There is much to update everyone on from the Academic Affairs Division. I know most of us do not have time for long emails so I will provide a bulleted list with brief descriptions and ask that if you have questions to please email me or visit my office.

As most of you know, Dean Michael Broadway has resigned as Dean of CAS and is planning to be on one semester sabbatical commencing January 2017. He will be returning to a faculty role July 1, 2017 in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences and will also have responsibilities in International Studies (Steve VandenAvond’s division).

 

I met with the Department Heads of CAS to discuss their thoughts on selection of an interim dean. Lynn Domina is the chair of the search committee and will be soliciting members for the committee shortly. She and I then will review the list of interested individuals and will select 7 to be on the committee. It is universally agreed that the committee will be a balance of administrators and faculty members. It is hoped the process will conclude by October 31st so the interim dean can do transition work with Dean Broadway. The interim dean will have a one and half year term so that a national search can be done when it is time to identify a permanent replacement. The only caveat I have requested is that the interim dean agree to be a member of the restructure task force.

 

Restructure Task Force – a smaller group of faculty met over the summer to look at potential ways to restructure the colleges and departments so there is more visibility for some areas and to potentially increase cost efficiencies. It is also recognized that some reorganization could have a very positive effect on interdisciplinary collaborations. The Task Force is chaired by Dale Kapla and I have requested that they have final recommendations in to me by February 2017 so that those proposals with budget reallocations have time to be reviewed and discussed by EPC and the academic senate.

 

Department head versus Department Chair Task Force: Dave Donovan is chairing this task force and meetings have already begun. They are charged with looking at the pros and cons of each structure and also are looking over the method of stipend and release time reimbursement. They have an aggressive timeline hoping to have final recommendations to me by December 2016.

 

Program Investment Fund: Dale Kapla has been heading the task force that reviews the requests for PIF funding. Thus far the following projects received approval for funding:

 

Sustainability Planning at NMU – Sarah Mittlefehldt & Jess Thompson, EEGS and CAPS Starfish Retention Solution – Jim Gadzinski, ACAC Women in Construction – Heidi Blanck & Yvonne Lemire, Construction Management & Welding Research is Retention – Erica Goff, Jill Leonard & Heather Pickett, Grants/McNair Scholars Office & Biology

 

Those proposals requiring a fast track CUP or GPC review were slowed somewhat this summer as faculty reviewers were not always available. Now that the new academic year has begun reviews that require CUP or GPC review will be completed in two weeks. We have a couple of proposals that are in review.

 

Importantly: Please consider submitting your idea as we have $731, 801.15 left for funding!

 

Research Institute: Work continues on the development of the Research Institute. Our donors have been funding some of this work, such as the hiring of an architect firm to do schematic drawings that we can share with potential donors. This is very much a donor driven project and therefore if you are involved in research and are interested in the development of a particular area in the RI please contact Dave Bammert. Everyone involved remains very committed to keeping the RI as a collaborative environment that supports many different types of research, faculty and their students.

 

Additionally, David Wood, Honors Program Director has identified areas that may work so that our Honors Program has a much needed and deserved home. He and the Foundation will be working on donations to support the development of an Honors Program area in the RI.

 

Forensic Anthropology Research Site: A group of interested faculty and administrators continued work on the development of an anthropology research facility. In lay terms facilities such as this are referred to as ‘body farms’ because human remains are placed within the facility so that decomposition can be studied. This science is quite new and there are only 6 such facilities in the United States. There are none in cold weather thus we would be the first institution to offer a forensic anthropology pathway that offers experience to study decomposition in cold weather. On September 6th from 3-5 anthropology and sociology are hosting a campus-wide forum to discuss the development of this facility in 2904 West Science. 

 

Coffee with the provost will be starting soon and again I will be meeting with each department head/associate dean and also requesting the opportunity to attend a faculty meeting in every department. I found this immensely helpful last year and so plan to do it again this year. As always, I am very grateful to be working with all of you. I realize times are challenging but this is the group to meet the challenges and create innovative ways of meeting them. Thank you all for your good work!