President, provost address assemblies
as Academic Year 1999-2000 begins
President John Welty chats with Rehabilitation Counseling
Professor Bud Stude at the first academic gathering of the year.
Provost Michael Ortiz (center) jokes with Plant Operations
Director Bob Boyd and Distance Learning Development Director Susan
Vasquez.
Gathering for the first Academic Assembly and Staff
Assembly of Year 1999-2000, faculty and staff returned from summer
pursuits to hear presentations by President John D. Welty, Provost
Michael Ortiz, and other campus leaders. Several events on Aug.
16 and 17 set the tone for the coming semesters.
Welty reiterated the university's aspirations to be
a "premiere regional interactive university and one of the
best in the nation." Among the latest developments toward
that goal has been the admission of the inaugural class of 50
students to the new Smittcamp Family Honors College. All 50 have
scored in the top three percent on national aptitude tests, he
said.
Welty said the strengthening of graduate education
will be a major focus of the university in the coming year. Several
joint doctoral programs are in the planning stages, including
those in criminology, speech/language pathology, math and science,
and applied linguistics.
The university is ready to implement changes in its
General Education plan, the president said, and some 60 faculty
have been granted assigned time for research or course development.
New linkages with
"K through 12 partners" are reflected in
a number of projects, and strengthening ties in the community
remains a priority.
Private giving to the university has reached new records
up 15.8 percent this year, Welty said, as have grants and
contracts up 30 percent. New student recruitment efforts
are expected to contribute to enrollment growth.
Students increasingly find learning opportunities through
service and gave the community 30,000 hours last year, according
to Welty.
At the Faculty Convocation on the afternoon of Aug.
17 Provost Michael Ortiz
and the deans of the schools and colleges presented
certificates of recognition to
50 faculty members. Ortiz addressed the faculty on
the subject of quality, saying that there are two critical aspects
of quality standards and innovation. He praised the new
honors college for the role it will play in raising the standards
for the entire student body.
The other essential for the university, Ortiz said,
is a "culture of innovation." He encouraged ideas for
new interdisciplinary programs, for restructuring when necessary,
and for "moving with the future."
Academic Senate Chair James Kus greets returning faculty
members.
