As we approach September, I see a number of important issues we will need to resolve in the Institute.
The future of the Land Tenure Center once more hangs in the balance. When the governance faculty voted to take on the Land Tenure Center, it was for a three year term with no resource demands on the Nelson Institute. The University APC committee voted last year to allow for its continuance only if it showed results in terms of winning the major grants and funding streams that could make it financially independent.
Unfortunately despite strenuous efforts on the part of Matt Turner, Chris Elholm and Kurt Brown, financial independence has not been forthcoming. Indeed, in an effort to provide maximum support, the Nelson Institute has provided the LTC with space (the suite of rooms behind room 175), and this year provided some salary support for Chris and Kurt.
Now, Matt’s departure to take on the Chair of Geography leaves the Center leaderless, and no successor has stepped forward. I have talked to a number of people who feel that for the LTC to remain viable, it essentially needs to be reconceptualized. This will take someone with a real passion for the Center and the issues on which it has traditionally focused. As you may recall, Matt was given a course release from the College of Letters & Science to direct the Land Tenure Center, and it is possible that that arrangement would be maintained if someone else suitable from L&S were to take on the Directorship. If someone from another college were to volunteer, a similar arrangement would have to be negotiated, depending on the commitment of the Dean of his or her college.
If a suitable candidate for the directorship does not step forward before October, I don’t think the UAPC will support the continuing operation of LTC. Much as I feel the need for more social science based research centers in the Nelson Institute, I would have difficulty in this case arguing against this position. If anyone has thoughts or suggestions, please let me know.
Finally, I want to thank Matt for the energy and dedication he has put into trying to keep LTC afloat. If it founders now, it will not be for lack of effort.
The curriculum redesign is moving forward, thanks to the summer work of several committees. One committee has been working to design an integrative “core competency” course that could possibly be offered to all Nelson Institute graduate students. Others have been refining the models for both an applied masters and a research degree. These designs have so far been generic, i.e. created without explicit reference to our existing programs. However, this fall will be the time for the program committees to decide (I would hope by December) whether or not to restructure our existing programs in whole or in part around these concepts.
Concurrent with debates about redesign, we will be conducting program assessments for each of our programs beginning in September. These assessments are mandated by the University and will involve a facilitated analysis (by each program committee) of
- the existing design of the programs,
- the goals around which each program was designed,
- the program elements contributing to each program goal, and
- the program’s measures of success.
This will allow us to clearly identify the purposes, strengths and weaknesses of each program and should help the committees modify and strengthen program design on an ongoing basis. It should also give the committees some help in determining whether it would be useful and desirable to “graft” elements of the new design into existing programs.
Three new staff will be joining the Institute by the end of the month. Rob Beattie, who many of you met at the last staff retreat, has joined us in the position of Associate Faculty Associate to work on managing and developing the IGERT proposal, and to work on other new program initiatives in the Institute. Rob brings great experience in program design from his previous experience at University of Massachusetts, Boston, where he was in charge of an integrated, interdisciplinary undergraduate program in environmental studies. Adrian Treves will be joining us in the position of Senior Administrative Program Specialist. This position, which was specially created as part of the pre-emptive retention of Lisa Naughton, will give greater strength to the Nelson Institute in terms of funding possibilities with both Foundations and with International NGO’s. Adrian, an active researcher with experience working with both Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society, will focus on increasing Nelson Institute research and program funding . He will be working on developing Foundation proposals and will be contacting many of you to explore your interests, both in terms of research and programming. Lastly, Molly Young, who worked as a PA for us last year will now be joining us full time as Associate Outreach Specialist, to support Steve Pomplun in his outreach work and in event planning. I am delighted to welcome, Rob, Adrian and Molly, and I look forward to the energy and creativity they will bring to the Institute.
That’s all for now. I will resume regular weekly blogs in September.
Frances