New and returning University of Guam faculty were welcomed to the fañomnåkan semester at the 2019 Fañomnåkan Convocation and Faculty Assembly on Jan. 22. Christopher K. Felix, chairperson of the Board of Regents opened with welcoming remarks, followed by President Thomas W. Krise and Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Anita Enriquez, who each provided an overview of strides made and set the tone for moving the University forward.

 

What sets UOG apart

“This institution is doing extraordinarily good work and making a positive difference in countless lives …,” Krise said. “UOG is a much different and stronger institution than it was a decade ago.”

 

He highlighted what sets the University apart among other institutions, including a strong grant-writing and research culture and recently refined graduate programs, and outlined the steps for a strategic plan to bring UOG into its next chapter.

 

The next chapter

“Our future includes grant funding well above the $100 million per year level,” he said. “… Our future includes offering more applied and professional master’s degrees as well as professional doctorates in due time. … Our future includes a selected range of research PhDs in areas where we have unique strengths due to our geographic and cultural situation.”

 

Enriquez reviewed institutional statistics and learning outcomes and challenged the faculty to further engage with students and actively contribute to their experiences and success.

 

“Learning and engagement is the core of what we do here at the University of Guam. Faculty are central to that,” she said. “It always brings me great joy when I hear about faculty bringing students on to participate in collaborative research, engaging students as part-time employees for grant-funded programs, inviting students to go off-island and participate in poster presentations, where others around the globe are in awe of just how amazing our students are. And that couldn’t happen without the amazing engagement and mentorship of our faculty.”

 

New faculty and administrators

Several new faculty members were introduced as well as two new administrators: Monique C. Stories as dean of University Libraries and Rachael T. Leon Guerrero as director of Research & Sponsored Programs.

 

Faculty Union and Faculty Senate updates

Faculty Union President Roseann M. Jones provided updates on the negotiated agreement for faculty, and Faculty Senate President Mary T. Cruz spoke on upcoming work in the Senate’s committees, including changes in curriculum and program reviews, changes in the faculty travel policy, and developing an online learning policy.

 

Looking forward

Faculty were tasked by Krise this semester to look up and out as to where they want to go as an institution.

 

“Please be visionaries as we chart our future course,” he said. “Please be open to new things and new ways of achieving our mission. And please commit your talents and energy to working together to making UOG the dream we dream it to be.”