Spotlight On: Julie Chen, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Spotlight On: Julie Chen, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Lowell

2022-12-07T08:46:41-05:00December 7th, 2022|Boston, Education, Spotlight On|

4 min read December 2022 — Julie Chen, the newly appointed chancellor of University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell), sat down for an interview with Invest: to talk about the university’s efforts to provide interdisciplinary programs, why businesses are more interested in working with younger people, and how the wider Boston region could benefit by adopting a hub-and-spoke model going forward with its development.

What have been some of the key highlights over the past year for you in your new role as chancellor?

I have been in the fortunate position of not being new to the university as I have been here for 25 years, which is why I have a lot of established connections with the university and the community. There are significant events taking place every day. In October, our new School of Computer & Information Sciences was named for UMass Lowell alumnus Rich Miner, the founder of Android. It is the largest and hottest program at the university with over 2,000 students enrolled. The significance of this program is that it is not just computer science in isolation, rather it takes an interdisciplinary approach with exposure to other UMass Lowell courses, such as life sciences, so there is a bridge between these disciplines for the students. This is crucial because technology is a part of all sectors. Another example is how students who are extremely interested in sustainability and climate change can have an impact. The utility and energy sector and policy-developers need people who are data scientists, chemical engineers, or business majors who understand these interdisciplinary sectors. We provide a comprehensive education that bridges these sectors directly. Another key area of focus for the university is that we want all of our undergraduates to have at least one paid internship so they know what kind of career they can have with their degrees early on and they are more thoughtful about what majors they pursue.

How are online and in-person trends in classes shifting? 

Obviously, students love the convenience of Zoom, but they are thrilled to be back in the classroom engaging directly with their instructors. One of the things we see on the learning part of it is that some things have to be taught in person, such as labs and small discussion sections, because they are better in person. Also, we have a very large online master’s program that functions quite smoothly. For example, our MBA program can be mostly done online because people who complete an MBA usually have other responsibilities in their lives. The younger generation, however, benefits more from in-person interactions, labs, clubs and activities. 

What do you think contributes to the international reputation of the education sector in Massachusetts?

We have outstanding educational institutions in Massachusetts that are known across the world through which we are able to attract students from all over the country and the world. This creates a truly diverse population and energy in this region that leads to the innovation and success of a lot of the start-ups, and even the larger companies, which eventually comes to be a powerful reinforcing cycle. The other particular strength of the Boston and Greater Boston region is that we are not just a one-industry sector. There are some places that are really well known but they just have one economic focus, whereas here you can have life sciences, robotics, cleantech, and computer science intermingled. And, it is precisely this cross-over and intentional diversification that produces the collaborative success you see between academia and corporations. 

What are some key challenges that the university is facing right now? 

Enrollment is always critical because most of our budget is driven by enrollment. But a big challenge we are facing is that incoming students do not have the same level of preparation as they did pre-COVID. For example, we are seeing that the math or analytical skills are not as good as they were and we are having to think about how we can get students up to where they need to be if they are going to choose a lot of these STEM majors. It’s already hard enough for a 17- or 18-year-old to be learning online, then imagine a 14- or 15-year-old who has lost a lot of in-person interaction. We see the need to help them get back to where they were pre-COVID.

What partnerships with the business or other educational communities are in place to get the students prepared for their entry into the workforce?

We have great partnerships with industry and other educational organizations. Firstly, about the business industry, we have a great example of what we call a co-location model where the company has staff on campus working side by side with UMass Lowell faculty and students. This helps our faculty work on interesting research and development projects and students have hands-on experience within the boundaries of the university itself, reducing their commuting time and fare. Furthermore, this early exposure helps students make decisions about their educational and career trajectories. Also, we highly value paid internships and are providing these career-connected experiences for all of our students. Ultimately, this is a benefit to those companies who do avail this opportunity since it gives them an early connection with our students. Lastly, as of 2022, we have noted that there is a heightened interest from companies as well. For example, our educational fairs are always sold out, but the shift is that companies are more interested in working with students earlier. Now, they are open to talking with freshmen and sophomores about internships and going to high schools and talking about career paths.

With respect to partnerships with educational institutions, we are continuing to grow and strengthen existing links because we realize that we need all of us together to meet the workforce demand. We are hearing it from the microelectronics people, we are hearing it from all of the industry sectors, the talent demand is extremely high even with the economy cooling off a bit right now. When there is a demand for 40,000 new positions in the next three to four years for a certain skill set, then it is about everybody in the region helping to meet demand. It is not as if you take 4,000 graduates from one university and not the other, you need all of them. 

How has the university addressed current economic conditions such as inflation and mental health for students?

One of the challenges that we are focusing on right now is the mental health and wellness of our students. We recognize that this is a holistic matter and are working with the students about getting enough sleep, eating right, developing great friendships, financial wellness and other knowledge and tools. Furthermore, it is also about helping them understand that the best financial answer is not always about being able to squeeze in eight courses and graduate in three years. We want them to be more thoughtful about plotting their financial, academic and career paths so that when they graduate with a degree they have multiple great offers. And, with that career path, it is not going to be a problem paying off a small debt in a short amount of time. Additionally, we are expanding our dual enrollment early career programs because it counts toward students’ high school and college credit. This helps them experience college courses and cover some of the entry-level courses in a way that enables them to get into various career courses much faster. 

What is your outlook for the region and the university in regard to what you would like to see the region become?

Education in the state has the advantage of institutions such as MIT and Harvard, both of which are global leaders. As a public institution, the University of Massachusetts system plays an important role because its 75,000 total students are the ones who are most likely going to stay in the region when they graduate. As a public research university, UMass Lowell is an important workforce development and innovation pipeline for numerous companies in this region. Therefore, for Massachusetts to continue to flourish, we might want to consider adopting a hub-and-spoke model. Compared to larger states in the country, it’s a short trip from Boston to multiple Gateway Cities and urban centers such as Lowell, New Bedford, or Springfield. There are ways to leverage the advantages and resources of these smaller, more affordable, urban communities and their higher educational institutions to benefit companies and the Commonwealth.

For more information, visit: 

https://www.uml.edu/

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