A University of Wisconsin System official agreed Wednesday to take on the role of interim chancellor for UW-Colleges and UW-Extension, pending approval by the UW System Board of Regents next month.
Marv Van Kekerix will be the interim chancellor for both institutions beginning July 1, filling in for David Wilson, who accepted a position as president at Morgan State University in Baltimore last December.
Wilson was the first chancellor to see the consolidation of UW-Extension and Colleges when he took office in 2006, said Howard Cosgrove, spokesperson for UW-Extension and Colleges.
Van Kekerix will serve as the interim chancellor until a successor is appointed, which could be as early as January 2011, according to Cosgrove.
While Van Kekerix has agreed to take the position, the UW System Board of Regents must approve him during its Feb. 4 and 5 meetings.
UW System President Kevin Reilly will form a committee to find the permanent chancellor of UW-Extension and Colleges. It will consist of a 23-member committee comprised of students, staff and faculty, according to Cosgrove.
Van Kekerix will not be considered as a candidate and will only hold the position of interim chancellor, UW System spokesperson David Giroux said.
Van Kekerix also served as the interim chancellor before Wilson took office in May 2006, which Cosgrove said makes him qualified to serve the position again.
Experience with UW-Extension and Colleges makes Van Kekerix familiar with the cultures, histories and structures of each institution, Giroux said.
According to Wilson’s statement on the UW-Extension and Colleges website, overseeing 13 freshmen and sophomore campuses, extension offices in 72 countries and 13 small Business Development Centers will be some of the responsibilities Van Kekerix will face as interim chancellor.
“I am excited about the opportunity to provide leadership for UW Colleges and UW-Extension in continuing to meet the statewide access mission they share. I also look forward to reconnecting with my colleagues in both institutions as well as with the many constituencies they serve,” Van Kekerix said in a statement released by UW System.
It will now be up to Van Kekerix to advance some of the proposals Wilson initiated during his time as chancellor, Cosgrove said.
A general bachelor’s degree in applied arts and sciences geared specifically toward adult students who do not live on campus is another project Wilson started that Van Kekerix would facilitate during his term, Cosgrove said.
Wilson is hoping the UW System Board of Regents will approve a consolidated, seamless UW System website for all campuses where students can get online degrees, Cosgrove said.
According to the statement, an interim employee will be selected to replace Van Kekerix at the UW Division of Continuing Studies, where he currently serves as the dean.
