UMass Amherst Provost's Office

Provost's Office > Meet the Provost > Council of Deans > May 4, 2004

May 4, 2004

Members: Charlena Seymour, John Dubach, Eileen Breslin, Joseph Goldstein, Paul Kostecki, John Mullin, Thomas O’Brien, Lee Osterweil, Jay Schafer, Linda Slakey, Cleve Willis.

Guests: Anne Herrington, Grant Ingle, Anna Nagurney, Mary Deane Sorcinelli.

Announcements:

The Trustees will be meeting on campus this week with the Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday afternoon and the Board of Trustees on Wednesday. Tenure cases and Distinguished Professorships will be voted on tomorrow morning.

Agenda:

1. In keeping with the theme of the Academic Imperative, the research program at Isenberg School of Management was highlighted this month. Professor Anna Nagurney, John F. Smith Memorial Professor, was accompanied by three of her doctoral students for their presentation on the Virtual Center for Supernetworks. Professor Nagurney is involved in collaborative efforts with current and former students as well as colleagues around the world. She has successfully obtained grants from government agencies and foundations to support her work as well as that of her graduate students. She and several of her doctoral students were the first operations research team in 45 years to be selected to work at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Study and Conference Center in Northern Italy.

2. Anne Herrington and Grant Ingle reported on the work of the Community, Diversity and Social Justice Council. Most of the Schools and Colleges have convened teams, with the College of Engineering the furthest along. Matt Ouellett and Martha Stassen met with Engineering faculty and staff and presented data specific to their College; several other meetings have been scheduled. A list of CDSJ membership was distributed; any Schools or Colleges not currently represented should consider having a representative to serve as a liaison to the Committee. Provost Seymour felt that the areas of Research and Outreach should also have representation on the Committee. Grant Ingle is also available to assist and stressed that resources are available to help Schools and Colleges in carrying out the CDSJ mission. He will be making an external presentation in June. The University of Massachusetts Amherst CDSJ work is unique in that it is decentralized by the five executive areas.

3. Dick Conner and Gloria Fox addressed the Council regarding the future of Commencement ceremonies. The Athletics Department is considering some upgrades to the football field that might take the stadium off-line for at least one Commencement. With an increase in student population and dwindling resources, discussion ensued regarding having one large ceremony or a model of separate ceremonies. Presently, 92% of the February-May-December graduates come to the May Commencement. While many of the Schools and Colleges have their own ceremonies, many students and families prefer the large Commencement. With individual ceremonies as a model, what happens to Commonwealth College students who are double majors? It was felt that the students should have some impact on the decision. If we go to separate ceremonies, it was suggested that we need a central organization to coordinate common needs such as public safety, music, purchasing, vendors, scheduling, staffing, etc. Provost Seymour asked that plans be developed and brought to the Deans for discussion.

		Council of Deans Minutes
		Provost's Office > Meet the Provost > Council of Deans > May 4, 2004 May 4, 2004 Members: Charlena Seymour, John Dubach, Eileen Breslin, Joseph Goldstein, Paul Kostecki, John Mullin, Thomas O’Brien, Lee Osterweil, Jay Schafer, Linda Slakey, Cleve Willis. Guests: Anne Herrington, Grant Ingle, Anna Nagurney, Mary Deane Sorcinelli. Announcements: The Trustees will be meeting on campus this week with the Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday afternoon and the Board of Trustees on Wednesday. Tenure cases and Distinguished Professorships will be voted on tomorrow morning. Agenda: 1. In keeping with the theme of the Academic Imperative, the research program at Isenberg School of Management was highlighted this month. Professor Anna Nagurney, John F. Smith Memorial Professor, was accompanied by three of her doctoral students for their presentation on the Virtual Center for Supernetworks. Professor Nagurney is involved in collaborative efforts with current and former students as well as colleagues around the world. She has successfully obtained grants from government agencies and foundations to support her work as well as that of her graduate students. She and several of her doctoral students were the first operations research team in 45 years to be selected to work at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Study and Conference Center in Northern Italy. 2. Anne Herrington and Grant Ingle reported on the work of the Community, Diversity and Social Justice Council. Most of the Schools and Colleges have convened teams, with the College of Engineering the furthest along. Matt Ouellett and Martha Stassen met with Engineering faculty and staff and presented data specific to their College; several other meetings have been scheduled. A list of CDSJ membership was distributed; any Schools or Colleges not currently represented should consider having a representative to serve as a liaison to the Committee. Provost Seymour felt that the areas of Research and Outreach should also have representation on the Committee. Grant Ingle is also available to assist and stressed that resources are available to help Schools and Colleges in carrying out the CDSJ mission. He will be making an external presentation in June. The University of Massachusetts Amherst CDSJ work is unique in that it is decentralized by the five executive areas. 3. Dick Conner and Gloria Fox addressed the Council regarding the future of Commencement ceremonies. The Athletics Department is considering some upgrades to the football field that might take the stadium off-line for at least one Commencement. With an increase in student population and dwindling resources, discussion ensued regarding having one large ceremony or a model of separate ceremonies. Presently, 92% of the February-May-December graduates come to the May Commencement. While many of the Schools and Colleges have their own ceremonies, many students and families prefer the large Commencement. With individual ceremonies as a model, what happens to Commonwealth College students who are double majors? It was felt that the students should have some impact on the decision. If we go to separate ceremonies, it was suggested that we need a central organization to coordinate common needs such as public safety, music, purchasing, vendors, scheduling, staffing, etc. Provost Seymour asked that plans be developed and brought to the Deans for discussion. Other links: Biography of Provost Charlena Seymour What Does the Provost Do? Past Speeches Council of Deans, Directors & Academic Officers Past Announcements
		Provost's Office \| For Faculty \| For Department Heads & Chairs \| For Students © 2007 University of Massachusetts Amherst. Site Policies. This site is maintained by the Office of the Provost.