Dear Faculty,
 

I hope your first few weeks of the semester have gone well and that you are enjoying connecting with students and sharing your knowledge and expertise with them.

I know that news of the DOE Office for Civil Rights investigation of allegations of our failure to adequately respond to complaints of anti-Jewish, biased behavior has been deeply troubling to our community. As stated in my September 1 message to students, “acts of sexual misconduct and harassment, bias, and discrimination related to religion, race, culture, gender, or sexual orientation are not tolerated on our campus.” I want to assure you that the university promptly responded to the incidents included in the complaint, and our efforts to support and understand the experiences of our Jewish students are ongoing. It is important that our community know the truth about what happened; I hope you will find time to read President Garimella’s response to these allegations. Our Jewish students may have turned to you for support during this time, and you have my thanks for the kindness and guidance you have offered them. If you or your students have concerns or want to report an incident of antisemitism or any other form of harassment, bias, or discrimination, please know that you can do so at any time at uvm.edu/report.

I wanted to update you on our work in response to the Art and Science Group report that we discussed last year. As you may remember, one focus of the recommendations was to engage prospective students with the range of global opportunities available at UVM. Over the summer we consulted with a group of administrators, staff, and faculty and developed a vision and mission for “Catamount Global.” We envision every student at UVM participating in study, research, and/or internship experiences that maximize their engagement as global citizens. Ultimately, we want our students to explore the global dimensions of their field of study and interests during their time at UVM, co-creating a pathway to their degree that prepares them for a lifetime of engagement as global citizens. We hope to realize this vision and mission by doubling down on travel opportunities (e.g. Trek and the new Global Trek program, travel study, study abroad), globally engaged learning activities (e.g., coursework designated to meet a global citizenship requirement, world language study, residential learning community activities), global action (e.g., student clubs, international internships and service learning, Peace Corps), and globally engaged careers (e.g., job shadowing, case competitions, micro-internships, summer internships with organizations and companies that have a global reach).

To begin, we are increasing global travel/global perspective opportunities for first-year students as a recruitment and retention strategy. With your help, first-year students will have integrated learning experiences that will inspire them to explore what it means to be a global citizen. We also hope to build students’ intercultural competency, create career pathways, advance their understanding of their social positioning, and encourage their continued participation in global educational opportunities throughout their four years at UVM. More information on this will be coming soon. I hope you will find ways to participate in these opportunities, whether leading a global trek for students in August before classes begin or developing a travel study course that provides introductory opportunities to explore sustainability, health, the environment, etc. from a global lens.

I hope the information below is useful to you, beginning with a special invitation for our new faculty members.

  • The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Dr. Jane Okech, invites all new UVM faculty members to participate in a series of six First Year Faculty Experience workshops that have the special objective of enhancing your sense of belonging at UVM and supporting your success in your new faculty roles and responsibilities. The first in this series of workshops is The Faculty Experience of Belonging at UVM on Friday, October 14, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in the Davis Center room 422, the Jost Foundation Room. Please indicate your intention to attend by accepting this invitation by Monday, October 10.


The objective of this workshop is to support new faculty in understanding and negotiating their multiple identities—personal and professional—and their intersections with their faculty role, and in productively engaging with students, staff and faculty colleagues. The session serves as a foundational workshop for contextualizing faculty experience of UVM’s Our Common Ground and the evolving dynamics related to cultural diversity, equity, belonging, and justice; exploring strategies for bridging experiences of difference and similarity (domestic and international); finding and establishing voice; and generating options for further resources. The workshop, facilitated by UVM’s Senior Executive Director for Inclusive Excellence and Faculty Engagement, Dr. Sherwood Smith, will provide an opportunity for discussion and interaction with faculty colleagues who are invested in new faculty thriving and succeeding at UVM.
 

  • Sonja Lunde has been appointed Director of the Fleming Museum of Art. She comes to us from the University of Utah’s Utah Museum of Fine Arts with extensive experience across museum departments. Learn more about Sonja's background and the exciting ways her appointment will further the museum’s academic integration.
     
  • The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) staff and Brightspace trainers are offering three introductory sessions next week: The ABCs of Brightspace Content (September 19), Brightspace Quiz Basics (September 21), and Brightspace Assignment Tools Basics (September 22). You can find more information and register here. All sessions will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing. CTL is ramping up Brightspace training as the fall semester progresses—more information to follow about hands-on sessions and details on how courses will be moved from Blackboard to Brightspace.
     
  • Many faculty have questions about student accommodations and their role in creating a more accessible classroom. Visit the Student Accessibility Services webpage to review detailed guidance and information on student accessibility accommodations, including Fall 2022 changes to the way accommodations for attendance flexibility and due dates are administered.
     
  • The Writing in the Disciplines (WID) program has upcoming workshops promoting confidence in teaching writing. For full workshop descriptions and to register, visit the WID events calendar. For information about fall faculty writing groups or one-on-one consultations, email wid@uvm.edu.
     
  • Do you want to learn how to begin incorporating community engagement into your courses? Register here for Getting Started with Community-Engaged Learning on Monday, September 19 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., hosted by the Community-Engaged Learning Office. 
     
  • The SGA Catamounts Against Cancer club invites you to join them in the UVM Relay for Life Event. The relay will be held on November 5 from noon to 6:00 p.m. on the Davis Center Green. This will be a great day full of music, games, family, friends, and remembering and honoring those who have fought cancer.

Reminders and Recent Communications

  • The recording of the August 26 Faculty and Staff Teams Live event can be found here.
     
  • Each year, the university is required to publish a faculty list in the UVM Catalogue that includes faculty members’ terminal academic degree information. New faculty members should enter their degree information in PeopleSoft by September 30 using these instructions.

I understand from Vice Provost Jane Okech that faculty across campus submitted their RPT portfolios and sabbatical requests last week. I know this is a time of excitement as you reflect on all that you have accomplished or consider the research you are proposing to engage in. I suspect there is also some anxiety as you await the results of the formal review process. I look forward to reading your submissions and celebrating your successes. It is a privilege to invest in our faculty and to witness your contributions to research, scholarship, and the creative arts.

Warmly,
Patty