Welcome Back!
As we prepare for the resumption of classes tomorrow, I hope you enjoyed Spring Break and are refreshed for the final six weeks of the semester.
I would like to begin this second-most busy period of the term by asking for help on a critical initiative, and also sharing with you information about some very positive developments on campus.
Fall Registration = Retention and Persistence
I hope you have noticed the fall registration signs that have popped up like daffodils across campus. The Registrar’s office and University Communications & Marketing have teamed up for a broad campaign that includes flyers, banners, posters, and more, to remind current students to register for fall classes. In addition to the signage, social media is being used extensively, and users of our free UA Mobile smartphone app were reminded over Spring Break to review the registration checklist.
However, there is nothing like personal interaction to drive home this critical message. I am asking all faculty members to encourage fall registration at the appropriate time in their classrooms, in discussion with students, and especially in advising circumstances. Likewise, all staff, contract professionals, and administrators are asked to take advantage of every opportunity to do the same.
Remember, too, that we have identified improved rates of retention and persistence – and ultimately graduation – as the top priority resulting from the development of the Three-Year Action Plans. Enrollment is the essential financial foundation for the entire University.
The registration campaign also provides T-shirts and buttons that can be worn to campus as a constant reminder to students. If you would like to obtain a shirt or button, please contact Ron Bowman’s office at ext. 8300.
Progress during the Pause
It has been only a few weeks since we paused our conversation about academic reorganization. This six-month period is an opportunity for deans, department heads, faculty, and others to develop alternative pathways of achieving our goals.
I am very pleased to report some excellent progress in this regard. While these particular initiatives have been underway for some time, they are good examples of creative and innovative programs.
New certificate in biomimicry
Beginning fall 2019, UA will offer an Undergraduate Certificate in Biomimicry that is open to all students. It builds upon the success of our internationally acclaimed Ph.D. in Integrated Biosciences, and is developed and supported by Drs. Peter Niewiarowski, Christopher Miller, Ali Dhinojawali, Matthew Kolodziej, and their colleagues in our Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center. The 15-credit curriculum will give students training and experience in the theory, methods, and practice of seeking inspiration from living systems to solve technical challenges. Biomimicry is finding application in the aerospace, construction, and computing fields, just to name a few. The program has few prerequisites, is open to all majors, and is highly interdisciplinary in that it blends biology, polymers, business, design, and engineering. Graduates of this program will gain a skill set that enables problem solving in a variety of contexts where innovation and sustainability are desired outcomes.
New Online Healthcare Administration Degree
In fall 2019, we also will launch the Bachelor of Allied Healthcare Administration degree program. This program can be taken as a stand-alone degree or part of a 2+2 program. Approximately 90-99 percent of its content will be delivered online. It is intended specifically for working healthcare administrative professionals who want to advance within their organizations. Led by Dr. Kristine Kraft and Mr. William Fiala, colleagues in the College of Health Professions worked with area healthcare providers to design the program. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 25 percent growth rates for this field, and at present no other local university offers a similar program.
New Business Analytics Degree
The Ohio Department of Higher Education has just approved our proposed Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Data Analytics degree program. The 120-credit program is designed to produce graduates with business knowledge and data analytics skills used in decision making in the public and private sectors, according to Dr. Michael Nelson, economics department chair and one of the program’s developers. This program differs from similar offerings at other local universities because of a significant interdisciplinary component offered through other academic units in the College of Business Administration. The BLS predicts stronger-than-average demand for analysts through 2026, particularly in finance and insurance, two of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio. We anticipate this program to attract 21 full-time students in its initial enrollment, with an average enrollment of 84 after four years.
Faster Curriculum Review Process
The Board of Trustees will consider a change to the University-wide curriculum review process at its April 10 meeting. The revisions are designed to give us greater flexibility and nimbleness in changing curricula, particularly those offered online, to meet the needs of students and the organizations that will eventually hire them. Institutional review of proposals will continue with the curriculum review committee taking on a larger role. Faculty Senate will retain its role in making recommendations on proposed changes.
As we move forward let us remember that springtime is, after all, a season of planting. As we meet our students’ needs and complete this semester, let us also plant the seeds for a successful 2019-2020 academic year. Please join in the efforts to encourage students to register for their fall classes, and I ask everyone to participate in the spirit of ingenuity and advancement generated by our colleagues who are creating new degree programs and certifications.
Sincerely,
Dr. John C. Green
Interim President
The University of Akron