Provost Invitation: Academic Affairs Budget Planning Consultation

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Administrators of Academic Affairs,

As part of our divisional priority to develop a transparent and collaborative practice for Academic Affairs budget planning, I invite you to participate in a 90-minute facilitated consultation. The purpose of these consultative sessions is to ensure that all Academic Affairs faculty, staff, and administrators have a meaningful opportunity to contribute toward designing how Academic Affairs engages its constituents in the process of divisional budget planning.

The new budget planning practice that emerges from these consultative sessions will inform how the Provost makes decisions about the allocation of resources to the Major Business Units (MBUs or units) across the division. 

These conversations are intended to gather input and shape our future divisional planning framework—not to make immediate budget decisions. These sessions are also not about how resources are allocated within your respective unit, which is led by your Dean, AVP, or Director. 

Feedback from these conversations will be synthesized and will guide divisional budget planning practice beginning in Spring 2027. Feedback on the effectiveness of the new practice will be solicited, and it will iteratively evolve as we learn together what works best for our division. 

This approach ensures that all perspectives are documented and considered while creating space for collaborative problem-solving. Each of you in your units and colleges are invited to participate. Depending on the size of the unit, units may be paired with other divisional units in a session.

Session Details

• Length: 90 minutes

• Participants: Faculty, staff, and administrators within your unit

• Facilitators: Shawna Young, Patrick Orona, and Pearl Podgorniak  

• Location: In person, please see your calendar invitation

• Light refreshments will be provided

In the coming days, you will receive a Google calendar invitation for your particular session. Thank you for your partnership and commitment to strengthening transparent and collaborative decision-making. I truly hope to see you there. 

Sincerely,

Shawna