UAB Blazers

Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
Email from the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences
Author Message
tibber Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,785
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation: 16
I Root For:
Location:

BlazerTalk Award
Post: #1
Email from the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences
Sorry if already posted.

Dear Alumni,

After yesterday's announcement of decisions affecting UAB Athletics, I wanted to
speak to you about our next steps and the future course of the College of Arts
and Sciences.

First, to address the events leading to today: The President made a difficult decision
based on serious financial considerations that would impact the university broadly,
including academics in the College of Arts and Sciences. While this is a painful
decision to accept for many, including President Watts, we must move forward.

Second, the students in the College are our immediate priority. Right now we all
need to remain focused on the tasks at hand, especially the students. We are quickly
approaching the end of this term, including finals and commencement. I have asked
our students to please stay focused on their studies and to prepare for finals and
the completion of this term. I've encouraged them to work hard in their classes,
concentrate on their personal academic goals, and look to their faculty mentors
and advisors for support and guidance. Likewise, I am asking the faculty to reassure
our students that we are secure as an institution, and that we are here for them
and we will support them regardless of the challenges we might face. Our academic
responsibilities are paramount, and we must help our students through the next two
weeks with compassion and understanding. They have worked too hard to allow themselves
to be distracted and put grades and academic advancement at risk. We have plenty
of time in the future to continue our discussions, and we will, but for now we
have asked they please gather themselves and focus on their studies to complete
this term.

Third, to speak to our future as a College: I am optimistic about UAB's future as
a competitive, compelling, challenging academic institution that will attract the
very best undergraduate and graduate students, as well as accomplished faculty and
staff. We will continue to grow and achieve great things together, of this I have
no doubt. We are already home to many prestigious award winners-both in our faculty
and student body- and we will win more awards. We will win more grants. Our Band(s)
will continue to thrive by competing and performing both locally, nationally, and
internationally. I will meet with the Band today to begin discussions on where we
go from here. We will continue to invest in our students' education, and we fully
support the university's commitment to student life, including the construction
of the new Hill University Center, the new freshman dorm, and future buildings planned
for our campus. We will keep telling our unique story and will support Enrollment
Management as they recruit new students to campus. We will build the culture and
community of the College of Arts and Sciences, and I am confident in the abilities
of all of you to help us achieve those goals.

Lastly, to address some myths swirling about in the media and in the community:


1. Undergraduate education will be undermined or will go away at UAB - That
is false. Please pay no attention to this rumor. The university is working
hard to ensure a viable financial future. Undergraduate education remains
a priority in the College Strategic Plan, which is fully supported by the President
and senior administrators.
2. Specific majors and disciplines, like Music, History, and others, will be
diminished - That is also false. We are already working hard to grow our Music
program with innovative partnerships, as well as with increased opportunities
for our Music students to perform and compete around the world. That mission
will not change. I am meeting with Music faculty, staff, and students
personally to talk to them about future plans today, and I can assure you I
am committed to their long term success and growth in the College. As for
History and other disciplines, we are in fact pursuing new degree opportunities
and we are not closing or reducing academic education in the College as a result
of the decisions about athletic programs.
3. All other sports will now be shuttered - That is false. While it is very
difficult to lose any athletic programs, no money has been taken away from
athletics. Their budget will be reallocated to ensure the growth of our other
sports programs.
4. Students and faculty in the College are not valued by the administration
- Again, that is false. Pay no attention to this rumor. In fact, in my time
as Dean, I have found our President and administrators to be fully supportive
of our goals. Many of our plans have been supported by the President and Provost
and I am encouraged by their commitment to the College. The College is not
an island at UAB; we are an integral part of a thriving research institution
and the College is fundamental to the overall success of UAB. In no way
are we under attack. If anything, we are in a position of leadership and
have won the respect of the President and the Provost

I know this has been an extremely painful week. But we must move forward, supporting
each other, encouraging each other, and remaining focused on our immediate goal
of finals and commencement. I believe in UAB and I believe in the College of Arts
and Sciences. I believe in you.

Sincerely,

R.E. Palazzo, Dean
(This post was last modified: 12-03-2014 06:58 PM by tibber.)
12-03-2014 06:57 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


LightEmUp70 Offline
Debt Free
*

Posts: 5,166
Joined: Dec 2004
Reputation: 48
I Root For: UAB
Location: Daphne
Post: #2
RE: Email from the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences
I replied to that. It was polite, but not very nice.
12-03-2014 06:58 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
legalblazer Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,697
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation: 29
I Root For: UAB
Location:
Post: #3
RE: Email from the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences
Already posted.
12-03-2014 06:58 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.