Chancellor Marty Meehan, addressing a large gathering of faculty and staff at the end of March, described a series of accomplishments that the University has achieved in recent months and outlined some of his visions for the future.

He made clear at the outset that he wants UMass Lowell to be a school of choice for college-bound students.

“We are not just comparing ourselves to other state schools,” he said. “I want the students who come here (and I was one of them) to have the same opportunities for success as if they had attended BC or BU or anyplace else.”

A key player in achieving excellence will be the new provost, Dr. Ahmed Abdelal. A microbiologist with leadership experience in public and private universities, Abdelal will focus on improving student retention, long-term planning and the strengthening of curriculum and research. Interim Provost Donald Pierson will continue through commencement for a smooth transition.

In other leadership areas, Meehan reported that a search for a new executive director of facilities will begin soon; that person will implement the recommendations of the Facilities Review Committee. A Green Team will be formed to take on recycling initiatives and the chancellor has commissioned DCAM, the Division of Capital Asset Management for the state, to develop a campus master plan to look ahead five, 10, 20 years.

The deficit has been both a challenge and a drag on growth. Cost controls for FY08 have reduced the figure by half, to $1.5 million, and the campus is on track to eliminating the deficit by FY10 through a combination of controlling expenditures and increasing revenue.

The Board of Trustees took one step by increasing tuition and fees this year. Meehan said, “This is a hardship on our students, but our own student trustee voted in favor of the increase in order to improve our campus.”

Meehan also called for an increase in enrollment by 2.5 percent annually and urged everyone to help meet that goal through the quality of their work and their interactions with students. New residence halls will help; transfer numbers and freshman applications are up; and new recruiting programs have been introduced.

The chancellor said the governor has been very supportive, as has the legislative delegation, in commitments to the funding of key projects, but fundraising from other sources will continue to gain in importance.

Strong programs in online and blended learning are serving the region with academic offerings and workforce skill development. Continuing Studies volume is likely to reach $18 million this year – returning approximately $8 million in net revenue to the campus.

Research grants increase revenue, contribute to the common good and enhance the academic experience. The chancellor pointed to recent highlights, including a $27 million appropriation in the Department of Defense budget for the Submillimeter-Wave Technology Laboratory, directed by Prof. Robert Giles. Lowell is partnered with six other institutions on an exciting limb regeneration research project funded by DARPA. Prof. Susan Braunhut is UML’s lead on that project, as well as on breast cancer research conducted with Triton Biosystems – work that receives more than $200,000 per year of federal funding for research that leads to commercialization. 

Meehan concluded his presentation with an emphasis on raising the University’s prestige, building relationships and increasing endowments.

“Since becoming chancellor, I have worked tenaciously to raise the profile of this University,” he said.

The hockey program has been a huge success – with increases in attendance, season ticket holders and revenues.

Relationships with colleagues in the University system, with external constituents and with the business community are growing stronger.

And fundraising is well ahead of the targets for the year. Two new endowed professorships have been established for the Plastics Engineering Department, each funded by $1 million, and two more are in process.