This semester is ending on a less positive note than I'd like, but I don't want the clouds on our economic horizon to overshadow all that we have accomplished over the last four months. From publications on research that the pandemic shutdown couldn't sideline, to the hundreds of little ways you all make the academic journey better for our students every single day, we are continuing to do great things in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I want to take this opportunity to again thank you for the stellar work you all do to make our community strong and successful.
But I know that people are anxious about the news that has been coming out lately from the Chancellor about our budgets. Many of you voiced very valid concerns at the university-wide budget meetings with leadership last week, but I know that many questions and concerns remain. We will all be experiencing times of uncertainty over the coming months, but I want all of you to know that in CLAS our focus is on continuing to provide the work and learning conditions that will best support our students, staff, and faculty. People are my priority.
In that spirit, the conversations continue tomorrow at our CLAS Budget and Academic Planning Forum (details below in the events list). I hope this session will be the transparent and honest conversation that we all need and deserve to have. Folks from across the college have already been putting together proposals of how to address the requested cuts from CLAS that we need to send on to central administration by December 21. The timeline is tight, and the ask is pretty daunting, but we are going to work together to find the best way to make the resources we have work for us. Please come tomorrow with any ideas you think might help, and the Associate Deans, the Assistant Dean, and I will be grateful to listen.
And then another semester will be in the books. I hope many of you will be able to attend Commencement on Saturday, which I always find to be a really impactful reminder of what our teaching and student support efforts are all about. We continue to graduate amazing people who have become well-prepared global citizens, and that isn't going to change. I hope all of you get to relax and take some well-deserved time to recharge your batteries over the break. Happy holidays, and I look forward to meeting the challenges of 2023 with you in the new year!
