University of Richmond Executive Committee Approves Program Improvement Requests
December 22, 2003
The University of Richmond Board of Trustees' executive committee has approved $2.2 million in program improvement requests. The money will fund a variety of one-time expenditures in the current fiscal year and continuing requests in 2004-05.
Financial aid will increase by $706,000 in 2004-05, including $313,000 for 10 new merit scholarships, according to Joanne Ciulla, professor of leadership studies and chair of the program improvements subcommittee. The increase will enable the university to continue to provide 100 percent of need-based financial aid for students. Richmond remains one of a short list of American colleges and universities with a policy of need-blind admission.
The university will devote nearly $350,000 to upgrade its Web site, server and Blackboard systems, and hire a new Web producer.
Funds also will create the Richmond Research Institute, which is expected to sponsor interdisciplinary and collaborative social sciences research on the local, state and national levels.
Also being created as part of the Provost's Office is the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment.
More than $280,000 will go toward creating a new staff position in the Modlin Center for the Arts and two tenure-track positions in the School of Arts and Sciences, supporting a director of biology and neuroscience instrumentation, and providing infrastructure support in fine arts, the Modlin Center and biology.
Other areas receiving funds include the Office of Admission, for enhancing programs and staff; the campus recreation center, for purchasing additional fitness equipment; the Robins School of Business, for staff positions and software; and the School of Law, to create a new staff position and enhance career services to students.
"In an economic climate that has forced many universities to reduce spending and decrease the ranks of faculty and staff, the University of Richmond remains on very solid financial ground," said William E. Cooper, president of the university. "Our ability to fund innovative proposals like those presented in the program improvements process distinguishes us from a number of leading universities."