Members of the Chancellor’s Special Committee will host a series of listening sessions this fall, inviting students, faculty and staff to share their perspectives on what Syracuse University is and what it should become.

Chancellor J. Michael Haynie charged the committee in June with two foundational questions:

• What is, and what can be, the purpose and distinctive contribution of Syracuse University for the students who enroll here and in American higher education more broadly?
• What must change, and what must be preserved, for the institution to fully deliver on its promise to students and their families, and to faculty, staff, alumni and the community?

Those questions belong to this entire community, the chancellor said at the time.

The committee is hosting multiple listening sessions. Many sessions will occur as part of standing meetings, such as monthly faculty and staff meetings, held by colleges and schools on campus. Other sessions are organized by the committee itself. These are listed below.

Two committee members will host each session, and the goal is for you to tell the committee what is on your mind. The conversations will inform the committee’s analysis and written report it delivers to the chancellor by Nov. 15.

The committee-organized sessions are the following:

• Staff: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (Zoom)
• Graduate and professional students (e.g., J.D., MBA, M.P.A., M.Arch.): Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7–8 p.m. (Zoom)
• Undergraduate students: Monday, Sept. 28, 2–3 p.m. (in person: The Underground, Schine Student Center)
• Undergraduate students: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7–8 p.m. (Zoom)
• Faculty: Thursday, Oct. 1, 1–2 p.m. (Zoom)
• Open campus, any constituency: Monday, Oct. 5, 6–7 p.m. (Zoom)

RSVP

Please register in advance. Zoom details will be sent to registrants ahead of the session. You are welcome to attend the session for your constituency or the open campus session on Oct. 5.

A community survey is also in development, and the committee will share that link in a follow-up message. Participants may take part in both the survey and the sessions.