The countdown continues and only 5 days until Commencement weekend.  We are looking forward to this community celebration with families and friends.

Just 20 days until our undergraduate commencement on May 20 (graduate commencement on May 19).  Find out all the details on the Commencement web link.

The President’s Commission on Full-time Faculty Compensation has continued its work throughout the spring semester.  Recent efforts have been focused on finalizing a peer comparison group and completing a compensation philosophy statement.  The Commission is aiming to deliver recommendations to the President later this year.  Stay updated with their work on their website.

April is packed full of campus events.  Click over to the University calendar for the all the goings-on!

The refinement of the academic strategic plan, a document we are calling the Academic Strategic Pathways 2012-2014, is now posted on the University web site.  This document identifies pathways for action over the next 18 months.  I look forward to our shared work and the continuation of a glorious springtime!

Spring seems just around the corner, or maybe it’s just that Spring Break is only 8 days away!  Following Spring Break, I’ll have more to share regarding the exciting planning efforts this semester.  From research projects to service trips to vacation destinations, journey safely and carry the spirit of Hartford with you!

In addition to the work of the President’s Commission on Full-time Faculty Compensation, which I had posted on here a number of times, there are also two additional and complementary planning efforts at the University:  Foundation of the Future and Libraries Master Planning. 

Check on these links for the latest updates as we work together to create the future of our University community.

Yesterday, at a meeting of the ENHP faculty and staff I was privileged to present the very first Provost’s Academic Staff Excellence Award to Marlene Hall, Collegiate Director of Communication and Recruitment.  See the complete description on UNotes or on the web site.  Congratulations Marlene!

The full-time faculty compensation survey is now closed. I can report to you that the overall response rate was 77.6% with at least 61% of full-time faculty in each college/school responding. That is a phenomenal rate and indicative of the interest in this topic and the importance of our work.

The data collected through the survey has been shared with our consultant and will be reviewed by the President’s Commission on Full-time Faculty Compensation at a meeting in February.  Check back to the Commission’s website for more details on their work.