A Letter from Dr. Karen Riley
Colleagues,
The April days are going by very quickly and it is hard to believe May 1 will be here so soon. That day marks my first anniversary at Regis—and I could not be more excited that I get to spend it celebrating our graduates and their families during Commencement weekend. Anniversaries often prompt a retrospective approach. Today however, much like how I felt last year at this time, is filled with anticipation and expectation. Spring brings us out of our classrooms, boardrooms and offices and we are able to enjoy our campus and the members of our community in a unique way. The energy is amplified, the pace increased, and the students, faculty, and staff have accelerated their respective efforts. There will be time for reflection and contemplation, but for now we look forward. Rituals and ceremonies are important. They allow us to recognize achievement, to move from one phase to the next, and to take time to acknowledge accomplishments. As we embark on the ceremonies and rituals that mark the recognition of years of work and dedication, I would ask that you each take a few minutes to pause and simply enjoy the spirit and significance of the events. These events, including but not limited to commencement, do not happen without the collective efforts of all members of our community. In a few days, I will congratulate and recognize the hard work and accomplishment of our graduates; today I want to recognize all of you. Thank you for what you have done during these last 12 months. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Our students will be walking across the stage; however, it is a day of celebration and recognition for all of us.
I’d like to thank all those who took the time to complete the most recent Provost’s Office Feedback survey. We are all busy and we appreciate you taking the time to respond. A continual approach to growth and improvement involves feedback. I’d like to begin addressing a few of the themes that we are seeing from this most recent survey,
- Communication. Overall the feedback on communication is very positive. The consistency of the Provost’s Digest is appreciated, and we heard gratitude for transparency pretty consistently. On the growing side, a couple people mentioned the need for more communication around budgeting.
- Compensation. I recognize that this is a crucial issue on the minds of most of our faculty and staff. I know that many are eagerly anticipating letters that will arrive soon notifying them about the next steps related to the compensation study that was recently completed. The letters are forthcoming. If you have questions or concerns after you receive your letter, please reach out to your respective supervisor or to the VP of your unit. We want to answer your questions and to address any errors.
- Collaboration. There were several comments related to silos and the need for greater collaboration across colleges and across units within the university. This is also a theme that has come up at the listening sessions held by the presidential search committee and the strategic plan. I am heartened that this is on people’s minds; I think it is crucial for our future success and needs to be a priority at every level of the university. It is also crucial that we model this for our students. While this is not a change that can happen overnight, I will continue to prioritize collaboration and partnerships—within and beyond Regis.
In response to your feedback, we have now published on the Provost’s Office website a link to archived editions of the Provost’s Digest. We want to be sure the community has access to them for reference, but also for the sake of transparency and commitment to follow-through. We will also be adding more detail on the major duties of each member of the Provost’s Executive Team.
We will continue to address the themes of the feedback in upcoming Provost’s Digests. As we head into summer, we will reduce the frequency of editions but will continue to publish them, so please keep an eye on your inbox even if you will be away for part of the summer.
In closing, please remember to take care of yourself during these next few exceedingly busy weeks. With an increased level of activity there is often a complementary increased level of stress. Take a short walk, take a short break, make sure you are pausing to engage with those close to you. Busy times require grace. Grace for one another and grace for ourselves.
With my continued gratitude,
Dr. Karen Riley, Provost