An internationally known authority in areas of pure mathematics, Thomas Gilsdorf is also interested in “ethno-mathematics,” particularly as it relates to the indigenous tribes of the Americas. (Photo: Chuck Kimmerle/University Relations)

Arts and Sciences: The heart of teaching, scholarship, and creativity at the University

As the University of North Dakota continues its strategic expansion of research, creative achievement, and scholarship, the College of Arts and Sciences will play a defining role, says Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Martha Potvin, on leave as its dean.

In a way, it’s as Willy Sutton once said in explaining why he robbed banks (“that’s where the money is”): Building UND as a research institution requires faculty, and the largest concentration of them do their work in this academic division.

Tracing its lineage back to UND’s founding in 1883, six years before statehood, Arts and Sciences is today the largest of the University’s 10 degree-granting colleges and schools. Last year it enrolled 2,852 undergraduate and 385 graduate students in 19 departments.

Its faculty members, 203 of them full-time, taught 47 percent of all of the credit hours recorded at UND last year. This included 78 percent of all general education credits, 43 percent of credits offered after regular hours, and 13 percent of credits offered at a distance. The college awarded 515 bachelor’s degrees, 65 master’s degrees, and eight doctoral degrees.

Besides being the heart of UND’s teaching enterprise, the Arts and Sciences faculty distinguished itself in research, published scholarship, creative activity, and service.

Measured by the yardstick of externally funded research, the college’s preliminary total for the fiscal year just ended was $4.3 million, up from just under $2 million in 2002-2003.

Money is but one measure of progress in research, Potvin said. While external funding went to 13 of the college’s departments, all of them have documented the kind of peer-reviewed scholarship and creative activity that leads to national recognition and prominence.

A good example of this, she said, occurred in May when the University hosted a reception for the seven English Department faculty members who published books during 2003-2004. Nurturing a culture of generating, sharing, and celebrating new knowledge results in the kind of “sizzle” that characterizes a vibrant academic environment.

Although UND is showing progress in making its salaries more competitive, Potvin foresees that the national competition for faculty will become tougher as many current faculty reach retirement age and as universities in many states expand to serve growing populations of college-age adults.

The University’s deans are intensifying their search for new discretionary dollars, particularly in those disciplines where opportunities for federal funding are scarce. For example, a new initiative this fall is intended to increase collaboration of the colleges with the UND Foundation in seeking foundation, corporate, and other private gifts.