American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault named Commencement speaker

Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and CEO of American Express Company, will address the 5,500 graduates and their families and friends at Undergraduate Commencement on Friday, May 10 at 5 p.m. in McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

Chenault will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the ceremony. Chenault joined American Express in 1981 and became president and chief operating officer in 1997. He assumed his current responsibilities as CEO in 2001, and later that year became chairman.

Chenault serves on the board of corporate and nonprofit organizations including IBM, Procter & Gamble,

University leaders welcome House panel’s budget proposal

The House Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously April 10 to approve a $33.8 billion fiscal 2014 state budget plan that includes about $39 million in additional funding for the UMass system, a move that places the university on a path to a 50-50 funding formula and a freeze on tuition and fees.
 
The proposed spending plan, which increases UMass funding from $439.5 million to $478.7 million next year, drew praise from Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and President Robert Caret.
 
“Investing in public higher education brings extraordinary returns in an increasingly competitive, international

Libraries honored by ALA for Sustainability Fund campaign

The Libraries have won the Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award, presented annually by the American Library Association to a library organization that exhibits meritorious achievement in creating new means of funding for a public or academic library. 
 
The Libraries developed the Sustainability Fund to engage philanthropic support from faculty, students, alumni and friends who recognize the value of the rapidly growing field of sustainability studies. One of the award jurors noted that “The initiative is a strategic fundraising program serving as a model for other libraries.”
 

Chancellor proposes joint hiring of consultant to advise on town-gown development issues

Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy has proposed to Amherst town officials that they jointly hire a consultant to assess key community development issues, including ways to strengthen boundary neighborhoods and bolster the local economy.
 
Subbaswamy proposes splitting the estimated $60,000 cost with the town, and said he would gladly speak at Amherst’s upcoming Town Meeting in support of the idea and to answer questions.
 
“UMass Amherst is an engaged and committed member of the Amherst community,” Subbaswamy said.

Campus and town officials, area landlords discuss spring weekend planning

Campus officials hosted a meeting of local landlords, town and campus representatives and public safety officials on April 4 to discuss strategies for handling busy spring weekend activities.
 
Ten local landlords were on hand to hear about plans for on-campus activities, new neighborhood initiatives aimed at limiting late-night disturbances in residential areas near the campus and general preparations to deal with off-campus parties in Amherst.

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