I am grateful for your dedication, hard work and resilience during this academic year.
Your efforts led to increased national stature and well-deserved recognitions for valuable work that advanced UCF in excellence, student success and impact. We progressed despite a trying (and continuing) transition to Workday and SET, and two disruptive hurricanes that seriously affected some faculty, staff and students.
Meanwhile, proposed legislative changes for the State University System are in play as the annual legislative session nears an end next week. Two related bills, House Bill 999 and companion Senate Bill 266, at various stages have addressed diversity, equity and inclusion work, aspects of curriculum, faculty hiring and more. Over the weeks of the legislative session, there have been many amendments informed in part by discussions with state higher education leaders. The bills should be finalized soon, at which point I will update you on what they mean for us.
On another important matter, the Florida Board of Governors approved a regulation for a new post-tenure review process as required by a state law from last year. We have always had a post-tenure review, but the regulation requires a different 5-year review process that will include about 20% of tenured faculty each year. Our hope is to make the submission process as simple as possible, with material such as a CV, annual assignments for the last five years, and so forth. Emails went out this week to the first round of faculty and their chairs and directors. No one who is part of this group will need to work on materials until after the fall term begins. You will receive more information as we develop and finalize the review process.
I know that times of change bring anxiety, but we can and must get through this by working together. I am grateful for all the efforts of our faculty and staff and am honored to serve alongside you. Thank you for all of your work during this remarkable year.
