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Rumor down at the faculty club

Last updated on 01/12/2018

is that Prof. Harper is on it.

The Faculty Club will reopen Wednesday Jan 24 (Corrected from Jan 17). Wednesdays 5-7, Thursdays 5-7, Friday 4-6.

8 Comments

  1. Dog 01/10/2018

    Since 1 CR PE courses are taught by Faculty, then we should honor these real faculty and our real faculty club.

    • Old Gray Mare 01/11/2018

      A small correction: the Faculty Club reopens January 24. There is, however, a talk on the tapestries at 5:30 on the 17th in the JSMA (Vera Keller on “The Baroque Science of Color”).

  2. Anonymous 01/11/2018

    Unrelated, you might want to take a look at what is happening to TLC.

    • uomatters Post author | 01/11/2018

      If you know something, say something.

      • Anonymous 01/12/2018

        Dear Colleagues,

        I write to share some important changes coming to Undergraduate Studies. Over the last several months, I’ve spent a lot of time learning about what UGS does, the many strengths that each unit brings to the division, and opportunities for efficiency and alignment. As you all know, Undergraduate Studies has been tasked by the president with the significant task of enhancing student success at UO. Retention and graduation rates are of course key metrics. Student success also depends on our ability to offer a meaningful, comprehensive, and rigorous education to all our students, while giving them the support they need to make the most of that education.

        After many meetings and conversations with leaders in UGS, I’ve decided that, to maximize student success, we need to place programs that have been highly successful in impacting students (from retention and graduation rates to holistic student support services ) within a new arrangement for our division, enabling us to expand synergetic relationships that will make our efforts even more robust.

        To that end:

        Pathway, Trio SSS, and the Health Professions Program will become part of the Office of Academic Advising (OAA), with OAA reporting to Doneka Scott;
        TLC tutoring and academic support programs will remain under Amy Neutzman’s supervision, with Amy reporting to Doneka Scott;
        FIGs, ARCs and Common Reading will also become part of Doneka’s portfolio, which will weave academic support and first-year enrichment into a wrap-around system for student success, especially in the first two years;
        McNair will move under Josh Snodgrass in a team focused on undergraduate research and experiential learning;
        Ron Bramhall will continue working on core ed and curriculum reform, but he will be formally “detailed” from OPAA into a 0.5 role as AVP for Undergraduate Academic Excellence, with reporting line to the UGS Dean and Vice Provost;
        TLC administrative support staff will be reassigned to central UGS duties, with appropriate consultation and evaluation;
        Teaching Engagement Program will have a new relationship with both the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs and Undergraduate Studies, with further details to follow.

        I also want to take advantage of Susan Lesyk’s experience and success in developing programs that enhance the student experience. She will be joining a team that will be charged with implementing an advising and support program for students during their first two years on campus, and leading a series of critical assignments at the heart of student success. In assuming this new role, she is being promoted to Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Academic Initiatives.

        While the effective date for change in reporting lines is 1 February 2018, we will work out detailed and tailored transition plans for each unit and individual experiencing a change. Consultations will begin immediately to work out ways to minimize disruption of student services and help units and individuals shift to the new organizational structure along timelines and following processes that make sense for our operations, services, and staff.

        As reporting lines and some positions may change, everyone in UGS will continue to have a place within the division. This reorganization is not designed to reduce our FTE or eliminate positions, but instead to maximize integration and build a unified team to advance the university’s student success agenda.

        The issue of space allocations continues to evolve, but over time, all UGS units will be located in the Knight Library, Oregon Hall, or the new Tykeson Building. A number of these moves will take place during winter and spring terms 2018. Timing of moves will be a part of the individualized transition plans mentioned above.

        Excellent work has been done on student success within every UGS unit. These changes will present the opportunity to continue this work in a more streamlined and efficient way, while taking advantage of the experience and expertise that exists within UGS

        That said, change is always hard, and I am committed to providing, open, public space to share our perspectives on major changes. I want to hear from you and answer your questions as best I can. To that end, I have scheduled two open forum meetings:

        The first will be especially for TLC staff members (though all are welcome) and will be tomorrow, Friday (1/12) from 5-6:30pm in the Swindells room in the EMU
        The second will be for all UGS staff on Friday, January 19th, 5-6:30pm in the Harrington Auditorium (room 101) in Jacqua.

        I realize that, given the short notice, many of you will not be able to attend at either of these times. Maeve Anderson will be in touch to schedule other meetings either by unit, or in open forum format, beginning next week.

        If you would like to submit questions or comments anonymously in advance, please do so through this qualtrics survey. And of course, please do feel free to reach out to me directly at any time.

        With thanks for your understanding and collaboration,

        Dennis

        Dennis Galvan
        Interim Vice Provost and Dean, Undergraduate Studies
        Professor of Political Science & International Studies
        University of Oregon

        • honest Uncle Bernie 01/12/2018

          blah blah blah? blah blah?

          Little of this stuff has any effect that I know of at the operational departmental level.

          Is this what they call “administrative bloat”?

          Maybe they’ve made progress on retention and grad rates. How much of this is just due to grade inflation? Meant as a real question.

          • dog 01/12/2018

            Aw, come on Man,

            surely if we re-arrange the reporting structure of acronyms, then excellence will be a direct result.

            • honest Uncle Bernie 01/12/2018

              doggone it, you are right! Thanks for correcting my misguided, thinking.

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