UCI chancellor describes growth plans during his installment

Howard Gillman was officially installed as the sixth chancellor at UC Irvine during a formal investiture ceremony Tuesday, and he outlined his vision for the 50-year-old campus.

The political scientist sketched out plans to increase the number of students as well as funding for research during the ceremony at UCI’s Irvine Barclay Theatre — even as campus police placed the school on lockdown after reports of a gunman. The man was quickly apprehended, and the investiture continued without disruption.

“This is an investiture, and make no mistake about it, I am invested in UCI,” said Gillman, whose appointment was approved by the UC regents in the fall. Gillman spent a few months as temporary chancellor of UCI last summer when Michael V. Drake, then the chancellor, left to head Ohio State University.

Often known to say, “You’re thinking too small,” Gillman said he’d like to see the 30,000-student school enroll 10,000 more students — some through virtual means.

“Up to half of the total increase in the student body could take the form of new online students,” he said. “This creates an opportunity to become a national leader on how to do online and distance education right.”

Gillman, 55, also said he’d like to hire 250 more faculty and see research funding nearly double to $500 million per year. He stressed the importance of interdisciplinary research in health, medicine, the arts and engineering.

And he proposed a series of new facilities, such as a new student center, a science and engineering building, and “learning spaces,” paid for by donors and other sources, Gillman said.

“Our campus footprint is not built out as it is at other places.” Gillman said. “ And this year we have almost 89,000 students who are applying for seats at our table. They see the value, and we should do all we can to give more of them an opportunity to have a UCI education.”

Gillman was appointed provost and executive vice chancellor of UCI in June 2013. He had been a longtime political science professor at USC, where he had also served as dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

His base salary as UCI chancellor is $485,000.

A first-generation college student, Gillman earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from UCLA.