Cole honors faculty at convocation

Thomas W. Cole Jr. gave his first major public address as interim chancellor Sept. 21 at the Faculty Convocation held in Bowker Auditorium. The convocation celebrated the research and teaching achievements of the campus community and honored eight faculty with awards.

“The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a campus on the move and we have no intention of slowing down,” said Cole. “It is strong and getting stronger – not only the faculty and the campus, but its enthusiasm and determination,” said Cole in his address.

Cole spoke about the expansion of the academic resources, saying that the Amherst 250 plan, an initiative to hire 250 new tenure system faculty, has to date successfully funded 150 tenure-track positions. Of the 68 new faculty hired in the past year, he said, 54 percent are female and 42 percent are people of color, strengthening diversity on campus.

Cole also praised the recent and ongoing improvements to the Amherst campus, including the $790 million in capital improvements that will contribute to the opening of five new facilities in the next two years. In addition, he said that 60 percent of the classrooms on campus are now equipped with technology-enhanced teaching facilities.

“Faculty members on the UMass Amherst campus have consistently demonstrated their dedication to helping communities in our own backyard, across the state, and around the world,” Cole said, citing as an example an initiative under way to address critical needs in nearby Holyoke. Cole also invited the faculty to an October outreach symposium meant to explore new ways to broaden the University’s service efforts.

Eight faculty were presented with Outstanding Accomplishments in Research and Creative Activity awards. They are John J. Clement, professor of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies; Eric A. Decker, professor of Food Science; Walter B. Denny, professor of Art; Nancy R. Folbre, professor of Economics; Patty S. Freedson, professor of Kinesiology; Jeffrey W. Holmes, professor of Music and Dance; Sabina M. Murray, associate professor of English; and James J. Watkins, professor of Polymer Science and Engineering.

Photo credit: Thom Kendall

More Information

Chancellor's remarks

September 24, 2007.

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