University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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The new Commission on Higher Education in Massa- chusetts must reduce the size of the public higher edu- cation system as it struggles with reorganization - but it will find major political problems along the way. . .. There will be an overcapacity within institu- tions for the next two dec- ades more institutions than necessary, he said. But how do you squeeze that capacity and who gets squeezed when every insti- tution is part of somebody's constituency? But they're going to have to squeeze. Dr Knapp also made the following observations: - By the year 2000, high- er education will need about the same capacity as it has now. Top state education administrators sense that Blueprint fer UMass!Amherst are signifi- cant. We're going to have to do something about it, Dr. Knapp said. - Public schools are fail- ing students. Higher educa- tion institutions will have to work more closely with pub- lic schools. If public schools don't shape up, particularly in educating the disadvan- taged and minority students, then the university may have to lower its admission standards and do the job it- self. - Social, technological and ecological problems abound. No way has yet been found to mobilize the university's resources to solve these problems. Reorganization of higher education in Massachusetts is talked about annually. Re- the commission sees only short-term problems and short-term needs. The ques- tion is how to mothball suf- ficient capacity to accommo- date the projected needs of 20 years hence. - Institutions of higher education must prepare for a different student body dur- ing the next two decades - disadvantaged, Hispanics and blacks. The question is whether colleges and univer- sities will be able to pro- vide opportunities for those peoplef' Few officials are facing up to the facts. - Retraining adults, such as some middle-aged people with doctorates no longer worth much in the job mar- ket, will be a major focus. - How to maintain qual- ity education and campus fa- cilities in the face of infla- tion is a dramatic struggle. Physical plant and lands- Caplng deterioration at higher education in the 80's happens. Something must be done about it. - A UMass president op- erates in a highly charged atmosphere. I've never seen a culture where there are so many politicians - or pseu- do politicians, said Dr. Knapp. There is so much media exposure and 5 mil- lion influence brokers . . . - Unless there is a major recession that lasts a decade, the need for college-trained people will continue in order to satisfy the demand of business and industry. Dr. Knapp noted that the state has five boards of trustees for public higher education, more than any other state, and there is no coordination .... However, he found draw- backs to a super board for all tend to lead to diminished quality - and it would like- ly become a highly political instrument. He also cited the lack of coordination between public and private higher educa- tion in Massachusetts as a significant problem. The real question of reor- ganization is how we use our very limited dollars, he said. Both public and pri- vate institutions must be looked at very hard. In response to questions, Dr. Knapp noted the univer- sity's tremendous building program during the last 20 years. When you build fast and in large numbers, you run into difficulties, he said. And that's what the state did for the last 20 years at

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The Chancellor is the chief execu- tive officer of the campus and is responsiblefor carrying out policies and procedures as established by the Board of Trustees and the Uni- versity President. Additionally, the Chancellor is responsible for the establishment of long-range aca- demic and fiscal plans and person- nel policies, coordination ofcampus operations and policies, including budget development and allocation, academic and administrative pro- gram review, and liaison with cam- pus governing units, the President's Office, and other external agencies. Three members of the Chancel- lor's immediate staff hold key posi- tions within the Campus Adminis- tration: The Legal Counsel is the chief legal officer and is responsible for providing legal counsel to the Chancellor, other administrative of- ficers, academic departments, and individual employees at the ,,S.,.. ,.k,.F,..,W .,.., ..., ..r..,,, .,,.., .. . . .,.. . ,,.. X, k if,-ye.,,.x..-W-.YM-is , ,. , 1, , W K 04 ' ' ' 'eff' 'W - ' -f--'vf-.1-w-v-H-1.1-,A-we-I Amherst Campus on matters per- taining to University business. The Legal Counsel represents the Uni- versity and the Commonwealth as special Assistant Attorney General and also acts as liaison between general University Council and the Chancellor. The Associate to the Chancellor is responsible for adminstering the collective bargaining contract with the faculty and librarians, acting as the Chancellor's designee in hear- ing contract grievances and serving as the Chancellor's representative in matters affecting the Faculty Sen- ate or individual faculty members. The Division of Development and Community Relations is responsi- ble for communicating a positive image of the Amherst Campus both externally and internally and for the development of comprehensive community relations programs. ln carrying out these duties, the Div- ision has the responsibility of assist- ing the University in gaining recog- nition as a vital resource for Wes- tern Massachusetts, in social, eco- nomic and cultural affairs, initiating programs and activities that will en- able the University to work closely with the business and industrial segments of the community, and maintaining relations with the alum- ni and other external constituents. Also the Division is responsible for the coordination of alumni relations, public events, special programs, and for . public information fnews media and publicationsl. lt estab- lishes policies for programs design- ed to increase funds flowing to the Amherst Campus through contacts with individuals, corporations and foundations. Offices within the Div- ision are: Alumni Affairs, Community Relations, Public Affairs, Develop- ment, Publications and the Photo Center.