Fall 2003

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Experiencing Jeff Corwin

Drawing on the past

Clean-up at the old Davis Mine

Foundation News

Q & A

Chancellor John V. Lombardi (photo by Ben Barnhart) WITH THE ARRIVAL of a new academic year, Chancellor John V. Lombardi recently welcomed thousands of new and returning students – including the outstanding class of 2007. As he enters his second year, the chancellor continues to signal his unswerving commitment to nationally competitive teaching and research. In these questions and answers, he explores a variety of concerns about today’s campus and shares his insights on future directions. What is the reasoning behind emphasizing the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s original seal and featuring “Amherst” in all university communications? “Every distinguished university campus, public or private, links its name with the performance of its students, faculty and staff. The name stands for the many qualities and traditions that define the campus and serves as a symbol for the institution’s participation in the national competition of high-quality universities. UMass Amherst is the defining name for this campus, and we emphasize it to signify that we both recognize what we are and that we take responsibility for what we will become. The traditions of this campus begin with its invention in 1863 and the traditional seal captures that sense of history. The traditional seal also mimics the state seal, recognizing that this is the flagship campus of the state’s premier university system.” How does support from the Commonwealth compare with other states? “Our support per student is about average, our support for building and capital projects is below average, but nonetheless, the state’s support makes it possible to provide top-level teaching and research to our state and our students. UMass Amherst’s share of state support is equivalent to what a private university would receive from an endowment of about $4 billion. We invest most of this in keeping tuition and fees well below private college and university rates.” Why are you renewing emphasis on enhancing the campus’ infrastructure when fiscal conditions are so challenging? “The campus is an artifact, its appearance and structure reflect the pride and commitment of the people who participate in its life. We demonstrate our pride in ourselves by the pride we take in our surroundings. As we see the academic program as a holistic enterprise of teaching and research, so too must we see the campus as an artifact that speaks to the care we take with all that we do. A university need not have all new buildings, but the care it takes with its spaces and the edges that define them reflects its commitment to the place that sustains our academic work.”

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Sources of hope and inspiration

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The rewards of the right choice

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Q & A

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Real-world teaching, from anatomy to philanthropy

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