UVU Faculty Convocation

Strength in the Struggle

Wednesday, August 12, 2026
9:30am - 3:30pm

The annual faculty convocation meets the following three objectives aligned with Vision 2030:

  1. Foster Faculty Support and Success: The annual faculty convocation aims to create a supportive and connected academic environment, helping faculty thrive. This aligns with UVU Vision 2030's goal to enhance educational quality by recruiting and retaining excellent faculty and staff.
  2. Promote Transparency and Communication: The convocation ensures transparency and effective communication within the academic community through updates from key offices, keeping faculty informed and engaged. This supports UVU Vision 2030's objective to enhance educational quality by recruiting and retaining excellent faculty and staff.
  3. Encourage Faculty Collaboration and Engagement: The convocation fosters collaboration across disciplines through workshops and discussions on key higher education topics, aligning with UVU Vision 2030's aim to strengthen engaged learning and community engagement opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.

2026 Faculty Convocation Schedule

9:30am – 3:30pm

Opening session | 9:30 am - 12:00 Pm

Ballroom

Join us as we kick off faculty convocation with messages from President Jon Anderson, Provost Wayne Vaught, Faculty Senate President Evelyn Porter, Faculty Ombuds, Natalie Grecu, along with Bill Erb and J.C. Graham.  

 

Jon Anderson

Dr. Jon Anderson
President

Wayne Vaught

Dr. Wayne Vaught
Provost
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Evelyn Porter

Evelyn Porter
Professor
Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning
Faculty Senate President

Natalie Grecu

Dr. Natalie Grecu
Associate Professor
Communication
Faculty Ombuds

Wioleta Fedeczko

Dr. Wioleta Fedeczko
Associate Provost
Academic Chief of Staff

Bill Erb

Bill Erb
Senior Director
Student Health Services

J.C. Graham

J.C. Graham
Director
Crisis Services

 

Lunch | 12:00 PM – 1:30 pm

Ballroom

Sponsored by Our Better Selves for a Better America

Resource Fair | 12:00 Pm – 1:30 pm

Center Stage

The Resource Fair is a collection of services from across campus that can assist faculty members as they interact with students. The services vary from academic help, such as tutoring and the Writing Center, to other forms of help, such as the food pantry and crisis services.  Be sure to stop by and discover the amazing resources UVU has to offer.

workshops| 1:30 Pm – 3:30 pm

SC 206 B

Midterm, Tenure, and Rank | 1:30 pm -2:25 pm

Presenters: Wayne Vaught, Kat Brown, Laurie Toro, Melissa Noyes

Join the Provost, Deputy Provost, Faculty Senate President, Faculty Senate RTP&A Chair, and the Director of Faculty Development for our annual RTP workshop.

This session will focus on navigating the review process at every stage—midterm, tenure, and rank advancement. Whether you're preparing your own portfolio or mentoring others through the process, this workshop offers timely updates, policy guidance, and practical strategies to help you move forward with confidence. RTP chairs and committee members are strongly encouraged to attend.

Post-Tenure Reviews | 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm

Presenters: Wayne Vaught, Kat Brown, Laurie Toro, Melissa Noyes

Join the Provost, Deputy Provost, Faculty Senate President, and the Director of Faculty Development for a post tenure review workshop.

This session will focus on navigating the review process, offer timely updates, policy guidance, and practical strategies to help you move forward with confidence.

Find information about faculty resources and university programs: Faculty Resources

2026 UVU Faculty Convocation Planning Committee Members

Dianne McAdams-Jones, CHPS

Eric Russell, CHPS

Kristina Gibby, CHSS

Sowmya Selvarajan, CoS

Nathan Cordner, SCET

John Rees, SoA

Bing Han, SoE

Mohsen Hamidi, WSB

Laurie Toro, Faculty Development

Wioleta Fedeczko, Faculty Senate

Cindy Wilkinson, Academic Affairs

Nizhone Meza, Academic Affairs