Notes from Transcript
Introduction of Marjorie Alion
Marjorie Alion is a candidate for the provost position. She is currently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement and a Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass). She received her undergraduate degree from UMass, a master's degree from MIT in civil engineering and environmental engineering, and a PhD from the University of North Carolina (UNC) in public health.
She worked for the US Geological Survey (USGS) before joining the University of South Carolina (USC) Columbia as an assistant professor in 1991, eventually becoming Associate Dean for Research in the Public Health School. She then returned to UMass Amherst as dean of the public health school for ten years and is currently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement. Her research has been NIH funded in environmental sciences, focusing on maternal and child health. She also has experience in rural health.
Presentation Overview
The presentation will cover Marjorie Alion's career, challenges facing higher education today, and her vision for success as provost. Her background is interdisciplinary, focusing on physics, chemistry, and biology in environmental and environmental health. She values the academic environment and the opportunity to work with students.
Early Career and Experiences
After her PhD at UNC, she worked at the USGS, a well-regarded scientific federal agency. Despite the stability of a permanent federal position, she missed the academic environment and chose to become an assistant professor at USC. She considers USC a highly undervalued institution with great faculty and collegial environment.
Deanship at UMass Amherst
She was recruited to UMass Amherst as dean of the public health school, which had been struggling financially and lacked consistent leadership. She saw the potential to make a difference and drew on her experiences at USC to improve the school. Despite a 6% budget cut upon starting in January 2009 due to the Great Recession, the chancellor incentivized deans to generate revenue.
Strategies for Success at UMass
Focused on student success and increased graduate programs due to the state's funding allocation structure. They also expanded their online MPH program and created a five-course sequence with the School of Management for its online MBA program. The undergraduate population increased from 1,100 to 2,200 students. These efforts aimed to support the university's and school's missions, not just to generate revenue.
Research Growth
Transformed the research culture, increasing research funding from to . The next step is to focus on large center grants. After ten years as dean, she became Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, focusing on institutional-level center grants and the Institute for Applied Life Sciences. The state provided approximately through a bond bill over ten years for a new building. This initiative aimed to foster translational research connected to the industry sector.
Center for Personalized Health Monitoring
Involved in the development of the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring, which integrates computer science, engineering, kinesiology, and social sciences. This center focuses on designing sensors, studying muscle aging, and addressing adherence to exercise and medical regimes.
Challenges Facing Higher Education
Identifies three main challenges: enrollment, finances, and holistic education. Enrollment is declining in the New England region due to fewer graduating high school seniors and a lower percentage of them attending college. UMass is addressing this through aggressive recruitment in populous states like New Jersey, New York, and California. UMass aims to be a destination of choice for students and faculty.
Enrollment Strategies
Increasing enrollment through new programs and evolving academics, such as new master's programs and fully online Master of Arts in Teaching. Also emphasizes lifelong learners.
Financial Challenges
Universities are facing financial challenges, especially with fewer students on campus due to COVID-19 restrictions. UMass, like many state institutions, relies on tuition and state support. Public institutions are developing their development efforts later than private institutions. UMass completed its first successful fundraising campaign, raising about . Key financial strategies include incentivizing revenue generation and ensuring programs meet a need without crowding an existing space.
Efficiencies and Effectiveness
Merging services across the UMass system, which includes five campuses: UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, UMass Medical School, and UMass Amherst. This consolidation aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Student debt is a significant concern, especially with a large percentage of Pell-eligible and first-generation students at UMass.
Holistic Education
Focuses on producing students who are good citizens, providing life-changing experiences, and fostering respectful discussions about diverse opinions. This involves integrating these values into courses and promoting student opportunities outside of campus. Francis Collins is cited as an example of someone who embodies a holistic education, emphasizing the interface of science and religion.
Vision for Success as Provost
Embraces the mission, vision, and values of the institution. The role of the provost is to empower the university to stay true to its mission. This includes providing leadership in teaching, discovery, clinical care, and service as a student-centered, comprehensive research university and academic health center. The vision is to be a top-tier university that is a destination of choice.
Position Description
The Provost should enhance academic qualities, support faculty development, promote student success, and foster a diverse and inclusive environment. This also involves advancing processes that tie budgeting and resource allocation to planning efforts, ensuring infrastructure supports future growth, and contributing to academic excellence. Success depends on teamwork, community engagement, and empowering others to fulfill the mission, vision, and values.
Accomplishing Goals
Success as provost involves supporting all members of the community, motivating and engaging people, being a good listener, encouraging creativity, and communicating effectively. This also includes establishing a culture of trust and respect. The role should also be enjoyable. Suggests listening to Francis Collins and visiting Ben and Jerry's in Waterbury, Vermont.
Questions and Answers
Shared Governance at UMass:
UMass has a faculty senate where administrators are non-voting members. Faculty are highly engaged and the campus is unionized, adding complexity to changes. Discussions involve the chancellor and provost. Communication is crucial for addressing challenges.
Research and Graduate Education:
There are differences between the Health Science campus and the Somerville campus. The goal is to bridge health sciences with other disciplines. Examples include programs that bridge social sciences with health sciences, such as opioid treatment for incarcerated populations and community-based programs. NIH and NSF are looking for broader impacts in research. The challenge is to bring people together and foster creativity.
Encourage faculty to collaborate with researchers at other institutions and to focus on new initiatives where they can compete effectively.
Continued
Collaboration Between Student and Academic Affairs:
The institution should focus on student success, improving graduation rates and advising. Create opportunities for student affairs and academic affairs to meet regularly. Open communication and a supportive culture are key. Student food also must be unified and high quality, for the benefit of student well-being and happiness on-campus.
Value of Liberal Arts:
Beyond rounding out scientists, the arts enrich lives and contribute to the culture of the institution. Promote the arts and connect them with the university community and the outside world. Celebrate the talent and creativity of artists.
Strengths and Challenges at Augusta University:
Increasing enrollment and research requires a plan and providing the tools to succeed. Address challenges by getting people on board and creating a shared vision for Augusta University. Aim to create momentum and focus on new initiatives. Remember, challenges in certain areas may be a function of history, and shouldn't necessarily inhibit where future plans will take Augusta University.