During the past two years the University has fundamentally reorganized its academic programs in order to create a new kind of educational environment that prepares graduates to innovate, adapt, and succeed throughout their professional and personal lives.  We joined together schools to build on our strengths, created a visionary system of colleges, hired key leaders in international searches, and envisioned, designed, and broke ground for a stunning new building to house the innovative College of Design, Engineering, and Commerce (C-DEC).

During the next two years, we will work to realize the full potential of what we have put in place. This community has worked together to create a bold new vision and now we have the singular opportunity to see our efforts bear fruit.

Accordingly, the Provost’s Office will focus on the following priorities for the 2011-2012 academic year:

1. The Provost’s Office will provide leadership and support for the faculty and administration as they work on designing a new system of shared governance that matches our ambitions and new organizational structure.

2. We began work on an academic growth plan in Spring 2011. We will continue to work with the faculty and executive deans on the plan, which will support the goals of the strategic plan, leverage our strengths, and realize the full power of the new college system.

3. The Provost’s Office will continue to support curriculum development and implementation for C-DEC.

4. We will insure that our new Center for Teaching Innovation and Nexus Learning is successful and fully integrated into the academic life of the University.

5. Finally, we will work with our recruiting firm and search committees to identify and hire a superb executive dean for the College of Architecture and the Built Environment, and an equally outstanding academic dean for the School of Design and Engineering in C-DEC.

The Provost’s Office will continue to provide general leadership and support for our teaching and learning environment. We intend to do everything we can to help our faculty transform the lives of our students and generate knowledge that improves the human condition.