WILLIAM A. COVINO ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE Administrative Appointments: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs July 2009- Fresno State is a minority-serving institution and a federally designated Hispanic- Serving Institution. The Provost leads the University s eight schools and colleges, staffed by approximately 1150 faculty delivering sixty-four undergraduate degrees, forty-four master s degrees, and three doctoral degrees to over 22,000 students. Other offices reporting to the Provost include research and sponsored programs, library services, service learning, institutional research, continuing and global education, and community and economic development. The Provost coordinates and implements academic goals, educational policy, curricular planning and development, enrollment management, academic program review, academic personnel actions, academic technology, international programs, faculty and staff development, resource development and allocation, assessment, professional and regional accreditation, and strategic and master academic planning. The Provost manages a budget of approximately $100M, and serves as a senior advisor on fundraising, strategic planning, management of the University budget and facilities, and as chief executive officer in the President s absence. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 2006-2009 California State University, Stanislaus California State University, Stanislaus, is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. Units reporting to the Provost included six academic Colleges; the Stockton Center (with approximately 900 students); faculty affairs; enrollment management; research and sponsored programs; library services; institutional research; service learning and community engagement; and international education. Approximately 8500 students chose among sixty-nine undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a doctoral program in Educational Leadership, all staffed by approximately 300 full-time faculty and 200 part-time faculty.
William A. Covino 2 Dean, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Multi Campus 2001-2006 is a diverse public, urban, multi-campus, research university with a student population (in 2006) of approximately 26,000. The College of Arts and Letters was staffed by over 210 full-time faculty (including seven endowed professorships), more than 150 adjunct faculty, and more than 170 graduate teaching assistants, distributed over five campuses. During my tenure, the College encompassed the Fine and Performing Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, with eleven academic departments and six interdisciplinary degree programs, delivering a total of forty-five different undergraduate and graduate degrees, including an interdisciplinary PhD in Comparative Studies, focused on the training of public intellectuals. Major Administrative Accomplishments: Advancement Providing ongoing leadership for the $200M Capital Campaign, as part of the three-member Campaign Senior Team (President, Provost, VP Advancement). Campaign contributions currently exceed the goal. Shaping and presenting major funding proposals to prospective donors. Mentoring the academic deans in the creation of fundraising visions and presentations. Providing targeted resource support for fundraising to the Schools and Colleges. Chaired the President s Commission on the Future of University Advancement, which engaged in a comprehensive review of Fresno State Advancement efforts, and best practices across institutions, resulting in a post-campaign vision of Advancement priorities and organization. Expanded fundraising capacity and productivity through the development of distinctive new programs, in Globalization and World Cultures; Urban and Regional Transformation; Health Equity; Water Technology, Quality, and Management; and Multiculturalism in the US, along with new Centers in STEM Education; Literatures and Cultures of the Americas; and Creativity and the Arts. Led the University s re-branding effort, as co-chair of the Integrated Marketing and Communications Council Steering Committee, which developed a new Fresno State logo. The rebranding program won a Gold award from CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education).
William A. Covino 3 Expanded fundraising capacity and productivity through development of distinctive new programs, in Commercial Music, Latin American Studies, and Ethics, and through the establishment of a School of the Arts and a School of Communication and Multimedia Studies. Stewardship and management of $25M in endowments. Outreach and Engagement Co-Chair, Fresno Area STRIVE Higher Education Action Team Maintaining an active partnership with the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities. California State University System nominee, The William M. Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement. Expanding the Service Learning curriculum, with the goal of making service learning available in every major. Strengthening relationships between the University and regional business, industry, and government, by expanding the reach and raising the visibility of our Office of Community and Economic Development. OCED projects include: o California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley o San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Consortium o Rural Development Center o Regional Industry Clusters Initiative o Fresno State Connects : ongoing orientation to the University for business and industry leaders Developed a faculty cohort specializing in Urban and Regional Transformation, with a cross-disciplinary research focus on sustainability, and a programmatic focus on urban and regional planning. Initiated and coordinated faculty and student involvement in Fresno s Lowell neighborhood revitalization efforts, involving students and faculty from Theatre, Psychology, Business, Early Childhood Education, Political Science, Communication, Mass Communication, and the Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. Expanded and restructured the Division of Continuing and Global Education, as a more significant source of access for new student populations. Developed a signature program for the career and academic advancement of returning US military veterans Provided leadership for the 2010 Conference of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities at Fresno State.
William A. Covino 4 California State University, Stanislaus Achieved recognition by the U.S. President s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Earned Carnegie Foundation recognition for Community Engagement. Directed interdisciplinary and culturally diverse programming in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, with a total audience of nearly 44,000 annually. Maintained and developed programs on four satellite campus sites. Established partnership initiatives with the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. Student Life and Success California State University, System-wide Co-chairing the Early Start Implementation Committee, which has developed policies, procedures, and criteria for the CSU summer program requiring remedial students to begin university-level coursework in English and Math. The program was implemented in summer 2012. Implementing a six-year plan for improving student retention and graduation, resulting in a 7% retention increase in the first year. Expanding institutional and donor support for undergraduate and graduate student research, professionalization, and career development. Co-chair of the University Student Success Task Force. Developing a partnership with UC San Francisco Medical School to provide early admission for qualified students in the Fresno State Smittcamp Honors College. Implementing an aggressive course redesign program, which resulted in passing grades for nearly 600 historically at-risk students in the first year. Developed and launched an open online tutorial program using MOOCrelated technologies--providing students greater access to completing the University s Upper Division Writing Requirement. Increased Service Learning courses by 75%, enrolling 4076 students providing over 110,000 hours of service to the community in 2011-12.
William A. Covino 5 Diversity and Internationalization Initiated and led the development of DiversityMatters@FresnoState, which features the many dimensions of our commitment to the value of diversity: http://www.fresnostate.edu/academics/diversity Appointed a Special Assistant to the Provost for Diversity Outreach and Initiatives, resulting in 1) reinforced faculty participation in the development of the campus Diversity Plan; 2) improved faculty oversight in diversity recruitment and retention; 3) development of a new faculty working group focusing on Literatures and Cultures of the Americas. Supported the establishment of the Latino Faculty/Staff Association; the Asian Faculty/Staff Association; Researchers and Critical Educators (RACE), a group dedicated to scholarship on issues of diversity; and increased support for the Black Faculty/Staff Association. Established and recruited two cross-disciplinary faculty cohorts, to develop fuller campus commitments to 1) Globalization and World Cultures, and 2) Multiculturalism in the US. Led the development of a comprehensive organizational vision for the consolidation and strengthening of international programs, including the appointment of an Assistant Vice President for International Affairs. Strengthened international partnerships with Fresno s Sister Cities, and expanded reciprocal relationships with Universities in China, Japan, India, and Latin America. Advanced a core College commitment to diversity by appointing a Special Assistant to the Dean for Diversity Initiatives, and leading a revitalization of programs in Ethnic Studies, Women s Studies, and Holocaust & Judaic Studies. Built a cross-disciplinary faculty in Latin American Studies and Africana Studies. Planning Developed and implemented a five-year Academic Plan that prioritizes pedagogical innovation, support for faculty and student research, the development of new revenue streams, expanded community engagement, and revitalized international recruitment. Provided leadership for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the 2011-15 University Strategic Plan, especially with respect to the
William A. Covino 6 important emphases on transformational scholarship, innovative pedagogy, and internationalization. Chair of the University s Senior Technology Leadership Team, with a focus on the completion of a Technology Strategic Plan. Reconstituted the Institutional Research Office, as an Office of Institutional Effectiveness, to more formally encompass assessment, strategic planning, and the development of a culture of evidence. Led the successful development of 160 outcomes-based academic assessment plans, in order to meet intensified re-accreditation expectations by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Curriculum Led the aggressive development of online degrees and certificates, with ten new programs to begin by fall 2013, including a Professional Science Master s Degree in Water Resource Management. Supported the redesign of more than 30 high demand/high challenge courses, for completion in summer 2013. Appointed a Faculty Director of Academic Innovation and Technology, to focus on best practices for student success. Appointed a Special Assistant to the Provost for STEM initiatives, to develop a STEM Center that incorporates ongoing and future initiatives. Led the development of two new doctoral degrees, in Nursing Practice and in Physical Therapy, both begun in fall 2012. California State University, Stanislaus Led the development and implementation of the independent EdD, along with commensurate attention to developing a doctoral culture. Launched four new Colleges, in the Arts; Humanities, and Social Sciences; Human and Health Sciences; and Natural Sciences. Developed an online, fully searchable University Catalog. Tripled the number of online courses. Led the development of an expanded interdisciplinary PhD program in Comparative Studies, focused on the training of public intellectuals.
