COM All-Faculty Meeting Highlights CDU’ s Innovation, Plans, and Outstanding Achievements( continued)
She also stated that CDU has grown in stature in three significant areas. The University ranks third nationally in offering students value added resources; second most diverse four-year private nonprofit college in the nation, and first in faculty diversity. Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Steven Michael thanked the faculty for providing educational continuity during the past year. CDU fared well during the height of the pandemic. The University was one of the first institutions nationally to pivot to the online platform as the primary learning portal. No classes were cancelled and with technology innovations, the curriculum remained comparable in quality to previous years. The University graduated a record 489 students at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year. As noted elsewhere herein, the 2021-26 strategic plan process was a major undertaking. Its theme of transformational growth was reflected in data showing that while other major institutions experienced enrollment decline, CDU experienced a 10 % increase in student enrollment, thereby hastening the University’ s entrée into midsize status as anticipated in the 2021-26 Plan.
The Provost noted that the highly successful COM MEP is a great asset in the expansions plans. Central to growth is the expansion of the undergraduate education program and transforming the University into a residential-based institution. Relocating hundreds of students will increase the economic profile of the adjacent area, he observed.
The CDU Advantage has been a critical tool in transforming students. In human terms, there is a definable“ CDU Product”, consisting of future health care leaders who advocate for the eradication of health disparities; full accreditation for all University programs to the maximum length of time available, with no citations or negative findings by review bodies. Dr. Michael closed by stating how excited he is about all of the transformation occurring at the University.
Dean Prothrow-Stith noted how well-positioned the University is poised for the transformation proposed in the 2021-26 Strategic Plan. The University now has the financial resources to focus its efforts on training specialists to eradicate health care disparities in underserved communities. CDU’ s aggressive efforts in supporting mass community vaccination in a variety of areas in SPA 6 is also a plus. And the economic impact of the new 4-year medical program on the local community will be quite substantial.
The Dean noted that the work of the LCME task force will be submitted to the accrediting body in July, with a site visit potentially scheduled for Spring 2022. The receipt of the $ 5.1M award by LA Care was acknowledged. CDU’ s work on the international front was also cited as being very active and ongoing. Dr. Prothrow-Stith thanked CDU International Affairs Director Dr. Lejeune Lockett and her team for their work on the Zambian project.
The plans for the Health Professions and Education Building housing the 4-year medical program are exciting, noted Dr. Prothrow-Stith. There will be a variety of innovations such as the inclusion of a state-of-the-art simulation center included in the facility. She noted that there is a lot of work to be done but the endeavor is truly a team effort.
There was also extensive discussion on the rewrite of the University’ s governing bylaws, necessitated to meet LCME requirements. Academic Senate President Dr. Thomas Magee explained the process and the need for alignment with the Academic Senate’ s work in this matter. After further discussion, the bylaws revision was unanimously approved by the faculty in attendance.
Faculty Board of Trustee representative Dr. Mohsen Bazargan announced the addition of two new Trustees: Julie Sprengel, President of Dignity Health, Southern California, and Frank Hurtarte, Senior Vice President for Human Resources at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
In recent developments the Trustees approved the 2012-26 Strategic Plan, and $ 75 million in funding toward the new medical school. At the Board of Trustee retreat there was a focus on the University’ s bylaws and shared governance. Dr. Barzagan announced that he had been reelected to a new two-year term.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 13