Over the past year, faculty, staff, students, alumni and trustees contributed their ideas, perspectives and aspirations through our strategic planning process. The result is a shared vision for Quinnipiac’s future and six strategic priorities that will guide our work in the years ahead.  This fall, our focus shifts from defining that vision to bringing it to life. Doing so will require broad engagement across our community. Throughout the semester, you will have opportunities to participate in discussions, provide feedback and help identify initiatives that advance our strategic priorities.

As we begin this academic year, I invite us to view change not simply as something we manage, but as an opportunity to strengthen our community and advance the vision we are creating together through the strategic visioning process. The work highlighted below reflects our shared commitment to innovation, excellence and student success. As we continue this work, I encourage you to share your ideas, participate in the conversations ahead and help shape the initiatives that will bring our strategic priorities to life. Together, we have an opportunity to build a future that is ambitious, compassionate and deeply grounded in our commitment to one another.

Below you will find updates from across the Provost’s Office on:  

• Leading Our Strategic Future — engaging our community to transform vision into action. 

• Investing in Our Community — welcoming new colleagues and strengthening connections across Quinnipiac. 

• Investing in Teaching, Learning and Faculty Success — supporting excellence through new systems, resources and development opportunities 

• Student Success and Distinctive Experiences — expanding opportunities that help students thrive, belong and prepare for the future. 

• Expanding Our Impact — creating new pathways for learning, innovations, partnership and growth. 

• Important Dates 

Leading our Strategic Future

This year marks the launch of our new strategic plan, developed through extensive engagement across the university community and grounded in our shared aspirations for the future. During last year’s Strategic Visioning process, faculty, staff, students, alumni and trustees helped shape an updated mission statement, a set of core values, a vision statement and six priority areas that will guide our work in the years ahead. 

This fall, we invite you to participate in the important work of turning that vision into action. Your partnership in this work is essential. The success of our strategic plan depends not only on the ideas it contains but on the commitment of our community to share and implement them together. 

Faculty and staff leaders for each of the six strategic pillars facilitated the initial Strategic Visioning Canvas Hub discussions on priorities during the spring and summer. Strategic Priority Working Groups are being formed will identify 3-5 key initiatives or areas of opportunity aligned with its assigned strategic priority. Opportunities for your engagement with the groups will be available through October, including: 

• University-wide strategic planning session during Common Hour on September 24 October 8 in SITE-201 Auditorium, 

• Discussions through Faculty Senate and other governance and campus forums, 

• Sessions planned by Strategic Priority Working Groups. 

Thank you to the faculty and staff who are leading these working groups: 

1. Empower Academic Success: Professor Lynn Byers (Mechanical Engineering) and Kiku Jones (Interim Associate Dean, School of Business) 

2. Cultivate a Community of Learners: Anne Eisbach (College of Arts & Sciences) and Catherine Gillespie (Director of Spiritual & Religious Life) 

3. Lead Through Innovation: Richard Lane (Director of Teaching and Classroom Technology) and Barbara Nadeau (Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy) 

4. Design a Distinctive Experience: Jim Ryan (Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications) and John Somers (Associate Director of Recreation) 

5. Advance Health and Human Potential: Lisa Rebeschi (Senior Associate Dean, School of Nursing) and Adam Weinstein (Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum, Netter School of Medicine) 

6. Extend Our Partnerships and Our Value: Greg Knott (Associate Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs) and Maureen McCarthy (Executive Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs) 

Investing in our Community

This year, we welcome outstanding new faculty members and academic leaders whose expertise, energy and perspective will enrich our university community. They join Quinnipiac at a time of tremendous opportunity and will help advance our mission through teaching, scholarship, service and leadership.  

I hope you will join me in welcoming our newest colleagues and helping them feel part of the Quinnipiac community as they begin their work with us. 

College of Arts & Sciences: 

• Mikayla Carr, Assistant Teaching Professor of Theater 

• Ashley Heim, Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology 

• Daniel Hunt, Assistant Teaching Professor of English 

• Lauren Reed, Assistant Teaching Professor of Music 

• Candice Travis, Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science 

School of Business: 

• Zachary Glatzer, Associate Professor of Finance 

• Alex Lebedinsky, Associate Dean of Operations and Student Experience  

School of Computing & Engineering: 

• Marshall Darling, Instructor of Computer Science 

• Eric Dieckman, Visiting Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering 

School of Health Sciences: 

• Stefania Agliano, Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work 

• Patrice Barnes-Tracey, Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work 

• Amy Butcher, Clinical Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies 

• Jay Hicks, Clinical Associate Professor of Radiological Sciences 

• Peiluen Kuo, Clinical Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy 

School of Law: 

• Shanee Brown, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law 

School of Nursing: 

• Kelly Goode, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

• Angela Falcon, Clinical Instructor of Nursing 

• Jennifer Hoey, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

• Christina Matousek, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

• Lauren Mitchell, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

• Allissa Parker, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

• Tricia Siefker, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

Investing in Teaching, Learning and Faculty Success

Several of our most significant initiatives this year are designed to strengthen the teaching and learning environment while providing clearer, more consistent support for faculty success. 

