MESSAGE FROM THE PROVOST

Provost Sherman

Student success is our success:
Let's build the 'Akron Experience' for our students

Provost Mike Sherman describes his vision for creating the Akron Experience for our students, starting with a focus on people — our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community stakeholders. In conversations across campus, he has discussed what we need to do to enhance our community, including:

• improving student success, retention and career engagement on graduation;
• providing greater support for faculty teaching, research and professional development;
• supporting staff career development and progression; and
• strategically engaging with our community.

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Preparation for campus-wide reaccreditation under way

Even though UA's next campus-wide review by the Higher Learning Commission is more than a year away, the Office of Academic Affairs is moving forward with its preparations, with a special focus on student learning outcomes.

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Greater focus on big-picture 'integrated planning'

Integrated planning is a core goal of the University's emerging strategic plan, as UA prepares for reduced state funding and sustained high enrollment.

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Strategic planning shifts to 'strategic doing'

This spring, Provost Sherman will join with faculty members and others to devise an academic roadmap that will enable us to achieve the goals expressed in the new strategic plan.

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Student success is our success: Graduation is Job 1

In ways large and small, the Office of Academic Affairs is making changes that seek to improve student retention and graduation rates.

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Work groups seek pragmatic, timely solutions

The Office of Academic Affairs has formed work groups to assess some of our more pressing challenges and to make recommendations in weeks, not months or years.

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Provost's In-box: Your questions answered

In every issue of Across the Commons, the provost answers questions of broad interest from faculty and staff. In this installment, see questions about:

• the University Council,
• the new Akron-AAUP agreement and
• the plans to reorganize the University.

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