time. Others much prefer an office environment and are more productive there. For many employees and managers, a hybrid approach between the two, when possible, would be ideal, provided the University’s business needs are being met.

    Given this, the University is in the process of examining new policies and approaches that may allow for greater flexibility for managers and employees when it comes to remote working in the future – beginning this fall – while ensuring that fair, equitable and consistent criteria can be implemented across the University, balanced with University needs. More on that in the coming weeks.

    A new approach to remote working is only one example of changes we are considering.

    GOING FORWARD

    As noted above, there are clearly lessons to be learned from our experience during the pandemic with respect to learning, working, and the long-term effects for individuals and society.

    In some cases, those lessons present challenges we will need to address, and in others, they can present opportunities to change and innovate. To that end, the University has convened two committees to think about and plan for potential short-term and long-term impacts in our daily operations: the Future of Learning committee  and the Future of Work committee.

    Over the coming weeks and months, these groups will meet to discuss and recommend any number of changes and new approaches the University may adopt as we work to address problems and evolve for the better based on our experience during the pandemic. The Provost will provide additional information and details on both of these efforts this week, as well as through the coming months.

    We have also seen the pandemic exacerbate inequities and evoke discrimination that disproportionately affects many in our community, from higher rates of COVID infection and serious illness among people of color and other populations, to heightened violence against Asians and Asian Americans, to increased caregiving demands. Our University can play many roles in addressing these concerns, both locally in supporting the needs of our own community, and broadly in applying our scholarly expertise to better understand and improve these issues at a societal level.

    RE-ENTRY PLAN

    The University will present its formal fall 2021 re-entry plan during the week of May 24, which will include similarly detailed plans as were adopted prior to the start of the past two academic semesters. We expect these plans will be updated throughout the summer based on circumstances.

    With respect to vaccinations, please note that because each of the three vaccines have to date been approved on an emergency basis only, the University is not able to require that anyone – student or employee – receive it. Please also recall that UConn does not have its own vaccination plan; we are implementing the vaccination plan created by the state Department of Public Health, which determines prioritization and timetables. UConn cannot create its own system of prioritization. The state has announced that it expects that all people over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive the vaccine as of April 5 in Connecticut.

    So there is still much work to do, but we believe we have good cause to be hopeful about our future. It is with a growing sense of relief, optimism and confidence that we look to our return.

    Sincerely,

    Tom Katsouleas
    President

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    Scott Jordan
    Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Administration

    Provost’s Message: A Moment of Gratitude

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    Dear UConn Faculty, Staff, and Students:

    As we approach the end of finals and the end of this semester, I want to share my immense gratitude for your individual and collaborative efforts these last several months.

    Teaching, learning, and researching in a pandemic has come with an unprecedented scale and volume of challenges. We are working apart physically, but highly collaboratively in our approach to creating solutions. When I look back comprehensively at everything we have implemented to continue the academic mission, the sum of your efforts is astounding. I want us each to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished this semester; I’m sharing a summary here as a start toward recognizing how each member of our community has contributed to our ability to keep moving forward.

    Faculty
    Many of you had the dual challenge of advancing your research while also teaching courses. And you weren’t just teaching; for many of you, you had to reinvent your course materials for remote or hybrid delivery, or in socially distanced conditions. You also served as advisors and mentors to your students, striving to keep them engaged and supported as they adapted to change and challenges, as well. Many of you spent significant time evaluating policy and by-law changes, as well, to allow more flexibility for students. Some of you have been directly involved in combatting COVID-19 through your research and as advisors to committees and task forces, locally and at the state level. We know for many of you, your research productivity has been challenged, too, which is an issue we are taking seriously. We have convened a group to assess COVID-19 work-life balance among academics, and are putting together a group to study gender gaps arising from the effects of the pandemic. We have asked a lot of you, and I am grateful for your efforts and your feedback through the semester.

    Staff
    I’ve said before that staff keep UConn running. This has never been more true than these past several months. As an entire University continued to work primarily remotely, you organized countless WebEx meetings and provided technical support on a massive scale. You advised students on their coursework and changes to policy, and continued other crucial academic support services to help students succeed and prepare for their careers after graduation. You developed FAQs and contributed to many other communications to keep constituencies informed of important changes. You kept our campuses safe and clean and heated and cooled, you housed and fed on-campus populations, you kept construction projects going, and you kept the transit wheels turning. You were flexible and responsive in extending deadlines, updating forms, and sharing feedback on potential procedural changes. You’ve administered testing for thousands of students and employees, and now you’re preparing to administer vaccines. Throughout it all, you have been invaluable partners and leaders in moving us ahead through a pandemic.

