To the campus community,

As we reach the midpoint of the fall semester, I want to update you on the progress of the academic renewal process we launched earlier this academic year.

First, let me thank you for your interest in and feedback on the developing plan for academic renewal. Nearly 700 members of the UM community responded to one of our formal surveys, and I have received additional feedback from many of you in group and individual settings. It has become clear to me that many of you share my enthusiasm for an academic structure that helps us better address the grand challenges of our time and one that does so by encouraging faculty collaboration and clearer curricular pathways for students. You have also raised thoughtful questions and concerns that have shaped the plan in meaningful ways.

We want to take the time to get this right, so we have slowed the process down. We will spend the remainder of fall semester developing the organizational model and fleshing out the operational details. In spring semester, we’ll move the plan through the appropriate governance processes with OCHE and with Faculty Senate.

Our process has been and will continue to be iterative. Based on feedback, we have revised the organizational model a few times since I presented a version to campus September 9. Earlier this week, I asked the deans to consider two possible models and how we might operationalize each of them. The deans will share their findings with me October 27, then the deans and I will spend two more weeks refining the plan so that we can meaningfully engage with you around a more fully developed model in mid-November.

Please review the revised timeline for the academic renewal process. This is an exciting time to be part of the UM community, and I look forward to our continued work together.

Pardis Mahdavi, Provost and Executive Vice President

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