In his remarks at the 2011 Faculty Assembly Tuesday afternoon, George Washington President Steven Knapp highlighted his institutional priorities and a new strategic plan currently being envisioned for the university.
This academic year marks the beginning of George Washington’s “decade of transformation,” which will end with the university’s 200th anniversary in 2021, said Dr. Knapp. In 2012, GW will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its presence in Foggy Bottom.
“We are approaching major milestones in the university’s history,” he said.
Dr. Knapp said these milestones also give George Washington the opportunity to do some “serious planning” and revamp its 2002 Strategic Plan for Academic Excellence to reflect the new priorities of the university’s leadership, including a new academic excellence plan led by Provost Steven Lerman, a formal fundraising plan led by Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Michael Morsberger, and changes to GW’s external communications strategy, including a review of the university’s visual identity, led by Vice President for External Relations Lorraine Voles.
Dr. Knapp also noted the implementation of several initiatives and recommendations suggested by strategic committees formed last year. Based on a recommendation by the President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion, Terri Harris Reed was recently appointed as GW’s first vice provost for diversity and inclusion. Enhancements to George Washington’s career services are currently underway as a result of the Career Services Task Force’s comprehensive report, and changes to GW athletics, which include the recent hiring of Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero, are being implemented as part of the athletics review.
Dr. Knapp also discussed current and future campus projects, including upcoming renovations to Gelman Library and Ames Hall and construction of the Science and Engineering Hall, the School of Public Health and Health Services building and a museum that will be home to The Textile Museum and the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection.
Dr. Knapp said these improvements will allow other GW schools to expand, noting that the university raised a record amount in fiscal year 2011.
“We’re building across the university, and we have an opportunity to do that because we’re bringing in resources in a way that we never have before in the history of the university,” he said.
Dr. Knapp said the university has also continued its successful recruitment of “world-class faculty,” including Nobel Prize winner Ferid Murad, now a University Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Resources for faculty and other university initiatives are being identified through the work of GW’s Innovation Task Force. Dr. Knapp told faculty that the university is well on its way to achieving the goal of the task force, which he formed in 2009, to identify $60 million annually in recurrent savings and revenue enhancements that can be reinvested in academic priorities.
“If we do that, and have a successful fundraising operation, we will be rapidly generating the resources we need to continue to grow all of your departments and programs in the ways that will help us meet our aspirations academically,” he said.
Dr. Knapp also remarked upon “the world’s growing interest in Washington, D.C.,” noting manufacturing company Siemens USA’s recent move of its headquarters to the District and the growing stature of the university, noting former president Bill Clinton’s selection of GW to host the fifth annual Clinton Global Initiative University next spring.
In his remarks, Dr. Lerman spoke about the reorganization of the Office of the Provost last June, GW’s new strategic plan and his institutional priorities in the areas of student and academic support services, faculty affairs, diversity and inclusion, teaching and learning, academic affairs and planning, and budget and finance.
“This is a transformative period for the university,” said Dr. Lerman. “Those of us fortunate to be here during this period are going to be part of the experience observing the university going from very, very good to truly great.”
Dr. Lerman also announced the recipients of the 2011 Bender Teaching Awards. The award winners are: Assistant Professor of Chemistry Cindy Dowd, Professor of Chemistry Houston Miller, Assistant Professor of Nursing Kim Acquaviva, Assistant Professor of English Holly Dugan, Elliott School of International Affairs Lecturer Michele Clark, and Professor of Clinical Management and Leadership Ozgur Ekmekci. The awardees will be recognized Friday at a special breakfast.
Also at the assembly, faculty voted to provide Faculty Senate representation for GW’s School of Nursing and Professor of Special Education and Disability Studies Michael Castleberry, chair of the Faculty Senate executive committee, discussed the work of the Faculty Senate over the past year, which included passing resolutions approving the creation of the School of Nursing and an increase in faculty compensation.