    Graduate Students and Postdocs
    In any semester, graduate students are managing multiple roles, often as student, educator, and researcher, and postdocs are pushing the frontiers of knowledge forward while serving as mentors and guides to graduate and undergraduate students. The pandemic made what is a challenging role in normal times even more challenging and complicated. As teachers, you’ve overcome many of the same challenges as faculty in having to adapt your course materials. As scholars, many of you have had to change the approach to your research as travel to field sites or archives has been impossible. For many of you the great uncertainty often associated with life after your degree is even greater because of the enormous changes in employment and the economy. Yet through it all, you have been involved partners throughout our planning efforts, making sure your voices and concerns are considered as the University makes decisions. I have appreciated your input and that of graduate student leaders and will continue to seek your comments on how we can support your unique challenges.

    Undergraduate Students
    Your image of your college experience certainly looked different than what it has been over nearly the past year. I and my colleagues have been so appreciative of the level of care and responsibility you have shown to keep each other safe by following the behavioral best practices laid out in the UConn Promise. You have also been critical in helping the Office of the Provost, and our schools and colleges know what has been working in your courses and where we can improve. Undergraduate student leaders have also been essential partners in advocating for flexible policies for students who are facing unique sets of challenges. I am thankful for your care and concern.

    Taking Care
    The pace of the last several months has been intense, as each week, and often each day, has brought a new challenge to address. I know the pandemic’s impact stretches beyond your professional lives and has also influenced your personal lives, as children and relatives require additional care and support, or you’ve experienced illness or loss affecting a loved one. I hope for each of you that you can find moments between the fall and spring semesters to rest and reset. You have my deepest appreciation for everything you do.

    Sincerely,
    Carl

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    Provost’s Message: A semester unlike any other

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    Dear UConn Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students:

    What a semester this has been. You have each been working at a persistent pace to adjust and adapt to different teaching modalities, research restrictions, and myriad other modified services for students, staff, and faculty. As we head into the Thanksgiving Break, I hope that each of you can take time to unwind, reset, and unplug.

    When we all return after the break, we’ll be completing the last couple of weeks of classes and finals. There are many ways this will be different than a normal semester, so I thought it would be helpful to share a summary of resources and reminders.

    Class modality
    All classes will be taught remotely after Thanksgiving Break, from Nov. 30 through Dec. 7, followed by Reading Days from Dec. 8 through 13; no classes, assessments, or due dates for assignments (mandatory or optional) can occur on these reading days. When we return for the spring semester, all classes will be held remotely from Jan. 19 through 29. If public health and safety conditions allow, classes will resume in their indicated modality, starting Feb. 1.

    Finals
    Final exams are scheduled from Dec. 14 through 16, and Dec. 18 through 20. Dec. 17 is a Reading Day (with the same stipulations for reading days noted above).

    If your class includes a final exam, this exam must be conducted remotely. Instructors choosing another form of assessment aside from a final exam should have indicated this with the Registrar via the opt-out form.

    The use of Lockdown Browser with Respondus monitor during online examinations may be a useful way to help promote academic integrity. If you plan to use Lockdown Browser with Respondus monitor but have not provided notice to your students yet or have not conducted a practice run as recommended, please do so as soon as possible. This will allow students an opportunity to identify any potential complications that may arise during the final exam, e.g. technology, accommodations, or objections to accepting the Lockdown Browser’s terms of use agreement. Please work with your students who identify such complications during the practice or actual exam. Further guidance is available at ecampus.uconn.edu/keep-teaching-assessment.

    Reduced student presence on campus
    The majority of students living in residence halls will have moved off-campus by this weekend, as has been the university’s plan since the beginning of this semester. Students who need to stay on campus in residence halls will be allowed to do so, with modified services available. All students leaving campus have been required to take a COVID test before leaving to promote safety beyond our campuses.

    Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs)
    Based on a proposal put forward by the Senate Faculty Standards Committee, and a supportive vote from University Senate, Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs) will be required for all courses in the current fall semester. The proposal further made a request for the “administration to consider the potential impact of the pandemic on faculty as they analyze and apply SET results from Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.” I believe this is a very reasonable request and I indicated my support for it in the Senate meeting and I reiterate that support here.

    Specific to SETs for the current fall semester, please note these two important reminders:

    1. Instructors have the opportunity to add three additional open-ended questions to their SET surveys. Instructors of regularly scheduled courses may add their questions starting on Saturday, Nov. 21 through Friday, Nov. 27. Please visit oire.uconn.edu/set/set-support.
    2. SET invitations will be emailed directly to students two weeks before the last scheduled day of the course (or one week, if the course is less than six weeks long). This link to SETs will also be available for students on their HuskyCT homepage. Instructors will have the ability to check the response rate of their survey(s) during the survey period.

    Inclement weather guidance
    The University recently shared a reminder of procedures and practices in the event of delays, cancellations, or closures due to inclement weather. Of note, if a decision is made to cancel classes, that will apply to all classes, both in-person/hybrid and online. While we certainly understand why an instructor teaching an in-person or virtual course might want to offer a class virtually to avoid losing a class period, there are a variety of factors that necessitate the canceling of classes applies to all classes. These factors include access limitations to virtual classes that may result from power outages and other weather-related complications, as well as significant uncertainty and complications for students adjusting to last-minute modality changes.

    Research precautions
    While there are no plans to ramp down research activities at this time, we do encourage you to review the precautions in place to maintain health and safety in research settings, as well as updates on Undergraduate Research participation. The Office of the Vice President for Research and the Provost’s Office shared a joint update earlier this week, which you can find here: provost.uconn.edu/2020/11/17/maintaining-a-commitment-to-health-and-safety-in-research-activities.

    Spring re-entry
    All students living in on-campus residences will be tested by the start of the spring semester and will quarantine during the first two weeks of classes.

    All employees who will work regularly on campus in the spring should expect to be tested. Supervisors are also being asked to update their registry to indicate which employees will need to be on campus regularly to perform their job duties. Human Resources recently shared information on employee testing protocols that cover the winter break and the start of the spring semester. Please review those details here: hr.uconn.edu/employee-covid-testing.

    Travel
    In general, employee domestic and international travel for work purposes remains heavily restricted, in line with State of Connecticut guidance. We also encourage employees to be mindful of state guidance as you consider holiday travel plans. Please visit hr.uconn.edu/employee-domestic-travel and travel.uconn.edu to access more details on UConn travel requirements, as well as State of Connecticut guidance.

    Gratitude for your efforts
    All of the updates and resources above represent countless hours of collaboration and ingenuity across more offices than I can list here. I’ve said many times that one of the things that makes UConn so great is the people. This has been apparent throughout this semester as I’ve seen so many faculty, staff, and students work collaboratively to make the best of a challenging situation together. Thank you and please be safe over this much-needed break.

    Sincerely,
    Carl

    Carl Lejuez
    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    Updates for the Academic Community

    Provost’s Office Community Office Hours
    The Provost’s Office continues to host office hours for any member of the community to connect with our leadership. Upcoming times can be viewed on our homepage, provost.uconn.edu.

    Vice Provost Michael Bradford is hosting themed office hours for two of his upcoming dates:

    • COVID Workload Issues for Spring, 2021(faculty and academic staff only), Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. RSVP here.
    • New faculty of color, Dec. 8, 1 to 2 p.m. RSVP here.

    Black and Brown Faculty Networking Event
    The Provost’s Office, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and Human Resources are partnering to host a virtual networking event for Black and brown faculty, on Dec. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. RSVP here.

    Faculty and Staff of Color Town Halls
    The Office for Diversity and Inclusion is hosting two town halls for faculty and staff of color in December. The first town hall is for Staff of Color (Dec. 3, 9am-11am) and the second is for Faculty of Color (Dec. 16, 1-3pm). The first 60 minutes of each event will include remarks and updates from President Tom Katsouleas, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Frank Tuitt, Vice Provost Michael Bradford, and Provost Carl Lejuez followed by a Q&A session. The subsequent hour will be used for discussion among attendees. If you can attend, please register HERE by Nov. 23. Supervisors are also asked to be flexible in allowing their employees to attend these events.

    International student access to HuskyCT
    International students have access to HuskyCT through UConn’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) and in the vast majority of situations this has been working reliably. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have reliable internet connections and to abide by the laws and regulations where they are located. However, ITS is aware of some situations where students have demonstrated the inability to access components of the course due to firewall restrictions in their home country. Some foreign countries may limit or prohibit access to certain US websites. If students in your class reach out to you with this kind of access issue, please make reasonable accommodations to ensure that they are able to have access to necessary course materials.

    Student employment guide
    The Office of Student Financial Aid Services – Student Employment has recently produced a guide with frequently asked questions regarding student employment in university positions. The guide can be found at studentjobs.uconn.edu/employment-guide.

    General Education Course Enhancement Grant Competition
    Each year, the Provost’s Office General Education Course Enhancement Grant Competition awards several proposals up to $7,500 to revise existing Gen Ed courses in innovative ways or create new ones to enhance the General Education curriculum at UConn. The deadline for this year’s competition is Dec. 4. Details on submitting proposals can be found at geoc.uconn.edu/course-development-grant-competition.

    Center for Career Development Affinity Communities
    The Center for Career Development recently introduced its new Affinity Communities, which are identity-focused groups that provide specialized content that integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion within the career development journey. A key feature are the Student and Alumni Success Stories featuring current students, recent alumni, and “further-out” alumni who have shared their stories, insight, and advice. All faculty and staff are welcome to direct students to these pages to find student groups, events, mentors, and more. The Affinity Communities landing page can be found at career.uconn.edu/affinitycommunities.