There's More to Being a Curator Than Often Meets the Public Eye
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Vol. 15 No.1 SPECTRUM January 1988 There's more to being a curator than often meets the public eye. Although committed to several meetings each year, curators are participants in many University events and bring a diversity of expertise, experience and opinion to their role as the University 's governing body. Recently the board has had to face difficult decisions and begin to chart a course for the future of the University's long-range plan. Read about what it means, and what it takes, to be a curator on page 4. Pictured here are University President C. Peter Magrath and the board. Seated left to right are Peter H. Raven of St. Louis/ Magrath,· W. H. "Bert" Bates of Kansas City/ Fred S. Kummer of St. Louis,' and John P. Lichtenegger of Jackson , 1988 board vice president. Standing left to right are Jeanne V. Epple of Columbia , 1988 board president/ Sam B. Cook of Jefferson City,' James C. Sterling of Bolivar/ Eva Louise Frazer of St. Louis/ Edwin S. Turner of Chillicothe,' and Kevin B. Edwards, a UM-Rolla student and student representative to the board. Photo by Mark McDonald. Curators discuss the UM's efforts in Gov. Ashcroft makes long-range plan. Page 1. reallocation. Page 3. funding recommendations. Page 2. I V r Curators discuss long-range planning In a forum designed to stimulate the University has declined from 9. 1 will not solve the funding problems. tion with K-12 schools: the free exchange of ideas, the UM percent to 7.4 percent during the last (See related story, page 3). - Expect more federal money for Board of Curators and adminiscrati on decade, a difference of $50 million. Curarors suggested a number of science teacher education, reviewed the accomplishments from the McGill said 10 years ago, strategic questions or activities in - Interest more students in first three years of the University's Missouri's appropriations for higher co nnection with the eight areas of science, 10-year long-range plan and discussed education were about the national future emphasis proposed by Magrath. - Consider requiring more future goals for the University at a ave rage. Now Missouri is 13 percent The areas and some of the proposals: science, retreat held Jan. 10 and 11 in St. below the na tional average. • Engineering education in St. - Explore incentives for teacher Louis. "As a result, student fees have Louis and Kansas City: eJucation, UM President C. Peter Magrath increased fasrer rhan illflation and are - Strengthen the UM -Rolla - Expand alternative approaches suggested several educational initiatives now 17 percen t above the national Engineering Center in St. Louis , for adults to change to careers in for consideration by the University for average for public schouls," McGill - Pursue telecommunications science. the next three to four years. (See said. technologies for teaching engineering, • Access to quality undergraduate President Magrath's column, page 6.) - Develop cooperative models for education: • Access to engineering education undergrad uate engineering with private - Emphasize quality, in St. Louis and Kansas City; institutions and businesses in St. - Increase access for minorities • Continued research and develop Curators looked Louis , and non-traditional students, ment in suppOrt of Missouri's - Enhance undergraduate engi - Examine admission standards, agricultural industry; at reallocation, neering education in Kansas City. - Examine quali ties of nation's • Stronger role in seleCt ed areas of • Agricultural research and best research universities, scientific research , including the health environments and development: - Examine exit standards, and biological sciences; - Build on a tradition of food - Examine possibility of differen- • Streng thening of selected UM research, tial admissions requirements, professional programs ; possible areas of - Develop interdisciplinary re - Examine options for higher • Leadership in preparing teachers search opportunities, education in light of our role . and more assistance for K-1 2 schools ; emphasis. - Review the agricultural educa • International impact: • Access to quality undergraduate tion mission of UM and other public - Pursue a philosophical, not a programs ; "Despite increases in state funds , institutions of higher education in the co urse, approach, • Intensified international focus grants and contraCts, gifts and our own state. - Determine what resources on research and teaching programs; reallocation, UM remains underfunded," • Strengthen research in selected should go into this approach, • Demonstrating the value of UM Magrath said. "Its level of state areas, including health and biological - Examine exchange programs. to Missourians. support is tOo low, particularly since sciences: • Demonstrating value: To stimulate discussion , Magrath UM is the state's only public research - Identify areas of greatest - Get good outside advice and posed to curators a number of university with the particular mission importance to Missouri, follow it , significant questions includi ng: to help the state develop its ability to - Respond to new directi ons by - Seek advice from similar "Is Mi ssouri prepared to make the compete economically and develop new funding agencies, universities, needed inves tment in higher educati on?" and better jobs for its citizens. - Emphasize the role of ethics in - Always ask how we can se rve "If so, why has this not "To meet our objectives, the the research agenda, the needs of the state. happened?" University would require perhaps as - Leverage our res ources with Suggested possible environmental "H ow will this unique Misso uri much as $85 million to $95 million collaborative efforts with other assumptions and suggestions concern institution fin d the resources to pay more in recurring funds within the institutions, ing the agenda for action will be competit ive salaries?" next five years, " Magrath said. "In - Expect litde increase in federal discussed further by the University Magrath noted that the University's addition, nOt including major new research funding. Planning Council. $363 mill ion operating budget is construction, dollars to maintain our • Selected professional program The board will consider the fi nanced primarily by state funds (63 existing buildings and reori ent space improvements: long-range planning issues raised percent) and student fees (28 percent). within them to new us es will total - Study needs and adjust as during the retreat further at its According to a report by UM another $ 150 million." appropriate, February and March meetings . No Vice Pres id ent for Administrative According to Magrath, realloca - Use outside experts to help decisions on the agenda for action are Mfairs Jim McGill , the fraction of tion is an important part of the make needs and reaction decisions. expected before the board meets in state general revenue appropri ated to University's financial strategy, but it • Teacher training and coopera- March. UM planning council presents draft report to board During the 1987-88 academic percent per year during the 1990s, • In the political arena, the Harold H. Harris, associate professor year, the UM Board of Curators is compared with 0 .6 percent for the council expects accountability in of chemistry, UMSL; Carol M . workjng to develop an "Agenda for United States. higher education to continue as an Heddinghaus, manager, institutional Action" for the mext three to four years During the 19905, the age importane issue into the 1990s. research, UMR; Suzanne Holland, tio identify specific strategies to achieve distribution of Missouri's population Increases in state support for the UMC assistant vice chancellor for the goals of the University's long-range will change with a significant increase University'S programs will require student services; M. Thomas Jones, plan. in the 65 and older age group and a convincing evidence that the Universi interim special assistant to the One goal of the development of decrease in the traditional college ty cannot reallocate to achieve its chancellor for budgeting, planning and the agenda is a broad involvement of student age group. The percentage of goals; that it is efficient and that new ins(itucional research, UMSL; Marvin University personnel. As a result, Jay blacks and Hispanics will increase, and/or improved programs will return A. Lewis , directOr of black smdies and Barton, UM vice president for particularly in the urban areas. great social and economic benefits to associare professor of romance languages, academic affairs, appointed a Universi Without significant intervention, the the state. UMC; Shirley A. Marrin, dean , UMSL ty Planning Council to advise the number of Missouri high school and The council believes that in School of Nursing; Marino Martinez general officers on the University's college graduates will remain below creased intervention will be required to Carrion, dean, School of Basic Life planning activities. The council's "" the national average. convince the state of the needed Sciences, UMKC; Roger Mitchell, report was discussed at the board's • The council expects continued increase in investment in education at dean, UMC College of Agriculture; retreat Jan. 10-11. rapid changes in science and all levels throughout the scare. The Marvin Querry, UMKC Curators' The council has a special technology. It foresees significant burden for financing education will fail Professor of physics; Jack B. Ridley, responsibility to help the University implications for keeping the Missouri more heavily on the states, the council