August Faculty and Staff Newsletter
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing this month’s message from Kerala, India, where I’m visiting family and reconnecting with my hometown. Like many vacations, this one has been a mix of spending time with family, attending a few work-related meetings, and keeping up with emails. So even though I may be across the world, I feel close to UConn and to CAHNR.
While on this trip, I have been finding myself comparing and contrasting my first home with my current one. I grew up in Thiruvananthapuram, a coastal city near the southern tip of India that is known for its tropical climate, beautiful beaches, and its role as a center for research and innovation. It is also home to major universities and India’s space program. Admittedly, there’s a lot more cricket than basketball in this region. One thing I appreciate about both Thiruvananthapuram and Storrs is the important role that education plays in their communities. Although they are quite different places, that shared commitment to learning and discovery has always resonated with me.
It has been wonderful to visit India, but I am also very excited to return home to Connecticut and see all of you in the not-so-distant future back on campus to gear up for another exciting academic year.
Thank you for all you do for our College.
Kumar Venkitanarayanan
Dean and Director
Have an idea for the newsletter? We are grateful for the creativity and diverse opinions of our College community.
Featured Story of the Month
Community Engagement
Ask UConn Extension: What to Know About Cyclospora
Cases of the foodborne illness caused by the parasite have been in the news. UConn Extension experts share practical steps to reduce risk and stay healthy
Save the Date
Fall 2026
- October 31: Scholarship Brunch
- November 20: Extension Fall All-Hands Meeting
- December 4: Gingerbread Competition
- December 21: Fall 2026 Faculty and Staff Meeting
Spring 2027
- March 31, 2027: CAHNR Awards and Honors
- May 7, 2027: Spring 2027 Faculty and Staff Meeting
Updates from the Business Office
I bought the world’s worst thesaurus yesterday. Not only is it terrible, it’s terrible.
There’s more fun in this month’s edition of the CAHNR Business Office newsletter. Each month, the team in CAHNR’s Business Office will update the CAHNR community on deadlines, policies, procedures, staffing changes, and all kinds of other useful information. Visit the CAHNR Business Office for more.
CAHNR Impacts 2025
CAHNR makes an impact each and every year. We have an annual magazine to highlight some of the phenomenal work being done within our College’s research enterprise, academic programs, and Extension activities.
CAHNR Views
Cover Crop Drone Seeding Workshop
UConn Forest Monitoring Project
WBB Horse Riding Lesson
Policy Highlights
Minimum Class Size Enrollment
- The Office of the Provost established this minimum class size policy for all UConn campuses (excluding UConn Health), effective December 15, 2025, to set operational baselines for efficient resource use and workload balance.
- Minimum enrollment requirements range from 22 students per instructor for 1000-level classes down to 6 students for face-to-face graduate classes (10 for online graduate classes), with specific guidelines applied to cross-listed, writing, and team-taught courses.
- Unless an official exemption is approved, under-enrolled undergraduate classes must be cancelled at least one month before the start of the term, while graduate classes must be cancelled at least one week prior.
- Exceptions to class cancellations may be approved by the school or college Dean in consultation with the Provost for valid reasons, such as preventing graduation delays, adhering to accreditation standards, or accommodating facility constraints.
Posting Policy
- Managed jointly by the Office of the Provost and the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment, this policy applies to faculty, staff, students, and visitors across Storrs and regional campuses to promote responsible communication and prevent property damage.
- Physical materials may only be placed in designated Open Posting Spaces or pre-approved Controlled Posting Spaces, and they are strictly prohibited on trees, lampposts, signs, or under doors.
- Postings must measure no larger than 11″x17″, display the posting date along with the responsible entity’s name, and be attached using non-damaging methods such as push pins or painter’s tape.
- Event flyers must be taken down within 24 hours of the event’s completion, and unauthorized or improperly placed materials are subject to immediate removal with potential billing for property damage.