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Kumble R. Subbaswamy

Provost

Executive Director, University of Kentucky Research Foundation

Professor of Physics

ACTIVITIES AND PROGRESS REPORT
FY 2006 - FY 2011

The data and information below provide an update on the progress of initiatives undertaken over the past five years by Provost Kumble R. Subbaswamy, the Office of the Provost, and faculty and staff colleagues across the University. Highlighted are priority areas set by Dr. Subbaswamy in the areas of student success, faculty support, research, internationalization, and diversity; and strategic budgetary, administrative, and development activities in support of those goals.

Activities at a Glance
2006-2011

Faculty

  • Faculty Support: Dr. Subbaswamy created UK’s first Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs position, selected a faculty member to hold the appointment, and assigned the office a portfolio containing faculty orientation, development, and training; faculty awards; work-life balance issues; promotion and tenure; performance reviews; sabbaticals; and other faculty-related policies and procedures. This formalization and coordination of faculty-related functions has resulted in increased access to information and support for faculty, and an improved and more transparent processing of promotion and tenure dossiers.
  • Faculty Promotion & Tenure: Among the significant improvements in faculty support resulting from Dr. Subbaswamy’s efforts has been adoption of the policy of automatic extension of the tenure clock for major family events.  The office also facilitated development of a dual career hire policy.

    In 2011, Administrative Regulation 2:1 (Faculty Appointment, Promotion and the Granting of Tenure) was amended to incorporate a "comprehensive tenure review." This new structure was strongly supported by faculty, deans, and faculty governance bodies in that it ensured that tenure dossiers are reviewed at multiple levels of the University (educational unit, college advisory committee, dean, academic area advisory committee, and Provost), irrespective of whether the judgment at any level of review was favorable or not favorable.
  • Faculty Salaries: In FY 06, the mean salary for faculty totaled $73,685. In FY 10, the mean salary of instructional faculty had risen to $81,189. Although UK lost some ground on the average instructional faculty salary compared to the median of the Top 20 universities (decreasing from 83.0% to 82.4%), the average instructional faculty salary at UK is 100.3 percent of the median of public Southeastern Conference universities.
  • Faculty Leadership: To ensure maximum faculty input on academic matters, Dr. Subbaswamy has empowered and actively utilized the newly created University Committee on Academic Planning and Priorities (UCAPP).

    Several Faculty leadership training programs have also been initiated and supported, including the Department Chair Advisory Council and the SECAC Academic Leadership Program. 
  • Faculty Recognition: In 2009, Dr. Subbaswamy worked with a group of distinguished faculty in creation of UK’s first Council of Endowed Professors and Chairs. In addition to providing a vehicle to highlight the accomplishments of faculty, this group, with Dr. Subbaswamy’s active support, has engaged in key initiatives to advance UK, including recruiting outstanding students, cultivating donors, educating legislators about research, and hosting prominent speakers.

    Dr. Subbaswamy created the Provost’s Distinguished Service Professorships and the Provost’s Public Scholar Awards to highlight faculty accomplishments.

    In September 2009, the Provost proposed to then-President Lee T. Todd, Jr., creation of a President’s Academic Ceremonies Task Force. One of the outcomes of that task force report was establishment of a newly organized honors convocation for faculty awards.

Students

  • Student Recruitment: Given the importance of student quality and improving the undergraduate experience to the University, Dr. Subbaswamy has devoted significant effort and funding to strengthening the University’s recruitment of students.  He created the Office of Enrollment Management by combining Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Academic Scholarship Office. He elevated the director position to a Vice Provost for Enrollment/Registrar and made the reporting line of the office directly to the Provost.  He has invested significantly in enhanced marketing and recruitment, as well as in analytics, to understand market dynamics impacting school choices made by prospective students.

    According to a study by Stamats (a marketing firm), over the last four years UK has experienced a 118% increase in being a top consideration among in-state students. UK also increased its selection as the top-choice institution from among out-of-state students by six percentage points (65% to 71%). The efforts to improve student recruitment have also resulted in an improvement in UK’s image. In 2006 only 37% of student prospects rated UK “very good.” By 2010 that percentage had increased to 78%.

