2008 Woodie Awards
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Second review for International Affairs released
The review resulted in Chunsheng Zhang's transfer to Johnson Hall as a special assistant to the president
by Allie Grasgreen | Managing editor
Lorraine Davis' second review regarding the Office of International Affairs revealed several serious structural issues and resulted in Vice Provost for International Affairs and Outreach Chunsheng Zhang's transfer to Johnson Hall, where he will serve as special assistant to the president and provost for international affairs.
This is the second of two reports Provost Linda Brady requested from Davis. It addressed the overall management of International Affairs, including goal-setting and performance, staff development, financial management and communication.
Davis, special assistant to the president and provost, made six key recommendations in the report. Briefly, they are as follows:
• Mediated intervention within the office may be necessary to solve management issues.
• A strategic planning process to understand the office's unit goals, what they require, and how they fit into the office's overall mission would promote understanding.
• The office's financial management should implement specific Quality Assurance Review recommendations. This will require direct involvement with the financial status and management.
• Some attention should be given to AHA, the international education program, as the transition within the office takes place.
• The office should emphasize its relationships with outside programs that can provide students with international experiences.
• The office should reinforce its "many successful activities and programs."
Davis found that the office's structure did not cater to Zhang's managerial qualities. International Affairs staff had grown accustomed to hands-on management, but Zhang's job required him to spend about 40 percent of his working days overseas pursuing the University's international agenda. Zhang's lack of presence in the office led to a communication rift between he and the office staff, and sometimes created a tense atmosphere within the office. Zhang has served as vice provost for almost two years, and will focus more on outreach than external activities in his new position, Brady said.
This is the second of two reports Provost Linda Brady requested from Davis. It addressed the overall management of International Affairs, including goal-setting and performance, staff development, financial management and communication.
Davis, special assistant to the president and provost, made six key recommendations in the report. Briefly, they are as follows:
• Mediated intervention within the office may be necessary to solve management issues.
• A strategic planning process to understand the office's unit goals, what they require, and how they fit into the office's overall mission would promote understanding.
• The office's financial management should implement specific Quality Assurance Review recommendations. This will require direct involvement with the financial status and management.
• Some attention should be given to AHA, the international education program, as the transition within the office takes place.
• The office should emphasize its relationships with outside programs that can provide students with international experiences.
• The office should reinforce its "many successful activities and programs."
Davis found that the office's structure did not cater to Zhang's managerial qualities. International Affairs staff had grown accustomed to hands-on management, but Zhang's job required him to spend about 40 percent of his working days overseas pursuing the University's international agenda. Zhang's lack of presence in the office led to a communication rift between he and the office staff, and sometimes created a tense atmosphere within the office. Zhang has served as vice provost for almost two years, and will focus more on outreach than external activities in his new position, Brady said.
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