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Written by manager
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Tuesday, 02 September 2003 11:00 PM |
Future president should have UTA on the brain first, community second
City leaders on the presidential search committee are asking candidates questions that are more related to operating a corporation than running a university. They seem to be in search of a UTA president with at least as many business qualities as academic ones.
While a university president should have a grasp of community relations, that should not be the focus of his or her goals. Past university presidents Ryan Amacher and Robert Witt were actively involved in the Arlington community.
The university is an academic institution and needs an administrator resolved to piloting a higher education institution. Those past presidents didn’t forget that.
While it’s understood that the relationship between the community and UTA are symbiotic in some areas, they are separate entities and should be dealt with appropriately. The two set goals based on different criteria.
City leaders set monetary goals for a specific community through annexing land, setting tax rates and enticing businesses to the area. Academic administrators set educational goals that affect the entire state and possibly the world.
Without higher education’s career preparations, Texas could become a poverty-level state, according to UT System and state officials. In other words, when people aren’t being trained through universities to enter the workforce at varying pay scales, it lowers the economic ability of a state.
City planners create strategies using demographics such as age, income and race. Academic leaders plan programs based on job market demands and student interest.
City officials expressed anger in December after a misunderstanding of UT System Chancellor Mark Yudof’s commitment to UTA. Their increased interest in the university seemed to stem from concern about possible monetary loss rather than the effect on academic quality.
Many candidates with business qualifications make decisions based on bottom-line figures instead of figures with faces and futures. They tend to view faculty as employees hired to produce dollars instead of scholars.
Most academic administrators have spent enough time in class both as students and instructors to understand the vast differences between operating a Fortune 500 corporation and an institute of higher education.
We urge the presidential search committee to place the right person in the position — an academic administrator foremost with an understanding of community ties.
Editorial round-up
The issue:
City leaders on the presidential search committee say they feel candidates should have equal city and academic administration experience.
We suggest:
While it’s important for a president to consider the community affected by university decisions, the president’s priority should be clearly focused on academic goals.
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