    Dr. Subbaswamy’s efforts in the undergraduate domain have also targeted improving the quality of the incoming undergraduate student cohort. In FY 06, the number of Governor’s Scholars and Governor’s School of the Arts students totaled 304. By FY 11, that number had risen to 371. The number of valedictorians in the entering class has increased from 137 to 147. Mean ACT scores have also increased from a Fall 2006 average of 23.9 to 25.2 in Fall 2010. 

    To streamline the undergraduate application process (and to eliminate paper), in 2010 an online application for degree was developed. Additionally, iPad strategies have been implemented. An iPad home page was created for recruiters, students, and campus partners to use for student services.
  • Student Retention: In the year before Dr. Subbaswamy’s arrival as Provost, retention rates in the undergraduate population had dropped to an all time low of 76.4%. To address that weakness, Dr. Subbaswamy launched a “War on Attrition.”  Retention rates, effective 2009, have increased to 81.8%.

    Retention efforts have encompassed a significant number of activities, including:  an Academic Alert System was begun in Fall 2007 with faculty submitting centrally alerts of at-risk student behavior (e.g., pattern of poor attendance, low grades on assignments, disruptive behavior in class); hiring of approximately 20 new academic advisors campus-wide; expanded access to UK 101 - Academic Preparation course (from approximately 40 sections to over 100); institution of mandatory mid-term grades for all undergraduate classes; an extension of the drop deadline to allow more proactive advising at mid-term; an expansion of the Academic Enhancement Center and access to peer tutoring for all students (tutoring sessions have increased from 12,122 in 2006 to 17,590 in 2010-11); an expansion of K Week activities to enhance the engagement of students with UK; and establishment of a Common Reading Experience program.
  • New General Education Curriculum: In 2004, UK began a review of the University Studies Program. Upon becoming Provost, Dr. Subbaswamy elevated that effort, asked the University Senate to be an equal and active partner, and appointed faculty committee members to a General Education Reform Steering Committee. He charged the Committee with creating a new set of design principles for a revised curriculum. The Steering Committee’s recommended Learning Outcomes and Curricular Framework were approved by the University Senate at its December 8, 2008 meeting. In May 2010, the General Education Steering Committee approved the design principles, learning outcomes, and course templates. In December 2010, the Senate voted unanimously to begin implementation of the new General Education curriculum effective Fall 2011. Just over $5 million was committed by the Provost’s Office in recurring support for new and enhanced courses as part of the General Education curriculum. A naming contest was undertaken and the general education curriculum became UK-Core.
  • Undergraduate Education: Two new Living Learning Centers have been launched. One is named the Wired for Learning Center and is operating under the leadership of Arts & Sciences; and a second targeting First Generation Students which is operating under the leadership of Undergraduate Education. 

    In 2010, Dr. Subbaswamy directed revision of the Code of Student Conduct. The project was intended to align UK’s Code with national best practices, to strengthen responses to cases of sexual assault against students, to clarify judicial procedures, and to ensure compliance with state and federal law.
  • Student Support: Increasingly, universities are faced with managing threats to which students, faculty and staff are exposed. In part, those threats come from members of the university community whose high risk mental health status poses a risk to those around him or her. To reduce risk exposure for students, faculty and staff, and to increase support services for students with significant mental health needs, in 2010 the Provost directed development of a Threat Management Team under the existing Students of Concern Committee and provided funding to train staff and faculty involved in that effort.
  • Student Recognition: Out of the 2009/2010 Task Force on Academic Ceremonies came recommendations regarding improving the  graduation ceremony held in May (including individual recognition of every graduate)  and addition of a December graduation ceremony for the first time in UK’s history.
  • Graduate Education: In FY 06, the number of research and professional doctoral students totaled 3,633. By FY 11, that number had risen to 4,225. Between FY 06 and FY 10, the number of doctoral degree recipients increased from 634 to 734.   Additionally, in FY07 graduate stipends in several of UK’s top doctoral programs were increased to make them more competitive nationally.

Research

  • Research Expenditures: Dr. Subbaswamy’s arrival as Provost coincided with the expansion of the provost’s portfolio to include oversight of the Office of the Vice President for Research. Research expenditures have increased substantially over the past six years, exceeding $300 million for the first time in FY 2010 (from $297,610 to $337,600).
  • Competitive Research Awards: UK has received $111.5 million in competitive federal grant funding (184 competitive awards) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
  • Grants and Contracts: During Fiscal Year 2010, these external research grants and contracts resulted in a $417 million contribution to the Kentucky economy, including $219.5 million in personal income. Externally supported research accounted for 10,590 jobs at UK and throughout Kentucky.
  • Research Support: Dr. Subbaswamy has placed particular emphasis on providing competitive start-up packages and facilities to ensure the recruitment of talented faculty.  He supplemented UKRF start-up funds by $7 million during the past five years.  In addition, more than $5 million has been spent on research laboratory renovations.

    The Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA) in conjunction with Information Technology office has developed a web-based version of the Internal Approval Form (e-IAF) that will allow routing via workflow and electronic signatures. The goal of the e-IAF process is to reduce the administrative burden on researchers and staff. The e-IAF form will be available university-wide beginning next academic year.
  • Interdisciplinary Research: Dr. Subbaswamy has worked with faculty groups and financially supported several interdisciplinary research efforts.  These centers and initiatives include:

Diversity

  • In the past five years, transformative improvements have been made in the area of diversity. In FY 06, prior to Dr. Subbaswamy’s arrival, there was a near 40% drop in African-American undergraduate enrollment, leading to considerable strain with the African-American community on and off campus.

    Significant improvement has occurred in student numbers during Dr. Subbaswamy’s tenure. In FY 06, the number of African American first time, first year students totaled 143; by FY 11 that number had increased to 418[1]. In FY 06, the number of first time, first year Hispanic students totaled only 34. By FY 11, that number had more than tripled to 111.  In FY 07, UK had 1,301 total African American students; by FY 11, that number had increased to 1,816.
  • In FY 06, the percentage of African American full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty was 59, a number that had remained stagnant for several years. During Dr. Subbaswamy’s tenure, the percentage broke the 4% mark for the first time in the University’s history, now residing at 4.1% (92 faculty), the highest in the University’s history.
  • The number of women among tenured and tenure-track faculty has increased every year of Dr. Subbaswamy’s tenure. Upon his arrival, there were 645 (33.2%) women faculty; by FY 11, that number had increased to 818 (36.8%) women, the highest in the University’s history.
  • In his first two months in office, Dr. Subbaswamy established the position of Vice President for Institutional Diversity.
  • Dr. Subbaswamy has prioritized hiring a diverse senior staff.  For example, during his tenure, he has appointed African Americans into the three vice president positions; an associate provost position; and two dean positions. 

[1] Includes students who reported two or more races, one of which was "Black or African American"

Internationalization

  • In 2007, Dr. Subbaswamy appointed UK’s first Internationalization Task Force to spur advancements in this area. The Taskforce produced a strategic plan and white paper in order to facilitate campus-wide growth in the global dimensions of teaching, research, and service. In 2010 Provost Subbaswamy was invited to address the Association of International Education Administrators annual conference in recognition of his leadership in this arena.
  • To turn around the precipitous drop in international undergraduate enrollment, under Dr. Subbaswamy’s direction UK adopted several successful strategies including creation of a full-time international recruitment manager and implementation of a “conditional admission” track for international students.  Over the past five years, UK has experienced a significant increase in the number of international students applying to and entering the University:
    • In 2007, UK received 175 applications from potential international undergraduate students; by 2010 the number of applications had increased to 660.  
    • Total international undergraduate enrollment increased from 143 in 2007 to 358 in 2010.
    • In FY 06, the number of first-time, first year international students totaled 16. As a result of focused marketing and recruiting efforts, by FY 11 that number had nearly tripled to a total of 47 students.
  • Enhanced risk-management processes were implemented alongside growth in Education Abroad; new best practices include an Administrative Regulation on travel to State Department Warning Sites, in order to minimize risk to UK faculty, students and staff while traveling abroad. A business plan was implemented that will allow for self-sustaining growth in the office of Education Abroad. In 2007, 563 UK students studied abroad; by 2010 that number had increased to 642.
  • In 2010, UK successfully bid for establishment of a Confucius Institute in partnership with Shanghai University and the Chinese Hanban. The UK Confucius Institute acts as a gateway to the people of Kentucky, granting new and better access to Chinese language, culture, and art.
  • The University of Kentucky was awarded a three-year, $1 million grant through the Iraq University Linkage Project funded by the US Embassy, partnering to update the curriculum and pedagogy of Kufa University in southern Iraq.
  • UK was selected as the partner of the German Fulbright Commission, in a five-year funded project that enables students from underrepresented populations in both countries to participate in a 5-week intensive educational and cultural exchange.
  • In 2011, UK was selected as one of ten U.S. institutions to participate in the 2012 International Academic Partnerships Program, focused on building linkages in India. 
  • Over the past five years, UK has hosted the visit of major world leaders including India’s former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Israel’s former prime minister Ehud Olmert, and Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi. Provost Subbaswamy ensured that each of these guests not only addressed the UK community as a whole, but also spent substantial time in small-group sessions with UK students.

Engagement

  • Increased Profile: In 2007, Dr. Subbaswamy moved the Office of University Engagement and the Office of Community Engagement under the oversight of the Provost. Since that time, these offices have focused on enhancing UK’s profile nationally as an engaged university.
  • Carnegie Recognition: In December 2008, UK received the Carnegie Foundation designation as an engaged school for Curricular Engagement. In December 2006, UK received the Carnegie Foundation designation as an engaged school for Outreach and Partnerships.
  • Commonwealth Collaboratives: In 2007, oversight of the Commonwealth Collaborates program created by then-President Todd was moved under the Provost. To date, 47 Collaboratives impacting Kentucky’s needs in health, education, economic development, environment and natural resources, and culture/quality of life have been funded. Since its inception, the University has put approximately $450,000 into these initiatives. Effective 2010, the Collaboratives have been associated with securing approximately $48 million in external funding.
  • Measurement: Starting in late 2006, UK began implementing the UK Engagement Measurement Instrument in cooperation with national leader Michigan State University. Each year since then, the number of UK people reporting engagement activity has increased, reaching 942 in 2010. UK is very nearly approaching the 2014 UK Strategic Plan Goal 5 goal of 1,000 people responding to the survey.
  • Engagement Conference: In November 2006, UK created and hosted the nation’s first statewide postsecondary Engagement Conference. Additionally, UK is a co-sponsor of the National Engagement Conference, shaping and directing the national conference and Engagement in the US.
  • Recognition: In November 2008, UK received the NASULGC South Region Engagement Award, with the Centering Pregnancy Smiles initiative led by Rob Kovaric in the College of Dentistry.
  • Recognition: In 2011, two UK Commonwealth Collaboratives received designation as Exemplary Projects from APLU. This included the Clean Indoor Air Partnership and the Reforesting Coal Mined Lands project.
  • Scholarship: In the 2010, the Provost created and awarded the first Provost Public Scholar Award for Engaged Scholarship. The Public Scholar Award recognizes UK faculty and professional staff whose careers are marked by sustained activities that systematically and effectively advance university-community engagement, successfully address important community issues through collaborative initiatives, and create intellectual products respected by peers within and beyond the academy.

Information Technology Improvements

  • Leadership: To advance the application of innovative technology and provide an emphasis on academic computing support, Dr. Subbaswamy partnered with the Executive Vice President for Finance & Administration to create UK’s first Chief Information Officer position. The CIO now reports to both the Provost and the EVPFA.
  • Enhancements:
    • Reform of the IT governance structure to increase faculty representation, involvement and engagement in committees;
    • Continued expansion of classroom and learning technology improvements in general and in support of general education reform, including growth of lecture capture, web conferencing and improving learning management system adoption, mobile applications;
    • Reform of the IT funding model to move to a much more efficient FTE-based charged model that drastically simplifies administration of the chargeback (cost savings in administration numbers here);
    • Transformation of IT to be highly collaborative and supporting of academic units; establishment of the Dean’s IT group; and
    • Significant growth in online and hybrid courses is being achieved, reaching new audiences and enhancing revenue.

Development and External Relations

  • Development Audit: To strengthen development, philanthropy, and fundraising efforts across campus, Dr. Subbaswamy has actively engaged with the Office of Development in professionalizing college-based development operations.  This has included oversight of an audit of all development operations; professionalization of college and program fundraising; and establishment of performance goals for development staff. Dr. Subbaswamy has also helped lead creation of a Dean’s Advisory group to aid in enhancing university-wide development efforts.
  • Recognition of Endowed Faculty: Dr. Subbaswamy provided shared leadership in a first-of-its kind celebration of endowed faculty funded through the Research Challenge Trust Fund. In 2011, he joined with the Council of Endowed Professors and Chairs and the Office of Development to host an event that recognized endowed faculty, donors, and legislators.
  • Development Success:  While most donor activities are led through college and central development activities, Dr. Subbaswamy has been involved strategically in securing substantial gifts for the University.  These have included the:
    • $1.1 million gift from the Texas-based Suder Foundation which funded the new First Scholars program;
    • $1 million gift from Lexmark, Inc., in support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education outreach initiatives. UK will match the gift to renovate the Northside Library building on Russell Cave Road, next to the UK Department of Biology’s Ecological Research Facility.
    • A gift of $250,000 from Paul Chellgren and his family, resulting in a total commitment of $2.25 million (matched by the state’s Endowment Match Program, creating a $4.5 million endowment) for the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence.
  • Legislative work: Over the past five years, Dr. Subbaswamy has engaged with the Kentucky General Assembly, meeting with key legislators, testifying before legislative committees, and aiding in establishing University positions on education-related legislation proposed by House or Senate members. He also played an active role in shaping HB160 of the 2010 General Assembly pertaining to articulation with community colleges.
  • Technology Transfer: Dr. Subbaswamy has been working with the Vice President for Commercialization and Economic Development to negotiate Master Agreements for collaboration with Alltech and Tempur-Pedic.
  • Professional Service:  During the past five years, Dr. Subbaswamy has served on several national and regional Boards:  National Association of College and University Business Officers, South Eastern Conference Academic Consortium, Kentucky World Trade Center, and the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors.  He has appeared on national panels for the American Council on Education and gave an invited speech at a European higher education symposium organized by the German-American Fulbright Kommission.  He has served twice as an external consultant for the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Efficiencies and Innovations in the Academic Domain

  • Efficiency: Dr. Subbaswamy launched a campaign for innovation, efficiency, and accountability under the title of ThinkUK2.0 in November, 2011, building from the Future of Higher Education begun by the Provost’s office earlier in the year.  Significant progress has been made in office-supply cost containment (reducing costs by an estimated $100,000 annually) and e-procurement, and enterprise print management has been piloted.  Service center discussions (with a focus on improving travel reimbursement, payroll, and grant management processes) have gotten underway.  Colleges have undertaken a number of key steps (ranging from the elimination of a Ph.D. program in one college to a very successful launch of online courses and programs in others).  The Teaching Innovation Incentive Fund, a revenue-sharing plan to incentivize teaching innovation as well as additional revenue generation was launched.  The use of technology to improve processes has been vastly expanded (mobile applications, electronic work-flow solutions, BlackBoard improvements). UK will be the first University to have custom iPad/mobile interest pages generated by Hobsons, as well as a custom mobile landing page for quick access to Hobsons Events, the UK Directory, Freshman, Transfer and International VIP registration pages and all Admissions websites. Echo 360 lecture capture has been enabled in more than 60 classrooms. 
  • Space Management: Improvements in space utilization have been made:
    • 136 classroom improvement projects made rooms more useful for a wider array of disciplines and pedagogies.
    • Both Student Center theatres have been modified to accommodate lecture classes. Prior to these modifications, both theatres were underutilized in the mornings.
    • Shelled spaces in four buildings have been “fit-up” and occupied: Little Library, Wethington, Nursing, and Schmidt.
    • Three libraries were consolidated into the King Science Library, allowing new classrooms in the Office Tower and new research labs in the ChemPhys Building.
    • More campus space has been made available for student and research use by moving five support units off campus (e.g., Provost Budget Office, Institutional Research, University Engagement).
    • Office/workstation space guidelines have been established. When applied to one renovation project, for example, 3 additional spaces were built for growth.
    • Some underutilized Chemistry instrumentation rooms designed for the 1960’s were converted to a new Chemistry teaching lab.

Strategic Budgetary Investments

All documents are available in PDF format.

Major Strategic Budgetary Investments

Last updated: 8/18/11       An Equal Opportunity University