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Muyskens
leaves a legacy to Gwinnett
in his pioneering work at Center
By Paige Havens
Gwinnett University Center
Special to GwinnettForum.com
JUNE 25, 2002 -- With the recent announcement of Jim Muyskens'
departure to become president of Queens College in New York City,
it's a bittersweet time at the Gwinnett University Center. Jim will
leave behind a mark on Gwinnett that is incredibly significant,
yet one that may not be fully appreciated for years to come. Take
a brief look at how this chapter in history will be written.
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Jim
Muyskens
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Two years ago Jim Muyskens left his post as Senior Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs for the University System of Georgia to focus
on making the Gwinnett University Center a reality. Many thought
he was crazy to make this move, but he believed passionately in
the vision and the mission set forth for GUC.
Progress could not have moved more swiftly. The first building
was constructed in 11 months. This August, GUC will expand again
into the campus signature building and launch the long-awaited UGA
baccalaureate programs.
Georgia G.L.O.B.E. and Advanced Learning Technologies will also
call GUC home, realizing the GUC statewide mission to be the System's
Center for High-Tech Innovation. It was Jim's vision that the Center
and its partners, University of Georgia and Georgia Perimeter College,
offer the entire University System of Georgia a unique resource
for innovative teaching models, for creative instructional design,
for unique public-private partnerships, for new degree development
and collaborative online degrees, for seamless student services
and for development opportunities for visiting faculty from across
the nation.
Now that the Gwinnett University Center is strongly underway, Jim
Muyskens has made the decision to take on new challenges. We should
not be surprised that Jim was lured back to Queens College, which
is his wife's (Alda) alma mater and where he made his professional
start. He returns as a nationally recognized leader of innovation
to be president.
There is no doubt that the motto Jim instilled here---"Learning
By All Means"--- will ring through the GUC halls for generations
to come. He personally worked to design the campus as a model high-tech
learning environment. He devised multiple strategies for learning,
utilizing the latest in technology. One of the hallmarks of the
campus resonates from his commitment to experimentation with new
instructional technologies. Today's technologies offer new ways
for instruction to be interactive, to make connections and to be
tailored to each person's ability, schedule, learning style and
pace.
The Gwinnett University Center is a model and a catalyst for innovation
for the entire University System. It is a campus we can all be proud
to call our own. Thanks to Jim we have a new way of thinking.
In a message about Jim's leaving, Chancellor Tom Meredith says:
"We have much to thank Jim Muyskens for---his service, his
innovation, his vision. He set the mark. We will work now to keep
the pace amd bring GUC to its full fruition."
For a farewell to Jim, go to the GUC web site: http://www.gwinnettuniversitycenter.com/farewell.asp
We are proud of the legacy Jim Muyskens leaves and thank him for
the groundwork he has laid. The staff will push forward remembering
him to develop the rest of the 167 acres into a dynamic full-service
college campus that he envisioned. We wish Jim (and Alda) much happiness
and success in their new opportunity.
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Number
2.22, June 25, 2002
