Welcome Back!
Dear Colleagues:
I am excited to start a new academic year. This one will be the first for Dr. Prezant,
as president, and the last for me, as your provost. Enrollment is strong and there
are a number of things on the horizon for us to keep in focus.
First, thanks to the work of Dr. Malone, associate provost, and the team in our Office of Academic Access and Support, we have 200 students enrolled
in our Accelerate, Complete, Engage (ACE) program. This program is funded through
a SUNY-wide transformation grant that supports student success and completion.
In addition, we are welcoming 29 new faculty to our campus, in support of our academic
programs. With a focus on faculty development and mentorship, Dr. LaBarbera, assistant
provost, will work closely with this group to create a sense of belonging, while preparing them to meet their faculty obligation with respect to teaching, scholarship,
and service.
There will also be a number of working groups and task forces created to advance our
academic mission. Specifically, I am looking to reframe the guidelines for promotion,
reappointment, and continuing appointment with respect to scholarship and service;
add new competencies to our general education framework to address civil discourse
and AI awareness; create campus policy and guidance around the use of AI for teaching
and learning; implement next steps in the creation of a distance-learning infrastructure
for online programs; and take a close look at open access publishing as it relates
to campus funding.
As we begin the 2024-2025 academic year, I ask that you remain engaged, connected,
and open to new perspectives. The future remains bright and full of possibilities
for innovation both within academic affairs and across divisions. Your work is a testament
to our collective success.
My very best wishes for a good semester,
Laura Joseph, EdD
Senior Vice President and Provost
