NEWS
Committee continues to search for new UW System president
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Also by Virginia Zignego:
- Committee continues to search for new UW System president (April 28, 2004)
- Search for new UW System president continues (May 4, 2004)
- Students will not face cuts in class offerings (May 6, 2004)
- Changes to bill might mean more fees for students (April 15, 2004)
- Canadian dorms to be built overlooking nude beach (April 20, 2004)
Related Stories:
- Search for new UW System president continues (May 4, 2004)
- UW System presidential search committees announced; Santiago to be UWM chancellor (March 8, 2004)
- Lyall announces upcoming retirement (February 6, 2004)
- Candidates for UW-Milwaukee chancellor search announced (February 16, 2004)
- Chancellor likely to leave Whitewater (December 8, 2004)
by Virginia Zignego
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Since University of Wisconsin System President Katharine Lyall announced her retirement in February, the search for a new president continues.
According to a website set up to offer information on the search, the next president is likely to possess a “passion for educating students, an appreciation and respect of faculty and staff, an understanding of the importance of external resources, and a commitment to the citizens of Wisconsin.”
Citizens can learn more about the search at www.wisconsin.edu/presidentialsearch/index.htm.
UW System Board of Regents President Toby Markovich has appointed an 18-body presidential search committee composed of a variety of UW System members.
Search committee members include UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear; UW-Stout student government president David Hay; Regent Jesus Salas of Milwaukee; and UW-La Crosse political science professor Joseph Heim.
Markovich said he hopes the committee can appoint a new president by June 1.
Lyall said she would remain in her position until her replacement arrives or until Sept. 1 at the latest.
“One would hope we meet the deadline,” said UW System Director of Communications Doug Bradley. “Until we miss the deadline, we remain hopeful.”
The UW System is composed of 26 campuses, serves more than 160,000 students a year and is the eighth largest university system in the U.S.
The UW System members, governed by the Board of Regents, are appointed by the governor of Wisconsin and confirmed by the Senate. The Board of Regents sets each “university’s academic and admission policies, capital programs, personnel policies and budget,” according to the website.
Despite the importance of the pending replacement, some students across the UW System display a lack of knowledge about the system, even though it controls many aspects of their college careers.
“People know a lot more here about the Mifflin Street Block Party than the UW System president, or the whole board for that matter,” UW-Whitewater freshman Mike Sweeney said. “I care [about tuition], but not enough to do anything. I care more about the block party at the moment.”
Other students said they had heard of the Board of Regents, but did not know what the board did.
“Reading the paper, you see a story on the Board of Regents, and you see a story on Audrey Seiler. The Seiler story is more interesting, so that’s what I read,” UW-Madison junior Kristin Klingman said.
UW-La Crosse freshman Valentina Tran said she cares about her tuition but did not know the board existed.
“I think there’s a disconnect(ion) between the students and the board,” Tran said. “I bet you no one around here knows about anything relating to that.”
