Roadmaps and Playbooks
It is hard to imagine that one year ago, I started as Provost at William Paterson University. I recall my first morning in Little Falls where I live, plugging “300 Pompton Road” into my phone GPS, and being amazed at the number of left- and right-hand turns it took to find my way to Entry 2. Fifteen minutes after I started, I made it, with my first greeting from Mary, the campus security officer, who immediately made lingering butterflies vanish and reinforced for me that I was about to enter a special community.
One year later, I still feel that way. Yes, it is true, Provost School does not have a course on pandemics, but what has sustained me (and continues to) are the bright, thoughtful, and caring persons who work tirelessly every day to make the William Paterson campus, and spirit, extraordinary. Here is a nod to just a few examples in recent weeks:
- Colleagues in Music and University Performing Arts brought joy to the ears with their Summer Jazz Room at Home and for Eagles fans, the reminder that “Peaceful Easy Feelings” can be had as well.
- The Admissions Office, Student Development, and Academic Development among other units, pulling out the stops to launch and manage new student events and Orientation onboarding.
- The collaborative efforts of deans and associate deans, with helpful input by others, to build varied resource materials in support of fall instructional planning such as an FAQ sheet, class schedule visualizer, and suggested syllabi language for the safe conduct of the on-campus portion of classes, posted to the Provost’s Office website.
- Human Resources, who worked tirelessly to respond rapidly to teaching accommodation requests by instructors so fall delivery approaches could get settled as reasonably quickly as possible.
- Department chairs who are working intensively with faculty to build a schedule that works best for student learning outcome achievement within a framework of safety and student options.
- AFT leadership that have been appropriate advocates for those at the forefront of learning mission delivery, and have helped me think through key issues and challenges.
- Faculty Senate leadership that have remained actively engaged all summer and have also provided valuable context and perspective as we look to the fall.
Whereas there is much about 2020 we all want to be in the past as soon as possible, the future always comes tomorrow. As I have said all year, universities that have been successful at building institutional distinction, and in turn grow their enrollments, do so in two ways—by what they offer (the traditional way) but also how they offer it through creative approaches to program delivery in value-adding ways. That playbook hasn’t changed despite the pandemic.
On a personal note, one of the things that has sustained me during this difficult time is my daughter who moved back in March from New York City. Katlyn and I always find time to share a meal, to laugh, and to Zoom with the family, and, when possible, to go for a run or hike. I could not convince her to bike over the GW Bridge with me, though. Had to do that bucket list experience solo.
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Academic News
The overwhelming focus of Academic Affairs in recent weeks has been fall semester instructional planning. Nearly every week I have put out a communication to faculty on the subject, but always aim to point folks to the website where the core documents reside:
https://www.wpunj.edu/provost/news-and-events
. The Registrar’s Office, informed by information provided by deans from chairs, is making updates to the Schedule of Classes so students understand which will be fully online and which will have some on-campus components. All courses need to be able to accommodate a student with an Accessibility Resource Center-approved accommodation and IRT has
built training
around that principle, as well as preparation in the event all courses need to pivot fully online. Faculty should communicate with their students by no later than August 10 on the specifics of their course, including the schedule.
In other news…
- The Middle States Self-Study is in its second draft form. Thanks to the many who have submitted, and continue to provide, input on that important project. The document will be submitted in September.
- WP’s new doctoral program in leadership cleared another statewide step that involved a virtual site visit by an external reviewer who supported its move forward to final stage approval. We are hopeful it will officially be WP’s third doctoral program when it starts in the summer of 2021.
- WP Online continues to grow enrollment. Summer and fall enrollment to date is 232, exceeding our goal of 150.
- The Provost’s Office is collaborating with the AFT and IT to build an online portfolio submission mechanism associated with retention and promotion processes that deploy this fall. The challenge of executing the work needed amidst furloughs has been extensive, but we are working to hopefully deliver on this goal.
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Facts & Figures
- Summer 2020 Enrollment: 3,943 (13% increase over last summer)
- Potential 4-year graduation rate following summer sessions: 34.2% (last year: 32.4%)
- Number of students who benefited from WP’s Student Emergency Support Fund since the start of the pandemic: 460
- Average award provided to a student: $293. Small amounts matter; your help makes a difference.
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“
For all the precautions and protocols that we are putting in place, the most important tool in our effort to keep everyone healthy and safe is our shared commitment to one another as members of the University community. We best demonstrate this by wearing face coverings when around others and following all other social distancing guidelines, which are detailed
here
. This commitment is further expressed in the Pioneer Pledge, which spells out our obligations to adhere to all pandemic-related safety measures and the consequences of failing to comply. A copy of the
Pioneer Pledge can be found here
. In the coming days, all students, faculty, and staff will receive an email asking them to read the Pledge carefully and agree to follow the protocols listed.”
–
President Helldobler’s July 23, 2020 message
sent to faculty and staff, and separately to students, on the expectations for this fall.
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The Provost’s Office is Meg, Lissette, Claudia T., Claudia C., Jonathan, Sandy, and Josh. You can reach us at 973.720.2122 •
provost@wpunj.edu
We may be working remotely, but we are accessible to you!
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