Straight Talk from the President - August 11, 2008
Dear Colleagues,
Deborah and I wholeheartedly welcome you back to campus. As we prepare to welcome approximately 1,800 students moving into the residence halls on Aug. 15—many of whom are leaving home for the first time—we equally anticipate greeting our faculty. This summer was certainly an industrious one, and I am pleased to share several successes with you.
We are fairly conscientious about recognizing our own strengths at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. As it turns out, the rest of the nation is acknowledging us as well. One such national recognition is from the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, which is partially financed by the State University of New York at Stony Brook and produced by Academic Analytics. The index measures the scholarly work of more than 7,300 doctoral programs in the country; the report quantifies book and journal publications, journal article citations, federally-funded research grants, and other awards. ULM ranks in the Top 20 Specialized Research Universities for Business, Education, and Social Sciences, 2006-2007. Our institution is the only Louisiana university included in the ranking.
We achieved yet another national accolade this summer. Our Elementary Education Program was one of only 10 in the country to receive full passing marks for our preparation of future mathematics teachers. In June, Our College of Education and Human Development was recognized again when ULM was named the state's premier provider for the Louisiana Leader Fellows Program, a new initiative that trains talented teachers, specifically in high-poverty areas, to become qualified administrators. Out-of-state and non-affiliated external auditors recognized ULM for its ability to "develop an innovative model that will effectively address the unique needs of the students and geographically-dispersed areas."
Louisiana's only state-supported College of Pharmacy received a full six-year accreditation extension through June 30, 2014. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Accreditation Assessment Team evaluated our College on mission planning and evaluation; organization and administration; curriculum; students; faculty and staff; and facilities and resources. The ACPE board's official report acknowledged "the many changes and improvements that have taken place at the College in recent years."
Our College of Business Administration maintained accreditation of degree programs in business administration and accounting. The B.S. in Aviation, housed in the CBA, received initial accreditation in aviation, making it one of only three accredited aviation programs in Louisiana. The visiting accreditation team noted several strengths in ULM’s program, including student enthusiasm and faculty involvement. These state and national achievements illustrate your dedication to scholarly endeavors. When your days run long, and your eyes tire from grading, remember—you are working and researching at a nationally-competitive university.
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Artist drawing of the Clarke M. Williams Student Success Center |
In the spirit of collegiality, I encourage you to attend several significant upcoming events at ULM. On Aug. 12 at 12 p.m. during the annual Faculty Luncheon in the Student Union Building, we will unveil the university's strategic plan. Convocation, our official celebration of the new academic year, will commence on Aug. 20 at 4:30 p.m. near the Kitty Degree Bell Tower, and on Aug. 21 at 11 a.m., we will open the Clarke M. Williams Student Success Center.
Again, welcome back, and I look forward to seeing you around campus.
Sincerely,
James E. Cofer
President