October 2005

From the Dean

The academic year that has just begun promises to be particularly exciting and productive.   In his address to the Senate, President Mote set as our primary goals meeting two commitments that the State, the University, and the Regents have made: making the University one of the top 10 public universities in the country, and providing access to all Maryland students, regardless of need.   What could be more worthwhile goals to work towards?   Since achieving them will require major resources, President Mote sees a strong, four-way partnership between the State, the Regents, students, and alumni and friends as essential, and he feels confident that all four partners are committed to the task.   He further emphasizes that the traditional practices of universities, developed during the cold war, will not be successful in the future, and that success will depend upon four factors: innovation, entrepreneurship, partnerships, and international programs. As a College, we need to assess how our existing and future programs measure up to these criteria.   As Wayne Gretzky, the great hockey player liked to say, " The secret of success is to skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been".

Provost Destler has made some significant changes in budgetary policies in Academic Affairs to encourage aggressive efforts to increase our external funding for research, and participation in summer school and winter term. These policy changes will increase the College's discretionary funds, provided that we maintain our current levels of activity.   If we increase our activity, our discretionary funds will increase even more, of course!   Provost Destler has set as our target for external funding for research a 20% increase over the average of the past two years.   I have asked each chair to develop a plan by October 1 that will enable each department to meet that goal.

The Topping Off ceremony for the Bioscience Research Building took place last week, signaling that the last piece of structural steel is now in place.   We are still on schedule for substantial completion of the building in late August 2006.

Together with President Mote, three other deans, and several staff members, I had the privilege of participating in a Maryland Day at Beijing University in mid-September.   This is a major event for the University, which follows years of bridge-building by President Mote, since Beijing University has been willing to host such events for only a few world-class universities.   Both universities are strongly committed to forging a major partnership, and many efforts are already underway at the university to foster faculty and student exchanges and joint programs.   I believe that this partnership should be a high priority for the College, and I am working with faculty and staff to develop a plan. While in Beijing, I also visited Tsinghua University, China's top engineering school, and visited the Beijing Biotechnology Park, a massive undertaking.  

We are also working on two other partnerships.   A group of faculty visited MedImmune, the state's most successful biotechnology company, with $1B in revenues, to present their research and explore collaborations.   CLFS is also taking the lead in developing a University-wide partnership with Children's National Medical Center.   A joint research symposium and workshop is scheduled for November 11 on campus (see below).   If you are interested in developing collaborations with faculty at Children's, it will be important to attend.  

Our efforts over the past few years to strengthen our undergraduate programs and improve student success are clearly having the desired effect. 2317 undergraduates are enrolled in the College, the largest class since 1998. We enrolled 396 new freshmen this fall, our 5-year graduation rate is 80%, and over 50% of the freshmen who entered 4 years ago graduated from the College - the highest fraction to start and complete our majors. Five years ago, these numbers were 1972, 304, 69%, and 38%.   Thanks to all who have contributed to this success.   These numbers argue strongly for increases in budget and faculty size, and we will of course make those arguments!

As this academic year begins, please join me in welcoming our new and returning faculty, staff, and students, and wishing all a happy and successful year.   I hope to see many of you at the All College meeting, October 6 at 2 pm, in the Nyumburu Center.

Norma Allewell
Professor and Dean

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Dean Norma Allewell celebrates with Nancy A. White, MS'87(Nursing) and W. Wayne White, BS' 80 (Entomology) at the University of Maryland Colonnade Society Brunch during Homecoming 2005. Dean Allewell personally thanked the Whites for their strong support of the College and especially of the Department of Entomology. W. Wayne White, is Vice President of American Pest Management - a leading firm in the Washington area. W. Jay Nixon, MS'73 (Entomology) the company President, is also a member of the Colonnade Society and strong supporter of the College. American Pest Management recently hired Catherine Long who is completing her Ph.D. in Entomology at the College to join their staff of five entomologists.

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