SUBJECT: February 2026 Updates from the Office of the Provost
Dear Colleagues,
The semester is off to a strong start, with a noticeable sense of energy and engagement across campus. It has been great to see so many members of our community connecting in person, participating in campus events, and engaging thoughtfully with ideas and dialogue. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing the best possible education and experience for our students. As always, below are several important announcements and reminders that we hope you will find helpful.
Important Winter 2026 Dates
- “Best in Class” IHP Documentary, Inclusive History Project, Wednesday, February 11
- State of the University and Winter Carnival: Thursday, February 12
- AI, Integrity & Innovation - Faculty and Staff Workshop: Friday, February 13
- All Campus Career Fair: Friday, February 20 (10am-2pm, RUC) and Get Career Ready Events all Week!
- Spring Recess: Saturday, February 28 - Sunday, March 8
Provost’s Faculty & Staff Book Showcase
The Office of the Provost is excited to continue the Provost’s Faculty & Staff Book Showcase, a celebration and recognition of the achievements of our faculty who have published professional books in the preceding academic year. The Showcase will feature faculty from a range of disciplines, celebrating their advancements in knowledge, research, and creative activity. The goal of the Showcase is to expose the university community to the breadth of faculty research and increase student awareness of the importance of these endeavors. For more information on what types of work are eligible and to submit a book for consideration, check out the Provost Faculty Book Showcase website. Please submit your work for the winter semester event by Friday, February 27.
2026 Engage Detroit Workshops Grant Program – Request for Proposals Reminder
The Engaged Learning team from Ann Arbor is seeking proposals for the 2026 Engage Detroit Workshop grant program, which supports small groups of UM faculty and staff members organizing a workshop or a speaker series in Detroit. Continuing our commitment to partnerships with Detroit, this grant provides up to $15,000 in funding for workshops or speaker series that foster meaningful relationships and connections on a topic connecting faculty and staff at the University of Michigan with Detroit communities. Submissions are due by March 1, 2026; please see more information in our original announcement email.
2026 OCEL Seed Grant
The Office of Community-Engaged Learning (OCEL) will be launching the 2026 OCEL Seed Grant applications on Monday, February 16. Applicants are required to have an industry or community partner identified and must demonstrate that the partner is involved in planning and decision making for the project. Priority will be granted to applications that include student participation and SURE student projects, based on the availability of funding.
Requests may range from $500 - $5,500 and can be used for software, research assistants, hosting expenses, transportation, etc. These funds are not eligible for course buy-outs or PBL support. If you’d like to know more, check out the OCEL website or feel free to reach out to Molly ([email protected]) or Elspeth ([email protected]) with questions.
3rd Annual Graduation & Retention Summit: Friday, March 13 - Request for poster presentations!
Faculty and staff are invited to participate in this year’s Summit . The theme “Embracing Student Success in a Changing Landscape” will focus on how our campus is responding to AI, demographic shifts, and online learning. We are especially interested in featuring Promising Practices that can make a difference in retaining and graduating our students? What can the rest of our campus community learn from you (and your team) about student success around this year's theme? Our goal is to highlight the great work happening across campus. Complete the participation form by February 16th if interested in sharing your practice at our browsing fair. See our FAQs for more details.
Special Session with VPR Skip Lupia
On Tuesday, March 10 from 1:00-2:00pm, we are pleased to host Dr. Arthur Lupia, U-M Vice President of Research & Innovation, and Gerald R. Ford Distinguished University Professor. Dr. Lupia will provide a brief update on the federal research landscape, highlighting emerging trends and future directions. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session, giving you the opportunity to discuss directly with Dr. Lupia topics relevant to our campus's research endeavors. This in-person event will take place in James C. Renick University, Kochoff Hall C. To help us plan accordingly, please register by February 26 at 11:59 p.m. and indicate your interest and availability.
Sign Up for Office Hours with the Provost
I am excited to announce that I will be holding office hours this semester. These sessions offer a great opportunity to connect directly with me, share your perspectives and discuss topics that matter to you. Sign up to meet with Provost Kridli.
As always, thank you for everything you do to support our students and one another. Your work and commitment make a meaningful difference every day.
Respectfully,
Ghassan Kridli
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs