Holub: A plan for a UMass presence expected in six months

Date: 6/30/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- University of Massachusetts (UMass) Chancellor Robert C. Holub said last week that he hopes to have a plan in place within six months for a formal UMass presence in the city.

Holub spoke to Reminder Publications before a dinner between university officials and faculty and area residents conducted at the Old First Church.

The university already has programs in the city and Holub noted the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute is just one of them. He added that faculty members have various programs in the city's school.

"It depends on where you are, how visible we are," he said.

The goal of the plan is to consolidate these existing programs, create an office for them and to encourage the development of the green and creative economy in the city.

Whatever the university does in the city, it will not include classes for credit, he added.

Although this is not the first time UMass has been interested in establishing a noticeable presence in the city. When asked what was the difference between this program and others from the past, Holub said, "What makes this different is that I'm committed to it and the governor is committed to it."

Holub confirmed that Mayor Domenic Sarno has asked the university to consider having offices at either the Old First Church or the neighboring 31 Elm St. building, where the re-development plans have stalled. The chancellor did not commit to either building.

He did say he believes that any office would be in the downtown area.

Part of that hesitation to commit to a particular location is the lack of a comprehensive plan and the funding to support the plan. Holub said that like every other aspect of state government, the university is seeing reductions this imminent fiscal year and is expecting even greater cuts in the following fiscal year.

During the last nine months the university has been in an exploratory phase of the possible relationship it could have for the city. Once a plan is in place, UMass officials will work with the city government, the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, the governor and the Legislature to secure funding, he said. He added he hopes that by the time the plan is ready there would also be interest from the private sector for investment.

"It is exciting," Holub said.