President Hall speaks on student retention, graduation rate, academics
While beginning his first full-academic year as university president, Kermit L. Hall has maintained a hectic schedule to improve the university and expand its reputation.
“This is everybody’s business. Everyone will be pulled into this,” Hall said. “One ambition we have is to apply to Phi Beta Kappa, one of the most distinguished national academic honors. It would heighten our reputation.”
David Lancy, director of the honors program, said Phi Beta Kappa is one of the oldest academic honorary societies. Phi Kappa Chi, another honorary society, has been prominent for some time at Utah State. “Phi Beta Kappa is an elite organization,”Lancy said. “The schools we aspire to emulate have chapters.”
In July, Hall said the university executive committee met to address major themes and issues before the university. Hall said several areas needing improvement are student retention, the graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio and academic counseling.
“Our retention is on the low side,” Hall said. “The state of Utah is also not doing as well with students finishing degrees.”
Hall said, a goal was set to raise the graduation rate from 43 percent to 65 percent in the next 5 years. To accomplish this goal, the additional funds received from the tuition increase are being applied to the library and hiring new faculty.
“A half-million is being used to address technological needs in the library,” Hall said. “We are also putting money into electrical engineering, computer science, education and business to hire new faculty. We won’t see those effects until next year.”
Other changes, Hall said, were made over the summer to improve the university. These include moving responsibilities for enrollment management and academic advising from Student Services to the Provost office.
“Responsibilities have been shifted around. We’re making sure we have the most efficient system in place,” said Joyce Kinkead, vice provost for Undergraduate Studies and Research. “Student services had academic functions President Hall felt would be better placed in the Provost’s office.”
One major focus Hall has is to improve financial aid. The Inauguration Scholarship Fund, Hall began earlier this year, has raised $230,000, he said. To set an example for faculty, staff and the community, Hall personally contributed $10,000 to begin the scholarship fund.
“The response is good. We’ve had a lot of faculty and staff contributions,” said Jim MacMahon, Vice President for University Advancement. “I think they’re supporting the president.”
Hall said he has signed close to 200 letters to thank faculty and staff for contributing.
“We should be proud of their effort. It shows the power of the whole,” Hall said.
A “Celebration of Students” dinner will be held September 28 following Hall’s state of the university address to further support the scholarship fund.
“The purpose is pure and simple, to raise money for the scholarship fund,” MacMahon said.
On top of administrative duties, Hall also begins teaching a constitutional history class this semester.
“I’ve always taught. I’ve never missed and I never will,” Hall said. “If I’m too busy to teach, I should look for something else to do.”
He said the class will focus on property, women and Native American rights and will involve a lot of reading. The class will be offered during Fall semesters, Hall said, since it would not be a good idea to teach during Spring semester because of administrative responsibilities.