Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the formation of the Resource Advisory Working Group, a key body that will guide our campus through the review of our programs. UMass Dartmouth continues to grow in enrollment and student demand, and we need to ensure that our academic resources are aligned with the areas where our students—and the market—are headed. I am committed to ensuring that this work remains inclusive, transparent, and aligned with our institutional mission, values, and resource-planning needs, as described in the town hall presentation.

Purpose and Timeline

The goal of this effort is straightforward: to help us prioritize programs that show strong student interest, growth potential, research strength, and alignment with our mission as a public research university serving a high proportion of in-state, first-generation college students. Starting immediately, the working group will work to identify the metrics we will use for this review, and the Institutional Research Office will then provide the deans and chairs with a data report for each of their programs. We anticipate that this phase will conclude by mid-March 2026.

From March through December, deans and department chairs will consider the data, along with the broader context of each program, and work with the Provost’s Office to develop 3–5-year roadmaps that position our programs for future success. I also anticipate that some colleges and schools may identify new programs they would like to develop to build on existing strengths and meet growing demand from employers and students.

Working Group Charge

The group will lead a data-informed process to define the metrics necessary for building a comprehensive institutional picture of each academic program. This will enable us to identify areas of opportunity and those that may require realignment, with a focus on positioning our academic portfolio for long-term sustainability.

Membership

I want to thank the Faculty Senate for its recommendations for membership in this important advisory body. This working group brings together colleagues whose leadership experience, deep institutional knowledge, commitment to our students, and nuanced understanding of the higher-education landscape position them to guide this important work thoughtfully and strategically:

• Brian Ayotte (co-chair)
• Denise Baxter (co-chair)
• Christopher Eisenhart
• Heidi Berggren
• Rob Griffin
• Ziddi Msangi
• Mark Silby
• Frank Scarano
• Phil Scher
• Amit Tandon
• Steven White
• Liudong Xing
• Shannon Jenkins, ex officio
• Lamya Karim, ex officio
• Tesfay Meressi, ex officio
• Tammy Silva, ex officio

Our Path Forward
This is an opportunity to strengthen our academic portfolio, sharpen our focus, and ensure that we invest in the programs that will define UMass Dartmouth’s next decade. I appreciate the willingness of these colleagues to lead this important work and look forward to engaging the campus as the process moves ahead.

Thank you,

Ramprasad Balasubramanian
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs