I hope this first-of-the-academic-year Arts and Sciences Newsletter finds you well. The academic year seems to have crept up on us once again. The weather in Burlington is quickly turning cooler and the College faculty and staff are hard at work providing amazing learning experiences for our students and pursuing world-class scholarship.
My name is Bill Falls and I became Interim Dean of the College a little over two months ago. In that time my strong affection for the College and its faculty, staff, and students has grown stronger. I joined the College faculty in 1998 as an assistant professor of psychological science. I was attracted to the College because of its strong reputation as a collegial academic environment that supported world-class scholarship and excellent teaching. In the 17 years since coming to the College, I have had the honor of working with many faculty and staff colleagues, all of whom I have found to be extraordinarily talented and strongly committed to excellence in both scholarship and teaching. Since becoming Interim Dean I have had the pleasure of interacting with many more of our faculty and staff. I am more impressed. Not only are our faculty nationally and internationally recognized scholars who bring their passion and expertise to teaching and mentoring students, they are enthusiastic and committed College citizens who devote their time and energy to moving the College forward. Our staff are also hard-working, enthusiastic, and committed College citizens who use their talents and experience to move the College forward. Our undergraduate and graduate students are as talented as ever and their enthusiasm for learning and community engagement is palpable.
The University is on the move. President Sullivan and Provost Rosowsky are shepherding a strategic action plan and a series of academic excellence goals that, at their core, seek to promote and celebrate the culture of academic excellence at UVM. The College is also on the move. We are considering new first-year offerings that seek to better engage students in the academic culture in the College. We are continuing to expand our internship, research, and service learning opportunities. We are exploring new study abroad programs, including faculty-led programs and semester-long exchange programs. We are exploring ways to reimagine our current academic programs and are exploring new undergraduate and graduate programs that leverage clusters of faculty scholarship. The UVM Lane Series – which each year brings a variety of internationally recognized artists in classical, jazz, early, world, and folk music, as well as film and theatre to campus – is now a part of the College of Arts and Sciences, and efforts are under way to incorporate this excellent Lane Series programing into teaching in the arts. Construction is underway for the new Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) complex that will bring state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities to our Chemistry and Physics Departments.
We are truly on the move!
Of course, pursuing these ideas would not be possible without talented and enthusiastic faculty, staff, and alumni. I am indebted to these hard-working and talented folks. I am also indebted to the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors who continue to give their time and energy to advance these and other important initiatives. I am also indebted to you for taking the time to read the newsletter and to get caught up on the goings-on in the College. This is an exciting time, and if you are in a position to help us, please let me know.
Be well,
Bill Falls
Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences