Wednesday, August 22, 2001

WILMINGTON, NC -- Dr. Neil F. Hadley, dean of the graduate school and research at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, will step down at the end of the academic year in June 2002, UNCW Provost John Cavanaugh announced yesterday (Tuesday, Aug. 21). The announcement came during the first fall faculty meeting of the new academic year. Hadley said his future plans are uncertain at this point.

Hadley came to UNCW in fall 1995 from Arizona State University where he was professor of zoology and former associate dean of the graduate college. He was the second dean of the UNCW Graduate School but the first administrator to combine managing the graduate school and research administration.

Cavanaugh noted that Hadley had been brought to UNCW to “grow the university’s graduate program and research mission, and both have happened.” Cavanaugh praised the achievements of the past six years, citing an increase in the number of graduate degree programs from 12 in 1995 to 19 (in 25 majors) in 2001, the implementation of two post-baccalaureate certificate programs, and an increase in graduate enrollment from 456 in 1995-1996 to 750 in 2000-2001.

At the same time the graduate school has been growing, research funding has skyrocketed. “When Neil came to UNCW, 162 proposals were submitted for $21 million in requests,” said Cavanaugh. “That year, 126 proposals were funded and the university received $4.5 million. In 2000-2001 school year, 214 proposals were submitted requesting $34 million; 161 awards were funded totaling $13 million.

“Under his leadership, UNCW has achieved a new level of funded scholarly research being done on campus, which benefits undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty,” he said.

Among his achievements, Hadley singled out his ability to convince the academic community that research is integral to the university’s teaching mission. “We have made major strides in building graduate education and research to complement and strengthen UNC Wilmington’s primary mission, undergraduate teaching,” he said.

He also noted that several of the new graduate programs were designed to provide better links to the greater Wilmington community, for instance the very successful Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and post-baccalaureate certificates in gerontology and Hispanic studies.

One major program still on the drawing board is the Ph.D. in marine biology, for which planning has been completed. The proposal is being revised for resubmittal to the UNC Office of the President this fall. “We are hopeful that we will have the program up and running by fall semester 2002,” Hadley said.

While Hadley expects the graduate school to enter a period of consolidation due to tight resources, he expects to strengthen current degree offerings and become more innovative. Three programs he will be working on during his remaining year in office are planning for a Master of Social Work, a Computer Information Systems master’s (a joint venture between the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Computer Science and the Cameron School of Business Department of Information Systems and Operations Management), and a graduate offering in Environmental Studies.

He is also proud of his record in increasing the level of graduate stipends from a low of $6,500 a year to the current $8,500 per year in the sciences. UNCW also added health care coverage for graduate students this year for the first time. In addition, under his tenure, graduate tuition remissions moved from 10 when he came to 56 and scholarship dollars for graduate students now total $100,000.

“This is significant because it allows us to do more in terms of recruiting,” Hadley said. “It also manifests itself in our being able to attract better students and get them through more quickly because they can devote full time to their studies.

“I feel confident that the graduate school and the Office of Sponsored Programs are viewed as models for effectiveness, efficiency and customer satisfaction, because we are service units,” he said as he commended his capable and dedicated staff.

A national search will begin this fall to recruit Hadley’s replacement.

For additional information, contact Dr. Cavanaugh at 910/962-3389 or Dr. Hadley at 910/962-4117.