UPEI moves Office of Graduate Studies, eliminates senior position
In another cost-cutting move, the University of Prince Edward Island has eliminated the senior administrative position of Assistant Vice-President Graduate Studies. Services offered to graduate students services and postdoctoral fellows by the Office of Graduate Studies will continue from its new location within the Research Services department.
The Assistant Vice-President, 3M Canada Teaching Fellow Dr. Brian Wagner, will step down from his administrative role as of July 31, 2013 and return to the Faculty of Science where he is a Professor of Chemistry.
Interim Vice-President Academic Christian Lacroix, who currently has graduate studies in his portfolio, thanked Wagner for his leadership and dedication.
'Brian Wagner was instrumental in establishing the Office of Graduate Studies, which was needed at a time when the number of graduate students at UPEI was growing rapidly. He led the transformation of UPEI from being seen as an undergraduate school to one where the impact of graduate studies and graduate students is tremendous both at the University and beyond.'
He added, 'We sincerely thank Brian for his vision, applaud his accomplishments, and appreciate that he will assist with this transition.'
The Office of Graduate Studies serves as a central location and source of information for all graduate students and graduate faculty, develops graduate studies policies, supports new program development, promotes graduate student research and scholarly work, and provides guidance and support to graduate students in their programs. The Office of Graduate Studies will continue to do so under Research Services in the Office of the Vice-President Research.
'All graduate students conduct research, and having access to administrative support and research services under one roof will certainly be beneficial, avoid duplication of effort, and lead to new synergies, ' said Vice-President Research Robert Gilmour. 'Due to the establishment of such solid supports, practices, and policies by Dr. Wagner, UPEI will be able to offer the same quality of service to graduate students despite the change in the delivery model.'
Gilmour was formerly the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education at Cornell University and is both familiar with, and dedicated to, excellence in programs of graduate studies.
Dr. Wagner commented, 'I am committed to working with VP Research Gilmour during the transition of the Office of Graduate Studies into Research Services to help our graduate students continue to find success and access a high level of service.'
