Letter from the Provost

It has been one semester and one summer since I had the privilege to join the Lawrence Technological University team. Many changes have occurred in the past year, and many will continue to occur in the future. As industries and communities evolve, so will LTU. I would like to take the time to share a few of the most impactful things that have happened over the past eight months.

I am often asked what it is like to be a Provost at LTU. Everyone’s experiences are different, but if you can imagine what it feels like to drink from a fire hose, you will come close to what my days are like and how busy I am given all that is happening at our great University. This sounds a bit daunting, but it is one of the many things that makes the position of Provost exciting.

The Provost’s office is a very busy place, as the office is deeply involved in the University’s overall operation, academic and non-academic, and no two days are ever the same.

The office ensures the five colleges provide the technologically based degree programs the University is known for, supports the growth of research involvement (an essential part of the President’s vision for the future of LTU), and supports the expansion of our professional development programs and centers that are quickly becoming a hallmark of LTU. Increasing the number of our Ph.D. programs is fundamental to growing the University's research presence and academic reputation. Within my first few months, we created a set of Ph.D. policies and procedures that will pave the way for all future Ph.D. programs. Proposals for two new Ph.D. programs (Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering) have recently been approved by the Board of Trustees. Supporting the Center for Professional Development allows the University to offer a growing list of skill-based certificates that are attuned and agile to industry needs and ensures our students' success.

It is the university’s goal to be innovative, and the Provost’s office supports this mission by implementing the creation of new centers. Centers such as worker safety in the areas of healthcare and construction, developing new and innovative materials for construction applications and increasing the number of STEM-prepared, diverse graduates for our country’s workforce. These new centers will help provide solutions to a growing number of workplace challenges and increase the number of STEM-prepared graduates.

To continue this campus-wide initiative to stay agile within industries and higher education, the recent addition of the College of Health Sciences is an exciting opportunity given the university’s strong focus on technology-based education and applied research, as well as the large presence of the healthcare industry in Michigan. The Provost’s office involvement with that college is considerable since the Provost serves as the interim dean until the search for a permanent dean is complete. This is a great opportunity for me, as I have the remarkable opportunity to guide the initial growth of the college and help pave its successful future.

As I mentioned earlier, the Provost’s office is a very busy place, but it is fulfilling and a pleasure to serve the University in such an impactful capacity. Our office is committed to supporting the President and the Board of Trustees by working to endlessly conceptualize the University’s mission and vision. Our door is always open to help and to serve, and I look forward to building on LTU’s strong legacy of being an independent university with a public mission.

by Dr. Richard Heist