October 4, 2006 Source: :
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=4269 New acting provost
appointed by President Peter
George
October 04, 2006 In my letter to you just over a week ago I promised to keep the campus
community up to date about our plan to appoint an acting provost. I am pleased to inform you that Bob McNutt has agreed to serve as acting
provost, beginning on October 15 and continuing until July 1, 2007, or until
a new provost is in place. Bob's appointment has been approved by both Senate Executive and the
Executive of the Board of Governors. An external search consultant has
already been hired to work with the Ad Hoc Selection Committee of Senate
that was appointed earlier to assist in the search for a provost. This
search will be internal as well as national and international in scope. Bob is well known at McMaster. A former dean of Science and faculty member
for more than 30 years, he left the University to become principal of the
University of Toronto at Mississauga. After retiring from UTM, he returned to McMaster in 2005 as acting chair of
Modern Languages and Linguistics and as an advisor to the provost on the
development of McMaster's campus in Burlington. He is currently acting dean of the Faculty of Humanities, and we hope to
announce the appointment of a new acting dean of the Faculty shortly. Bob is well respected and brings tremendous experience and ability to the
role of acting provost. While he will assume the numerous responsibilities
of the Office of the Provost, he has been given three priorities: # develop the three-year budget plan to reach financial stability while
achieving the University's academic mission; # oversee the development and implementation of graduate enrolment expansion
plans to maximize increased operating and capital funding for graduate
enrolment growth; and # explore academic restructuring to enhance quality and cost effectiveness
in the long term. Achieving these goals will require the input and participation of people
from across campus, and I know Bob is looking forward to feedback from
faculty, staff and students as strategic action plans are developed. I would like to thank Bob for his willingness to assume the role of acting
provost. I would also like to extend my sincerest thanks to Fred A. Hall,
who will continue to be responsible for the Office of the Provost until
Bob's appointment takes effect.
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