Among the biggest changes are the new construction projects happening around campus.��Two new residence halls, University Pointe and The Nine, will begin housing students this semester. The luxury-style apartments will add about 800 beds within a block of campus.��In addition, Crawford Gym will be demolished in order to make way for a new academic building, slated to open before the Fall 2018 semester. But perhaps the most ambitious project underway this semester is the renovation of the Student Activity Center, which will add thousands of square feet of meeting space and give the building a face lift in order to convert it into the “living room of campus.”

“Housing and common spaces like the SAC have a big impact on student involvement,” said engineering student Chris Bird. “The new facilities are going to make it much easier for students to come together and get involved on campus.”

Students can also expect to see some changes in how they navigate around the university. Warnock Street, which serves as the southern entrance to campus, has been renamed University Boulevard. The new flyover ramp joining Brook and Iowa Streets on the south end of campus has been christened the Brook Street Connector. In addition, the intersection of Floyd Street and East Brandeis Avenue at the northeast corner of campus has been converted into a roundabout.

Campus dining options have undergone a lineup change as well. With its new dining partner Aramark, UofL now features restaurants such as Greens to Go, Aqua Sushi, Mark’s Feed Store, City Café, Twisted Taco, Panda Express, two Starbucks and four P.O.D. Markets (Provisions on Demand). Papa John’s, McAlister’s, Einstein Bros., Tulip Tree Cafe, Wendy’s, Subway and Chick-fil-A will remain open, with the latter three now offering expanded menus.

In the classroom, students will begin to see more technology being incorporated into lesson plans, thanks to the opening of the Technology Innovation and Learning Lab (TILL) in the Ekstrom library. Run by the Delphi center, the TILL will allow instructors to try out new gadgets and techniques to help bring their teaching styles up to the cutting edge. To complement this, large lecture halls like those in Davidson, Strickler and Sackett have been outfitted with larger student desks featuring power outlets for charging their various devices.

In addition to these new sights around campus, UofL is also welcoming new leadership. Dr. Neville Pinto will serve as acting President of the university, following the departure of James Ramsey last month. Pinto will lead the university until the Board of Trustees selects a permanent president. English professor Dale Billingsley has stepped into Pinto’s former role as interim vice president and provost.

Cardinal Ambassador Rachel Casey is excited to start the school year at the improved Belknap campus. “When it’s all said and done, there’s not going to be another university on Kentucky that looks as good as ours,” she said.

This new chapter in UofL’s story began in late July when medical and dental students returned to the classroom.��On Aug. 17, students will descend upon campus for the annual move-in. Undergraduate classes begin Aug. 22.

Pinto transitioned to  after the Board of Trustees accepted former President James Ramsey’s resignation. He was vacationing with his family in Hilton Head at the time.

“I was sitting on the couch with my son watching a movie. I was actually almost asleep. I don’t think he knew that,” Pinto said. “I got the call and was informed that I was now acting president of the university … I have to be honest, it’s been a whirlwind for me this past week.”

Pinto has been at UofL just shy of five years, first arriving on campus in September 2011 to serve as dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and professor of chemical engineering. He was appointed interim provost in July 2015. The job included oversight of the university’s academic programming and day-to-day operations.

Though he admitted to being surprised by the abrupt transition, Pinto said he is honored that the Board of Trustees asked him to lead the institution in this interim period.

“What I recognized very quickly was that there is a flood of support for us to move forward. I’ve heard from many faculty, staff, student, alumni and community members, expressing their support for the university and for me to move it forward,” he said. “That has really encouraged me, and I’ve started gaining confidence that we can do it.”

As provost, Pinto was charged with the implementation of the university’s and said that the plan will continue to be the structure he and his leadership team will use.

“It’s an exciting plan. It connects to what’s most important for us here and that is a first-rate education for the students. It’s about student success, quality of programs, putting out outstanding research,” he said. “It connects to our service to the community, service in a way that is unique for a university – our ability to bring our intellectual potential to provide long-range solutions for our community.”

Pinto credited a strong team, including vice presidents and deans, for helping to bring these objectives to fruition. He also credited faculty and staff for making sure the university didn’t miss a beat during the transition.

“The task right now is to get ready for almost 3,000 students coming in as our freshmen class and the 22,000-some students that will be coming back to campus for the fall semester,” Pinto said. “I’m excited. I feel optimistic. I feel energized.”

Pinto fielded some questions from the media on a variety of issues, including:

• The impact of ongoing distractions, including the debate between the governor and attorney general about which board of trustees is in charge. Pinto said he is optimistic the judicial process will work itself out and that both boards are supportive of moving the university forward, underscoring that this debate has no impact on the day-to-day operations of the university. He also added that he has kept the chairmen of both boards, Larry Benz and Junior Bridgeman, in the loop.

“From my perspective, the board of trustees is about establishing policy for the university. Operationally, we function fairly effectively in this environment. We can still function well and deliver,” he said.

• When asked about whether he would want the president’s job permanently, Pinto said: “This is not about me right now. It’s (about) what the university needs. I think it needs a competitive, national search for a leader. The board of trustees will define the type of leader that’s required. Right now, I’m thinking about moving this university forward.”

Pinto added that he is just reacting right now. “I don’t expect this (role) to go very long. I think a search will start as soon as the board is finalized, and then we’ll move on. Right now, my focus is providing continued leadership, and that’s more important than anything I need to do for myself right now.”

• About the possibility of more tuition hikes, Pinto said that historically UofL has done better than the average university for student debt after they graduate (about $37,000 for the national average and $26,000 for UofL graduates).

“When we cut costs, it often comes at the price of quality … It’s an optimization of all of our resources to get to our objective of providing a high quality education at the lowest price,” he said. “It’s a really complex problem and isolating it as one or two factors oversimplifies it in my view.”

Pinto reiterated that we are currently operating on a spending plan right now. “There are a lot of implications for students if we don’t establish a spending plan,” he said.

• Asked if he was concerned about the reputational impact any recent issues have had, Pinto said, “Yes, ideally I do not want to be on the front page for this reason. We have, however, a very strong university. For example, last week, our faculty won $4 million in research awards. So things are going on,” he said. “This is a very strong institution, and I recognize that. I have learned to appreciate its strength. I think we will be all right.”

• Pinto said he is not concerned about the upcoming Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation being affected by the leadership transition. There are criteria within the accreditation requirements that speak to governance and whenever there is a change in governance, the university has to notify the accrediting authority.

“There have been some changes, and we have notified them. We will continue to work with the agency, and we’re hopeful that there will be a quick resolution,” he said.

• Pinto called Ramsey’s leadership “transformational.” “If you look at where the university was when he came and where it is now, that’s the only conclusion I can come to. I can tell you that when I worked with him both as interim provost and dean, he was very creative, he was committed to the students, he was committed to the institution – all elements that transformed this university,” he said. “So that’s the record. That’s not going to change.”

• Pinto ended his meeting with a message to the students, promising that the university’s commitment to them has not changed.

“I want to make sure that the discussions and challenges we are having around decisions on governance are completely transparent to them so that their experience will be the same whether this happened or not,” he said. “I will be transparent in everything I do. That’s in my DNA. Academics is about openness, and that’s the way I am.”

.��

Following the Board of Trustees meeting July 27, Chairman Pro Tem Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman said, “The University of Louisville Board of Trustees today accepted the immediate resignation of Dr. James Ramsey as president of the university. During the past 14 years, Dr. Ramsey has guided the institution through a remarkable transformation. By any measure – student retention and graduation rates, research funding and successes, student achievement and fundraising – the University of Louisville is a different, far better institution because of Dr. Ramsey.”

Bridgeman added that a national search will begin immediately for the next UofL president.��

In the meantime, Interim Provost Neville Pinto will serve as Acting President, pursuant to university policy as outlined in The Redbook, UofL’s basic governance document.

“Dr. Pinto is an accomplished leader, and the board recognizes and appreciates his deep commitment to our institution,” Bridgeman said.

In a separate statement, Dr. Pinto said, “I am honored to serve in this capacity. With your support, I look forward to ensuring that the transition is accomplished with a renewed commitment to our students, our core values, and our broader university mission.”

Dr. Pinto called it a privilege to serve under Dr. Ramsey for the past 15 months as Interim Provost.��

“Under his presidency, the university has made remarkable gains, catapulting our reputation as a national, metropolitan research university. We are collectively grateful for his transformational presidency,” he said, adding that UofL’s leadership team is committed to building on this success.�� 

“The last few months have been challenging for our entire campus community. I want to thank you, our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, for your unwavering commitment to the university during this time. Each of you plays an important role in advancing the vital work we do in education, research and discovery, and community service and support,” Dr. Pinto said in his statement. “Our successes have been due to your hard work and accomplishments. I am confident that you will continue to deliver with passion and energy as we prepare our university to attract an outstanding new president.”

Dr. Pinto added that he will appoint an Interim Provost “shortly” to lead UofL through the implementation of the 21st Century University Initiative: Powering the 2020 Plan.��

“As we start our new academic year, I look forward to welcoming over 22,000 students to our campuses. Among these students is an outstanding freshman class and talented new graduate and professional students,” he said. “I will be energized by their excitement and optimism. I know you will as well.” 

Neville G. Pinto’s appointment as Interim Executive Vice President and University Provost at the University of Louisville became effective July 1, 2015. He joined UofL in 2011 as Dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and Professor of Chemical Engineering. While Dean, his accomplishments included spearheading development of the Belknap Engineering and Applied Sciences Research Park and significantly strengthening the university’s relationship with GE. This partnership has led to educational and career opportunities for UofL students and encouraged GE to bring its FirstBuild microfactory to campus.

Prior to joining the Speed School, Dr. Pinto served at the University of Cincinnati in various capacities, including Vice Provost (2006-2011).

Dr. Pinto was educated at the Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, and at Penn State University where he earned his MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering.

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