Welcome back to those of you who are returning from summer holidays or research trips and thank you to those of you who spent your summer in Edmonton also carrying out the business of the university. I hope you all took some time to recharge your batteries. I anticipate another exciting and packed academic year for my team, including multiple dean searches.
As part of looking ahead following the departure of Deputy Provost Dru Marshall to become provost at Calgary, the President and I undertook a review of the responsibilities of senior staff within the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic). I am pleased to announce the following new roles and appointments. More details about each of these roles are here.
Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic) Colleen Skidmore
Effective immediately until June 30, 2015
In this role Colleen is the senior member of the Provost’s team after me and thus plays an integral role in providing academic leadership to campus.
Vice-Provost (Academic) Murray Gray
Effective Jan. 1, 2012-Dec. 31, 2014 on a half-time basis
Murray will be the Provost’s Office liaison to the Office of the Vice-President (Research), and will be responsible for a variety of international councils and faculty rewards and recognition.
Interim Vice-Provost (Academic) Bill Connor
Effective immediately until Dec. 31, 2011
Vice-Provost Bill Connor
Effective Jan. 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012 on a half-time basis
In his roles, Bill will initially be responsible on an interim basis for the duties associated with Murray Gray’s new role, as well as for new programming governance and initiatives related to teaching and learning with which he will continue in the new year.
Vice-Provost (Faculty Relations) Jay Spark
Effective immediately
In this expanded role Jay will provide timely advice and strategic counsel on a range of academic human resource issues. He and his team will continue to work closely with Chris Cheeseman, Vice-Provost and AVP (Human Resource Services), and his team. Jay will play a lead role on my behalf in managing academic labour relations issues, resolving disputes and grievances, and conducting negotiations with the AASUA.
Director, Academic Budget and Planning Edith Finczak
Effective immediately
In her expanded role, Edith will provide high-level financial advice and guidance to the Provost’s Office and the Faculties and will serve as the key liaison with the Faculties and other academic units on operational issues of academic planning, enrolment and budgeting. Edith will play a key role in the decision making process by providing senior decision makers with strategic analysis and the required financial and budgetary information to assess the impact of their decisions.
Again, much more detail on each of these roles is provided here.
If you have questions on these changes, please feel free to contact any of these individuals or me. I want to personally thank each of these colleagues for taking on new and additional duties in service to the university. I look forward to working closely with each of them.
