A look back at fall 2004
December 17th, 2004
President James Ramsey summed it up in his first State of the University address Sept. 29. Among the successes of the past year were a commitment to excellence in teaching and education; continued development of research; an effort to become an open, diverse and accessible campus; strengthening of collaborations and partnerships; and enhanced accountability to the public. The goal for the coming year: ratchet up those same five areas.
A look back at the fall semester shows that process is well under way:
Research
The amount of research money coming in to U of L rose 49 percent in fiscal year 2003-04 from $67.6 million to $100.7 million. That news was announced in September amid funding announcements for the 2004-05 fiscal year that included:
- $2.5 million to share with Jewish Hospital and Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center for continued research on reducing or eliminating the need for immunosuppressant drugs after transplant surgery. The drugs prevent rejection of the donated organ or tissue, but can lead to complications, including an increased risk of cancer.
- $2 million to research pediatric oncology and pediatric sleep disorders at Kosair Children’s Hospital, a part of Norton Healthcare.
- $35 million in Congressional appropriations secured by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell for research on cancer, heart disease, birth defects and periodontal disease, healthy families, proteomics, sustainable buildings, energy production and conversion, energy efficiency for agriculture and rural communities and the effects of space travel on the body. Other uses include science education, technology diffusion programs and campus transportation.
There are no National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Kentucky, but U of L is working to change that.
- In its quest to attain Comprehensive Cancer Center designation for the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, U of L announced in October Finding Answers to Cancer, a $41.5 million, five-year, public, capital campaign. During the campaign’s preceding “quiet” phase, more than $11 million was raised. In December, the campaign received a $15 million gift from the James Graham Brown Foundation. The gift, which will be distributed over five years, boosted the amount pledged to more than half the campaign goal.
Partnerships and collaborations
Individual health, the local environment and academic success are just three areas new and expanded U of L partnerships address.
- U of L and Jewish Hospital Healthcare Services broke ground for the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute at the U of L Health Sciences Center in November. The $27.6 million, five-story facility will serve as home to a program designed to build upon the internationally recognized work of Drs. Laman Gray and Rob Dowling, U of L physicians who implanted the world’s first fully implantable artificial hearts in partnership with Jewish Hospital, and will provide patients with access to the newest generation of heart assist technology. The facility will include research labs, fabrication facilities, operating and recovery rooms, diagnostic equipment, training facilities and offices.
- In October, U of L announced its partnership with Greater Louisville Inc., Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville Metro Government and Metro United Way for Every 1 Reads, an initiative designed to have every student in public schools in Louisville Metro read at his or her grade level by 2008. Faculty and administrators from the College of Education and Human Development will align their teacher preparation efforts with JCPS literacy instruction to ensure graduating students are ready to teach the literacy model JCPS uses. The college also will work with JCPS and other Every 1 Reads partners to train teachers and community volunteers in reading instruction and will help monitor and evaluate those training programs.
- In August, the Partnership for a Green City, which includes U of L, Louisville Metro government, and Jefferson County Public Schools, released a 41-page report that identified some of the challenges the city faces regarding the health and education of its children, waste reduction, energy use, natural resource management and creation of a “green” infrastructure. It also recommended ways to deal with those challenges. The Kentucky Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development at U of L administers the partnership. U of L students joined the effort in November with expansion of the university’s recycling program to the residence halls. Students proved the need for the residence hall recyling with a dumpster dive. They collected 323.8 pounds of recyclable materials from a university dumpster. The material accounted for nearly 40 percent of its total waste volume.
- U of L is a participant in the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement. Announced in September, the new project encourages people to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet and exercise. The university is incorporating the mayor’s movement into its own health management program. It will participate in the movement’s Take Charge Challenge, a 10-week goal-oriented competition to increase physical activity, in the spring.
- Family and Geriatric Medicine Department clinics will be able to offer expanded services to patients and provide more mental health and behavioral medicine training for residents thanks to a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Service Administration. The five clinics in Louisville and Glasgow, Ky., have more than 30,000 patient contacts each year.
- University Libraries were selected in October to work with Emory University, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Auburn University and Georgia Tech on a Library of Congress project to identify and preserve electronic information for future use. Through the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation program, U of L will help preserve at-risk digital information on the culture and history of the American South for use by future scholars.
