Confusion in Amherst

Today's Boston Globe contained news that University of Massachusetts-Amherst Chancellor Robert Holub is on his way out. When he leaves, the university will be looking for its fifth leader in ten years. How surprising is this? For UMass Amherst, not at all. In fact, the UMass system has had issues for years.  When he was governor, Mitt Romney, in a breathtaking display of political cowardice, decided that we didn't need no stinkin' public university. Romney floated a plan to scrap the system completely. Fortunately, that idea was promptly laughed out of consideration. Still, it spoke volumes about where the university stands around here....it's optional.

The truth is, there's really nothing wrong with the UMass system per se, except that its "flagship" (a term used with tongue planted firmly in cheek) campus has suffered from a staggering lack of leadership, and the fish rots from the head down. As recently as 2008, UMass Amherst's alumni association was shown to be a public laughingstock when it was disclosed that they didn't want to share their data with anyone else in the system, because they deemed it proprietary information. Never mind that they're not an independent private school, but one member of a five-campus system. Also, let's not linger on the reality that they do a rotten job of fundraising (the lifeblood of any school that pretends to be considered a serious player).  The school is hardly hopeless. They've become much better academically over the past couple decades. In particular, Amherst's artificial intelligence and honors program are nationally recognized. In the past, the oceanography and restaurant management majors were well regarded. There is some potential there. 

However, most people don't realize that not only is UMass Amherst not the best school in the system, it isn't even close. UMass Medical School in Worcester is the real jewel in the crown. In a state that's home to some of the best hospitals in the country, Worcester has nothing to be ashamed of.  Meanwhile, UMass Lowell's Engineering program is terrific, and is home to a research center that Major League Baseball uses to test equipment. UML will be home to a new Plastics Hall of Fame. Did you know that UMass Lowell has its own nuclear reactor on campus? It's true. UML is the best school in Massachusetts you've never heard of.

With Chancellor Holub being kicked to the curb, Amherst has to start over...again. It's going to be up to new incoming system president Robert Caret to be the grownup. Real leadership requires that the spoiled brats in Amherst (yes, alumni association, that means you) are forced to face reality. UMass Amherst (and rest of the system) is certainly better than it once was, but it's still nowhere close to being mentioned in the same breath as the public universities of California, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin or Pennsylvania. In other words, it's not a world class university system, and it never will be until and unless there's a coherent, long-term commitment to excellence in fundraising, administration, and most importantly, vision. 

Massachusetts is home to some of the best private colleges and universities in the world. We have MIT, Harvard, Tufts, Babson, Brandeis, Boston College, Williams, Wellesley, and dozens more. Why can't our public university reside at that level, too? 

Photo credit: Robert Holub, boston.com. UMLBRC logo, UMass Lowell.