Addressing faculty as the George Washington University’s new vice president for research, Robert Miller emphasized the importance of teamwork to build the university’s research portfolio and improve support for researchers.
“It’s really critical for us as a community to work together toward common strategic goals,” Dr. Miller said Friday in remarks to members of the Faculty Senate.
Although he has just recently taken on the role, Dr. Miller said he expects some of his priorities will include streamlining administrative processes and improving infrastructure for faculty research awards, encouraging research “nodes” that support interdisciplinary research and focusing on the “workforce development” of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students who are launching their research careers.
“Our reputation stands on our product, and our product is an educational experience, and integrated into that is the research experience,” Dr. Miller said.
As part of the research strategic initiative, Dr. Miller added that he looks forward to continuing to work with faculty to assess the university’s research ecosystem, including scholarship and research in all forms and disciplines.
Faculty task forces will meet this week to begin this process.
“Research is one area in particular where faculty involvement is critical,” Provost Forrest Maltzman said.
In addition to introducing Dr. Miller, Dr. Maltzman also introduced to the senate Paul Wahlbeck, interim dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, and Anuj Mehrotra, dean of the School of Business. In his remarks, Dr. Mehrotra said he is excited about the energy and sense of collaboration he already has experienced at the business school and on campus.
Also Friday, staff and faculty representing GW’s sustainability efforts provided an update on sustainability teaching, research and action.
“For well over a decade we have been marching toward increased sustainability activities on all fronts,” said Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs Terry Murphy. “And we’ve been involving our students, faculty and staff in collaborative efforts that we think are extremely important and very exciting.”
For example, the sustainability minor continues to attract student interest, said Tara Scully, biology teaching assistant professor in CCAS. The minor will be assessed for its course offerings and to ensure that students and faculty are supported in their sustainability pursuits. Dr. Scully also said it is important to encourage students to be involved in sustainability early in their GW careers.
On research, the university is building multidisciplinary teams to seek research funding to study complex sustainability problems, said Bob Orttung, director of research for sustainability. The Duke Energy Renewables Innovation Fund is one means of support for new sustainability research. Faculty will be encouraged to submit proposals starting Oct. 1 for the $85,000 available for new projects.
Staff and faculty provide an update on the university's sustainability progress and goals. Meghan Chapple, director of the Office of Sustainability, noted GW's accomplishments during the past decade. (William Atkins/GW Today)
With regard to tangible actions, the university continues to build a more sustainable campus, business and community, said Meghan Chapple, director of the Office of Sustainability.
A recent report documented some of the significant accomplishments made during the past decade, Ms. Chapple said, including the Capital Partners Solar Project and its accompanying “living lab”; investment in LEED-certified buildings; the sustainable, local food operation through the GroW Garden; Planet Forward storytelling; and student-driven events and advocacy, such as the GW Eco-Equity Challenge, a recent competition to design a solar table, the DC Climathon and the Sustainable Investment Fund.
A sustainability listening tour this fall aims to collect feedback and new ideas from students, faculty and staff as the university charts a course to bring a new level of green to GW. More information is forthcoming.
In other Faculty Senate news, President Thomas LeBlanc briefed faculty on progress on the university’s five strategic initiatives, including enhancements to improve the student experience such as through community space and dining.
“What we’re trying to do is look very closely at every aspect of the student experience and simply ask the question, ‘Can we do better?’ If we keep listening to them, I think we’ll get a lot of suggestions,” he said.
Dr. LeBlanc also noted the importance of an upcoming assessment of the university’s institutional culture, emphasizing the importance of student, faculty and staff feedback and participation in the process.
Dr. Maltzman updated the senate on changes to the Enrollment and the Student Experience unit and the hiring of Cissy Petty as the new dean of the student experience. He also informed the senate on the progress made on the Response Action Plan for Diversity and Inclusion, including updates to the Code of Student Conduct that are being finalized and the hiring of Jordan West as the inaugural director for diversity and inclusion education. The university also incorporated new diversity training programs into the new student, residential advisor, new academic leader and new faculty orientations.
Dr. Maltzman also said that the provost’s office would be consulting over the next few months with the senate regarding changes to the University Policy on Equal Opportunity to address forms of harassment beyond sexual harassment.
