The University Insider is The Daily’s first faculty and staff-oriented newsletter. This weekly newsletter will give U-M faculty and staff the ability to see the most important issues on campus and in Ann Arbor — particularly those related to administrative decisions — from the perspective of an independent news organization. It will also provide a better understanding of student perspectives.
Most students spent Tuesday back in the classroom for the first time since April. University President Mark Schlissel marked that occasion — his second first day of school since assuming the University presidency last summer — with a welcome back e-mail message.
“I very much enjoyed getting to know many of you and exploring the campus and Ann Arbor during my first year as President,” he said “Thank you for being so welcoming to me and allowing me to share in your outstanding accomplishments. I have every confidence that the year ahead will be filled with more of your successes.”
Watch: Schlissel’s welcome back video message
In the message, which was distributed to students Tuesday afternoon, Schlissel said he plans to continue hosting office hours and fireside chats this year. Within the last week, he has hosted an ice cream social at the President’s House, which drew 1,200 students, and initiated a new tradition of walking with freshmen to New Student Convocation.
Last week, Schlissel sat down with The Michigan Daily to discuss his first year in office. He told the Daily that this fall’s freshmen enrollment report should begin to reflect the impact of his administration’s initiatives to improve diversity on campus. Schlissel will meet Wednesday with campus leaders to provide an update on the University’s forthcoming strategic plan on diversity, which he said is now slated for release by the end of the academic year. Wednesday’s meeting is closed to media.
In an interview with the Daily, he also said the University will likely roll out updates to the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy before the new year.
Though issues of diversity and sexual misconduct have marked Schlissel’s first year in office, he has also expressed a desire to curb what his administration has called a culture of dangerous alcohol use among students. The University announced plans last week to begin curbing alcohol abuse, including a policy to alert the parents of first-year, repeat offenders and an effort to expand the presence of University Police off-campus.
Upcoming: The Michigan Daily reviews Schlissel’s first term. Series starts Monday, Sept. 14.