Important Updates from the Office of Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues:

As we near the end of the fall semester, we are writing to provide you with some important updates from the Office of Academic Affairs regarding:

• Extension of the tenure clock for faculty who joined Syracuse University in a tenure-track position between January and August 2020;
• Continuing the CUSE Grant Program;
• Enabling no-cost extensions for existing CUSE Grant projects that have been impacted by the pandemic; and
• Planning for new training opportunities from the Office of Research.

Tenure Clock

Last spring, we announced a temporary policy providing a one-year extension of the tenure clock for faculty who started on the tenure track on Aug. 24, 2019 or earlier. We did not make a decision at that time regarding eligibility for an additional year on the tenure clock for faculty whose tenure-track appointments began after Aug. 24, 2019. This policy is now extended to all faculty who joined Syracuse University after Aug. 24, 2019, including those who began at the beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Continuing CUSE Grants      

Based on direct feedback from research faculty, the Office of Research will be reinstating the CUSE Grant Program for 2021. We anticipate releasing an updated Request for Proposals (RFP) before Orange Appreciation Days. The RFP will be circulated to the campus community by direct email and will be posted on the Office of Research webpage.

Extensions of Existing CUSE Grants

Recognizing that the pandemic has slowed progress on some research projects, current CUSE grant recipients may request a no-cost extension by emailing CUSE Program Manager Christina Leigh Docteur (cdocteur@syr.edu), with a brief description of the necessity for the extension.

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity

Through our institutional membership in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, anyone with a Syracuse University email address can access professional development resources such as webinars, training, writing challenges and a resource library. Visit the Faculty Affairs website for more information on how to register.

New Training Opportunities

The Office of Research is exploring new training opportunities for the spring semester, including expanded offerings as part of the Office of Research Awareness Series and potential workshops led by external speakers. To indicate your interest in potential training activities, or to recommend new ideas, please complete this brief survey by Monday, Dec. 7.

Several virtual workshops for faculty and students have already been scheduled for Spring 2021, including:

Feb. 3: Introduction to the Office of Research Integrity and Protections

Feb. 5: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Information Session

March 19: NEH Regional Grant-Writing Workshop

As we wrap up the fall semester, we are grateful to you—our faculty colleagues. You have managed uncertainty, demonstrated your commitment to students in large and small ways and continued research and scholarly pursuits in the most challenging environment that higher education has faced in our lifetimes. Thank you for all of your work. We wish you a healthy and peaceful holiday season.

Sincerely,

John Liu
Interim Provost

Ramesh Raina
Interim Vice President for Research