Public Meetings Set for Community Views on Faculty Endowments |
|
May 10, 2005 -- The University of Wyoming has scheduled a series of meetings in 11 communities during May to discuss with residents a legislative endowment designed to enhance faculty expertise in selected disciplines at UW. A 12th meeting will be held in seven communities via video conferencing.
During its 2005 session, the Wyoming State Legislature voted to establish an Excellence in Higher Education Endowment in the amount of $105 million. Two thirds of the interest on the endowment would be directed to UW and one third to the community colleges.
The establishing legislation directs UW to conduct public meetings around the state to assess public interest in areas of academic excellence at the university. The meetings will summarize the endowment funding program at UW; explain the concept of endowed faculty positions; discuss which academic disciplines at UW address Wyoming's economic and social challenges; discuss which UW programs and academic areas are designated for distinction in its Academic Plan II; and receive input from Wyoming residents about their interest in areas of excellence at UW.
The legislation targets at least two thirds of the endowment money earmarked for UW to go toward faculty positions in energy and natural resources, wildlife, science, earth science, engineering, health sciences, agriculture, and education (a minimum of four positions in education). The remaining one third would go toward areas of distinction in UW's Academic Plan II, which include environment and natural resources, life sciences, science and technology, professions and issues critical to the region, cultural endeavors, arts, humanities, and history and culture of Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region.
"A great faculty is what makes a great university," says UW Vice President for Academic Affairs Tom Buchanan, who was selected by the university trustees to serve as president following the departure in June of President Philip L. Dubois. "Endowment funds allow UW to recruit, retain, and support faculty members with established national or international reputations. Excellence in teaching and research go hand in hand, and through these endowments we expect to hire and keep at UW some truly outstanding faculty members to teach this state's students."
Following is a list of scheduled meetings:
Casper -- May 23, 3 5 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., Outreach Bldg., 951 North Poplar. UW facilitator is Brent Hathaway, dean of the College of Business.
Cheyenne -- May 25, 3 5 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., LCSD#1 Training Center, Room 306, 2810 House Ave . UW facilitator is Bob Kelley, dean of the College of Health Sciences.
Evanston -- May 16, 2 4 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., Education Center/Lifelong Learning seminar room, 1013 W. Cheyenne. UW facilitator is Rollin Abernethy, associate vice president for academic affairs.
Gillette -- May 27, 2 4 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., Willow Room at the Lakeway Learning Center, 525 West Lakeway Rd. UW facilitator is Pat McClurg, dean of the College of Education.
Jackson -- May 27, 12 2 p.m. and 4 6 p.m., UW classroom in the Center for the Arts, 240 S. Glenwood. UW facilitator is Maggi Murdock, dean of the Outreach School.
Laramie -- May 26, 3 5 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., Medicine Bow Room, Beta House on the UW campus. UW facilitator is Ollie Walter, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Powell -- May 12, 2 4 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., Powell Public Library Meeting Room, Corner of 3rd and Clark. UW facilitator is Frank Galey, dean of the College of Agriculture.
Riverton -- May 11, 12 2 p.m. and 6 9 p.m., Community Room, Fremont County Public Library, Riverton Branch, 1330 West Park Ave. UW facilitator is Maggie Farrell, dean of the Libraries.
Rock Springs -- May 25, 2 4 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., Grace Gasson Room, White Mountain Public Library, 2935 Sweetwater Drive. UW facilitator is Gus Plumb, dean of the College of Engineering.
Sheridan -- May 18, 2 4 p.m. and 7 9 p.m., Sheridan County Fullmer Public Library, in the Inner Circle, 335 West Alger St. UW facilitator is Jerry Parkinson, dean of the College of Law.
Torrington -- May 25, 2 4 p.m. and 5:30 7:30 p.m., U.S. Research and Cooperative Extension Center Meeting Room, 4516 U.S. Hwy. 26 85. UW facilitator is Don Roth, dean of the Graduate School.
An afternoon compressed video meeting will be held May 19, 12 1:50 p.m. in the following locations: Douglas -- Eastern Wyoming College Branch Campus, 203 N. 6th St.; Laramie -- UW Beta House, Room 105; Lusk -- Niobrara School District Office, 619 West 5th St.; Newcastle -- 116 Casper Ave., Suite 120; Rawlins -- Carbon County Higher Education Center, 705 Rodeo Drive, Room 1; Sundance -- Crook County Courthouse, Basement Office, 309 Cleveland; Worland -- Ag Extension Building, 116 S. 11th St.
An evening video conference meeting will be held May 19, 6 8 p.m. in the following locations: Douglas -- Douglas High School; Laramie -- UW College of Education Building, Room 317; Lusk -- Niobrara High School; Newcastle -- Newcastle High School; Rawlins -- Rawlins High School; Sundance -- Sundance High School; Thermopolis -- Thermopolis Hot Springs High School; and Worland -- Worland High School.
Comments developed during the meetings will be summarized and analyzed along with student interest survey data to prepare an implementation plan for faculty recruitment and retention. The plan will be delivered by October 1 to the legislature's Joint Appropriations and Joint Education Committees as required by the establishing legislation.
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005
|
