UMass President Jack Wilson
Jack Wilson, the president of the University of Massachusetts, chatted with Boston.com readers about higher education and the future of the state's university system.
Jack_Wilson: Hi, this is Jack Wilson. Happy New Year! I am looking forward to this chat.
Foodie: My daughter is a high school student, and she's really interested in UMass. I know that private colleges provide financial aid, but can you get aid at a public university like UMass?
Jack_Wilson: Yes, UMass gave out over $473 million in financial aid last year and we have increased our internal contribution to that that by over 150% over the last five years. We are proud to say that we pledge to make UMass affordable for any student who prepares himself/herself well to take advantage of the major research university education at UMass. We do this through financial aid that is provided on the basis of both need and merit.
ProudUMassAlum: Mr. President: It seems to me that people in Massachusetts under-value UMass because there are so many private institutions here. Could you comment on the impact of public universites here and around the country?
Jack_Wilson: There is probably some truth to that, but it is changing fast. Since UMass puts over 11,000 graduates into the workforce each year, there are few employers in Massachusetts who do not appreciate the UMass graduates. When Craig Mello won the Nobel prize, it drew international attention to the research going on at the University. As more and more talented students vie for the places at the University, there is growing recognition of the importance of a great public research university. Many other states are not blessed with the great private universities that we have. For them there was never any doubt about how critical the public research university is to the well being of the state. Here we do have great private universities and we are lucky to have them and need to nurture them. But the University of Massachusetts provides the scale and the focus on the needs of our students and our communities. In some ways we are very much like the privates and in others we are completely different. Viva la difference!
Jack_Wilson: I am pleased to call the President's of Harvard, MIT, Tufts, BU, Northeastern, WPI, and many others my friends. I am even more pleased that we all work together on joint research and community projects. Together we find new ways to cure diseases, use clean and renewable energy, create new nano materials, deliver better health care, share books and art, and make our region a better community. Massachusetts is recognized as the best place on the planet for higher education and particularly large prestigious research universities.
Jack_Wilson: Massachusetts is lucky to have such great universities –both private and public.
TommyBoy: What are you doing to drive up contributions from alumni?
Jack_Wilson: We are working hard to connect to the 300,000 UMass alumni out there. This is going very well, but we will continue to need to make the case of how their contributions can help others to have the same experience that they have had.
bmacs_2: Hi there. Not sure if all questions are supposed to be education specific but my questioin is about the contruction that's been going on at UMASS. I know that there has been lots of contruction on UMASS campuses, lots of upgrades it seems. Is that going to contiinue?
Jack_Wilson: Yes it will. When I became President, I launched a major infrastructure rebuilding program. In the last five years we have spent about a billion and a half dollars.
Jack_Wilson: Now we are working on a $2.5 billion capital plan. It is much needed, and it is making UMass a great place to work and go to school.
professor: How many employees have been laid off because of the state budget cuts? How many more will be let go?
Jack_Wilson: Sadly the economic turmoil has led the state to cut over $25 million from our budget and this has indeed led to layoffs -just as it has at other universities in the region and at so many private companies. Each campus is managing the budget cuts in the way most appropriate for their campus and protecting the student experience and financial aid is our highest priority.
joan_81: I am a UMass graduate and I really enjoy the television spots featuring prominent grads. Thanks for shining a light on the accomplishments of UMass alumni.
Jack_Wilson: Thank you! One of the things that I love the most about being President is that I meet amazing UMass Alumni almost anywhere that I go in the world. From a Pig Roast in Leominster to a ball room in the Ritz Carleton, I find UMass alums. I'm glad to put a few in our ads. Wish we could do more!
Jack_Wilson: One of my most surprising experiences came in Tokyo when I was at a conference of Asian University Presidents -representing the United States. Each of the ten countries in attendance selected one of their Presidents to speak for the country. I was delighted to speak for the U.S., and I was very pleased when I saw Tisato Kajiyama, President Of Kyushu University, representing Japan. We were joking about that coincidence when President Zhou, who is now President of Beijing University and was then President of Jilin University walked up to say hello –another UMass graduate. Then President Winarno of Indonesia came up to us and introduced himself as a graduate of the Food Science program at UMass Amherst. Four of the nine speakers representing their countries at this conference were from UMass. The missing speaker was from India and I later learned that he was a UMass Amherst Polymer Science Graduate who was President of the Indian Institute of Technology –Bombay!
horatio: With tons of new people applying to UMass, is there a danger more people who rely on state universities for education will get shut out? Or will you let acceptance rates rise so that all deserved people get in?
Jack_Wilson: There is indeed an application surge at all of the UMass campuses. Lots of talented students want to come. That's good. It means that you will have lots of talented students as your classmates if YOU come to UMass. Unfortunately, it also means that we do not have nearly enough places for all of the students who wish to come to UMass. Last year at UMass Amherst over 30,000 prospective students applied for about 4000 places.
Jack_Wilson: Luckily we have five campuses and the Commonwealth supports 29 institutions of public higher education –including the State Colleges and Community Colleges. Well prepared students can always find a place. Students who attend a Community College and perform very well can often transfer to UMass –and when they do they tend to do very well.
Jack_Wilson: Why do students want to come? Because it is a great education at a reasonable price with generous financial aid available. Our students have gone on into leadership positions in nearly every imaginable profession. There is always a place to get a less expensive education, but I don't think there is better place to get a world class education that can take you any place you want to go –and do it a cost that is within your reach.
Mark_K: Two questions: First, do you foresee admission standards becoming more strigent as fewer students can afford the more expensive private schools? And, what role do you see for computer-facilitated learning in the coming years -- will it become a viable and respected alternative to traditional classroom learning?
Jack_Wilson: Yes, I do think that we are seeing an increase in admission standards. That is a natural result of the increased demand for UMass.
Jack_Wilson: We already serve 37,000 enrollees through UMassOnline and I expect that to continue to grow. If the learner cannot come to the learning, then we can send the learning to the learner.
College_coming_soon_: What exactly is Commonwealth College @ Amherst and is it hard to get into? (our daughter has very good grades and we've some good stuff about Commonwealth College)
Jack_Wilson: Yes, Commonwealth College IS difficult to get into. It is specifically designed to be an experience for the high ability student that takes advantage of the incredibly rich research university environment at UMass Amherst. Sounds like your daughter may be one! Commonwealth College students benefit from accelerated courses, undergraduate research experiences, and dormitories designed to bring the students together in smaller living and learning groups. They also have advisors and mentors who understand the different needs of high ability students and know how to challenge you! The average Commonwealth College Student comes with a GPA of over 4.0 and an SAT of 1320. Frankly many of these same experiences can be available to the other students, but they have to prepare themselves to take advantage of them.
Student07: Thanks for chatting with us. Is UMass doing anything to make its campuses more eco-friendly?
Jack_Wilson: Absolutely! Every campus is part of the Presidents' Climate Commitment and is working hard in a variety of areas to meet and exceed those goals. We have even gone as far as building a new green power plant at UMass Amherst to replace an old not-very-clean plant. I just toured the new Integrated Science Building there that has everything from passive solar to energy storage systems. I could go on, but should keep it short.
Norman: Our kids aren't far away from their college years and my wife and I are wondering about UMass. Are all of the campuses pretty similar or are there differences that we should know about?
Jack_Wilson: We are proud that UMass can provide five very different experiences – each one distinct, but each one outstanding. Our UMass Medical School provides graduate education in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and the Biomedical Sciences.
Jack_Wilson: Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell provide both graduate and undergraduate programs in a wide array of areas.
Jack_Wilson: Our flagship campus at UMass Amherst is the largest and offers the most programs at both the graduate and undergraduate level. It is also part of the Five College system which allows students to also take part in programs at Amherst College, Smith College, Mt Holyoke, and Hampshire College. UMass Amherst is home to Commonwealth College – a special "College within a College" for especially talented students.
Jack_Wilson: For the student that wants an urban experience, UMass Boston offers programs that are linked to the vibrant city of Boston from its perch on the beautiful peninsula in Boston Harbor that it shares with the John F. Kennedy Library.
Jack_Wilson: UMass Dartmouth is a little jewel on the South Coast that is known for its Art and Design Programs and for its world class education and research in the Marine Sciences.
Jack_Wilson: UMass Lowell benefits from a location on the I495 corridor not far from the Rt 128 Corridor. It is long known for its links to industries in the region from the high tech computer and communication industries to the emerging nano-technology and clean energy sectors. All of our campuses have outstanding social science and humanities programs as well as health science and education –and these programs also have distinctive characteristics. dave: Will I get my money's worth if I go to UMass?
Jack_Wilson: Smart Money magazine certainly thinks so. They rated UMass Amherst as number 18 in the nation in value! The 300,000 alumni of UMass can testify to the worth of a UMass degree. In the eastern part of Massachusetts alone there are over 1500 UMass alums with the title on Vice President or President! Of course we have also provided the CEO's of General Electric, General Motors, Monsanto, Waters Corporation, Nabor's Industries, Joseph Abboud Clothing, Citizens Energy, and countless others.
Jack_Wilson: Of course not everyone aspires to be a CEO. Other alumni have won the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and many others. Tom Menino became Mayor of Boston. Bill Cosby a comedian. Nathalie Cole a musician. Bill Pullman and Richard Gere became actors. And Julius (Dr. J) Erving is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Throw in a lot of doctors, lawyers, and even an astronaut, and it is hard to imagine any field without a great UMass alum.
data_girl_01: If the state cuts your budget, won't you have to admit fewer students?
Jack_Wilson: Many states (including California) are threatening to do this if the states cut their budget this year. We will NOT do this.
