Skip Navigation
Search
Office of the Provost
HomeAbout CommunicationsNovember 2024 Senate Report

November 4, 2024: University Senate Report

Office of the Provost

Provost’s Initiatives and Updates

Writing at Stony Brook: 

  • By the end of this academic year, we will make the following changes in unit structure and reporting lines:
    • The Lichtenstein Center will become a department within the College of Arts and Sciences, a change from its current reporting line to the Provost’s Office. This change will not impact the current location of programs across Southampton, main campus, and Manhattan. Their move into one of our academic colleges will support their rapid growth and potential as a core academic unit at SBU.
    • The Program in Writing and Rhetoric will become a department within the College of Arts and Sciences, where it currently resides. Their growth into a department is important for recognizing the importance of their scholarship and the critical role they play in the teaching of writing and rhetoric as foundational skills for our students.
    • The Department of English and the School of Communication and Journalism will remain unchanged, but will have the opportunity to pursue multiple new curricular possibilities that arose across these conversations.
    • This decision came from an intentional process over several months, with a broad group of stakeholders, to discuss how to support and strengthen the scholarship and practice of writing at SBU. More information on the process and stakeholders can be found in the full message, posted here. 
    • We will use the spring semester for final implementation with the changes officially being in place for Fall 2025. We will work closely with shared governance partners throughout these steps.

Dean reviews:

  • As part of a new process, which started in spring 2023, the Provost’s Office conducts five-year term reviews and mid-term formative feedback processes to review performance of deans who report to the Provost. 
    • Five-year evaluative review: The Provost has charged the committee conducting a five-year review of Dean Laura Lindenfeld of the School of Communication and Journalism. The process has two key elements: a self-study prepared by the dean and reviewed by the committee; and a feedback survey distributed to faculty, staff, students, and administrators of a dean’s school/college, as well as other key constituencies including senior administrators of other campus units, relevant faculty from other schools/colleges, external stakeholders, and/or student leaders. The committee will compile a report that will be shared with the Provost in spring 2025.

Academic Programs

Recently approved programs:

    • Rhetoric and Writing BA (New Program; 10/2024)
    • Clinical Psychological Science PhD (Revision & Title Change; 10/2024)

Faculty Development

Emerging Leaders:

This program provides development opportunities for the next generation of higher education leaders in research, education, and administration. A session on Leadership Styles led by the Career Center took place on October 25. Upcoming events include a session on Leadership Styles. Upcoming events include a networking with the Dean of Graduate School on November 19 and a Communications Workshop with the Alda Center for Science Communication on November 22.

Excellence in Teaching Program:

This program features a series of workshops and hands-on activities centered on teaching and learning. The new cohorts had sessions on Syllabus Redesign on October 9 and October 11, respectively. The past cohort of Excellence in Teaching faculty attended a workshop on Assessment on October 21. Upcoming events include workshops on Inclusive Pedagogy for the new cohorts and a Reflection activity for past cohorts. 

Provostial Chairs Meeting and Networking: 

An all-Chairs and Center/Institute Directors meeting took place on October 8. Another upcoming event will be announced soon.

Provost Spotlight Talk:

Prof. Stephanie Dinkins from the Art Department presented the talk entitled “The Stories We Encode: AI, Love, and the Future of Algorithmic Care” on October 22. The talk was followed by a reception hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences to honor new and promoted faculty from the college. 

Provost Lecture Series:

The first lecture of this academic year will take place in the Wang Center on November 12 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm and will feature SUNY Distinguished Professor Anissa Abi-Dargham from Psychiatry and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor J. Peter Gergen from Biochemistry and Cell Biology. A reception will follow. 

Endowed Chairs Ceremony:

The investiture ceremony of endowed faculty took place on October 25 with 11 faculty being installed. 

Upcoming Nominations Deadlines:

January 3, 2025 - Chancellor’s Award in Excellence in Classified Service

Academic Affairs

  • On September 30, the Provost and the Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine hosted the first annual Celebration of Newly Promoted and Tenured Faculty in the Zodiac Gallery. The remarks by President McCormick, EVPSBM Wertheim, and Provost Lejuez recognized the important accomplishments of our talented and hardworking faculty.
  • The Academic Affairs team has had meetings with a number of schools, colleges, and departments talking about the work of the past year and upcoming year around promotion and tenure, policies and procedures, and academic and curricular management. We seek to hear from as many voices as possible on the academic issues most salient to our faculty and staff. One issue we’ve discussed is helping to streamline, condense, and improve the expedited tenure process.  
  • Meeting our Moment: Constructive Conversations. Our goal for this initiative is to promote a climate of intellectual inquiry, civil discourse, and evidence-based arguments through thoughtful engagement with students. Thanks to some extraordinary work and leadership by our faculty, this fall has seen many inspiring and engaging events. From the Political Science Department’s panels on the election, the History Department and Humanities Institute hosting a dialogue about the recent history of the Middle East and Program in Public Policy, and the Humanities Institute hosting “Democracy and Getting out the Vote: An Intimate Conversation with Fred Guttenberg and Joe Walsh.”It has been a rich semester of constructive conversations. Check out SBEngage for more events still to come. 
  • In an ongoing effort to enhance and streamline policies, procedures, and coordination for all online courses and programs, we will soon be launching an online governance structure comprised of the following two groups: 
    • Online Steering Committee - this group will facilitate top-level conversations and provide guidance to the appropriate governing bodies
    • Online Program Council - this group will focus on programmatic effective practices and opportunities
      • Both will be dedicated to ensuring consistency, promoting best practices, and facilitating effective communication and collaboration for all online instruction, ultimately supporting student retention and success. If you have any questions, please contact peter.diplock@stonybrook.edu  

CELT

Enrollment Management 

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship Services:  

  • The FAFSA is still on track to open December 1. Some key partner organizations have already been testing the system, and we've received three applications from students. We're optimistic that everything will launch as scheduled.
  • The office is actively reaching out to students with financial holds to inform them about available financial aid opportunities.

