University Councils and Committees
Committee work that is overseen by the Office of the Provost
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There are many committees overseen by the provost that relate to academic oversight and progress at the University of Rochester. These groups are charged with advising University leadership on institutional priorities and resource allocation. In addition, the provost also serves ex officio on several standing committees and councils.
On this page, you’ll learn more about these groups and committees, including the work they support and membership lists.
Committees and councils
Explore a comprehensive list of committees and councils chaired or co-chaired by offices of the provost in the drop-downs and links below.
University Committee on Academic Policy and Administration
The University Committee on Academic Policy and Administration (UCAPA) is responsible for the comprehensive review, assessment, and enhancement of policies and procedures that govern academic practices across the University of Rochester. This includes ensuring alignment with accreditation standards and verifying compliance with relevant regulations.
Committee responsibilities
The committee’s key responsibilities encompass a broad range of academic and administrative areas, including academic operations (e.g., policies related to distance education, transfer and articulation agreements), regulatory compliance (e.g., adherence to Title IV responsibilities, maintaining institutional records, defining the assignment of credit hours, and verifying compliance with state and federal regulations), maintaining accreditation (both institutional and specialized), and other student and institutional matters (e.g. leave of absence, legal matters).
Committee members
This list was last updated 09/01/26.
- Edwin van Wijngaarden – Chair, Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Policy, Office of the Provost
- Rob Alexander, Vice Provost and University Dean for Enrollment Management, Office of the Provost
- Caitlin Dreisbach, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Education, School of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Cindy Callard, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, Warner School of Education and Human Development
- Joe Ciminelli, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, School of Arts & Sciences
- Kris Condello, Associate Director, Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost (Academic Affairs)
- Alan Czaplicki, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Data and Planning, Office of the Provost (OIR)
- Tom Devaney, Senior Associate Dean for Strategy and Innovation, School of Arts & Sciences
- Charlie DeSouza, Senior Director of Academic Information Systems, University IT
- Paul Funkenbusch, Associate Dean, Education and New Initiatives, Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
- Ron Goettler, Senior Associate Dean, Education and Innovation, Simon Business School
- Maggie Graham, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Office of the Provost (Faculty Affairs)
- John Hain, Senior Associate Dean, Academic and Student Affairs, Eastman School of Music
- Rick Libby, Vice Provost and University Dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, Office of the Provost
- Melinda Lull, Assistant Vice Provost for Assessment, Office of the Provost (Academic Affairs)
- Sarah Peyre, Associate Vice President for Clinical Education, URMC and Vice Dean for Education, School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Ravi Shankar, Associate Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost (Global Engagement)
- Elaine Sia, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, Office of the Provost
- Tina Sturgis, University Registrar, Office of the Provost
- Nick Vamivakas, Dean of Graduate Education and Post-Doctoral Affairs, School of Arts & Sciences and Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
- Jin Xiao, Associate Dean for Oral Health Education, Eastman Institute for Oral Health
University Committee for Curriculum, Academic Strategy, and Excellence
The University Committee for Curriculum, Academic Strategy, and Excellence (UCCASE) promotes academic excellence and institutional coherence by providing comprehensive oversight of undergraduate degree programs and academic planning across all constituent schools. The UCCASE serves as a university-wide strategic coordinating body and complements school-level governance. The committee provides essential coordination across the University’s five schools that offer undergraduate education: Eastman School of Music, Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, and Simon Business School.
Committee responsibilities
The UCCASE serves an advisory role to the Provost, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, and Deans Council in their efforts to ensure that the university maintains a mission-aligned, high-quality undergraduate academic portfolio while advancing institutional strategic priorities. The UCCASE will: 1) Set standards for undergraduate general education requirements; 2) Provide feedback and recommendations to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Excellence on NYSED-approved undergraduate degree programs, clusters, and courses that are specifically designed to address undergraduate general education requirements; 3) Upon Provost request, provide feedback on new undergraduate academic degree program proposals; 4) Set standards for undergraduate program review processes, and provide feedback on program review reports to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, school deans, department chairs, and program leadership; and 5) Provide feedback on proposed university-wide academic strategic initiatives involving undergraduate programs.