Canvas: This fall marks the completion of our transition to Canvas as Quinnipiac’s learning management system! This milestone represents more than a technology change; it reflects our commitment to creating a more integrated and engaging learning experience for students while providing faculty with modern tools that support teaching excellence. Thank you for the effort faculty have invested in this transition and appreciate your partnerships throughout the process. Thank you to whole QILT and Classroom Technology teams for leading this change!  

Watermark: Faculty have also helped us select a state-of-the-art system which we will be implementing over the course of this year to ease the work associated with annual reviews, reappointment, promotion and tenure reviews and course evaluations. Moving to an integrated system will provide greater consistency, improve transparency and help us better support faculty development and evaluation.  

• Student Course Experience Surveys: Thank you to those who volunteered to use the new course evaluation in Watermark in Summer 1. We received positive feedback and look forward to the launch of the system for Fall courses. The initial feedback indicated the new system improved the quality of feedback and supported a more meaningful understanding of the student experience. 

• Faculty Success: Looking ahead, Watermark will also be used for faculty activity tracking, replacing Galaxy’s Faculty Activities Reporting and ePortfolio functions. This process will be rolled out gradually with training and opportunities for feedback in Fall 2026. Look for training sessions. 

• Reappointment, Promotion, & Tenure (RPT): Fall reviews will still occur in Galaxy with uploads from Faculty Activities Reports and ePortfolio. Starting with 2nd Year Reviews in January 2027 the first set of reviews will occur in Watermark. Training will be available in the Fall. 

• Annual Reviews: Beginning in January 2027, annual reviews will occur in Watermark. We are also piloting a new rubric to improve clarity, consistency and developmental support in the faculty evaluation process. 

Library Support: Our commitment to academic excellence extends beyond systems and processes. The Library continues to expand support for teaching, research, open educational resources (OER) and scholarly publishing. For more information, contact a library liaison. 

• Publishing Agreements: Quinnipiac authors may now publish open access with no article processing charges in select journals. Over 3,750 journals are covered by these transformative agreements, representing all major disciplines at Quinnipiac. For more information, visit the library’s website.  

Faculty Development: Support for faculty’s teaching, scholarship and leadership remains central to our efforts. This year’s Semester Spark theme was “Spark Care” and featured sessions on the many ways we infuse care into our teaching and careers. The theme of care will continue throughout the year with other development opportunities 

One Book, One University: The selected book for 2026/2027 is Teaching, Learning and Caring in Higher Education by JT Torres (2025) centers on themes of compassion and provides shared opportunities for dialogue across roles and disciplines. Ways to participate: 

• Read the Book: Complimentary copies are available. We have a limited number of copies available for you to pick up and keep at the Arnold Bernhard and Netter Libraries. E-book versions are also available through the Arnold Bernhard Library. 

• Attend Events: We will host workshops and encourage informal discussions throughout the academic year to delve into the book’s themes. Unlike past One Book, One University events, we will focus these on actionable workshop activities, instead of chapter discussions. Look out for events in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, including pop-up visits from the author!

• Incorporate the Book: Consider integrating themes from the book into your courses, projects or departmental discussions. 

• Attend Winter Warm-up: Author JT Torres will give a keynote address at Winter Warm-up in December 2026. You won’t want to miss it! 

Common Hour: Monthly Faculty Development Brown Bag lunch sessions will focus on teaching innovation, inclusive pedagogy, grant seeking and emerging areas such as AI and information literacy. Coming soon will be information about scheduled events on September 10, November 5 and December 3. 

New QILT Resources: Check out new resources on teaching philosophies, integrating AI in assignments, religious inclusion in the classroom, accessibility in low- and no-tech classrooms, OER and inclusive student success, teaching in turbulent times and simple strategies for quick modality shifts. If you have ideas for a resource that would be useful, email Sara Rzeszutek, Director of Faculty Advancement and Teaching Excellence in QILT. 

Grants: Look out for many new opportunities to learn about grants and grant seeking this year. ORSP will be hosting workshops, speakers, webinars and trainings. Also available are grant-funded consultants to help you develop a research proposal. Reach out to orsp@qu.edu if you’re interested in learning more.

Communities of Practice: Stay tuned for more information on this year’s continuing communities of practice on AI, online teaching and inclusive pedagogies, as well as new topics! 

Suggestions: Have an idea for Faculty Development?  Send your suggestions to Stephanie Jacobson, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs & Development. 

Faculty Global Engagement:   

Funds Available: Galpin International Exchange Fellowships: Initiated by a gift from Mr. & Mrs. Crossley in memory of longtime Quinnipiac trustee Samuel A. Galpin, the purpose of this fund is to promote and foster faculty development. The Office of Global Engagement is offering professional development or research funding up to $6,000 to develop faculty-led courses abroad, research at a partner institution abroad or inviting an international scholar. Proposal deadlines are October 15, 2026 and February 15, 2027. Full- or part-time faculty interested in learning more about this opportunity may email Erin Sabato for proposal materials. 

