Final provost candidate talks trust, future of UI
As an upper administrator, John Wiencek knows the power of a conversation with faculty members.
Wiencek, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, said he makes it a point at VCU to meet with faculty in small groups to build a relationship of trust.
“You meet to get to know them as individuals and hear what their struggles are within their department setting, and so they get to know you as an individual,” Wiencek said, speaking at an open forum Monday.
John Wiencek
Wiencek said he hopes to bring this type of administrative style to the University of Idaho as the next provost and executive vice president. Wiencek is the last of five candidates vying for the position to visit campus to interview and meet with stakeholders.
Wiencek said the challenges facing higher education are no secret at universities — a decline in state funding, student safety and the public’s loss of faith in a university education.
A decrease in state funding for higher education increased tuition rates and shifted the cost of higher education from the state to the student, Wiencek said.
“There’s a disillusionment with higher education as tuition rates go up and up and up,” he said. “People feel like they’re getting less value for their money.”
On top of declining state support, Wiencek said universities must also face more state oversight and increased expectations from the public about what higher education should provide.
Although state support has faded in general, Wiencek said Idaho generously supports higher education compared to other states.
In economic downturns, Wiencek said higher education budgets are not seen as critical. He said one of the ways to advocate for higher education funding when budgets are tight is to have enough advocates and partners across the state to prevent a budget cut.
Wiencek said universities face more competition, as institutions now compete for students on a regional and national scale.
To address the new market, he said UI should distinguish itself from other universities by advertising the specific benefits of attending UI.
“Really, what we need to do is to identify the real shining light that is going to bring a lot of attention on the university,” Wiencek said.
For example, he said UI offers a great value to students since many do not pay a lot to attend and still receive a quality education with good job placement.
Wiencek said he learned the importance of communicating effectively within a shared governance structure as interim provost.
Taking a question from the audience, Wiencek said he supports online education and thinks it should be marketed to adult students who are looking to complete their education. However, he said there should not be a focus on recruiting undergraduate students to online education because an on-campus experience often helps with their social development.
“For them to sit at home and never come to campus and be staring at a computer screen to get an education is not going to be as rich as coming on campus and having a residential experience,” he said.
If selected, Wiencek said he looks forward to working with UI President Chuck Staben to increase enrollment.
Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at [email protected]