SUBJECT: August 2026 Updates from the Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back! I hope this finds you rested, recharged, and ready for what is shaping up to be a great year! Whether you spent the summer with family, travel, research, or a bit of well-earned time off, I hope you found moments to recharge. There is a real buzz on campus as we kick off a new academic year, and I could not be more excited about what we will build together: innovative ideas, stronger connections, bold initiatives, and continued progress on behalf of our students.

This message has all you need to start the semester.

Fall 2026 Key Dates

• Wolverine Welcome Day: Tuesday, August 25
• Classes begin: Wednesday, August 26
• Labor Day (no classes): Monday, September 7
• Thanksgiving week (no classes): Saturday, Nov 21 – Sunday, Nov 29
• Study days: Tue/Wed, Dec 8–9 & Sat/Sun, Dec 12–13
• Final exams: Thu/Fri, Dec 10–11 & Mon–Wed, Dec 14–16
• Fall commencement: Saturday, December 19

Let's Welcome Our Students Back
One of my favorite UM-Dearborn traditions is back! For the past few years, faculty, staff, and students have greeted classmates and colleagues at building entrances during the first days of class, and the response has been wonderful. Many students have expressed how much it meant to walk in and feel truly welcomed. We are doing it again on Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27, from 7:45 am–6 pm, and this year we are expanding to new outdoor spaces (weather permitting)! If you can spare an hour or two, sign up for a time slot. This is a small gesture that has a big impact.

Double-Check Your Fall Schedule
Please take a moment to confirm your course title, number, credits, modality, day, and time are all correct. Spot a discrepancy? Reach out to your department chair right away so we can get it fixed before classes begin.

Syllabus Template Reminder
Quick reminder: all faculty are required to use the UM-Dearborn syllabus template this term.

Exciting News: New Leadership for the Inclusive History Project
Congratulations to Professor Georgina Hickey, newly appointed Inclusive History Project Co-Director of Research for UM-Dearborn! She joins Professor Camron Amin in leading the IHP's research efforts and community engagement, working alongside Project Manager for Digital Humanities Marlaine Magewick, the Dearborn IHP Steering Committee, our research assistants, Campus Archivist Hannah Zmuda, and the Inclusive Storytelling Hub. Professor Hickey will also serve on the IHP's tri-campus leadership team and contribute to steering the overall direction of the project.

Please join me in congratulating Georgina!

Digital Accessibility - Making Course Materials Accessible to All Students
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and the U-M Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility SPG (601.20), we are all required to make sure all digital materials meet accessibility standards. Please prioritize updating Canvas materials for upcoming terms, starting with published content students see first. Guidance, tips, and Canvas training are available on the Digital Accessibility for Faculty webpage, along with a quick UM-Dearborn Digital Accessibility Topics Overview, if you are short on time. Thank you for helping make UM-Dearborn more inclusive for every student.

Tech Corner

• Wi-Fi and VPN: Use and encourage students to use MWireless for Wi-Fi (not MGuest), and to set up the campus VPN, which is often required for library and research resources.
• New AI Platform: A generative AI platform is now available to all active U-M faculty, staff, and students across Ann Arbor, Flint, Dearborn, and Michigan Medicine. The platform is built to be equitable, accessible, and useful from everyday tasks to advanced research. Click here for AI services available to you.
• Okta FastPass: Authenticate without using your password! FastPass lets you authenticate with fingerprint recognition (macOS and Windows Hello) or facial recognition or PIN (Windows Hello). Set it up by visiting Okta Fast Pass on Desktop for instructions on enabling this on your Mac or Windows device.
• Traveling with Technology: Heading abroad? Bring only the devices you need and minimize personal/university data on them. Review travel tech guidance, including how to report a lost or stolen device.

Thank you for everything you do each day for our students, our colleagues, and this community. I am grateful for your dedication and energy, and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together this year.

Respectfully,

Ghassan Kridli
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs