SJSU major player in WAC academic alliance

ENGLEWOOD, COLO Beginning with the 2002-03 academic year, the Western
Athletic Conference will initiate an innovative and creative two-year pilot project that will create an academic alliance among its 10 member institutions, it was announced today by Commissioner Karl Benson.

The alliance was developed and approved by the WAC's Board of Directors at its annual June meeting and has as its goal to leverage the collective strengths of each campus.

"This initiative not only will show that the WAC is much more than just an athletic entity," said Benson. "It places an emphasis on academic excellence and enhancement. We want to get maximum use of the fact that the WAC is comprised of some the nation's leading academic institutions."

Specifically, the alliance will develop joint research projects and seek to maximize the benefits of existing infrastructure on the respective campuses such as information technologies and libraries.

Further, in addition to supporting curricular projects such as dual degree programs, executive education and global studies, it also will provide significant professional development for faculty leaders and administrators.

"WAC universities are diverse in terms of their size, their mission and their location," said Dr. Gerald Turner, SMU President and Chair of the Board of Directors. "And this alliance creates a synergy that allows their respective strengths to be shared.

"It also will enhance learning and research opportunities for thousands of students at both the graduate and undergraduate level."

THE ROLE OF SAN JOSE STATE

San Jose State University will serve as the lead campus in the initiative and will house the Academic Alliance. An Executive Board will oversee the functions of the alliance, and SJSU Provost Marshall Goodman will serve as the lead Provost.

"This is an exceptionally innovative undertaking," said Goodman. "Several years ago leveraging resources across a diverse set of universities hundreds of miles apart would have been a daunting task, but current innovations in technology have made geography far less of a factor then it once had been.

"Indeed, changes in pedagogy, curriculum and research, have led to a wide array of creative linkages and programs that not only bridge regions, but that stretch across the globe."

The first step in the alliance will take place in September when provosts from WAC campuses meet to develop strategic priorities and begin laying the foundation for the program.