05-12-19 Dean's Review

Dear Friends:

You have received letters from me discussing various topics ranging from undergraduate and graduate programs, award winning faculty, promotion and tenure, faculty recruitment, and diversity.  Many of these letters are archived on the College’s website if you wish to revisit any–
http://clla.tamu.edu/publications/deanreports/quarterlyletters.  

This letter covers a different topic that involves me as dean.  Just as we conduct in-depth reviews of faculty, department heads, and others around the University, college deans are also reviewed comprehensively every four years.  This review provides a venue for comments about the dean’ performance, as well as an opportunity to inform members of the College community about initiatives and achievements during the past four years and plans for the future.  A key part of a review, which is conducted by the Provost, involves surveys of faculty and staff for their views and recommendation about reappointment.  The Provost also visits with several representative groups associated with the College.  The review process leads to a decision by the Provost and President about whether to offer reappointment for another term of four years. 

Since this review provides an illuminating summary and assessment of the past four years, I thought that you might be interested in receiving a few of the major documents drawn from the process.  So, I have enclosed (1) a copy of a report I provided to the Provost and the College about the challenges, initiatives, and achievements during the past four years, (2) a copy of the Provost’s memorandum to the faculty and staff reporting the results of the review and announcing my reappointment, and (3) a letter I sent to faculty and staff accepting the reappointment, expressing thanks for their comments and support, and addressing our continuing priorities and challenges. 

I will not summarize these memoranda and letters here, but I invite you to review the enclosed at your convenience.  I do want to point out, however, that the achievements highlighted in my memoranda and noted in the Provost’s report were genuinely the result of outstanding efforts by faculty, staff, students, and benefactors of the College.  Many of you played critical roles in advancing the Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University.   Together, we have achieved a great deal.  Of course, there remains much to do.  I am confident, though, that we will continue moving rapidly toward the goals outlined in Vision 2020.

Thanks, once again, for your continuing interest and support of the College.  Best wishes for the holiday season. 

Sincerely,

Charles A. Johnson
Dean