The Special Committee on the Nomination of a President organized two forums yesterday during which University community members discussed the search for University President John T. Casteen III's successor.
John Wynne, chairman of the search committee and rector of the Board of Visitors, said the forums' goals were to collect any suggestions or concerns that the community wanted to bring to the committee's attention. Wynne said the purpose of the forums was "to learn what [the Search Committee] doesn't know," he said, adding that, "The Board of Visitors is [at the University] part time. We need to hear from people who are on Grounds full time."
At the forums, attendees were asked to think critically about the opportunities and challenges they see the University facing in the next ten years, the qualifications and personal leadership characteristics that the next president should possess and any other considerations that the committee should bear in mind as it initiates the search process.
The first forum, held at Newcomb Hall was attended mostly by students and faculty members, including students from several groups representing minority groups on Grounds. Representatives from the Minority Rights Coalition said that though the University has made a lot of progress since its founding days, a lot more still needs to be done on Grounds about diversity issues.
Seth Kaye, Co-President of Queer and Allied Activism, said the University should make more of an effort to recruit faculty from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities.
Neal Fox, a co-chair of the Minority Rights Coalition, added that "these issues need to be brought to the forefront in this search."
Some members of the student body, meanwhile, said they hoped the University's new president would focus on reducing sexual violence on and near Grounds. Amanda Perez, a member of the Latino Student Alliance, said the next president needs to "create more initiatives to prevent sexual assault from happening."
Third-year College student Nana Amoah brought up the University's need to create opportunities for students outside of the classroom, noting that "the learning environment extends outside the classroom."
Globalization was another issue at the forefront of yesterday's morning discussion. Dean of African-American Affairs Maurice Apprey said students need more international experience.\n"The world is shrinking," he said.
Chew-Mee Kirtland, a 1981 Darden graduate and parent of a current University student said the next president "needs to be able to deal with a global economy that is becoming more challenging."
Additionally, many feel that the next president should have the political savvy to further the Univerity's mission. Mary Chee, a student in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, said she believes the next president should make the University a "major player in the international arena."
At the second forum, located at Zehmer Hall, University staff and faculty offered up other ideas. Attendees brought up a variety of concerns, including those related to the recruitment and retainment of new faculty, as well as restructuring efforts.
A number of faculty members were concerned about restructuring the faculty make-up of the University. Stewart Gamage, Director of the Morven Project, said the next president will have to understand what can be done to make restructuring even better.
Chee also noted that a large percentage of faculty members are getting ready to retire and said the next President should take this opportunity to recruit innovative faculty.
"This is a great opportunity to propel the University," she said.
Susan Chisholm, a faculty member from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, noted that the next president needs to be able to attract the best faculty and the best students.
"How do we get these people to come to U.Va and stay here?" she asked the committee.
The University's staff also let their voices and concerns be heard.
"Staff members do many things that hold the University together," said Carey Reinicke, an employee with the School of Continuing Studies. She added that the next president should show "new initiative to attract staff members that will hold the University's mission."
Nancy Iverson, the assistant dean of K-12 education, was the last to speak at yesterday's second forum, addressing the personal attributes needed of the University's eighth president.
He or she "must always at heart be committed to the pursuit of knowledge," she said.
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