University of Wisconsin Interim Dean of Students Lori Berquam said she has the best job on campus, and there are lots of applicants looking to take her seat.
The dean of students search began last spring and was postponed to this fall in order to give students the opportunity to have a more prominent role in the search.
At the rate the search was going last spring, campus visits and open forums, which were held when the applicants are narrowed down to a list of finalist candidates, would have taken place over the summer when most of the student body was not in Madison.
Berquam would not confirm whether she was running for the position, but said it is crucial for students to follow the dean of students search and take part in the open forums. This is important, she noted, because the candidate Chancellor John Wiley and Provost Patrick Farrell choose to take on the job will be the students' representation.
"Working with [the students] and championing for them and making connections with them, those are all critical things. I think the students can help shape that," Berquam said.
Students will play a pivotal role in determining just who will make the connections between the UW administration and students.
Katrina Flores, student co-chair of the Search and Screen Committee to evaluate the dean of students applications, encouraged students to participate in the search.
In an e-mail to The Badger Herald, Flores wrote that she hopes students' feedback "plays an integral role" in the chancellor and provost's final decision. In a later interview Flores added, "I think sometimes students don't know that their feedback and their evaluations of these candidates count."
According to Berquam, the dean of students' responsibilities consist of overseeing a range of programs and services at UW and communicating with students about ways to improve the university.
"Our goal is to have students succeed here and … interconnect all aspects of students' life — social, personal and academic," Berquam said.
The Search and Screen Committee has not compiled a list of finalists yet.
Colleen McCabe, who is responsible for making arrangements for the final candidates when they visit UW, said the Search and Screen Committee could not release any information about the candidates until the "short list" is written.
McCabe said there is no set date for the "short list" to be submitted to Chancellor Wiley, but she hopes it will be done by November.
Since the search started last spring, there has been speculation that Berquam is an applicant in the dean of students search.
Berquam said whether she remains in the Dean of Students position or not, she just wants to see to it that the best dean for UW students is chosen.
"It has to be the best person for our campus," Berquam said. "And do I think we're going in the right direction with what we're doing right now? Absolutely. That doesn't mean somebody can't pick it up and run with it."
