In September 2008, University of Wisconsin will need a new chancellor. He or she won’t have an easy act to follow. John Wiley’s tenure over the past seven years has seen tremendous growth for UW, and the UW System’s top priority will be to find someone who can pick up where he left off. The qualities students are looking for in their next chancellor may vary, but a select few stand out as vital for ensuring UW’s continued good health.

The new chancellor must show the ability to raise money for the university, ensuring its growth far into the future. Of course, fundraising means more than securing commitments from private donors; it also means gaining the trust of the state Legislature and maintaining UW’s prominence in the state budget. On this front, the outgoing chancellor’s tenure leaves something to be desired. Mr. Wiley certainly can’t be blamed for presiding over UW in an era of partisan gridlock, in which the university’s funding has never been a top priority for Assembly Republicans. Nonetheless, the future quality of the institution may well depend on finding a leader who can bridge the partisan divide over the state’s role in funding UW.

While successful fundraising is vital, any university chancellor worth his mettle will have a passion for working with students. By being open to student concerns while refusing to pander to radical interest groups, the next chancellor will avoid the ivory tower stigma and become a linchpin for the development of positive student-administration relations.

One of the most publicized concerns of the student body is the need for more diversity on campus. The next chancellor would be wise to maintain a visible long-term commitment to making UW a more diverse environment. UW can certainly achieve this goal by strengthening its recruitment efforts in minority communities and continuing to work with student groups to improve the campus climate.

Further, the next chancellor must have the utmost regard for academic freedom in the classroom and freedom of the press. If UW is to continue to boast a robust marketplace of ideas, it needs a leader who won’t cave to political pressures and will resist the knee-jerk reactions of those who consider certain topics taboo for a public university. Professors must be given a wide berth to teach, and students should be trusted to think independently and form their own judgments.

Finally, the Search and Screen Committee should be encouraged to recommend at least five realistic candidates for the position. UW cannot afford another debacle like the 2005-06 provost search, in which only three candidates were nominated, with one promptly dropping out of consideration. We believe the Board of Regents will be most likely to select the best chancellor if given a broad set of candidates to choose from.

Mr. Wiley’s early announcement offers UW an opportunity to scour the nation for the best possible candidate, including those employed in the UW System. While infusing UW’s most important office with an outsider?s perspective would certainly have its advantages, the value of institutional familiarity should not be overlooked.

We urge the Search and Screen Committee to carefully weigh these factors and take heed of the input of its two student members.