SUBJECT: November Updates from the Provost Office

Dear Colleagues,

I hope your semester is going well and that you are enjoying this warm weather. As usual, I am sending you some important information on campus events and reminders.

As a reminder, starting in 2025 the University of Michigan-Dearborn will move the university-year merit increases to July 1st, 2025 (rather than September 1st). With this change, all faculty performance evaluations will need to occur by June 1st, 2025 and therefore, the campus-wide deadline for all annual review submissions is May 10, 2025. Please note that units might set earlier deadlines in order to have ample time for the review process and in order to compile departments and college reports. Deadlines for staff performance evaluations will be communicated campus wide by the Office of Human Resources. Please look for that email communication in the near future.

R2 Classification: 

The Office of the Provost has received several questions regarding the R2 Carnegie classification. Please note that Carnegie assigns research designation to universities every three to four years based on data reported to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey. These reports determine each university’s research classification based on the amount institutions spend on research and development (i.e. research expenditures) and on the number of research doctorates produced. Carnegie has announced that they will be reviewing previously reported data and updating their research designation list in 2025. Based on the data we have submitted, we believe we meet the R2 criteria, but we will not know for certain until the updated list is released.

Faculty Awards:

Nominations for the six campus faculty awards are now open! Please find the time to nominate members of the UM-Dearborn faculty whom you believe are deserving of such recognition. Your nominations are essential in our efforts to solicit the strongest possible pool of candidates for consideration by the selection committee. 

• Collegiate Lectureship Award
• Lecturer Excellence in Inclusive Teaching
• Distinguished Academic Citizenship Award
• Distinguished Research Award
• Distinguished Research Team Award
• Distinguished Teaching Award

Save the Dates - "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?" Series:

In support of President Ono’s “Year of Democracy and Civic Engagement,” Global Engagement in collaboration with the Office for Community-Engaged Learning will be hosting a series of panel discussions entitled, “Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?” Through this series, we hope to learn together about the rich cultural heritage and variety of neighborhood experiences within and around the Metro-Detroit area. Two on-campus panels will run this semester, and two more will be planned for the Winter term. The panels for this semester will be as follows. RSVP Requested.

• Downriver Neighborhoods (e.g. Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Riverview, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton): 
  • Tuesday, November 12, from 4-5:30PM
  • Mardigian Library, First Floor Event Space
• Livonia/Plymouth/Canton Neighborhoods: 
  • Wednesday, December 11, from 4-5:30PM
  • Mardigian Library, First Floor Event Space.

Friendsgiving - November 13, ELB Atrium from 4-6PM:

The Provost Office is hosting a Friendsgiving dinner for international students. Thanksgiving side dish kits will be handed out to all students in attendance. Additional side dish kits are available for students to pick up at Dearborn Support the week of November 18.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Chancellor’s Staff Awards Ceremony, Wednesday, November 13, 8-10AM
• Last day of classes, Friday, December 13 
• Study days, Saturday, December 14 to Sunday, December 15
• Final exams, Monday, December 16 to Friday, December 20
• Chancellor’s & Deans’ Medallion Reception, Thursday, December 19, 4:30-6PM
• Commencement, Saturday, December 21.

Thanksgiving Break:

Please remember that the campus will be closed Saturday, November 23rd through Sunday, December 1st, with no activities scheduled and staff enjoying time off the entire week for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Please note that:

• While all buildings will be locked, MCard access remains unchanged 
• The Mardigian Library will be closed November 23 through 30 and will reopen for full services on Sunday, December 1st
• The RUC (including Picasso, the bookstore, and the credit union) will be closed during this time due to construction
• DPS and Facilities Operations will maintain campus presence.

I would like to wish everyone a very happy and restful Thanksgiving! I am very thankful for all of my colleagues here at the University, for the great community we have created and for all you do for our campus and our students.

Best wishes,

Gabriella Scarlatta
Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs