Memorandum
May 7, 2012
Dear Colleagues:
As part of our ongoing effort to reduce costs in the face of significant budget challenges, we are announcing today an important administrative realignment, involving our Titusville and Bradford campuses.
Effective immediately, both campuses will report to Dr. Livingston Alexander who, since 2003 has successfully led the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in strengthening its position as an institution that provides access to students and fosters success among first-generation college students. He will remain the President of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and will also become the President of the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville. In addition, other major administrative functions for the two campuses will be centralized at the Bradford campus. This realignment of administrative functions is a first step to reduce costs of operation and assess the viability of the Titusville campus in a time of dramatically reduced state support.
At the same time, Dr. William Shields, who has served with distinction as President of the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville and who also served as Interim President of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, is being named Associate Vice Provost. In this new role, we expect to take full advantage of the rich experience and expertise of Dr. Shields as he works with my office, the regional campus presidents, and the deans of the schools on the Pittsburgh campus to improve the coordination of academic programs across all five campuses.
We did not take this decision lightly. As the result of unprecedented cuts from our Commonwealth appropriation this year and a proposal for further cuts in the coming year, we have been forced to examine areas of previous commitment, including our historic commitment to bring education to various regions and populations of western Pennsylvania. We hope that by combining key administrative functions of these two regional campuses, we will be better positioned to continue providing educational opportunities in Titusville.
Please join me in wishing Livingston well as he works to integrate the administration of these two campuses, and in thanking Bill for his service leading the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville during these very difficult economic times.
Sincerely,