Campus News

UB planning for 2020-21 academic year

By SUE WUETCHER

“Given the reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are intentionally preparing for the challenges that lie ahead — from questions about public health, university finances, enrollment, academic continuity, research and overall student experience. ”

UB has begun planning for the 2020-21 academic year with expectations that the COVID-19 crisis will continue to impact all aspects of the university.

The comprehensive planning process, which is being led by A. Scott Weber, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, will ensure that UB delivers the best educational and research programs possible while protecting the health and safety of the university community and preparing for the expected budgetary shortfalls associated with the crisis.

“Given the reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are intentionally preparing for the challenges that lie ahead — from questions about public health, university finances, enrollment, academic continuity, research and our overall student experience,” President Satish K. Tripathi told members of the UB community in an April 27 email.

A Campus Planning Committee has been established, with subcommittees addressing topics including research and academic continuity at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels; student experience and wellness; faculty and staff concerns; and campus operations. A Strategic Financial Management Advisory Group will explore and develop strategic financial plans that account for potential revenue and spending changes for fiscal year 2020-21.

The committees, composed of faculty, staff, students and senior administrators, will develop recommendations for a full range of scenarios — from continuing the distance learning model, to a residential, campus-based experience in a less dense and safe environment, to a full return to conventional campus operations.

Detailed information regarding the planning structure, committee charges and memberships is available here.

“In these challenging and uncertain times, campus-wide engagement, planning and prudent stewardship of our resources are critical to ensure that we continue to advance our research, education and engagement mission and rise among the ranks of the top public research universities in the nation,” Weber said in email to the UB community. “Thank you for your continuing efforts to help our university move forward in these uncertain times. Working together, I know that we can meet the challenges we face and emerge stronger than ever.”

Tripathi noted that planning will be done within the framework of several principles:

Ensure the health and safety of UB students, faculty and staff.

Maintain UB’s reputation as a premier public research university, and as a member of the AAU.

Provide students with a distinctive education that prepares them to be global citizens in their respective fields.

Continue to pursue UB’s strategic goals to deepen the university’s impact and further its reach as a national public research university.

Ensure UB is on strong financial footing for the short term, as well as the long term.

“While we are contending with an unpredictable future, we know for certain that we will not compromise our UB education,” Tripathi said. “For over 170 years, students from across our region, state and world have made UB their educational home. UB has always been a place where our students realize their ambitions, transform their dreams into reality and expand their worldview beyond the scope of their imagination.



“We will not dilute our educational ideals, these unprecedented circumstances notwithstanding,” he said. “I have every confidence that the thoughtfully creative minds of our faculty, staff and students will bring to the fore solutions expressed through our tripartite mission — transformative education, impactful research, and service to our local and global communities.”