SUBJECT: May 2026 Updates from the Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you are enjoying the start of the spring term, along with the warmer days and blooming landscapes across campus. The past month has been filled with events celebrating our graduates and sending them forward into their future endeavors. We also marked the return of the university leadership offices from the Social Sciences Building (SSB) to the renovated Daniel Little Building (DLB).

This week, the College of Education, Health, and Human Services begins its move into its new home in the DLB. I encourage you to stop by and see the remarkable transformation of the spaces the college will now occupy. In the coming few weeks, renovation of the SSB will begin as it is prepared to become the new home of the College of Business.

The following provides an overview of upcoming events, important reminders, and deadlines to keep in mind over the next few months.

2026 Staff Satisfaction Survey
We are pleased to announce the launch of our 2026 Campus-Wide Staff Satisfaction Survey. This survey is an important part of our strategic planning process and gives every staff member the opportunity to share feedback on job satisfaction, workplace climate, and leader effectiveness. The survey is administered by the Office of Human Resources in partnership with senior leaders from each unit. It is conducted through Qualtrics and responses are completely anonymous and confidential. The 2026 survey will be open from Monday, May 4, 2026, through Friday, May 29, 2026. We strongly encourage all staff to participate.

Communities in Conversation
Co-presented by the Inclusive History Project, the Bentley Historical Library, and the University of Michigan School of Information, the Communities in Conversation (CiC) symposium will take place on May 21, where participants will work together to re-envision and re-connect archival collections to communities in engaging and ethical ways. Sessions will feature presentations by unique archives-community collaborations from around the state, and allow for in-depth conversations about how to build and encourage further shared stewardship among Michigan archives. The CiC symposium is free and open to all to attend. For questions, please contact [email protected]. 

Important dates for Summer I, Summer II, and Full Summer terms

• Memorial Day (no classes): Monday, May 25
• Summer I session classes end: Monday, June 22
• Summer I study days: Tuesday, June 23
• Summer I final exams: Wednesday, June 24 – Friday, June 26
• Summer Full-Term Recess: Saturday, June 20 - Sunday, June 28
• Summer II classes begin: Monday, June 29
• Independence Day - Observed (no classes): Friday, July 3
• Summer II session and Summer Full-Term classes end: Friday, August 14
• Summer full-session/Summer II study days: Saturday, August 15 – Sunday, August 16
• Summer full-session/Summer II final exams: Monday, August 17 – Friday, August 21

For the full academic calendar and important dates, please visit our website.

New Student Orientations 2026
Orientations for new students begin on Tuesday, June 2nd, and run on most Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer, culminating in Wolverine Welcome Day on Tuesday, August 25th!

Summer Travel
If traveling out of the country, for work or pleasure, please remember to register your travel with the University. Also, please do not take university-provided digital devices out of the country - you can check with ITS regarding the availability of loaner laptops to use while traveling out of the country.

Congratulations to the New Faculty Senate Chair & Vice Chair!
Please join me in congratulating the new Faculty Senate chair and vice chair, Professor Emily Luxon and Professor Maya Barak. The Office of the Provost looks forward to working with you in the year ahead.

Also, sincere gratitude to the outgoing chair and vice chair, Professor Liz Rohan and Librarian Raya Samet, for their leadership, service, and partnership over the past year.

Please remember to take time for yourself and enjoy your summer. I hope you find opportunities to rest, recharge, and spend time doing what brings you joy. The Provost Office Communication will resume in August.

Respectfully,

Ghassan Kridli
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs