Dear Academic Affairs colleagues,
I wish you a restful long weekend. Herein are a few updates.
Academic Chairs and Directors Council Academy May 16-17
I encourage all department chairs and program directors to attend this two-day event in May, organized by Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs Fran Huckaby. Topics include strategic planning, faculty/staff evaluation, budgeting, grant writing and more.
Last year, 28 academic chairs and directors attended the academy, some experienced and some new, representing fields across campus from dance to accounting to nursing. Feedback included getting “a sense of perspective again after being mired in crises for the last few years,” “different approaches that can be used to be a successful chair,” and it was “helpful to network with other chairs and to learn from an outside consultant who guided the discussions”
This year’s event will have two outside consultants guiding discussions, Dr. Kevin Kumashiro and Dr. Jeanne Hey. For more information on the facilitators, agenda and to register, click here.
I will be hosting a Q&A on the final day, and the deans and I will be attending lunches both days. President Pullin and I will join the final reception. I look forward to mingling with you.
Ad Hoc Student Progression Committees
In April 2022, an ad hoc committee was formed to facilitate academic progression of all students and particularly transfer students. It was chaired by the vice provost for student success and members included the dean of admission, dean of graduate studies, core director, two college deans, 2022 Faculty Senate chair and three additional Senate representatives chosen by the Senate chair. This committee submitted four proposals to me. I forwarded three to the Faculty Senate, which were reviewed by a Senate ad hoc committee. I thank the Senate’s ad hoc committee for surveying faculty for widespread input. The committee’s report will be submitted at today’s Faculty Senate meeting. I encourage all senators to attend.
All of us care deeply about preserving the integrity of TCU degrees while also ensuring successful student progression. By considering and making proposals that would remove barriers for our students, we can better advance their academic progression while retaining TCU’s high standards for degree completion.
RRI Week April 17-21
Race & Reconciliation Week will take place April 17-21 and feature several events, including a movie screening, a fair hosted by fraternities and sororities for Boys and Girls Clubs, and the signature event, TCU’s third annual Reconciliation Day, noon to 1:30 p.m. in the BLUU Ballroom. I hope to see you there. Find more information here.
Land Acknowledgement Poster
Some have asked about displaying the university’s Land Acknowledgment in their offices and buildings. Dr. Scott Langston has provided the attached high-quality photo that you can print and display. It includes a QR code that links to the Native American and Indigenous Peoples Initiative webpage for information and resources.
Spring Weather Safety
We all know how unpredictable spring weather can be. My heart goes out to the people who suffered through the recent tornadoes across the U.S. To help with your own safety, both on campus and off, in addition to TCU Alert I remind you that you can set up your smartphone for weather alerts. These alerts will notify you of threats in your immediate location and advise you to take cover if needed. Please review shelter protocols per TCU Emergency Management here.
Best regards for a refreshing three-day weekend,
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg
Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs