The University of Texas at Austin appoints John Dollard vice provost for forecasting, institutional research and modeling

August 31, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas—Dr. John Dollard, professor in the Department of Mathematics and associate dean of graduate studies, has been appointed vice provost for forecasting, institutional research and modeling at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. John Dollard

Dollard will fill a new position created by Executive Vice President and Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson. It will involve responsibility for integrating information from across the university and using it to create long- and short-term financial forecasts and models that will be useful to administrators when making decisions. Some units that will collaborate in this effort are the Office of Institutional Research, the Budget Office, the Office of the Vice President for Financial Affairs, the Office of Admissions, the Registrar’s Office and the Office of Accounting.

Dollard also will oversee the operation of the Office of Institutional Research and foster its development as a unit that will take full advantage of Project IQ and explore new analyses of use to university decision-makers.

“John is a colleague who commands wide respect in all he does. I am delighted he has agreed to take on these new responsibilities,” said Ekland-Olson.

Dollard, who received his doctor’s degree in physics from Princeton University in 1963, has been an associate dean for graduate studies in the Office of Graduate Studies where he administered the Faculty Development Program, Faculty Travel Grants and graduate student fellowships. His recently named successor is Dr. Marvin Hackert, professor of biochemistry at the university.

“I am very much looking forward to my new duties,” said Dollard. “These will entail close collaboration with a number of campus offices to institute fully coordinated forecasting and modeling processes. This in turn will allow university administrators to make more informed decisions and so help us deploy the university’s resources to the best educational advantage. It is exciting and timely work. I regret leaving the wonderful Office of Graduate Studies, where I have many friends, but I expect to visit frequently. I am glad to see my associate dean position passing into the very capable hands of Marv Hackert.”

Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, vice provost and dean of graduate studies, said, “John’s contributions to the Graduate School have been enormous, and he will be greatly missed. Luckily, he is not going too far away, and I expect I may call on him from time to time to tap his many areas of expertise and his institutional knowledge. While I am saddened to lose such a valuable member of the Graduate School team, I know he is the perfect choice for his new position and I look forward to continuing working with him.”

For more information contact: Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.