Lack of student presence at provost forums is concerning
The University of Idaho is in the middle of hiring another top-level administrator — provost and executive vice president.
It’s critical to the future of the institution, yet student interest in the process is disappointing. This has become an expected response from students, as evidenced by similar participation in the high-profile searches of the past year.
The provost and executive vice president serves as the right-hand administrator to President Chuck Staben — an interim role Katherine Aiken has held since 2012 after former provost, Doug Baker, left UI to become the president at Northern Illinois University.
The provost is responsible for executing Staben’s plans for UI and the mission of the university. The provost serves as the president’s internal enforcer and directly oversees much of the direction of UI’s academic programs, which has the potential to drastically impact students’ education.
The position’s responsibilities stretch not only to determining the course of education for enrolled students, but also to bringing students — and keeping them — at UI.
UI needs a candidate who will take charge, adapt the university’s mission for the current age, help accomplish the president’s goals and build relationships with students, faculty, staff and community members.
Students need someone who places student success at the forefront. As a key player in academic direction, Student Affairs, student life and academic support, it is critical the provost understands the needs of students and is able to integrate their needs and Staben’s goals to create a positive environment.
Whoever fills the role of provost will have a wide-reaching impact on UI and its faculty, staff, students and future. Student participation in the hiring process is essential to finding the best candidate.
Three of the five candidates for the position, Fayneese Miller, Elizabeth Hendrey and Lee Kats, already visited UI, met with various groups and gave open presentations. Student participation lacked at all three candidate forums.
When the final two candidates visit UI, students should attended the sessions, ask questions and provide feedback to the search committee.
Candis Claiborn, dean of Washington State University’s College of Engineering and Architecture, presents at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the International Ballroom in the Bruce Pitman Center, formerly the Student Union Building. Monday, John Wiencek, interim provost as Virginia Commonwealth University, presents at 3:30 p.m. in the Vandal Ballroom of the Pitman Center.
For those who missed the first three sessions, recordings of each will be posted online after the final presentation Monday. If you couldn’t — or can’t — make the on-site interviews, take advantage of the online recordings and fill out the feedback form on the UI website before March 3.
It’s important students know what may be ahead for UI and how it affects them. Attending the upcoming sessions, watching the recordings of the previous presentations and providing feedback is a simple way students can have a voice in determining the leadership of UI, and in turn, their academic future.
— KH