DrewH: What?s it like being president of UMass? Do you enjoy it?
Jack_Wilson: I love it. And every time I speak to a student who is really taking advantage of what we offer, I love it more. Ditto for alumni. It is one of the most rewarding jobs I can imagine. The University makes a huge difference in so many people's lives. It creates a future for students and for our communities. What's not to like about that?
mdigiano: I've heard there are a lot more students applying to Umass Amherst, what kind of numbers are we talking about?
Jack_Wilson: There are indeed many students applying to UMass Amherst. Last year was a record setting number of applicants –over 30,000! These for only 4000 places. We also set a record the year before and we expect that this year there will be even more –setting another record. And… these are very good students!
AnnG:Now that some private universities are charging more than $50,000 a year, how is it that UMass is able to charge less than half of that?
Jack_Wilson: UMass serves over 60,000 traditional students and another 37,000 students through UMass Online. Each year we graduate 11 or 12 thousand students into the workforce. With a budget of $2.5 billion each year, we receive about $450 million in support from the state. Essentially all of that state support goes to provide our undergraduate education. We have strong support from industry and growing support from our alumni who want to help deserving students to have the same opportunity that they had.
Jack_Wilson: We fold much of the $35 million in revenues from UMass Online back into our educational programs, but we also benefit from being one of the nation's top 15 universities in revenues from the commercialization of intellectual property. When it comes right down to it, our faculty and staff might just work harder! And we thank them for that.
College_coming_soon_: Thanks for answering my ? about getting into Commonwealth College, but what exactly is it? Is it a separate College (physically) from the UMASS campus or is it integrated with the regular UMASS?
Jack_Wilson: No it is not physically separate, although the students may live in group areas in the dorms. It is organized as a collection of special experiences within the university. CommColl students may also take advantage of any of the other programs available to any student.
UMB_grad: I've read about new chancellors being appointed at several UMass campuses recently. Who are they, and what do they do?
Jack_Wilson: We have a terrific team of leaders as the Chancellors. Robert Holub at UMass Amherst is the newest and he comes to us after a distinguished career as a teacher, scholar, and administrator at UC Berkeley (Some think they are the best public university on the planet. I think they are second best.) and a successful term as Provost at the University of Tennessee.
Jack_Wilson: Jean MacCormack is the longest serving at UMass Dartmouth. They say that you cannot have a community meeting in Southeast Massachusetts without Jean there! She is a graduate of UMass Amherst and served for many years at UMass Boston.
Jack_Wilson: Marty Meehan is doing a terrific job at UMass Lowell. He and his wife are both distinguished graduates of UMass Lowell and passionate advocates for the students. Marty practiced for the job by serving as a prominent member of the United State Congress.
Jack_Wilson: Keith Motley is hard to miss as the UMass Boston Chancellor at 6' 8" and a former college basketball star who is also a passionate advocate for access to education as the gateway to opportunity for all. Keith is on so many boards and committees in Boston that only the Mayor (an alum) is seen at more events! Keith had a long career in student affairs and students love him just as much as he loves them.
Jack_Wilson: Michael Collins preceded Keith as Chancellor at UMass Boston and now serves as Chancellor of the Medical School and Senior Vice President for the Health Sciences for the UMass system. He had a distinguished career culminating in his service as CEO of the Caritas Health Care System. In only a year and a half he has inspired the community with his vision for the Health Sciences in what he likes to call this Life Science moment.
Jack_Wilson: The Chancellors are the persons who lead each of the campuses to their rightful place among the great universities. The President's Council of Chancellors is a team of leaders that is charged with making the overall management decisions for the University under the Governance of our Board of Trustees.
Greenliner: Where do you see UMass going over the next five or 10 years?
Jack_Wilson: I see UMass going great places with great students. The numbers and abilities of the students will both increase. We will complete the $2.9 billion building program and will have one of the top faculties in the nation. Our research will grow and we will make a particularly strong mark in the life sciences and in clean and renewable energy. However, we will also write some of the best books, create some of the most interesting art, and help our nation and state develop the policies and leaders needed for success.
Jack_Wilson: I like to say that the path to economic and social development in Massachusetts goes through the University of Massachusetts. Our students come from Massachusetts and they stay in Massachusetts. We are creating a great future for the students and they are creating a great future for our region and the world. I feel good about that. raiders: Where does the med school in Worcester rank among the nation?
Jack_Wilson: At the very top. In primary care, the Medical School is ranked in the top ten in the nation. Of course, Craig Mello won the Nobel Prize a couple of years ago and Victor Ambros won the Lasker Award (known as the American Nobel!) last year. Two terrfic members of our terrific faculty.
Jack_Wilson: I want to thank all of you for participating. Our time is up, but the questions keep pouring in. If I did not get to your question, I apologize for that.
Jack_Wilson: Thank you all for your interest in and support of the University of Massachusetts. 