International Travel Requirements: To support the safety and well-being of Quinnipiac faculty and staff traveling abroad, the University has formalized requirements for all university-sponsored international travel undertaken as part of professional responsibilities, including, but not limited to, presenting at conference, conducting research, participating in academic or global programs, engaging in professional development activities and representing the University in an official capacity. Required Actions (must be completed at least two weeks prior to departure): 

• Register your travel in Quinnipiac’s risk management system using this link. 

• Enroll in comprehensive overseas medical and security insurance via  Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) 

  • Check with external funding sources first (grants) and then with respective dean’s offices regarding potential coverage of CISI costs.  

  • Insurance materials, including insurance card, benefits information, consulate letter and claim form will be emailed to you. 

Supporting Student Success and Distinctive Experiences

Academic Support: The Learning Commons continues to expand resources that support academic achievement and retention. 

• QU105: Learning Strategies Seminar – This one-credit course helps students develop evidence-based study strategies, strengthen time management skills, improve motivation and become more self-regulated learners.  

• Early Alerts: Faculty are often the first to recognize when a student is struggling and detailed early alerts help connect students with coordinated support before academic challenges become barriers to success. Submit an Early Alert here. 

• Office of Peer Education: Faculty are encouraged to recommend tutoring, Peer Fellow sessions and Peer Catalyst support early in the semester.  Refer a student by contacting the Learning Commons. 

• Office of Student Accessibility: As new testing center will open in Echlin Hall this fall, providing a dedicated reduced-distraction testing environment with expanded capacity to better serve students with approved accommodations. 

Ethical Technology Use: The Office of Academic Integrity & Accountability is launching ETHOS: Ethical Technology Use Through Humanities, Outreach and Shared Learning, a year-long initiative designed to engage our community in conversations about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Through workshops, discussions and educational programs, ETHOS will encourage thoughtful engagement with issues that will increasingly shape society and our professions. For more information contact co-organizers Christine Voth and David Tomczyk. 

Career Development: This year, students will benefit from expanded career development programming, new resources available through a self-paced Career and Experiential Learning Canvas course, strengthened employer engagement opportunities and continued support from the Office of Career Development and Experiential Learning. 

• Resource Fair for pre-med students: Thursday, September 10 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Student Center (SC-120). For more information visit Handshake. 

• Business (Accounting/Finance) Career Fair: Tuesday, September 15 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in SITE-201 Auditorium. For more information, contact Jill Koehler. 

• University-wide Career Fair: Tuesday, October 13 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in SITE-201 Auditorium and School of Business Auditorium (SB-270). For more information, visit Fall 2026 Career Fair or contact iq.qucareer@qu.edu.  

• Career Canvas Course: A new self-paced Career & Experiential Learning Canvas course is now available to all students, featuring career resources, the iQ Career Map and guidance aligned with each stage of career development. For more information reach out to iq.qucareer@qu.edu. 

• First Destination Survey: We are collecting career outcomes for graduates within six months of earning their degree and your partnership can make a difference. Faculty and staff who have connections with recent graduates are encouraged to remind them to complete the survey and to share verified graduate outcomes to iq.qucareer@qu.edu.

Expanding our Impact

As higher education continues to evolve, Quinnipiac must continue to expand the ways we serve learners, employers and communities. The creation of the Office of Strategic Programs and Initiatives led by Alison Witherspoon, Vice President of Strategic Programs & Partnership, brings together lifelong learning, continuing and executive education, pre-college programs, concurrent enrollment, conferences and events and strategic partnerships into a single integrated unit. This new structure reflects our commitment to innovation, collaboration and creating new opportunities that enhance the university’s value to students, employees and external partners. They will continue to partner with faculty and staff to strengthen partnerships and expand access to learning opportunities that align with workforce needs and community engagement. 

Important Dates

• September 10: Faculty Development Brown Bag lunch during Common Hour 

• September 10: Pre-Med Resource Fair 12:30 to 2 p.m. in SC-120 

• September 14: Discussion of strategic planning pillar 3 during Faculty Senate meeting in MNH-105 

• September 15: Business (Accounting/Finance) Career Fair 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in SITE-201 

• September 24: University-wide strategic planning session during Common Hour in SITE-201 

• October 1: Review materials due in Galaxy for 4th, 6th, tenure and promotion reviews 

• October 8: University-wide strategic planning session during Common Hour in SITE-201 

• October 13: University-wide Career Fair 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in SITE-201 & SB-270 

• October 15 – Study Abroad application deadline for Winter/Spring 2027 & Summer 2027  

• October 15: Galpin International Exchange Fellowship proposal deadline 

• November 5: Faculty Development Brown Bag lunch during Common Hour 

• December 3: Faculty Development Brown Bag lunch during Common Hour 

Thank you for your dedication to our students, to your colleagues and to Quinnipiac University. I am grateful for your partnership and look forward to the important work ahead. 

Warm regards,

Debra Liebowitz 
Provost