Newsletter — Office of the Provost

Monday, March 2, 2026

We are almost to the mid-point of the semester. That means we are getting closer to Spring Break and hopefully some spring like weather. Before we get there, though, there is still a lot to do with midterms fast approaching. In this newsletter, I’ve highlighted the need to provide meaningful midterm grades as well as some noteworthy items.

Midterm Grades

• Faculty are mandated to provide “Mid-Term Progress Reports” for their undergraduate students.
• This requires that at least one graded assignment, examination, or performance measure be completed prior to 3/16/26, the deadline for submission of midterm grades.
• Do not issue a single or common grade (“blanket” grades); midterm grades need to be a meaningful assessment of a student’s progress by the middle of the semester.

Points of Pride

Please use the Academic Affairs Points of Pride Newsletter Submission Form to submit noteworthy items about faculty, staff, students, and alumni that we can include in our March Academic Affairs Points of Pride newsletter. Submissions entered by March 10th will be included in the next newsletter. If you have any questions about submissions, please reach out to Tiffany Jewell.

Sabbatical Rubric

The sabbatical rubric has been updated so it better aligns with the items in the sabbatical application. CELT will be hosting a virtual information session on April 21st from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. If you are interested in applying for a sabbatical leave and would like more information about the process and how to prepare a strong application, please consider attending this session.

Scholars Day

Scholars Day will be held on Tuesday, April 14th. The Scholars Day abstract portal is now open. Students, faculty, and staff who are presenting, or who are organizing events and programming for Scholars Day (departmental awards, panel discussions, group presentations, etc.) are asked to submit abstracts using Scholars Day Abstract Submission Form. Abstract submissions are due by March 15th. Scholars Day information.

Digital Accessibility

I want to thank everyone who participated in the “Strive for 85 Campaign” in the fall. We are off to a great start as we turn our attention this semester to achieving 100% digital accessibility.

Student Accessibility Services is sponsoring Access & Innovation: SUNY Brockport Digital Accessibility Symposium on Wednesday, March 25th from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Join students, faculty, and staff for this virtual event with a panel discussion, innovation showcase, and digital accessibility workshops.

Symposium topics include:

• Student Panel on Digital Accessibility
• Digital Accessibility Basics and Best Practices
• ADA Title II: Progress Toward Compliance
• Universal Design and Accessibility
• Accessible Social Media and Events
• Digital Accessibility Tips, Tricks, and Tools

Detailed schedule to follow. Please register by March 20, 2026 to receive the virtual event link. If you need a disability-related accommodation for this event, please contact Jay Harwood at 585-395-5409 or jharwood@brockport.edu.

Online Learning Support for Faculty

Shari Hardenbrook is now the Coordinator of Educational Technology for Online Learning and Lyndsay Marrone is now the Coordinator of Instructional Design for Online Learning. While they will continue supporting faculty as they have in the past, their new roles will involve the following responsibilities:

• Aligning support efforts for course design, LMS use, and pedagogy.
• Ensuring consistent application of accessibility and quality frameworks.
• Co-leading initiatives to assess and enhance online/hybrid course quality.
• Developing and overseeing institutional policies and resources for online teaching.
• Contributing to strategic planning for digital learning environments.

TimelyCare

TimelyCare is a virtual health and wellness platform now available at no cost to all enrolled students, accessible regardless of insurance status. TimelyCare offers 24/7 access to medical care, mental health support, and on-demand wellness coaching. Students can connect with licensed providers from anywhere at any time, ensuring they receive care when they need it most. TimelyCare compliments, does not replace, the in-person services provided by the Hazen Center for Integrated Care.

How You Can Help: In addition to services for students, TimelyCare offers Faculty Support – a service for faculty and staff that is designed to equip you with information to help students who may be struggling. It’s 24/7/365 for free so you can get the guidance on how to support a student in need of care. You can access Faculty Support by calling 833-4-TIMELY, ext. 3.

Your support is essential in connecting students with care:

• Make timely referrals. If a student mentions anxiety before an exam, difficulty sleeping, or feeling overwhelmed, let them know. “Have you checked out TimelyCare? You can talk to someone today, even tonight if you need to.”
• Encourage exploration. Remind students that TimelyCare offers more than crisis support, they can access preventive care, wellness coaching, and self-care resources anytime.
• Direct students appropriately. For questions about which service is best, encourage students to contact the Hazen Center for guidance.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to supporting student well-being. Your engagement and referrals play a vital role in connecting students with the care they need.

Questions? Contact the Hazen Center for Integrated Care at Phone: (585)395-2414 or Email: healthce@brockport.edu

Upcoming Events

March 16th-20th: Spring Break

April 1st: Brunch with Brasted at Harrison Dining Hall, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, take advantage of Staff Saver Wednesdays, simply show the cashier your Brockport ID and you can enjoy your meal for only $9.99!

April 8th: Cafe Chats with the Provost - Jitterbugs Cafe in the Seymour College Union, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

April 14th: Scholars Day

April 24th: Honors and Awards

May 15th: Commencement

Ping the Provost is always open for questions, comments, concerns, and ideas. Please feel free to reach out anytime.

Thanks for all you do. I hope you each have a chance to enjoy a little change of pace over Spring Break.