Dear Colleagues,
 
I am reaching out with updates from the Sustaining Teaching and Research Task Force (START) on the following topics:

• Nine recommendations are now open for review and comment
• START Town Hall on Jan. 30, 2025 

START Recommendations

Additional recommendations from the Sustaining Teaching and Research Task Force (START) are ready for campus review and input. They have been thoughtfully reviewed by working groups, committees, the START task force, and me.
 
Three recommendations were developed by START’s Future of Undergraduate Education Committee, which is co-chaired by Michael Bradford, dean and vice provost for Undergraduate Education, and Francene Steinberg, a professor in the Department of Nutrition. The recommendations are:

1. Credit Unit Allocations
2. Undergraduate Program Review
3. Shortfalls in Attempted and Earned Credits in Math 

Three recommendations were developed by START’s Optimizing Our Facilities Committee, which is co-chaired by Kim Turner, executive director of Integrated Planning and Design, and Jared Shaw, a professor in the Department of Chemistry. The recommendations are:

1. Laboratory Swing Space
2. Capital Construction Projects
3. Establish a Fine Chemical Exchange 

The review process is outlined on the START website. You are invited to share your feedback on each recommendation by using the form on the START website or by emailing starttaskforce@ucdavis.edu.
 
Listening Session and Town Hall
 
The Future of Graduate Education Committee is hosting a listening session with Graduate Groups and Graduate Program Chairs about the graduate group structure at UC Davis. An invitation to this listening session will come directly from Graduate Studies and the event will be held in early January. Please be sure to join this session to share your input.
 
The Future of Graduate Education will then host its second town hall at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. Please register using the link sent to you via email. 
 
You are invited to submit questions for town halls through the feedback form on the START website or by emailing starttaskforce@ucdavis.edu. Questions also can be submitted during the town hall. 
 
Thank you for your engagement and participation and happy holidays to you and your loved ones.
 
All the best,
Mary
 
Mary Croughan
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor