12-09-2014, 02:29 PM
Much like that to Faculty Senate...
Quote:I know that the last week has been difficult for everyone in the UAB community. I deeply regret that we did not handle our recent athletic department announcement better and that there was a breakdown in communication during that process. I know that many of you have strong feelings about the decision, the way we arrived at it and the way I communicated it with you.
In recent days, our wonderful community has been divided, and trust has been damaged. The only way I know to rebuild trust is to back up my words with actions and to engage every part of the community in developing our plans moving forward. It is my goal to meet with leaders from every UAB constituency in the coming days – something I have already begun to do. I want to make sure there is a real mechanism for sharing and addressing questions and concerns and, more importantly, gaining critical insights into the best way to move UAB forward.
I am firmly committed to increasing significantly the involvement of faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community by creating a series of task forces that will look at future directions for athletics and all of our academic programs. I am planning to convene these task forces as soon as possible, and we will begin to meet at the start of the spring semester in early January – or before if possible. I will also continue to seek advice from all constituencies as we put together a search committee for our new athletic director.
We are all a part of what I consider one of the greatest institutions of higher learning in the world. I love UAB with all of my being, and I am totally dedicated to the long- term success of this university. I am truly awed and humbled by your passion for UAB, for it is ultimately that passion that will propel our university, our community and our state to even greater heights.
Very sincerely,
Watts-Signature-Web
Ray L. Watts