UMUC

Shared Governance

Acting Provost's Message

Shared Governance: An Essential Component (8/22/05)

Lawrence E. Leak, PhD
Lawrence E. Leak, PhD
Acting Provost

UMUC's shared governance initiative is now in its fourth year. Our governance bodies – Student Advisory Council, Staff Advisory Council, Faculty Advisory Council, and University Advisory Council – are making notable progress in fostering better organizational communication and providing input to UMUC's strategic direction. These gains are largely due to the hard work and dedication of the elected members of the various councils, who have overcome the geographical barriers of UMUC's worldwide presence to fulfill their role as advisory bodies to the university's leadership.

During the last four years the university has evolved in impressive ways. We have grown in the number and diversity of our students, faculty, and staff. We once again were awarded contracts for providing education opportunities to U.S. military personnel and their families in Asia and Europe . And we have continued to solidify our leadership in the adult and online learning arenas.

Together, we move forward to implement UMUC's new mission and strategic goals, improve student retention and success, build a strong student learning outcomes assessment program, and prepare for UMUC's “self study” and reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

In each of these important endeavors, we will need the input and advice of our stakeholders. Because of UMUC's size and unique global structure, the shared governance councils play an important role in ensuring that students, faculty, and staff have a say in the direction of the university as it moves forward.

I hope that you will consider seeking election to your stakeholder council and lending your talent and support to these crucial efforts. We need your help and your perspective as we work together to make UMUC the institution of choice, distinguished by the quality of its academic programs for adults and other nontraditional students, and also by the quality of its work environment for its employees.