Academic Affairs priorities: Working together




By Rick Muma, provost

As the school year gets under way, I look forward to seeing what we as a university community can accomplish, especially in the four areas I’ve identified as priorities for Academic Affairs.

  • To advance a culture of shared governance built on trust and integrity
  • To support Strategic Enrollment initiatives that lead to a foundation of success for our students
  • To evaluate new reward structures for faculty in teaching, research and service in light of the changing higher education landscape
  • Innovate academic offerings for students seeking new degree options or alternative credentials

To continue to be successful, we must work together collectively to find solutions. This starts with advancing a culture of shared governance built on trust, integrity and transparency. It's probably the most important thing we can do this academic year.

In order to assist with this, there are several town halls being planned for the upcoming academic year.

Through these programs, we hope all of you will engage, learn and advance conversations on such things as the importance of a vibrant liberal arts education, the changing higher education landscape and strategic planning 2.0.

In addition, an innovation advisory council has been formed, and that will feed into the re-evaluation of the university’s strategic plan. This is another way I hope we can advance the conversation on the future of the university.

I’ll talk more in the future about how we’re working to accomplish our other goals. But perhaps the most important thing to remember is this: Get involved. Work with each other. Participate in your university. Together, we can accomplish so much more.

In the meantime, I want to hear from you. Please reach out whenever you see me, or feel free to leave me a note at richard.muma@wichita.edu.