Monday, March 9, 2009

Students Should Take Interest in New University Administration

By Alexandra Garry, edited by Carly Halvorson, University Daily Kansan
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As the search for Chancellor Robert Hemenway’s replacement continues, the departure of Provost Richard Lariviere leaves another vacant spot in the University’s administration to be filled.Administrators and student leaders said students were unlikely to feel any direct effect but should take a strong interest in new candidates for the positions.

Alex Rock, Lawrence senior and coordinator of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Committee, said students generally didn’t realize the importance of the chancellor’s and provost’s jobs because of a lack of “face-to-face contact.” But, he said, students should still pay attention to and care about the leaders of the University.

“Students take it for granted what these positions do, but the chancellor and provost dictate the culture and environment of the whole school,” Rock said.

The top administration openings mean more of the weight of running the University will fall to the six vice provosts, officials said.

Steve Warren, vice provost for research and graduate studies, said the vice provosts would feel the effects of Lariviere leaving to become president of the University of Oregon. But, Warren said, they were well-equipped to keep everything running smoothly. Warren said the increased workload would not continue to trickle down the administration.

“We’re not leaderless or rudderless just yet,” Warren said. “You can rest assured that everything will be fine. ”The chancellor search committee has set the end of June as the deadline for announcing a finalist candidate. Though the nominations are still being taken and no stand-out candidates have been selected, Drue Jennings, the chairman of the search committee, said it was on track to keep the deadline.

“No one wants the University to endure any kind of vacuum,” Jennings said.Jennings said once the chancellor search committee made their selection, the new chancellor would then pick the new provost.

Adam McGonigle, Wichita junior, student body president and member of the chancellor search committee, said students were taking a strong interest in the chancellor search and many had contacted him asking how they could make a difference.

“The administration has a tremendous impact on students — they shape the mission and the vision of the University and set the goals,” McGonigle said. McGonigle said he hoped students were also involved in the selection of the new provost and he planned to speak with Chancellor Hemenway to try to ensure that it would happen. Rock said he “would like to see a younger chancellor or provost, making more of an effort to reach out to students beyond those who are heavily involved.”

“Those students who can’t get involved because they have to work the part-time jobs to pay for school, those are the students who need to be heard even more,” Rock said. “Those are the students who need more help, and that’s something we’re going to see more of.

”Paul van Donkelaar, chairman of the president search committee at the University of Oregon, said the ability to communicate effectively with legislators and grant writers in order to better provide resources for students was a crucial quality in a good university administrator. It is also why students should care about the selection process.

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