Enhancing Higher Education: Endowed Faculty Positions & Areas of Excellence Wyoming Public Hearings Spring 2005 1 Welcome Thank you for your interest in Wyoming’s university! Charge to conduct public hearings from law establishing an endowment for faculty positions to promote excellence in higher education (SF122, 2005 Wyoming Legislature) Will provide background information prior to hearing Sign up if you would like to testify Hearing being recorded 2 “Wyoming Excellence in Higher Education Endowment” SF122 established a planning committee & membership (see information packet) Committee to submit implementation plan to Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee and Joint Education Committee by October 1, 2005 Community College Commission & UW to provide the committee with support UW to provide results of public hearings 3 Purpose of Public Hearings To summarize the endowment funding To explain “endowed” faculty positions To discuss the disciplines which address Wyoming’s economic and social challenges specified in SF122 To discuss the UW programs and areas emphasized in Academic Plan II To receive information state-wide about interest in areas of excellence at UW 4 Wyoming Higher Education Endowment (SF122) “Wyoming Excellence in Higher Education Endowment Account” to establish faculty endowed positions $105M to be funded over 3-5 years & permanently invested 2/3 for UW, 1/3 for Wyoming CCs Only earnings from permanent investments can be spent About $3.3M annually for UW endowed faculty positions 5 Endowed Faculty Positions Great faculty make a great university Endowment funds allow UW to recruit, retain, & support the faculty with established national or international reputations Excellence in teaching & research – they go hand in hand 6 Current UW Academic Programs UW colleges • Agriculture • Arts & Sciences • Business • Education • Engineering • Health Sciences • Law UW degrees • 83 baccalaureate degrees • 64 master’s degrees • 28 Ph.D. degrees & other (Ed.D, J.D., Pharm.D) 7 Examples of UW Endowed Faculty Positions Rochelle - Animal Science (Stephen Ford) Stroock - Natural Resource Conservation & Management (Jason Shogren) Guthrie - Banking (Sherrill Shaffer) 8 Disciplines Addressing Wyoming’s Economic & Social Challenges (SF122) At least 2/3 of funds for positions in: • Energy and natural resources • Wildlife • Science • Earth science • Health sciences • Agriculture • Education (at least 4 positions) • Engineering 9 Areas of Distinction in UW AP II Remaining earnings for positions in: • Cultural endeavors, arts & humanities • Environment & natural resources • History & culture of Wyoming & Rocky Mountain region • Life sciences • Professions & issues critical to region • Science & technology 10 Hearing & Public Input Please keep comments focused to ensure time for everyone to testify. UW will provide the planning committee with a summary of all comments & retain the tape recording. Written and email comments are welcome before June 7 (see information packets). Information, including summaries of hearings, on website: www.uwyo.edu/greatfaculty 11 Available Materials Powerpoint presentation Copies of UW Academic Plan II summary Stamped, addressed envelopes & an email address (greatfaculty@uwyo.edu) to send further written comments Members of planning committee Schedule of hearings 12 Public Comments? We want to hear your opinions about which areas are most important for the state to emphasize as it develops new faculty positions. 13 Wyoming Challenge Areas (SF122) & UW Areas of Distinction (APII) Challenge Areas: • Energy & natural resources • Wildlife • Science • Earth science • Health sciences • Agriculture • Education (4 positions) • Engineering UW Areas of Distinction: • Cultural endeavors, arts & humanities • Environment & natural resources • History & culture of Wyoming & Rocky Mountain region • Life sciences • Professions & issues critical to region • Science & technology 14 Thank you for participating. 15