Dear Colleagues,
“Thank you” seems too small to encompass the determination and camaraderie all of you have shown in keeping our TCU community safe, connected and on track since Spring 2020. There are many things that make TCU great, but our people are the main reason our students enjoy coming to class and our colleagues enjoy coming to work, every day, through good times and bad. I thank each and every one of you, and I hope you, too, will look across your classroom or across your office suite and give thanks to the people around you who make TCU so special.
Here are a few updates and reminders as we head into our Thanksgiving break.
Spring 2022 Schedule
The Registrar’s Office is finalizing classroom assignments. We are utilizing our Monday-Friday academic schedule to the full extent for Spring 2022, but with fewer hours in the evening than Fall 2021. Based on our growing student population, we anticipate that this schedule will continue as the norm.
Merited Leave for PPPs and Instructors
At the February 2020 Faculty Senate meeting, I announced plans to launch a merited leave program for Professors of Professional Practice and instructors as a three-year pilot, to provide non-tenure track faculty time off to refresh their teaching. We worked on the details of this pilot program throughout the pandemic, and then paused this past summer until we can clearly articulate a faculty workload equity policy. I remain committed to this program and plan to engage Faculty Senate in its formulation in the next academic year.
SACSCOC Update and Reminder of Deadlines
Every 10 years, TCU goes through the intensive reaffirmation of accreditation with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), a vital process to maintain our high academic standing. This multi-year process involves work by a large number of people under the direction of David E. Allen, director of Institutional Effectiveness. I remind you to be mindful of deadlines set by SACSCOC. For example, Substantive Change Documents (new program prospectus, new program notification, program closure) are due to Institutional Effectiveness by Nov. 30, 2021. Find other deadlines and follow the process at provost.tcu.edu/SACSCOC.
Commencement Regalia
Reminder, the Provost’s Office will reimburse the full amount for regalia rental for December 2021 Commencement. Complete a reimbursement form, attach your receipt, scan and email to Shelia Williams, shelia.williams@tcu.edu.
COVID update
Our case counts are still very low, as you can see on the attached graph. As we gather together with friends and family over the break, it is more important than ever to protect ourselves and our loved ones. You can easily and quickly get the vaccine, booster and test at the Brown-Lupton Health Center and confirm at tcu.edu/protect-the-purple.
Convocation Award Winners
This week I share a Convocation video featuring Ebony Rose, the winner of 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award for helping TCU be a world-class university built on a heritage of inclusion. Congratulations, Ebony! https://youtu.be/LSIrdIbl8Fk
In gratitude,
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs