March 2001 University Reporter

by Anne-Marie Kent

At the February 7 University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees meeting held at UMass Boston, two presentations signaled major system-wide developments bringing together resources from all five campuses in the university system. The trustees learned that as intercampus collaborations are linking resources, reducing cost, and expanding services to students, better use of more sophisticated technology is simultaneously expanding the number of students the system can serve.

First, University of Massachusetts Vice President Selma Botman led a presentation on system-wide academic initiatives, focusing on the Intercampus Graduate School of Marine Sciences and Technology, the Commonwealth Information Technology Initiative, the Digital Library and other collaborative efforts of UMass librarians, and system-wide student recruitment activities. According to Botman, these projects were chosen from a number of successful intercampus collaborations.

UMass Boston's Jack H. Archer, associate dean of graduate studies, reflected on his experience as associate dean of the Intercampus Graduate School of Marine Sciences and Technology, with co-presenter Brian J. Rothschild, dean of the Intercampus Graduate School of Marine Sciences and Technology and director of the School of Marine Science and Technology at the UMass Dartmouth.

Other panelists were: Ben Franckowiak, director of libraries and information resources, UMass Lowell; James Kurose, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science at the UMass Amherst, co-director of the Computer Network Research Laboratory and cofounder of the Commonwealth IT Initiative (CITI); and Steven Briggs, director of admissions at UMass Dartmouth.

UMass President William M. Bulger applauded all intercampus efforts, saying that they reinforce the legislative intent of 1991 which created the University of Massachusetts system. Bulger said that the combined strengths of the individual campuses can fully serve "the economic, academic, and social needs of the Commonwealth." He added, "The University of Massachusetts is more efficient and effective than ever before."

Board President Grace Fey, at whose request the panel presentation was made, called ideal those arrangements that are "collaborative, centered on students, respectful of faculty, and representative of administrative cooperation." She noted that, while some activities are not prime for collaboration, others "lend themselves ideally to a system-wide approach."

As the system is encouraging intercampus cooperation, it is also extending that cooperation online. Unveiled at the Board meeting Tuesday was UMass Online the university's new global gateway to its online courses. The first student to click on UMass Online.net was UMass Boston's student trustee, Sandra Karahalis. The unveiling drew radio, television, and print coverage.

UMass Online will serve more students than any other web-based distance learning organization in New England. Over 6,000 students, who have enrolled in distance learning courses, primarily on the University's Amherst, Dartmouth and Lowell campuses, are now UMass Online students. More are expected to apply as the option is marketed. Many see the development as ideal for a public university, many of whose students have demanding work schedules and would welcome the added flexibility of online learning.

"UMass Online is the ideal blend of tradition, excellence, access, and innovation in higher education,'' University of Massachusetts President Bulger said. "We are very strongly positioned at the start to deliver high-quality educational opportunities to students who are serious about learning. With UMass Online, everybody with access to the Internet - in their home, workplace, school, or public library - can have a virtual front row seat in a university classroom.'' Jack Wilson, a national distance learning innovator who came to the University of Massachusetts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was named UMass Online CEO.

Amid the news of developments in intercampus collaboration and online expansion, the trustees agreed to keep at least one constant: the cost of attending the University of Massachusetts. Once again, the Board agreed to freeze tuition and instate fees at all five campuses.

Trustees Review Intercampus Collaborations and UMass Online

by Anne-Marie Kent