A Message from a Vice Provost: Week of 11.17.25

November 21 | 2025
 

Dear Colleagues, 

 

I hope you’re all doing well as we head into the final weeks of the semester, the time of year when coffee becomes a food group and daylight feels a bit optional. Thank you for everything you’re doing to support our students and each other during this busy stretch.

 

As many of you know, in my role as Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, I work closely with faculty across UW as they navigate reappointment, tenure, and promotion; annual reviews; and a range of processes designed to support career success. This also means coordinating with the Faculty Senate Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee as they undertake their important work. Our office is also continuously reviewing policies and procedures so we can remove unnecessary barriers and improve the faculty experience. Think of it as “spring cleaning,” but for regulations and SAPs, all year long.

 

Here’s a few friendly reminders and updates from Academic Affairs:

 

As an annual process very important in my position, the 2025–26 RTP memo and guidance can be found here. Thank you to everyone participating in these reviews. Your thoughtful engagement is deeply valued.

 

We’re also celebrating International Education Week this month, a great opportunity to highlight global learning and the faculty who make international engagement possible. More information is available here.

 

I also want to share a brief summary of what the Academic & Student Affairs Committee discussed at the Board of Trustees meeting this week. The Committee and full Board of Trustees approved three new academic proposals in the Notice of Intent process:

 

• Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice from A&S
• Graduate Certificate in AI for Professional Learning Design and Development from the College of Education
• Undergraduate Certificate in Constructive Dialogue from UW-Casper 

 

The Committee also held its annual discussion on recruitment and retention, focusing this year on transfer students. Three senior transfer students shared honest reflections about the transition from Wyoming community colleges to UW, including the importance of consistent advising, curricular alignment, and strong personal and academic support networks. Academic and Student Affairs also shared updates on the Express Transfer Agreement with LCCC, the annual Articulation Summit, and the ongoing work to strengthen the statewide transfer pipeline.

 

As always, thank you for the many ways you contribute to UW’s mission. This is a busy time of year, and your work continues to make a tremendous difference for our students and our community.

Please reach out anytime if my office can support you.

 

Warm regards,

 

Dave B.