Dr. Hrabowski’s Wisdom Comes to the Senate.
UMBC’s long serving president, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, met with the Senate for the first time this school year. Hrabowski, who was joined by a previous guest, Dr. Nancy Young, attended the Monday night meeting with the hope of finding out what the organization is working on. The senators and other members of the SGA had some valuable questions for him as well.
Current economic hardship was the subject on most people’s minds. During his discussion on the issue, Hrabowski made a number of things clear. He specified the university’s top goals as protecting academic programs and saving jobs. Various steps are being taken towards making each of these objectives as realistic as possible.
To maintain the budget needed to keep the academic functions of the institution going, funds are being withheld from other areas. For instance, certain construction on residential halls scheduled for this year will be postponed. This allows the administration to apply the allotted money towards something else.
As for jobs, UMBC is doing what it can to maintain the faculty it needs to offer the necessary classes for students to graduate. While furloughs have become no secret on campus, this is not the only measure being taken. Some professors are also being asked to teach more courses or a greater variety than they normally would. Here, the administration is able to forgo hiring more staff members.
Hrabowski stressed the fact UMBC is doing everything it can for the students.
On a lighter note, the visit also focused on the growing reputation of the university. The president credits the recent successes to the dedicated students who attend the college, many who have gone on to receive even greater accomplishments.
There are currently multiple UMBC graduates studying at Oxford University, some who are there on full scholarship. This has led to an upcoming meeting between Hrabowski and the British Ambassador to the United States, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, who is thoroughly impressed with the matter.
As always, the university’s leader pointed to UMBC’s great diversity as another contributing factor. He described the community as looking like the “new America” should. The various backgrounds found on campus seem to be something unique.
The Senate and all of SGA appreciates the insight offered from Hrabowski’s visit.
