Dear UVM community, 

As many of us prepare to gather with friends and family for Thanksgiving, I thought it would be helpful to share some updates. Before I begin, I want to note that some in our community may be unable to return home to gather with loved ones. Thank you for reaching out to these colleagues and classmates and providing them with kindness and support. 
  
Let me start by acknowledging that these are difficult times for higher education and for our nation. We are experiencing deep polarization, destructive discourse and decisions, challenges to our democratic norms, and shifting public opinion about the value of our work and the way we do it. Many of us are feeling unsettled or even discouraged. I share these feelings, but I also remain hopeful and optimistic. We are a community that is steadfast in its commitment to academic freedom, we are a community guided by Our Common Ground values, and we are part of a larger Vermont community that shares these values. We are fortunate to be who we are, and we are fortunate to be where we are. I remain convinced that we can—and will—emerge from the current moment positioned to do our work better, smarter, and with even greater clarity of purpose and impact. This will require us to be thoughtful, creative, nimble, united, and engaged. We can do this. I can say that with confidence because we are doing it; the evidence is in everything you’ll read below. 
 
You have my deepest gratitude for all that you contribute to our university, and I wish you a peaceful and restorative Thanksgiving break.

Warmly, 
 
Linda Schadler, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President
 


Accomplishments of Our Operations Teams for Federal Response 

Last spring, we established Operations Teams comprised of more than 60 faculty and staff members to help inform and guide the university’s decision-making and any operational changes necessary as a result of federal actions. The teams have continued to meet regularly since then. The ops teams also provide leadership with feedback from their colleagues, which we have found to be invaluable.  
 
Highlights from the operations teams’ accomplishments: 
 
Immigration Changes Response Team 

  • Developed a process and informational materials for employees and students traveling internationally, which may help travelers when passing through U.S. Customs and Border Patrol

  • Developed a process and communications in response to new H1-B visa requirements 

  • Worked with the compliance office and ETS to update and provide information on devices and international travel; collaborated with ETS to develop a loaner computer program for international travel to support privacy and data security, the program will launch in early December 

  • Hosted several information sessions for employees including constituencies with particular needs; hosted informational sessions on immigration and safety 

  • Developed a process to regularly check the visa status of students/employees in response to unannounced federal status changes  

Faculty Affairs Team   

  • Developed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Academics codifying a set of Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure guideline adjustments to support faculty impacted by the changing federal research landscape  

  • Developed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Academics codifying more flexible workloads for impacted research faculty 

  • Reviewed resources, information, and support for UVM faculty who experience safety/doxing concerns 

  • Discussed faculty concerns about unauthorized recording of classroom discussions; collaborating with the Faculty Senate Faculty Affairs Committee and the Office of the General Counsel to develop a related syllabi statement

Research Team   

  • Developed a “what you can do” internal SharePoint site for faculty and staff including resources and information on research resilience, communicating the value of research, and more  

  • Coordinated efforts to provide communication skills and media training for faculty researchers to promote the value of research 

  • Contributed to activities and documentation to measure and promote the economic impact of research in Vermont 

  • Helped develop principles to manage the financial impact of grant reductions 

  • Hosted informational sessions in partnership with OVPR 

Our Common Ground Team   

  • In partnership with Student Government Association (SGA) leadership, hosted an informational forum for students and collaborated with the SGA on FAQs for students 

  • Developed the initial FAQs for the UVM community; developed a separate set of FAQs focused on admissions and financial aid 

  • Developed talking points for Admissions and Student Financial Services staff to communicate UVM’s commitment to intercultural excellence to prospective students and families 

  • Inventoried Our Common Ground activity across UVM to support the development of an amplified Our Common Ground website 

  • Helped shape the inclusion of the Our Common Ground values in the strategic planning process 

  • Hosted several faculty forums focused on academic freedom 

  • Developed a statement highlighting Our Common Ground values to be used when recruiting faculty and staff; developed sample interview questions based on the language in the Our Common Ground statement 

Government Shutdown 
I apologize for not communicating more broadly during the government shutdown. Information from the federal government was difficult to obtain, and sometimes inconsistent, but I now realize that our silence created anxiety for some members of our community. While the shutdown was disruptive to many of us personally, its direct impact on the university was modest. For example, it did not affect student financial aid packages, and the typical reimbursements the university receives from the federal government continued. The shutdown did highlight opportunities to further support our community, and new investments were made in Rally Cat’s Cupboard.  
 
Intercultural Excellence  
The activities of our Division of Intercultural Excellence (DOIE) remain robust. This semester DOIE has offered programming on antisemitism, Islamophobia, intercultural dialogue, and more. The intercultural centers continue to provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to connect and engage. And on November 12, the entire senior leadership team participated in an Our Common Ground, Democracy, and Dialogue strategy meeting. Looking ahead, the DOIE team is busy preparing for this spring’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration keynote and the Common Ground Symposium. 
 
Federal Grants 
We’ve become aware of a few instances in which the terms and conditions of a small number of federal grants have changed, and faculty have questions about how they should present or acknowledge work that was earlier more closely aligned with federal priorities. We believe this will impact a narrow set of grants and we’re committed to supporting the academic freedom of these researchers. Please contact Associate Vice President for Research Sara Cahan if you have a grant that falls into this category.