Provost FAQs re: SACSCOC, Core Curriculum, Piper Professor, Dean Searches

Dear Academic Affairs colleagues,

As we settle into the spring semester and, hopefully, no more weather-related closures and delays, delays, I have several reminders and announcements to share.

SACSCOC Accreditation Visit March 6-9

As you know, TCU is undergoing our 10-year reaccreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Accreditation is vital to the continued success of the University. I thank the many hard-working staff and faculty who have spent the past few years preparing for our reaccreditation and the on-site visit from the SACSCOC committee, which happens March 6-9, 2023.

You soon will see yard signs, posters and postcards around campus calling attention to “Finding Ourselves in Community”, TCU’s Quality Enhancement Plan that is required as part of the reaccreditation process. A cohort of faculty members is currently undergoing professional development to help them embed concepts of “Finding Ourselves in Community” into their classes. Our goal is to make “Finding Ourselves in Community” available to all TCU students across all majors. I will communicate more about this in the coming weeks as we prepare for the March SACSCOC visit.

Updates to the Core Curriculum

We had an impressive showing of faculty votes to pass two proposals related to TCU’s Core Curriculum The first proposal will create a centralized Core Curriculum Council and amend the charters for the HMVV and WEM Committees to provide coherent administration and vision under the director of the Core Curriculum, Dr. Theresa Gaul. The second proposal will streamline the process to make changes to the Core Curriculum while maintaining faculty governance. I am excited about these much-needed updates.

If you are uncertain about the Core Curriculum and how to advise students, Dr. Gaul has created an information video for faculty. You an access it here and on my website under Faculty Resources, Core Curriculum, For Faculty, under Advising.

Piper Professor of 2023 – TCU Nominee

Congratulations to Dr. Sally L. Fortenberry, TCU’s candidate for the state-wide Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation’s Piper Professor Award 2023. Dr. Fortenberry is professor and chair of the Department of Fashion Merchandising in the College of Fine Arts. She is noted for her dedication to preparing her students for fulfilling careers in the fashion merchandising and the textile and apparel industries. Her colleagues say: “She leads by practicing the very thing she expects from us, and shows us how to be better at what we do.” Award announcements will be announced in May.

Dean Search Updates

We are in the final phases of the search for the next Mary Couts Burnett Library dean, as current Dean Tracy Hull looks will retire the end of this semester. Watch your email for invitations to the finalists’ presentations. We have begun the nationwide search for the new John V. Roach Dean of the Neeley School of Business, now that former dean Daniel Pullen is now President Pullin. The next dean will have the opportunity to build upon the Neeley School’s innovative, collaborative, and service-oriented focus and mission. I thank the search committees who are working to fill both of these very important roles.

Happy 150th

I hope you had a chance to enjoy the week-long kick off of TCU’s 150th anniversary. There will be many events to enjoy throughout 2023. I look forward to celebrating with you, our alumni, our students and our supporters.

 

Best wishes,
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg
Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs