Dear Colleagues,
With spring classes underway, I want to express my appreciation for the thoughtful engagement, professionalism, and commitment that UH faculty bring to the university each semester.
I hope you and your families stayed warm and safe during last week’s freeze. Your flexibility and responsiveness in quickly modifying syllabi and course plans following the campus closure ensured continuity for our students and reflected the care you bring to your teaching and work.
Many of you have been reviewing your course titles and syllabi to ensure they are balanced, support academic freedom, and fulfill our obligations under SB 37 as outlined in President Khator’s campuswide message. This is no small task, particularly amid the many commitments already on your spring to-do lists. Your diligence, attention and time will benefit both the University and our students.
Our shared focus on meaningful community partnerships was recently recognized when the University earned the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. This honor reflects who we are as an academic community. Across the University, outstanding projects are making a meaningful difference in the world. They’re also providing students with real-world experiences and supporting their development as leaders and problem-solvers. I am confident we can expect more good news and additional accolades as the semester progresses.
And speaking of news, this edition of Academic Update features helpful information about UH’s upcoming AI conference, as well as our new Promotion and Tenure Seminars. The seminars are a new initiative designed to support tenured and tenure-track faculty. Presently, we are also exploring similar programming for non-tenure-track faculty. I encourage you to take advantage of these events which may prove helpful in your careers here at the University of Houston.
I know that the arrival of spring brings a particularly busy season for all of us. I am grateful for your continued flexibility and dedication during this time. Thank you for all that you do for UH and our students, and I wish you an outstanding spring semester.
Diane
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