BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Yesterday, UAB President Ray L. Watts announced an action plan targeted at improving dialogue among administration, faculty, students, alumni and the community about the university’s next steps in the strategic planning process.
Watts spent much of December meeting with leaders from the student body, faculty, alumni, administration and the community, listening to concerns. More meetings have been scheduled, and many more will continue to take place in the short- and long-term.
“I regret how we handled the Athletic Department announcement,” Watts said. “I want to make sure there is a real mechanism for sharing and addressing questions and concerns and, more importantly, gaining insights into the best way to move UAB forward.”
The resulting action plan encourages input and opens up new formats for dialogue. It includes the formation of four task forces — to be led by faculty and administrative leaders — to study a number of the priority issues that have been shared with Watts in recent discussions.
· Vice President of Human Resources Alesia Jones will work closely with the faculty senate and lead a task force studying employee benefits.
· Interim Athletic Director Shannon Ealy will chair a task force made up of students, alumni, athletes and others focused on how to best engage and build support for programs so they can compete for championships.
· Provost Linda Lucas will lead the task force on improving shared governance across the campus.
· Assistant Vice President of Student Life Andy Marsch will chair a task force of student leaders addressing how to engage students in decisions affecting campus life, facilities, programs, housing and other areas.
Additional task forces are also being formed to guide candidate searches and hiring for several high-profile vacancies. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders will be involved in the search for UAB’s next athletic director.
Community and government leaders will play a critical role as UAB enhances opportunities for inclusion and collaboration. For that reason, Clay Ryan of Maynard, Cooper & Gale will work with the university on educational and governance issues, as well as strategic planning initiatives, to advance important dialogues beyond UAB’s campus.
The university also has enlisted Birmingham’s Direct Communications to help communicate and support the important dialogue that will lead the strategic direction of the campus.
UAB Forward, a public website launched today as part of Watts’ action plan, will provide the platform for updates, enabling readers to provide input and learn about the great things UAB faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners are doing — every day — to support UAB’s mission.
“We have important work ahead of us to continue to move UAB forward,” Watts said. “This experience has created an opportunity for us to learn to work more effectively together and continue to change UAB for the better.”
