A President’s Advisory Team Meeting was held Wednesday, November 15 with the following agenda items:
- Welcome – Highlights from President Lepre
- University Writing Center Overview
- Sustainability Efforts Update
- Shared Governance Updates
- Open Q&A
Below, please find summary information regarding each topic item of the agenda. When appropriate, additional supporting information is linked.
Highlights from President Lepre:
I would like to extend a profound thank you to everyone who attended the State of the University on Monday, November 13. Special thanks are owed to Dean Maarten Pereboom, Dean Mike Scott, and Dean Clifton Griffin for their leadership and efforts in the development of new and exciting programs at SU. These programs will strengthen our enrollment and place us on a strong path towards a future of growth and opportunities.
I also want to thank the members of the Strategic Innovation Council and the Shared Governance Consortium for their dedication and guidance through Cabinet’s selection of which proposals to fund. There is still money to be invested, and we are excited to receive strengthened resubmissions of proposals and new ones as well in the spring. It is important to make sure we are investing our resources in the right things – innovative ideas that will impact the greatest number of our students.
We are moving forward with the search process for our new campus leader of Inclusion, Equity, Access, and Belonging, and want to make sure everyone has the chance to provide their input on what that search process looks like, and what we want that leader to be for our University. (A survey has been created for anyone to provide feedback)
Finally, I want to close by sharing the heartbreaking news that Judy Jackson, longtime donor, supporter, and advocate of SU, passed away. I cannot think of anyone who was more proud to be a part of this campus. She loved all of the music programs and our talented students so very much. More information will be forthcoming about a memorial service.
University Writing Center Services and Usage Trends:
The University Writing Center (UWC) offers a place where students can meet with trained peer consultants to work on papers and projects at any stage of the writing process. In this context, writing means not only research papers, but also multimodal projects (such as presentations), application materials (for graduate school, awards, and grants), and writing for extracurricular activities (such as clubs and organizations).
The UWC has seen an increase in usage across multiple services, especially one-to-one tutoring and workshop requests. Recent assessment data shows a strong correlative relationship between students who use the UWC and higher GPAs and retention rates, both for first-time SU and transfer students. The UWC also serves as an important point of contact for marginalized student populations and first generation students.
The UWC is expecting ongoing increasing usage of services with the rollout of the new General Education curriculum (especially in First Year Seminar and Experiential Learning categories) and with supporting dual-enrollment students through the MD Blueprint legislation. Approximately 44% of first-year students used the UWC in AY22-23, up from 21% in AY17-18.
Dr. Melissa Bugdal, Director of the University Writing Center and Associate Professor of English, provided the following report on the services and usage trends of the University Writing Center.
Sustainability Efforts:
The Office of Sustainability in partnership with Horticulture and Grounds and Facilities Services will be implementing new recycling and plastic reduction initiatives in all major academic and administrative buildings over the course of the Spring ’24 semester through the use of mini-trashcans in offices and centralized trash and recycling collection stations in building common areas. These efforts are key components to the University’s pursuit of Plastic Reduction Partner Certification by the National Wildlife Federation. The upcoming initiatives were piloted in Fulton Hall during the Fall ’23 semester and the data collected from the pilot study was extremely positive, resulting in a 32% reduction of the amount of recyclables in trash bins and reducing the number of trashcan liners used by over one hundred per week. The Office of Sustainability has met with Deans, Department Chairs, SGA, Staff Senate, and Faculty Senate to share this information so as many people as possible know about their efforts. This initiative will prevent 5,000 trash bags a year in Fulton alone from going into the landfill. It is estimated the program can save upwards of 100,000 bag liners a year across campus when fully implemented, resulting in substantial cost saving opportunities in plastic liner reduction.
Chris Homeister, Director of Campus Sustainability, provided the following report on ongoing sustainability initiatives across campus.
Shared Governance Updates:
Staff Senate:
- Had 66 faculty/staff attend their HR Snack and Chat to cover open enrollment.
- Staff Senate CUSS representatives have been increased from 4 to 6.
- Ironing out the day for Employee Appreciation Day soon.
Graduate Student Council:
- Working with the University Writing Center to rework some professional development opportunities for grad students. Survey of grad students to get some new ideas on what grads are wanting.
- Annual winter social coming up in early December.
SGA:
- Senators are working on legislation around sustainability efforts and some relating to dining efforts.
- Appreciative of the great success SGA has had in working with Athletics this semester. The collaboration between SGA and Athletics resulted in a great turnout for the pep-rally during Homecoming week.
Open Q&A:
An open Q&A was held where members of the team could ask questions of any topic on behalf of their area or campus. Not all questions are asked with the intent of an immediate answer and may become an agenda item at a future President’s Advisory Team meeting.
Q: Can we receive a legislative update when the session opens? We would like to know more about what we are hearing from the System about priorities and what priorities the State itself is setting for the year.
A: Yes – we will provide legislative updates to the group moving forward. What can be shared now is that Patrick Hogan, vice chancellor of government relations at the System has moved on. The new vice chancellor is Susan Lawrence, the previous director for government relations at University of Maryland Baltimore.
Q: What updates can be shared regarding spring commencement?
A: Winter commencement is the main focus now, but this will be put on the agenda for the next meeting to provide an update on.