Office of the Registrar:

  • Mon, Oct. 28 - Major/Minor Changes Began: Students can begin to submit major/minor changes effective Spring Semester.
  • Mon, Nov. 4 -Advanced Registration: Begins for Winter & Spring 2025 according to enrollment appointments.
  • Wed, Nov. 27 to Sun, Dec. 1 -  Thanksgiving Break: No classes in session.

Undergraduate Admissions: 

  • We have hosted four Seawolf Preview Days in collaboration with many partners on campus. These open house programs have served as an opportunity to bring prospective students to campus for them to learn more about the opportunities available to them. Programs have been hosted on September 21, October 5, October 14, and October 25. 
  • SUNY Free Application Weeks are being hosted from October 21 to November 3. Students are able to apply to 5 SUNY universities for free as part of this initiative. While the free weeks go until November 3 we have maintained our early action application deadline of November 1. 
  • To assist in managing the volume of applications we are receiving we have hired 15 external application readers. These readers are former school counselors, teachers, and application reviewers and will support our work for up to 10 weeks.

Undergraduate Education

Advising Weeks for Spring 2025 Course Registration:

Course registration for winter and spring begins on Monday, November 4, and runs through Friday, November 15, based upon seniority by credits. Beginning October 28, students can submit major/minor changes effective for Spring 2025, and can begin viewing the class schedule, and date/time of their enrollment appointments. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their general academic advisor and major/minor advisor to review their academic plan prior to and during these registration weeks.

Grant for Transfer Student Success:

Stony Brook was awarded a $500,000 grant for Innovation Driven by Evidence and Advanced Strategies (IDEAS) from American Talent Initiative (ATI) College Excellence Program and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The grant aims to amplify the power and potential of transfer students from lower-income communities through high-impact experiences, research-centered opportunities, and the development of workforce-ready skills. In partnership with Suffolk Community College, one important aspect of the grant will be toward increasing transfer student access to undergraduate research/internships and reducing disparities in experiential learning that transfer students often face.

Graduate School

  • The Graduate Council has approved a new policy on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools in graduate education. It requires graduate programs to make available a statement on the appropriate use of LLMs considering the norms and expectations within individual disciplines. The full policy is in the Graduate Bulletin and may be found here. 
  • Our Professional Development team will be offering Research Mentoring for Graduate Students on November 8 and 15. This is a great opportunity for graduate students to hone their mentoring skills and to learn how to mentor up. For more information, and to register, visit our website.  
  • Know of a graduate student who deserves a Student Spotlight? We regularly profile graduate students on our social media and also host these profiles on our website. To suggest a student for a future spotlight, please complete this Google form. 

Global Affairs

  • The International Student Success office is collaborating with the Writing Center to provide additional writing tutor sessions for international students in the International Student Center. Appointments can be booked online through the International Student Success website. Open to undergraduate and graduate students.
  • OGA and CELT are collaborating on a faculty workshop on “How to Engage and Empower Your International Students” on Friday, November 15 from 12 - 1:30 pm as part of International Education Week. Details and registration information will be sent out in the coming days.
  • VIS is hosting an “Immigration Options After Graduation” workshop on November 6. Immigration Attorney Brendan J. Venter from Harris Beach, PLLC, will lead the session, covering recent immigration law updates and their impact on students, as well as post-graduation pathways such as H-1B, O, and TN visas, and Permanent Residency options.

Institutional and Educational Effectiveness

  • The 3rd Annual Assessment Symposium was held on Wednesday, October 30 in the Student Union Ballroom. The keynote speaker was Dr. Zach Justus, from Cal State Chico, who led a discussion of how AI has altered the assessment landscape. A panel of industry leaders was moderated by Dr. Marianna Savoca to discuss their perspectives on student competencies and outcomes. Over 150 faculty and staff participated in the event.

Climate & Sustainability Programming

  • On October 2, the Collaborative for the Earth (C4E) hosted a Town Hall with over 50 faculty and staff on the topics of “Fostering Interdisciplinary Environmental Research.”  The Town Hall discussed progress over the past year by C4E and other groups on campus, as well as discussed how faculty and staff can get involved in future initiatives and opportunities afforded by the C4E and the New York Climate Exchange. There will be a second Town Hall in early November focused on academic and educational programs and a third in December centered around strengthening partnerships (register here). 
  • The inaugural theme of C4E in 2023-2024 was offshore wind. On October 25, the team hosted a field trip for 60 staff, students, and faculty to the Orsted Block Island Wind Farm. This event incorporated a series of interdisciplinary activities led by faculty from Sustainability Studies, Political Science, Sociology, etc. 
  • Science on Stage returned to Stony Brook in partnership with C4E and the Alda Center for Communicating Science. This year, three professional playwrights engaged with a Stony Brook University researcher working on climate change. From these conversations, the playwrights developed three short plays about the research or the life of scientists. The resulting plays were presented by top professional actors, followed by a panel discussion with the playwright/scientist teams on October 28 at the Staller Recital Hall.  Additionally, the C4E collaborated with Margaret Schedel from the Music Department to create an original composition presented at the event entitled "Carnival of Endangered Animals," and performed by local high school students.The event was attended by over 300 guests.