- This fall, U of L also announced it is participating in three initiatives to increase the value of the Ph.D.: A mentoring and fellowship initiative sponsored by the Council of Graduate Schools to help more doctoral students, especially women and minorities, complete their studies; the Woodrow Wilson Foundation’s Responsive Ph.D. program to help doctoral students become better communicators and leaders; and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching initiative to “reinvent” the Ph.D.
Academics
U of L continues to emphasize the undergraduate learning experience. That commitment led to enrollment of a new class of outstanding students and to an exciting international program.
- In August, U of L welcomed its most academically talented freshman class ever. Of the 2,318 freshmen in the class, 138 are Governor’s scholars, 29 are National Merit scholars and one is a National Achievement finalist. In addition, the class posted records in mean high school grade-point average, 3.42, and mean ACT score, 23.5.
- In late September, the jazz studies program and the School of Music welcomed eight jazz students from Russia for the Open World Program. Well-known for its jazz studies program, the School of Music was asked to apply to be a host university. The program is sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts. It brings emerging Russian leaders to the United States to learn about American business and political systems. This year was the first time it had included artists.
Sports
The fall football and volleyball seasons were characterized by superlatives: most, best, first… Both teams were Conference-USA champions and both went on to post-season play.
- The Cardinals football team had its most successful regular season ever and garnered its first Top 10 ranking. The team finished the season with a No. 7 Associated Press ranking and with a No. 10 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) ranking. In none of its 11 games did the team score fewer than 28 points. In seven games, it scored more than 50 points per game. Total points scored for the season: 553. Wins: 10. Losses: 1. Needless to say, fan appreciation was outstanding. The Cards sold out four of their five home games, and the average home-game attendance of 40,531 was the highest ever.
- The volleyball Cardinals equaled their best national ranking this season at No. 15. They also set their longest winning streak ever at 22 straight matches. U of L hosted the NCAA regional tournament Dec. 10 and 11. It marked the team’s second appearance in the Sweet 16.
The Cardinal nine will have a new stadium when they open their season in February. The university broke ground for the Jim Patterson Stadium Oct. 7. Among the baseball stadium’s features are FieldTurf, a synthetic surface that replicates the look, feel, texture and playability of natural grass, and 1,500 backed seats out of 2,500 total.
Alumni
U of L also took time this fall to recognize alumni.
- David Jones, a 1954 graduate, was recognized as Alumnus of the Year for his impressive career achievements and his outstanding contributions to the university and the Louisville community. Jones was co-founder of Humana Corp., one of the nation’s largest health care providers, and served as its CEO from its founding until his retirement in 1997. Upon completion of a separation of Humana into two companies in 1993, Jones became chairman of the board and CEO of the new Humana, a health benefits company.
- Nine Alumni Fellows were named Sept. 30. The lifetime award goes to alumni who have made substantial contributions in their professional fields. Each fellow is invited to return to campus to share his or her expertise with students, faculty and staff. The 2004 Alumni Fellows are:
- J. Angelo Corlett, professor of philosophy and ethics at San Diego State University: College of Arts and Sciences.
- Emanuel Eads, president and chief operating officer of Central Parking System, the largest parking management firm in the world: College of Business and Public Administration.
- William J. Mansfield, part-time clinical professor in the department of diagnostic sciences, prosthodontics and restorative dentistry: School of Dentistry.
- Alice Houston, who has been an officer with the Houston-family businesses, including Johnson-Houston Corp., Houston-Johnson Inc., Active Transportation Co. and Automotive Carrier Services Co.: College of Education and Human Development.
- Barry Thacker, president and principal engineer for Geo/Environmental Associates: Speed School of Engineering.
- Laura Douglas, director for external communications for Louisville Gas and Electric Energy Corp.: Brandeis School of Law.
- Thomas Huff, vice provost of life sciences and professor of microbiology and immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University: School of Medicine.
- Marshall Haddock, associated professor and director of orchestral activities at The Ohio State University School of Music: School of Music.
- Betty J. Kramer, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Social Work: Kent School of Social Work.
