Carol Barr Leaving Leadership Role in Provost’s Office

Carol Barr, senior vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, has announced she will be leaving her administrative role at the end of May. Barr, who has served for 11 years in her role in the Provost’s Office after serving as associate dean of undergraduate education in the Isenberg School of Management, has been a member of the campus community for over 30 years.

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A double alumna, Barr earned both her master’s and Ph.D. from UMass Amherst, and has a faculty appointment in the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management.

“Carol’s departure from Academic Affairs will be sorely felt,” said John McCarthy, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “She has been a valued advisor to me and the rest of the provost’s office team on a wide range of issues. Her long history at the university and her long service in her role give her an important perspective on our work, as does her profound commitment to undergraduate education and student success.”

“It has been my great honor and privilege to work with the university’s leadership and wonderful colleagues across campus on behalf of our students in their academic pursuits and personal development,” Barr said. “I look forward to continuing this important work over the next year while working on a research project looking at barriers within institutional structures and processes that impact student retention and timely progress toward degree completion. This work will help frame more intentional, proactive, equity-minded support models throughout a student’s academic trajectory and look to scale successful, student-centered innovations across campus.”

Barr assumed leadership roles in many campus initiatives that have endured and become fully integrated into the UMass academic ecosystem:

• Implemented the first-year seminar program campus-wide
• Implemented team-based learning initiative
• Implemented the exploratory track program that de-centralized undeclared student approach and implemented exploratory tracks associated with schools/colleges for more direct major exploration for students
• Formed the student success unit
• Implemented the academic advising platform to promote more intentional, proactive, real-time outreach and support of students including advising assistance and the academic alert program
• Restructured career and professional development office, including implementing a senior leadership position and embedding central career counselors within the schools and colleges
• Played an important role in the improvements of student retention (a 4% increase) and graduation rates (a 9% increase in four-year and over 6% increase in six-year graduation rates)
• Was an important contributor to critical student success areas reflected in the improvement of the university’s national ranking (from No. 42 in 2011 to No. 26 among national public universities)
• Was an important contributor to the university’s strategic plan and identified goals
• A consistent, strong, active participant on important Faculty Senate councils and committees, including Academic Matters Council, General Education Council, Undergraduate Education Council, Student Affairs and University Life Council and University Writing Committee
• Led several reporting units including Student Success, Career and Professional Development, Registrar, Civic Engagement and Service Learning, Learning Resource Center and Air Force and Army ROTC units

Provost John McCarthy and incoming Provost Tricia Serio will launch an internal search for Barr’s replacement.