In the latest of Chancellor Kent Syverud’s emails to Syracuse University students and faculty, the chancellor laid out a series of changes to affect the university in the coming school year and beyond.
“I have taken some time to think about and assess some key areas of focus,” Syverud wrote in the body of the email after noting that Tuesday marks his four-month anniversary as SU Chancellor, “and want to share with you a number of changes that are being made, some new initiatives underway, and other information I think you should know.”
In a five-page memorandum linked to the body of the email, Syverud addressed areas such as processes for promotion and tenure, distribution of funds to community engagement projects, alignment with the White House task force’s recommendations to prevent campus sexual assault and several personnel changes in leadership positions.
In terms of promotion and tenure processes — one of the longest points identified in the memorandum — Syverud wrote that the university will more closely link the processes for promotion and tenure as well as align both processes to the best practices employed at peer universities. The Board of Trustees this weekend approved changes to the faculty promotion process, he wrote; discussions about adjusting the tenure process will continue with faculty input through the fall.
In continued discussions about tenure processes, Syverud particularly emphasized his commitment to incorporating faculty voices, writing that he recognized their role in ensuring responsible decisions about lifetime commitments to professors. Some but not all of the specific changes are consistent with recommendations of the university’s ad hoc committee on promotions, which was formed in 2012 under former Chancellor Nancy Cantor.
Other notable items mentioned in the memorandum include the following:
Syverud identified several changes in university leadership as well:
Serving daily drops of fresh campus news. This Juice is produced by The NewsHouse staffers.
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