Provost Laurie McCauley

Rapid change across technology, government, and world affairs is introducing a degree of uncertainty into daily life that many of us recall from the height of the pandemic – and hoped to leave behind. 

At times when nimbleness is required, it is easy to fall into a cycle of reaction and focus on the near term. One differentiator of resilient intuitions like the University of Michigan is our ability to adapt to the moment while looking forward. Through world wars, societal upheavals, economic downturns, and a recent pandemic, our university has continued to make lasting contributions to the common good. We have done this by being responsive to emerging events, while keeping our values, our mission, and our vision in the foreground. 

Meeting the moment has required our leadership team, in partnership with deans, the Office of the General Counsel, ECRT, Public Affairs, and many others, to stay informed and responsive to executive orders coming from the federal government (see the EO Key Issues page for details). 

While that work is crucial, we also continue to take the long view and focus on making durable improvements to the lives of students, faculty, and staff on campus, whether through new support for faculty and staff with disabilities, fighting faculty threats and harassment, or convening people excited to work together on tough problems.

Making connections drives our research and teaching missions; collaboration and interdisciplinarity will remain keys to achieving the impacts our community identified in Vision 2034. And during times of pervasive change, making and strengthening connections is essential for other reasons. Authentic connections, whether with existing colleagues or new ones, make the university a more resilient, welcoming, and innovative academic community.

The Office of the Provost office is hard at work on exploring ways to connect faculty with one another. I have been attending “traveling office hours” meetings in units across campus, and faculty have been clear about the importance of finding new ways to connect with potential collaborators and colleagues in other departments and units. I look forward to sharing more of our office’s work to that end in the coming months. 

We are also invested in ensuring students from all backgrounds can flourish here. This month marks the official launch of the Student Success Initiative, led by Vice Provost Angela Dillard. With her dedicated team, Vice Provost Dillard has built an impressive Student Success Network to unite those invested in making Michigan a key player in the national student success movement. You can read about their many initiatives and subscribe to their new newsletter here. 

At the University of Michigan, we define student success holistically, which means mental health and well-being are essential components. But promoting them remains challenging, due in part to pervasive misconceptions. Fortunately, we have top-tier experts on campus to help dispel some of the most common mental health and well-being myths. 

We also know that broadening our students’ horizons is a cornerstone of student success: both in the classroom and through our top-tier study abroad programs. This month, Vice Provost Valeria Bertacco shares her perspective on the past and the very bright future of international studies at U-M.

These are uncertain times, but some things are certain: we are a place where students, faculty, and staff can pursue their career aspirations. We are driven to connect and empower people from every walk of life. We are united in service to generating and preserving knowledge. And no matter what the future holds, we will be pursuing those goals vigorously through myriad approaches.

Provost Laurie McCauley has announced the formation of a new Provost’s Advisory Committee on Disability Affairs (PACDA), marking a significant step toward improving campus accessibility and support for the disability community.

The committee, which emerged from extensive community consultations held throughout summer 2024,will focus on the experiences and needs of faculty and staff in the disability community. Its primary focus will be advising the provost on education, policies, and procedures related to disability affairs.

“We want to ensure we’re taking a proactive approach to disability support,” said Provost McCauley. “That means hearing directly from a broadly representative group that knows the issues and brings fresh perspectives. I’m very excited about this committee’s potential to make an impact.”

The committee will meet with the provost 4-6 times per year and will be called upon to provide input on education, policies, and procedures related to disability affairs, share collective issues and concerns with university leadership, address emerging issues and situations affecting the disability community, act as a partner to the Provost on matters concerning disability-related concerns, issues, and affairs, and develop and prioritize actionable recommendations to promote equity, access, and inclusion for the disability community at U-M.

Members will serve two-year terms, with staggered service periods to maintain continuity.

Key priorities identified during community consultations include improving support for caregivers, aligning disability leave policies with peer institutions, and implementing accommodations across departments.

The initiative will complement, rather than replace, existing disability access work conducted by various units, including the Disability Equity Office within the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office (ECRT). 

The committee’s first meeting was held in late January.