September 7, 2023
Dear Colleagues,
I hope your semester is off to a great start. Here is a quick update on matters of importance and opportunities.
Academic Portfolio Review
You can now access several documents related to the Academic Portfolio Review. These include:
- Revenue/Expenditure spreadsheet: Only accessible to UNCG faculty and staff. You can access the documents through the innovation/reinvention site. Please review the FAQs to assist you in interpreting this data.
- FAQs on the Revenue/Expenditure spreadsheet: Only accessible to UNCG faculty and staff. You can access the documents through the innovation/reinvention site.
- College/School Phase 1 and Phase 2 processes. Posted on the innovation/reinvention site.
Workload Policy
The UNC System has developed a new System faculty workload policy aimed at being equitable across the System and acknowledging that different campuses and individual faculty do equivalent but different work. Their policy requires individual institutions to create new workload policies in alignment with theirs. Individual institutions are beginning the work of developing policies for their faculty.
At UNCG Provost Fellows Dr. Amy Vetter (AMVETTER@uncg.edu) and Dr. Joyce Clapp (JFCLAPP@uncg.edu) are chairing a workload workgroup to develop a draft policy for my consideration. In the coming weeks, you will be receiving information about this effort from your units. At the moment, we just wanted to make you aware that this work is underway. While this occurs at the same time, we are engaged in program review, this process is not connected to the program review. Our goal is to develop an equitable workload policy that recognizes the different types of work faculty do.
Midterm Grades
Your prompt attention to submitting midterm grades is crucial for our students’ success. Please submit midterm grades for all students in your full-term undergraduate courses (graduate and part-of-term courses are exempt). Midterm grades will open Monday, 9/11 and close Friday at midnight on 9/22. Midterm grades are entered in UNCGenie in the same way as final grades. You can find complete instructions here. If you do not have formal assessments at this point in the semester to determine a midterm grade, please use other indicators such as student engagement, non-graded materials, and/or attendance as a proxy for their performance.
Midterm grades help direct students to action by providing valuable insights into their academic performance. To ensure our students receive the support they need to succeed, consider referring any students who may benefit from additional assistance to our tutoring, academic success, and academic advising resources that can be found here. Please prioritize this task as it significantly impacts their academic progress and our retention efforts.
AI Workgroup
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are affecting normal practices in higher education. To support faculty in their teaching and research roles, Vice Chancellor Terri Shelton and I are charging an AI workgroup co-chaired by Dr. Andrew Hamilton and Dr. Nir Kshetri to explore best practices, training, and other opportunities. If you are interested in being considered as a member of the workgroup, please send an email to Dr. Hamilton (ahamilton@uncg.edu) indicating your interest and a brief description of your expertise by September 22.
Coffee House
Please join us for coffee and conversation! The Provost’s Office is hosting a UTLC Coffee House on September 12 from 9-10 a.m. in the Mossman Building Atrium. Please stop by to chat and connect. A light, catered breakfast will be provided along with coffee and tea. There is no set agenda, just refreshments and great conversation.
National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
This is just a reminder that UNCG is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD; https://www.facultydiversity.org/home). Members can receive a weekly supportive email and access to the full NCFDD Core Curriculum (the ten key skills necessary to thrive in the Academy), guest expert webinars, intensive multi-week courses facilitated by national experts, a private discussion forum, 14-Day Writing Challenges, and the opportunity to connect with a writing accountability partner. Graduate students can also access resources including the Dissertation Success Program, designed for doctoral candidates who are focused on finishing their dissertation. To join, go to https://www.facultydiversity.org/join, click on UNCG in the drop-down menu, and then click on “activate my membership” to sign up.
Internal Faculty Research/Scholarship/Creativity Awards
Your research and creative activities enhance your teaching and are important to your career, discipline, and to UNCG. To support and recognize faculty successes, UNCG continues to provide internal research/scholarship/creativity awards. The deadline for the FY24 Internal Faculty Awards is Friday, October 13th by 5pm. An informational workshop is scheduled for Thursday, September 14th @ 2-3:30PM in MHRA 1607. For more information, click here.
Meet with the Provost
I am hosting small group sessions with instructors to listen, to encourage dialogue and foster a mutual understanding of our challenges and opportunities. If you are interested in joining a small group of colleagues in conversation with me, please note the following dates for the Fall 2023 sessions:
- Friday, October 27th 10-11 AM [virtual]
- Friday, November 17th 2-3 PM [in person]
- Tuesday, December 12th 10-11 AM [virtual]
To register, please use this form. You are asked to register for multiple sessions in hopes we can accommodate everyone’s busy schedules. You will receive a calendar invitation with a Teams or physical location confirmation for one of these meetings. If you have any questions about these sessions, please reach out to Provost Fellows Dr. Joyce Clapp (jfclapp@uncg.edu) and Dr. Amy Vetter (amvetter@uncg.edu).
Faculty Wellness
The Provost’s Office has a continuous focus on supporting faculty and staff holistic well-being. Dr. Connie Jones is curating and will lead several opportunities for faculty and staff to promote and engage activities dedicated to their holistic wellness. Please be on the lookout for these wellness opportunities this semester. We welcome you and look forward to seeing you at the events! In the meantime, feel free to contact Dr. Connie Jones via email: ctjones4@uncg.edu for any support for your unit/division or if you have any suggestions. A special thanks to faculty and staff for your hard work in recruiting and retaining students. Our fall-to-fall retention of our first time in college students has improved, an outcome due to your intentional activities inside and outside of the classroom. Thank you for caring about our deserving and capable students.
Be well,
Debbie
Debbie Storrs
Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor
University of North Carolina Greensboro
201 Mossman Building
Greensboro, NC 27412
336.334.5494