William A. Covino 7 Led the development of a Center for Interdisciplinary Study, to house nine interdisciplinary degree and certificate programs. Faculty Relations and Development Implemented a University-wide instrument for the student evaluation of teaching, in consultation with the faculty senate. Established more well-defined and rigorous qualitative standards for faculty achievement in teaching, research, and service. Reorganized and expanded faculty development, through the establishment of the Center for the Scholarly Advancement of Learning and Teaching, and the Office of Technology Innovations for Learning and Teaching. Devoted over $1.5M over four years in additional support for faculty research. Expanded support for the Provost s Awards for distinguished faculty achievement, providing as many as twelve awards per year. Authorized 127 faculty searches over four years. Advanced interdisciplinary faculty recruitment and collaboration, through the creation of cross-disciplinary faculty cohorts in thematic areas: Globalization and World Cultures, Urban and Regional Transformation; Health Equity; Water Technology, Quality, and Management; and Multiculturalism in the United States. Established a clear process for commercial transfer of faculty inventions, including assessment of commercial viability. Established the allocation of Continuing Education net resources to assigned time for research-active faculty, and increased support for undergraduate and graduate student research. Athletics Advised the President on the fiscal impact of Division I conference realignment. Contributed to significant, nationally-recognized improvement in studentathlete academic progress. EDUCATION PhD in English, University of Southern California 1981 M.A. in English, University of Southern California 1977 M.A. in English, California State University, Northridge 1975
William A. Covino 8 B.A. in English, University of California, Los Angeles 1973 FACULTY APPOINTMENTS Professor of English, 2009- Professor of English, California State University, Stanislaus 2006-2009 Professor of English, 1998-2006 Professor of English, University of Illinois at Chicago 1994-98 Associate Professor of English, University of Illinois at Chicago 1988-94 Associate Professor of English, San Diego State University 1984-88 Assistant Professor of English, San Diego State University 1981-84 PARTICIPATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS Ongoing: Board of Directors, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education American Association of State Colleges and Universities American Council on Education Steering Committee, ACE Association of Chief Academic Officers Association of American Colleges and Universities Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Advisory Committee, APLU Institutional Consortium for Adopting Personalized Leaning Blue Tech Valley Steering Committee Central San Joaquin Valley Innovation Hub California Association for Local Economic Development California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Coalition of Urban Serving Universities Council for Advancement and Support of Education Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Past: American Conference of Academic Deans American Council on Education Institute for New Chief Academic Officers Conference on College Composition and Communication Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Membership Committee International Council of Fine Arts Deans International Society for the History of Rhetoric National Council of Teachers of English Palm Beach County Cultural Council Rhetoric Society of America
William A. Covino 9 UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE California State University, system-wide Ongoing: Co-Chair, CSU Academic Council/Academic Senate committee on MOOCs Co-Chair, CSU Early Start Implementation Committee CSU Academic Council CSU Academic Council working group on Health Equity programs CSU Commission on the Extended University Past: Chair, CSU Taskforce on Textbook Affordability CSU Academic Council Steering Committee CSU Academic Council subcommittee on Doctoral Culture CSU Academic Council working group on The Role of Research in the CSU CSU Academic Technology Steering Committee CSU Summer Arts Council Academic Senate Executive Committee (ex-officio) Agricultural Foundation Board of Directors (ex-officio) Capital Campaign Senior Team Fresno Sister Cities Delegation Graduate Research Advisory Board Information and Educational Technology Coordinating Committee Co-Chair, Integrated Marketing and Communications Council Steering Committee President s Cabinet President s Commission on Teacher Education Chair, President s Commission on the Future of University Advancement President s Task Force on Internationalization Chair, Senior Technology Leadership Team University Strategic Planning Committee University Student Success Committee California State University, Stanislaus Academic Affairs Council Academic Senate Campus Budget Consultation Committee Common Management System Steering Committee Faculty Budget Advisory Committee Faculty Mentor Program Labor Council President s Administrative Group
William A. Covino 10 President s Executive Cabinet Provost s Council of Deans University Budget Advisory Committee President s Cabinet Provost s Council University Council of Deans Chair, University Academic Programs Institutional Effectiveness Committee Chair, University Self-Study Committee on Institutional Effectiveness University Graduate Studies Subcommittee on the Status of Graduate Faculty University Strategic Planning Committee University Strategic Plan Implementation Committee University Collective Bargaining Committee Research University Status Subcommittee SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS Scholarly accomplishments include 5 books, 37 refereed articles and chapters, and over 55 scholarly papers and presentations. Scholarly specializations include the history and theory of rhetoric, persuasion, imagination, and literacy. Published work and conference presentations address the place of rhetoric in the 21 st century university; the elements of persuasion in literature, media, and public address; historical and cultural conceptions of literacy; concepts of the imagination and their relationship to creativity and invention; ways that language and discourse construct community; rhetorical power and cultural diversity; the convergence of classical and postmodern approaches to the creative imagination; conceptions of rhetoric as shaping forces in intellectual history; and the importance of multiple perspectives to effective academic leadership.