Open Meetings Focus on Academic Collaboration

Contact: Mary Alice Casey, (740) 593-1890

ATHENS, Ohio (May 16, 2000) -- Athens campus faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in any of three open meetings this month to discuss "themes for collaboration and synergy" developed through conversations among Provost Sharon Brehm, the deans and college faculty, especially chairs and directors.

The themes were described by the provost at the Faculty Senate meeting May 15. Brehm provided Faculty Senate with a description of the process by which the themes were developed and the purposes she hopes they will serve.

The five themes identified so far are:

• Environmental issues, quality and safety
• International issues, programs and partnerships
• Quality of life in rural America
• Teacher development for today and the future
• Technology: applied, basic, commercialization and instructional

Brehm also provided to Faculty Senate specifics on academic programs and initiatives for each college and the Center for International Studies related to the themes. The materials will be available at the open meetings, which will be conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, in Scripps Hall 111; 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 22, in Stocker Center 103; and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, in Scripps Hall 111. The materials also will be available on the provost's Web page at http://www.ohiou.edu/provost/index.htm

"These themes are by no means the only excellent areas in the university, nor will they necessarily receive priority in the funding process," Brehm said. "Moreover, they are not irrevocably set, but can be modified or deleted, with new ones being added.

"I believe, however, that they will promote collaboration and stimulate ideas for new programmatic efforts, thereby fulfilling a useful role in the university as its seeks to nurture both quality and creativity," she added. "The open meetings will help us obtain feedback on these and other possible areas of collaboration."

Although the current discussion about collaborative themes has focused only on Athens campus programs, Vice President for Regional Higher Education Charles Bird said he intends to initiate a similar process with his deans and faculty. Both Brehm and Bird said there likely will be some overlap between the Athens and regional campuses' themes, and they see such overlap as strengthening the ability to work together as one university.