[media-credit name=’MEGHAN CONLIN/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Amid the tranquility of white marble and potted plants in Birge Hall lobby Wednesday, University of Wisconsin officials held a reception for UW provost candidate Patrick Farrell.

The calm setting provided a stark contrast to the grueling interview schedule Farrell, the associate dean of the UW College of Engineering, will go through today in the final stage of his interview process.

"It's the first true chance for the university to look at the candidates," said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Peyton Smith, who will be just one of many UW officials interviewing Farrell today. "People have the opportunity here to come here and form their own opinion [on the candidates]."

Through the course of today, Farrell is scheduled to meet with a number of university representatives and groups, including, among others, the chancellor, the Council of Deans, the Academic Staff Executive Committee, the Council for Non-Represented Staff and Associated Students of Madison leadership.

It is a process the other provost candidate, Sue Rosser, dean of the Ivan Allen College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia Technical Institute, is scheduled to go through during her visit to the UW campus Feb. 27 and 28.

After all of the meetings are completed, the various campus representatives will make their recommendations for provost directly to Chancellor John Wiley, who will then make the ultimate decision.

Wednesday evening, though, provided Farrell an opportunity to discuss with university representatives — some of whom he has worked closely with for years — his provost candidacy and the future of UW in a more relaxed atmosphere than today's formal meetings and official interviews.

"I think it's really important for this university to sort of see for ourselves, where do we plan to be 10 to 20 years from [now]," Farrell said in an interview before most of the guests arrived. "What do we do now … that begins to prepare ourselves for [the future]?"

Though not delving into specific plans, Farrell spoke about maintaining levels of funding, a positive campus climate and UW's reputation as a prominent research institution as important goals for the university.

Farrell said retaining an "outstanding" faculty is the key to continuing UW's research tradition.

"Fundamentally, the engine of research is primarily … the ideas and energy of the faculty," Farrell said. "We need to maintain that faculty … If we don't, then it doesn't matter what I do as provost, research activity will decline."

In the aftermath of the alleged Ogg Hall hate crimes, Farrell also addressed free speech issues and the importance of maintaining a welcoming campus environment.

"Certainly freedom of speech and First Amendment guarantees are important," he said. "But so is a campus climate that welcomes and, not only does not threaten any particular segment, but makes it clear that we are anxious to be open and welcoming to anybody."

Farrell's primary focus Wednesday evening, however, was on the need to ensure UW continues to understand the changing needs of students.

"It's part of the excitement of being at the university," Farrell said. "How do we match the things we think students need to know with what they bring, what their abilities are."

It is something Smith said he is hoping to see from the provost finalists.

"I'm looking for someone who cares deeply for the university and works effectively with people," Smith said.