Town Meetings Open to All

By Broadside Correspondent Lema Baha

The Provost Review Committee Town Hall meetings are a series of meetings held to gain insight on Provost Peter N. Stearns’ performance so far at George Mason University.

The system was brought in by Stearns who felt that it was necessary that both the provost and the deans were reviewed by university faculty and staff members every five years in order to ensure that they were adequately performing their jobs. Four faculty members have been appointed to the committee and they conduct meetings that are open to faculty, staff and students.

Anyone who has an opinion or concern he would like to express is welcome to attend and participate in the meetings.

The four points used to evaluate the provost concern what the provost has contributed so far, how effective the provost has been in taking advantage of Mason’s location in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the provost’s effectiveness in creating a balanced approach to academic admissions with a more broad-base approach and how effective the provost has been overall in presenting the Mason story.

After the committee has conducted enough meetings, it will present a report to the provost in areas that need to be improved.

One of the most debated points throughout the meeting was Stearns’ approach to international education and diversity. Some faculty and staff members felt that Stearns has excelled in this area and has created very successful initiatives.

Others felt that he needs to take a different approach, particularly concerning problems at the U.A.E. Ras Al Khaimah campus. Overall, Stearns was applauded for embracing diversity and trying to globalize Mason. Another important issue at the meeting was Mason’s budget crisis and fundraising problems.

Jim Bennett of the economics department voiced his concern saying, “Deans need to spend half of their time fundraising, but they have only raised $160,000 this year, which is not enough.” His comments were supported by various other faculty members who agreed that Stearns and the deans need to present the Mason story and advocate Mason’s youth as a school in order to raise more money. Richard Coffinberger from the School of Management voiced his concern that “Mason is becoming bigger, but not better.”

Coffinberger added that as Mason grows, there is more need for fundraising in order to maintain its standards. There were also concerns about Mason taking advantage of its location in the D.C. area. This is an area in which the committee was curious whether or not there is a desire to expand on this location.

Susan Jones from the Registrar’s office said, “Students desperately want to take courses with schools in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.”

Others at the meeting also felt that more interaction will help with grant proposals and will provide more opportunities for Mason students. There were also complaints voiced about the lack of recognition and support faculty members get for their efforts at trying to improve Mason.

Bennett mentioned that there has been a group of dedicated faculty members meeting for the past two years to revise the faculty handbook, but they have received no recognition or support from Stearns.

In response to Stearns’ effectiveness in presenting the Mason story, faculty member Vicki Salmon said, “It is not only the job of the provost to present Mason’s story, but it is the responsibility of all members of the Mason community to present the story to the public. We are all ambassadors of this school. All the provost needs to do is pull us all together.”

She said this is essential in helping every issue at Mason from funding to academic issues. The next meeting is Monday, April 21 from 12 until 1:30 p.m. in Research I, Room 163.
Overall, the meeting was an excellent forum for members of the Mason community to address a wide range of issues concerning Provost Stearns.