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Updated: May 23, 2023 @ 1:51 pm
University of Montana Provost Pardis Mahdavi proposes the plan she created to restructure the University under four new pillars to UM’s faculty in the UC Ballroom on Sept. 9. The new pillars are “understanding, building, conserving and healing,” according to Mahdavi.
University of Montana Provost Pardis Mahdavi proposes the plan she created to restructure the University under four new pillars to UM’s faculty in the UC Ballroom on Sept. 9. The new pillars are “understanding, building, conserving and healing,” according to Mahdavi.
The University of Montana’s provost will leave her position in May for a different job at the University, and the current dean of the College of Education has agreed to step into the role of interim provost.
Pardis Mahdavi has been the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at UM since fall 2022. She is leaving the provost position to head a new program called the Networked University, which would open the door for collaboration with UM and other colleges in the West.
The provost is the second in command of the University, overseeing all academic departments and initiatives. Before Mahdavi arrived at UM last fall, the provost position was filled by an interim provost, Reed Humphrey, for two years. Humphrey is the dean of UM’s College of Health.
Mahdavi was the first permanent provost since Jon Harbor in 2020, who left for a job as the provost at Purdue University.
Once she leaves the provost position, Mahdavi will become the executive director of the Networked University. The Networked University is based both in Montana and Arizona, where she used to work as the dean of social sciences at Arizona State University.
The Missoulian reported that Mahdavi will have a $2.1 million budget to be split between her own salary and two additional employees. UM spokesperson Dave Kuntz said this new initiative uses no state or federal funds.
She will still be a University employee and report directly to the president, according to Kuntz.
“President [Seth] Bodnar and I have been working for several months on creating a new initiative, which is called the Network Universities Initiative,” Mahdavi told the Kaimin. “I am very excited about the possibilities this brings us for elevating the visibility of the University of Montana nationally, in collaboration with other institutions in higher education.”
“It has been terrific to form a partnership with Dr. Mahdavi,” President Seth Bodnar said in a statement. “She is a bold leader and transformative thinker. I am excited to work with her in this new role to enhance and drive collaboration to best meet our students’ needs.”
During her time as provost, Mahdavi introduced a large-scale academic restructure plan, which was an initiative to move most of UM’s schools into five colleges.
The plan has been modified multiple times since its initial rollout in September. In February, the process to change the colleges moved into three separate realignment requests.
One change to move geosciences into the Franke College of Forestry and Conservation will be brought to the Faculty Senate and Board of Regents in March.
Another plan would create the School of Emerging and Applied Technologies, or SEAT, which would “include a wide range of theoretical and applied research in the humanities, the social sciences, and professional fields, as well as emerging art forms and practices,” the Kaimin reported.
A plan to change the structure of the College of Humanities and Sciences has not been decided yet, according to previous Kaimin reporting. After Mahdavi leaves in May, Phyllis J. Washington College of Education Dean Adrea Lawrence will act as interim provost starting May 15.
“With regards to what will happen with the academic renewal plan here at the University of Montana, it will continue to move forward under the leadership of Adrea Lawerence,” Mahdavi said.
Bodnar said since he arrived on campus, Lawrence has worked tirelessly for students and faculty of the College of Education.
“As our new Provost, I am excited that her leadership and vision will now extend across our entire campus,” Bodnar said.
Kuntz, the University of Montana spokesperson, said he does not know when the new permanent provost will be hired.
“There will be a search while Adrea Lawerence is acting provost, but that might be months away,” Kuntz said.
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Noise Complaint is a rotating experimental music project that plays every Friday in downtown Missoula at the “XXXX’s.” Members of the project wanted to stress that they are not a cult, but rather a 501(c)(3) religious organization.