July 31, 2007
Dear Colleagues:
Over the past six months, Professor Nicholas Entrikin, at the request of Dean Patricia O’Brien and Acting Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott L. Waugh, has conducted a thorough review of UCLA’s International Institute and provided recommendations for its future development. He has consulted widely with the academic leadership on campus, and his findings underscore the importance of the Institute to UCLA’s emergence as a truly global university.
For eight years the Institute has been located within the College of Letters and Science. During this time it has made great strides, such as launching outstanding new research centers and programs, expanding educational opportunities related to international issues, forging strategic partnerships with foreign universities, and bringing leaders in international relations to UCLA.
Meanwhile, every professional school and division of the College has been expanding its overseas activities and partnerships. This dynamic, entrepreneurial spirit is one of UCLA’s great assets. At the same time, the proliferation of programs, centers, projects and alliances creates the need for a central unit to coordinate interdisciplinary, international activities and assure that UCLA continues to be held in the highest regard around the world.
Therefore, I have approved Nick’s recommendation to move the International Institute out of the College and under the purview of the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. In so doing, I want to signal the importance of the Institute to UCLA and the need for it to have an institution-wide purview. In particular, the FTE currently assigned to the Institute will continue to be deployed across the campus to foster and encourage academic programs related to international and global studies.
I have asked Scott, Pat, and Nick to work together and to consult with the Academic Senate in order to develop an operational plan for achieving this organizational change. In so doing, the quality of the IDPs must be preserved and enhanced. It is both possible and desirable to stage this change. Some aspects of the Institute will move out of the College and within the Office of the EVC and Provost almost immediately; others, especially the IDPs, require consultation and planning, with Senate involvement.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Nick for his outstanding service to the Institute and to welcome him as the Institute’s Acting Vice Provost. I very much appreciate the collegial spirit of the discussions and planning that have occurred about the Institute, and I am pleased to help bring it to its next stage of development.
Sincerely,
Norman Abrams
Acting Chancellor