Committee members
Voting Members
- Megan Tichy, PhD Professor of Instruction, Chemistry
- Kate Phillips, PhD Professor, Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program
- Loisa Bennetto, PhD Associate Professor, Psychology, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Neuroscience
- Ajay Anand, PhD Professor, Data Science
- Caitlin Dreisbach, PhD, RN Assistant Professor, Nursing, Data Science
- Masumi Per Rostad Associate Professor of Viola
- Charles Wasley Professor, Accounting
- Mara Culp, BME, MME, PhD Associate Professor, Music Teaching and Learning
Ex Officio Members
- Elaine Sia, PhD Senior Vice Provost for Academic Excellence
- Edwin van Wijngaarden, PhD Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Policy (committee chair)
- Robert Alexander, PhD Vice Provost and University Dean for Enrollment Management
- Kim Hoffman, MLS Assistant Dean, Engaged Learning & Research, University Libraries
- Josephine Seddon, PhD Assistant Vice Provost, Educational Effectiveness and Educational Research
- Kris Condello Associate Director of Academic Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs
- Joseph Ciminelli, PhD Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, School of Arts and Sciences
- Pauk Funkenbusch, PhD Associate Dean of Education and New Initiatives, Hajim School of Engineering
- Jonathan Shipley, PhD Faculty Director of Undergraduate Business Program, Simon Business School
- John C. Hain, PhD Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, Eastman School of Music
- Lisa Brophy, EdD, RN, MSBA, CNE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Nursing
- Kevin Meuwissen, PhD Associate Dean for Curriculum Innovation and Academic Partnerships
- Guinevere Toczek Chair of Academic Affairs Committee, Students’ Association Government
Operational Excellence Committee
Convened by the provost and chief financial officer, the Operational Excellence Committee prioritizes macro-level business operations within the University to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources across the enterprise. This committee initiates or reviews proposals to provide guidance in alignment with the University’s strategic direction. Membership includes the Medical Center CEO.
See committee members
- Nicole Sampson – Co-chair, Provost, Chief Academic Officer, and University Professor of Chemistry
- Elizabeth Milavec – Co-chair, Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
- David C. Linehan, M.D – Sr. VP for Health Sciences, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center, Dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Adam Anolik – Chief Financial Officer and Associate Vice President, University of Rochester Medical Center
- Steve Dewhurst – Vice President for Research
- Jim Forrester – Chief Technology Officer and Associate Vice President Information Technology, University of Rochester Medical Center
- Kathy Gallucci – Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
- Julie Myers – Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for the University
- Tony Green – Executive Vice Provost for Academic Finance and Planning
University Standing Committee for Promotions
The University Standing Committee for Promotions is appointed by the provost in consultation with the president from a list of names submitted by the school deans based upon recommendations of department chairs.
Work of the committee
Fifteen tenured faculty serve on three subcommittees: Arts & Humanities; Physical & Biological Sciences; Social Sciences. The committees are used in cases of promotion from assistant to associate professor without tenure as stipulated in the Faculty Handbook.
The committees receive the materials submitted by candidates for promotion–detailed description of their research, teaching, and service activities, and letters of evaluation—which have been forwarded to the provost with the support of their dean. Based on its review, the promotion committee makes recommendations to the president and provost, who review the recommendation and subsequently make their own recommendation (when positive) to the Board of Trustees, whose decision is final.
Committee members
This list was last updated in February 2025.
Nicole Sampson is the Convener, Provost and Gordon Fyfe Professor of Economics and Education. See additional committee members below.
Arts and Humanities
- Paul Audi – Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy
- Matthew BaileyShea – Associate Professor, Department of Music
- Jonathan Baldo – Professor, Department of Humanities
- Joanne Bernardi – Professor, Department of Modern Languages & Cultures
- Jennifer Creech – Associate Professor, Department of Modern Languages & Cultures
Physical and Biological Sciences
- Riccardo Bett – Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Nicholas Bigelow – Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy
- Allan Greenleaf – Professor, Department of Mathematics
- John Kessler – Associate Professor, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Andrei Seluanov – Professor, Department of Biology
Social Sciences
- Narayana Kocherlakota – Professor, Department of Economics
- Andre Marqui – Associate Professor, Counseling & Human Development
- Joan Rubin – Professor, Department of History
- Melissa Sturge-Apple – Associate Professor, Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology
- Jerold Warner – Professor, Business Administration
UR Student Health Insurance Plan Oversight Committee
The UR Student Health Insurance Plan Oversight Committee is comprised of the senior leaders in the offices of University Health Services, Finance, Council, and Benefits. Convened by the administrator of University Health Services, the committee now meets for the purpose of sunsetting the UR Student Health Insurance Plan. As of August 1, 2026, Aetna Student Health Plan will be offered to all full-time students.
See committee members
- Cheryl Kodjo, MD – Chair, Vice Provost, Director of UHS
- Ralph Manchester, MD – Contributing member, former Chair, Vice Provost, and Director of UHS (retired)
- Jason Sabel – UHS Director of Administration and Finance
- Caroline Ballou – Assistant Controller, Financial Reporting
- Caroline Burnicki – Interim University Controller
- Michelle Barrett – Sr. Director of University Benefits
- Roger Smith – Sr. Associate Vice Provost, Academic Budget Ops
Other committees: Ex Officio representation and related initiatives
Reach out
Contact us
If you have questions about these committees, our Contact page has ways to contact the Office of the Provost directly.