PIVOT Pulse Check

Since announcing PIVOT we’ve been working to increase awareness about and understanding of the plan across campus. The plan was highlighted at September’s Financial Town Hall, where Provost Chabon outlined our approach alongside other campus-wide financial sustainability efforts. We’ve also presented PIVOT to PSU’s Board of Trustees and Faculty Senate, shared the detailed plan in Currently, and have begun meeting with individual schools and colleges. 

Significant preparation is underway to support programs and units through the self-study process. Our teams in Academic Affairs, Research & Graduate Studies, and Institutional Research are collaborating alongside the Academic Leadership Team to finalize and package the data you’ll need for self-studies so that it is easily accessible and that the assessment process is as streamlined as possible. 

The Academic Leadership Team, which includes our deans, vice provosts, and associate vice provosts, is finalizing the self-study questions for both Track 1 (Academic Programs) and Track 2 (Support Units). Our goal is to provide clear and relevant questions that help capture the full picture of each program. We are also verifying who will coordinate self-assessments for each academic program, support unit, center, and institute. 

In addition, we are building the PIVOT Transition Monitoring Team. This independent, representative committee will provide vital feedback throughout this year by identifying emerging concerns on campus, recommending course corrections to engagement strategies, and ensure the voices of those most affected by changes are heard and considered. This committee will include faculty, staff and student representation. 

Each unit will receive unit-specific preliminary Program Vitality Reports that provide necessary data for review and self-study questions to answer in a template with specified word count. This will allow for a consistent review process across all programs. 

From the point of receiving their Vitality Reports, units will have approximately four calendar weeks (as described in the PIVOT document) to engage with their teams, gather input, and submit completed self-studies using the template we will provide. 

As we carry out this important work, Provost Chabon and academic leaders will continue to meet with units and provide multiple opportunities to hear directly from staff, faculty and students, including through open drop-in “Listening Benches” throughout campus and regular meetings with ASPSU, Faculty Senate, and Faculty Committees. 

Friday, October 17 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Smith Ballroom

Wednesday, October 22 | 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

Hoffman Hall

Wednesday, October 29 | 12:40 PM - 1:30 PM

KMC Atrium

The PIVOT Pulse Check is distributed regularly to Academic and RGS employees by the Office of Academic Affairs on behalf of PSU’s Academic Leadership Team to keep our academic community informed and engaged throughout the PIVOT process.